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NEWS FOR MITM 2019
Bai Tian: Keith Li :
Welcome to “Beautiful China” China-Malaysia PUCM showcase China’s
Booth D005-D012 @ Mid-Valley relations set sail for smart technology and
a better future products through CSITE
Exhibition Center (MVEC) in December 2019
on 09-11 Aug 2019 More on PG 2
More on PG 2

China envoy Bai Tian Dr.Mahathir said Malaysia is an open book "But if you want to have a situation where
very positive about bilateral relation you are always ahead and when you are not
Dr Mahathir: ahead I will ban you and send warships to
China-Malaysia relations Malaysia will continue to use your country, that is not a competition, that
set sail for a better future Huawei's technology is threatening people and that is not the
approach to use,” he stressed.
by H.E.BAI TIAN by BERNAMA Dr Mahathir arrived in Tokyo Wednesday
night for a three-day working visit. Later at the Foreign Correspondents' Club
Historical ties between Malaysia and China date back centuries. TOKYO, May 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is of Japan in Tokyo, Dr Mahathir said: “America
The prime minister said Malaysia is an apparently is afraid of the advancements
As early as the 15th century, Malaysia was an important stop on unperturbed with the allegation of spying open book. made by Huawei and they are suspicious
the ancient maritime Silk Road. In recent times, Malaysia was levelled against the Chinese tech giant, that Huawei might be able to spy on them.”
among the first countries to embrace the Belt and Road Initiative, Huawei and will continue to make use of “Everybody knows if any countries want to
and one of the earliest to see the benefits. Under the BRI, coopera- their technology as much as possible, Prime invade Malaysia they can walk through, and Maybe there is ground for condemnation,
tion between China and Malaysia has expanded in many fields. Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said we will not resist because it is a waste of “but I think that is not the way to go. You
today. time,” he quipped. should compete with them in areas where
These tangible results and achievements have helped BRI win “We are too small to have an impact on the you are strong,” said the Prime Minister.
the support of the Malaysian government and people, encouraging company like Huawei, whose research is far During the session, he also called on the
more people to devote themselves to improving China–Malaysia bigger than the whole of Malaysia’s US’ administration to make concessions in Dr Mahathir also went on to say that he
cooperation under the framework of BRI. I’m glad to see that the research capabilities. its disputes with China, including the spat was quite sure that the United States’
Pakatan Harapan government has openly voiced its support for “So we try to make use of their technology surrounding allegation of Huawei’s spying Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for
the BRI many times over the past year. During his recent visit to as much as possible. Yes, there may be activities. example, has for a long time been reporting
China , Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad praised the BRI some spying, but what is there to spy in The prime minister also warned that failure everything that is happening in Malaysia
as a valuable opportunity to connect the East and the West, and to Malaysia?” he said during a dialogue to negotiate could lead both countries into a and China.
promote the common development and prosperity in the region session at the 25th International military conflict."(For instance), understand
and benefit all participating countries. Conference on The Future of Asia (Nikkei Huawei has a tremendous advantage over “We did not carry out a boycott of America
Conference) here, Thursday. American technology. because of that. They (US) had the capacity
I hope the honorable prime minister will provide his political (then) and now Huawei has got the capacity
wisdom and vision to help push the BRI to higher standards and to let them do their verse.”
greater achievements, and draw a brilliant blueprint for our future
bilateral cooperation. (See reports on Pg 2.) China Cultural Center (CCC)set to enhance quality services by professional teams. Arts
people-to-people understandings and exchanges training, Chinese language learning and
PUCM showcase seminars are open up at the center.
China’s smart by ZHANG JIEXIN CCC KL operates under the purview of the Short-term projects are also included.
technology and Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China and Libraries are set up to provide China-related
products through Director of China Cultural Center: Zhang Jie Xin is defined as a non-profit “official institution”. information or data, to introduce Chinese
CSITE in Dec 2019 Since the 1980s, a total of 37 China Cultural culture and history as well as the status quo
The establishment of the China Cultural Centers have been established worldwide. of modern social life in China. It is open to
by KEITH LI people from all walks of life. People of various
Center in Kuala Lumpur is based on the The function of the CCC KL is to enhance occupations and any age are welcome to
PUCM president Datuk Keith Li Memorandum of Understanding between cultural and tourism exchanges and participate in our activities.
the Government of Malaysia and the Govern- cooperation by presenting to the Malaysian
17th June (Bernama) -- China Entrepreneurs Association in ment of the People’s Republic of China. The people a one-stop entity by means of cultural This year marks the 45th anniversary of
activities, tourism promotions, teaching and diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia.
Malaysia (PUCM) today announced it will host the China Smart training, information services and etc., which Next year 2020 has been set as the year of
Industry Trade Exhibition( CSITE) later in December this year to would benefit people of all races, religions, Culture and Tourism between our two
showcase Chinese companies’ smart technology and products. and creed of Malaysia. countries. Setting up of the CCC KL marks a
new achievement in enhancing the friendly
The exhibition will take place at Mid valley in December and will The center engages in providing well and robust bilateral relations and long-
feature leading ICT companies such as China Mobile International, organized cultural and tourism activities standing collaborations between China and
China Telecom, China Commservice, GCI, Vivo Technology and (exhibitions, fairs, performances, lectures, Malaysia, and better facilitates the cultural
Tusstar among others, said PUCM president Datuk Keith Li after screening of audio-visual products) and high and tourism cooperation, as well as
the association’s annual general meeting last Saturday. people-to-people exchange between both
the countries.
Through this exhibition, Li said PUCM will enable Malaysian
smart industry trade players and others to learn more about
China's smart technology and product services, better promote
exchanges and interactions with the local community, introduce
more advanced Chinese products and technologies to Malaysia,
and assist the country’s economic development.

Li pointed out that when Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad
was in China in April, he visited Huawei and Sensetime, and
expressed an interest in bringing their technology and artificial
intelligence (AI) solutions to Malaysia. Tun Mahathir also recently
stressed that Malaysia is open to extensively using Huawei
technology. (See reports on Pg 2.)

02 AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL EDITION

China-Malaysia
relations set sail for
a better future

by H.E.BAI TIAN

The bilateral trade volume has diesel-hybrid train sets at the most Bai Tian with Saifuddin in China embassy’s 45th anniversary dinner reception
reached US$100 billion a year, and technologically advanced plant, with
China has been Malaysia’s biggest the biggest production capacity There’s a classical Chinese poem that welcome Malaysia’s participation in
trading partner for 10 consecutive anywhere in ASEAN. Proton is now reads: ‘The rising tides have broadened the BRI cooperation in a deeper, more
years. Chinese FDI in Malaysia’s well set to return to profitability after the water, and a boat should raise the comprehensive manner, to fully utilize
manufacturing sector has grown more just one year of collaborating with sail and catch the wind.’ The Malaysian the country’s unique geographical and
than four fold, from US$0.92 billion in China’s Geely Group. government is committed to achieving resource advantages to achieve better
2013 to US$4.75 billion 2018. By the economic transformation, striving for and faster development. I also believe
end of 2018, the Chinese companies The BRI not only provides strong rapid economic growth, and getting on that the BRI will blow a favorable wind
had invested in some 422 projects in momentum to China-Malaysia board with the “Industry 4.0” revolution. to make sure 45-year China-Malaysia
Malaysia’s manufacturing sector, cooperation. It also provides To this end, China’s experience, relations set sail for a better future
creating around 73,000 jobs for opportunities for ordinary people to advanced technology and funding featuring stability, mutual trust and
Malaysia. realize their dreams. Studies show could just be the wind that Malaysia prosperity.
Chinese companies in Malaysia have needs to propel it on its journey. We
The China-Malaysia Qinzhou provided training opportunities for
Industrial Park and the Malaysia-China around 19,000 skilled workers in
Kuantan Industrial Park--often referred recent years. The skills of engineers,
as “Two Countries - Twin Parks” -- are electricians, even management
growing rapidly. Projects such as personnel have improved enormously,
Gemas-Johor Bahru Railway are providing Malaysians with new
advancing steadily. The East Coast Rail opportunities for career advancement.
Link project has just re-launched after These training programs will continue
friendly talks and a route reconfiguration. and expand, allowing more and more
CRRC has set up a rolling stock assembly Malaysians to write their own success
plant in Perak producing electric and stories.

