China
China's hosting of the 2008 Olympics showed off to the world a nation on
the rise, where ancient riches are complemented by modern marvels of
architecture and engineering. The energy of the place is palpable as
the world's largest population emerges from the shadows of recent history
and rushes headlong into a future as a (perhaps the) major global player
- and a must-see travel destination. Chinese history China's multi-millennial
history has been a tumultuous one. One of the world's earliest civilizations,
it was ruled for thousands of years by imperial dynasties until the
overthrowing of the Qing dynasty in 1911. The civil war in 1945 defined
the China of today, ending with the defeated Nationalists fleeing to
Taiwan, while Mao's victorious Communists founded the People's Republic
of China. The Cultural Revolution in the 1960s effectively closed the
country. However, China has made up for lost time since the 1990s:
it now boasts the world's fastest growing major economy and its main
cities are emerging as cosmopolitan global centres. Culture and cuisine
China is a land of natural and cultural superlatives too, encompassing
37 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Great Wall and Forbidden
City in Beijing, Xi'an's Terracotta Army, traditional Suzhou gardens
and the misty peaks of Huangshan. Chinese food ranks among the world's
great cuisines, while its distinctive art forms, including acrobatics,
martial arts and Chinese opera, add more flavour to the mix. Changing
China from Beijing's medley of ancient and futuristic monuments to
cosmopolitan Shanghai's skyscrapers and art-deco heritage; and from
the heights of the spectacular Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region to
the karst peaks and rivers of Guizhou, China's experiences are many
and varied. Investment spurred on by hosting world events like the
Beijing Olympics in 2008, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and 2010 Asian
Games in Guangzhou means urban and tourist infrastructure is constantly
evolving. And while flexibility and patience are still required to
travel around China, in return, the Middle Kingdom rewards visitors
with memories to treasure for a lifetime. More....
Hong Kong
Visually stunning Hong Kong offers a warp-speed ‘shop till you
drop’ lifestyle combined with enclaves of tradition. It is a popular
tourist destination and one of the world’s major business centers.
Hong Kong’s 260 outlying islands, few of which are inhabited, provide
a tranquil alternative to its frenetic energy elsewhere. Hong Kong Island
is an eclectic mix of modern skyscrapers, colonial buildings and traditional
temples. On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region
of China in an arrangement lasting 50 years. Under the ‘one country,
two systems’ policy, Hong Kong maintains its own political, social
and economic systems. English remains an official language and Hong Kong’s
border with China still exists. Hong Kong was part of China before coming
under British administration as a result of the 19th-century Opium Wars.
When peace terms were drawn up in 1841, Hong Kong Island was ceded to
Britain. It remained under British control (apart from a four-year period
under Japanese occupation during WWII) until the 1997 handover. Much
has changed since 1841 when then foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston described
Hong Kong as ‘nothing but a barren island without a house upon
it’. More....
Japan
The contrasts of Japan are startling - Tokyo dazzles with bright lights
and high-tech gadgetry while the cherry blossoms in Kyoto’s Maruyama
Park are symbols of peace and beauty, as they have been for over 1,000
years. Since 1950, Japan has seen exceptional economic growth, becoming
one of the world’s most powerful economies. Bustling cities burst
with skyscrapers, bullet trains and trendy nightlife. The brief economic
dip in the 1990s is starting to recede into the distance, as rampant
consumerism again picks up pace. Yet beneath the brash modernity beats
an ancient heart. This is still the realm of the exquisite art of the
geisha and the skill of the sumo wrestler; where ancient festivals
are celebrated and food is elevated to an art form. And Japan is still
a land of great natural beauty, from the snow festivals and lavender
farms of the northern isle of Hokkaido to the sun-drenched beaches
of the subtropical south. Whether you choose to climb Mount Fuji or
relax at volcanic hot spring resorts, Japan is unforgettable. More....
