The ideal places to hunt snow for winter lovers in Asia

If you are not looking to escape the chill of winter, but instead want to take in wondrous snow-covered views while exploring some of Asia’s best destinations, you will find that and more by heading to one of these spectacular places.

Photo @fswildvet

Sapporo, Japan

There are many places in Japan to experience snow, but one of the most popular is Sapporo. This city has a lot of ski resorts only 20 to 60 minutes ride away by car, so, adding that to your day trip itinerary would be bearable.

If you are a beginner, you could try sledding or snow-tubing, on the other hand, if you are not interested in snow games, you may want to time your visit during Snow Festival which usually takes place in February. Despite the freezing cold temperatures, more than 2 million people go to the Hokkaido capital to witness the snow come alive annually and Japan is well-known as one of the snow countries in Asia.

Mongolia

Looking for a snowy place that is unique and far the flocks of tourists? Why not pack your bags, and head to Mongolia in winter? With its majestic landscapes and countryside covered in white, snow seekers will absolutely find their bliss in this pristine and untouched land. For bona fide adventurers, Mongolia can help you unleash your wild side with its mishmash of outdoor thrills, such as canoeing, horseback riding, mountain climbing and skiing.

Harbin, China

The “Ice City,” as Harbin is known, hosts one of the world’s largest snow and ice festivals, the Harbin International Ice Festival. Held throughout much of January and into February, it features some 1,500 larger-than-life ice structures that shimmer with multi-colored lights. Every year there is a different theme, varying from mythical beasts to famous landmarks from across the globe. Harbin and the surrounding area also offers some of the best winter sports opportunities on the planet, including skiing and snow boarding.

Lhasa, Tibet

If you do not mind, or perhaps even revel in, extreme winters, by heading to Lhasa you will enjoy the breathtaking beauty of one of the world’s most jaw-dropping snowy wonderlands with fewer crowds and cheaper hotel accommodation. While it will be cold, it will not be nearly as chilly as you might think, particularly as December and January are dry months and the high-altitude sun is almost always in abundance, making it feel warmer than the temperature would have you believe.

You can also enjoy festivals, like the Monlam, or Great Prayer Festival, in which monks and artisans create colorful butter sculptures for burning during the Butter Oil Lantern Festival. If you are here for the Tibetan New Year, Losar, you can celebrate with the locals by watching dance performances at Potala Palace and even hanging up prayer flags on the temples and mountain tops.

Sapa, Vietnam

Being surrounded by many top summer destinations like Bali, Phuket, and Boracay, it may come as a surprise to you that Vietnam also experiences snow! Even though snowboards and toboggans are not commonplace to Vietnam, you will surely fall in love when what used to be green fields of rice in summer turn to white during the winter.

Beijing, China

Traveling to China during winter? China’s capital gets pretty cold in December, with the average temperature sitting around negative 2 degrees Celsius. Besides being a low-tourist month (you can enjoy super affordable fights and hotels in December in Beijing), you likely find snowfall in this city during Yuletide getaway.

Most of the city’s ski resorts open their doors, when December sets in, meaning you can try your hand at tobogganing, snowboarding and skiing. If you are lucky to catch some snow during your visit, make your way to The Summer Palace, for breathtaking snow views. And do not forget to check out the world renowned Great Wall of China, to enjoy elevated view of its snowy surrounding landscapes.

Shimla, India

Fabulous for a nature retreat, Shimla is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, while monkeys roam freely along the overhead cables, casually watching the shoppers below. It enjoys snowy winters thanks to its northern latitude, making it an ideal place to escape the intense heat that so many other cities in India endure.

Nearby at Wildflower Hall, you will find a haven for ski enthusiasts seeking refuge from crowded, overly commercialized resorts. This premiere mountaintop resort will make you feel as if you are stepping into the pages of a fairy-tale with its gorgeous vistas of endless forest and snow-capped mountain peaks. Spend your days taking part in whatever winter sport suits your fancy, and indulging in holistic spa treatments, complemented by more extraordinary views.

Read more: 7 Asian dishes you will love during winter

Source Internet

Top most impressive architecture works in Shanghai

The city of Shanghai has undergone some of the fastest and most dramatic changes over recent years. With so many buildings to choose from and so many fascinating architectural feats presently in progression, this list is just a drop in the ocean of the awe-inspiring architecture to be found in the bustling city of Shanghai.

1933 Slaughterhouse

This utterly vast, concrete dominated space is far from its initial use as an abattoir, now home to shops and upscale restaurants. However, the building still maintains some of this previous eeriness, with many of its rooms and walkways left empty and the wide corridors and cattle signs as a constant reminder of its history. A labyrinth of concrete, the building has a circular center that is connected to the exterior walls via 26 ‘air bridges’. These bridges jut out of the walls at obscure angles, giving a different view depending on where you stand within the building.

Longhua Temple

This stunning temple serves as Shanghai’s largest and oldest monastery, dating back to the 10th Century. Like most ancient structures in the city, it has undergone a rich and violent history of war and fire, with much of the building being renovated. It has rained many original features and is considered to be the most authentic temple in Shanghai. An inspiring place to visit, with the name referencing the Pipal tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment, Longhua temple was constructed in 242 AD and covers a vast 20,000 meters squared.

Jin Mao Tower

This 88-story skyscraper was designed by architect Fazlur Khan and represents an Art Deco/modern style. Housing the Shanghai Grand Hotel and a selection of offices, the structure has a beautiful 33-floor atrium. Externally, the building is covered in an aluminium alloy lattice frame, which encloses a wall of glass, granite, stainless steel and aluminium. Sections of the skyscraper stack on top of one another elegantly, and the design intensifies as the build rises taller into the sky, twisting to its peak, an observation deck topped with a pinnacle.

