China Travel Blog

Constricted streets or lanes are commonly known as Hutongs in China. Conventional patio mansions form lines of siheuyan which are lanes or hutongs in Beijing. Localities were shaped by unification of several hutongs which in turn were formed by linking several siheuyan. These neighborhoods are sometimes referred to as hutongs.

From the middle of the 20th century the hutongs decreased in numbers since they were being pulverized to give way to new road stead and constructions. But lately, some hutongs are been marked as protected areas so that they can be preserved as Chinese cultural history. The most preserved hutongs are the ones near the Bell Tower and Shichahai Lake. Some hutongs which are hundreds of years old have been attracting tourists for a long time.

The emperors of China during its dynastic periods had designed Beijing city. They had organized the housing areas based on social classes of the Zhou Dynasty. The Forbidden City was in the center and it was encircled by the Inner City and Outer City. People who had higher social status lived closer to the Forbidden City and the aristocrats lived to the east and west of the Forbidden City. Rich people had siheyuan which were quite big. They were beautifully decorated and had breathtaking painted roof beams and pillars. These residences had well planned landscapes. These hutongs were in an order with rooms which were spacious. Away from the palace, lived the common people, the laborers and the artisans. The siheyuan of these common people were not very big and simply designed and the hutongs formed were narrow.

Hutongs also used to form the lowest rank in the geographical division of a city in ancient China. In fact, hutongs are the cultural elements of Beijing city. Beijing has a long history which has housed six dynasties and each and every hutong in the city has a small but interesting story behind it. Some hutongs are linked to historic events as well. Actually, the hutongs are in contrast to the elite culture of Beijing. The Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven all reflect the rich life of the people of China, but the hutongs represent the grassroots culture of Beijing. Even now, the hutongs form the heart of old Beijing.

Ancient Beijing is very intriguing for travelers, because China has such a rich history. If you are visiting Beijing, remember to book your Beijing hotel in advance, especially during the peak tourist season. A luxury hotel in Beijing is also a good accommodation option for the travelers seeking a bit of pampering during their stay in Beijing.

Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated places in the world, is famous for its charm and diverse culture. The residents here lead different way of life and the society is contemporary and capitalistic. Even though the people still follow the Chinese tradition. It is considered as one of the world’s vibrant cities since the olden days.

The history of the place has some connection with the Opium War. In the middle of nineteenth century, Great Britain colonized the island. In 1898, an agreement was signed and the city was handed over to British for 99 years. But by 1984, British agreed to give back Hong Kong to China.

Hong Kong is considered as one of the most popular tourist attraction around the world. The city is small but lively with a fantastic night life which is akin to the Caribbean. The city is situated near India and Philippines and is one of the best English speaking areas in Asia.

You can enjoy several mouth-watering cuisines in the region including Chinese, Indian, Mughalai, and international cuisines. Unique Chinese dishes like special dim sum are very tasty. You can also taste other Chinese specialties like chicken lo mein, fried whole trout, Peking duck, stuffed scallops, tofu dishes, mouth-watering Tong Cho oysters, and exotic seafood plates of soft-shell crab topped with crawfish tails.

There are several McDonald’s outlets and Western-style restaurants for American and European food. When compared to other tourist locations around the world, this destination is a bit expensive. If you want to reduce your cost of living in Hong Kong, you have to choose dormitories for stay and eat budget meals, usually Chinese dishes, instead of going to other big fancy restaurants. As it is a shopping paradise, it is difficult to resist your desire to buy. So it is better to embrace your money, if you do not need to overspend.

Hong Kong is well known for its thriving service industry and most of the residents are working in either banking, telecommunications, insurance or tourism. It is also popular for its entertainment industry and is considered as the Movie capital of Asia.

As it is both a modern and ancient city, you can find places to stay with out any problem when visiting Hong Kong. Accommodation facilities come in all types of excellence, shapes and prices. Cheap youth hostels with standard amenities and five star luxury hotels with luxurious facilities are offered.

Most of the luxurious facilities are available in Hong Kong Island, the central area of the city. For people looking for cheap accommodation, Kowloon and the New territories offer diverse sources. You can also find hostels in Hong Kong Island. As Hong Kong is a major transportation hub of Asia, it can cater to all budgets.

Hong Kong has a varied mix of characters as a result of lengthy British occupation and a great Chinese influence. The place has a lot to offer tourists around the world; this is the reason why more and more people visit this place year round. Situated in Kowloon, Hong Kong Museum of Art is the best place for history buffs. The Museum houses more than 14,000 items including paintings, calligraphy Hong Kong treasure, art objects, antiques and lithographs.

Hong Kong Disneyland, the fist Disneyland in Asia, offers an enchanting experience to the travelers and natives alike. The park features four main attractions, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Main Street, USA. You can have a view of the entire city from Victoria Peak which is situated around 1810 feet above sea level. Take a cruise around the water of Lantau Island and watch pink dolphins that only live in this water.

Have great fun in Ocean Park which is one of the great attractions in the city. The park houses Lowlands Gardens, Marine Land and Headlands amusement park where you can go and have a ride with cable cars and roller coasters. Have fun with your kids in Water World’s wave pools, play area, and water slides.

Hong Kong Space Museum is another major attraction in the city. It features several displays including robotics, telecommunications, energy, computers, and physics. Middle Kingdom, The Central district, Lamma Island, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery and Wet Market are also worth a visit. Plan your next vacation to this vibrant city now itself.