Things to see and do China

At the end of the Yuan dynasty (1312-1313), a Taiyuan farmer named Wang Shi moved to Jingsheng and started trading. Business prospers, and the rich merchant starts a prestigious administrative career: The Wang clan was born and perpetuated over 27 generations and 680 years.

Family ownership has experienced an extraordinary fate: built over a period from Emperor Kangxi to Emperor Jiaqing (1662 to 1820), it was abandoned by the descendants of the Wang clan in 1937, at the time of the Japanese invasion. Local peasants were then suitable until the mid -1990 s, when Shanxi Province decided to classify the site and exploit it for tourist purposes. There were no fewer than 212 families and 600 people in total who had to be evacuated from Wang.

It must be said that with its 123 courses framed with over 1,000 buildings, the Wang House looks more like a small town than a family home. It is made up of two distinct parts separated by a natural divide that is surrounded by a stone bridge. The western part, called the «red door fort», covers 25,000 m ² and comprises 88 courses. Its general plan imparts the Chinese character «Wang», with a central aisle cut by three perpendicular alleys. The eastern part, Gaojiaya, consists of 35 courses. The buildings are characterized by a mixture of gray bricks and wood, and typically typical architecture of northern China. The influences of the south of the country are nevertheless felt in a small part of the home's pavilions.

Today, this large residence is the largest in this part of China, contributing to a ranking at UNESCO. This visit remains an essential part of the region.

Kunming's most curious attraction is the stone forest, a fantastic rock chaos with strange shapes. Seen by far, these stone formations resemble a huge forest. It is a magical place, a true natural museum that is part of the world's largest karst formation. They stretch from the famous sugar breads of Guilin through Guizhou province to Kunming, which, here with its ruiniform relief, becomes the stone forest. It was originally part of the sea bottom, formed by calcareous layers shaped by a 270 million-year-old submarine erosion, which was deformations of the earth's crust to become this large set of stone columns.

The strange formations of this labyrinth of rocks of sometimes 30 m span over 27,000 ha. Only 80 hectares are open to tourists with trails arranged over 5 km. It's an age-old landscape, a maze of petrified shapes where it's easy to get lost if you get out of these paths in rock. In these landscapes of another planet with tiny peaks, small cellars, small ponds between columns and stone walls, rocks sometimes in unstable equilibrium, we have the strange feeling of walking in a maze of stones. Some Chinese pavilions built on raised points allow to kiss some of these rocks with bizarre shapes. China's imagination finds this to be a vagrant, and poetic and evocative names abound: the Epouse waiting for her husband, the Stone Bell, the Two Birds giving each other one to eat, the Stairs that climb into Heaven, the Phoex smooth his wing…

This vast expanse of water (33 km ²), located in the heart of Wuchang, is one of the lungs of this great industrial centre. With an area of six times higher than Xihu lake in Hangzhou, Eastern Lake is a privileged promenade for urban dwellers. The numerous coves, peninsula and hills that occupy the shores of the lake contribute to a unique picturesque environment. Donghu is often called the lake at 99 Elbow due to the extreme splitting of its shores.

The hill of Moshan, which trains a peninsula to the east of the lake, is a very pleasant place from which we have a very good view over the lake. At the foot of the hill is the city Chu, an architectural ensemble designed to revive the original regional culture of the dynasty of the Chu. A tea house is also nestled at the foot of Moshan.

Luohong Hill, south-east of the lake, consists of several ancient monasteries and a water sports base.

We arrive at Crown Cave, a cellar of stalagmites and stalactites (not provided for in the program), involving a 2-hour visit for a supplement of RMB 60. The trail on the bank is kept by young Miao in traditional costume welcoming visitors and by rainforests access to others… To access the entrance of the cave, you have to climb a long steep climb (under overwhelming heat in summer). Crown Cave is a very long cave (3 km) of stalagmites and stalactites lit with colour adore green, yellow, purple… On the bottom of the cellar flows a small river that you need to go down into a narrow hallways.

