China Travel Blog

The Great Wall, extensive bulwark erected in ancient China, is one of the largest building-construction projects ever carried out, running about 4,500 miles (7,300 km) east to west from Shanhaiguan Pass near Bo Hai (Gulf of Bohai) to Jiayuguan Pass (in modern Gansu Province) traversing Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu.

china great wall

The Beijing Capital Museum is housed at the formal Confucius Temple, where the scholars paid their worship to Confucius during the Yuan Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The history of the Capital Museum can date back to year 1981. And the construction of the new Capital Museum started on December 25, 2001 and finally makes its debut along the western extension of Chang’an Street, the First Street of China 2005. Formally opened on May 18, 2006, the Capital Museum has become a culture window of Beijing with its unique architecture, abundant exhibitions, advanced technology and complete functions, ranking one of the best museums worldwide.

The main buildings in the new museum include the Rectangular Exhibition Hall, the Oval Exhibition Hall and the quadrate Office and Scientific Research Building with the Central Hall and an indoor bamboo courtyard of sunken-esque among them. Boasting not only the abundant exhibitions but also distinct architecture and agreeable environment, the Capital Museum is highly praised both at home and abroad immediately on its completion.

The exhibitions in the new Capital Museum are mainly the collections of the Capital Museum over years and unearthed relics in the Beijing region. Besides, there are also latest research achievements on history, cultural relics and archeology.

The exhibitions in the Capital Museum can be divided into three main categories: regular exhibitions, exhibitions of fine artistic collection and temporary exhibitions.

One of the most famous and beautiful parks in Beijing, Beihai is also one of the earliest examples of Asian-style gardening in the world.

The park served as an imperial garden during the Liao Dynasty, over 800 years ago. After rounds of rebuilding and restoration, including a large scale refurbishment during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, the park took on its present look.

Until the eve of the Xinhai Revolution and the founding the Republic of China in 1911, it had been an imperial garden exclusively for the royal family. About 39 hectares out of the 69 hectares park area is water, the landmark of the park being the “Baita” or “White Pagoda” that stands on Qinghua Island.

The White Pogoda was first built in the eighth year of emperor Shunzhi in 1651 AD at the request of the Tibetan Lama Naomuhan. It has long been known for its white color, elegant shape, and typical Tibetan style. It is commonly recognized as the most famous Lama pagoda in Beijing. Seen from afar the pagoda looks like a huge white vase.

Emperor Qianlong showed great passion for building the royal garden after his journey to Suzhou and Hangzhou, two beautiful cities in southern China known for outstanding private gardens. He ordered a large-scale construction of gardens within the Beihai Park. The garden once held a large amount of national treasure, which was all looted by the Eight-Power Allied Force as they invaded Beijing and completely destroyed the garden in 1900.

Since 1925 the garden, formerly used exclusively by the emperor and their family, has been open to ordinary visitors as a public park. The preservation efforts for the beautiful garden have never ceased over past decades.

The whole park is divided into five scenic zones: Qiong Isle, Tuancheng or Tuan City, Dongan, or East Bank, and the Beihai Arboretum, each of these five parts having its own enchanting features. The most important attractions in the park include the Hua Fang Zai, or Chamber of Paining Boat, Jin Xin Zai, or the Chamber of Tranquil Heart the Hall of the Heavenly King, The Hall of Fast Snow, the Screen of Nine Dragons, and the Xiao Xi Tian. The greenness and large variety of architectural styles in the park display the features of gardens in both northern and southern Imperial China.

Shanghai’s a haven for fun and mischief, and I rank it high on my list of cities around the world to party in. I would say Shanghai has too many relevant historical and cultural attractions, but boy those Shanghai girls know how to party. I went pretty wild on Tongren Lu and Hengshan Lu, drinking till dawn, letting loose all over the place and then crawling over to the Pudong to stand on top of some of the world’s tallest buildings: the World Financial Center, the Jinmao Tower and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. I tried to find some fake goods on Nanjing East Road, but all those shady hawkers were trying to pawn off all their bootleg crap on me . . . “where’s the good shit?” I kept askin’ them. Well, if I ever make it to the other side of the world again, I’ll make sure to stop by in Shanghai and get loaded one more time before wandering through People’s Square on a Saturday morning, looking for some eager couple trying to push their un-wed daughter on me. Ganbei .