PUCM showcase China’s smart
technology and products through
CSITE in December 2019

by KEITH LI

From Pg1. China association in Malaysia. PUCM 2019 PUCM AGM pass the resolution to hold the China Smart Industry Exhibition in December 2019
On Saturday, PUCM also held a joint members have invested in a variety of
business sectors such as information community through such creative the Bumiputera community and
charitable event with E-Beauty Group, technology, construction, mining, oil & methods as shooting Chinese New holding charity events. PUCM also
inviting 28 orphans for luncheon and gas, telecommunications, energy, Year and Hari Raya video clips, holding interacts regularly with local and
group activities. Mdm Qu Huan, retail, manufacturing, education, seminars and forums, interacting with international media.
E-Beauty Group CEO and PUCM healthcare, media and tourism, and
committee member told Bernama that have been making a significant
PUCM has been conducting charity contribution to Malaysia’s economic
events throughout the year, helping to development, the President Datuk
show that companies from China care Keith Li said.
about the local community.
He added that PUCM has been
PUCM was established in 2015 and actively promoting Chinese companies
currently has 124 members. It is the and communicating with the local
most active and locally recognised

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AUGUST 2019 07

SPECIAL EDITION

Chongqing
- ree Furnaces -

ere's a frontier-town vibe to Chongqing City one of the most booming metropolises on earth.
e city sprawling down both banks of the Yangzi River for kilometres – with further development
ongoing – but very little remains of old Chongqing. Yet the city has a unique energy that makes it a fascinating
place and the locals are some of the most welcoming in all China. e gritty docks, too, are a permanent
reminder of how Chóngqìng's fortunes have long been tied to the river that ows through it.

Dazu Rock Carvings

The Dazu Rock Carvings are a series of Chinese religious
sculptures and carvings located in Dazu District, Chong
qing, China. The carvings date back as far as the 7th
century AD, depicting and influenced by Buddhist,
Confucian and Taoist beliefs. Some are in rock-cut cave
shrines, in the usual Chinese Buddhist style, but many
others are rock reliefs carved into the open rock faces.

Listed as a World Heritage Site, the Dazu Rock Carvings
are made up of 75 protected sites containing some
50,000 statues, with over 100,000 Chinese characters
forming inscriptions and epigraphs.

The carvings were listed as a World Heritage Site in
1999, citing their aesthetic quality, their rich diversity of
subject matter, both secular and religious, and the
light that they shed on everyday life in China during
this period. They provide outstanding evidence of
the harmonious synthesis of Buddhism, Taoism and
Confucianism.

Spicy hot pot

A real locals' fave with some of the tastiest (and spiciest)
hotpot in town. You sit on wooden benches around your
table and bubbling broth. Expect to see male diners
with their shirts off, beer bottles close to hand. It's just
up the alley at the end of Qingnian Lu in the midst of the
flower market on the left-hand side. There's a wooden
sign with English and a picture of a man. No English
menu, but the friendly staff will do their best to assist.

08 AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL EDITION

Hebei

- Chengde Mountain Resort -

Few cities in the world evoke so much history,
excess, glamour, mystique and exotic promise in name alone

Beijing's breadbasket, Hebei is a slow-moving panorama of There are temples to explore, rarely visited stretches of the
grazing sheep, brown earth and fields of corn and wheat. Great Wall and remote towns and villages whose ancient
Cosmopolitan Tianjin may put on a dazzling show, but the rhythms and rural seclusion make them the perfect retreats
true charms of this region are its time-worn, earthy textures for those prepared to venture slightly off the beaten track.
and its deep-rooted historical narrative.
Cangzhou
Hebei offers the ideal chance to disengage from Beijing’s
modernity and frantic urban tempo, and experience a more The city has historically been known in China for its wushu
timeless China without having to travel too far. Wander (Chinese martial arts) and acrobatics. Cangzhou is also famed
through ancient settlements and walled towns, skirt the wild for its historic thousand-year-old 40-ton sculpture, the Iron
edges of the former Manchuria and journey to the majestic Lion of Cangzhou. The sculpture is reportedly the largest
18th-century summer retreat of the Qing emperors in cast-iron sculpture in the world, cast in 953 in the Five
Chengde. Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Iron Lion of Cangzhou Wushu

AUGUST 2019 09

SPECIAL EDITION

Shanxi
- Wutai Shan -

Waist-deep in handsome history, Shanxi is home to an 1
impressive roll call of must-see, ancient sights. Most travellers 2
start with the walled city of Pingyao. Basing yourself here 3
and jumping to the town's surrounding sights is practically all
you need: you'll encounter time-worn temples, traditional
Qing-dynasty courtyard architecture, some of the warmest
people in the Middle Kingdom and the opportunity for a
day-trip to the dizzying mountain cliffs and gorges of Mian
Shan.

Travellers shouldn't overlook Datong, a forward-thinking city
with a brand-new city wall and a great-looking old town, but
it's the astonishing cave sculptures at Yungang outside town
that give expression to the province's other great source of
magic: a rich vein of Buddhist heritage, which splendidly
litters the rolling mountain fastness of Wutai Shan with
temples. Add the time-warp walled village, Guoyu, and the
still-inhabited cave dwellings of Lijia Shan, and you could find
yourself staying longer than planned.

1. Yungang Caves: One of China’s most supreme examples of Buddhist cave

art, these 5th-century caves are simply magnificent. With 51,000 ancient
statues and celestial beings, they put virtually everything else in the Shanxi
shade. Carved by the Turkic-speaking Tuoba, the Yungang Caves drew their
designs from Indian, Persian and even Greek influences that swept along the
Silk Road. Work began in AD 460, continuing for 60 years before all 252 caves,
the oldest collection of Buddhist carvings in China, had been completed.

2. Lijia Shan: This remote, supremely peaceful 550-year-old village, hugging

a hillside with terraces of crops running up it, has hundreds of cave dwellings
scaling nine storeys. Once home to more than 600 families, most with the
family name Li, today’s population is much depleted at around 45. Some stone
paths and stairways that twist up the hill date from Ming times; note the rings
on some walls that horses were tied to.

3. The Hukou Waterfall: Is the largest waterfall on the Yellow River, the

second largest waterfall in China (after the Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou),
and the world's largest yellow waterfall. It is located at the intersection of the
provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, 165 km (103 mi) to the west of Fenxi County,
and 50 km (31 mi) to the east of Yichuan County where the middle reaches of
the Yellow River flow through Jinxia Grand Canyon.

