China Travelers Recommend

What better way to see Shanghai’s ever-changing commercial region by looking out from the Oriental TV Tower? The outstanding panoramic view will help you appreciate the thriving metropolis that Shanghai is, as well as give you a great view of the banks of the Huangpu River. This tour continues with a cruise down the Huang River to see the cultural district, taking in buildings in Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque styles, also taking in the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, with its exciting vision for the future of the city. The final stop is Nanjing Road, a pedestrianized street that is full of locals, business people and tourists. Before Shanghai’s explosion, the surrounding area was peaceful port town. You can reconnect with these roots by taking a day trip to the water villages of Suzhou and Zhouzhuang. Suzhou was one of the few places in China to escape the ravages of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution and the Net Master Garden.

The Great Wall, a Wonder of the World and one of China’s most recognizable landmarks, deserves a place on any itinerary to Beijing. With several sections located just outside of the city, you’ll have your pick of experiences depending on what you want out of the visit. A majority of tourists to the Great Wall see the section known as Badaling Pass. Located about an hour from Beijing, this portion of the wall features a cable car to ferry guests to the top of a flat stretch of the wall spanning out in either direction. While it’s the most crowded portion of the wall, it’s also one of the most convenient and accessible. If you don’t mind doing a little climbing, Juyongguan is actually the closest portion of the wall to Beijing -- only 37 miles (60 kilometers) -- but it doesn’t have a single flat stretch in sight, and the steps are very steep and uneven.

Travelers visiting Hong Kong for even as long as a month can easily pack their days full and still not see everything the city has to offer. However, try to clear a day in your schedule to pop on the ferry and head over to Macau for a day of sightseeing. A day trip to Macau is the best way to see both of these very unique spots in Asia. Macau, along with Hong Kong, is one of the two Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China. Macau is often considered the Las Vegas of the Orient with its numerous casinos, many of them identical to those found in the America’s “Sin City.” Interestingly Macau is the oldest European settlement in Asia and has a number of historic sights to visit aside from its glamorous and glitzy casino side. The former Portuguese colony is only an hour away on the Jetfoil or catamaran, making a Hong Kong to Macau day trip one of the most popular ways to explore Macau.