From the square you can walk towards the Forbidden City, located at the heart of Beijing. This is the world’s largest palace structure and the best preserved example of Chinese imperial palaces. It is one of the five important palaces in the world and became a World Cultural Heritage site in 1987. The Forbidden City had been the home of 24 emperors that ruled China starting from the Ming Dynasty up to the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty has the palace built in 1406. It took 14 years for the palace to be completed. The name Forbidden City was given to the palace since the emperor was considered the son of Heaven at that time, therefore ordinary citizens were not allowed to enter its ground. From its original name of Zijin Cheng or the Purple Forbidden City, it is now more commonly called as Gugong or the former or old palace. It is sprawled over 72 hectares and contains 90 palaces, 8,704 rooms and 980 buildings. It is surrounded by a 10-meter high gate that runs for 3,430 meters. A watchtower was built at each corner of the surrounding wall. The outer court holds the Hall of Supreme Harmony where the Dragon Throne of the emperor is located; the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which is used for banquets and imperial examinations as well as the Hall of Central Harmony where the emperor rests and rehearses presentations and speeches.

The inner court is where the imperial residences are found. The emperor used to sleep in the Palace of Heavenly Peace. The Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility is reserved for the emperor’s wedding and the Palace of Union and Peace is the repository of the imperial seals. Emperors of the Qing Dynasty starting with Yongzhen slept in the Mental Cultivation Hall.

Southeast of the center of Beijing is the Temple of Heaven or Tiāntán in Mandarin. It is a Taoist temple complex sitting on 2.73 square kilometers of parkland. It was erected in 1406 and consists of three-gabled main temple called the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The original building was built entirely in wood so closely fitted together there was no need for nails. Connected to this temple by the Vermillion Steps Bridge on the south is the circular Imperial Vault of Heaven, which is surrounded by the circular Echo Wall. It can actually transmit sound over great distances. To its south is the Circular Mount Altar where the emperor prays for good weather. This main altar is lavishly decorated with dragons carved on marble. All throughout the complex you will see representations of heaven (round) and earth (square), multiples of 9 for the emperor as well as representations of the four seasons, 12 months of the year and 12 hours. Dark blue tiles covering the roofs of the temples symbolize the color of heaven. The surrounding park is a hive of activity where tai-chi, calligraphy, tea drinking and people watching are some of the leisurely activities happening.

Northwest from the center of Beijing is the Summer Palace, another UNESCO World Heritage site. Its name in Mandarin is Yíhé Yuán, which means Gardens of Nurtured Harmony and was built in 1750. It was built on Longevity Hill near the man-made Kunming Lake. The hill was also man-made, using soil excavated from the area where the Kunming Lake was created. The Summer Palace is a masterpiece of Chinese garden landscape design, according to UNESCO. It is a recreational park where you will find temples, bridges, palaces and pavilion halls that complement each other in harmonious and aesthetic balance. The palace and its grounds look peaceful and serene with the calm waters of the lake as a backdrop. Some of the buildings you will see here are the Temple of Buddhist Virtue, Sea of Wisdom Temple, Tower of Buddhist incense, and the Cloud-Dispelling Hall.

A trip to Beijing is not complete without visiting the Great Wall. Although part of the wall is crumbling, there are still sections in the Beijing area that are open to tourists. There is the Badaling Pass, a part of the Juyongguan Pass, which is 7.8 meters high; the section of Jinshanling where you can see some of the famous watchtowers; the Mutianyu Great Wall that winds on high craggy mountains and the Jiumenkou, the only bridge part of the Great Wall.

If you are in the mood for some shopping in Beijing, one the good places to go to is the Yashow Market, quite a modern building east of Beijing. You can buy suitcases, shoes and handbags in the basement while designer clothes are sold in the first three floors. You can also find silk fabrics and silk clothing on the third floor, as well as children’s shoes. Electronic products, watches, toys, tea and pearls and jewelry are sold on the fourth floor.

For a change of scenery go to the Cuandixia Village in the Mentougou District’s Zhaitang Town, which is about 90 kilometers from the center of Beijing. The folk village is about 400 years old and had preserved architecture such as courtyards and rooms built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It encompasses an area of 10,000 square meters and fondly called the “Potala Palace” of Beijing. The folk village is one of the best examples of ancient Chinese culture and is often used as the site for Chinese period films and dramas. Outdoor movies and campfire parties are offered by the residents of the village for the evening entertainment of tourists.

