China
The muddy waters of the Li River churn in the erratic wind that blows in. The weather is unusually inclement for a summer evening. Dark clouds hover above the pointed ridges of the Karst mountains to our north. Hwang stops rowing and points downstream towards a bend of the river. A couple of bamboo rafts have suddenly popped into view, bobbing in the water, slowly moving towards us.
It was Fall of 2019 and Beijing was beautiful, with ripe persimmons hanging from trees like lanterns and golden gingko trees glowing in the park. But as the days grew shorter and the arctic chill set in, my spirits sank. Thanksgiving was just around the corner, and I longed for home. It was our first holiday away from the U.S. during our two-year assignment of living in Beijing for my husband’s job.
Leaving Canada for a three-week cultural adventure in China, I become infected with the travel bug that now fuels my future.
China was a place I wound up in much by accident. It’s a place that tends to give most people intense culture shock, but once it wears off, you’re left to marvel at this beautiful place surrounding you.
Travelling by train in China is not as difficult as you might first think, though buying tickets can be a fraught affair with the many booths and total lack of any language other than Chinese which can confront you.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We've all heard this saying before. Just like seeing replicas of designer handbags and clothes, there are replicas of the world's most famous architectural landmarks.
I have already traveled most of Asia, but never really had the chance to see the Great Wall of China. It was the end of May, when I touched down in Beijing after traveling both Japan and Mongolia for 8 days each. Using Beijing as a 3-day layover on the way home to Germany seemed like a good idea in order to finally check-off this historical landmark from my bucket list.
China is not happy with Australia after its prime minister extended its travel ban of foreign nationals leaving the country for seven additional days in the wake of a deepening Coronavirus crisis. There will be a weekly review of the China Travel ban, and its decision is the result of businesses warning that it could add to the damage of the domestic economy thanks to the virus and the communist regime’s protests. According to a Chinese embassy spokesperson, since the COVID-19 outbreak, China has taken broad, strict prevention and control measures that have surpassed the WHO and International Health Regulations’ recommendations. The spokesperson said this is leading to positive results, and the epidemic will soon be over. WHO does not feel it is necessary to put travel and trade limitations on China. Australia and a handful of other countries have gone to extremes, which many consider to be an overreaction. [...]
As of Dec. 1, people who want to see the cities of Chongqing, Chengdu, Ningbo and Xi’an can now do so with the 144-hour (six-day) transit visa. The visa, also called the G visa, is available in 20 cities across China.
Macau has long been a popular side trip from Hong Kong and tourism statistics show that this has not changed, despite the ongoing protests in the currently troubled city.
When planning a trip to Asia, not many people consider Taiwan as part of their itinerary. But this small island off the coast of China has a lot going for it, in particular, the capital city Taipei. For a relatively small capital city – it has a population of just over 2.5 million – you can pack a lot into a trip here. Here are five reasons why you should book that flight to Taipei.
Ever wondered what it would be like to walk on the ceiling? Now you can experience it for yourself at one of Shanghai's most unique attractions. Situated in the Fengjing Ancient Town, the upside-down house has become a magnet for tourists since it opened, offering a mind-bending adventure that challenges your sense of balance and perception.
