When Suzhou is mentioned, the first thought in our mind is of its gardens which are one of the must see when you are in Suzhou. It is a cultural and historical city that is celebrated around the world for its vast and elegant gardens. Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden, Garden of the Master of the Nets are some of the magnificent gardens of Suzhou. Humble Administrator’s Garden: Humble Administrator’s Garden is the largest garden in Suzhou. There is a lake inside the garden. Between the entrance and the lake, there is a wall with floral windows. You can get a glimpse of the lake as soon as you enter the garden but to see the entire scene, you’ll have to take a walk through the moon shaped door on the wall. Image Credit Due to its unique designs and unearthly beauty, the garden has garnered many special honors. It is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site and has also been designated as one of the Cultural Relics of National Importance under the Protection of the State and a Special Tourist Attraction of China. Lingering Garden: This is another largest garden of Suzhou. It dates back to Ming Dynasty. There is a pool inside the garden that is surrounded by pavilions and hills. Across the water is a 700 m walkway connecting all the major scenic spots. You can view carefully selected perspectives of the garden through the windows. It is well-known for the exquisite beauty of its magnificent halls and the various sizes, shapes, and colors of the buildings. Image Credit The Lingering Garden creates stunning natural landscapes within limited space. Domiciles, ancestral temples and private gardens are also included. Buildings, trees, and flowers blend harmoniously with their surroundings. Garden of the Master of the Nets: It is the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens, yet most impressive because of its use of space which creates the illusion of an area that is much greater than its actual size. Even more than the architectural achievement is the mood of tranquility and harmony that this humble garden embodies. Image Credit Don’t you wish to witness the timeless tranquility of Suzhou’s gardens? I’m sure, your answer would be yes. So, what are you waiting for, plan your trip now!
Tian Xia Yan. Artists in China are witnessing a major shift – from art to tourism. Their work is becoming an amalgamation of food and art. They are actually emerging as restaurateurs. South Silk Road, Qu Nar and Tian Xia Yan are the finest examples. Southe Silk Road is a fabulous restaurant in Soho New Town. This restaurant caters to the high-class art-lovers. The black furniture adds beauty to the artistic environment of the restaurant. Qu Nar is one of the best restaurants that has an exclusive ambience. It’s a perfect place to relax and dine. Tian Xia Yan is a casual Sichuan cafe tucked in a back alley behind a maze of galleries, boutiques and coffee shops. It is rightly said that China is a country where relationships are best built over a good meal. These artists-turned-restaurateurs are introducing cuisine from their ancestral provinces. This change in profession of Chinese artists is a wonderful way of promoting tourism and encouraging art-lovers to have a different taste.
The popular UNESCO World Heritage tourist attraction and the masterpiece of nature, Huangshan Mountain is renowned for its beauty and attracts millions of visitors each year. This scenic peak is getting blemished because of a large number of tourists. To allow the vegetation to recover from damages made by tourists, Chinese tourism authorities have decided to keep it closed for three years. Also, known as Yellow Mountain, Huangshan is a marvel within an area of 154 square kilometers where there is a crowd of peaks. Most of them have names indicating the shapes they resemble. When it is cloudy the pinnacles loom in mists as if they were visionary and in sunshine they unfold in all their majesty and splendor. The peaks change their color and appearance with the alternating seasons. While in spring blooming flowers decorate the slopes with different color and fill the valleys with fragrance, in summer you see these peaks rising one upon another. Autumn dresses the mountains in red and purple. Winter turns them into a world of frost and ice with silver rocks everywhere. This endless and spellbinding beauty of Huangshan Mountain has attracted many people from all over the world. China has among UNESCO’s largest number of listed sites and their management has sometimes come under criticism, let’s hope this step taken forward by Chinese tourism authorities proves to be rewarding.
It would not be wrong, if I say that people forget their responsibilities once they are out on a journey. No one seems to avoid nuclear waste or respect the rules and values of other places. But apparently China is playing it safe. The new guidelines have been listed for Chinese travelers at the website of the Foreign Ministry. These new guidelines say: �No shouting, no fighting, no extortion. Keep peaceful in public places. �Respect local customs and evade drawing attention to themselves. �Keep a wary eye on strangers. �Don’t get involved in quarrels of other people. �Respect local laws and don’t attempt to cut corners or make threats.