If you are after some Chinese art, head over to the Song Zhuang Artist Village on the eastern suburbs of Beijing. It is the city biggest artist community where about 400 artists live. Life here is slow, unrestricted and steady. You will be able to see contemporary Chinese art in the village, exhibited in the 2,000-square meter exhibition hall. Contemporary Chinese artists like Yue Minjun, Liu Wei, Gao Huijun, Wang Qiang, Yang Shaobin, Zhang Huiping and Shao Zhenpeng all live in the village.

For a taste of Chinese history, the Beijing Capital Museum will not disappoint. It is located at Fuxingmenwai Road in west Beijing, its current location. It has a floor area of over 60,000 square meters and home to over 5,000 items displayed in the main hall. It is quite massive and a tour of the museum can last for nearly five hours. English and Japanese language services are available. It also has an interactive multimedia hall that features a presentation entitled The Treasures of the Capital Museum where you will be treated to cultural relics photographed in high definition. A Look at Beijing on the other hand shows archive pictures of Beijing, dramas and operas, traditional folk art and historical sites. The museum has a total of seven floors, of which two are located underground. Some of the cultural relics in the museum were from the New Stone Age. Some of the pieces on display include porcelain ware, paintings and calligraphy works, jades, seals, bronzes, coins, emperor’s crowns, craftwork and needlework. The stele of Emperor Qian Long is a museum treasure. The well-preserved white marble stele stands 6.7 meters high and weighs about 40 tons. The inscription in Han and Manchu languages done in Kai characters speaks of the significance of Beijing as the capital of the country. Themed displays are also included and you can feast your eyes on treasures such as exquisite jade items, delicate porcelain wares, beautiful items made of precious metals and gemstones, calligraphy and Chinese paintings and bronze works.

After visiting the Forbidden City, get a well-earned respite by going over to Beihai Park, which is a former imperial garden. It was built around the 10th century and is one of the largest gardens in China. It is not just a garden but also a showcase of architectural designs. Notable are the Qiónghuá Island at the center of the park, the White Pagoda or Bai Ta built on the highest point of the island; Buddhist temples Chanfu and Yong’an; Five Dragon Pavilions; a garden called the Jingxin Room or Quieting Heart Room and various other structures. The Nine-Dragon Wall near the Five-Dragon Pavilion was built in 1402. The wall is made of seven-color glaze bricks. Decorating the two sides of the wall are nine complete dragons playing in the clouds.

You can see a fine example of Tibetan and Han architectural style and artworks at the Lama Temple or the Yonghe Temple that was built during the Qin Dynasty in 1694. Formerly the residence of the court eunuchs, the temple eventually became an important Tibetan Buddhist monastery and residence of the Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhist monks.

Before all of them get demolished to make way for new roads you should visit the “hutongs,” the narrow alleys associated with Beijing. It is fascinating to see rows of courtyard residences called “siheyuan” join with other residences to form a hutong.

One the things you should not miss seeing is the Xi’an City Wall. It is the largest city wall in the world and is about 13.7 kilometers long. Its base is 18 meters wide while the top of the 12-meter high wall is 15 meters wide. It is best to rent a bike to explore the city as touring on foot will take about 4 to 5 hours. The city wall has four main gates representing the four points of the compass, with three gate towers for each main gate. Overall, there are a total of 18 city gates. Of the four main gates the Yongning Gate or the South Gate is the most magnificent and beautifully decorated. This is the most favorable place for tourists to go up the city wall. It is located near the Bell Tower, a 36-meter high traditional building that stands on the geographical center of the city. This wooden tower was built in 1384 during the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. The bell of the tower is rung at dawn. Close to it is the imposing Drum Tower. You can pose for pictures at the huge drum near the front gate but the rest of the drums on display must not be touched. There is also a drum museum within the tower. A drum is struck at sunset to announce the end of the day. You can climb up the tower to get a great view of the city. Nearby is the Great Mosque of Xi’an. It is a Chinese Muslim mosque built following traditional Chinese architecture so you will not see the familiar onion dome and minarets typical of Muslim mosques. It is the oldest mosque in China, built in 742 AD.