The last part is done by train. Back on the Li River, the landscapes are becoming increasingly magical with spurs mountain balls in form of sugar breads to evocative names such as Embroidered, Meunier at work, White Tiger Hill, the Grand-Father looking at an apple, the Lion is the sum of the Five Fingers Hill, the Turtle climbs the Hill Hill Hill Hill, The Eight Supernatural crosses through the river, the peak of the Tail of the Fish, the hill of the Nine Horses fresco, the Lion who looks at the hill of the Nine Horses mural, the Hill Hill, The Yellow Fabric in the river, the Camel crossing the river, the Carpe Hill, the Dragon heads hill… Apparently, Lijiang is shallow, and the water so clear that sunlight makes these aquatic grasses grow in the bottom of the bed of the river. As one moves down, the banks are lined with large bushes of bamboo from emerald green on deep blue sky and sugar bread. The surface of calm waters reflects these poetic landscapes sung for millennia by the greatest Chinese poets. They have such serenity that we want to stop to live here…

From Yangshuo, you can do the same cruise by going back the river to half way towards Guilin for much cheaper: 110 RMB (Guilin having the monopoly of operation of the entire Lijiang River, the Yangshuo organizations have the right only to go back to the village of Yangdi). So, for those who want to make savings, take the bus to go to Yangshuo and go up half the river from there. In any case, the most beautiful karst formations border the last half of the river.

A particularly atmospheric market, with stands occupying the pavement and full of ready-to-wear men, gadgets, watches, sunglasses, luggage… The whole thing is cheap and negotiable: the opportunity to buy souvenirs, between the «I love Hong Kong» T-shirts and other local admirers.

In the heart of the historic Beijing district, Lake Houhai used to serve as a port at the end of the great canal linking Beijing to Hangzhou in the south. Delicious for walks, at any hour of the day and night. In summer, we can make a boat, and in winter of the ice chair on the frozen lake. For small and large.

The Purple Mountain is a huge forest park in the heart of the city of Nanjing. There are many tourist attractions that constitute the identity of the city, the former Republican capital, and in particular the most famous of them: Sun Yat-sen mausoleum; or the Linggu temple. The Purple Mountain is also an ideal place to escape the heat of the city in summer and enjoy the quietness. 

This geological park consists of rock formations in the Désert desert. The site is absolutely magnificent, but the visit is disappointing, as organized "to Chinese". A place not to be missed for geology enthusiasts, less for others, especially as the price is prohibitive. A board if your tour tour takes you to: do not pay the entrance ticket and "wait" the end of the tour in the building built at the entrance - with a small museum and some restaurants. Once the buses have gone to the "tour of the site", you will have the exclusive pleasure of enjoying the magic of the Désert desert!

Lake Karakul, the father of the glaciers, reaches about 3 600 m; and you will reach it at the end of your journey on the Karakoram Road. This is to make simple. Beautiful lake, mirror of the three snow-capped mountains, which dominates: one to 6 500 m, the other to 7 546 m and finally the last to 7 720 m. A few kilometres from the border with Tajikistan, we are here in a rather unreal place. Take advantage of your time to make a long walk and why not sleep on the spot in the yurts of the nomads that populate the time of one summer. See, again and again. 

After the temple of Confucius, this is Jianshui's second main attraction. The residence was built by Zhu Weiqing and his brothers, the 31 st year of the Emperor Guangxu's dynasty under the Qing dynasty (late nineteenth century). The ensemble covers nearly 2 ha and consists of flags of different sizes, gardens and kiosks… Each flag embodies the typical Jianshui architecture. Even though the Zhu family gardens suffered some degradation during the Cultural Revolution, they retain all their authenticity. The last flag at the bottom of the garden has a very nice exhibition of photographs that tell the extraordinary story of the Zhu family.

Originally from the Hunan province, the Zhu family has been enriched by industry and trade by opening shops in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hong Kong. The Zhu were great notable notables in southern Yunnan. Both brothers, Zhu Chengzhang and Zhu Chengzao, purchased with their children several hectares in the city of Jianshui, where they began to build their residence. It took them thirty years to complete it completely. The Zhu brothers subsequently decided to invest in mines. In a few years, they became the most famous capitalists in the mining industry in southern China and their wealth continued to grow.

