China is the most populated country in the world, home to approximately 18% of the world's population. As a matter of fact, one of our largest Canadian cities, Calgary, would be considered a small town here. Being as many cities in China are overcrowded, there is a certain lack of personal space. China is such a beautiful country, in fact it has 52 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranking 2nd in the world. One thing to know about China when traveling here is that English won't get you very far as most residents speak only Chinese. Your best chance to find someone that speaks English is a young student. Real Chinese food is much different than its North American counterpart, so don't expect to find any ginger beef or sweet and sour pork. Be prepared for air pollution so if you have allergies or are asthmatic make sure you have your inhaler on you at all times. Getting around the major cities is quite easy as they have very modern and efficient subway system. Also when using the subway system, you will find many people run or speed walk. This is however not necessary, as another train will be there in a matter of a few minutes. It's more important that you take your time to ensure you're getting on the right train.
Beijing is the current capital city of China. It has many historical monuments including the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Summer Palace, all which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Great Wall is known to be one of the most impressive architectural feats in history. It is one of the few man made structures that can be seen from space. In fact, the Great Wall is hailed as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. When visiting here, it is important that you don't stay later than closing time, otherwise you will have to walk down the mountain which is fairly steep and tiring especially after walking up and down the wall. The Forbidden City is a palace complex that served as the home of the emperors for about 500 years. Today, it is among the top tourist attractions in the country. For those interested in visiting, be prepared for huge crowds and long lines. We visited China during the winter, so for us it wasn't so busy. The Summer Palace is the largest and most well preserved royal park in China. Tiananmen Square houses the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China. It is a very busy place that doesn't allow pictures inside. Because of the large amount of people visiting the square, people are ushered through the area very quickly.
Xian is famous for its discovery of the Terracotta Army. The entire site is massive and they have 3 different sections all equally impressive. They are still currently uncovering and restoring more of this archaeological site. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as one of the 7 Archaeological Wonders of the World. The city also has many pagodas, the most popular of which is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Here you can learn about buddhist history and Chinese culture.
Chengdu is a city known for its spicy and delicious food. We would definitely recommend trying an authentic Chinese hot pot restaurant here. One of the more popular tourist attractions in the city is the Research Base for Panda Breeding, because really who doesn't love pandas? Many Chinese joke that pandas are their international ambassadors. Thanks to breeding centres such as this, giant pandas have been officially removed from the list of the endangered species. Part of the reason that pandas are so popular is likely because they remind us of ourselves and they also live an ideal lifestyle which involves sleeping, eating, playing and the occasional sex. One of the major reasons giant pandas started becoming extinct is because they are often too lazy to have sex. While inside the enclosure, beware of sneaky red pandas.
Guilin is a popular vacation destination for many Chinese citizens. It has many beautiful natural attractions including the Li River, Yangshuo and Elephant Trunk Hill. It is also a less crowded and more quiet area in China. The scenery in the picture of Li River is displayed on one of their bills.
Zhangjiajie was our favourite place in China. The scenery in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is quite magical. The movie Avatar was filmed in this park. Their mountains look very different from our Canadian Rocky Mountains because of the way they are formed. Our mountains are the result of two tectonic plates colliding one pushing the other one up, whereas the mountains here are formed by ocean currents as this area many years ago was under water. The park boasts the longest cable car in the world which takes you 28 minutes one way from downtown to the top of the mountain. On top of the mountain, you will find the glass walkway that takes you around the mountain on the face of the cliff. Recently, the park has added a large glass bottom bridge. Unfortunately for us, it wasn't finished while we were there. The park also features the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world which is built on the side of a cliff.
Shanghai, the business capital of China, is significantly more advanced than any of the other cities in China. In recent years, Shanghai's business centre has grown exponentially and now showcases the Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower. If you do travel here, we would recommend visiting the Bund at night, where they offer a very affordable cruise around the bay giving you a chance to take in the lights of the city. The Oriental Pearl Tower stands 468 metres tall and is currently the 5th tallest tower in the world. For those who like to shop, Shanghai is the place to be. Here you could find anything from ultra high end designer brands to very inexpensive items.
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