Hong Kong
is divided into two main areas: the island with the same name and Kowloon where
the great part of the hotels is concentrated, on both of the sides of the
Nathan Road, called “Golden Mile” for its shops and night bars. In the Hong Kong
island is found the Victoria Peak, at 554 m o.s.l. where you can enjoy a 360°
panoramic view. Some things we recommend you to see are: Aberdeen, a
flourishing small city mostly known for its magnificent floating restaurants;
Repulse bay that boasts one of the most popular and accessible equipped beaches
of Hong Kong; Stanley, an animated outdoor market.
Beijing,
capital of the People’s Republic of China, is situated in the northern part of
the plains of the northern China. Worldwide famous for the long history proved by
the important monuments like the Forbidden City, the biggest complex of
buildings of this type; the Great Wall, known as one of the eight wonders of
the world; the Temple of the Sky, the biggest temple to honor the sky; the Ming
tombs, the most compact imperial tomb group in China; the Summer Palace.
Situated
between two of the tributaries of the river Wei, it is a city with ancient
origins. From here started the famous Silk Street (6.400 km), that went
eastward reaching the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. Worldwide famous
after the discovery of the Ming Lingtong imperial tomb, ideally protected by
the Terracotta Army.
Situated on
the bank of the Taihu lake, it is an old city with 2.500 years of history. Its
architecture dates back to the period of the Song dynasty. The old Suzhou
gardens, known for their refinement, are inserted in the list of the UNESCO
international cultural property. The garden of the humble administrator is the
most important. Its small old villages, the little bridges, the houses along
the river, present unique features.
Hangzhou,
capital of the province of the Zhejuang, is situated along the banks of the
Qjantang river, near the southern extremity of the Beijing-Hangzhou Great
Canal. Known as one of the seven old capitals of China, its fame comes mostly
from the West Lake with its fascinating panoramic areas. The Six Harmonies
Pagoda, the Lingyin temple, the Flying Peak, the Yue-Fei tomb, the Jingci and
Yunxi monasteries are attractions you can’t miss.
Shanghai,
also called “Hu” or “Shen”, is one of the four dependent municipality on the
Chinese central government. Known as “the East’s Pearl”, Shanghai is the main
economic metropolis of China and one of the modern international metropolis.
The majestic colonial buildings along the Bund are considered “the Gallery of
Modern International Architecture” because of the harmonious combination of
styles.
Situated in
the Shanxi province, in the northern China, in 1997, it was inserted in the
list of the international property as the best conserved old city in China. Its
old walls, 6.000 long and 12 m tall, with their turtle form and 6 doors, were
built 2.8000 years ago. Pingyao presents many historic sites, like the Room of
10 Thousand Buddha in the Zhengguosi Temple, the third old wooden structure of
national level, with a history of over a thousand of years. The circle of walls
divides the city in two completely different worlds: the old and the new part.
This is the
locality where the Buddhism was introduced in China for the first time. As a
proof of this faith you can admire the Longmen Buddhist grottos. On the rocky
walls at the two sides of the Yi river, for about a kilometer, there are almost
1.352 grottos in the rock and decorated with about 100.000 statues of the
Buddha dating back to the V-VIII c. In the surroundings there is the Shaolin
monastery, famous for the teaching of martial arts.
Yongding is
a county located in the southwest of Fujian Province, in a verdant valley
hidden in the heart of China. Secular isolation in the county helped preserve
the architectural heritage of Tu Lou, the spectacular Hakka fortress-houses,
the proud people who migrated from the northern regions around 1000 AD. Inside
these peculiar circular homes of land, between concentric courtyards, wooden
stairs, red lanterns, a country life takes place with ancient and evocative
rhythms.
"Behind
the Clouds" could be a free translation of this Chinese province. The Ming
emperors (1368-1644) used it to exile opponents, considering it inhabited by
barbarians at the boundaries of a world that had the shape of a dish. Yunnan is
inhabited by many ethnicities: in the Yunnan Guizhou plateau there are 26 ethnic
groups, mostly peasants. Among the most populous ones there are also Yi, Naxi,
Bai and Fai. What this wonderful region offers is untouched nature, rare
animals, rich flora, variety of people, and cultural traditions.
In Lijiang you can see the Black Dragon Pond (Heilongtan), where you can enjoy a wonderful view over the Jade Dragon Mountain. The Five Fenici Pavilion (Wufenglou), where Naxi artifacts are displayed, was erected inside the small park. "Sky and earth are always very close to each other in Lijiang," this proverb appears to be confirmed in the Jade Dragon Mountain (Yulongshan), whose highest peak (Shanzidou, 5,596 mt) dominates the plain where the city is located. In Yulongshan there is one of the largest gorges in the world, the Tigers Jump Gorge (Hutiaoxia). The split is deep from 2,500 to 3,000 mt and in its narrowest point is 30 mt wide. The Jinshajiang River (Upper Yang Tze Course) flows at the bottom of the gorge.
