View from the top Explore the
waterways Hit the streets
Is there any better backdrop than
Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl and the
World Financial Centre? Especially
at night when the entire Lujiazui
skyline sparkles like an enormous
fairground. Make a beeline for the
Bund’s Bar Rouge, with its large
terrace overlooking the best of
it, while the dazzling views from
Hyatt’s VUE bar are only matched
by an equally stunning décor. Suzhou, a city west of Shanghai, is
best known for its canals, bridges
and seductive waterways. Dubbed
the ‘Venice of China’, it’s defined by
ornate gardens and Asian pagodas.
Soak up The Grand Canal and stop
for a fragrant tea beside the slow,
sedate water. Hutongs are a type of alleyway
typical to northern China, and
particularly Beijing. They’re also the
best way to experience ‘Old Beijing’
at its traditional best. A relic that
time forgot, get lost in a China built
centuries past, amongst crooked
old houses and children chasing
rickshaws down the street.
In Hong Kong you’ll want to enjoy
incredible 360-degree views of
Victoria Harbour from the 100th
floor of Hong Kong’s tallest building
- the International Commerce
Centre (ICC).
While in Shanghai, Jin Mau’s Cloud
9 Bar, part of the Grand Hyatt
Shanghai, is located on the 87th
floor and is one of the highest bars
in the world. Watch as the clouds
pass before your eyes, and drinks.
In Shanghai, the Huangpu River
divides the city into two parts: Puxi
to Pudong. You can get from one
to the o ther via Shanghai’s century
old ferry boats. The sweeping
skyline views are breath-taking,
and with over 40 ferry terminals
fronting both sides of the river, it’s
convenient too.
Hong Kong’s Star Ferry is famous
for shuttling passengers between
Hong Kong Island and Kowloon
for a super low fare. In operation
since 1898, the prices have barely
changed since. Come nightfall,
board the Star Ferry for knockout
views of Victoria Harbour.
From traditional Asia to a street
influenced by a very western
concept: Las Vegas, Macau’s Cotai
Strip boasts multiple hotel-casinos
all lining the Cotai section of Macau.
As glitzy as its US cousin, the lights
never go out here.
And then there’s Hong Kong come
nightfall. If you consider this city
busy by day, it really revs it up a
gear from dusk. There’s a distinct
‘work-hard, play-hard’ ethic here,
and tourists are fully encouraged
to partake. Dine, dance or simply
enjoy the raucous ambience, but
sleep is not an option.
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