10 AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL EDITION

Liaoning
- Dalian -

History and hedonism run side by side in Liaoning . Walled Ming dynasty cities
rub up against booming beach resorts, while imperial palaces sit in the centre of bustling modern cities.

Nothing quite captures the fun and distinction, however, as much as seaside Dàlián, with its
golden coastline and summer beer festival, and former battlegrounds where Russian and Japanese

armies wrestled for control of the region in the early 20th century.

Tiger Mountain Great Wall Huang Taiji Xingcheng Ancient City

About 20km northeast of Dandong, this One of Shenyang's highlights is this extensive Despite having a bevy of talking points – it's
steep, restored stretch of the Wall, known as tomb complex, the burial place of Huang Taiji one of only four Ming dynasty cities to retain
Tiger Mountain Great Wall, was built during (1592–1643), founder of the Qing dynasty. its complete outer walls, it has the oldest
the Ming dynasty and runs parallel to the The tomb’s animal statues lead up to the surviving temple in all of northeastern China
North Korean border. Unlike other sections of central mound known as the Luminous Tomb. and it's an up-and-coming beach resort –
the Wall, this one sees comparatively few In many ways a better-preserved complex Xingcheng has stayed well off most travellers'
tourists. The Wall ends at a small museum than Shenyang's Imperial Palace, the tomb radars. Yes, it’s still a bit dusty and rough
with a few weapons, vases and wartime site is worth a few hours examining the round the edges, but conditions are improv-
dioramas. dozens of buildings with their traditional ing and historians and aficionados will have a
architecture and ornamentation. field day here.

AUGUST 2019 11

SPECIAL EDITION

Changbai Shan Nature Reserve

A irty province, Jilin teases with the ancient and the modern, the arti cial and the supernatural.

Travellers tired of great walls and imperial facades can explore Japanese- Changbai Shan(Ever-White Mountains), China’s largest nature reserve, covers
influenced architecture on the trail of the puppet emperor Puyi and the ruins of 2100 sq km (densely forested) on the eastern edge of Jílín. By far the region’s
an ancient Korean kingdom. In fact, much of the far-eastern region comprises top attraction, the park’s greenery and open space offers a welcome contrast to
the little-known Korean Autonomous Prefecture, home to more than one Jílín’s industrial cities.
million ethnic Koreans. Kimchi and cold noodles dominate the menu here and
there’s an easy acceptance of outsiders. The centrepiece of Changbai Shan is the spellbinding Heaven Lake, whose
white frozen surface melts into azure waters stretching across an outsized
Although known for its motor cities and smokestack towns, Jilin is also a volcanic crater straddling the China–North Korea border come summer. Heaven
popular ski destination and boasts China’s largest nature reserve. So go for the Lake’s beauty and mystical reputation, including its Loch Ness–style monster,
contrasts? No, go for the superlatives. Heaven Lake, a stunning, deep-blue lures visitors from all over China, as well as many South Koreans. For the latter,
volcanic crater lake within the country’s largest reserve, is one of China’s most the area is known as Mt Paekdu, or Paekdusan. North Korea claims that Kim
mesmerising natural wonders. Jung-il was born here (although he’s believed to have entered the world in
Khabarovsk, Russia).

Jianfen Cold Noodles Pickled Cabbage Hot Pot Fried Pork in Scoop

12 AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL EDITION

Heilongjiang

- Northern Lights

Heilongjiang means 'Black Dragon River', best explored during summer wanderings Ice sculpture
and this particular coiling dragon is the under blue skies, but winter is when
separating line between China and Russia. Harbin really heats up, as host of the imperial-era Russian style with spired
Across the province a neighbourly world-class Harbin Ice & Snow Festival, domes, pillared entrances and facades
influence is evident in architecture, food centred around a neon-clad, subzero with rows of narrow windows.
and even souvenirs. Capital Harbin, famed theme park created entirely from ice.
for its cobblestoned streets and
European-style facades, is ground zero for Mohe
this hybrid experience. China's northernmost town, Mohe, stands
amid spindly pine forests and vast bogs. In
Of course, it gets cold – sub-Arctic cold – in this region it’s possible to see Siberian
China’s northernmost province, but that forests and dwindling settlements of
frigid weather is put to good use in winter, northern minorities, such as the Daur,
the peak tourist season. Harbin hosts a Ewenki, Hezhen and Oroqen.
world-renowned ice-sculpture festival and
the region has some of China’s finest ski It's one of China’s most intriguing outliers,
runs. It gets busy, but it’s worth swaddling sharing not just a border with Russia, but
yourself in layers and joining the crowds. architecture as well. In 1985 the town
burned to the ground in a raging forest fire
Harbin and when it came time to rebuild, Mohe
Harbin’s Russian and Jewish heritage is decided to redo the main streets in an

Mohe Liaoning
- Dalian -

AUGUST 2019 13

SPECIAL EDITION

- Meihua Mountain of Nanjing -

Nanjing Nanjing

A zip – and an entire world – away from Shanghai, lush and well-irrigated Jiangsu
spills over as much charm and history as the waters that flow through its sparkling
web of canals. The province, which owed its historical wealth to silk and salt
production, boasts the Grand Canal as well as elaborate waterways that thread
through this Yangzi River (Chang Jiang) region. It’s known throughout China for its
cute canal towns, enchanting gardens and sophisticated opera and folk arts.

Many visitors only pass through handsome Nanjing , but the capital of Jiangsu,
lying on the lower stretches of the Yangzi River, boasts a rich and impressive
historical heritage. It's also one of the cleanest and best-looking cities in China.

Suzhou Suzhou

Historically, Suzhou was synonymous with high culture and elegance, and
generations of artists, scholars, writers and high society in China were drawn by its
exquisite art forms and the delicate beauty of its gardens. Like all modern Chinese
towns, Suzhou has unfortunately endured much destruction of its heritage and its
replacement with largely arbitrary chunks of modern architecture.

Having said that, the city still retains enough pockets of charm to warrant two to
three days’ exploration on foot or by bike. And the gardens, Suzhou’s main
attraction, are a symphonic combination of rocks, water, trees and pavilions that
reflects the Chinese appreciation of balance and harmony. Adding to the charm are
some excellent museums, surviving canal scenes, pagodas and humpbacked bridges.
The gardens in particular can get busy, so avoid visiting at the weekend or during
public holidays, if possible.

Eight Uniques of QinHuai Cuisine JINLING

CUISINE

14 AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL EDITION

Anhui
- Huangshan -

Fantastical mountainscapes and well preserved
villages make Anhui the perfect antidote to the
brashness of China’s larger cities. The main
attraction is unquestionably Huangshan, a
jumble of sheer granite cliffs wrapped in cottony
clouds that inspired an entire school of ink
painting during the 17th and 18th centuries. But
the often overlooked peaks of nearby Jiuhua
Shan, where Buddhists bless the souls of the
recently departed, have a hallowed aura that
offers a strong contrast to Huangshan’s stunning
natural scenery.

At the foot of these ranges are strewn the
ancient villages of the province formerly known
as Huizhou. With distinctive whitewashed walls
and black-tiled roofs augmented by lush
surroundings of buckling earth, bamboo and
pine forest, they are among the most pictur-
esque in the country.
Anhui's top sights are clustered in its southeast
corner. Easy to navigate and within striking
distance of Shanghai, this is rural China at its
accessible best.