It will be hard to miss the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda located at the southern part of Xian. It was built during the Tang Dynasty, around 652 AD. One of the pagoda’s functions is to hold sutras and Buddha figurines brought from India. The original structure, which was 54 meters tall collapsed after 50 years and was rebuilt by Empress Wu Zetian in 704 AD. Five additional stories were added but the new tower collapsed during and earthquakes and reduced its height by three stories. Repaired and restored during the Ming Dynasty, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda now stands 64 meters high.

Top-most place to visit in Xi’an is the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of unified China. He ruled China from 246 BC to 221 BC. It came into more prominence and became one the top tourist draw in Beijing upon the discovery in 1974 of the Terracotta Army, a collection of 8,000 life-sized soldiers, 150 cavalry horses, 130 chariots and 520 horses. There are also acrobats, musicians, officials and strongmen that were found in other pits. These terracotta figures were discovered by local farmers digging a water well one mile from the burial tomb mound of the emperor in Mount Li. The statues were buried with the emperor, in the belief that they will protect him in the after life. The soldiers vary in height and hairstyle according to their rank and held real weapons. There are a total of four pits that have been excavated. The first pit contains the largest collection with about 6,000 figures. Pit two has the infantry and cavalry units. There are also war chariots in this pit. The command post with high ranking officers as well as a war chariot is in pit three. Pit four is empty.

As you tour the city of Xi’an, do drop by the Famen Temple, a Buddhist temple that was erected during the time of Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Huan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. It is a very popular temple where many relics are directly related to Buddha. You will see a relic of a finger bone, gilt silver tea set, silver and gold gilded incense and sandalwood burners, Bodhisattva costumes embroidered with gold threads and other precious Buddhist relics.

Include in your museum itinerary the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, a history museum housed in a large, modern building located near the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The museum that was built following the Tang style of architecture was constructed in 1983 and was opened to the public in 1991. The Shaanxi Province used to be the seat of feudal dynasties such as the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang and thus have many cultural relics. The 370,000 objects inside the museum were unearthed in the province, such as bronze bells from the Zhou Dynasty, terracotta and ceramic sculptures and mural paintings.

The Forest of Stone Steles is not really a forest but actually a museum that contains a collection of 3,000 different stone steles encompassing the Han Dynasty up to the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing. The steles record some of the cultural achievements in China and the cultural exchanges with other countries. The most notable steles on display here are the Kaicheng Stone Classics, the must-read books of Chinese scholars and intellectuals. The 12 readings or lections were carved on 114 steles and include important passages from the Book of History, the Book of Songs, the Analects of Confucius and the Book of Changes.

For sure all that walking around can tire you out. Refresh you body and your mind with a trip to the Huaqing Hot Springs at the foot of Mount Lishan. The hot spring has been in existence for 6,000 years. Emperor Xuanzong spent a large amount of personal funds to build a palace for Yang Guifei, his concubine, in the site some 3,000 years back. Yang Guifei was said to be among the four most beautiful women born in Ancient China. Even if you do not want to bathe in the spring, you will definitely have a grand time exploring the area with the myriad of beautiful structures that dot the landscape. The scent of the lotus flowers floating on the artificial pond, the sight of the beautiful Yang Guifei immortalized in white marble standing by the lake, the different pools reserved for the emperor, concubines and court officials and the different halls will make your head spin. From April to October, the Song of Unending Sorrow is performed daily.

There are several other temples that you may want to visit while in Beijing, including the Blue Dragon, the Xi Ming, Wolong, Jianfu, Wangji and Xingjiao temples. The Daming Palace was the former residence of the emperors of the Tang Dynasty and is now a national park. Other national parks in Xi’an include those located in Cuihua, Li, Zhongnan, Taibai, Wangshun and Zhuque mountains.

You can also take a look at the former residences of Sun Yat-sen and his wife Soong Ching Ling and drop by the museum to have a look at the life of China’s revolutionary father. Her old house is also here and you can take a look at the many artifacts chronicling events in Chinese politics leading up to the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Most of them are in English so you will not have a difficult time understand them. You can also check out the former residence of Zhou Enlai and visit the museum there while you are at the French Concession.

Shanghai has its share of Buddhist temples. One of the top attractions is the Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple that was founded in 1882. Starting with two jade Buddhas imported from Burma, the temple has been built on donated land. The sitting Buddha is almost two meters tall and weighs about three tons while the smaller one is a reclining Buddha. Singapore donated a larger reclining Buddha made of marble. Several golden Buddha statues as well as golden statue of Guan Yin and Shan Cai can be seen inside the Great Hall.

