As you approach the main entrance to the temple, which is on the Qin Huai river side, you will walk through arcades of shops and souvenir sellers. In addition to the shops and souvenirs there are some very interesting tea houses and places that sell Chinese artifacts. Be careful with the artifacts, the Chinese have mastered the art of counterfeit and you can be talked into buying a truly ancient antique that was manufactured a couple of blocks away last week! Having said that there are some interesting purchases for souvenir hunters and half the fun is determining the price. Be ruthless and threaten to walk out if you don’t get your price. The other thing to keep in mind is that the shop assistants work on commission and a few yuan makes a lot of difference to their pay packet and probably not much difference to your pocket – be a little generous, most people in China do it pretty tough.

There are men with rickshaws who will take you on a short tour of the area – be ready to haggle for a bargain! And you can wander along the banks of the river and have a coffee or a tea. Boats are available to tour the river and you will be quite surprised just what you will see along the way.

The entrance to the temple is through a large, ornate gateway leading into a courtyard featuring statues of the disciples of Confucius. This courtyard then leads into the Kongzi Academy which was an administration school where Chinese scholars sat tests to enter government positions. At one stage there were thousands of students in the academy. The Japanese all but destroyed the area in 1937 when they took Nanjing. It was a brutal assault and the buildings have mostly been rebuilt based on the older foundations.

On the other side of the academy there is a courtyard which is devoted to Confucius and also a Museum of very lovely and intricate jade sculptures.

Take an afternoon in your intinerary in Nanjing to visit the Confucius temple. You will not be disappointed. AND for the really devoted tourist you can dress in traditional costume and have your photo taken – but maybe I will leave that till another time!

The cable car is now quite old but it appears sturdy and there is a safety office for inspecting the cable car and it’s workings. It felt a little unsafe as I climbed on the seat but what intrepid traveler gives up on the opportunity to get to the top of the mountain in 30 minutes rather than walking for hours?

There was not a lot of traffic on the cable car. It seemed most of the locals had decided to walk. At 60 yuan per person that decision could be an economic one for many Chinese families.

On reaching the summit it became obvious that this is a very popular meeting place for the young  people of Nanjing. There were masses of people sitting around eating, drinking and chatting. And there were a few young men practicing archery, shooting and throwing darts. Mobile phones are as popular here as they are anywhere else in the world!

As we descended it became very clear (or not so clear) that Nanjing is a rather polluted city as are many in China. We could barely see the lake at the foot of the mountain and the city was shrouded in smog. This was on a clear autumn day at the end of a holiday week.

The lake is dotted with five islands and each of these has a history in legend. Chinese families enjoy the use of their parks and lakes and you will find it is a popular place for Chinese people to spend  the weekend.

The islands can be accessed by hiring small electric cars, boats or by walking. They are all inter connected with pathways and bridges. A convoy of electric open busses circles the park at an alarming rate so watch out for them as you amble along the paths!  There are many boat operators who will hire you a boat to drive yourself (pedal or electric) or you can cruise the lake with a driver taking the boat through the arched bridges and around the islands.

Legend has it that a large black dragon came to the lake one day when the clouds were settling low. There are also some stories concerning snakes and turtles that are said to live in the lake. The waters of the lake are now quite polluted, probably not a home for much marine life at all, more or less a large dragon. However there will always be a number of people fishing along the shores and they set up tents and spend the better part of the day picnicking in small groups. It is a lovely family environment.

There is a garden sculpture that depicts 2 dragons fighting and a large sculpture of a female in Buddhist regalia surrounded by children. I have not been able to find the significance of this statue and fountain but it is quite impressive.

Kite flyers can be found on sunny days with slight wind. Watching a string of hundreds of kites rise into the summer sky is quite spectacular.

There are a number of roadside restaurants and cafes dotted through the park.

All in all a lovely way to spend an afternoon in Nanjing.

Suzhou is a city of canals, gardens, pagodas and bridges. If you want to experience traditional Chinese accommodation you can stay in a hutong. Traditional Chinese communities are built around a series of courtyards and alleyways. A hutong is a hotel that has taken the traditional setting and converted it into accommodation for travelers. These photos are of the Pingjiang Lodge Hutong. The rooms are comfortable with large (though relatively hard) beds, a modern bathroom with toilet, washbasin, shower and bath that are well maintained and clean.

