Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Traveling To China -- Your Options And Attractions In Brief

By Willie Green


A traveler might wonder where to begin in a foreign country that is slightly smaller than the size of the United States with over 5,000 years of recorded history. The wonderful advantage to traveling China is that there is no right or wrong place to start. The old-fashioned mien of Chinese culture is not just manifested in one location alone -- it is manifested everywhere, regardless of province (totaling 23), autonomous region (five*) or municipality (four). Thanks to China's unusual "one country, two systems" legislation, the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau also fall under the rule of China.

Greater Than the Great Wall: Travel to China's Many Wonders China is a mecca for human-made and natural wonders. Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, is located in the southern Tibetan border. Take in the inspiring Himalayan view then head north and travel through the majestic Three Gorges, a 120-mile stretch of plummeting cliffs along the Yangtze River. Stand in the middle of the largest plaza in the world, Tiananmen Square, at the heart of the capital city, Beijing. You wouldn't want to leave Beijing until you see the Imperial Palace, which reminds visitors where the "Forbidden City" sobriquet comes from. Then, venture south to discover a true artistic Qin Dynasty treasure in Xian, where over six thousand Terracotta Warriors are arranged in battle formation on 14,000 square meters of land.

Visiting Hong Kong and Macau is Also a Way to Experience China Colonialism has its positive aspects, such as the mellifluous and flawless blending of culture and the autonomy in both a political and business sense, and these two regions are perfect examples. While travel to these provinces provides a very different experience from the rest of China, they are by no means lacking in worldly wonders or the authentic Chinese lifestyle.

Hong Kong became one of our territories in 1841 as our ancestors had been heavily involved for centuries in trading of both silk and tea. This territory would then heavily expand and following exposure to numerous and diverse cultural and commercial influences, Hong Kong would become a major tourist attraction thereafter. China regained sovereignty over the British colony in 1997 but agreed to leave the democratic government structure intact. Nowadays this locale is nonesuch in terms of progress and innovation, not only in a cultural milieu but also in terms of architecture (e.g. the three longest bridges in the world) and technology as well.

You might also want to visit Macau, which is located about forty miles west of Hong Kong, an enclave within a peninsula located right across the Pear River delta. We would have to go back to 1887, when Portugal established sovereignty over Macau, which followed years upon years of trading and travel between both locales. In 1999, Portugal would allow Macau to secede back to China, after over a hundred years. Macau is a fantastic place to visit for aficionados of art and architecture, not to mention gourmands who will revel in the seamless fusion of Chinese and Portuguese culture. In Macau it is commonplace to enjoy an espresso and pastry for lunch and Dim Sum for dinner, accompanied by a fine Portuguese wine.

Editorially speaking, if you want to experience China in the best way possible, you should no doubt include Hong Kong and/or Macau in your itinerary.




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