From 1903, the glorious fate of the Zhu family began to fail. In 1903, their mines were confiscated, and a decade later the two brothers were forced to flee, their shops being looted by bandits. In 1916, their property was seized because of their support to General Yuan Shikai. The city of Jianshui fell into the hands of the army, and the property of the Zhu was confiscated. In 1927, both brothers were imprisoned. The tragic fate of this family generated many polemics. Since 1999, the Zhu family gardens are open to visit: a walk that will plunge you into China's history and make you discover one of the country's best preserved traditional residences.

During the crossing, countless breads of sugar with blue tones are wandered, enchanting the traveler by their beauty. There is an atmosphere of serenity, fullness, at the heart of this China, which seems to have remained the same for millennia. Very pure water strikes through its transparency. Landscapes reveal impressive karst ensembles. There are majestic bamboo bamboo. At the heart of these exceptional panoramas are the scenes of everyday life: Buffets on the banks or coming refreshing in the river, villagers washing their clothes, fishermen picking their nets. Asian buffaloes, with very special skin, need these daily water baths or mud in summer to cope with heat. Chinese children bathe in water or sail on fortune rafts.

In the eyes of the Chinese, these karst emitters, who inspired both painters over the centuries, sketched very specific forms such as «the mountain to the Nine Horses». We must have a very seasoned eye to distinguish them; if so, a life of happiness opens up to you, as the Chinese tradition wants!

Built in 1921, this large religious center on the hill is still active, as evidenced by the crowd of pilgrims - and tourists - at weekends. The site, composed of several chapels at the walls of the decor, flower classes, is simply sublime. You can do it for a vegetarian lunch.

Formerly the international concession field. Only the galleries built in 1933 remain standing today. In the north, some of the most prominent buildings were built: Parc Hotel de 1934, a red brick building was the first skyscraper in Asia. The Grand Cinema, designed by a young Czechoslovak architect in 1933, is characterized by tiled facade. The Hotel Pacific, a central dome building, was the old China United apartment building. The former YMCA of Shanghai, a Byzantine madness designed by an American architect, parallels him. There is nothing left of the race field, transformed into a People Park of 12 hectares after liberation in 1949. Nowadays, local authorities have made Renmin Square the new administrative and cultural centre in Shanghai.

The new Shanghai City Hall occupies the old seat of the Shanghaien Party in the centre of the People's Avenue. In contrast, Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Shi Bowuguan), renamed the «Basket» by the Shanghaiens, is a vanguard structure with one of the world's finest collections of ancient art.

Only genuine Disneyland Park competitors, Ocean Park and its cable car enjoy a splendid view on the south coast of Hong Kong Island. You can spend an entire day visiting the various attractions of the park. Advice to the marine world: Aqua City is the organ of the place. Recreating a whole aquatic microcosm, it is worth a detour. In the Grand Aquarium, there are more than 5 000 fish of 400 different species! We start on the surface before getting into the abyss. Wonder and chills guaranteed!

A aviary and pandas are also hosted on site. The 72 m high Park Tower offers a sumptuous view. Games, entertainment and attractions are especially designed for younger people, while some thrills with thrills will even leave the adults stunned. Once dark, Symbio, a show and light on the theme of the oceans, is beauty subjugating. You will have understood it: Ocean Park promises a family-friendly and friendly visit to the hotel.

Built in 1622 on the highest point in Macau, the fort is dominated by a lighthouse dated 1864 (closed to the public). It is the oldest lighthouse on the entire Chinese coast. The chapel, Notre-Dame-de-Guia, built in 1637, gives an even more austere atmosphere to the fort.

Despite the admission price that is considered exorbitant for a natural site, if you have to visit at least one cave in Guilin, it is this one that must be chosen. Located north-west of Guilin on the south slope of Guangming Mountain, this limestone cavern measures 240 m long and contains 500 m of interior corridors. In front of the entrance of the cave, boulders were made with which flutes were made, hence the name straight from a fairy tale. Inside, erosion cut stalagmites and stalactites into columns, curtains and stone flowers, giving instead magical beauty and impressive diversity.