Shanghai’s largest river, the Huangpu River divides the city into two. The Puxi region is located on its west bank while the Pudong region is on the east. This is a tributary of the Yangtze River. Many lines of the Shanghai Metro run under the river. It is 117 kilometers long and the best views of the city can be seen when you take a cruise along the river. Best time to take the cruise is in the evening when the Puxi and Pudong regions are bathed in neon lights or have a romantic evening when there’s a full moon. However in the daytime, you can clearly see the Yangpu and Nanpu suspension bridges that appear to arch over the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The sight resembles a ball played by two dragons.

For a total mix of the old and the new, you will be fascinated by the beauty of Shanghai Xin Tian Di, an urban district south of Huaihai Zhong Lu. It’s a high-end entertainment, shopping and dining district in Shanghai. It’s quite unique because cars are not allowed here, and the exterior of the district retained the old charm of the place, including the tiles and ancient walls typical of the Shikumen style of housing during the early years. But inside the walls, you will see modern buildings vying for space, housing international theme restaurants, cafés, bars, galleries and boutiques. The area is divided into the North Block and the South Block. The North Block has retained the old Shikumen architecture and ambiance, but still has modern shops and stores while the South Block is the modern side. Both blocks cater to a more affluent lifestyle.

Several tea houses line the streets of Shanghai and you should not miss sipping Chinese tea in one of these shops and order some delicacies. There are even some free snacks placed at the common table.

Visit the Jinshan Donglin Temple to see its three imposing features that made it to the Guinness Book of World Records. Inside the temple is the tallest indoor statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, which is 34.1 meters. It has the highest bronze door in the world, the qian fo door that has a height of 20.1 meters and the Sudhana, which, at 5.4 meters is the world’s tallest Buddha Cloisonné.

For those with children, the Shanghai Happy Valley Amusement Park has more than a hundred attractions and about 12 activity areas that will keep the children occupied for a few hours. While Shanghai sits on the Yangtze River Delta it is far from the beach. However it does not prevent the city dwellers from enjoying some fun at the beach. The Shanghai Jinshan City Beach is a manmade beach complete with golden sand and blue sea water is a 2 square kilometer area. It plays host to world beach volleyball tournaments, annual kite flying competitions and the Fengxia Music Festival in the summer.

Guilin has several hills and caves that will provide you plenty of natural sights to visit and explore. A unique land formation, located at the confluence of the Lijiang River and Taohua River is called the Elephant Trunk Hill. It got its name from the way it looks on the side. A rounded opening was naturally carved from under one section of the hill over the water, leaving an extreme part looking like an elephant’s trunk that is dipped in the water. The carved opening on the other hand is called the Water-Moon Cave.

Another beautiful mountain that is a favorite destination of travelers is the Folded Brocade Hill on the west bank of the Li River. Its rock formations look like folded brocade, hence the name. The hill consists of four peaks, Vantage Point Hill, Yueyue Hill, Crane Peak and Bright Moon Peak. Aside from the naturally folded rock, the hill also has the Wind Cave, its main attraction. A constant cooling breeze flows through it, regardless of the weather conditions outside of the cave. You will find about 100 Buddha images, 200 stone carvings and inscriptions by poets and other literati members etched on its walls, believed to have been created during the Tang and Song dynasties between 618 and 1279 AD. Once you reach the Vantage Point Hill, you will be accorded a fantastic view of the scenery that lies below.

One of the most beautiful caves is the Seven-Star Cave, so-named because the karst mountain peaks somewhat resemble the seven stars of the Big Dipper. The formations inside the cave look gorgeous under artificial light. If you plan to tour this cave, make sure that you keep up with your group and will not be left behind because that lights are turned off after the visitors have passed a section. The inside temperature is a constant 20 °C or 68 °F, so you may want to bring a jacket with you to ward off the chill.

Explore more of Guilin at one go by going on a cruise on the Li River or the Lijiang River. As you cruise along the major portion of its length, you will get to see several of the city’s attractions, including the multi-colored Mountain of Splendid Hues, the Lingqu Canal, Nanxi Park, Duxiu Peak, Giant Banyan, Huashan-Lijiang Folklore Park, Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Rock, and Seven Star Park.

The Reed Flute Cave is a limestone cave that is filled with unique rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes. It got its name from the reeds growing in front of the cave that can really be made into musical flutes. The cave is about 180 million years old and had been a favorite tourist destination for over 1,200 years.

