Lauren Tabbron shares her favourite things to do in Manchester
Jess Astbury regales tales of festivities in warmer climates.
China is a country rich in its past and present culture. It is almost impossible to squeeze three weeks worth of this astoundingly beautiful country into one article so I will highlight just some of the most memorable parts of my journey to the East.
What to see:
This is probably one of the least well-known sites in China but definitely one of the most impressive. Admittedly it wasn’t at all what I expected. If it was a structure in Britain, Health and Safety would be all over it. It was one of the strangest buildings I have ever been to and one of the most exhilarating and remarkable.
The monastery is attached to the side of a cliff and was held in by large wooden poles dug deep into the rock behind. It was a long drop. It’s alarming to see that the hip-height bars are the only thing protecting you from a drop that could very well mean your impending doom. To give them some credit though, they did have insurance you could buy at the gate for the equivalent of 10p...
Some of you might have seen the 12 or 13 soldiers that made it to the British Museum in London but you have absolutely no idea of the real scale of the Terracotta Soldiers. I had very high expectations and I wasn’t disappointed. One theory is that the life-size Terracotta soldiers were produced individually as echoes of real soldiers of the era. There are now approximately 2,500 soldiers that have been excavated and there are still huge sections of the site that is yet to be excavated probably containing thousands more of these soldiers. A must-see.
Who could go to China without seeing the Great Wall? Unlike the other two sites that I have mentioned, the Great Wall is something entirely different. If you can block out the noise of the tourists, the bright coloured backpacks and look out into the distant mountains, the timeless beauty of the Great Wall is indescribable. It is as great and breathtaking as it must have been during the Ming Dynasty.
If you can, go to the Beijing Opera house and watch a modern Chinese opera. There is nothing quite like it, with a mixture of performers, music, elaborate costumes and dancing. The Opera is usually based on old Chinese folklore. The colours and the music make the performance something out of this world.
What to buy:
Anything! The huge markets seem to be wherever you go, all packed with cute little trinkets. Of course, you should go to these markets for the pure experience of bartering. Whatever anyone says, bartering is an art. I bought everything from a silk nightgown and silk top to necklaces and a beautiful green jade bracelet.
Where or what to eat and drink:
Anywhere! We tried so many restaurants in the three weeks we spent in China. Do not be frightened to try anything. Even if it does involve asking for a menu with pictures in and pointing at the pictures and then realising you have just ordered fish-head soup... Try the dim-sum dumplings, try the Mongolian hot pot, try whatever the locals on the table next to you are eating and you may be pleasantly surprised.
Bottom line:
Confucius said: ‘Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.’ I have seen the beauty of China. China is rich in culture and history. Sample the less well-known sites as well as the famous one to really get a taste of how beautiful China really is.
You must log in to submit a comment.
