Discover China

Shaoxing in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province is a typical ancient water town where there are many rivers to cross. And a visitor can do so on more than 4,000 stone bridges of various styles and sizes. Abundant waterways and the number of stone bridges are among the most memorable features in this fascinating town – read more in the China Daily article Venice of China.

The China Daily article Hefei well worth a visit introduces the capital of eastern China’s Anhui province. Hefei is at the junction of Dongfei and Nanfei rivers, and is known as a garden city because of its many parks, which include Belt Park, a “green necklace” that circles the old town.

Hefei has many historical and cultural sites, such as the Memorial Temple of Lord Bao (999-1062) and the former residence of Li Hongzhang (1823-1901), a leading statesman during the late Qing Dynasty. It is also a great base for exploring the many other attractions of Anhui Province such as the beautiful Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi, and the Yangtze River city of Wuhu.

I was fortunate to be able to visit Hefei and other Anhui attractions during my trip to Henan, Anhui and Zhejiang Provinces in 2009.

Every year, the autumn high tides along the Qiantang River in east China attract tourists from all over the world. The Qiantang River tides appear each year during the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when incoming tides form a huge wave that travels against the direction of the current as the river narrows. This year’s Qiantang River tides are the largest in nine years. To find out more see the CNTV News story Qiantang River presents magical and aquatic beauty to viewers.

Houhai is a chain of lakes in the middle of Beijing, three blue jewels gleaming in the summer heat. Houhai (the Rear Lake) is actually the name of one lake – the other two being Qianhai and Xihai – but the name has come to be used for all three as well as the surrounding area. Read more in the China Daily article Beijing’s lakeside paradise.

In recent years, an increasing number of small ancient towns in China have come to the public’s attention through the movies. If you have been enchanted by some of the scenery you have seen in a Chinese movie, see these Shenzhen Daily articles to for some places you may like to visit:

• Escape to a movie scene (I)
• Escape to a movie scene (II)