The Pingjiang Lodge is located on the edge of the canal in the Pingjiang District quite close to the city centre. It has a modern restaurant and coffee shop just across the street from the main entrance to the hutong.

Although there are many attractions in Suzhou this traveler only spent two days there and will certainly be returning for more exploring.

As you stroll the street next to the canal in Pingjiang, which I believe is called Pingjiang Lu (Lu is Road), you will come across delightful tea houses and local restaurants specialising in the local cuisine. There are also some coffee shops and boutiques that are very ritzy. If you choose to have tea or coffee on the edge of the canal you can watch as the boatmen  (and women) guide punt style boats along the canal. As they pass you can hear the driver singing traditional Chinese songs to the passengers. In this area there is an active branch of a Chinese Opera Society and if you are lucky you will catch them providing a performance on the banks of the canal, in full operatic regalia.

At the end of the canal you will find the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the largest public garden in Suzhou and certainly a very beautiful place with lakes and bridges and fabulous displays of lotus and bonsai.  The garden is actually not very large and you can easily walk around it in an hour or so. It was quite crowded for the holiday weekend. The Chinese really enjoy their parks and gardens and take full advantage of good weather to visit these delightfully scenic gardens.

Another outing not to be missed in Suzhou is a trip on a boat along the large canal that forms the city moat around the older part of the town. As you cruise along the canal you will see right into the homes and businesses of the townspeople. It is an interesting peek into an ancient culture. There are 14 bridges between the city and the pagoda riverboat station at Tiger Hill. The trip takes about an hour and the photographic opportunities are just constant as you cruise by the bridges, temples, houses, shops schools and gardens.

This writer will be returning to Suzhou often to see the attractions that could not fit into one far too tiny weekend. 

Image from www.dailytelegraph.com

The world was emerging from a period of war. Prosperity was the hallmark of the west. Consumerism was emerging as the new religion in the West. The industrialists were gaining ground and rebuilding economies and in China Mao Zedong was realising his socialist dreams. The year is 1949. 

An interesting timeline of China’s history as a republic is promoted by China Highlights. 

Across the country people will take a few days to celebrate and that means Chinese railway stations will be packed. All the large cities are preparing for celebrations and as you move around China today you will see hedges being clipped and lights being set up in trees. China will sparkle for this anniversary and the weather in China at the moment is spectacular. It is Autumn and this writer is enjoying warm and breezy days in Nanjing.

Image from www.dailytelegraph.com

The National Day Parade in Beijing will have a mass pageant with the theme “The Motherland and I Marching together” and a military parade will celebrate and

“highlight the accomplishments China has made in its defense sector in the past six decades, showcase China’s resolution to safeguard world and regional peace and stability, and demonstrate the spiritual outlook of the mighty, civilized and peace-seeking army” from China Highlights

Image from www.dailytelegraph.com

Hong Kong will host fireworks and a light extravaganza over Victoria Harbour on the evening of the 1st October. The former British Protectorate was handed back to China on the 1st July 1997. Hong Kong is now considered a jewel in China’s crown, especially since the more relaxed approach to capitalism has influenced the recent Chinese economy.

It may be too late to book your ticket for the celebrations, so don’t forget Shanghai will be hosting the World Expo next year in May to October 2010. Come on over to China – the Chinese really know how to host a celebration.

It takes as little as half a day to experience Macau’s rich culture that uniquely blends its Chinese heritage and history as a former Portuguese colony.

But here’s a two-day itinerary that my husband and I created, which allows for more than enough time to take pictures and enjoy great cuisine.

Day 1

Since we’re based in Hong Kong, the best way to get there was via Turbojet. This high-speed jetfoil sails from the ferry located at the Shun Tak Centre at Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island. We took the 7 am trip. We docked at the Macau Ferry Terminal by 10 am.  

If you’re booked at one of the glitzier hotels, free services by bus or van parked at the ferry will take you straight to the hotel. But for us, we boarded the free bus ride to The Venetian.

The Venetian Macau is pretty much an attraction on its own. The hotel’s shopping area is huge that guests may opt to cruise down via a gondola. This area is made to look like a Venetian street with a trompe d’oeil sky, street lamps and bridges.