Poster displaying the winning design of a tsunami museum by architect Ridwan Kamil. On December 26, 2004, a massive 9.1 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia created a devastating tsunami that struck 12 countries around the Indian Ocean. Over 250,000 persons lost their lives and over 2.3 million became homeless in a matter of minutes. It been nearly three years when this tragedy occurred and people of Indonesia are not able to come out of this trauma. To memorialize the people who died when towering waves, the Government will build a tsunami museum which is expected to be completed in 2008. The museum will be built atop a hill in the provincial capital Banda Aceh. It’ll display the culture and history of Aceh people. Also, the museum will be integrated with tsunami monuments including the Great Baiturrachim Mosque at Ulee Lheu, Syiah Kuala funeral and Pandee Village. The geoscience description that tells the process of earthquake and tsunami with visual aid and the live monitoring of earthquake will be the main attraction of the museum. In the museum, the post tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction process of Aceh will also be visualized. It’s a $7.5 million project designed by local architect Ridwan Kamil. The detailed planning of museum will be started this month.
Words are not enough to describe the beauty of Huangshan Mountain. The scenic splendor of this cliff is awesome and you will find it difficult to suppress your desire to explore the area time and again. This is a mere indication of the scenic superiority of this place, lot more remains to be explored. This post of mine is dedicated to the serenity of this world of charms. Also known as Yellow Mountain, Huangshan is one of the most famous scenic spots of China. It’s just the perfect place for people who wish to be in the laps of Mother Nature. Eulogized by poets and painters, the beauty of Huanghsan’s soaring peaks and elegant pines are beyond comparison. Image Credit Stretched along an area of 154 square kilometers, the mountain offers a crowd of peaks. Will you believe me if I say that many of the peaks have names also? There are around 72 peaks that have names indicating the shapes they resemble. Three major peaks are Lotus Peak, Brightness Apex and Celestial Capital Peak. Lotus Flower Peak: Situated 1886 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest peaks of Huangshan Mountain. Surrounded by a group of lower peaks, it looks like a lotus flower in full bloom. Stand at the top of the peak and you can have a panoramic view of Huangshan. Image Credit Celestial Peak: Located in the south-eastern part of Huangshan, it is the steepest peak of the mountain. The path to the top is fenced with stone posts and iron chains. Due to its riskiness, in spite of protections provided by the stone posts and iron chains it is symbolically known as Silver Carp’s Back. While on the summit, you can witness the distant view of misty ranges of mountains and rivers diminishing into tiny lines. Also, there is a stone cave at the summit, large enough to seat over hundred people. Near the cave entrance, lies a rock resembling A Drunkard Immortal Reclining On His Side. Image Credit Bright Summit Peak: At an elevation of 1,840, it is the second highest peak of Huangshan. Located in the central part of the mountain, it is the best place for seeing sunrise and the sea of clouds. The Sea of Clouds: It’s a great thing that seems to happen only at Huangshan Mountain. The clouds appear from everywhere staying there between the mountains. Wind makes the clouds move all the time like the water in the sea with the waves and only the highest peaks is seen over this white sea like island. When the wind is strong, you can do nothing but feel marvel for the nature’s masterpiece. This will be the most spectacular panorama you’ll witness while atop Huangshan Mountain. Don’t miss the sunset or the sunrise over this sea of clouds. It’s really magical! Image Credit Huangshan Mountains change their color and appearance with the alternation of seasons. For its diversity of sceneries in the four seasons, it is also given the name fairyland on earth. Huangshan can boast not only of its magnificence but also its abundant resources and great variety of zoological species, for which it has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. Image Credit ‘Place where peaks pierce the sky’ and a ‘cool world’ are some of the names given to this conspicuous mountain endowed with buoyant charm. Once you visit this spectacular mountain you’ll feel like touching the horizon and the reverberations of this visit will make you feel at ease whenever the retrospect comes to you.
Wish to climb the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest but don’t think you can afford it? Well, think over it again. To promote off-season climbing on Everest and boost tourism hit by years of a Maoist conflict, Nepal officials plan to slash down the climbing fees. Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains and has more than 2,000 Himalayan peaks out of which 326 are open to foreign climbers. Large percentage of revenue comes from tourism and in an attempt to lure more climbers, Nepal is offering discount rates. During peak season (March through May), climbing Everest costs approximately $70,000. The Government may offer a 50 per cent discount to autumn climbers and a 75 per cent discount to those who brave the winter months. The government foresees drawing 600,000 visitors in the current fiscal year, which ends in mid-July 2008. If you are an adventure junky and wish to summit the world’s tallest peak without straining your pocket, it’s just the right time!