Also called “the city of perpetual spring”, Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan province. Walking around the city you can observe the different Yunnan ethnicities that mix here. Kunming's main attraction is the Stone Forest (Shilin), 120 km southeast of the city.
Not to be
missed the nearby villages inhabited by Bai ethnicity, which live mostly in the
area of Lake Erhai. The city of Dali takes its name from the powerful empire
that flourished in this part of China between the 10th and the 12th
centuries, before Kublai Khan, the great Mongol emperor, conquered this remote
corner of China.
Most of the
hotels of Hong Kong are situated here, on both the edges of the Nathan Road,
called “the Golden Mile” of Hong Kong for its shops and night bars. West there
are the Ocean Terminal, the Ocean Centre and the Ocean Galleries that,
together, make the Harbour City, the largest shop complex in Asia. You can’t
miss the experience with the Star Ferry, the famous ferry of Hong Kong that
goes to and from Kowoloon, giving the passengers an ideal point of view to take
photos of the fascinating bay.
Victoria
Peak, at 554 m o.s.l., and is nowadays the most prestigious residence district
of the Hong Kong island. It is reachable in 5 minutes by funicular. From the
top of it you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of almost all the territory and,
further, of the islands of the China Sea. It is possible to have a walk on the
path at the top of the promontory to admire the bay.
Once an old
fishermen village, Aberdeen is nowadays a flourishing small city mostly known
for its magnificent floating restaurants,
the great fish cook and the population that lives on the water. At night
the sparkling neon lights create a very beautiful subject you can take photos
of. The restaurants are reachable by motor launch.
The
southern side of the island, less busy and quieter, mainly residential, is
mostly favorited by the foreign residents. Repulse Bay boasts one of the most
known and accessible equipped beaches of Hong Kong.
On the southern
side of the Hong Kong island, this lively outdoor market, in the picturesque
Stanley village, is popular among visitors and local people, both looking for
opportunities. The walks to the near beaches are really interesting.
Located
south-east of Hong Kong, it is a tropical island with white beaches and crystal
clear sea. It has a subtropical climate, with an average temperature of 24 °.
You can go all year long, but the best time to stay is April, or from October
to December. In the spring and summer rainfall or typhoons are possible. It is
reachable by flight from Beijing, Shanghai, Canton and Hong Kong (in the latter
case with double entry visa in China). There are
several reasons why Hainan is called Hawaii of the East, surfing is just one of
these. From October to April Hainan offers good opportunities to practice it
all over the island. Yalong and Dadong bays are good places for beginners,
while Shimei is advised for the most experienced surfers. In Hainan you can dive
and snorkel and diving centers with PADI instructors are available. Several
resorts allow both beginners and experienced divers unforgettable experiences,
such as at Dadonghai, where you can swim with giant turtles and dolphins.
Finally, the island is aimed at becoming the paradise for golfers with
different and renowned fields located in many parts of the island.
Two times the
size of the Hong Kong island, Lantau has a population of only 16.000 people.
You can’t miss the Cheung Sha beach, 3,2 km long, famous for the white sand. In
the surroundings you can visit the Tung Chung Valley, a fertile agricultural
area with small Buddhist temples. To see the tours of the island see “Lantau
Excursions”.
Current
capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu has an ancient origin (400 BC). Famous for
brocade, during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 dC), in the period of the Five
Dynasties was the capital of China and the hibiscus was planted along the city
walls. Today trees and flowers adorn the streets and the parks. This location
was mentioned in the writings of Marco Polo. Despite rapidly changing Chengdu
has kept all its antique charm. From Chengdu you can arrange various excursions
to: the Panda Study Reserve at Ya An; Emmeshein, one of the five sacred
mountains of China; Dazu one of the most important archaeological centers in
China with about 40 rock temples containing 50,000 sculptures of religious and
everyday life from the 9th to 13th centuries (not to be missed the Beishan and
Baoding caves); Leshan to visit the statue of Buddha high 70 m completed in 713
AD.
Few cities
in China boast the superb panoramic views of Guilin, whose literally translated name means "cassie
forest", a tree that blooms in November. Majestic limestone peaks, eroded
by the atmospheric agents that shaped them in steep and toothed forms, seem to
be part of the city. Guilin is crossed by curvy Li Jiang river, once a placid stream of water dotted with small villages
devoted to cormorant fishing, now a waterway run by an unstoppable stream of
cruise ships. As an alternative to the cruise, you can climb the mountains,
explore the numerous caves, take part in organized tours, or go for a walk or
cycle, exploring the incredible beauty of the surroundings.
