• Travel

    7 of the Tastiest Dishes to Try on a Trip to Japan

    As I’ve said a million times before, Japan is a no-brainer when it comes to incredible food. No matter which part of this glorious country you visit, you’re going to be treated to a real culinary experience. Not only does it taste delicious, but the majority of it is pretty good for you too – there’s a reason they have the highest life expectancy in the world! If you’re planning a trip to Japan soon and want to know what to tuck into, you’re going to need this list.

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  • Travel

    5 Reasons To Explore China in 2020

    Why do you want to go on holiday? If it’s to sip umbrella drinks by the beach as you lazily leaf through a favorite dog-eared paperback, that’s great. You probably don’t have to travel too far afield to find the perfect spot for your needs. But if you yearn for adventure, to immerse yourself in new cultures, experience new sights, sounds tastes and scents and engage with new lands with fascinating histories, you might need to set your sights a little further.

    China is such an amazing & huge country that they have one-fifth of the world’s entire population, not including the people of Chinese descent all over the world there are a great many who are totally unaware of what this vast and fascinating country has to offer. 

    Image by Manuel Joseph via Pexels

    Nonetheless, tourism is a significant part of the Chinese economy, with literally hundreds of millions of inbound flights coming into the country every year. Let’s take a look at what this incredible country has to offer visitors…

    Terrific tours

    Because China is so incredibly vast and has so much to offer, it can be hard to know where to go and what to see in order to get the most out of your trip. And after braving the long haul flight, the last thing you’re going to want to do is waste one moment of your time when you arrive in the country. 

    Fortunately, there are a range of group tours to China, all of which start in Beijing and offer the chance to see some of the country’s greatest sights over the course of several days or even a couple of weeks. Whether you want to take in the sight of the politically important Tiananmen Square marvel at the sight of the Terracotta Warriors, take a relaxing trip down the lush verdancy of the Yangshuo River explore the winding UNESCO listed Longmen Caves and stone carvings or check out the ShaoLin temple- the birthplace of Kung Fu. You can do it all from Beijing in less than a fortnight.

    Walk the great wall

    The Great Wall of China really needs no introduction. It remains one of the most ambitious structures ever assembled in human history and is the only man-made structure that’s visible from space (albeit only under perfect conditions and with a little magnification). But because the Great Wall is so incredibly huge, it can be difficult to decide where to see it. It is 5,000 miles long, after all. The Badaling section is the most commonly frequented by tourists owing mostly to how close it is to Beijing. However, if you want a quieter and more peaceful experience I recommend the Mutianyu section. Not only is it far less thronged with tourists, but it also provides visitors with a chance to see the picturesque Mutianyu village. 

    Travel to Hong Kong and see the famous skyline

    If you have time to visit the bustling region of Hong Kong, and neighboring Kowloon Bay it’s most certainly worth your time. Here visitors can shop till they drop at the night markets, take the tram to the top of stunning Victoria Peak, stroll through the stunning Zoological and Botanical Gardens, see the statue of the legendary Bruce Lee on the Avenue of Stars and check out the spectacular skyline- best seen from a river cruise along Victoria Harbour at night. 

    Visit the Forbidden City

    China’s history and culture have been shrouded in mystery for generations, as well as being romanticized and mysticized quite a lot by the west. Still, it’s difficult to describe the Hidden City and Palace Museum as anything less than magical. This ancient structure once served as the Imperial Palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties spanning almost 600 years between them. It was called the Forbidden City because access was forbidden to the general public and could only be granted by the Emperor. It’s a fantastic place to engage in Chinese heritage and culture, and because it encompasses over 900 buildings across over 70 hectares you could visit every day and still not see all there is to see.

    Experience Chinese food like never before

    Who doesn’t love Chinese food. As Chinese immigrants settled all over the world they began introducing other nations to the beauty of their cuisine. Whether you’re an omnivore, veggie or vegan you’re sure to find plenty to enjoy in China including the most delicious dim sum you’ll enjoy anywhere in the world. And while you may be surprised to learn just how westernized what we consider Chinese food to be, it’s a true taste sensation for the adventurous. 

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