Giant Interactive Group Corporate HQ

Designed by Morphosis Architecture, this long, angular building exists around canals and a man-made lake. Home to office spaces, executive suites, a library, an auditorium, exhibition space and cafe, this ‘compact village’ is impressive both inside and out. With its natural focus, the structure is designed to maximize natural light and also features a green roof to help control temperature. This open feeling continues throughout the building with its composition of glass, straight sleek lines and neutral colors set against joyful shades of natural green. One end of the build hovers over the man-made lake, whilst the rest of the building snakes back into the landscape behind.

Tony’s Farm

Promoting sustainable, green and modern architectural design, this building was structured around an existing warehouse for the largest organic food farm in Shanghai. Using old freight containers, Playze designed the build to appear both functional and comfortable as a hospitality destination. Holes in the green containers create a playful use of sunlight during the day and at night make the exterior walls of the build appear dotted with lights. Surrounded by wooden walkways, the 78 containers maintain a cool character, with the previous warehouse sitting around the back.

Nanpu Bridge

Shanghai is renowned for its many bridges, with a total of six crossing the Huangpu River. The fourth-longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, the Nanpu Bridge was built in 1991 and was the first steel and concrete cable-stayed bridge in Shanghai. Leading in from Puxi, the bridge features an astonishing spiral, an engineering feat admired by professionals all over the world. Large towers soar 150m tall, holding the cables in place, majestically permitting drivers to pass through. The turn of the road also enables passers to view the bridge and admire its grand structure.

Oriental Pearl Tower

Situated on The Bund, this TV and radio tower is a landmark of Shanghai, and rightly so. Its futurist architectural style makes it stand out even against the diverse collection of buildings and structures in this area. Finalized in 1994, it held the prize for China’s tallest structure up until 2007. Made up of a total of 11 spheres, the largest and most central globe is supported by a number of legs that drive deep underground. Perched on the edge of Lujiazui, right by the edge of the riverbank, the bizarre shape of the tower is highlighted at night, when a series of lights shine from the structure, enhancing it as a national landmark.

Shanghai Oriental Sports Center

Like several of Shanghai’s best structures, the Oriental Sports Center can be found along the Huangpu River, on the Eastern side. Made up of three main buildings, this structure resonates a grandiose style. Designed by GMP Architects, the design of the sports center reflects the overall theme of water as it sits beside canals and a man-made lake. Tall, curved sides of the center rise upwards, reminiscent of waves or as many suggest, the sails of a boat. These broad, overreaching arches define all parts of the center but each are impressive in their own right. Inside the gleaming white features enhance the natural light that bounces off the water’s surface.

See more: 5 markets in Shanghai you must visit once in your life

Source: Internet

5 great souvenirs you should buy in Taichung

Taichung is an incredible city that is fast becoming one of Taiwan’s most popular holiday destinations. With so many things to see and do it’s perfect for a short weekend trip. But what kind of souvenirs can you buy that are uniquely local? Here are five of the best locally made souvenirs you can pick up next time you’re in this wonderful west coast city.

Suncake

Ask any Taiwanese person what they want you to bring back from your trip to Taichung, and they will scream ‘Suncakes!’ Yes, it’s the most popular thing you can buy in Taichung (aside from pearl milk tea but who’s taking that on a plane?) but don’t assume that it’s some bland, tasteless cake that people buy simply because it’s the done thing. Suncake is a flaky pastry with a sweet maltose filling but lately, bakeries have been getting quite creative with their fillings, and you can now find a wide variety of flavors. There are dozens of bakeries throughout the city, but perhaps the most famous is Chia Wia Sina. Expect to see long queues at the front door though as this place is incredibly popular. Their Milk SunCake was recently voted one of the best souvenirs to take home from Taichung.

Cheese-filled mochi

You’ve probably heard of the sticky and chewy dessert known as mochi, and you may have even tried some with various fillings such as green tea or red bean. It’s highly unlikely though that you’ve tried anything like Paochuan Food Company’s cheese-filled mochi.

It doesn’t sound too appetizing, but then again many of the world’s most delicious snacks started out as a weird combination of two contrasting foods. And this is one of those times when such a strange marriage of ingredients actually works.

Fengyuan lacquer art

Fengyuan in Taichung was once the center of all things lacquer here in Taiwan. In fact, at one point it was said that 99% of the country’s lacquerwares were made in the area. Today, you’ll find that it’s home to the Fengyuan Lacquer Art Museum which is a great place to learn about the history of lacquer art during the Japanese colonial period. It’s also the best place to pick up a locally made piece of lacquerware. From chopsticks to bowls, there are plenty of brightly colored pieces to choose from, and they’re the ideal souvenir for your living room.

Pineapple cakes

Another one of those popular souvenirs that you just can’t leave the city without, pineapple cakes are plentiful in Taichung. The problem is, which ones are the best?

Dawn Cake can probably take that accolade as their pineapple cakes are incredible. They are without doubt the best locally made cakes, and many people consider them to be on a par with, or even better than the more famous Chia Te or SunnyHills cakes.

Waipu wine

Many people laugh at the notion that Taiwan can produce high-quality wines but that’s simply down to a lack of wine-producing history. However, that is all about to change as Waipu winemakers Shu Sheng have won international acclaim for their products. Started back in 2000 by a local farmer and a winemaker, the vineyard is slowly gaining recognition as one of the best producers of wine in Asia, with their wines winning many awards across the globe.

Read more : Rainbow Village, a must-visit place in Taichung

Source Internet