C . M I TC H E L L

MAKE A LIST OF REGIONS AND ATTRACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH

CHINA

BEIJING — ANCIENT AND MODERN CAPITAL

• Beijing, China's capital city for over 700 years, is rich in history, both ancient and modern.

Beijing is home to some of the finest remnants of China's imperial past, most famously the Great Wall of China, China's legendary line of defense; the Forbidden City, the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palace complex in the world; the Temple of Heaven, fascinating site of imperial worship; and the Summer Palace, a lovely imperial garden. There is also Tiananmen Square where the People's Republic of China was inaugurated by Chairman Mao, whose body still resides there in its show casket.

Beijing has a glorious past, but is by no means stuck in the past. Standing side-by-side with old Beijing's crimson palace complexes are the city's modern buildings, the super-modern Olympic Village, with the Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube; the dazzling shopping malls in Wangfujing Street and the colorful entertainment center of Houhai.

SHANGHAI — CHINA'S PROSPEROUS LARGEST CITY

• Shanghai, China's biggest city, oozes an atmosphere of vitality which can rival New York and Paris in terms of modernity. Shanghai is the second largest “city proper” in the world after Mumbai. As one of the world’s leading economic and business cities, Shanghai's modernity is evidenced by the ambitious skyline in the Pudong Economic Zone and the gorgeous night scenes of the Huangpu River, when the spectacular lights of its immense towers dance in unison.

• Shanghai's colonial legacy combined with things Chinese has created a unique culture, which is a fusion of the East and the West. The Bund, the waterfront of the city gives a vivid illustration of the combination of East and West cultures through its large collection of colonial architecture.

• However, old Shanghai is not set to disappear overnight. Beneath Shanghai's impressive modern buildings and in the back alleys, scenes of the 1920s have been kept.

• Unlike Beijing, Shanghai does not brim with many great sights. Except for Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, and the Huangpu River Cruise, there are not many famous tourist attractions. However, the beauty of visiting Shanghai lies not in scurrying from sight to sight but in the feel of the city's modern atmosphere.

XI'AN — A WINDOW ON CHINA'S ANCIENT CIVILIZATION

• As the second most famous of China's ancient national capitals (after Beijing), Xi'an was the first capital of a united China in 221 BC (the Qin Dynasty). It also served as the capital during the golden eras of the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and the Tang Dynasty (618–907).

• Thus Xi'an is blessed with a great number of precious relics and historical sites, with the highlights being the Terracotta Army (a contender for the eighth wonder of the world), two historical Buddhist Pagodas (Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda), the Great Mosque, the Ancient City Wall, and the Banpo Site (a prehistoric civilization museum).

• Xi'an was also the starting point of the Silk Road, an ancient trade route that extended from Asia to Europe and played an important role in economic and cultural exchange between the East and the West in ancient times.

HONG KONG — LIKE NOWHERE ELSE ON THE EARTH

• Hong Kong is not like any other place on earth. As one of the most important economic and financial centers in the world, Hong Kong enjoys all the benefits of a dynamic and vibrant metropolis. While definitely Chinese, it still enjoys a good measure of independence.

• Hong Kong is a fusion of cultures. Remnants of its colonial past, British culture, share space with Chinese tradition. Once known as an exotic port for Eastern trade, it is now famous for its movies.

• Hong Kong is a world-renowned shopping paradise, known for its tourist-friendly atmosphere and numerous options. The huge shopping malls of Central, Admiralty and the street fashion factory in Causeway Bay are reasons for many travelers to make their Hong Kong trips.

• Hong Kong also has some amazing beaches and natural sights for outdoor lovers. Lantau Island for example, provides a relaxing atmosphere for a holiday break.

CHENGDU — HOMETOWN OF GIANT PANDAS

• Chengdu is the hometown of Giant Pandas. Although there are giant pandas in zoos in various places around China, such as Beijing Zoo in Beijing, and Shanghai Zoo in Shanghai, the best place to see pandas is in Chengdu. Visitors can see Giant Pandas at Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center, or take part in volunteer program at Dujiangyan Panda Valley. Besides, there are many historical sites, such as Sanxingdui Ruins Museum, Qingyang Palace. To experience the leisurely local life, visit the Wide and Narrow Alleys and Jinli Old Street, or sip tea while watching the magical face changing of Sichuan Opera.

• Chengdu, more than 2,000 years old, has been a famous cultural center with age-old colorful traditions of both religious and civil significance. Home of poets of old and spicy Sichuan food, Chengdu has also become a popular place for Westerners to reside.

HUANGSHAN — MAJESTIC BEAUTY• Huangshan (the Yellow Mountains) is surely the most famous and most

photographed and painted mountainous region in China. It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990.

• Outstanding natural beauty is Huangshan's number one feature. Austere and majestic clean rock faces rise sheer among the mists, clung to by the hardiest of pines. This is the scenery of legends. Indeed it is said that China's supernatural ancestor, the Yellow Emperor, lived here.

• The Yellow Mountains' classic four attractions are curiously-shaped pines, oddly-shaped rocks, the seas of clouds, and hot springs. There are hundreds of peaks and thousands of ravines, many made accessible by well-worn steps. Lotus Peak, Bright Summit, and Heavenly Capital Peak are the three major peaks, all rising more than 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) above sea level.