Already fascinating by its proportions, the cave becomes even more so thanks to the highlights, which recreate in each gallery a different atmosphere, but above all detach ensembles, forcing our imaginations to perceive particular shapes. Hence the interest, if you are large enough, to request an English guide for the visit. For in any case, the group visit and the guide will be imposed on you. Please note that the floor can be slippery, so we advise you to get in bed…

You'll probably hear the water growling before you get to the site! With its 71 m height and 80 m wide, the Huangguoshu waterfall is the most impressive in Asia. Take the small trail that takes you to the entrance of the cave behind the water curtain. The trail goes down and takes you to the Rhinoceros basin. According to the season, the show can be radically different. Only one regret too often in China, the prohibitive cost and the mass tourism side.

Falls over the seasons

During the rainy season (May to October). The village of Huangguoshu is filled with a cloud of water vapor. The site is transformed and offers you a spectacular foam show. The place is invaded by Chinese and Western tourists especially the months of July and August.

During the dry season (November to April). At some times water flow can decrease. The site welcomes fewer tourists at that time. Although the show is less impressive, the walk is more pleasant. You will not be allocated by one of the many souvenir merchants…

The Lamasery Monastery is the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan. It is located about 5 km from Head centre, in the middle of the barley fields and mountains. If the price of the ticket is quite exorbitant, the place is beautiful and is worth a detour. During our passage, the main building was undergoing renovation. Already rebuilt for the first time in 1982, the structure was not robust enough and threatened to collapse. Around 500 monks occupy the scene today. During your visit, you will be prompted to cross several. They are very open, and it is easy to engage in conversation with them. Covered with sumptuous thangkas, the prayer room is impressive. The kitchen is visited, but it is accessible for men only… After visiting the building, we advise you to walk around the monastery. The sites are peaceful and the life of the village at the foot of the monastery seems to follow its ancestral course.

Suzhou has also made new skin and the most spectacular change is evident in the renovation of the entire Pingjiang district. Now, the canals and the lanes are lavishly highlighted and if there are not yet many stores, this is not possible. So it's a magical place to walk through the canals and even why not by allowing a walk on the canals (many boatmen offer their service for a short walk). A visit over time. 

This "mountain temple" (as indicated by the characters above the door) built in 2000 reflects religious architecture under the Tang Dynasty (th-century). Buddhism was at its peak in China. The building is entirely wooden. The épis of its fin-shaped roof symbolize the dragon in the water and protect the potential fire site. The first Buddha statue is accompanied by one of its protectors, Vanda, which controls wind, rain, storm and light. In the second court, the statue on the right represents the head of medicine, the one on the left represents the god of Compassion, one of the most révérées deities by the Chinese. Note the absence of incense sticks in the main chapel housing Buddha and his disciples. The faithful, when entering the temple, must not be decentralized by material objects. This temple, as its name indicates, houses Buddhist bonzesses.

If there was only one reason to come to Zhangye, here she is. This complex - 23,000 m ² - of sumptuous temples and immense historical value (Emperor Kubilay, the first of the Yuan dynasty, would have been born), contains in its largest building a real jewel, a 34.5-meter long Buddha, which would be the longest in the world (or at least China). Built in 1098, its wooden structure, covered with a kind of plaster, has crossed the ages, no less than ten centuries in total! Besides, it's the same Buddha that Marco Polo would have seen and that he tells in his book about the World's Imagination. During the Cultural Revolution, red guards did not have the courage to deteriorate it, but they were still digging a tunnel, as to prove that Buddha sounded hollow. These minor damage was repaired afterwards and the small holes you see on the side of the huge statue are aeration. The rest of the complex presents interesting collections related to the history of the silk road and the spread of Buddhism in China.

An unavoidable visit.

680 hectares of park and this within one of the driest cities in the world… that would almost dream. The forest is certainly very dry, but it is a beautiful walk point if you come to live in the surrounding area. It will allow you to go out of the beaten paths (both inside and out) the time of a pleasant walk. The place should delight children and sportsmen.

Undoubtedly one of Hong Kong's most beautiful views, the sky 100 rises to 484 metres above sea level and is part of the very closed circle of the 10 tallest buildings in the world. You can't miss this building built in 2012 on the outskirts of Victoria Harbour, whose flamboyant silhouette at sunset doesn't go unnoticed. It has 118 floors and also houses the highest 5-star hotel in the world. Enjoy a unique 360-degree experience in the panoramic space on the 100th floor, where the panorama is breathtaking, whatever the angle of view! Located 393 metres above the sea, the observatory will offer you sunset on Hong Kong Bay or the enchantment of Hong Kong's sparkling skyscrapers at nightfall. Reaching the 100th floor is already an experience in itself since the elevator travels this distance in 1 minute. There is an interactive sky100 mobile application and a multimedia space that showcases visitors and the skyscraper. The area also has a café and a souvenir shop.