Dubai, one of the most progressive cities in the world, has always been a building site, but there are more large projects under construction now than ever before. This is a city in transition to a bigger future and with the wonders of engineering, it is set to become a wonder in itself. Five most outstanding creations that will leave you spell bound are-The World, Palm Island, Sports City, Hydropolis, Dubai land. Five future wonders of Dubai: Dubailand: On completeion, Dubailand will be twice the size of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida that will make it the world’s biggest theme/amusement park. Scheduled to be completed in 2020, it is being built in 4 phases, each of which will last for 5 years. The Hydropolis: This is the underwater hotel that will be totally constructed in Germany. It’ll contain 220 suites all with panoramic views of the seabed with rooms priced around 500 dollars a night. The sports city: This is the third wonder of Dubai that is planned to open later in the year. Featuring 60,000 seat outdoor stadium, a 25,000 seat cricket ground, a 10,000 seat indoor arena, a 5,000 seat hockey stadium and a golf course designed by pro Ernie Els, it’ll be used in Dubai’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Palm Island: It is built on reclaimed land and is shaped like a palm tree consisting of a trunk with 17 fronds. The resort will feature a monorail that will transport the 2,000 – 3,000 people on and off the resort every hour. The World: The construction work of ‘The World’ is almost complete. It is a set of reclaimed islands in the shape of the continents of the world.
Can you imagine having a falcon’s huge talons and a bone-crushing grip as a hunting aid? The land of the Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan has an age-old relationship with these majestic and powerful predators. The Kyrgyz greatly revere the golden eagle. They are the falcon hunters with the golden eagle. A hunting festival took place near the village of Bokonbayevo, some 186 miles east from the capital Bishkek, on August 24, 2007. More then 20 hunters with dogs and eagles take part in the national festival. People practiced in the art of training birds of prey are called ‘Berkutchi’ and are treated with great respect in their country. In the villages the Berkutchi help control the foxes that predate on their flocks and herds. To be the eagle hunter , one has to be be tough and patient. That’s why there are so few eagle-hunters. Traditionally, wild baby eagles were taken from the nest to be trained as hunting birds, but under new legislation this practice will be strictly limited.The process of training a Golden Eagle is long and complex. A golden eagle holds a wolf by its mouth Much effort must be devoted to the training of an able hunter. Berkutchi-falconers, being mostly people of middle or older age, always subtly and precisely noted the morphological and other characteristics that allowed them to recognize in the bird a quality hunter. Young falconers start with the sparrow hawk, later came the goshawk, saker, peregrine and gyrfalcon. The last bird trained, considered the most significant and capable of taking the greatest range of game, was the golden eagle. It was also the most dangerous raptor to train. Despite the danger of hunting wolves, golden eagles were up to the task. A golden eagle pounces on a chained wolf cub during a hunting festival near the village of Bokonbayevo The secrets of taming a Golden Eagle were passed from generation to generation down dynasties. From father to son, or sometimes to grandson, were handed and explained in detail the secret characteristics by which a falconer was able to make the right choice when taking a bird for training. This magnificent bird can never be a slave of its owner, but only a partner in hunting!
Professor Masaaki Kimura. We all have read about a mysterious underwater lost city called Mu. This has captivated the popular imagination for years. It is believed that the city sunk in Pacific Ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune" some 300 years ago. Geologists today regard sunken continents as physical impossibilities. The possible existence of a genuine Atlantis was actively discussed throughout classical antiquity, but it was usually rejected and occasionally parodied. A Japanese marine geologist Professor Masaaki Kimura of Ryukyu University has found ruins in waters of Southern Japan that may atleast have inspired these tales. Professor Masaaki Kimura said: I’m getting close to the conviction that this is a mysterious civilization lost in the tectonic deformation in the Pacific Ocean. I think this city is not what western people described as Mu but Mu or Atlantis could be marled on it. In 1985, tourists scuba diving, noticed that some of the rocks seemed unnaturally smoothed and were looking like stoned staircase close to the island shores. On further dives, Professor Masaaki Kimura found irregular rock formation over the square kilometer from its shores and even a road at the bottom of the ocean. He believes that city had a castle, a shrine, a triumphal arch and Maui like statues. However, his claim has received frosty response from the other science fraternity, because of a lack of evidence in terms of mud pots of any kind. In fact, they counter that the rock formations might easily have been a result of tidal and volcanic activities. But that is not stopping the professor and he is keenly looking for evidences to prove his point.