Huangshan

Huangshan is a mountain range in southern Anhui province in eastern China.
The area is well known for its scenery, sunsets, peculiarly-shaped granite peaks,
Huangshan pine trees, hot springs, winter snow, and views of the clouds from
above. Huangshan is a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings and
literature, as well as modern photography. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
and one of China's major tourist destinations.

Paper Cutting

China is the birthplace of paper cutting. Fuyang is a city with a long history, rich
folk customs and fine cultural atmosphere. In the Northern and Southern
Dynasties, the art of paper cutting had already appeared. The city has also been
named a "National Paper Cutting City" by the Ministry of Culture.
Paper-cuts can be used in various occasions. During festivals, paper-cuts are
used for window decorations, symbolizing good luck and joy. They can also be
used in making loose coverings for the chest or bibs with flowers or birds
depicted on the cut paper. They are vivid and clear, combining both northern
and southern paper cutting characteristics.

AUGUST 2019 15

SPECIAL EDITION

Zhejiang
- Hangzhou West Lake -

It's Hangzhou, the handsome capital city, that lands Zhejiang on many a traveller's itinerary. Home to picture-perfect landscapes of classical Chinese
beauty (and just a short train ride from Shanghai), Hangzhou is the obvious highlight. Yet the province o ers so much more. ere are water towns with
spiderweb networks of canals and restored Ming and Qing dynasty merchants' homes (Wuzhen and Nanxun), also in easy striking distance. Among the
thousands of islands dotting a ragged and fragmented shoreline is the island of Putuoshan, one of China's four most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
More intrepid travellers can head west, where ancient villages retain their traditional architecture and bucolic charms. Meanwhile travellers looking for the

opposite of intrepid can hole up in one of the stylish resorts nestled among the hillside bamboo groves and tea elds of naturally cool Moganshan.

Lingyin Temple Putuoshan Hangzhou cuisine

Hangzhou’s most famous Buddhist temple, Lingyin Putuoshan– the Zhoushan Archipelago’s most West Lake Fish in Vinegar Gravy, also known as Song
Temple was originally built in AD 326, but has been celebrated isle and one of China’s four sacred Sao Fish , is a traditional local specialty dish of Hang
destroyed and rebuilt no fewer than 16 times. Buddhist mountains – is the abode of Guanyin, the zhou in Zhejiang province. It first originated in
During the Five Dynasties (AD 907–960) about 3000 eternally compassionate Goddess of Mercy. With Southern Song Dynasty. The material of West Lake
monks lived here. The Hall of the Four Heavenly pine groves, sandy beaches, grand temples and Fish in Vinegar Gravy usually is the grass carp. After
Kings is astonishing, with its four vast guardians and hidden grottoes, it is immensely scenic, but also very cooking, the chef will pour the smooth sugar and
an ornate cabinet housing Milefo (the future popular (despite the fact that it is only accessible by vinegar on the fish, which will cause the pectoral fin
Buddha). The Great Hall contains a magnificent boat). Aim for a midweek visit outside of holiday to stand up. Hangzhou is spoilt for choice when it
20m-high statue of Siddhartha Gautama (Sakyamuni), periods. comes to foodie streets, and this stretch of Zhong
sculpted from 24 blocks of camphor wood in 1956 shan Nanlu (starting at the Drum Tower) is an
and based on a Tang dynasty original. absolute delight. Casual sit-down restaurants line
the road, and stalls that run along the middle of the
Behind the giant statue is a startling montage of road sell everything from fresh seafood and
Guanyin surrounded by 150 small figures, including deep-fried insects to Beggar's Chicken and the
multiple luohan (arhat), in a variety of poses. The absolute stinkiest of stinky tofu.
earlier hall collapsed in 1949, crushing the Buddhist
statues within, so it was rebuilt and the statue
conceived. The Hall of the Medicine Buddha is
beyond.

The walk up to the temple skirts the flanks of Feilai
Peak, magically transported here from India
according to legend.

16 AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL EDITION

Fujian
- Xiamen -

Fujian is an attractive coastal province with a long seafaring history. As a signi cant stop on the
maritime Silk Road, its cities developed an easy cosmopolitan outlook and visitors are surprised by the traces of

elsewhere in its architecture, food, language and people. Xiamen is the star attraction to visitors,
with its long seaside promenade and easy access to little Gulang Yu, a hip island enclave just o shore.

Tulou Wuyi Shan Quanzhou

The Hakka and the Minnan(Fujianese) Despite a long association with domestic Wandering Quanzhou’s ancient stone
people have lived in the fabled earthen travellers, Wuyi Shan is a mountain retreat streets and temples of many faiths creates
structures known as tulou for centuries. which retains a sense of untouched natural a rare sense of timelessness in urban China.
Spread across a southwestern section of splendour. Set high up in the northwest of Hints of a rich Islamic and maritime past
the province, many are still inhabited and Fujian, its hiking trails through protected are readily visible, and the atmosphere at
welcome visitors for the day or night. The forests and the famed bamboo rafting trip times feels like a city further west. There
circular edifices are remarkable for their are well worth the effort to come here. Try are also easy day trips from here to the
ingenuity, but the idyllic rural setting lends to visit midweek or in low season (November, fascinating historic villages of Chongwu and
an ethereal quality hard to find in modern March and April) and you might have the Xunpu which have long faced out towards
China. Sleeping here and sharing a meal area to yourself. Avoid the area during the sea.
with local families can be life-affirming. heavy rain even if the hotels and tour
organisers advise otherwise.

AUGUST 2019 17

SPECIAL EDITION

Jiangxi
- Nanchang -

The underrated province of Jiangxi offers a bucolic
entrée into semirural Chinese life. It's a succulent,
green place, connected by waterways of natural and
human design, rice paddies teeming with bird life
and fields draped in wildflowers. Tea seemingly
grows out of every patch of land until dramatic
mountain ranges, swirling with mist, rise up at its
edges.

Jiangxi has joined the high-speed rail circuit and
now there's a new breed of local, prosperous
traveller. They come here for the story-book villages
around Wuyuan, the remote mountain parks of
great spiritual significance and matching hiking
trails in the northeast, and the surprisingly pleasant
provincial capital, Nanchang.

Jingdezhen

Jingdezhen is a prefecture-level city, previously a
town, in northeastern Jiangxi provincebordering
Anhui to the north. It is known as the "Porcelain
Capital" because it has been producing pottery for
1,700 years. The city has a well-documented history
that stretches back over 2,000 years.