Faced with the cultural center, marked by Hong Kong's movie stars (see the statues of Bruce Lee, Anita Mui or mcdull) in the image of Los Angeles, it runs along the seafront. It offers a spectacular panorama of Hong Kong Bay, more at night, and leads to the Hung Hom area east. Every night, at 8 p. m., a show of sound and light is organized along the seafront. The tourist office named it The Symphony of Lights. Laser rays emerge from skyscrapers on both sides of the harbor. This magnificent spectacle is all the more remarkable since it was very difficult to grant all participants and owners of competing buildings each other.

By leaving Prince Edward Station, the flower market brings flowers from all over the world. It is the pleasure of orchids and bonsai lovers. As for the photogenic garden of birds, residents of a certain age expose their beautiful strains. The amateurs also come to get supplies of giant grasshoppers or buy finely kk cages.

Built in 1921, this 45 m high clock tower is the last remaining vestige of the old Kowloon-Canton colonial station moved to Hung Hom's quarter in 1975. It faces the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, near the Star Ferry pier.

The rushing waters force a passage through these gorge of 17 km long and a difference of 196 m forming a series of falls. The gorges are divided into upper, medium and low gorges. The lowlands are the most frightening of the three. The width at some places above the precipice is only about metres away. Legend tells us that a hunted tiger escapes on the opposite shore by a big leap (hence name).

In bad weather, the Tiger gorges are deemed dangerous (and time is quite capricious in these mountains). Sometimes we have to wait several days for the return of the nice weather to go on expedition. Take a few days of margin in your travel schedule if you want to take trekking in the region.

Trekking in the gorge: Trekking is not necessarily difficult, but is still asking for essential precautions in mountains: do not leave alone, provide water and food, hot clothing, good walking shoes and flashlight. Count 2 good days of walking (about 8 hours walk per day) but you can of course stay longer…

Two hikes are offered, we recommend you take the oldest path known as the "24 turning trail trail". The most adventurous, from Qiaotou to join Daju, will successively cross the villages of Nuoyu, then Yacha, Yongsheng, Bendiwan and finally Dabai. You will be able to admire on your road great rapids. For those who are not fans of hiking, you will be able to take a tour of the sea by bus (approximately 250 RMB). Des take you to discover the landscape!
The gorges are accessible from Qiaotou or Daju. You have to take the bus.

For Qiaotou, buses leave Lijiang in the morning and early afternoon (about 15 RMB).

For Daju, take a bus directly at Lijiang long distance station (approximately 4 hours drive - 30 RMB).

You can also reach Head (several buses per day).

The church built in 1927 reflects the colonial past of the city. They were former French missionaries who erected the building.

A time specializing in women's clothing, unlike Temple Street that sold only for men's clothes, this market now resembles its Homologue Ma Tei counterpart. It focuses on cheap clothing, fantasy jewellery and accessories, and plays elbows early in the afternoon.

Here are 10 hectares of green in the middle of the center. Inaugurated in 1991, the facilities include a small plastic centre (the HK Visual Arts Centre), a greenhouse with a wet tropical forest and a net aviary (the Edward Youde Went, open daily from 9 h to 17 h, free of charge, to see absolutely). At the heart of this tropical vegetation, admire beautiful birds from Southeast Asia and Indonesia. This exciting walk allows you to discover parrots with bright red lights, yellow originating in the Moluccas, and other varieties originating in Borneo. Not far away, we walk in the midst of huge cages that keep gibbons and other monkeys. There are also lovely lemurs who came straight from Madagascar.