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Being one of the three ancient temples in Macau, “Lin Fung Temple” was originally built in 1592 during the Ming Dynasty and it is known in various names such as “Tianfei Temple” and “the Temple of Lotus”. The temple is devoted for a Goddess called “Kun Lam” and many more. These Gods of merci have been displayed with many inscriptions and carvings in all over the temple.

Located in the north of the suburb, this ancient sacred establishment has been reconstructed several times. In the main entrance of the temple old inscriptions of a Buddhist monk called “Yushuiseng” and a welcoming lotus pond can be seen. Tin Hau Hall and Kun Lam Hall are the main sanctuaries within the temple of which the curtains are decorated with eight immortals and symbols of felicity and longevity as well as the designs of dragon and stone railings. In the North side of the temple is constructed a hall of beneficence and longevity and it is devoted to God of medicine and agriculture.

The “Lotus Throne” which is devoted to former bodhisathwas of the west and the East is placed in the ancestral temple which is located next to the guest hall. Such facts prove that the temple is closely related to the Buddhism since the previous ages of its construction, which is also a reason for it to be called “Lin Fung Buddhist temple”. Also the statues of lions made of stone at the entrance seem to be guarding the temple while the statue of Tin Hau stands on a platform next to the protector generals.

At the face of the temple an open square full of ancient trees can be found surrounded by stone enclosure while the back of the temple is fascinated by an ornamental garden including a wide range of flowers and several pavilions, and its lotus pond flourishes during the summer season spreading its fragrant all over the temple. Apart from that, this legendary temple witnesses various historical events as well. For instance, Lin Zexu, the national hero of China and other officials arrived to the temple in 1839 and prohibited the trade of opium everywhere. Now there stands a ten feet stone statue of Lin Zexu in commemoration and to tribute his nobility.

Macau one of the prominent tourist destinations in the city and to live up to that reputation there are a number of luxury hotels in Macau such as Venetian Macau, which is one of the best hotels you could rest your senses while visiting this amazing place.

Copyright (c) 2008 Ontarian Ke’Chan Hawkins

As a travel agent, there are a number of benefits that come with the profession. Typically, travel agents are those who are enthused with traveling. And because of this, it is the very nature of the profession that attracts these kinds of people. Here are seven reasons by you as a travel enthusiast will enjoy this wonderful job opportunity.

1. Learn about the world- As an enthusiast about the different cultures and locations around the world, there is nothing better than getting to study and learn about everything the world has to offer. In order to be an effective travel agent, you have to know about any and every travel spot available. In order to do this, it is up to you to take the time to learn about the different cultures and entertainment various spots have to offer.

2. Flexible schedule- With this position, typically you have a flexible schedule to work off of. In fact, many people end up working for themselves. This gives you the freedom to go out and enjoy some traveling of your own.

3. Access to travel shows and receptions- In order to keep up to date with everything that is going on in the travel industry, you will get the opportunity to attend various travel shows and receptions. This gives you the chance to travel and enjoy yourself at different locations.

4. Training familiarization- As a travel enthusiast, obviously you want to experience as many different locations worldwide as possible. As a travel agent, part of your training is going to agency sponsored training familiarization trips and cruises. While you get to become familiar with the different locations, you also get to enjoy yourself.

5. Supplier sponsored trips- In addition to getting agency sponsored trips, you can eventually become qualified for supplier sponsored trips. Again, these are trips given to you so you can enjoy yourself and experience what various hot spots have to offer.

6. Reduced rates- One of the big perks about working in the travel industry is the reduced rates you will be given. Everything from reduced rates on hotels, car rentals, cruises and many other things will be given to you. This way you can enjoy as many places as possible for a reasonable rate.

7. Last minute travel deals- There is nothing worse than waiting to the last minute and having to spend an arm and a leg to get the trip going. As a travel agent, you will have access to incredible last minute travel deals so you and your family can enjoy the vacation of a lifetime.

As you can see, travel has many perks for those who decide to endeavor in becoming a travel agent. Travel is probably the #1 searched term on the internet with it being a $7 Trillion industry. I am convinced that nothing in this economy will ever be able to slow down the momentum of the travel industry.

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Hong Kong! The legendary Chinese city of life and lights, where millionaires rub shoulders with fresh-off-the-boat immigrants, skyscrapers overshadow shanties and class division are as dramatic as the neon that illuminates it all.

Located on the southernmost banks of the Chinese mainland and pressed against the South China Sea, there truly is nowhere else in the world like Hong Kong, for Hong Kong is the World.

