Eighth in the series where we profile what we think are the top ten destinations for the first time visitor to see in China. Destinations are listed in no particular order, however, what do YOU think the top ten should be???
“The Global Times recently reported a planned expansion of the areas of the Forbidden City open to tourists, from 30 percent to 70 percent of the complex’s total area. As well as opening up new areas of the City, the renovation aims to relieve congestion and stress on the current zones open to visitors.
According to the report the area of the Forbidden City open at present has an ideal daily capacity of approximately 30,000, yet the City sees as many as 130,000 visitors a day during peak tourist seasons. Overwhelming crowds has led to damage and general wear that many hope will be relieved with the opening of new sections within the walled City.
The expansion project marks the start of phase two of long-term renovations; the first phase began in 2002, continued for six-years and restored areas already open to the public. Beijingers may remember that many of the gates were spruced up in the years before the Beijing Olympics.
This new phase will work on areas not currently open to the public and is scheduled to continue through to 2020. Tourists may see new areas of the Forbidden City open to them within a year however.”
Fifth in the series where we profile what we think are the top ten destinations for the first time visitor to see in China. Destinations are listed in no particular order, however, what do YOU think the top ten should be???
Fourth in the series where we profile what we think are the top ten destinations for the first time visitor to see in China. Destinations are listed in no particular order, however, what do YOU think the top ten should be???
Third in the series where we profile what we think are the top ten destinations for the first time visitor to see in China. Destinations are listed in no particular order, however, what do YOU think the top ten should be???
Second in the series where we profile what we think are the top ten destinations for the first time visitor to see in China. Destinations are listed in no particular order, however, what do YOU think the top ten should be???
A new series where we profile what we think are the top ten destinations for the first time visitor to see in China. Destinations are listed in no particular order, however, what do YOU think the top ten should be???
Made with 26,000 images taken over two months traveling across Tibet, Xinjiang, Yunnan and Sichuan this video made by Abram Hodgens gives a great new take on traveling through these regions of China.
Silk Road Timelapse: Two Months Across Tibet, Xinjiang, Yunan, and China from inMotion on Vimeo.
A good read from National Geographic about the ancient Tea Horse Road, a trade route from China into Tibet. It starts “Deep in the mountains of western Sichuan I’m hacking through a bamboo jungle, trying to find a legendary trail. Just 60 years ago, when much of Asia still moved by foot or hoof, the Tea Horse Road was a thoroughfare of commerce, the main link between China and Tibet. But my search could be in vain. A few days earlier I met a man who used to carry backbreaking loads of tea along the path; he warned me that time, weather, and invasive plants may have wiped out the Tea Horse Road.” read more…
After a 33 month renovation costing an estimated 5 billion yuan (US$732 million) Shanghai’s famous Bund running alongside the Huangpu River has finally reopened as planned in time for May’s Shanghai Expo.
Gone is the 11-lane highway which has been cut down to four lanes, with 70 percent of the Bund’s traffic diverted into a two-tier underground tunnel. This has freed up space for a larger pedestrian promenade now stretching 2.6km with a staggering 2,000 park benches!
Below is a photo from 2009 of the Bund’s European architecture at night. Click here for a set of photos from the Shanghaiist of the newly opened Bund.