Reduced as a matter of grief by the onset of concessions in the th and early th centuries, the old Chinese city remained static in past years. A travel guide published in 1934 stipulated that «Shanghai was not China, but it had to go to Nanshi, (the city of the south) in the old Chinese city…». If, at the time of concessions, the Chinese were forced to stay in the Chinese area, then a majority of them settled there, with a tax for that. They had no right to vote in the municipalities. Nanshi remained a purely Chinese ghetto, without faith or law, crucible of the gangsters and revolutionary parties hiding in narrow streets, lined with tripots and fumeries. Foreigners, except missionaries, avoid places. During the th century, the old town underwent several devastating fires, but retained its architecture. Only the ramparts of the city, erected in 1553 were demolished in 1912 and replaced by the Renmin Lu, the circular avenue today the ancient limits of the Chinese city. Since 1949, the old town has been the subject of great work, which began in 1994-1995. The Yu Garden area has been redesigned. Important imitation architectures have been built in place of old traditional houses. Go under the traditional Chinese Portico at the crossroads of Henan Nanlu and Fang Bang Lu to arrive at the old Bazaar, formerly known as the Temple Bazar of the City Protector, at the heart of which is the famous Yu Garden dating back to the th century. There are numerous jewellers: according to tradition, gold bought near temples is supposed to bear happiness.

With a sports complex, the park occupies 14 ha in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui. In the past, it was the seat of the Whitfields Barracks, the residences of the English and Indian soldiers of the Raj army. A mosque opens the entrance to the park on Nathan Road. This large white marble building for green domes houses the Islamic Centre in Kowloon. The mosque is open to individual visitors only on special leave. It was rebuilt in 1984 and was rebuilt in 1896 by the Muslim troops of the British Army of India. The Hongkong Muslim community is 50 000 persons, about half of whom are made up of Chinese Muslims. Inside the park, the Sculpture Walk, an outdoor route, is littered with sculptures from local artists. There is also a aviary, a water plan, a labyrinth, a planté paddock and Chinese gardens. In winter, as part of "Sound in the Park", amateur musicians play for free.

Inaugurated in 1998, the Shanghai Opera (Dagejuyuan) was designed by the French architect ARTE-Charpentier. Its architecture incorporates the cultural complexity of a millennium civilization that comes into modernity. It builds on the Chinese myth that the sky is round like the roof and the earth, square like the body of the building. Jacques Chirac welcomed the aesthetic quality of the building and the efforts of architects during his presidential visit in May 1997. South of Renmin Square, at the intersection of Xizang Lu and Yan'an Lu, the Grand World (Dashijie) was Asia's largest amusement centre: a mix of casino, tripot, on three floors. Rebuilt on numerous occasions, the building dates back to 1924; the place is always open to the public.

Located in the north of the city, adjacent to the small administrator's garden, this museum is divided into two parts. The first and oldest, Zhong Wang Fu, is an architectural complex dating back to the time of the kingdom and recounts the history of the city. The second part, inaugurated in October 2006, is nothing more than the work of I.M. Pei, the architect behind the pyramid of the Louvre.

The ensemble includes a fund of over 10 000 pieces among which many Buddhist relics discovered during the rehabilitation of the many places of worship in the city. A wide selection of pottery, porcelain, bronzes and local crafts.

The city is connected by 49 bridges, some of which are particularly remarkable. The Taiping bridges (peace and tranquillity), My (luck) and Changqing (long celebration) form a circular route considered to be lucky by the premises. According to tradition, the inhabitants of the village carry out this journey for weddings or anniversaries in order to ensure good fortune for the coming year. The Siben Bridge (origin of thought) is the oldest in the city. It was built under the Song dynasty between 960 and 1276. Finally the Dubu Bridge (only one step) is the smallest in the city: by barely one metre, it is only metres long.

This natural park offers spectacular shows of red rocks and is a good example of the geological features of the region. That said, if you take the bus between Zhangye and Xining (in Qinghai), you will see very similar landscapes. See if you travel along the Lanzhou-Dunhuang axis.

The park is very popular on the weekend during the hiking season (October to April). Bride's Pool consists of several small waterfalls in the heart of a wooded park. It's here that, according to legend, a future bride walking in a porteurs chair would have drowned. His spirit would still inhabit these places and she would come to love herself in the water… the information centre of Tai Mei Tuk made available to the public a documentation on the hiking and discovery trails of the Plover Cove. The heronry of Luk Keng, a wooded butte near Plover Cove, is a place of nesting crested and other herons.

