To kick this blog off I’m starting this first month with
China to commemorate the upcoming Chinese New Year on February 19th. We will get into the celebration of Chinese
New Year in a later post, however for this particular post, I would like to give
you a glimpse of China through my eyes.
Let’s start with the process of visiting China from the
United States. If you live in a part of
the country where there is a Chinese Embassy, then it is pretty simple. I must say that obtaining a Visa from the Chinese
Embassy in Los Angeles was quick and painless.
It was a much shorter process compared to the 10 hour grueling process
one has to undergo to get an Indian Visa.
That is also a separate story for another time. However, I will say that I expected the type
of treatment we received from the Indian Embassy more likely from the Embassy
of a Communist country such as China, but it was the complete opposite.
In short, for a Chinese Visa for a US passport holder,
simply have all your paper work completed with your passport and drop it off to
the embassy. You can return in about an
hour and pick up your passport and Visa.
It was as simple as that, and we even applied for a business visa.
We first flew into Hong Kong and then took domestic flights
from there to Shanghai and then on to Beijing.
There are plenty of domestic flights that offer very good rates on air
fare and flying around China is no problem.
The flights were also cheap enough for us to fly business class. A reliable airlines that offers quite a
comfortable flying experience is Dragon and we used it for all our domestic
flights in China. I was very particular about
what airlines we used because Chinese airlines’ can have their share of
problems.
Hong Kong and New Year’s Eve
I have to mention that a US passport holder does not need a
Visa to visit Hong Kong alone. Hong Kong
is a metropolitan island twice as congested as New York City. It is fast paced and fun. Stop and get a massage and definitely don’t
miss out in shopping at one of the world’s bargain capitals. Watch out for the fakes, unless you want
one. Those places constantly get raided
and we were even shopping at one spot when everybody suddenly started packing up
half their merchandise and we couldn’t figure out what was the problem until we
saw the police officers walking by. Most
of that occurs on the Kowloon side. Hong Kong is famous for custom tailoring. Some
of the finest custom suites using designer fabrics can be tailor made for you
within 48 hours at half the price of a Hugo Boss for men or a Chanel for
women. My husband has become a regular
at one particular shop, which is prospering enough to make monthly trips to the
states in order to suit up US Senators along with the likes of business men
such as my husband. We wined and dined
at some of Hong Kong’s finest and stayed at the Conrad, which is one of the
most opulent Hilton hotels out there.
For high end hangouts and shops there is also PMQ at Central.
Since our first trip to Hong Kong and China, we have visited
Hong Kong several times because of its metropolitan charm. We even spent a New Year’s Eve out
there. Hong Kong has parties at all the
major hotels just like any other big city.
You can stop over for a great meal and music to ring in the New Year. New Year’s Eve is celebrated in a grand
manner in Hong Kong and you can get reservations at the top of one of those
tall hotels, like the Intercontinental Hotel to get spectacular views of both
the harbor and fireworks.
When you step
into the atrium of the Intercontinental Hotel, it will be an unforgettable
experience. The stunning view of the
Harbor across the tall floor to ceiling windows that surround it, accompanied
by the gracious service and soothing atmosphere is quite a memorable
experience. Every New Year's Eve,
hundreds of thousands of spectators gather at Victoria Harbor to celebrate with
a spectacular fireworks display. It is
quite a glamorous spectacle. However, in
my mind the best part is when you step out of your glamorous hotel and join the
local revelers all over the streets. You
can really soak in the joy of the locals.
Shanghai
Is a thriving metropolis that serves as the most influential
economic, financial, international trade, cultural, science and technology
center in East China. There is a perfect blend of modern and traditional
culture in Shanghai. New skyscrapers and
old Shikumen together draw the skyline of the city. The Bund International Architectural
Exhibition is one that should not be missed.
The view by day and night is also very different and quite captivating.
While in Shanghai we enjoyed walking along the Riverside
Promenade, which has god views of the river, and historic buildings. There are many gardens and shops to stop at
along with the scenic views. For some
tranquility, head over to the Garden of Contentment. It’s a beautiful garden in the traditional
style with paths, bridges, intricate walls, and stones that all make for a
truly beautiful environment. It is quite a jewel to savor among all the hustle
and bustle. In this same area you will
find traditional shop keepers who can create a stamp with your name in Chinese
within 5 minutes. We got one made with
our last name, which would be nice to stamp the back of our business cards
while in China. It makes for a nice
little traditional touch to business.
Shanghai Fact:
Passport holders of 51 countries and regions including the
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil,
Russia and Singapore are granted a visa-free stay of up to 72 hours when taking
an international transfer via Shanghai Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport.
Beijing
In the capital of China and still hold many of the ancient
relics of it’ emperors. On our first day
in Beijing we headed to Tiananmen Square and we were lucky enough to catch a
procession of guards, although it seemed that they were clearing the area and
tourists were not allowed to get too close.
The massive space has lots of security and is almost a militarized zone. The iconic square is opposite the Forbidden
City and that was our next stop.
The Forbidden City was the imperial palace for twenty-four
emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
It was forbidden to enter without special permission of the emperor,
hence its name “The Forbidden City”. It
is divided into two parts. The southern section, or the Outer Court was where
the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation. The northern section,
or the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. It is quite a vast
walk from one section to the other, so be prepared. Having been the imperial palace for some five
centuries, it houses numerous rare treasures.
The grand and deluxe halls, with their surprisingly magnificent
treasures such as golden dragon throne is quite consuming. Allow yourself a good part of the day for
this visit.
The next day was our visit to the Great Wall, the longest
manmade structure in the world. This is
an absolutely essential stop or hike. We
didn’t take a tour, we just drove out there and started walking. It was winter, so all though sunny, you could
definitely feel the winds and the chill.
However, winter is probably the best time to visit. It less crowded and pleasant. What you need to know is that the Great Wall
is divided into different sections.
Badaling is the most famous of the wall sections and the most beautiful
of the ones near Beijing. Due to its
popularity it can also be over crowded during peak season. You will find peddlers on the wall as well as
all types of entertainers. You can even
take a camel ride, if you can tolerate the stench.
Overall, our entire experience with visiting China from
start to end was pleasant. Since the US
dollar held up so well against Chinese currency, we were able to take quite a
luxury trip. For example, we hired a car
and driver from our hotel in Beijing to take us to the various sites and we got
a 7 series BMW with a white glove driver who made sure chilled water was always
available as well as ensuring all our comforts.
This was all at the cost of a US $40 rental car. You can definitely live it up in China and
you don’t have to go off the beaten path if you don’t want to.
