Archive for the ‘China’ Category

Hong Kong – The Chinese British City

Monday, July 16th, 2007

One of the most popular tourist destinations, Hong Kong is part of China yet it maintains free enterprise. History says that Hong Kong was a colony of the Great Britain until 1984 when the British handed over this amazing city to China with a strange stipulation, i.e. that its free market would be sustained as it is for at least 50 years onwards. This is why Hong Kong stands out as a unique city.

Today Hong Kong is the Special Administrative Region of China while it still enjoys free market. It has exceptionally conducive import and export laws with a tax rate that does not exceed 15 percent. This is why Hong Kong’s economy is highly vibrant and business and entrepreneurship is most common.

Hong Kong

Known as the ‘Movie Capital of Asia’, Hong Kong offers non-stop entertainment to its tourists, which is one of the main industries. You will find that the city is predominantly Chinese by tradition and culture, while English is spoken as second main language.

As a tourist you will be amazed by the diversity this city offers. You can experience the loudest and most bustling night life here. At the same time you would be able to enjoy the spiritual quietness of the Buddhist temples.

Paradise for Food Gourmets

Are you in love with food? Hong Kong is the place for you in that case. You will find some mind-blowing local cuisine (Chinese food) that never tasted as good anywhere else – such as chicken lo mein, dim sum, whole trout fried, tofu, soft shell crab meat, the famous Peking duck, the Tong Cho oysters  to name a few. There is no dearth of continental food either – including McDonalds.

Shopping Paradise – When you are in Hong Kong try to save on everything (if you are n a budget) by sleeping in dormitories (which are exceptionally clean and well maintained) and eating great stuff from the road side and use all your money for shopping. Tough expensive, Honk Kong is a real paradise for shopping as it offers you a wide variety of knick knacks and fancy items that you never knew existed. Check out the Golden Mile, Mongkok and Yaumati for some great bargains.

Attractions in Hong Kong

It is said that Hong Kong never sleeps. Check out the Aberdeen and Harbour at night by taking a leisure cruise. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations.

Check out the Repulse Bay which offers one of the most popular beaches in Hong Kong. Though it is a wonderful place to spend time, it tends to be messy because of the excessive littering left over by the visitors over the weekends.

Do not miss the Victoria Park which was built as long ago as 1888 which will lead you to the Victoria peak which is 1350 ft above the sea level. Have a snack here while enjoying the panoramic view of Hong Kong.

China

Wednesday, June 27th, 2007

The third largest country in the world – China is one of the important places in Asia, with great ethnic as well as cultural diversities. China has been ranked fourth among the world’s most popular tourist destinations, after France, Spain, and the United States. According to the World Tourism Organization, China attracts more than 46 million international tourists per year. With an area of 9.6 million square kilometers, China consists of 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities, and two special administrative regions. Further, China shares borders with almost 14 nations, thereby credited to be the country with the maximum number of countries as its neighbors, such as Bhutan, India, Afghanistan, North Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, and Nepal.

Great Wall of China

Apart from being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall, which can be seen even from the space, China has many fascinating tourist attractions from Shaolin Temple in Henan Province to the gardens of Hangzhou. The capital of China – Beijing – come with such world-famous attractions as the Imperial Palace Museum within the Forbidden City, which is the largest palace complex in the world. Beijing’s attractions also include the Temple of Heaven Park, the Lama Temple, the Summer Palace, Beijing Botanical Garden, and the undoubtedly the Great Wall of China.

No matter you are modern or traditional, Shanghai caters to all types of travelers. Located on the mouth of the Yangtze River, this fabulous city has to its credit attractions including Jade Buddha Temple, Jin Mao Mansion, Yuyuan Garden, and Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

Equally marvelous is attractions of Hong Kong, a refreshing destination packed with a host of museums, parks, and gardens, all of which are attached with ample open spaces to stroll and relax. Peak Tower, St. John’s Cathedral, Wong Tai Sin Temple, and Repulse bay, are just few among many of its amazing attractions.

For art and craft buffs, a must-visit Chinese destination would be Xian, with interesting attractions such as the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, and Sleeping Dragon Temple. Likewise, for those who want to explore the natural beauty of China, one of the best options would be Chongqing – a serene mountainous town blessed such famed attractions as Gold Buddhist Mountain, which in turn is home to some rare flora and fauna.

Also, visit places of historic prominence such as Guilin – a blend of natural and historic spot, Kaifeng whose history dating back to more than 3000 years, and Dunhuang offering vistas of the Gobi Desert. Other enchanting cities are Suzhou on the banks of the Taihu Lake, Hangzhou – one of the oldest Chinese cities, and Tibet with vibrant cultures. In addition, China has a lot number of incredible ports as well as coastal areas.

Besides, China is much popular for its gorgeous landscapes, lakes, rivers, mountains, and waterfalls. Of which most famous are the Five Mountains, Mount Huangshan of Anhui Province, Mount Emei, Nine Hamlets Valley, Huanggoushu Waterfalls, Limestone Caves, the Stone Forest, and the Three Gorges along the Changjiang River.

China is well-renowned for its unique festivals that are held annually. Apart from this, the country is popular for its art form such as acrobatics, Beijing Opera, and painting and calligraphy.

Also, worth mentioning is Chinese cuisine, which has been considered one of the most popular among the world cuisines.