You may want to try your luck in catching a glimpse of the blind Fengyu Red Fish when you visit the Lipu City’s Fengyu Cave and its underground river, reputed to be Asia’s number one cave. However, you will have all the luck in the world in getting an amazing view of the rock formations. The strategically-placed artificial lighting gives the effect of having a magical tour inside the cave. The boat trip inside the cave is one of the more pleasurable ways to see more of the wonderful rock formations and makes the journey along its 3.3 kilometer length seem too short. A walk along a 2-kilometer part of the cave is also possible.

Another interesting natural rock formation is Fubo Hill, also called the Wave-Subduing Hill. It stands 213 meters high in its solitary glory at the west bank of the Li River and spans for a width of 60 meters and a length of 120 meters, extending part of it into the water. Legends abound about the story and history of the hill and its cave. It is said that General Fubo, or Ma Yuan from the Han Dynasty passed by Guilin and threw all the pearls he was carrying into the river, so the hill was named to commemorate him. One cave is named the Huangzhu Dong or Pearl-Returning Cave. In the legend it was said that a fisherman saw a man sleeping with a pearl beside him. The fisherman stole the pearl only to be told by someone that the particular pearl belonged to the dragon king and must be returned and that became the name of the cave. A rock formation is found inside the Pearl-Returning Cave, called the Sword-Testing Cave. It looks like a thin pillar of a cavern whose tip almost touches the water. The legend says that a cavern was hewn by General Fubo from the larger stone pillar to test his sword sharpness. It is actually a huge rock that hangs above the water. With no corrosion, the rock is believed to retain its present shape for several generations.

Still another rock formation is called the cleft rock, said to be where the emperor himself tested the sharpness of his swords. One feature of the hill is the Thousand-Buddha Cave, where you can see about 240 Buddha statues created during the Tang and Song dynasties, as well as 100 carved inscriptions created during the different periods in ancient China’s history.

On the southern slope of the hill is a beautiful courtyard and tearoom surrounded by a well-tended garden. Further up the slope is the Tingtao Pavilion or a pavilion where you can listen to the waves. It affords a great view of the Li River and its surroundings.

Near the Li River is the Jingjiang Prince City, which used to be a forbidden city as Prince Jingjiang, grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Mind Dynasty has a mansion here. The whole Jingjiang Prince City sprawls over 19.78 hectares and is surrounded by a wall. It has four gates, several temples and halls. Within the mansion complex is the Solitary Beauty Peak, a mountain that rises to a height of 217 meters. Its other name is Purple Golden Hill because when bathed by the glow of the sunset, the mountain looks like it is wearing a purple robe tied with a belt of gold.

You can climb the 306 stone steps to the top of the mountain and step into the Solitary Beauty Pavilion for a great view of Guilin. The Yueya or the Crescent Pond is located at the eastern foot of the peak where the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Power stands on its bank. Several caves around the area and some of the notable ones are the Dushu or Study Rock, so called because it looks like a stone room with beds and natural windows. A cave that looks like a house is called the Taiping or Peace Rock. Stalactites on its roof are numerous yet the floor is very smooth. On the other hand, stalactites that are white as snow can be found at the Snow Cave.

Do not forget to sample the three treasures of Guilin – snacks with Guilin chili, made of garlic, fermented soybeans and fresh chili; Guilin pickled tofu and Guilin Sanhua Jiu or rice baijiu (rice wine).

Mount Emei on the other is almost mystical. It is one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. It is the place of enlightenment or bodhimanda of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra, which in Mandarin is called Pǔxián Púsà. It has been alluded that in one of the monasteries of Mount Emei originated the practice of Chinese boxing. It is the site of the first Buddhist temple ever built in China during the 1st century AD. It is a World Heritage Site that has rightly earned its inclusion in the UNESCO list. There are 76 Buddhist monasteries near the mountain top and most of these were constructed during the Ming and Qing eras. The monks did not want to disturb nature and planned the construction of the temples to conform to the landscape, thus some of the temples have terraces of different levels while others required being built on stilts. The climate is sub-arctic so be sure to wear thick clothing in layers to protect you from the cold and wear sturdy and comfortable shoes if you plan to visit the mountain. The mountain top is one of the best places to see the myriad colors of the sunrise.

