What you need to know before traveling

People travel to China most often to see the imperial palaces in Beijing, climb the Great Wall, see the Terracotta Army and the mountainous nature of Asia, but also for the delicious food, Hainan beaches, Tibetan temples and the skyscrapers of Shanghai. The most visited cities are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau.

What to see in Beijing

Beijing is the capital of China, the main cultural city, the keeper of history and centuries-old traditions. People come here to see the palaces of emperors, the Temple of Heaven and Mao Zedong’s mausoleum. Let’s tell you about these and other important historical places in Beijing.

Forbidden City

The main palace of the 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties who ruled from 1420 to 1918. For many years ordinary people were not allowed to enter the city: the ruling emperor’s family lived here, and it was forbidden to enter without permission on pain of death. Now everyone can get there. Inside: throne rooms, the main palace, religious buildings, pavilions, pavilions, arbors, galleries, lakes and gardens. The palace is listed in the UNESCO list and is located in the very center of Beijing.

Summer Palace

In the Forbidden City the emperors of China lived and ruled the Celestial Empire, and in the Summer Palace they rested from state affairs. It includes 3,000 buildings and a painted corridor 728 meters long – about 8,000 paintings hang on the walls. The Summer Palace is considered one of the best preserved imperial gardens in the world. It is located on the northwestern outskirts of Beijing.

Temple of Heaven

The temple was built from 1420 to 1530 and is almost 500 years old. The emperors of China observed a three-day fast once a year, brought generous gifts here and prayed for the prosperity of the state. The temple is on the UNESCO list. It is located in the center of Beijing.

Mao Zedong Mausoleum

Memorial to revolutionary and founder of the People’s Republic of China Mao Zedong. The mausoleum has several historical halls, the main one containing a crystal coffin with the remains of the leader. The mausoleum is located in the center of Beijing.

Tiananmen Square

A large square opposite Mao Zedong’s mausoleum. The name translates as “Gate of Heavenly Tranquility.” Here, on October 1, 1949, Mao announced the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

Main attractions of China

Great Wall of China

Where: northern part of China ~ 70 km from Beijing.

The construction of the Great Wall began in the 3rd century B.C., and was finished only in 1644. It was built to clearly mark the borders of China and to defend against nomadic enemies. The Great Wall of China is even mentioned in the anthem of the People’s Republic of China – so great is its importance for the people of China. It is included in the UNESCO list. It is the longest artificial construction in the world. The first traveler who conquered the Great Wall of China spent 5 months on foot.

Terracotta Army

Where: Shanxi province, Xi’an city.

There was an emperor in the 3rd century B.C. – Qin Shihuangdi. He ascended the throne at the age of 13 and began to build himself a huge tomb in advance. The emperor’s plan was to erect several thousand statues of warriors to accompany him after his death. It is said that this is how he decided to satisfy his power ambitions even in the other world. Qin Shihuangdi lived to 48 years. The burial site is on the UNESCO list.

What else is worth considering

WeChat. The main app in China that everyone uses. Combines messenger, online banking, cab ordering, home rentals and more. We recommend installing and using it when you arrive in the country. You can only sign up through a local SIM card or with the help of another user.

Language. In China poorly know English, it is spoken only in large cities, and then not everywhere. Few signs are translated into English, and street names, the words “toilet” and “cafe” are often needed to use maps. We advise you to download an offline translator and actively use it, the locals are fine with it.

Air. The country has a high level of air pollution. We recommend taking a mask with you – almost everyone in China uses them.

Souvenirs. From China you can bring: tea, porcelain, fans, Chinese spices, cosmetics, Chinese silk, rice vodka, jade jewelry. Chinese lanterns or beautiful chopsticks are sold everywhere.

The post What to See in China: the Main Sights of the Country appeared first on MK Travel With.

Ya Nui

This charming 500-meter beach is just around the corner from the more famous Nai Harn Beach and is quite rarely crowded. Despite this, you can easily find everything you need here: refreshments, restaurant, kayak rentals, etc. Two small coves are separated by a rocky promontory where you can take stunning photos. About 300 meters from the shore is a small island with a sheltered cove where you can snorkel and watch the many fish swimming among the coral reefs.

Hua Beach

Just south of Kamala Beach is another slice of tropical paradise. This small 200-meter beach is a short walk away. Elephants can sometimes be seen swimming in the sea here. Be careful of the rocks in the water and take a snorkel with you. This beach is best visited during high tide.

Banana Beach

Banana Beach is farther away from the center, making it virtually deserted on any given day. The beach is located between Layan Beach to the south and Nai Ton to the north. Parking with limited spaces is available by the road, with a steep descent through the jungle leading to the beach. The beach is surrounded by many trees, in the shade of which you can hang a hammock. On the sides of the beach are rocky headlands where hermit crabs abound. When the sea is rough, the current here can be quite dangerous, so use caution.

Sai Khoo

This beach is suitable for particularly adventurous travelers as it is off the beaten track. To get here, you need to head to the southern part of Nai Yang Beach and start hiking from here. You can park at the boat ramp and walk around the promontory or climb the hill behind an abandoned hotel, where there is a small parking lot and a highly visible trail.