Mongolia
Mongolia is far-flung and little visited yet has much to offer in terms
of scenery, wildlife, and historic and cultural sites. Outside the
main cities, Mongolians continue to live the traditional life of malchin
(herdsmen), and many are nomadic. With one of the world’s lowest
population densities, Mongolia’s vast areas of wilderness, desert,
lakes and mountains offer plenty of scope for adventurous outdoor enthusiasts.
Although independent travel is now becoming more common, travel outside
the capital is usually by tours. More....
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea shares borders with China,
the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea and the demilitarised zone (separating
it from the Republic of Korea). North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang,
was completely rebuilt after the Korean War as a city of wide avenues,
neatly designed parks and enormous marble public buildings. The Palace
of Culture, the Grand Theater, the Juche Tower and the Ongrui Restaurant
epitomise the Korean variant of Communist architecture. The Gates of
Pyongyang and the Arch of Triumph (built in honour of Kim Il-Sung’s
70th birthday) are particularly impressive. Many ancient buildings in
Kaesong (six hours from the capital by train) bear witness to Korea’s
500-year-old imperial history. The town is surrounded by beautiful pine-clad
hills. Kumgangsan is the country’s largest national park, consisting
of a range of mountains (known as ’the Diamond Mountains’)
along the east coast of the country. Note that only travel companies
officially recognized by the North Korean Authorities are permitted to
bring groups of tourists to Korea (Dem Rep). Independent tourism is not
permitted, and foreigners must be accompanied by a guide at all times. More....
South Korea
TV scenes of thousands of red-wearing fans going crazy over their national
team during the 2002 FIFA World Cup is an image which has helped convince
a global audience that South Korea is in fact, a fun place to go, a
place with dazzling cities, friendly people and beautiful, mystical
countryside. Until relatively recently, Korea was an insular place,
existing under dynastic rule for centuries. However, the 35-year Japanese
occupation from 1910, the split of the peninsula after WWII and the
subsequent Korean War shattered all that. Difficult times have however
made the Koreans a resilient lot, succeeding economically whilst still
holding onto their unique traditions and fascinating culture. Korea
is littered with fortresses, temples and palaces, many of them UNESCO
World Heritage sites. In addition, the peninsula it shares with the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea’s official
name) is one of the most mountainous regions in the world, and Korea
also has a significant beach-dotted coastline. The capital Seoul winds
around the Han River, punctuated by futuristic skyscrapers in one of
the most densely populated areas in the world. The city is an increasingly
useful Asia-Pacific stopover point, or a hub for a three-center Korea-China-Japan
cultural trip. More....
Taiwan
Taiwan is one of the most unsung tourist destinations in all of Asia,
its modern emergence as an economic and industrial powerhouse still
overshadowing the staggering breadth of natural, historic and culinary
attractions this captivating island has to offer. A fascinating mix
of technological innovation and traditional Chinese and aboriginal
cultures and cuisines, Taiwan is one of the only places on earth where
ancient religious and cultural practices still thrive in an overwhelmingly
modernist landscape. On any given day, the casual visitor can experience
this unique juxtaposition of old and new, witnessing time-honoured
cultural practices while still taking in technological milestones such
as the world’s tallest building, Taipei 101, and the new High
Speed Rail that links the island’s two largest cities. Beyond
the narrow corridor of factories and crowded cities along Taiwan’s
west coast is a tropical island of astounding beauty, with by far the
tallest mountains in northeast Asia and some of the region’s
most pristine and secluded coastline. Add to this the impressive array
of cuisines - with specialties from all corners of China as well as
authentic aboriginal and Japanese fare - and you’ve got one of
the world’s most well-rounded and hospitable holiday destinations. More....