Exploring the interior and exterior of the hotel has worked up a good appetite. So, we flagged down a taxi to take us to take us to Fernando’s on Hac Sa Beach in Coloane.

Fernando’s is a must if you want to savor the best of Portuguese cuisine in Macau. You don’t even have to show the taxi driver a map; just tell him “Fernando’s” and he’ll take you to the resto’s front step.

We then hopped on a bus that will take us to the town center of Macau. We checked in at the Ole London Hotel, a boutique inn with very modest but very clean facilities. After a quick nap, we then headed off to start the first part of the historical walk.

Since our hotel was located at the heart of the trail, we decided to move southwards. Our first stop was the St. Augustine Square, which contains the Dom Pedro V Theatre and the nearby St. Joseph’s Seminary and Church.

The map then pointed out Lilau Square and the Moorish Barracks. Our trail ended at the A-ma Temple and the Maritime Museum. By the end of our self-appointed tour, dinner was in order. There are a lot of restaurants serving Portuguese and Macanese fare in the area. Just take your pick.

Later in the evening, we caught a percussion performance at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, which was part of the then-on going Macau Arts Festival. After the performance, we decided to burn more calories by taking in the lights of the casino strip along Avenida de Lisboa.

Day 2

Our objective on the second day was to get great photos and beat the tourists. So this meant getting up as early as 7 am. We had a light breakfast at the Starbucks on Leal Senado.

After breakfast, we hiked up towards Mount Fortress then down to the Ruins of St. Paul.  We took a breather at the steps by the ruins for a decadent egg tart break.

We picked our way through the little streets towards the Luis Camoes Garden, Casa Garden and the Protestant Cemetery. By now, my head was swimming in the rich blend of Chinese, Catholicism and a hint of the British presence.

We trooped back down to the ruins for more egg tarts, pork jerky and for lunch at the Leal Senado Square. Then it’s back to the hotel and a bus to the ferry terminal.

If you plan to leave later in the afternoon, I suggest taking a taxi or bus from Leal Senado to the Flora Garden, which has a cable car. The area is also near the Guia Lighthouse. We would have gone had it not been for the springtime rains. If you have money to burn, spend it on an adrenaline rush at the Macau Tower. They let you choose between bungee jumping or walking the circumference of the tower top –on the outside.

This is the world’s largest public square but is dotted with political offices instead of any pretty flowers or plants. This area serves as the final resting place for the communist chairman Mao Zedong. This square is famous for the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in China which ended in bloody civilian deaths at the arms of Chinese soldiers. In many regards, this is the center of Chinese political power and the birthplace of communist China. The long name for the square is Tian’an Men Guangchang or the Square of the Gate of Heavenly Peace. In this area, you can visit the numueros government offices, monuments and the Chinese National Museum.

The Forbidden City

The city of the emperors once reserved for only members of the imperial court now is open to visitors from near and far abroad – the largest and greatest of palaces complexes from the “old” China. Over 24 emperors issued their edicts from the halls of this grand monument for over 500 years and still serve as the symbolic center of the universe for the children of Han (China). The palace has since been converted to a “Palace Museum” and opened to the public since 1949. Another many things to see is the Imperial Garden and the hall of Supreme Harmony (the throne room). This collection of buildings takes all of its visitors back to ancient china and even see places where historic moments were made.

The Great Wall of China

Within 40 miles from Beijing, the Great Wall of China is the most famous and visible of China’s cultural and ancient history. The wall was created by numerous rulers after the unification of China into one empire by Qin Shi Huangdi in 221 BC. Most hotels in the region offer tourists the visit to the Great Walls and to the Ming Tombs that house the dead emperors of China’s forgotten era. You can visit the four sites that have been preserved from the damage that have occurred to the walls and check out the Great Wall Museum which shows the history of the area from the Neolithic time period. Overall, this trip is an adventurers and a archeologists wet dream.

The Lama Temple

One of Beijing’s most attractice places of worship is the Buddhist Lama Temple. It is made up of five different sections or halls, where each section or hall is taller than the pervious. Thus walking through the temple represents walking from earth into the heavens. The temple was originally the home of Yongzheng who became the Qing Emperor in 1722. There are many sites to visit including the Hall of the Wheel of Dharma, which shows the statue of Tsongkhapa who is the founder of Yellow Hat Sect of Buddhism led by the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama of Tibet. The temple has gone through extreme persecution at the hands of the Chinese authorities but slowly it is coming back. Now over 70 monks serve in the temple which was built to house over 1500 monks.