Facing Mount Emei is the statue of the Giant Buddha of Leshan. It was hewn from the cliff face during the Tang Dynasty. The waters of the nearby river flow below the Buddha’s feet. It is the world’s tallest pre-modern statue of Buddha and also the largest stone carved in his likeness. The Maitreya Buddha is depicted in a sitting position with his hands placed over his knees. It is 71 meters or 233 feet tall with 23-meter wide shoulders. The smallest toenail of the Buddha can easily allow an adult person to sit on it. According to legend the construction started in 713 in the belief that the Buddha will calm the turbulent waters that wreak havoc on the ships traversing the river. The amount of rocks removed from the cliff during the carving of the Buddha fell into the deep river, making it shallower and thus taming the currents.

Sichuan is a place where so much natural beauty can be such a feast for the senses. Huanlong, also a World Heritage Site has several caves, waterfalls, hot springs and colorful bodies of water. The scenery is breathtaking and the atmosphere is very fresh. The main attraction here is the travertine (calcium deposits from mineral/hot springs) landscape that looks like a 3.6 kilometer-long golden dragon and the fascinating pools with waters colored in different shades of brown, yellow, blue and green.

Lijiang is a city whose history goes as far back as 800 years ago. Visiting the old city is like going back in time and you will see it in the history and culture of its native people, the Naxi or Nakhi and the city’s architecture. Cars are not allowed in the old city and you will have fun walking on cobbled streets. From the city you can take in the Jade Water Village, which is the cultural center of the Dong Ba culture where you can see a curious large furnace near the sacrificial ground, a golden statue of a bird sacred to the local people, and maybe catch a performance of Dongjing music, an ancient Taoist ritual music performed by the Nakhi. The village sits by the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a picturesque mountain where the Tiger Leaping Gorge is located. Its name was derived from the legend that that a tiger leapt across the gorge at its narrowest point, which was about 25 meters wide to escape hunters. The gorge is not navigable because of the huge boulders and the strong current of the rapids. The gorge is vying for the distinction of being the world’s deepest river canyon. Mining for crystals around the gorge and the surrounding areas are still ongoing.

Six rivers run through the city and several lakes dot the city, with nine lakes measuring more than 30 square kilometers. The fields of nearby Luoping are planted with canola and it can be awash with golden yellow color when the plants are in bloom

If you are physically fit and feeling extra vigorous, get your gear and hike along the Lancang or Mekong River. Or if you are already in Kumning, head off to An’ning for a heavenly soak in the therapeutic waters of the hot springs there. If you want to be refreshed, get your bathing suits ready and go to Fuxian Lake, said to be the cleanest and deepest lake in China.

For some souvenirs, do not forget to get a few boxes of Puer tea, which is very famous in Yunnan. And you must not leave Yunnan without having a taste of the Guo Qiao Mi Xian rice noodles with assorted vegetables, the tofu from the county of Shi Ping and the sauerkraut from the country of Xinping. Also have a bite of Ru Bing or Yunnan goat cheese that is usually fried and served with meat or mushrooms and vegetables. They also have a their own version of mashed potatoes, although theirs is spicier and sprinkled with plenty of green onions. If you like fried beans that are almost crispy, then have an order of Su Hong Dou. Wash down these local delicacies with some yak butter tea or a cup or two of Yunnan coffee or a glass of red wine.

Two cities are very popular in Guangdong, Qingyuan which is gaining popularity for its hot springs and white water rafting at Gulongxia canyon and at Huangtengxia; and the city of Guangzhou, the capital of the province, its largest city and the cultural and economic center of Guangdong.

During the Song Dynasty there were Eight Sights of Guangzhou that consist of temples, lakes, rivers and buildings. From the time of the Yuan Dynasty up to the Qing Dynasty, these sights have been changed while some have been retained and added to. By 2011, the general public had chosen a new list, which includes the Nansha Wetland Park or Shi Di Chang Wan, the Guangzhou Science City (Ke Cheng Jin Xiu), Tower Shining Through the Bew Town or the Ta Tao Xin Cheng and the Pearl River Segment called the Zhu Shui Ling Guang or the Pearl River Flowing and Shining, which includes the Chigang Pagoda, Flower City Square, Guangzhou Twin Towers and the Canton Tower.

