China: Lowdown on the sights

Lowdown on the sights

This is a follow on post from Top tips for travelling round China -  food and otherwise (which you can find here ). I thought that people planning a trip to China, particularly with limited time, might want an idea of which places to prioritise. There are many 'sights' which are in the guide books and tour itineraries, but some are nice but not essential, and others a bit of a waste of time.

Beijing

Must See

- Forbidden City

- Lama Temple (not really on the Western tourist trail, but very popular among Chinese tourists; a former imperial palace which was given up to become a Buddhist temple)

- Great Wall at Badaling (out of Beijing. Yes, it is a well-visited section, but spectacular and an easy and short drive from Beijing. Going somewhere else will take much more time. Also, there is a cablecar which can save you some climbing if the weather is poor or you are really pushed for time.)

- Acrobatics show at the Heaven & Earth Theatre; a fun show, full of amazing performers. 

Worth Seeing

- Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan); the symbol of Beijing

- Summer Palace (just outside of Beijing)

- Tianenmen Square (but if you are seeing the Forbidden City, you'll probably be walking across it!)

- Wangfujing Food Street

OK/Overrated - See if time permits

- The Ming Tombs

- Birds Nest Stadium & The Water Cube

- The Huotong (old town); Rough and ready, this isn't the old Beijing you are expecting. It isn't terrible, but it is a run down part of town which is being dressed up as a tourist trap. The Pedicab tours are fun, but there is nothing particularly authentic about the experience any more.

Lama Temple, Beijing

Xi'an

Must See

- Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum

- Shaanxi History Museum

Worth Seeing

- Xi'an Mosque

- Goose Pagoda

OK/Overrated - See if time permits

- Xi'an Cultural Street

- Tang Dynasty Show (Make sure you do your homework about which one is currently the best, some are a little amateur and you probably should check out whether a meal and show package is a good idea. There are about 3 different shows, and they are not all as good as each other. If on a tour, the guide will probably be on commission to one of them and may not give you an impartial opinion.)

The Terra Cotta Warriors, Xi'an

Guilin

Must See

- Li River cruise (3.5 hours). You can take this cruise and stay overnight in the destination of Yangshuo. It's not a bad place to spend an evening. However, if time is of the essence, you should arrange a driver to collect you and drive you back to Guilin. Guilin is probably a better place to spend an evening compared to Yangshuo.

- 4 Lake and Cormorant Show (there are 2 shows, one of the 4 lakes and this one with the added cormorant show. Seeing the cormorants fish is amazing. The lakeshores of Guilin are really beautiful. Some of the entertainment on the show is perhaps a little brash and touristy, but the scenery is so good, it's worth it. Just let go and enjoy the experience!

Worth Seeing

- The Reed Flute Cave

- Moon Hill; This rock formation is amazing. The village nearby has become a bit of a tourist trap for the minibuses and coaches stopping off for pictures of the rock. But it is still good natured and you can get a nice lunch here.

OK/Overrated - See if time permits

- Elephant Trunk Hill; not really worth bothering with unless you are in the area

- Big Banyan Tree; worth stopping by if on your way to Moon Hill

Fisherman with his cormorants

Shanghai

Must See

- The Bund & New Bund; see the banking and financial skyscrapers of the 20th Century on one side of the river, overshadowed by those of the 21st Century on the opposite side

- Yu Garden; beautifully set out Ming era Garden (try to find out when it is quiet, because it is so beautiful and atmospheric, you want to see it without too much of a crowd)

- The Pedestrianised part of Nanjing Road (in the evening; has the feel-good atmosphere of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, watch people do ballroom dancing and line dancing en masse with their own homemade sound systems!)

Worth Seeing

- Jade Buddha Temple

- The Old Town/British Concession

OK/Overrated - See if time permits

- People's Square

- Radisson Blu Revolving Restaurant; mediocre food in this 'multi cuisine restaurant'. Do your homework to find out which of the high level restaurants has the best food. We heard good things about the Pearl TV tower, but there was a special event when we were there so we couldn't try it out.

- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition (don't bother!)

Yu Garden, Shanghai

Hong Kong SAR

If staying for any length of time, get an Octopus card. It's like an Oyster card, so it saves time and money on travelling. It can be used to pay for other things too.

Must See

- The harbour

- Nian Lin Garden / Chi Lin Nunnery; not quite on the tourist trail, I hesitate in recommending this to too many people, since it is currently serene, quiet and beautiful. The nunnery is in the grounds, and the main building is the biggest wooden building in the world which hasn't been made with a single nail.

- Bo Innovation; Michelin starred molecular take on classic Cantonese food

- Maxim's Chinese Palace Restaurant, City Hall; the High Temple for Dim Sum brunch between 11 and 3. Trolley service!

Worth Seeing

- 8pm Harbour lights show; visible either side (HK or Kowloon side)

- The Star Ferry

- Mid Level Travelators; a little grubby now, but still an achievement. When it's very hot and humid, you'll be very grateful not to have to walk uphill!

- Tsim Sha Tsui

- So Ho (the restaurants, clubs and bars south of Hollywood Road)

OK/Overrated - See if time permits

- Chunking Mansions (see only if you have seen Chungking Express and want to see the reality. I'm pleased to have seen it, but it's not really an essential sight.)

- The Peak (it's good for the view over Hong Kong, but otherwise there isn't much to see. If you have an Octopus card, the tram fare is much reduced. Don't bother with the official 'Observation Deck'; it is expensive for what it is. There is a free observation deck in the Peak Galleria Shopping Centre, it is only 5 metres below the paid deck and frankly does not have any worse a view.)

- Man Mo Temple

- Temple Street Night Market (quite touristy, but not bad for cheap souvenirs. One or two good stalls for Chinese style tops and Cheungsam dresses.)

- The Big Buddha on Lantau

- Ping Shan Heritage Trail; really, don't bother. The oldest pagoda in HK is NOT worth bothering with.

- Avenue of Stars (Not particularly worth bothering with; no hand or foot prints, just the names of Hong Kong film stars. Go only to see Bruce Lee sculpture if you are a fan.)

Junk, Hong Kong Harbour

My secret top tip: You can go to the tallest building (Sky 360) and go to the Observation Deck on the 100th Floor (the building is Kowloon side). But it costs nearly £30 per person. I have heard that there is a bar on the 98th floor, with just as good views, but without the crowds and the hefty entrance fees. I can't vouch for the prices, but after the gaggle of chatty loud tourists at the 100th floor deck, I think this may be a great way of having a great experience without the crowds or undue expense!

I hope these tips are of assistance. If any of you have any other useful information of the above places, or if I have got it wrong, please help by posting your comments below.