Hou Hai

The area is the cental hub for the city life in Beijing and the shopping center. Hou Hai has traditionally been the home to nobles and the wealthy in aristocratic China and most of the houses here offer a glimpse back in time. Many of the lakside restaurants, bars and vafes offer attratice views and waterfront terraces for visitors. There are many activities to do including Boating, Skating, and a cheap Rickshaw tour of the entire city. During the day time, it is perfect to visit the area to shop, visit the historic landmarks and homes. But at night, it is a romantic sight to behold. Candles are lit and floated into the waters while you enjoy your romantic dinner at the waterfront glimmering in the night’s beauty. Hou Hai really captures the essence of modern China trapped within its past.

On Accommodation

The first night there was rather haphazard. We reached the airport at about 6.30PM; from there we have to find our way to our hotel situated in Ximenting. We literally asked our way to our hotel and got the shock of my life. Not because of the conditions of the hotel, not because we could not find it, but simply because I got the date wrong. My trip was supposed to be from the 22 May to 29 May, but I booked the rooms from 22 Apr to 29 Apr. I cannot believe my carelessness and I never felt so stupid before. Fortunately, the lady from the counter decides to help me out by calling the agency which I booked the rooms from. With their help I managed to continue my stay in the hotel without having to pay extra money thus averting a “costly” mistake. I wish to thank the hotel staffs for their help and also the agency that allowed me to change date with such a short notice. (For those who are interested in the hotel, please refer to this site, for more details. And the site which I booked the rooms from is, Octopus Travel.) To add on, this hotel is quite a budget one. We spent 567 SGD for seven nights there. This breaks down to 40.5 SGD per person per night. The location is good, right at the heart of Ximenting. It is most suitable for those who are not spending a lot of time in the hotel.

Personal ratings for the hotel:
Service 4/5
Hotel quality 3/5
Location 4.5/5

Final comments, I would still choose this hotel if I were to go to Taipei again. It is quite worth the money and you cannot really find too many other hotels with a better location.

On Travel

When I am first there, I was quite shocked by their disorganized traffic. I must say that their road users are generally quite reckless. There are a huge numbers of vehicles on the road making things worse. Fortunately, in Taipei they have an extensive MRT system, locals call it 捷运. I find the MRT the most convenient way to move about in Taipei. You can reach most parts of Taipei City just by taking the MRT. There are tourist information counters in every MRT stations, so if you need any assistance you can just approach the staff there. Interesting enough, inside the MRT station, you would see a totally different sight as compared to their disorganized traffic. People inside the station move about in an orderly manner. For example, they would keep to the right when using the escalator so as to allow people who are rushing for time to move on the left. They would even queue up for their chance to board the MRT train. Inside the train there are priority seats allocated for those who are disabled or pregnant and etc. The people there would generally avoid taking up these seats even when the train is crowded. This is something which I salute them for.

Final comment, like I said before, the MRT is the easiest mode of transport and it is relatively fast as well. It is quite cheap as well, most suitable for travellers on a free and easy trip yet on a budget. If you want to travel to the outskirts of Taipei City, you may choose to transfer to a railway train.

On the Locals

The locals are generally quite helpful. They will help if you ask. But one thing to note is that, not all of them are fluent with English, it would be best if you speak mandarin. If not, the staffs from the information counters would be able to assist you in English, so fear not. The staffs from the information counters are very polite and they serve with enthusiasm. There was one incident when a lady went all the way to help us purchase our tickets for the railway train ride to one of the city’s outskirts. This is how far they would go to help a total stranger, and I find it rather heart-warming.

On Food and Shopping

There are quite a number of places to eat and shop over at Taipei. I will just introduce a few.

Shi Lin Night Market

This is a place for tourists to try out the local delicacies. Food like (it is basically fried cockles with egg, sounds simple but it taste really good), 棺材板 (this is fried bread with some sort of fillings inside) and the XXXXXL chicken cutlet are some of the specialties here. There are still quite a wide variety of foods over at Shi Lin. You have to try those stalls along the streets; those are equally good as well. But those are up to you to find out. I would not want to elaborate further as there are simply too many to describe.

