Continuing our post from yesterday, here are 5 more Hong Kong must-see sights to make your vacation to China more memorable.

Kowloon Walled City Park
Immerse yourself in this park to get a piece of history and a taste of modern life at the same time. Once an imperial walled city, Kowloon contains many relics from those days as well as attractive gardens and pavilions in its eight sections. Rise early, and you might get to see city elders practicing tai chi here.

Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront
There are numerous museums in the district, as well as Hong Kong’s famous Clock Tower, but the real reason to venture here is to see the city skyline. The lights and skyscrapers are on full display from Tsim Sha Tsui. And as a bonus, the city puts on a laser-light show each night at 8pm.

Cloudnine
You may not want to step on stage, but you can have fun listening to the younger crowd getting their karaoke fix. You’ll hear hip hop in the front room when you enter, so step into the back for the karaoke. This is a popular spot for locals.

East End Brewery
With dozens of beers on tap, you can sample a couple of local brews or perhaps find an old favorite from home or around the world. You’ll also find wi-fi access and American cuisine, in case you’re feeling a little homesick.

Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree
The name is a bit misleading, as people may no longer throw their “wish-paper” streamers into the tree. However, the home of  the Lam Tsuen tree is still popular due to its history of inspiring people to literally lay out their dreams. You can now buy wish papers to write on from vendors and tie them to a rack at the site. There are also fortune-tellers nearby.

We hope that these Hong Kong must-see sights will help you get more vacation from your vacation.  Make your trip even more unique and use our travel planning resources to help get your dream vacation underway.

Did you know that Hong Kong has urbanized only 17% of its land area and over 40% of the territory is protected as country parks, special area and Ramsar site?

When traveling to China here are some of the must-see sights of Hong Kong:

Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas
The name isn’t entirely accurate—there are closer to 13,000 Buddha statues in the temple, as well as countless, larger ones lining the steps to the temple. They come in all shapes, sizes, and sorts, with one even riding a giant blue dog. There’s also a lovely nine-story pagoda beside the temple.

Luk Yu Tea House
A dim sum restaurant serves a wide variety—often dozens—of small dishes, and Luk Yu Tea House is perhaps the best place to dive in. Dumplings of all sorts are a typical dim sum offering, as are rice rolls, steamed meatballs and vegetables, spring rolls, and sweets. Try as many types as your appetite will allow, including something unusual.

Hong Kong Heritage Museum
The largest museum in the city, this is a wonderful place to learn about the cultural history of China. Visitor favorites include the colorful costumes of the Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall and the sculptures and early art of the T. T. Tsui Gallery.

Top Deck, at the Jumbo
You can make a quick escape from the city to this open-air restaurant, which floats in Jumbo Harbor. The menu is international, though mainly Eastern in focus. The ferry to get there is free, and atmosphere refreshing.

Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
The gathering place for all things bird, you don’t have to be an ornithologist to enjoy a look around. There are dozens of markets selling birds, cages of mahogany and teak, and bird feed. You can watch purveyors feed their birds crickets and nectar with chopsticks, or sit back and listen to the songs from the birds brought by the proud owners who are there just to hang out.

Check back on Monday for Part #2 of our Hong Kong not-to-be-missed sights. Start planning your China vacation today!

On the longest river in Asia, the Yangtze, you are sure to some beautiful sites.  On an Asian river cruise you are surrounded by beauty including Qutang, the shortest and most dramatic of Three Gorges.

On your China vacation take in the history and culture with a visit to LeShan Giant Budda in Sichuan province in China.

Carved into a cliff and more than 230-feet high, the LeShan Grand Buddha appears anything but hidden. Its stories and secrets, however, create an aura of mystery surrounding this world’s-largest Buddha. Sitting tall above the Dadu He and Min He rivers, the Grand Buddha took 90 years to complete.  The dedication to this construction was inspired by the threat of a deadly river monster and the fundraising skills of a Buddhist monk.

In 713 AD, a river monster was allegedly terrorizing local seamen by flooding and capsizing boats. A Buddhist monk suggested construction of the Grand Buddha, promising that its presence would calm the waters. In addition to the spiritual safety offered by the looming Buddha, and to further safeguard the monk’s pledge, the construction team built the statue with a hollow body to allow sailors a place of refuge.

Another creative (and functional) touch is the Buddha’s drainage system. Still in working order, pipes carved into the sculpture’s body ensure that rain water flows off of the structure to reduce weathering. As a testament to the Buddha’s excellent construction, it continues to reign as the tallest carved statue in the world. And with a big toe nail measuring 28-feet long and 1,021 buns of curly hair and individual rocks so large they could each host a picnic, the Grand Buddha is poised to face any challenger that comes its way – river monster or otherwise.

Dating back to nearly 300 BC, the first kite originated in China, fashioned by the creativity of a Chinese philosopher. After passing down the craft to an apprentice who improved the kite’s construction, the Chinese military took notice. Under the military’s adoption, kites gauged wind force, sent signals to troops and even lifted soldiers above enemy troops for better arrow aim. It would be nearly 1,000 years later, following the introduction of paper, before kites would become more of a past-time rather than a wartime activity. Originally just simple rectangles, kite design evolved as more and more Chinese adopted the hobby. Today’s kites feature complex, 3D shapes most-often decorated to honor religious and ceremonial holidays. Kite-making continues to flourish in China, particularly as the Chinese believe that kites ward-off evil spirits and bring good luck.

