Discover China

At last another trip to China is very near. Over three weeks from the end of December we will visit China’s capital Beijing as well as Tianjin, located south of Beijing, Zhengzhou in central China, and possibly some other places too. Beijing has an abundance of historical and cultural attractions which we will explore over several days. As it is winter, impressive sites such as the Forbidden City and Summer Palace are likely to be framed in snow. From Beijing we’ll then take a 30-minute journey on one of China’s new high speed rail trains to the city of Tianjin, and then after that travel to Zhengzhou. I can hardly wait!

Acupuncture and moxibustion used in traditional Chinese medicine along with Beijing opera have been added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. The list was established to preserve the diversity and creativity of humanity that was being rapidly lost in the wake of industrialization and globalization. Read more in the Shenzhen Daily article Acupuncture, Beijing opera recognized as intangible cultural heritage.

Yudu Mountain is located in northwest Beijing’s mountain natural scenic area of Yanqing County, extending over 100 square kilometers. This area is situated in remote mountains, a location that contributes to beautiful and quiet scenery. Read about and see pictures of Yudu Mountain in this CCTV9 online article.

Madhav Nalapat writes in the China Daily newspaper:

“It was my wife Lakshmi who first awakened me to the beauty of China. She had been invited to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the founding of the People’s Republic in 1999, held in the Great Hall of the People at Beijing. The festivities were grand, and as usual, Chinese hospitality was superb. However, more than the architecture and the visible progress that China had made, what stood in her mind was the warmth of the Chinese people…”

Read Madhav Nalapat’s full story on the China Daily website.

Watch the online videos from the China Central Television (CCTV) Travelogue program for a 30-minute experience of fascinating places throughout China (and catch a glimpse of other countries as well). The latest episode features the historic city of Kaifeng in Henan Province which I visited in February 2008.