House of travel Hong Kong and China | Page 19

Experience China Our favourite things to see and do The Bund – The famous Shanghai waterfront, regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years, is a celebration of China’s diversity. The most attractive sight on the west side are the 26 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and Renaissance. Not what you’d expect in China. Giant Pandas – How can you resist the beautiful faces of China’s oldest inhabitants? These cuddly bears are the national emblem of China and their protection is a top priority for China. The Chengdu Panda Research Base is home to 80 pandas and set up to resemble their natural surroundings of their original home in north Sichuan. You can even cuddle a baby panda during your visit so don’t miss this highlight. The Great Wall of China – Stretching almost 9000 kilometres long from the Gobi Desert in the west to the Bohai Sea in the east, this spectacular wall is one of China’s most famous attractions. Original construction began more than 2000 years ago to protect China from the nomad threat in the north, since then the Great Wall has been rebuilt and maintained and the majority of the existing wall is from the Ming Dynasty. The Wall is accessible from many different sections. Head to the Mutianyu or Juyongguan sections instead of Badaling as they are far less crowded. All three sections are in close proximity to Beijing. Li River – Connecting the two beautifully picturesque spots of Guilin and Yangshuo and lined with tranquil blue waters, natural landscapes and views to die for. Highlights along the river include Elephant Trunk Mountain, a hill that resembles an elephant drinking water from the river and Seven Star Park, covering more than 120 hectares and featuring seven peaks. Black Dragon Pool, Yunnan Province KEY The Great Wall of China MONGOLIA BEIJING Yinchuan CHINA Xining Jinan Hefei Wuhan Hangzhou Chengdu Chongqing SOUTH KOREA Shanghai EAST CHINA SEA Yangshuo Guangzhou LAOS YELLOW SEA Nanchang Guilin BAY OF BENGAL Qingdao Zhengzhou Nanjing Xian MYANMAR (BURMA) Tianjin Shijiazhuang Lanzhou SEA OF JAPAN (EAST SEA TAIWAN SOUTH CHINA SEA THAILAND 15