Joanna James
China is a country which has embraced tradition and its proud heritage with modern innovation and fast-paced development. It is intriguing to explore the massive population just as much as it is exciting to watch the pine forests shrouded in mist, ancient temples and other attractions it possesses.
Apart from being the capital of China, Beijing is home to many famous sites such as the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and many more which are on a visitor's bucket list. What is unique is despite the advancements and modern infrastructure in Beijing you still can get lost in the maze of traditional hutongs or alleyways and drop by a traditional tea house in this famed city.
Do a visit to the Giant Panda breeding research base in Chendu to get sightings of these lovable creatures as seeing them in the wild is a rare privilege although many visitors from apartments in Chengdu yearn for it. Apart from the pandas, Chengdu is home to cheerful teahouses, temples and of course the fiery hot Sichuan food.
Discovered in 1974 by rural workers in Xi'an, these life-sized statues of terracotta warriors are a remarkable find. Dating back to over 2200 years, it is understood that they have been built to protect the underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
Built at the confluence of three rivers Qingyi River, Dadu River and Minhe River the grandiose seated statue of the Lord Buddha has been directly carved into the rock face over 1200 years ago. This is the tallest and the largest statue of Lord Buddha in the world at 71 metres in height with a width of 28 metres. It is simply amazing to think how such a creation was possible in that era. Viewing it at close quarters is indeed a profound experience as felt by visitors from Ascott Qinhuang Chengdu.
The entire country of China is dotted with rice paddy fields, however those of you who have seen them elsewhere would agree that they are not as spectacular as those in Longji, these rice terraces are on the lush Longji Mountain. The road to the rice terraces resembles a long winding ribbon around the mountain. A spectacular sight with a change of colours when the rice shoots in the summer turning green, turning gold in the fall when rice is mature and frosted in silver in the winter.
This vibrant Cantonese city beholds a fine mix of old and modern. Going about the city you are bound to witness skyscrapers almost touching the clouds yet you also witness Buddhist monks strolling down Temples which are over 1500 years old. Attracting visitors to explore both modern and historical features. Guangzhou also entices them to savour the famous Cantonese cuisine, especially Dim Sum.
Predominantly cosmopolitan, trendy and elegant which can be witnessed by the glass and steel structures whilst its ancient era brick and mortar buildings are visually appealing. This battle between traditional and ultra-modern is evident along the Bund area. This is an intriguing and futuristic city for visitors to explore.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
