It goes without saying that the skyline of New York City has been used in countless feature films. The iconic layout of the bustling streets is easily recognizable in everything from action flicks to romantic comedies. When travelers visit Manhattan and hope to spot their favorite movie scene backgrounds, it can get overwhelming knowing where…
Exploring Xinjiang
Xinjiang, also known as Uyghurstan or East Turkestan, is an autonomous region situated in Western China. Xinjiang’s stunning landscape, comprised of desert and steppe juxtaposed against the giant mountains of the Karakorams (part of the Himalayas), was once bustling with trade caravans traversing the famed Silk Route. Unlike most of China, Xinjiang is inhabited by…
Visiting Sanya on the Island of Hainan
Sanya, at the southern tip of the island of Hainan, is China’s hottest beach destination and a popular vacation spot throughout the year. Tourists come from around Asia to enjoy the city’s sandy beaches and balmy tropical climate. In fact, it’s the only place in China that is situated inside a tropical climate zone. Resorts…
Riding the Trans-Siberian Train from Beijing to Russia via Mongolia
The Trans-Siberian Railway, stretching almost 5,000 miles from Moscow to Beijing, is one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, as it has been beckoning great travelers and adventurers since being constructed in the early part of the 20th century. There are three routes on the Trans-Siberian Railway, all of which lead from Moscow to the…
Visiting The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
China is world famous for its giant pandas, but unfortunately there’s not many left in the wild. Current estimates put the total number of pandas in the wild at less than 2,000. This is due to a combination of factors including China’s rapid industrialization, the limited amount of bamboo forests suitable for their habitat and…
On The Panda Trail in Shaanxi
Escape from the polluted and over-populated cities on China’s densely populated coast and head inland to Shaanxi Province to experience some of the country’s most pristine natural beauty and, if you’re lucky, to see the country’s most famous wild resident, the Giant Panda. It’s not a stretch to say that Giant Pandas are the international…
Visiting The Peak in Hong Kong
Victoria Peak, or “The Peak” as it's colloquially known, is one of the staple attractions of Hong Kong. From its perch 1400 feet above the city tourists are treated to a stunning view of the Hong Kong skyline and Victoria Harbour that is magical both during the day and at night. The neighborhood surrounding the…
Exploring the Many Hutongs of Beijing
Amongst the giant tourist attractions—Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square—and sprawling freeways travelers to Beijing often find themselves wishing for an escape from the bustle of the city. However, in central Beijing—the most unlikely of places—visitors can find a tranquil peace of the city’s historic past. Hutongs are the name given to a type of traditional small…
Visiting West Lake in Hangzhou
West Lake, in the center of Hangzhou, has been a top tourist attraction in China for centuries, having been immortalized in Chinese literature and art and appearing in countless landscape paintings and poems. While it may not have the same serene qualities that once attracted great philosophers and nature lovers, there’s no denying that West…
The Other Side of Hong Kong Island
The perception of Hong Kong is that it’s a concrete jungle; a place where taxis clog the skyscraper-lined streets and shopping malls are substitutes for outdoor activities. That perception has some truth to it, but with a catch, it’s only the case for Kowloon and the northern side of Hong Kong Island. On the other…