China
It was during a trip to Hong-Kong that the idea of taking a few days to visit China was born.
China is a huge country, with its history, its culture, its ideograms, its magnificent temples and palaces that need to be visited. But when time is short, seeing China in express mode is not necessarily a good idea. So it is better to focus on some good points to keep an unforgettable memory.
Honk-Kong
Hong Kong is a good starting point. It is a former British colony and all the comfort, technology and infrastructure that we know reassure on arrival in this country of thousands colors.
The flags are not the same (in 2002), even though the country has unified. The Hong Kong people are proud of not being Chinese and they claim it loud and clear.
A small tour of the city, day and night, to discover that the city is not very different from ours. Sometimes, however, at the bend of an alley, we find temples, Buddha statues and other religious ornaments. Bamboo scaffolding is very popular and the workers are real tightrope walkers.
Kowloon Bay
Kowloon Bay is an inlet that separates the mainland from Hong Kong Island. The crossing is done by floating ferry. The crossing takes only a few minutes. Traditional junks are often seen there. The island of Hong Kong is an obligatory passage, if only for the Victoria Peak, a small mountain from which it is possible to see the whole city.
Lantau Island
The airport is located on the island of Lantau. It is also a place located a little outside the city where you can relax. It can be reached by train or by ferry. Prefer the ferry to admire the landscape.
Lantau is full of small villages frozen in time, but especially its giant statue of Buddha, located at the top of the Landmark hill.
The island is a beautiful playground for those who love to hike. You can climb on the top to the small covered signal. The views are magnificent.
Xian
Xian is located in the province of Shaanxi. The city has nothing exceptional, although a walk on its ramparts in the early morning can bring some nice surprises. The city is full of open-air markets. The change of scenery is total, especially when you come from Hong Kong.
The army of terracotta soldiers
All tourists stop in Xian for the army of terracotta soldiers. These represent the army of the first emperor of China. There are no less than 8000 of them. All the statues were buried in a mausoleum located under a tumulus. A few rare statues have been moved to the open air.
Beijing (Pékin)
Beijing, the capital of China, is a huge city. It can be very cold, especially in winter. It covers more than 16’000 km2. Its population is close to 15 million inhabitants (in 2002).
The Forbidden City
Beijing most famous is its Forbidden City, a city within a city, the home of the ancient emperors.
The summer palace
A place much less known to tourists, the Summer Palace was the residence of Empress Cixi. It was built at the end of the 19th century. The various palaces, bridges and other temples were built on the banks of Kumming Lake. The lake freezes in winter and becomes a skater’s paradise.
The Great Wall of China
No one would visit China without seeing the Great Wall of China. All tourists go to see the renovated parts of the wall, for obvious security reasons. But it is also possible to hire guides to see the old parts of the wall still standing, for more authenticity. It is challenging and you should not be afraid of heights. The trip is nevertheless worth it.
The final word
Of course, China does not stop at these three cities, already grandiose. We could mention Shanghai and Taiwan among others. And China has other assets than its cities, such as the Yangtze River which flows down to Shanghai, more than 6300 km long. It is said that its descent is a life in itself. So, if you have plenty of time…
