Beginner's Guide to China

Day One

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Shanghai is so chock full of interesting attractions, having only three days will force you to make some hard choices. One activity that must be on your agenda is a stroll through The Bund, Shanghai’s collections of colonial-era structures lining the Huangpu River. Begin your day early to avoid the crowds and have plenty of time to stroll the promenade. Some of the standout structures include the former British Consulate, the Customs House, the former Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and the Peace Hotel, which was built in 1929 and was the it-place to stay during Shanghai’s heyday in the 1930s.

After spending your morning strolling the The Bund, head to the Old Chinese City for a contrasting cultural experience. Yu Yuan Gardens is an imperial structure from the Ming dynasty. For everything about the Bund that screams “European influence,” the Yu Yuan Gardens quietly remind you that you are indeed in China.

The Gardens are a collection of pavilions, bridges, and fishponds, all encircled by a Dragon Wall. There are thirty pavilions in all, and some of the most notable include the Three Ears of Corn Hall, the Hall for Viewing the Grand Rockery, the Hall of Heralding Spring, and the Hall of Jade Magnificence. Amidst Shanghai’s colonial influence and modern skyscrapers, Yu Yuan Gardens provides a wonderful glance back into China’s imperial past. The neighboring Old Town Bazaar is wonderful for strolling and picking up some remembrances of your time in Shanghai.

At the end of your day, head to the Shanghai Centre or Xin Tiandi (New Heaven and Earth) for some of Shanghai best nightlife, with a western twist. They are each full of great restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Day Two

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Spend your morning at the Shanghai Museum. It is located on the People’s Square, which you can take time to explore before you enter the Museum. The square was built on the former site of a greyhound racing track that once sat 50,000 during Shanghai’s gambling days prior to World War II. The Communists promptly removed the track, replacing it with this public square. There is an underground shopping arcade, but the park is perhaps best for simple people watching.

After enjoying the park, make your way into the magnificent Shanghai Museum. Though not the largest collection of all the museums in China, its wonderful lighting, English-friendly displays, and organized galleries prompt many to declare it the best museum in all of China. The Bronze Gallery, Sculpture Gallery, and Painting Gallery tend to be the most popular, but plan your stroll through the facility based on your interests. There are other galleries for calligraphy, jade, seals, and more.

Plan to spend your afternoon on the water with a Huangpu River Cruise. There are several companies to choose from, but the Huangpu River Cruise Company is the largest and most reputable. Ticket prices vary based on the location of the seats. The priciest are around $15, which most westerners consider worth it for the great views.

The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into two parts, Old Shanghai to the west and New Shanghai (Pudong) to the east. The riverfront in Old Shanghai is anchored by The Bund, while the water in Pudong is lined with brand new skyscrapers, all of which have been constructed since 1990. Shockingly enough, the area was swampy farmland before that.

Your most difficult decision on the cruise will be which direction to look at any given time. Both sides are simply incredible. On the Pudong side, the standout structures are the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (the pinkish bulbs are intended to represent pearls) and the Jin Mao Tower, the tallest building in China and the third tallest in the world. Both buildings have elevators that allow you to travel to the top for a bird’s eye view of Shanghai (an activity you can consider adding to your day three agenda).

When you return to dry land, try and catch a performance at the Shanghai Circus World in the evening. The revolving stage, computer controlled lighting, and the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe combine to create a magical experience of dance, music and entertainment. There is also an animal house where you can view elephants, pandas, chimpanzees, tigers, lions, and more.

Day Three

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The activities listed in days one and two are experiences not to be missed in Shanghai. That leaves day three to explore some things that interest you personally.

If you are a museum-lover, you have certainly landed in the right town. Shanghai is full of them. They are currently under an initiative to have 100 museums up and running by the 2010 World Expo, and there are plenty to visit right now. Many of the museums are housed in old colonial residences and offices that are so beautiful they compete with the museum contents for attention.

Choices simply abound. The Shanghai Art Museum is located in a historic neoclassical clock tower on the northwest end of the People’s Square. Housed in a building once serving as the Cotton Exchange in the colonial days is the Shanghai National History Museum.

The Shanghai Municipal History Museum is located in the basement of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong. The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum is great for kids, as it is full of hands-on exhibits.

Still other choices include the Shanghai Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, the Museum of Folk Art, the Shanghai Music Conservatory Oriental Musical Instrument Museum, the Shanghai Public Security Museum, and, believe it or not, the China Museum of Sex.

Spend the afternoon taking a walking tour through the four-square-mile Luwan District, formerly the French Concession. It was here the French set up shop after refusing to join the United States and Great Britain in the International Concession. The area is lined with beautiful colonial homes, lovely parks, hotels, and mansions. It is one of Shanghai’s most picturesque spots.