The list also includes the ancient residences in Xiguan, Litchi Bay and Liwan Lake, whichare collectively known as the Wonderful Scenery of Liwan or Li Wan Sheng Jing. The Guangdong Folk Craftwork Museum and the Chen Clan Academy are in the Ancient Academy Leaving a Good Name category or Gu Ci Liu Fang. For the Elegance and Talent of Yuexiu Mountain or Yue Xiu Feng Hua, the category includes the Zhenhai Tower, the Yuexiu Mountain, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Monument and Five Rams Statue among others. Also in the list is the Baiyun Mountain and Yuntai Garden that is known as the Yun Shan Die Cui tourist sights.

Of particular note is the Five Rams statue when you visit the Yuexiu Park, the city of Guangzhou’s largest park sprawled over an area that is 860,000 meters in size. It’s on seven hills of Yuexiu Mountains and has three artificial lakes. The City Wall of the Ming Dynasty, the Zhenhai Tower and the Square Cannon Site are all here.

The emblem of Guangzhou City is the Five Rams statue, which was borne out of legend that supposedly occurred 2,000 years ago. During that time Guangzhou was barren and the people were facing famine when five immortals riding five rams and wearing five-color garments came into the city with sheaves of rice. The immortals gave the city their blessings and left the rice while the rams turned into stone. From them on, the city became prosperous and people came to settle and populate the city.

China is full of legends and intangible correlations between legends and reality are woven into the history of the country. The Zhenhai Tower in Guangzhou is no exception. It was said to have been erected because it was supposed to run counter to the omen of a new emperor rising in power. Zhu Liangzu, the Yongjia Marquis during the Ming Dynasty was the one responsible for the tower’s construction in 1380. Today it has been converted into the city’s historical museum.

If you are interested in archeology and geography you will find it fascinating to roam the Baojing Palace, a karst cave with beautiful rock formations including hollow tubes hanging from the cave’s ceiling while imposing and massive pillars rise from the ground. Ancient tools dating back from the Paleolithic period some 100,000 years ago were found in the riverbed inside the cave. About two kilometers away is the Biluo Cave where you will find 120 inscriptions carved directly on the face of the cliff by poets and writers of ancient China. These inscriptions are more than 1,000 years old.

Visit the Sankeng Hot Springs for a therapeutic dip, explore the Taihe Ancient Cave and hike around Huanghua Lake or for a glimpse of a beautiful sunrise over Snow Mountain, arrange for some accommodation at Feilai Temple, a Buddhist temple in Dejen County. The temple was built during the Song and Yuan dynasties. An interesting feature here is the unpainted realistic clay dragons that snake around two big columns.

Guangdong is full of historical and natural areas, churches and temples to visit that can give a good slice of China’s historical past without venturing into other destinations. For the Roman Catholics, one stop you can make is to the Sacred Heart Church while those interested in history should visit the Museum and Tomb of the Southern Yue Kings, where the ancient tomb of the Nanyue King Wang Mu was discovered in 1983. The museum contains hundreds of artifacts including Chinese jade, metals and Chinese bronzes.

Less than a kilometer from the heart of the city is the Six Banyan Tree Temple (Liu Rong Temple) and Flower Pagoda. The complex was built in 573 and features the 57.6-meter tall Flower Pagoda. When you enter the pagoda’s main hall you will be greeted by three 6-meter bronze Buddhas, each one weighing 10 tons. These Buddha statues were created in 1663. Another 5-ton copper pillar cast with one thousand Buddhas, which was made during the Yuan Dynasty. You can climb up to the top of the pagoda for a great view of the city. On top of the pagoda is a decorative brass rod that weighs about 5 tons.

In another 4th century Buddhist temple called the Guangxao Si or Bright Filial Piety Temple is a wooden Laughing Buddha, which is considered as the oldest one in the city.

For those looking for bargains and souvenir items for friends and family back home, you can find several interesting items at the Haizhu Wholesale Market, a combination of a street and flea market where you will find a wide array of novelty and gift items, foodstuff, pens and other writing instruments as well as toys.

You will be delighted to eat in any of the restaurants in Guangdong as the city’s cuisine is very well known outside of China. Cantonese cuisine includes dumplings, buns, rice rolls, turnip cakes, stir-fry vegetables, congee with century eggs, steamed fish with a bit of soy sauce, green onions and ginger, noodles, slow-cooked soups, deep fried dishes, smoked, barbecued and roasted meats and fresh seafood. Cantonese dishes are traditional cooked with flavorful sauces and condiments such as sugar, salt, soy sauce, rice wine,

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