It is the best of Beijing and Bangkok, London and Las Vegas, New York and New Delhi; one of the most densely populated dependencies (a landmass of only 1,000 square kilometers for seven million residents), with one of the world’s largest revolving multinational communities. Indeed, a stroll around Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced jimsawjoy), the city’s tourist and trade center on the southern Kowloon peninsula, reveals the entire human race in one square block radius: white people in pastel shorts walking side by side with majestically robed Africans, turbaned sheiks haggling with short-tempered Cantonese vendors, and street-corner Hindu hustlers harassing, well, everyone.

The nucleus of TST’s international community is found on south Nathan Road, which buzzes 24 hours a day not unlike a third-world beehive. The thoroughfare is lit up with electronics, hazy with Indian incense and resonant with 200bpm Arabic music. It is a warren of the world, a global party, and everyone is invited. As a tailor from Pakistan profoundly puts it, it’s the politicians who draw the borders, otherwise we are all friends here.

And speaking of borders, Victoria Harbor seems a good excuse to divide the colorful crowds of Kowloon with the white-collared world of Hong Kong Island, the territory’s banking and finance center. It is across these deep, reflective waters, which at night appear as a veritable liquid rainbow beneath the neon of corporate office towers and designer department stores, where the former crown colony’s elite live, work, shop and play. English-speaking Hong Kong, which transferred sovereignty from Britain to the People’s Republic in 1997, is 9 percent Chinese save for a wealthier class, namely from South Asian countries and the west, who contribute to the Special Administrative Region’s economic might with an unparalleled per capita GDP (310,000 yuan compared to Shanghai’s diminutive 47,000 yuan) that rivals most ofwest Europe and is the highest in China.

Hong Kong also happens to boast the most millionaires in the entire Asian continent. They are strikingly handsome or unabashedly beautiful. They attire themselves in dark designer suits with razorblade creases and immaculately shined shoes, or dangerously short skirts and even more dangerous stiletto heels. Every automobile in Hong Kong Island not a red taxi is a Ferrari, new-model Jaguar or a white-walled vintage Mercedes. And lest we forget that they drive on what Americans considerto be the wrong side of the road in the British-influenced Hong Kong, look the wrong way before crossing the street and one could get rolled over by a Rolls.

But all that is gold does not necessarily glitter. Beyond Central’s escarpment of skyscrapers and scattered about the region’s subtropical perimeter lay over 20 lesser islands that seem to jump back centuries. Lantau Island on the West Lamma Channel preciously hides the rustic minority village of Tai O and the Tanka people, descendants of Hong Kong’s first settlers.In stark contrast to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, there is no place in Tai O for finance, fashion or frenzy, where Ferraris are replaced by fishing boats, peasant bags are more useful than Gucci bags, and flip-flops take preference over Prada. The sleepy fishing community of slat-wood, tin-roofed shanties is built completely atop stilts and interconnected by arched bridges occupied by old timers in reed hats whipping their cane rods into the placid delta waters.

Of course, most visitors to Hong Kong will invariably choose Mong Kok to minorities and 500 dollar dim sum to five-dollar fish balls. The compulsion of capitalism, the passion to purchase and the addiction of appearance-it is what Hong Kong has come to be known for, and frankly, to what it owes most of its charm. “Our lives are just like anyone else’s,” chirps a manicured blonde, the wife of a Hong Kong banker, shopping in an upscale boutique in the Soho district, “but with a few more attached.”

Regional cuisine

HK is the dining table of the world: from traditional Cantonese dim sum to Indian curry, New York delis to Mexican tacos, Thai cuisine to Krispy Kreme, not to mention an overflow of McDonalds (150!) and 7-11 (600!). But be prepared for the prices¨CYIKES.

Transportation

If you don’t drive a BMW, don’t despair. Hong Kong’s public transportation is highly efficient, with the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) and Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) spanning throughout the New Territories, Kowloon, Lantau and Hong Kong islands. Double-decker trams and buses ply above ground while jetfoils and HK’s beloved Star Ferry continuously whisk commuters across Victoria Harbor. Or just hop in one of the thousands of red taxis.

Accomodation

For budget-conscious travelers, there is no better (or cheaper) place to absorb HK’s multicultural ambiance than the infamous Chungking or Mirador mansions on south Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Dorm beds in any of the mansion’s hundreds of claustrophobic guesthouses starting at 60 yuan.

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