Best Asian destinations for the US dollar – Part 3
November 16, 2009 by admin
Filed under Restaurants
The best Asian Destination for the United States Dollar is Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China. Even though the Summer Olympics are over, there are best bargains in Beijing and a lot to see in one of the Cradles of Civilization. Beijing is now one of the biggest cosmopolitan areas in the world and is fast replacing London and New York as the place for the discriminating traveler.
The hotels and accommodations in Beijing are some of the most advanced, with the staff willing to help the tourist. The China People’s Palace hotel located in the heart of Beijing has five restaurants, ten conference rooms, a bank, a money exchange area, two souvenir shops, a coffee shop, an internet cafe, and a post office. The rooms in the China People’s Palace are immaculate and the staff is well versed in various languages. The China People’s Palace even has a method of saving electricity using the hotel key to turn on and off the lights.
Beijing has many of the historical sites such as the Forbidden Palace, Olympic Stadiums such as the Water Cube, the National Museum, the War Memorial, and the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall of China. Beijing also has the Beijing Sea aquarium, which almost rivals the Miami Sea aquarium in maritime attractions. Who cannot forget the Commercial Centres, also known as Shopping Malls? Beijing has Commercial Centres that are twenty stories high. It should be remembered that Beijing is also the home of the Panchen Lama when he is not living in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
The Forbidden Palace was once the residence of the Chinese Emperors including the last one, Pu Yi. The Forbidden Palace is divided into different palaces where the Emperor would hold court, where the Concubines would live, and where the Prince and Princesses would live. The Forbidden Palace underwent several renovations during the time of the monarchy, taking into account that each Emperor had different tastes. Pu Yi remained in the Forbidden Palace years after being overthrown in 1911. He was finally expelled in 1924 with members of his family through the back door.
Tiananmen Square was the place where the people of China gathered to hear Chairman Mao Zedong proclaim the People’s Republic of China on the 1st of October 1949. Tiananmen Square is where the people of China gather to enjoy life, look at the War Memorial, and visit the tomb of Chairman Mao Zedong. The War Memorial is a tribute to those who perished while fighting
Visiting Beijing
People flocked to see the Olympic Games which ended on 24th of August at Beijing and were enthralled by the whole event, from its grand Opening Ceremony, depicting the culture and trations of China, to the Bird’s Nest and all the exciting sporting events that took place. Now the whole Olympic excitement is over, and the most of the tourists still remain to enjoy the beauty of China.
There are many attractions and destinations to be explored in Beijing. The ideal place to learn about the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power is by visiting the Forbidden City. The gates open at 8.30 am. The famous Tiananmen Square is the largest in the world and is Mao’s mausoleum. A flag raising and lowering ceremony is held there every day at dawn and dusk respectively.
The Summer Palace is known for its gardens and palace ruins, while a public park where locals practice tai chi in the mornings surround the Temple of Heaven. The zoo and the aquarium are also places of tourist interest. The best known attraction in the country is the Great Wall of China, which is located out of the city and takes about an hour and a half to reach. A visitor can climb the steps and go around it or can take a ski lift to go to the top.
Shopping in Beijing is also interesting and fun, with many places available for the shoppers to indulge themselves in. Xi Zhi Men is a clothes market where the Chinese themselves shop. The Silk Street is a five-story air-conditioned building, while the Malls at the Oriental Plaza, east of Tiananmen Square is an expensive shopping area. The Golden Resources Shopping Mall is the largest mall in Asia and is 690,000 square meters in size. Beijing is considered a safe city, but counterfeit currency is rampant and tourists are given prior warnings to check their bills and currencies when purchasing items from Chinese shops, especially street markets.
When it comes to Chinese dining, the Beijing Roast Duck is the specialty in food. Restaurants offer traditional and modern Chinese cuisines, but an abundance of Western food chains such as McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, are also available. Chinese tea is a favorite among tourists. The tea is full of flavor and is considered healthy.
Beijing also offers many accommodation facilities. Staying at a luxury hotel in Beijing will allow tourists to relax in comfort after an exciting day in the city of Beijing. Tourists are also encouraged to stay in a Beijing hotel near the Forbidden City as this will provide easy access to the main attractions and destinations in the city.
What to visit in Beijing, China – Part 6
September 16, 2009 by admin
Filed under Restaurants
A trip to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City is a key day in almost every visitor’s Beijing itinerary. Here is how I would recommend you do it.
Start the night before. Shop for picnic snacks. You will want to pack a lot into tomorrow and there won’t be restaurants when you get lunchtime hunger pangs.
Start at Qianmen literally Front Gate’- on the South side of the square. Conveniently you can get there by metro. I like to start under the arch of, the southernmost gate. Look South, and what do you see? Nothing nothing at all – and that’s the point. Beijing was designed to be on a meridian line with the Emperor at the North end looking South. His view of the empire was supposed to be uninterrupted. It still is, from here though the emperors are all long gone.