Other than food, you can also opt to shop for cheap stuffs over here. The whole area is filled with retail shops of clothes, shoes and etc. These items are all quite cheap. However shoppers would have to compromise in terms of the quality. Try not to make hasty decisions just because the stuffs here are cheap. Take a good look before you decide to but as some of the items here are in really bad shape.

I picked up a couple of T-shirts over here for just less than 10 SGD. So this is a must-go area for shopaholics.

Ximenting

Ximenting is a total different sight as of Shi Lin. In Ximenting you would not see as many street stalls. And the foods here are of an even wider variety. Not only you can find local food but also food from other cultures. The things here are not exceptionally cheap but if you spend some time walking around, you will still find shops that offer good price for some quality items. You can shop for souvenirs as well. There are shops that offer personalized souvenirs for you to bring home.

I think the most famous food stall over here is (it is a local type of vermicelli; it is very popular in Ximenting. Most of the time you would need to queue up for it). The “Bubble” Tea here is also a must-try. “Bubble” Tea is a special type of drink that originates from Taiwan. There is a long list of flavours for you to choose from. So take your time to try out the different flavours.

Please note that Ximenting is only alive after about 11.30AM. So avoid going there too early.

Jiufen

Jiufen is a place outside of Taipei City. It is not really simple to get there. You would have to take a train from Taipei railway station to reach 瑞方 (Ruifang) station. Then transfer onto a bus to reach Jiufen. Just approach the tourist information counters for help if you are lost.

Jiufen is more of a place for food than shopping. The local specialty here is the pineapple cookies and other Chinese-style cookies. If you intend to bring some cookies home, I would recommend that you place your order with the cookie stalls then start your sightseeing, as you would likely have to wait for 30mins to an hour for your orders. These cookies are freshly baked so I believed it is quite worth the wait. Other than the cookies there is still an interesting food called the 芋圆冰 (this is yam balls with ice.)

Danshui Old Street

There is a lot of food to try here but there are just a few local specialties. One of which is 阿婆铁蛋 (it is actually preserved egg). I did not try this as I do not fancy salty stuff. But my friend tried it and he said it is not very salty and the taste is not too bad. So if you like salty food maybe you can give it a shot. Other than the egg, another food I would like to recommend is 阿给 (the locals named it arcade. It is hard to picture it just by its name. It is basically beancurd stuffed with some kind of fillings and vermicelli.)

Danshui is not really a place for shopping as well. But you can find very interesting souvenirs over here.

Wulai

Wulai is situated at the outskirts of Taipei City, where the natives live in. So you can find really exotic food here. One food that I strongly recommend is the wild boar products over here. You can try out the wild boar sausage, it tastes really good. And if you are daring enough you can even try food like bees. Yeah bees, a kind of insects that collect honey. Haha… We tried the bees. Though it is not very appealing or appetizing from the sight of it, it tastes really good when we eat them. It is deep fried. So it turned out to be very crispy. You would not have a feeling that you are eating bees once they are in your mouth.

You can check out other products by the natives here. There are some other foods that taste really good as well.

Yong Kang Street

>This is the last place that I want to introduce. I must say that as compared to the places I mentioned above, the food here are relatively more expensive. However, you can expect a higher quality and service as the price get higher. The most famous restaurant here is 鼎泰丰, it is a restaurant serving Chinese cuisine. We did not manage to try it as it was extremely crowded when we were there. It was quite a pity. So I would recommend you call to reserve a place the day before, if not you might end up like us.

Fortunately, we still managed to taste another food that is quite extraordinary. The stall is called 冰馆 (it literally means a room of ice). The ice dessert here is quite huge. I would recommend 2 people to share one.

On Sightseeing and Entertainment

I think there aren’t a lot of places with good sceneries over in Taipei. And the main focus of my trip to Taipei is not sightseeing, so I dare not comment too much on this issue. However I still have places to recommend, but they are really quite limited.

