Best attractions to visit in Guangzhou, China

Designated as a special economic zone, Guangzhou was the first part of China to boom and the city continues to lead the country’s economic growth. Below are some of the best sights in Guangzhou.

Guangzhou Opera House

Recipient of a raft of international architecture awards and a blushing amount of critical praise the Guangzhou Opera House is a flagship construction projects and one of the most impressive Opera houses ever built. Accurately described as smooth pebbles floating on a river bed, the building is at once relentlessly urban but also subtle, fluid with easy contours and unpredictable turns. While it’s the architecture that’s the attraction the hall is also​ a regular host to world-class operas and theatre.

Shamian Island

Shamian Island was the site of the original foreign trading settlement – and foreigners from Britain, France and several other countries were confined to the island. Much of the colonial architecture they erected remains, from grand, veranda fronted buildings to the Protestant and Catholic churches that remain in service. It’s still possible to get an impression of a colonial time gone by. Read the full guide to Shamian Island.

Canton Tower

China has an almost addictive attraction of throwing up skyscrapers and nowhere is it more noticeable than Hong Kong and Guangzhou. The twisting, turning, gravity defying Canton Tower was once – albeit briefly – the tallest building in the world and still towers over the first of skyscrapers in the city. Nicknamed twisted firewood due to its sweeping braided appearance, visitors can take in the view from the 108th-floor observation deck or take a trip around the very top of the tower inside a cable car. As well as views over Guangzhou there are also a number of swanky restaurants in the tower.

Six Banyan Tree Temple

Guangzhou doesn’t really revel in its history as much as it should. Few cities can claim to have influenced the world as much as Guangzhou – from gunpowder and fireworks to its immigrants who can be found in every far-flung corner of the globe. One of the best historical sights in Guangzhou is the Six Banyan Tree Temple. Originally built back in 537, the current building dates from 1373 and was restored in the 1900s. The complex features a number of ornate temples and halls that you are free to visit as well as an impressive and – when climbed – exhausting – eight-storey pagoda.

Chime Long Circus

There is good news and there is bad news here. The Chime Long circus is one of the biggest and the best in the world, employing world class acrobats, clowns and dancers who perform in Broadway quality choreographed stunts and acts. The performances are on par with everything Cirque du Soleil can throw together – some would say better. The bad news is the animals. Despite a burgeoning international reputation the Chime Long Circus continues to involve animals – including tired looking elephants and grumpy looking bears – in their acts. They’re not entertaining and they’re not needed and until Chime Long does away with them you may feel like crossing them off your visit list.

See more: The worth-visiting cities in China

Source: Internet

Explore the most beautiful regions of China in 7 days

China is the world’s second-largest country and home to a plethora of different natural environments to explore. From some of the highest mountains the earth has to offer in Tibet, all the way to the harsh deserts of Xinjiang Province in the west, China’s landscapes are varied and breathtaking.

Everything about China’s most beautiful regions is done in superlatives. The Pacific coast of this giant country stretches for an incredible 9,000 miles. It boasts the second and sixth-longest rivers in the world, the Yangtze and the Yellow River. It is got subtropical forests in the south, along with towering mountain ranges. All this nature, combined with one of the world’s oldest cultures makes China a dream destination.

Northern China

The northern region used to the culture center of China. It is also the cradle of Chinese civilization. Here are three greatest ancient capital cities, Beijing, Xian and Luoyang. Dunhuang, the important destination of ancient Silk Road, has the most fabulous Buddhism arts. Pingyao is famous for its Shanxi Merchants’ culture. Datong is fascinating for its Buddhism sculpture art and gorgeous temples.

Southwestern China

The southwestern area is one of the most charming region in China. Here you can explore wild and unique ethnic culture in Lijiang, find the last horizon in Shangri-La, get close contact with the Giant Pandas in Chengdu, climb one of the top four Buddhism mountains, Mount Emei and visit Giant Buddha in Leshan, enjoy amazing waterscape of Jiuzhaigou, take a spiritual trip to Lhasa, etc.

Northwestern China

Spreading all the way from Xi’an and its Terracotta Warriors in the east to the western province of Xinjiang, Northwestern China is a truly vast area. This is a wild region, where the Silk Route passed through for hundreds of years. Only four percent of China’s population live here in the deserts, mountains, and wide-open plains.