e Pavilion of
Prince Teng

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Shandong
- Tai Shan -

Steeped in natural and supernatural allure, Southern Chinese claim 'myriad they burn money and incense, praying for
the Shandongpeninsula on China’s northeastern mountains, rivers and geniuses' while their progeny. Sun-worshippers muster
coast is the stuff of legends. Its captivating Shandong citizens smugly contest they wide-eyed on the peak, straining for the
landscape – a fertile flood plain fed by have 'one mountain, one river and one first flickers of dawn.In ancient Chinese
rivers and underground springs, capped by saint', implying they have the last word on tradition, it was believed that the sun
granite peaks and framed in wild coastline each: Tai Shan (the most revered of China's began its westward journey from Tai Shan.
– can’t help but inspire wonder. five sacred Taoist peaks, and the most From its heights Confucius uttered the
climbed mountain on earth), Huang He dictum 'The world is small.' You too can
A lumpy-headed boy named Confucius was (the Yellow River) and Confucius. climb up and say 'I'm knackered.'
born here and grew up to develop a
philosophy of virtue and ethics that would Tai Shan Confucius Feast
reach far beyond his lectures under an
apricot tree. Three centuries later China’s Tai Shan is a unique experience – its Changyu Pioneer Wine
first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, would climb supernatural allure attracts the Chinese in
Tai Shan, Shandong’s highest peak, to droves. Bixia, the Princess of the Azure
proclaim a unified empire in 219 BC. Clouds, a Taoist deity whose presence
permeates the temples dotted along the
But Shandong is more than the sum of its route, is a powerful cult figure for the rural
historical parts. The energetic buzz in women of Shandong and beyond. Tribes of
seaside Qingdao ranks the city among the wiry grandmothers – it's said that if you
best places to live in Asia. This is Shan climb Tai Shan you'll live to 100 – trot up
dong’s real draw: you can climb mountains, the steps with surprising ease, their target
feast on fine seafood, quaff beer and still the cluster of temples at the summit where
find time to hit the beach.

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Henan

- Shaolin Temple -

Affluent Chinese may roll their eyes at the Shaolin Temple of Buddhist rock carving. A sutra in stone, the
mention of impoverished and land-locked epic achievement of the Longmen Grottoes
Henan, but the province’s heritage takes us The largely rebuilt Shaolin Temple is a was commenced by chisellers from the Northern
back to the earliest days of Chinese antiquity. commercialised victim of its own incredible Wei dynasty after the capital relocated here
Ancient capitals rose and fell in Henan’s north, success. A frequent target of war, the ancestral from Datong in the year 494. Over the next two
where the capricious Yellow River (Huang He) home of wushu was last torched in 1928, centuries, more than 100,000 images and
nourished the flowering of a great civilisation. and the surviving halls – many of recent statues of Buddha and his disciples emerged
construction – are today assailed by relentless from over a kilometre of limestone cliff wall
Henan is home to China’s oldest surviving waves of selfie-shooting tour groups. The along the Yi River.
Buddhist temple and one of the country’s most temple’s claim to fame, its dazzling gongfu A disheartening amount of decapitation
astonishing collections of Buddhist carvings, (kung fu) based on the movements of animals, disfigures the statuary at this Unesco World
the Longmen Grottoes. There is also the Shao insects and sometimes mythological figures, Heritage Site. In the early 20th century, many
lin Temple, that legendary institution where guarantees that martial arts clubs around the effigies were beheaded by unscrupulous
the martial way and Buddhism found an unlikely world make incessant pilgrimages. collectors or simply extracted whole, many
but powerful alliance. Henan is also home to ending up abroad in such institutions as the
the excellent walled town of Kaifeng and the Longmen Grottoes Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the
1000-year-old craft of woodblock printing in Atkinson Museum in Kansas City and the Tokyo
Zhuxian. The ravaged grottoes at Longmen constitute National Museum.
one of China’s handful of surviving masterpieces

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Hubei

- Wuhan

Yellow Crane Tower

Like much of central China, Hubei is better known for its Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge
industrial belt rather than the searing beauty of its lush and
fertile landscape of mountain parks and plains sluiced by rivers, Wudang Shan
lakes and sacred Taoist sites.
The Three Gorges snakes across the border, carrying gobsmacked Wudang Shan attracts a diverse array of climbers, from Taoist nuns
visitors into its belly, while the mountainous west rises to the with knapsacks, porters shouldering paving slabs and sacks of rice,
sacred peaks of Wudang Shan, the kind of kung-fu film setting business people with laptops and bright-eyed octogenarians
where courtyards of taichi masters cling to mountaintops and hopping along. It’s a gruelling climb but the scenery is worth every
adhere to Taoist virtues. And hikers will find Shennongjia step; plenty of Taoist temples line the route (where you can take
National Park in its sparse, water-coloured natural state. contemplative breathers) and you’ll see the occasional Taoist cairn
Hubei’s central location ensured it played a key role in Chinese or trees garlanded with scarlet ribbons weighed with small stones.
history – there's evidence around Jingzhou of the great Chu On the way down, note how some pilgrims descend backwards!
kingdom that ruled here more than 2000 years ago. China’s
modern history echoes through the cultural sites of Wuhan, one
of China's most dynamic cities, where the hum of commerce
spills over into jumping nightlife.

Wuhan
Wuhan has matured from the sprawling convergence of three
smaller cities to an industrial and commercial centre with more
than a smattering of fine cultural sites, including the Yellow Crane
Tower and a terrific museum. At times it feels ready to leap from
its second-tier status, its warring history a thing of a
2000-year-old past.

Wudang Shan

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As the birthplace of Mao Zedong, Communist Party cadres might wax lyrical about the sacred
standing of Hunan in the annals of Chinese history, but it's Hunan’s dramatic scenery that is the
real draw. A magnificent landscape of isolated mountain ranges and jagged, karst peaks envelops
more than 80% of the province. The most astonishing example is found at the phantasmagorical
Zhangjiajie, one of China's most surreal national parks. Here, as in other parts of the province,
geological marvels thrust up majestically from green vales fed by tributaries in the fertile Yangzi
River basin.
People have long made a home amid Hunan's natural wonders, taming the rocky slopes into
terraces of lush fields, and their distinctive cultures live on in charming villages and towns, the
most alluring being the historic riverside settlement of Fenghuang.

Hunan
- Zhangjiajie -

Zhangjiajie

Rising from the subtropical and temperate forests of northwest Hunan, Zhangjiajie has a
concentration of quartzite-sandstone formations found nowhere else in the world. Some 243
peaks and more than 3000 karst pinnacles and spires dominate the scenery in this Unesco-
protected park. If caught in the right light or when the early-morning mountain mist rolls in around
them, the effect is otherworldly.

Fenghuang

Once a frontier town, Fenghuang marked the boundary between the Han civilisations of the central
plains and the Miao, Tujia and Dong minorities of the southwest mountains. Protective walls went up in
the Ming dynasty, but despite the implications Fenghuang prospered as a centre of trade and cultural
exchange. Its diverse residents built a breathtaking riverside settlement of winding alleys, temples and
rickety stilt houses, which these days attract tourists by the bucketload. Do try to stay overnight – the
town is bursting with accommodation options, and the sight of an illuminated Fenghuang at night is
quite awesome.

Yueyang Tower

Yueyang Tower is an ancient Chinese tower in Yueyang, Hunan Province, on the shore of Lake Dongting.
Alongside the Pavilion of Prince Teng and Yellow Crane Tower, it is one of the Three Great Towers of Jiang
nan. Yueyang Tower became famous for Memorial to Yueyang Towerwritten by Fan Zhongyan, an eminent
minister of the Northern Song dynasty in China.It is the only ancient building with a helmet roof structure
in China.

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Guangdong
- Guangzhou -

Shenzhen Kaiping

The gleaming manifestation of China's economic miracle, Shenzhen Kaiping, 140km southwest of Guangzhou, is home to one of the
has risen from the marshy Pearl River Delta into one of the world's most arresting human-constructed attractions in Guangdong –
most mega megacities in less time than it took London's St Paul's the Unesco-crowned diaolou, eccentric watchtowers featuring a
Cathedral to be built. Millions of migrants have been drawn to fusion of Eastern and Western architectural styles. Out of the
its golden gates from the Chinese countryside since the 1980s; approximately 3000 original diaolou, only 1833 remain.
now, Shenzhen attracts high-flying tech graduates and global
corporations.