Continuing our post from yesterday, here are 5 more Beijing must-see sights to make your vacation to China more memorable.

Silk Alley Market
Whether you want to find designer clothing knock-offs or just want entertaining afternoon, a visit to this market is recommended. The bustle and searching is part of the fun, as is the bargaining. In fact, you’re expected to haggle and should never take the first (and probably second, and third…) price offered.

Don Jiao Pi Fa Wholesale Market
For a locally inspired shopping experience, visit this market near Guang Hui Bridge. Don Jiao’s has everything from Chinese porcelain, produce, and flowers to electronics and home furnishings. If you walk past a big red gate, peak inside for more shopping. This is a very local experience, one that tourists usually miss. Only cash is accepted.

Club Obiwan
Despite its name, this bar has nothing to do with “Star Wars.” Instead, it’s a replica of the lively 1930s Shanghai bar from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” The first floor boasts several red sofas and large, square, black and white tables, while the second floor is a café/bar indoor lounge. There’s also a rooftop deck. On Thursdays, the chef serves a three-course menu tied to the theme of the movie playing that night. Obi Wan is cash-only.

Zhang Yiyuan Teahouse
Make sure you experience a traditional tea ceremony before you leave Beijing. It’s an opportunity to soak in centuries of history at the same time you relax with a soothing cup. Zhang Yiyuan has earned a reputation over many decades as a purveyor of quality teas, and the building is made up of seven private rooms, offering diverse environs.

D-22
Very popular among locals, D-22 showcases local punk and experimental music groups and artists. Expand your horizons with some true local sounds. D-22 is closed Mondays, and only accepts cash.

We hope that these Beijing must-see sights will help you get more vacation from your vacation.  Make your trip even more unique and use our travel planning resources to help get your dream vacation underway.

In the capital city of China, enjoy a day of sightseeing as history comes to life and you experience cultural traditions that date back hundreds of thousands of years.  While traveling in Beijing take some time to get off the beaten path by visiting this must-see sites on your China vacation.

Forbidden City
The world’s largest imperial palace consists of 980 surviving rooms and an impressive amount of art and artifacts. Dating back to the mid-Ming dynasty, the palace was the home of Chinese royalty for nearly five centuries. No one was allowed to enter or leave without permission from the emperor.

Summer Palace
In tune with the theme of scale, Summer Palace is the world’s largest imperial garden. It may also be one of the most ambitious birthday presents ever: Emperor Qinlong ordered it for his mother in 1750, though it wasn’t completed for 15 more years. The classical Chinese garden architecture is stunning.

Temple of Heaven
Emperors traditionally offered sacrifices to Heaven, and this temple was built between 1406-1420 for that reason, especially for prayers about the harvest. Visitors are regularly amazed by the size, the rich blues designating heaven, and the whispering wall.

The Great Wall of China
Stretching over 4,000 miles, there’s not a comparable defensive structure to this seemingly endless wall. Historians have estimated that somewhere between two and three million people died during the centuries it took to construct the Great Wall, which was once guarded by approximately one million soldiers during the Ming dynasty. Beijing offers three popular viewing areas.

Li Qun Roast Duck Restaurant
Don’t let the graffiti-lined alleys dissuade you; you’ll want to try succulent Peking duck in Beijing, and Li Qun is the place to do it. This family-run eatery is authentic, casual, and less expensive than many other recommended Peking duck sites. And you’ll find yourself immersed in Beijing as you head through its back streets on the way to dinner.

Check back tomorrow for Part #2 of our Beijing, China not-to-be-missed sights.  Start planning your China vacation today!

Prepare to travel to Asia as we explore China on our next vacation series.  While the way to China may seem long, the trip is definitely worth all the wonders that are waiting for you there.

From the fast-paced cities of Beijing and Hong Kong to the peaceful Yangtze River, we will cover all of China’s major destinations over the course of our series.

Discover China’s ancient history and fascinating culture as we uncover the must-see sights of this great region.  Explore the Forbidden City, see the impressive Great Wall of China and dine at one of Hong Kong’s greatest dim sum restaurants.

There’s no other place on earth so uniquely tied to an enchanting past while living on the verge of the future’s most exciting promises as China.

As its name implies, the Friendship Store originally developed as a means to foster relationships with foreign visitors. It is no coincidence that the store chain opened at the same time communist China opened itself to the outside world. Offering a myriad of authentic Chinese goods, from art to silk to antiques, the Friendship Stores provided one-stop souvenir shopping – only accepting foreign exchange currencies. The original intent of the stores was to welcome foreigners while also encouraging the spread of Chinese culture as shoppers shared their souvenirs with loved ones around the world.

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In as early as the 11th Century BC, the Chinese developed a way of baking white clay at extremely high temperatures (up to 1100°F), thus creating porcelain. It was not, however, until the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) that the first functional porcelain masterpieces were created. Read the rest of this entry »