To really feel the wilderness, a trip to Dunhuang would be a good idea. This oasis is situated on the very edge of the unforgiving Taklamakan Desert and is famed for its Buddhist cave art. Here, you can catch a glimpse of the famous Crescent Lake and the enormous Singing Sand Dune. This place is all about desert scenery that is for sure.

See more: Top 10 attractions to visit in Xian, China

Southern Central China

The best highlight of the southern central China consists of three parts including the stunning natural landscape, fascinating Lingnan culture and vibrant representative cities of China' Speed.

Diverse landforms creates unique vision feast for eyes, dominating stone mountains of Avatar world Zhangjiajie, peaceful and charming karst landscape in Guilin. The Yangtze River shows her most beautiful face in this region. Don’t miss the Oriental Pearl - Hong Kong, Gambling Paradise - Macau, Shenzhen, Kung Fu and Cantonese Cuisine City – Foshan.

East China

Historically where Qing Dynasty China was forced to open ports like Qingdao, Shanghai, and Xiamen (aka Amoy) to the west, East China is now one of China’s most booming regions. Places like Suzhou are heavily visited for their classical gardens, for instance, and so is West Lake, in the center of Hangzhou.

But for wilder nature, head to Anji County in Zhejiang Province, home to a sprawling 235 square miles of bamboo forest. Lake Tai, one of China’s largest lakes, features over 90 islands and is linked to Beijing by the famous Grand Canal, the oldest canal in the world. Mount Wuyi is a scenic area in Fujian Province. It is an ancient volcanic landscape with masses of gorges and caves, and ample opportunities to see the improbable curves of the Nine Bend River from on high.

Source Internet

Top attractions in Tainan, Taiwan

Tainan is a small city located in southern Taiwan and also the oldest city, is the old capital of Taiwan with a rich and long-standing culture, cool climate and excellent cuisine. Read this article to know about Tainan's best attractions for first timers.

Confucius Temple

Welcome to Taiwan’s oldest Confucian Shrine! Of all the Confucius temples around the island, this one is my favorite. The halls are set in front of a vast park filled with huge banyan trees where people chat, fly kites, paint or just walk around. There’s no better place to be on a sunny day when the temple’s pink walls contrast against a deep blue sky.

Great South Gate of Tainan

Remain of Tainan’s old defences. From the Confucius Temple, it’s only a short walk along Nanmen Rd. to get to the Great South Gate. The massive double gate was completed in 1835. Set in yet another pleasant park, the giant structure is a reminder of Tainan’s military past as well as one of the most photogenic attraction in town.

Koxinga’s Shrine

Extremely popular with Chinese tourists from the mainland, this memorial is dedicated to Koxinga – the Ming Dynasty general who kicked the Dutch out of Taiwan in 1662. You can see a statue of the man in the main hall as well as tablets commemorating his army along the side corridors. A small museum by the shrine has traditional Taiwanese puppets on display.

National Museum of Taiwanese Literature

Set in an attractive neoclassical building that used to be Tainan’s City Hall, this museum showcases exhibitions that detail the progression of Taiwanese literature since the Japanese occupation. For most, the building’s architecture is the main interest. It was built by the Japanese in 1916. Most displays have English descriptions. It’s just a short walk north of Confucius Temple.

Chihkan Towers

Due to its central location and its proximity to lots of good restaurants, this popular landmark seems to attract more tourists than any other attraction in town. Even if you don’t like crowds, you should still put Chihkan Towers on your travel itinerary.

When you enter the site, take a right to make your way to the pavilions. You’ll see a statue of a helpless Dutch bowing his head in front of a powerful Koxinga.

Climb up the two Fujianese-style pavilions to get good views over the city. The nine tablets lined up on the back of stone turtles at the base of the first pavilion date back as far as 1786. They were sent by the Chinese Emperor of that era.

Anping Fort

Also called Fort Zeelandia, this impressive bastion was originally built by the Dutch in 1653. All that remains from the original structure are a few crumbling walls that used to make up the foundation. The streets around the fort turn into a lively market on weekends and the entire area enjoys a carnival atmosphere as hundreds of Taiwanese tourists show up to buy snacks and play games.

Eternal Golden Castle

The fortress is set in the biggest and most beautiful park I’ve seen in Taiwan. Unsurprisingly, tons of Taiwanese flock here on weekends to stroll around the fortifications.

It used to be an important piece of Taiwan’s defense against the Japanese. Military buffs will enjoy the cannons on top of the citadel. Photographers will want to shoot the front gate early morning. I highly recommend to walk between this site and Anping Fort.

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