Chaozhou Nanfeng Kiln

Originally a 12th-century pontoon bridge with 86 boats straddling Nanfeng Kiln is a tourist attraction in the Ancient Nanfeng Kiln
the Han River, Guangji Bridge suffered repeated destruction over the Cultural and Creative Zone, which is located in Shiwan Town,
centuries. The current version is a brilliant, faux-ancient passageway Chancheng District, Foshan city, Guangdong province of China. It
with 18 wooden boats hooked up afresh every morning and 24 stone was built in the Ming Dynasty Zhengde period (1506–1521)and
piers topped with pagodas. has been continuously firing Shiwan ware for over 500 years so
far.

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Hainan

- Haikou Century Bridge

China’s largest tropical island boasts all the balmy weather, coco-
nut palms and gold-sand beaches you could ask for. Down at
Sanya it’s see-and-be-seen on the boardwalks or escape altogether
at some of Asia’s top luxury resorts. Thatched huts and banana
pancakes haven’t popped up anywhere yet, but there’s a hint of
hipness coming from the east coast beachside towns, and the
budding surf scene is helping to spread the gospel of chill out.

Money is pouring into Hainan these days to ramp up the luxury Haikou Clock Tower
quotient. You can cruise on the high-speed rail, but cycling is still
the better way to get around. When you’ve had enough of a
lathering on the coast, the cool central highlands are an ideal
place to be on two wheels.

Sanya Mission hills

China’s premier beach community claims to be the ‘Hawaii of
China', but ‘Moscow on the South China Sea’ is more like it.
Middle-class Chinese families are increasingly drawn to the
golden shores of Sanya as well.While the full 40km or so of
coastline dedicated to tourism is usually referred to as Sanya, the
region is actually made up of three distinct zones. Sanya Bay is
home to the bustling city centre and a long stretch of beach
and hotels aimed at locals and mainland holidaymakers. Busy,
cheerfully tacky Dadonghai Bay, about 3km southeast, beyond the
Luhuitou Peninsula, is where most Western travellers stay.

Haikou

Haikou means ‘Mouth of the Sea’, and while sea trade remains
relatively important, the buzzing provincial capital at the northern
tip of Hainan is most notable for its booming construction. New
and restarted projects are everywhere. There are some decent
beaches a short bike or bus ride away, the air is fresh and clean
and some visitors find themselves quite satisfied just hanging out
here for a few days.

Haikou Cuisine

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Sichuan
- Chengdu -

It's tting that an ancient form of opera and magic called bianlian ( face-changing) originated here, for
Sichuan is a and of many guises. Capital Chengdu shows a modern face, but just beyond its bustling ring roads you'll nd a more traditional

landscape of mist-shrouded, sacred mountains, and a countryside scattered with ancient villages and cli s of carved Buddhas.
Central Sichuan is also home to the giant panda, the most famous face in China. In the south, expect a veil of history
and a muted beauty that sees far fewer travellers than the rest of the region.

To the north the visage changes again into a fairyland of alpine valleys and blue-green lakes. Sichuan’s Tibetan face appears as you
venture west. is is Kham, one of the former Tibetan prefectures: a vast landscape of plateau grasslands and glacial mountains where Tibetan

culture still thrives and you’re certain to have your most challenging, yet most magical, experiences.

Jiuzhai Valley National Park Leshan Giant Buddha

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Guizhou
- Huangguoshu Falls -

It's hard to call Guizhou underrated as a travel destination when it's largely unknown to travellers outside China entirely –
and what a travesty of justice. e province has two of the country's largest and most spectacular natural features – a waterfall

and a cave – while outside the capital, Guiyang, it's pretty much green hills and valleys, owing rivers and limestone
formations to the horizon. ere's even a 'bamboo sea'.

Guizhou's people are as diverse as its environment. Around 37% of the province’s population consists of more than 18 ethnic minorities.
Flitting around the Dong and Miao villages in the east of the province is like an anthropological dream sequence. Nearby is the ancient riverside

settlement of Zhenyuan, as striking as Guilin to the south, where Chinese tourists chuckle into their
hot-and-spicy sour sh soup that they still have it all to themselves.

Zhenyuan

Zhenyuan is the highlight for many visitors to southern
China thanks to its unruffled charm, high density of historical
sights, gorgeous locale by the Wuyang River, and relative
obscurity in the eyes of international travellers. (In some
neighbouring provinces, places half as delightful draw
twice the number of visitors.)
A former outpost on the trade route from Yunnan to
Hunan, Zhenyuan also features a great gorge cruise which
makes a smart alternative to the bigger – and frankly less
charming – Three Gorges option to the northeast.

Miao

Guizhou is demographically one of China's most diverse
provinces. Minority groups account for more than 37% of
the population and they include Miao (including Gha-Mu
and A-Hmao), Yao, Yi, Qiang, Dong, Zhuang, Bouyei, Bai,
Tujia, Gelao and Sui. 55.5% of the province area is
designated as autonomous regions for ethnic minorities.
Guizhou is the province with the highest fertility rate in
China.

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Yunnan Dali

-Yuanyang Rice Terraces - Yunnan is the most diverse province in all China, both in its extraordinary
mix of peoples and in the splendour of its landscapes. That combination
Deqin & Kawa Karpo of superlative sights and many different ethnic groups has made Yunnan
the trendiest destination for China’s exploding domestic tourist industry.

More than half of the country’s minority groups reside here, providing a
glimpse into China’s hugely varied mix of humanity. Then there’s the
eye-catching contrasts of the land itself: dense jungle sliced by the
Mekong River in the far south, soul-recharging glimpses of the sun over
rice terraces in the southeastern regions, and snowcapped mountains as
you edge towards Tibet.

With everything from laid-back villages and spa resorts to mountain treks
and excellent cycling routes, Yunnan appeals to all tastes. The roads are
much better than they once were, so getting around is a breeze, but
you’ll need time to see it all – whatever time you’ve set aside for Yunnan,
double it.

Gucheng District

Hua Shan AUGUST 2019 27

One of Taoism’s five sacred mountains, the granite SPECIAL EDITION
domes of Hua Shan used to be home to hermits,
sages and Taoist mystics (some of whom could fly, Big Goose Pagoda
they say). These days, though, the trails that wind
their way up to the five peaks are populated by This pagoda, Xi’an’s most famous landmark, formerly
droves of day-trippers drawn by the dreamy scenery. within the old (and huge) Tang dynasty city wall,
And it is spectacular. There are knife-blade ridges dominates the surrounding modern buildings. One
and twisted pine trees poking from crevices and of China’s best examples of a Tang-style pagoda
clinging to ledges, while the summits offer (squarish rather than round), it was completed in AD
transcendent panoramas of green mountains and 652 to house Buddhist sutras brought back from
countryside stretching away to the horizon. Taoists India by the monk Xuan Zang. His travels inspired
hoping to find a quiet spot to contemplate the dao one of the best-known works of Chinese literature,
( ) may be disappointed, but everyone else seems Journey to the West.
to revel in the tough climb and those who overnight
can bask in the first glow of sunrise. Xuan spent the last 19 years of his life translating
scriptures with a crack team of linguist monks; many
of these translations are still used today. Surrounding
the Big Goose Pagoda is Da Cí’en Temple, one of the
largest temples in Tang dynasty Chang’an.

