Darius' Travel Blog: April 2007

Beijing, the capital of China and the host of the 2008 Olympics Summer Games, was the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. It is well known for its flatness its concentric rings road which go around the metropolis.

Gate of Heavenly Peace

Tiananmen Square

Entrance to Forbidden City

Summer Palace

Chairman Mao Mausoleum

Delicious Peking Duck

The Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago and it stretches for 6,400 kilometers. It was originally built as an impenetrable line of defence but its became an elevated highway, allowing people and equipment to cross moutainous terrain. Today some parts of the wall have been renovated but other parts are still in its original condition.

Nanjing has a long history and prehistoric sites discovered go back as far as 400 BC. Its name means "southern capital" (which Beijing being the "northern capital") and it served as the nation's capital for several dynasties. Today it is an attractive city which is home to many colleges and universities with a large international student population.

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Skyline of Nanjing

Entrance to the Heaven Dynasty Palace

Sacrifice Hall at Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Park

Not very helpful :-)

Shanghai is China's largest city with about 18 million people and it is almost possible to see it grow with your own eyes. The level of construction activity is amazing with new skyscrapers being built in many areas of the city. Some pockets of the city are very modern with Western-style malls, cafes, and restaurants and a lot of young people are more trendy than compared to Chinese that I have seen in other cities on my trip.

The skyline of Shanghai with the unique Oriental Pearl Tower on the left

Old Bank Building on the Bund

People's Square (Shanghai Museum in the background)

Nanjing Donglu - one of the main shopping areas

Model of the city in the Urban Planning Museum really shows how massive it is

Hangzhou is a pleasant city 2 hours south of Shanghai and its a major tourist destination for the Chinese. The main attractions are scenic West Lake and Lingyin Temple, one of the 3 oldest and most famous temples in all of China.

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West Lake

One of the many parks around the lake

Lingyin Temple

Sampling Longjing tea with a local family

Yummy street food!

Xi'an was the ancient capital of six dynasties and its old city wall can still be seen today. Islam has a strong influence on the city and mosques and marketplaces can be found in many back alleys.

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Bell Tower

Big Goose Pagoda

Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter

East Gate of the City Wall

Locals enjoying a Sunday afternoon

The Shaanxi province is home to one of China's most important archaeological sites: The Army of Terracotta Warriors. The 6,000 warriors and horses are surpisingly well preserved and were discovered in 1974 when a peasant was digging for a well. Close by is Hua Shan, one of China's most sacred mountains.

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Terracotta Warriors Army

Every single warrior looks different from the others

Replica of one of the warriors

Golden Lock Pass (unlocking the peaks)

View from East Peak

View from the South Peak

On the West Peak

Guangzhou's proximity to Hong Kong in the South of China makes it one of the main gateways into the country. Formerly known as Canton, it is the capital of the Guandong province which is the country's most prosperous. The city does not have many sights so I only spent a day before moving on.

Guangzhou on an overcast day

Five Rams Statues at Yuexiu Park

Pagoda at the Temple of Banyan Trees

Night at the river is colorful

I guess balloons take up to much space in the Metro...

I went to Hong Kong for the first time in 1997 before the handover to China but 10 years later I can hardly tell the difference. It is still an interesting mix of Eastern and Western culture which makes it a good warm-up for me before I'll head into China :-)