Sites in the area include the aforementioned Xin Tiandi (New Heaven and Earth), where the hip and happening come to see and be seen, Fuxing Park and the former residences of Sun Yat-sen and Zhou Enlai. The Jin Jiang Hotel is a complex of art deco buildings most famous for being the spot where Richard Nixon signed the Shanghai Communique in 1972, opening China to the West for the first time since World War II.

If you have kids, or wish you still were a kid, you might consider wiling away the afternoon at any of the following: the Shanghai Zoo, the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Ocean World, the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, or the Jin Jiang Amusement Park. All of them offer loads of fun for adults and kids alike.

To end your final day in Shanghai, return to where you began: The Bund. Now that you have seen it on foot and enjoyed it from the water, you can stroll it at night, taking in the glowing lights and reminiscing on your time in Shanghai. There is no better place in the city to gaze upon the rich history of the city’s past. And all you have to do is turn your head to the skyscrapers across the river in growing Pudong to catch a glance at Shanghai’s rich and developing future.

Northern China

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Beijing is perhaps the best-known city in Northern China. It is a surprisingly modern city and is home to many freeways and high rises. Just north of the city is perhaps the most well-known landmark in all of China, the Great Wall. Other attractions include the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square. Outside the center of the city, the pace of life gets calmer and visitors can take in ancient sites such as the Yonghe Gong, Observatory, and the Temple of Heaven. The city has a population of twelve million, most of which are housed in apartments. Beijing has one of the worst climates of all the Chinese cities. The temperature in winter can get down to 20 below and summer brings stifling heat. The best time to visit is September or October.

Southern China

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Hong Kong is the gateway into Southeast Asia and China. Hong Kong is a fast-paced, commercialized city where brand names abound. The climate in Hong Kong is subtropical, so visitors and residents enjoy pleasant weather from October to April. May to September is the peak of Typhoon season, so airline and ferry schedules are often disrupted. Hong Kong offers some spectacular scenery, namely the panoramic view of the skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island. Tourists attractions include Victoria Harbour, Ocean Park, Nathan Road, and the Star Ferry.

Kowloon is located north of Hong Kong Island and south of the mainland part of the New Territories. There are five districts within Kowloon: Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, and yau Tsim Mong. It has a population of 2,071,000 with 44,000 people per square km. When combined with the population of Hong Kong Island, it makes up 47% of Hong Kong’s total population.

Guangzhou is the capital of Guangzhou Province in southern China. Formerly known as Canton City. after a French language transliteration of the city name in Cantonese, this bustling area is home to 9.4 million people, making it the fifth most populated city in China. It is located on the Pearl River, which is navigable to the South China Sea. Tourist attractions here include Shamian Island, the Guangdong Provincial Musuem, the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, and Shishi Holy Heart Cathedral.

Shenzhen is bordered by Hong Kong and is a sub-provincial city of Guangdong province. It is located in the Pearl River Delta and has a population of ten million. It’s climate is sub-tropical, giving it an average temperature of 22.7 degrere Celsius. Shenzhen is comprised of six districts: Luohu, Futian, Nanshan, Yantian, Bao’an, and Longgang. The city itself can be reached by air, train, sea, or road. It is well-known not only for its great shopping and travel, but also for its high crime rate. There are frequent reports of travelers, tourists, and businessmen being robbed and kidnapped. Shenzhen is also home to Shenzhen University and Shenzhen Polytechnic.

Guilin is located on the west bank of the Lijiang River. It is perhaps one of the most picturesque cities in China and has a population of 670,000. Its name means “forest of Sweet Osmanthus” after the many fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees in the city. It has a damp, monsoon climate which gives it plenty of sunshine and an average temperature of 19 degrees Celsius. Their local industries include pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, fertilizer, silk, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon, and herbal medicine. Tourist attractions include the JingJiang Princess City, Seven Star Park, Seven-Star Cave, Camel Mountain, and Elephant Trunk Hill.

Sanya is located in the southern portion of the Hainan province and has a population of 150,208. Tourists should visit the 108-meter statue of Guanyin, which is one of the tallest statues in the world and was just completed in 2005. The city’s transportation system is serviced by the Fenghuang Airport, a bus system, and taxis. Sanya has been the site of the Miss World contest for the last three years.

Eastern China

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Shanghai is rapidly becoming East Asia’s leading business city as it is currently undergoing tremendous economic expansion. It still resembles Old Shanghai, however, with its grimy metropolis and overhead cables and walkways. It is known as the base of European Imperialism in mainland China, and in recent years, individuals from Shanghai have dominated China’s central government. Tourist attractions include the Shanghai Musuem, the Yu Yuan Gardens, and the Huangpu River Cruise.