Shaanxi
- Xi’an -

Shaanxi is where it began for China. As the heartland
of the Qin dynasty, whose warrior emperor united
much of China for the first time, Shaanxi was the
cradle of Chinese civilisation and the fountainhead
of Han culture. Xi’an marked the beginning and end
of the Silk Road and was a buzzing capital long
before anyone knew of Beijing and its Forbidden
City.

Shaanxi’s archaeological sites make it an essential
destination. Around Xi’an there’s an excavated
Neolithic village and royal graves, including the
tomb of Qin Shi Huang and his Army of Terracotta
Warriors, one of the world's foremost heritage
sites. Shaanxi has contemporary history too; the
caves around Yan’an were the Chinese Communist
Party’s (CCP) base in the 1930s and '40s.

Xi’an is an emergent traveller's hub, with hotels,
restaurants, museums, ancient pagodas, and a
marvellous city wall and Muslim Quarter. Rural
areas have fascinating villages barely touched by
modernity and mountains that were once home to
hermits and sages.

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

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Gansu

- Mogao Grottoes -

Synonymous with the Silk Road, the slender province of Gansu flows east to Mural
west along the Hexi Corridor, the gap through which goods and ideas once
streamed between China and Central Asia. The constant flow of commerce left
Buddhist statues, beacon towers, forts, chunks of the Great Wall and ancient
trading towns in its wake. Gansu offers an entrancingly rich cultural and
geographic diversity. Historians immerse themselves in Silk Road lore, art
aficionados swoon before the wealth of Buddhist paintings and sculptures,
while adventurers hike through desert rockland, ascend sand dunes and tread
along high-mountain paths well worn by Tibetan nomads. The ethnic diversity
is equally astonishing: throughout the province, the local Hui Muslims act as
though the Silk Road lives on; in Xiahe and Langmusi a pronounced Tibetan
disposition holds sway, while other minority groups such as the Bao’an and
Dongxiang join in the colourful minority patchwork.

Bingling Si

With its relative inaccessibility, Bingling Si is one of the few Buddhist grottoes in China
to have survived the tumultuous 20th century unscathed. Which is a good thing, as
during a period spanning 1600 years, sculptors dangling from ropes carved 183 niches
and sculptures into the porous rock of steep canyon walls. The cave art can’t compare
to Dunhuang, but the setting, few tourists and the remarkable terraced landscapes you
pass getting here make Bingling Si unmissable.

Today the cliffs are isolated by the waters of the Liujiaxia Reservoir on the Yellow River
and hemmed in by a ring of dramatic rock citadels.The star is the 27m-high seated
statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha, but some of the smaller, sway-hipped Bodhisattvas
and guardians, bearing an obvious Indian influence, are equally exquisite.

Zhangye Danxia National Geopark

The swirling orange, yellow, white and brown lunar landscape of this national park is
the result of sandstone and mineral deposits that have eroded into odd shapes over
the course of millennia. These 'rainbow mountains' have been quietly drawing
photographers for the last few years.

Infrastructure was installed inside the park after it was named a national geopark in
2011, making it – for better or worse – very accessible to tourists. Wooden stairs and
platforms allow visitors to reach the tops of the hills without damaging the delicate
landscape and offer stunning views over the coloured strata.

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Qinghai
- Qinghai Lake -

Big, bold and beautifully barren, Qinghai, larger translate to "Green Sea", "Blue Lake" and "Teal Kunlun National Park
than any country in the EU, occupies a vast swath Sea", respectively. Qinghai Lake is located about
of the northeastern chunk of the Tibetan Plateau. 100 kilometres west of the provincial capital of The Kunlun Mountain National Geopark was listed as
As far as Tibetans are concerned, this is Amdo, one Xining at 3,205 m above sea level in a hollow of the the National heritage protection, in the high point
of old Tibet’s three traditional provinces. Much of Tibetan plateau. This island on China’s largest lake can see a seat of the peaks of the endless, pure
what you’ll experience here will feel more Tibetan is the breeding ground for thousands of wild geese, snow-capped mountains, and the fresh air, after
than Chinese; there are monasteries galore, yaks gulls, cormorants, sandpipers, extremely rare watching the mood is more tranquil, as if to let
by the thousands and nomads camped out across black-necked cranes and other bird species. people's mind to cool down the world, forget those
high-altitude grasslands. troubles, immersed in the world of purification,
Dulan Safari geological form feel quite diverse.

Rough-and-ready Qinghai, which means 'Blue Sea'

in Chinese, is classic off-the-beaten-track territory,

often with a last frontier feel to it. Travelling here

can be a little inconvenient, though China’s rapid

development plans have begun to touch the

province, with huge highways and new rail lines

under construction. Despite that, Qinghai still

delivers a heavy dose of solitude among

middle-of-nowhere high-plateau vistas,

Martian-like red mountains, mouth-watering

cuisine and encounters with remote communities

of China’s ethnic minorities.

Qinghai Lake

Located in Qinghai province on an endorheic basin,
Located in Qinghai province on an endorheic basin.
The current Chinese name "Qinghai," the older
Mongolian name "Kokonor", and the Tibetan name

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Inner
Mongolia

Mongolia. The name alone stirs up visions of Five Pagoda Temple
nomadic herders, thundering horses and, of Gobi Desert
course, the warrior-emperor Chinggis Khaan.

Travellers heading north of the Great Wall might
half-expect to see Mongol hordes galloping
through the vast grasslands. The reality is rather
different: the 21st-century Chinese province of
Inner Mongolia is a wholly separate place from
the neighbouring country of Mongolia itself.
The more-visited south of the province is
industrialised, prosperous and very much within
the realm of China’s modern economic miracle.

Having said that, Inner Mongolia is more than
nine times the size of England and the Mongolia
of your dreams can be found off the tourist
route, amid the shimmering sand dunes of the
Badain Jaran Desert or the vast grasslands in the
north. Some effort is reqvuired to reach these
areas, but the spectacular scenery can make it
an unforgettable journey.

Genghis Khan Mausoleum of Genghis Khan

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Tibet

- Potala Palace -

Tibet o ers fabulous monasteries, breathtaking high-altitude walks, stunning views of
the world’s highest mountains and one of the most likeable cultures you will ever encounter

A Higher Plain

For many visitors, the highlights of Tibet will be of a spiritual nature:
magnificent monasteries, prayer halls of chanting monks, and remote
cliffside meditation retreats. Tibet’s pilgrims – from local grandmothers
murmuring mantras in temples heavy with the aromas of juniper incense and
yak butter to hard-core professionals walking or prostrating themselves
around Mt Kailash – are an essential part of this experience. Tibetans have a
level of devotion and faith that seems to belong to an earlier, almost
medieval age. It is fascinating, inspiring and endlessly photogenic.

The Roof of the World

Tibet's other big draw is the elemental beauty of the highest plateau on
earth. Geography here is on a humbling scale and every view is illuminated
with spectacular mountain light. Your trip will take you past glittering
turquoise lakes, across huge plains dotted with yaks and nomads’ tents, and
over high passes draped with colourful prayer flags. Hike past the ruins of
remote hermitages, stare open-mouthed at the north face of Everest or make
an epic overland trip along some of the world’s wildest roads. The scope for
adventure is limited only by your ability to get permits.

