On a recent trip to China, TIM DUGAN discovered an eclectic array of travel options. Here are ten of them …
Guangzhou
Guangzhou is the internal ‘Canton’ capital city of China. It’s best known for its amazing range of tasty food, exceptional shopping and diverse range of people from all over China. Over the last 15 years Guangzhou has grown from a local city to a metropolis with close to 250 million people in the region. The phenomenal construction and development is now responsible for many tall skyscrapers but most notably the IFC towers in both Guangzhou and nearby city Shenzhen.
The Great Wall of China
Seen from anywhere, from any angle, whether below it, on it, or above it, the scale of the Great Wall of China can never be forgotten. An astounding 21,196 kilometres long, the Great Wall has been rebuilt, maintained, and enhanced over various dynasties; the majority of the existing wall is from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). The defensive characteristics of the Great Wall were enhanced by the construction of watch towers, troop barracks, garrison stations, signalling capabilities through the means of smoke or fire, and the fact that the path of the Great Wall also served as a transportation corridor. The Great Wall is generally regarded as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history.
Tiananmen Square, Beijing
Named after the Tiananmen (“Gate of Heavenly Peace”) located to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square contains the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in the square on October 1, 1949; the anniversary of this event is still observed there.
Shuiwan Road, Zhuhai
A street full of bars. It seems that each one is dedicated to making the loudest music possible to drown out their competition next door. Not a place for quiet conversation. A lively place especially at weekends.
Wangfujing Snack Street, Beijing
Located south to the Haoyou Shijie Shopping Mall on the Wangfujing Shopping Street, the Wangfujing Snack Street is easy to spot with its ancient Chinese style gateway. The street covers over 2,000 square meters and offers some 500 snacks from all over China. You can also find the time-honoured brands of traditional Beijing snacks, like Baodu Feng (quick-fried tripe) and Doufunao Bai (jellied bean curd). Even if only in Beijing for five days, you can easily find yourself here almost by accident at least three times – your stomach will draw you towards it.
Shenzhen Airport
A modern wonder, with the most dazzling ceiling which seems to go on forever. If this is what contemporary Chinese architecture can produce, I’m a fan. This airport get the award for best transition to modern times and very rightfully too. What a design – simply fantastic. This is beautiful architecture, an ultra modern design that is light and airy. Services and facilities are first rate. It’s probably the nicest airport in China. Good signage and easy to navigate without a translator. Strongly recommended to go through this Airport to see what the Chinese can do to an airport.
Shanghai
Shanghai, the river city on the coast, is an amazing place full of local delights with a specific twist on international diversity. Most foreigners speak a very good level of local language Mandarin and can easily help you order some amazing local food and explore the local French Concession sights or the colonial bund. With a city that is themed by the Pearl Oriental tower, many local and international movies have featured the sights of this city and many more will come.
The Temple of Heaven
Beijing’s 25 million inhabitants have some great cultural treasures, most of which are over-run by tourists, but simply have to be seen anyway. But the Temple of Heaven is one of my ultimate favourites. It’s on a par with Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, being not the highest publicity icon, but something that has mystique, power, and which evokes a spiritual response.
Zhuhai Opera House
Inspired by the Sydney Opera House, but looks like two UFOs have crashed into the earth. Or two very large macaroons, or more to the point of reality, two massive clam shells – which makes sense as just like Sydney’s iconic trendsetter, the Zhuhai Opera House is located next to a beautiful expanse of water. It is endowed with world-advanced acousto-optic and stage technical effects. The Concert Hall has 1,600 seats, a lobby, auditorium, and stage for broad-scale musical drama, musicals, ballet, stage drama, symphonies, chamber music, opera and other large-scale performances and variety shows. With floor space of nearly 50,000 square metres, the opera house cost 1.08 billion yuan ($158 million). Some say it’s shaped as scallops to represent the brilliant sun and entrancing moon, the landmark opera house is the first on-island theater in the Chinese mainland.
The Friendship Bridge Between Dandong & North Korea
Glimpsing North Korea from across the two-part Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge is fascinating. North Korea looks extremely beautiful from across the Yalu River, and yet there’s this captivating undercurrent of fear. The spectre of Kim Jong Un casts a nuclear shadow across the landscape, where every factory on the edge of the river feels like it’s probably a chemical weapons production plant. Walking to the end of the original bridge, halfway across the river, is so poignant – it was bombed by the Americans during the Korean War and has stayed bombed.
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