Best Asian destinations for the US dollar – Part 5

There is more to Asia than just being 6,000 miles away. Encompassing over 1/3 of the Earth’s population along with a variety of different cultures, foods, and lifestyles, any experienced traveler will tell you that Asia is worth every penny.

China, the biggest country on the eastern shore of Asia, has one of the liveliest and oldest cultures out there. With over two thousand years of colorful history, it’s no surprise that each city within has something different to offer – a treat that all travelers can experience with the purchase of a train ticket.

Beijing (Peking) houses wonders such as the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden Kingdom, and the Emperor’s Summer Palace, as well as countless of other mountains, rivers, and other natural wonders. What makes it so fun is that each of the points of interest mentioned above are well within the city, providing an interesting look at the mesh between old and new, as Beijing becomes one of the biggest growing cities in the world.

In addition to the places of interest for tourists to visit, Beijing offers a lot of other attractions such as massages, street vendors, and night markets. Selling things ranging from key chains to jade bracelets to mp3 players and cell phones, the city is a hustle and bustle atmosphere in which tourists can always find something to do.

More bang for your buck? The current currency of the Chinese government is the renminbi (RMB). The rate is a whopping 6.9 RMB: 1 USD, meaning that for every dollar you have, you have about 7 RMB. Meanwhile, the cost of a good meal, massage, and a night on the town will cost an average of 200-300 RMB, which converts to about $30-$40.

Moving away from the capital city, there’s a plethora of other places to enjoy, including Shanghai, Dalian, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Taiyuan, and many, many more. Each has its own unique flavor to it, and every city is only a train ride apart! The mainland not for you?

How about Macau or Hong Kong? Both cities, after being exposed to large amounts of Western culture, prove to be largely suited to American tastes. For one, most everyone in each of these two “special administrative regions” speaks English. A great sigh of relief for many tourists, as plenty of people struggle every year to communicate in a foreign country. Second, with tall skyscrapers and glassy high-rises around every corner, each of these places stands to be atop the global market with innovation, business, and new technological wonders. Once again,