This tourist attraction consists of a series of wooden beams planted in the soil. They are carved by sûtras from Tibetan Buddhism evoking the emptiness of life and the absurdity of desire, constantly resumed. For lovers of Tibetan Buddhism, you can walk through this trail after visiting the Great Buddha.

This 800 m mechanical staircase made up of 20 sections is the longest escalator covered outside the world. He is nicknamed the "glass snake". Completed in 1993 (at a cost of HK $ 245 million), it drains more than 200 000 pedestrians every day through narrow and wandering streets that wind towards Mid-Levels hills. Beginner at Greetings Road, he passes over Cochrane Street and crosses Hollywood Road and Soho district, to Drive Road.

Completed in 1990 and rewarded with numerous international awards, this 70-storey structure and 367 m high is the work of Sino-American Ieoh Ming Pei (the author of the Louvre Pyramid). It evokes a pousse of bamboo climbing towards light. Climb on the 43rd floor to admire the view of Central and Kowloon.

This Taoist temple, one of the oldest in the island, is dedicated to two deities: Man, God of literature, and Mo, God of war better known as Guanyu. The latter is also the protector of restaurants, loan shops, the police… and Triades. Both gods were venerated by students and officials before their exams during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Let yourself be impregnated by the thick smoke flowing from the incense waves, some of which are so large that they burn for four weeks. We love the atmosphere that comes out of the place. Note, however, that there are several Man Mo temples in Hong Kong and that this one is the most famous (and most popular) of them.

On more than 100 stands, you will see flowers (freshly cut for some, and others clearly less cool…), pagaille birds (and what racket!) and hundreds of small small animals… Of course, we're going to dig on crickets and their beautiful little cages, or we'll try to learn French to parrots… A great experience, far away from the Shanghai skyscrapers.

Located inside Hong Kong Park, this charming museum is housed in the oldest colonial house in the territory, the Flagstaff House, built in 1846. She remained the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces until 1978. The permanent exhibition with tea theme shows an extraordinary collection of more than 600 teapots and objects dedicated to the tea ceremony. They date back to the West Pentecostal dynasty (1050-771 BC). We discover the different methods of preparing tea through ages. In the museum's small shop, tiny teapots, copies of old teapots and beautiful creations of contemporary artists are on sale, as well as art books on tea.

The Great Library of Shanghai was inaugurated in December 1996. It is the second largest in China after the Beijing National Library and one of the ten largest in the world: 3,1 ha, 13 million books and manuscripts, some of which have more than 1 400 years of history, 20 reading rooms (Chinese, foreign, electronic, CD-Rom and Internet).

Located in the northeast of the city, Mount Hill, or the "Vagues de Waves", stands isolated, forcing the Lijiang River to slow down its race and form a deep pond. Apart from the pleasant panorama, we come to see the cave of the Restored Pearl, which is carved in the stone of Buddhist bas-reliefs.

Built in 1266, it is the oldest temple in Hong Kong territory. On the right, a trail leads to a rock, placed under glass to protect it, with an inscription of 108 Chinese characters engraved in 1274 to mark the visit of an official.

Opened in 1864 near the Hong Kong Park, on the other side of Garden Road, it brings together, among other things, a wrought iron bandstand, an astonishing greenhouse, aviaries (ibis, flamingos pink…), and cages enclosing different species of monkeys, including large orang-utans. The Zoo section was added in 1975. A green corner in the urban jungle, it is one of the favourite places of taï-chi enthusiasts. They come here early in the morning to exercise the movements of shadow boxing.

You can take walks on the canals or Lake of the south. Wooden boats depart from the wharf south of the Tiyun Bridge. Some channels drive outside the city and surrounding lakes. We can then, with a little luck, observe the fishermen in full work and discover the fishing for birds, a traditional practice in the region.

The second museum of contemporary art does not fail to compete with the MOCA. Its assets? An Art Deco building of 1932 magnificent, a interior design renovated by the English architect David Chipperfield in 2007, and exhibitions and educational programmes always powerful. As a background, the desire "to encourage discussions on topical subjects and social issues".

This small private travel agency will better meet the expectations of the individual traveler. It offers regular flight booking services, trains and boats, and tailor-made circuits.