Now look North. Your view is blocked; blocked by a fairly ugly soviet style block. That’s Chairman Mao’s Memorial Hall. Do a little research and see if you can find out why it sits here, in the way.
Although you may be tempted to go in and see his preserved body, think about the queues. If the line extends beyond one side of the square you will have a long wait and, unless you have a deep desire to pay your respects, your time could be better spent continuing on.
As you do don’t forget to look around you. The locals you see will all be in holiday spirits and open to a friendly smile. Get your photo taken as many times as you want. Some will speak English and be eager to practice. Go with the flow but not to any Art Galleries to see their current exhibition. This is a commission ruse. Look out for ethnic minorities. There are often quite a few Mongolians down for a shopping trip, and many wear their traditional Dell. These stand out in any crowd.
Continue up the East side of the square, so that you can stop at the magnificent Museum of Chinese History. It contains some of the best exhibits from all over China, presented in first rate displays. Make sure you get one of the handset guides as you enter. The extra charge is well worth it. These contain explanations of the more popular exhibits inside. Look out for a number on a display case and dial it in. Better than following a set route, and easier than digging through a book. To the right hand site of the main entrance is an exhibition hall. This often has an extra display on a particular theme. Check it out as these are often very informative.
Now you can pass beneath Chang’An Avenue by one of the subways and enter the Palace
Don’t Miss Discount Hotel Rooms Offer for Beijing Olympic 2008
Such a lovely place on earth, Beijing is the capital of China. Make a great trip to Beijing where there are plenty of historical monuments and attractions. Historically rich city Beijing offers a good number of hotels with comfortable accommodations.
This forbidden city of China has both expensive luxury hotels and cheap affordable hotels. If you not wish to waste excess money on lodging then Cheap Hotels in Beijing are the most suitable hotels for you.
Discount Beijing hotel rooms are having all the modern facilities like luxury hotels. It is true that the arrangements will be well suited to people who are class conscious and visiting first time to enjoy Beijing Olympic 2008.
Discount hotel rooms would be commonplace – it’s a frequent stop for business travelers and tourists alike, a cultural and religious center, and one of the most popular places to visit in all of Asia.
But the mid-range hotels in Beijing are not much more expensive, nor do they vary much in quality. Not only that, but since bargaining is such a crucial aspect in everyday Chinese business dealings, you can usually get prices below what they are listed, especially during the slower fall and winter months.
During your stay in Beijing, you must visit its attractive destinations like the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China, the Temple of Heaven, Beijing Zoo and Beijing Aquarium etc.
Beijing is China’s second largest city, after Shanghai. It is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and motorways passing through the city. The climatic condition of Beijing enables the tourists to enjoy their journey to Beijing whole though out the year.
But the best place to visit Beijing is the months of winter and spring and it starts from November and ends in April. Most of the tourist attractions in Beijing are found outdoor. So, winter is more preferable time for tourist if they want to visit the whole city.
In Beijing, you will come across many traditional and historical buildings facing toward South. Because Chinese people think that bad thing comes from North. This believes are known as Feng Shui in China. And it’s really very interesting to know how to improve life by receiving positive energy. The words ‘feng shui’ literally translate as “wind-water†in English.
To sum up, Beijing is the most interesting place to visit. You can learn and see many new things from this city. And for that you have to stay in one of the hotels in Beijing which is affordable to you.
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What to visit in Beijing, China
Until recently, Beijing remained for many a mysterious city where only few ventured to visit. Perhaps it was due to the Chinese government’s strict and totalitarian regime. Perhaps the Tiananmen Square fiasco still haunted many. Perhaps the vast language differences simply turned people off. Regardless of what it was that kept tourism at a minimal, today Beijing has worked hard to make itself a sought after destination. Once the summer Olympics come and go, Beijing will certainly be changed forever, some say for the better, some disagree, however all would probably agree that it should become a much more manageable city, making this sprawling metropolis easier to navigate and generally more tourist friendly.
A visit to Beijing might intimidate many, however it is a trip you should make soon. The experience will undoubtedly change your views on China. From a Western perspective, we are often presented with an image of a war mongering nation, a modern day dictatorship that abuses human rights and an economic powerhouse that threatens the US’s position in the world economy. I will not argue that some aspects of this image are true, however most westerners never learn about China’s history and its rich culture and fascinating traditions. Yes, it is a different culture, but after a visit to Beijing you will come home appreciating the marvelous aspects of these people, understanding and admiring the differences that do exist between them and you.