Tibet
Tibet, a rich and beautiful land, is located at the main part of Qinghai-Tibet
plateau, south-West frontier of China. Tibet borders with Sichuan,
Yuannan, Qinghai And Xinjiang; to the south contiguous to India, Nepal,
Sikkim, Bhutan and Burma, and bounded by Kashmir on the west. When
the word Tibet is mentioned it can generate icy chills. In fact it
snows only once or twice in a year and owing to the perpetuity of bright
sunshine, it is not at all cold during the daytime even in the coldest
of the winter. Tibet is so sunny that it produces a year-round sunshine
of over 3,000 hours in a year. Its old name-"land of snow"--the
name by which Tibet is almost popularly known as, is always thickly
covered with snow with hardly any signs Of inhabitation. In fact, it
is correct only when it is referred to the world greatest ranges located
in Ima, the Tisi, and like. These ranges run by leaps and bounds across
the country showing their beautiful snow covered peaks against the
bluest of skies. Geographically, Tibet can be divided into three major
parts, the east, north and south. The eastern part is forest region,
occupying approximately one-fourth of the land. Virgin forests run
the entire breadth and length of this part of Tibet. The northern part
is open grassland, where nomads and yak and sheep dwell here. This
part occupies approximately half of Tibet. The southern and central
part is agricultural region, occupying about one-fourth of Tibet's
land area. with all major Tibetan cities and towns such as Lhasa, Shigatse,
Gyantse ad Tsetang located in this area, it is considered the cultural
center of tibet. The total area of the Tibet Autonomous Region is 1,200,000
square kilometres and its population is 1,890,000. The region is administratively
divided into one municipality and six prefectures. The municipality
is Lhasa, while the six prefectures are Shigatse, Ngari, Lhaoka, Chamdo,
Nakchu and Nyingtri (kongpo). The People's Government of the Tibet
Autonomous Region exercises the hightest adminis-trative authority
in Tibet. Tibetan history can be traced thousands of years back. However,
the written history only dates back to the 7th century when Songtsan
Gampo, the 33rd Tibetan king, sent his minister Sambhota to India to
study Sanskrit who on his return invented the present Tibetan script
based on Sanskrit. Tibet's history can be diveded into four periods
The Tsanpo's Period This period starts from Nyatri Tsanpo, the first
of the Tsanpos, in 127 B.C(historians differ in view of the date, but
this date is taken from the White Annales, a reliabl book on Tibetan
history) and ends in 842 A.D. at the death of Lang Dharma, the last
of the Tsanpos, who was assassinated by a buddhist monk owing to Lang
Dharma's ruthless persecution of Buddhism. During this period some
42 Tsanpos had ruled over Tibet among which Songtsan Gampo's rule was
considered as the zenith. Songtsan Gamoi was an outstandingruler, he
unified Tibet, changed his capital to Lhasa, sent Sambhota to India
to study Sanskrit and promulaged a script for the Tibetan on the latter's
arrival to tbiet, married Princess Wencheng of the tang Court and Pricess
Bhrikuti Debi of Nepal, built the Potala and the temple and the temple
of Jokhang The period of Decentrailzation This period began in 842
A.D. the year of Lang Dharma's assassination, and ended in about 1260
A.D, when Pagpa, the Abbot of Sakya monastery, became a vassal of Kublai
Khan, the first Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. During this period a little
is known in history except that Tibet vecame decentralized into a number
of petty principalities. The period of Sakya, Pagdu, and Karmapa's
Rule This period began with Sakya's rule over Tibet, followed first
by Pagdu's rule in Lhaoka and then by Karmara's rule in the Tsang region(Shigatse).
The sakya period was the time when Tibet officially became an inseparable
part of China. This period lasted from 1260 A.D to 1642 A.D during
which political powers centred in the three regions of Sakya, Pagdu,
and tsang successively ruled over Tibet. The period of the gandan Podrang's
Administration This period is the period in which the Dalai Lama ruled
Tibet. It started in 1642 A.D. when the 5th Dalai Lama overtook the
ruling power from the Tsang ruler. It basically ended in 1951 when
Tibet was liberated and came to a complete end in 1959 when rebellion
led by the Dalai Lama was pacified and the People's Government of the
Tibet, Autonomous Region was set up. More.... |
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