Yang Ming Shan

Yang Ming Shan seems to be a tourists’ hotspot for sightseeing. Sad to say we did not go there simply due to the extremely hot weather while we were there. Temperature can hit 38 °C. So we decided that it was not a good idea to go there for sightseeing. Though we did not go there I still believe that it is a place worth going if the weather is not that hot. Maybe in the autumn it would be a perfect place for sightseeing.

Wulai

Yes, Wulai again. That is why I highly recommend this place. Not only is it good for shopping, it also have some pretty decent sceneries as well. I think the main attraction would be Wulai’s waterfall. Though is not a very huge one, it is still worth going. You can just treat the journey there as an after-meal exercise.

Ba Li

Ba Li is a place near Danshui. You can take a ferry to reach there from Danshui. From there you can have a good view of Danshui and the sea. Once again the view is not exceptionally good but it is still better than nothing.

As for entertainment, I think I really cannot comment too much on this. There are quite a lot of hot springs in Taipei that serve as a form of “entertainment”. However due to the weather, we did not go to any hot springs. (The weather is already hot enough)

I think in Taipei the main entertainment in Taipei would be shopping. You can go check out the clubs and their nightlife if you are keen. Other than that I don’t really think there are any other entertainments. If you can find any entertainment that is worth trying over in Taipei, please contribute.

Conclusion

I went to Taipei for eight days and seven nights. There are several things I want my reader to take note of. I will list them in point form for easy reference.

1. The weather is very hot in this time of the year over at Taipei. I live in Singapore, a country that is constantly warm and humid throughout the year, so if I feel that it is hot over there then it got to be really hot. Temperatures can hit 38°C, making it very uncomfortable to sightsee in open areas. So I suggest not going for such a long trips during this warm period of the year. Maybe a 3-4 days trip would be enough. If you want a longer trip, then maybe go during autumn or winter period.
2. Taipei isn’t a very big place. So I do not suggest people to go there on a package tour. The transportation system there is quite well done and convenient. So it is really easy to move about. The tourist guide and map provided at the airport is quite comprehensive and detailed, so you won’t get lost easily. Furthermore, if you go on a package trip, you will definitely miss out a lot on shopping and the food over there. There are a lot to taste, see and shop, and I am very sure you would want to do it at your own pace.
3. I have to admit that the food there taste really good. But I think that is because most of them are spiced up with excessive seasonings and oil. So I believed that the foods there are relatively unhealthy. Anyway, I think it is ok to indulge in such food once in a while. Just like when you are there for a trip. Another thing to add on. I put on quite some weight from the trip. So I got to start exercising to get rid of those excess fats. lol…
4. This is a warning to shopaholics out there. Be prepared that you might spend so much that you may find yourselves with insufficient money to get back to the airport to catch your flight. Haha… I am not kidding. The things there are often much cheaper than you can find elsewhere. So I believed there is no point in asking you to bring more money just in case, as you will end up spending those excess cash as well. lol…

The Golden Rooster Awards are the most prestigious film awards in China.

image source

The name of the awards comes from the Year of The Rooster 1981 which was when they first started. .The awards are given by a panel of film makers, film experts and others and the trophies are golden statues of roosters. The knot was the most successful film overall in these awards.

• Best Picture Award 2007: The Knot directed by Yin Li

  This is the story of two young lovers who are torn apart by circumstances and it is told sixty years in flashback. It is in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles and runs for 113 minutes.

• Best Director: Yin Li for The Knot

  Other nominees were Jacob Cheung for A Battle of Wits and Gao Qun Shu for The Tokyo Trial.

• Best Digital Video: The Contract (China Version)

  This is the story of a young man whose terminally ill father wants to see him married before he dies. It is in Mandarin with simplified Chinese and English subtitles.

• Best Screenplay: The Tokyo Trial

  A cop versus criminal thriller directed by Gao Qun Shu who is famous for this genre of film. In Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles.

• Best Actor: Alloys Chen for The Knot

• Best Actress: Karina Lau for Curiosity Killed The Cat

  Mrs Zheng seems to know nothing about her rich husband’s affair. He curiosity and intuition leads her to suspect him and the story goes from there. In mandarin with subtitles in English.

• Best Music: The Knot

  (The Long March was nominated.)

• Best Art Direction: A Battle of Wits, Li Zhen Zhou

  A story of battle. Not the usual Kung Fu fighting kind of thing but a more subtle war film. With English subtitles.