A hike along the trail will take you to several beaches, which are best visited at high tide if you want to swim. The beautiful path winds through bamboo groves and several headlands. The furthest beach is about 2.5 kilometers away. Here you will find beautiful cliffs, several reefs for snorkeling and a soulful atmosphere.

Mai Khao

Although this beach is not a secret beach, its large area makes it quite deserted. Be prepared for a long walk, as it is 10.5 kilometers long. The sheer size of this sandy strip itself is a delightful sight.

Most of the beach is surrounded by palm trees and pine trees swaying in the wind. The beach is divided into several different sections, but the northernmost 2.5 km looks particularly enticing. Again, the thing to be aware of here is the presence of strong underwater currents. Stay cautious, as it is unlikely that anyone will be able to help you here should you run into problems.

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How to get there

From Tokyo:3 hours 30 minutes

Take the Tokaido shinkansen to Kyoto Station. There, transfer to the JR Nara line and go to Nara Station.

From Osaka:1 hour

Take the JR Osaka Loop express train at Osaka Station and go to Nara Station

Day 1

Nara Ancient Temples and World Heritage Site

Nara, the historic capital of Japan, has the oldest surviving examples of temple architecture. They were built in the early years after monks from mainland Asia brought Buddhism to the country. Our trip plan will introduce you to the World Heritage Sites within the Nara Green Park, which is spread out near Kintetsu Nara Station and a little further from Nara Station.

Kofuku-ji Legendary five-tiered pagoda

This temple is more than 1000 years old. The undisputed highlight among its treasures is the graceful statue of an asura. This dry-lacquer sculpture has become a cult favorite. Every year, thousands of Japanese from all over the country come to see it. Asura is a six-armed being, one of the eight guardian deities in Buddhism. If you look closely at the statue’s three skillfully carved faces, you can see that each one has a different expression.

Kasuga-taisya 3000 stone lanterns

The age and status of Kasuga-taisya is evident as you approach the shrine. Three thousand stone lanterns stand on either side of a path leading to it through a virgin forest, home to hundreds of sacred (and protected) deer. The history of this majestic shrine is linked to the Fujiwara family, who had considerable influence from the 9th to 12th centuries through a series of cross-marriages with members of the imperial dynasty.

Gango-ji Buddhist artworks and statues oni

The quiet old neighborhood of Naramati, a former shopping district, is the opposite of the bustling, crowded Nara Park. There are cute stores, restaurants, a sake store and Gango Temple, another World Heritage Site. Historians believe that Asuka-dera, Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple, built in the 7th century, was moved here around the same time that Nara became the capital. The building was damaged by fire, but the surviving parts are in fine condition.

Day 2

Kyoto Cultural Capital of Japan

Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan for a reason: the city is home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Japanese National Cultural Properties. Among them are temples, shrines and shogun villas. The city has been the seat of the Emperor for over 1000 years and is proud of its heritage.

Nijo Castle The residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, built in 1603

The Battle of Sekigahara was a turning point in the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate. Nijo Castle was built shortly after the battle as a symbol of the presence of the new ruling regime in Kyoto. The capital was moved to Edo (present-day Tokyo), but Kyoto remained the ancestral home of the imperial family. Nijo is actually a palace rather than a castle: its symbolic rather than military purpose is clear to the naked eye. Inside, there are chic gilded interiors with large, evocative-looking decorations, while outside there are majestic royal gardens. A visit to the castle is definitely worthwhile.

Day 3

Nagoya City of Transportation

Nagoya is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, as well as a major transportation hub. From here it is convenient to get to any part of Japan and most of the surrounding areas. The city makes up for its lack of World Heritage sites with the highest level of shopping, dining and entertainment. It’s a convenient place to rest and shop for souvenirs while traveling between Kyoto and Takayama. We recommend a visit to Sakae, the bustling commercial center of the city, easily recognizable by the Nagoya TV Tower. There are also a number of interesting attractions here, including the Museum of Fine Arts.

Noritake Garden

Not far from Nagoya Station is the headquarters of the world-famous Noritake Ceramics company. Take a tour of the workshops to see porcelain production and even try painting your own porcelain. Nearby restaurant: you can grab a bite to eat.

Day 4

Hida-Takayama Traditional Japanese Architecture

A bus traveling on a circular route around the outskirts of Takayama stops near the Hida Folk Village. This is an open-air museum where several old village houses have been preserved. Their unusual steep thatched roofs can hold a thick layer of snow. This architecture is called “gassho-zukuri” – “a pair of hands folded in prayer”. You can also take the same bus to the underground Festa Forest Museum, which features an exhibition of decorative platforms used at festivals, a collection of wind-up dolls and the world’s largest drum.

What else to see

Kanazawa The cultural capital of the Sea of Japan coastline

From Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa is just under two hours by bus or car. The city is very interesting for lovers of Japanese art, culture and cuisine. It has one of the best landscaped gardens in Japan, Kenroku-en, which the samurai created over two centuries. Stroll through the ancient samurai neighborhoods, and then sample tea and delicious food of Ishikawa cuisine at the large indoor Omityo Market. By the way, local produce and fresh fish from the Sea of Japan are always on sale there!

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