Xiamen is bordered by Quanzhou and Zhangzhou and looks out to the Taiwan Strait. It is located in southeastern Fujian province and is very close to the island of Quemoy. The local vernacular language is Amoy, which is a dialect of Southern Min. Mandarin is also widely spoken.

Nanjing, which was formerly the capital of China, is now the capital of China’s Jiangsu Province. It is listed as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. It is located near the Yangtze River and serves as a national hub for education, research, transportation, and tourism. It has long been known as one of China’s most important cities. The total population of Nanjing is 6.4 million, with most of those people being from the Han nationality. A popular tourist destination, Nanjing has a variety of festivals, events, museums, theatres and more to entertain visitors. A few places of interest are the Tangshan Hot Spring, Jiangxin Islet, and the Yangshan Tomb Stone.

Hangzhou has a population of 1.75 million and is located southwest of Shanghai in the Zhejiang province. It is known for its beautiful scenery, namely the landscape of the West Lake. Some popular attractions are the oldest Buddhist Temple , Jingci Temple, Liu-He Pagoda, Baocohu Pagoda, Yue-Wang Miao, Xixi National Wetlands Park, Hangzhou Botanical Gardens, and Hangzhou Zoo. The industries of Hangzhou include textile and silk machinery and electronics. Tea is also produced on the outskirts of town. It advertises the best green tea in China as it is the only place left that still bakes tea by hand. Summers in Hangzhou are hot and humid and winters are cool and dry.

Central China

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Wuhan is the most heavily populated city in central China. It has approximately 8,310,000 people. It is the capital of Hubei province and is located near the Yangtze and Han River. The metropolitan area is made up of three towns that are all connected by bridges: Wuchang, Hankou, and Hanyang. The first bridge was built over the Yangtze River in 1957. The second bridge is a cable-stayed bridge. The third bridge was just completed in 2000 and serves as a major traffic hub for the future Wuhan Ring Road. Tourist attractions in Wuhan include East Lake, the Hubei Provincial Museum, the Rock and Bonsai Museum, the Yellow Crane Tower, and Jiqing Street. Natives of Wuhan speak Mandarin Chinese.

Chongqing is ranked as the tenth largest urban area in China. This city has an urban population of 7.5 million. It is located on the edge of the Yungui Plateau and is intersected by the Jialing River. It is a very hilly city, which is why it is the only metropolitan area in China where you will not see a significant number of bicycles. Chongqing is rich in natural resources and is a major trading inland port. Its climate semi-tropical and has a two-season monsoon variation. The city experiences high amounts of pollution partly because there are no controls on the burning of coal and partly because there is a lack of wind due to the surrounding mountains. Tourists should visit the Three Gorges and the Dazu Stone Carvings.

References
www.wikipedia.org

People of China

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China has a history of over 5,000 years of artistic, political, and philosophical advancement. Its different regions are diverse in culture, but unified by language and religion. The government of the People’s Republic of China recognizes 56 ethnic groups, which together compose a unified nation offering a wealth of rich culture and experiences. From the cuisine to the architecture, the diversity of this nation has something to offer everyone.

The largest ethnic group in the People’s Republic of China is the Han Chinese. However, over a hundred ethnic groups have existed in China. The Han Chinese group is so large and diverse, that some consider it to be the overarching group. The population of China is 1.3 billion, making up about one-fifth of the world’s population. This is due to the lack of birth control and the promotion of population growth during the rule of Mao Zedong. Today, the Chinese government has established a birth control policy, commonly known as the One-child policy. The standard spoken language of the Chinese is Standard Mandarin. Classical Chinese used to be the standard for written language, and is still taught in high schools, but Mandarin is the predominant written language.

Traditionally, marriage in Chinese societies was an arrangement between families. However, Chinese culture allowed for romantic love. Before 1949, women were not allowed to pick who they married. The marriages were arranged based on the needs of reproduction, honor, and the needs of the husband and father. There are six basic marriage rituals practiced traditionally. The first is the proposal. The unmarried boy’s parents seek out a potential daughter-in-law. Then, they find a matchmaker, who becomes a liaison between the two families as the get to know each other. The second ritual is birthday matching. The matchmaker compares the couple’s birthdays and determines if the couple is compatible based on Chinese astrology. The third ritual is betrothal gifts. The matchmaker presents betrothal gifts and the betrothal letter from the groom’s family to the bride’s family. Fourth, the wedding gifts are presented. Fifth, the couple consults the Chinese calendar to pick a wedding day. And sixth, the wedding ceremony is held and the bride and groom are married.