A trip to China should include various cities (I would recommend: Beijing, Xian and Shanghai at least), but if you can only choose one destination, it should be Beijing. Beijing, or Peking as it is often referred to (Peking is still the name of the city in many languages including the traditional name for Beijing in English, in fact British passports issued by the Birtish Embassy still say ” issued by the “British Embassy, Peking”) is considered the political, educational and cultural center of China. The city has a rich history and it is said that during the 15th, 16th and part of the 17th centuries, Beijing was the largest city in the world.
I awoke on my first morning in Beijing, not quite feeling 100% thanks to the strong jetlag I was experiencing. As I opened the curtains of my hotel room I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was a lovely, clear day. In front of me was a large metropolis coming alive. In the distance, I could see mountains, but closer all I saw were cars, countless cars, and swarms
Three Cities for the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Beijing, Qingdao and Hong kong will be the three cities for the 2008 Olympics. The most Olympic events will be held in Beijing, the sailing Competition will be held in Qingdao and the Equestrian Competition will be in Hong kong. When you come to Olympic Games and visit these cities, you can find so many interesting things beside Olympics.
Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts – an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites, and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics. In Beijing, those places you should not miss:
The Tiananmen Square- is the largest public square in the world.
Forbidden City-is the largest and the best preserved Imperial Palace in the world.
Temple of Heaven-was built specifically for worship of heaven and prayers for good harvests during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Badaling Great Wall-is China most spectacular sight extending more than 3,700 miles across China and most often visited for China tour. It is one of the best preserved sections and the highest point of the Great Wall;
Summer Palace-is the most splendid imperial garden in China built in 1750.
Hutong Trishaw Tour-you can take the rickshaw to drive through the old walking alleys to see the old living residence. You can also visit the local family to talk with them. This is a very good opportunity for you to have a real understanding of the local people life.
In Beijing, clusters of neighboring “Siheyuan”(Quadrangles), low and gray, make into many small alleys, most of which orderly laid out like a chessboard, running either from south to north or east to west. This sort of alleys is called “Hutong” in Peking dialect. All these alleys are the same. When you are in it, you will find and experience that every alley has something special to talk about, as it is full of life and stories.
While in Hong kong, you can relax and enjoy the peaceful environment of the spectacular islands and country parks. Walking the street here, you may know more about the culture of east and west combined. That is the reason why Hong kong is a city with nickname of Gourmets’ Paradise, City with a Passion, the City that Never Sleeps and Land of Limitless delights.
In Hong kong, these places you should not missed:
Victoria Peak- It is one of Hong Kong leading tour destinations, which has breathtaking views of city famous skyline, Victoria Harbour and as well as the romantic South China Sea.
Aberdeen- A harbor area crowded with junks and sampans, where 6,000 people live and work on junks. To get a close-up look at the Aberdeen way of life, you can take a sampan ride.
Repulse Bay- It is the most famous beach of having the highest representative characteristics in Hong Kong by its long and wide beach, clean water, calm tide and gentle wave.
When the lights go down, you head for Lan Kwai Fong, you will get a taste of Hong Kong unique nightlife.
Lan Kwai Fong is an L-shaped, cobble-stoned lane with numerous bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants. Visiting on a Friday or Saturday night, you may be overwhelmed by the enormous crowds that fill the streets, with all bars having only standing room. Most language you can hear here is English rather than Cantonese speaking.
The third city to talk about is Qingdao. As a sailing Olympic city, Qingdao is a beautiful seaside city in the southeast of Shandong Province. When you are here, never miss to go those places:
Mt. Laoshan- is different from many famous mountains in China. Lao Mountain rises from the sea level, and has a coast line of 87 kilometers, structuring a wonder on the sea. Take a walk around, with the sea on one side, and lofty stones and precipitous peaks on the other side, both majestic and elegant, you will enjoy those views without feeling to leave.
Taiqing Palace – As the birth place of Laozi, it has more than 140 rooms including Three Gods’ Hall, Three Purities’ Hall and Three Emperors’ Hall. There are five Taiji Palaces as the main buildings, a stone pillar with three cypresses around and many well preserved ancient articles.
The No. 1 Bathing Beach- is located at the Huiquan Beach, it is once the largest bathing beach in Asia. The surrounding mountains and green trees, modern building subtly combined traditional villas form a wonderful scene. The clear water and soft sands contribute to the superior natural conditions of the beach.
What’s more, every summer Qingdao hosts the Beer Festival. If you have an opportunity to attend it, you’ll see the best of Chinese beer drinking culture at the event. The many performances are sometimes hilarious, such as the beer drinking competition. Who is the fastest one to chug a bottle of Qingdao beer? You will be surprised that it’s the ladies who excel at this admirable skill at often times. There are large variety of beer to sample, from all over Asia and Europe, as well as our well known North American brands.