The Tibetan People

Whatever your interests, your lasting memories of Tibet are likely to be of the
bottle of Lhasa Beer you shared in a teahouse, the yak-butter tea offered by
a monk in a remote monastery or the picnic enjoyed with a herding family on
the shores of a remote lake. Always ready with a disarming smile, and with
great tolerance and openness of heart despite decades of political turmoil
and hardship, the people truly make travelling in Tibet a profound joy. Make
sure you budget time away from your pre-planned tour itinerary to take
advantage of these chance encounters.

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Ningxia

- China Yellow River Tower

With its raw landscape of dusty plains and stark Western Xia Mausoleums
mountains, sliced in two by the Yellow River
(Huang He), there's a distinct Grapes of Wrath China Yellow River Tower
feel to Ningxia. Outside the cities is a timeless Weizhou Mosque
landscape where farmers till the hard yellow
earth just like their ancestors did.

The Tongxin Great Mosque

The Tongxin Great Mosque is a mosque in
Tongxin County, Wuzhong City, Ningxia Hui
Autonomous Region, China. The mosque is the
oldest and largest mosque in Ningxia.

The mosque was originally built during the Ming
Dynasty. The mosque underwent two major
renovations in 1791 and 1907. When the
Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army went
on a westward campaign liberating areas in
Ningxia, they held a meeting with the local
people at the mosque. They also set up the
Yuhai County People's Government in Shangan
ning. In 1983, it was recognized as the National
Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State
Council.

The Western Xia Tombs

The Western Xia Tombs, which resemble giant
beehives, are Ningxia’s most celebrated sight.
The first tombs were built a millennium ago by Li
Yuanhao, the founder of the Western Xia dynasty.
There are nine imperial tombs, plus 200 lesser
tombs, in an area of 50 sq km.

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Xinjiang

Grape Valley inTurpan China's largest province, Xinjiang is the homeland of the Muslim
Xinjiang kebab Uyghurs and a fast-changing region where ancient and modern
grind up against each other in surprising ways. High-speed
railways cross the Martian landscapes linking cities in hours
rather than days, and the regional capital Ürümqi is a forest of
high-rise apartments and glass skyscrapers; while in parts of the
Silk Road oases of Kashgar, Hotan and Turpan, life goes as it has
for centuries, based around the mosque, the tea house and the
bazaar.

Xinjiang is increasingly attracting visitors for its extraordinary
natural beauty and fascinating Central Asian history and culture.
In short, a visit to Chinese Turkestan makes for an exploration of
China's past and its unsettled multicultural present, or simply a
journey into some of the most sublime landscapes on earth.

Kanas Lake

Stunning Kanas Lake is a long finger of water surrounded by
soaring mountain peaks nestled in the southernmost reaches of
the Siberian taiga ecosystem, pinched in between Mongolia,
Russia and Kazakhstan.

Bezeklik Caves

Kanas Lake

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Guangxi

- Guilin

Guangxi conjures up visions of cycling and by live seafood in Beihǎi's Vietnamese quarter. after 1949. For decades, children's textbooks
bamboo-rafting upon shimmering river waters What's more, you'll be contemplating the proclaimed 'Guìlín's landscape is the best
beneath the sublime karst peaks of Yangshuo 2000-year-old Huashan cliff murals from a under heaven'. It was the darling of Chinese
and hiking between ethnic villages in the lofty boat and comparing the poetry of the Dong politicians, the star city proudly presented to
Longji Rice Terraces. That's not all though: you villages at Chengyang to the beauty of Japan's visiting dignitaries. Today Guilin's natural
can take selfies in front of the dramatic Danxia Kyoto. endowments still amaze. No matter where
landscape at Tianmen Mountain and you’re going in Guangxi, you're likely to spend
Bajiaozhai National Geopark, and get sprayed Guilin a night or two here.
by the mighty waterfall of Detian or splashed
Guilin was China's first city to develop tourism

Taiwan

- Taipei 101

Generous like its 23 million people, Taiwan o ers wondrous vistas, lively traditions
and a culture as colourful as Jade Mountain on a sunny day.

The Beautiful Isle blue Pacific on one side and green volcanic unique and tolerant religious culture that's
arcs on the other. And if you simply want a often as ritual heavy as Catholicism and as wild
Famed for centuries as Ilha Formosa, this is a classic landscape to enjoy, you'll find them as Santeria.Taiwanese temples (all 15,000)
land with more sides than the 11-headed around every corner. combine worship hall, festival venue and art
Guanyin. Towering sea cliffs, marble-walled house under one roof. Watch a plague boat
gorges and tropical forests are just the start of Taiwan is heir to the entire Chinese tradition of burn at Donglong Temple, go on a pilgrimage
your journey, which could take you as far as Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and that with the Empress of Heaven, study a rooftop
Yushan, Taiwan's 3952m alpine roof.In Taiwan amorphous collection of deities and demons three-dimensional mosaic, and learn why a
you can criss-cross mountains on colonial-era worshipped as folk faith. Over the centuries flag and ball have come to represent prayer.
hiking trails or cycle a lone highway with the the people have blended their way into a

AUGUST 2019 35

SPECIAL EDITION

HONG KONG

- Lion Rock Spirit

Hong Kong welcomes with an iconic skyline, a legendary kitchen, and lush,
protected nature where rare birds and colourful traditions thrive

Hong Kong's enchanting neighbourhoods and Victoria Peak Po Lin Monastery & Big Buddha
islands offer a sensory feast. You may find
yourself swaying along on a historic Standing at 552m, Victoria Peak is the highest Po Lin is a huge Buddhist monastery and
double-decker tram, cheering with the hordes point on Hong Kong Island. It is also one of the temple complex that was built in 1924. Today it
at the city-centre horse races, or simply gazing most visited spots by tourists, and it’s not hard seems more of a tourist honeypot than a
out at the glorious harbour. What most visitors to see why. Sweeping views of the metropolis, religious retreat, attracting hundreds of
don't immediately realise is that over 70% of verdant woods, easy but spectacular walks – all thousands of visitors a year and still being
Hong Kong is mountains and sprawling country reachable in just eight minutes from Central by expanded. The big draw is the enormous
parks, some also home to geological and Hong Kong’s 125-year-old, gravity-defying Peak seated bronze Buddha, a must-see on any Hong
historical gems. Tram. Kong trip.

Macau Tower

Macau
- Ruins of St. Paul's
Lord Stow’s Bakery

Known as the 'Vegas of China', Macau is indeed an epicentre of gambling and glitz. While luxury entertainment here is world-class, the city
has much more to offer than that. Macau was a Portuguese colony for 300 years, a heritage marked by a wonderful cultural hybridity that
manifests itself in all aspects of life: Chinese temples stand on maritime-themed Portuguese tiles; the sound of Cantonese permeates
streets with Portuguese names; and when you're hungry, it could be Chinese dim sum, pastéis de nata (Portuguese egg tarts) or Macanese
minchi (ground meat stir-fried with potatoes) that come to the rescue.

CHINA CULTURAL CENTER (CCC)
KUALA LUMPUR
OPENING SOON

Address: Lot 1-2-1, Menara Bangkok Bank, Berjaya Central Park
Jalan Ampang Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel : + 603-2181 2456
Email : [email protected]
Web: http://en.cccweb.org

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