Art and Architecture in China

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Chinese art varies greatly and is categorized by the dynasty under which it was created. Porcelain was introduced in early Imperial China. The process was refined to the point that high-quality porcelain became synonymous with the English word “China.” In the Sui and Tang dynasty, there was an abundance of Buddhist architecture and sculpture. The Tang Dynasty is considered to be the “Golden Age” of Chinese poetry.

Another important aspect of Chinese art is their contribution to the cinema and the opera. Hong Kong has been a center for filmmaking for many years. Many of the films made center around martial arts, organized crime, or other Chinese themes. These films appeal not only to the Hong Kong market, but also to viewers around the world, namely in the United States. Films made in China have been popular as of late, with titles such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers. Chinese opera began in the Tang dynasty with the “Pear Garden,” the first opera troupe in China. Operatic professionals to this day are referred to as “Disciples of the Pear Garden”.

Architecture has long been an important part of Chinese culture. Examples of this architecture are still standing from over 2,000 years ago. The architecture all has some common features, regardless of the region or use. The most important of these features is the emphasis on the horizontal. Chinese architecture places importance on the width of the building, rather than the height and depth as in Western culture. Another important feature is symmetry. This gives a sense of grandeur to Chinese architecture and is used in everything from farmhouses to palaces. Feng shui designed architecture is another important feature.

Life in China

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The clothing worn in China depends greatly upon the region, ethnic background, and economic situation. There is an increased trend towards a western look in the major urban areas, especially Shanghai. Adults on the streets will typically wear formal wear over casual wear. Teenagers prefer brand names, and children usually have on clothes with cartoon characters.

China is said to have one of the most diverse culinary histories in the world. Nevertheless, most Chinese meals consist of two main components: a carbohydrate or starch and a dish of vegetables, fish, or meat. In China, the rice, noodles, or mantuo (steamed buns) is the main course, while the meat is considered a side item. Rice is a critical part of Chinese cuisine. However, in many parts of China, they use wheat-based products, such as noodles or buns. At a Chinese meal, each person is given their own bowl of rice and the remainder of the meal is served in communal dishes, or “family style”. Chopsticks are the primary utensils for eating solid foods. Soups and other liquids are eaten with a wide, flat-bottomed spoon. Vegetarianism is not uncommon in Chinese culture, but is only practiced by a small number of the population. Human manure is used for fertilizer, so consumption of raw vegetables, such as salads, is rare. Dessert items are often incorporated into the meal, rather than served at the end. If they are served at the end, they usually consist of fresh fruit or a sweet soup. Cold beverages are thought to be harmful to the digestion of hot food. If a beverage is served at mealtime, it most likely will be hot tea or hot water.

There are many popular tourist destinations in China. The Forbidden City is located in Beijing and was once the center of Chinese Imperial Power. Another popular destination is the Great Wall of China. It is a massive stone wall that was built along China’s borders. The Terracotta Army is another place that is often visited. It is an archeological find consisting of a collection of terracotta statues of Chinese Imperial soldiers. It was constructed during the Imperial period by one of China’s emperors.

Religion and Education in China

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Religion is varied in China and includes religions such as Taosim, Buddhism, and Chinese folk religion. Classifying Chinese religions is somewhat problematic since the Chinese have a belief in the spiritual world, but do not invoke a concept of God. Chinese religion also does not demand the exclusive adherence of members, so Chinese people may pick and choose parts of each religion. There are several major forms of religion that developed in Chinese culture, including ancestor worship, Chinese folk religion, shamanism, Taosim, and the veneration of local deities. The Chinese also practice astrology, Feng shui, and geomancy. The Chinese are guaranteed freedom of religion, but with some restrictions. For example, the Communist Party of China reacts strongly to groups such as the Falun Gong, which challenge the authority of the party.

Although education in China was once only available to the wealthy, today is available to the general public. The school system is China is vast and varied, and structured as a pyramid, with student numbers decreasing sharply at the higher levels. China has preschools, kindergartens, schools for the deaf and blind, key schools, primary schools, secondary schools, and various institutions of higher learning, such as colleges and universities. The Chinese Communist Party plays a role in managing the education system, although the government has authority over it.

Referencecs
www.wikipedia.org

China People and Culture

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China Major Cities and Regions

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Beijing - City Overview

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Shanghai - Activities and Attractions

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Beginner's Guide to China

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Northern China

Southern China

Eastern China

Central China

People of China

Art and Architecture in China

Life in China

Religion and Education in China

China People and Culture

People of China

Art and Architecture in China

Life in China

Religion and Education in China

China Major Cities and Regions

Northern China

Southern China

Eastern China

Central China

Beijing - City Overview

Beijing - City Overview

Navigating the City

The Forbidden City

Dong Cheng

Shanghai - Activities and Attractions

Shanghai - Activities and Attractions Overview

The Bund

Museums

Houses of Worship