A traveler might wonder where to begin in a foreign country that is slightly smaller than the size of the United States with over 5,000 years of recorded history. The wonderful advantage to traveling China is that there is no right or wrong place to start. The old-fashioned mien of Chinese culture is not just manifested in one location alone — it is manifested everywhere, regardless of province (totaling 23), autonomous region (five*) or municipality (four). The Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau are also part of China’s government under a “one country, two systems” law.
The Great Wall of China is the Tip of the Iceberg in Terms of Attractions
May they be man-made or natural, China boasts of a treasure-trove of wonders. Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, is located in the southern Tibetan border. Take in the inspiring Himalayan view then head north and travel through the majestic Three Gorges, a 120-mile stretch of plummeting cliffs along the Yangtze River. Or experience recent history by standing right smack dab in the middle of Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest plaza, located in China’s capital of Beijing. While in Beijing, visit the Imperial Palace and find out why it is known as the Forbidden City. And due south, Xian is the place to visit for some authentic artifacts from the Qin Dynasty — imagine a surplus of six thousand Terracotta warriors arranged in a battle stance covering over 14,000 square meters of land!
Visiting Hong Kong and Macau is Also a Way to Experience China
These two regions are governed with a significant degree of political and commercial autonomy and are China’s most prominent examples of the fusion of cultures brought about by colonialism. Compared to the rest of China, traveling to these provinces is an experience best described as unusual, but if you are looking for genuine Chinese lifestyle and culture, you will not be disappointed at all.
Hong Kong became one of our territories in 1841 as our ancestors had been heavily involved for centuries in trading of both silk and tea. This territory would then heavily expand and following exposure to numerous and diverse cultural and commercial influences, Hong Kong would become a major tourist attraction thereafter. Despite China regaining sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, it was agreed that there would be no changes to the status quo of a democratic government setup. As a result, Hong Kong is now a nonpareil figurehead in terms of architectural milestones, cutting-edge technology and neo-progressive ideology in varied aspects of culture.
Located west thirty-five miles of Hong Kong and located across the delta of the Pear River, Macau is an enclave located on a peninsula, with small islands surrounding it. We would have to go back to 1887, when Portugal established sovereignty over Macau, which followed years upon years of trading and travel between both locales. The Portuguese finally ceded all authority back to China in 1999. Macau’s cultural, gastronomic and artistic milieu can be most succinctly described as a quaint confluence of Chinese and Portuguese elements. It is not just common, but even ubiquitous for the average Macau denizen to top off their lunch with an espresso and a pastry then eat Dim sum for dinner, washed down with a fine wine from Portugal.
Be sure to set aside ample time to explore Hong Kong and Macau as part of your itinerary to travel China!
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