8 Cool Ways to Best Experience China
1. Visit the Forbidden City, Beijing
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| Forbidden City (source) |
As seen in "The Last Emperor" movie, the Forbidden City remains to be the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, making Buckingham palace look like a granny flat.
The Outer Court merits a wander as it holds
the Hall of Supreme Harmony, with ornate
gold thrones and dragon motifs, where major
occasions took place. But this is the busy end,
so don’t buy your tickets here; instead walk
down to the northern Gate of Divine Prowess,
where the entry queues are much shorter. If
you’re pushed for time, head straight for the
quieter eastern side of the palace. Tour parties
tend to stick to the main halls, so you’ll have its
peaceful courtyards – home to the jade-andgold Treasure House and Emperor Qianlong’s
quarters – all to yourself.
Guides – both electronic and human – are
available at the entrances; ask for the slightly
older version of the audio guide rather than
the flashy new sensor-driven model. Why?
Because it’s narrated by Roger Moore, which
makes it the coolest audio guide on the planet.
Visit Beijing in spring or autumn to escape
the tourists and scorching summer weather.
Arrive before the coach parties roll in, and end
your trip in Jingshan Park, where you’ll get the
best view of the Forbidden City. On Sundays,
you’ll see groups of elderly singers performing
the Communist songs they once sang on the
Long March (park entrance $1).
Open 8.30am to 5pm; $6 in winter, $9 in summer; Roger Moore audio guide $4; English-speaking guides from $20.
2. Order a Peking Duck dish
Top of the bill in Beijing is the obligatory Peking duck dinner. The best option is Quanjude Roast Duck restaurant. The full bird will set you back about $24.
3. Peek at the Terracotta Warriors
They form one of the world's most famous tourist sites. 1,000 excavated and still counting well-armed, life-sized terracotta soldiers guarding the tomb of the first emperor, the founder of China.
Ask your hotel, or hop on one of the minibuses that run from outside the train station. Some visitors feel that tourism has defeated the Terracotta Army once and for all. For those we have a hot tip: Han Yangling. Less than an hour away, this is also an imperial tomb guarded by terracotta soldiers - but that is where the comparison end. The figures at Han Yangling may be smaller and fewer, but the sophisticated design of the museum and the relative lack of crowds allow you to savour the strangeness and romance of the moment in a way that can be difficult among the masses at the Terracotta Army.
Terracotta Army is open daily from 8am - 6pm; $10. Han Yangling Museum is open daily 8:30am - 7pm; $9.
4. Adore the Giant Panda
The giant panda is the rarest member of the bear family. For guaranteed sightings, base yourself in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, where there's a center dedicated to breeding and research. Visit the Chengdu Panda Base early, when the creatures are at their most active; feeding takes place at 9am. After that, head for the nursery, which houses panda cubs in incubators beside snoozing mothers.
5. Care for a cup of tea?
China is known to have the best teahouses in the world, and Chengdu has the best teahouses in China. Try the Great Mercy, where servers pour tea from a great height without spilling a drop.
6. Photo Opp at the Famous Great Wall of China
No visitor should ever leave China without touring the Great Wall. Numerous day tours operate from Beijing to various locations on the Wall; book through your hotel reception. At the bottom end (under $15per person) you may be crammed into a minibus with a gaggle of fellow tourists. At the top end ($82 per person) you can hire a private car for the day. Whichever way, avoid weekends. The busiest location is Badaling, 70km from the capital, where crowds rival the population of Dubai and the souvenir sellers have the manners of Gestapo interrogators. Far quieter are Simatai and Jinshanling, around 100km from Beijing, but well worth the effort. A great excursion is the hike between Jinshaling and Simatai, in part along the Wall itself. It's fairly strenuous: reckon on a good three or four hours.
7. Street Dance during Chinese New Year
Bigger than Christmas, brighter than Bonfire Night, Chinese New Year is the most important festival in the national calendar. Typically falling in late January or early February (it's lunar festival, so varies slightly each year), it sees the country at its most colourful. For the visitor, the main attractions are the fairs, where a host of entertainment awaits: street performers, craft workers, martial arts acts, traders and all kinds of snack stalls. Remember to wear something red - the colour brings good fortune at New Year. There is a price to pay for all this seasonal fun, in higher hotel rates and limited availability, so try to book your accommodation at least six months in advance.
8. Stretch those muscles and do Tai-Chi
It takes guts to join the OAP's limbering up in one of the city's many pretty parks: though these practice sessions are open to all, both the participants and their t'ai chi masters will studiously ignore you while simultaneously performing age defying swoops and leg lifts. Nervous novices may prefer to take a crash course before joining them. Pure Tai Chi runs four session, one on one courses (from $100) in the leafy surrounds of Century Park, in which you get your own teacher to guide you through the moves.
2. Order a Peking Duck dish
Top of the bill in Beijing is the obligatory Peking duck dinner. The best option is Quanjude Roast Duck restaurant. The full bird will set you back about $24.
3. Peek at the Terracotta Warriors
 |
| Terracotta Warriors |
Ask your hotel, or hop on one of the minibuses that run from outside the train station. Some visitors feel that tourism has defeated the Terracotta Army once and for all. For those we have a hot tip: Han Yangling. Less than an hour away, this is also an imperial tomb guarded by terracotta soldiers - but that is where the comparison end. The figures at Han Yangling may be smaller and fewer, but the sophisticated design of the museum and the relative lack of crowds allow you to savour the strangeness and romance of the moment in a way that can be difficult among the masses at the Terracotta Army.
Terracotta Army is open daily from 8am - 6pm; $10. Han Yangling Museum is open daily 8:30am - 7pm; $9.
4. Adore the Giant Panda
The giant panda is the rarest member of the bear family. For guaranteed sightings, base yourself in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, where there's a center dedicated to breeding and research. Visit the Chengdu Panda Base early, when the creatures are at their most active; feeding takes place at 9am. After that, head for the nursery, which houses panda cubs in incubators beside snoozing mothers.
5. Care for a cup of tea?
China is known to have the best teahouses in the world, and Chengdu has the best teahouses in China. Try the Great Mercy, where servers pour tea from a great height without spilling a drop.
6. Photo Opp at the Famous Great Wall of China
 |
| Great Wall of China (source) |
No visitor should ever leave China without touring the Great Wall. Numerous day tours operate from Beijing to various locations on the Wall; book through your hotel reception. At the bottom end (under $15per person) you may be crammed into a minibus with a gaggle of fellow tourists. At the top end ($82 per person) you can hire a private car for the day. Whichever way, avoid weekends. The busiest location is Badaling, 70km from the capital, where crowds rival the population of Dubai and the souvenir sellers have the manners of Gestapo interrogators. Far quieter are Simatai and Jinshanling, around 100km from Beijing, but well worth the effort. A great excursion is the hike between Jinshaling and Simatai, in part along the Wall itself. It's fairly strenuous: reckon on a good three or four hours.
7. Street Dance during Chinese New Year
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| Chinese New Year Street Dance (source-ZHU XIANG ) |
8. Stretch those muscles and do Tai-Chi
It takes guts to join the OAP's limbering up in one of the city's many pretty parks: though these practice sessions are open to all, both the participants and their t'ai chi masters will studiously ignore you while simultaneously performing age defying swoops and leg lifts. Nervous novices may prefer to take a crash course before joining them. Pure Tai Chi runs four session, one on one courses (from $100) in the leafy surrounds of Century Park, in which you get your own teacher to guide you through the moves.