Heritage: Tai Shan

Tai Shan’s importance to Chinese mythology cannot be overstated. Visiting the mountain is more than a mountain climbing excursion; it’s a pilgrimage to China’s most sacred mountain.

Centuries ago Confucius stood at the summit of Tai Shan and declared: “The world is small.” Though you may feel a little small riding the cable car as it dangles between heaven and earth, it quickly transports visitors to the summit. Tai Shan has long been known as the sacred haven that links Heaven and Earth, and it’s the most significant of the five Taoist mountains in China. According to Chinese mythology, the five sacred mountains were formed by the body of Pangu, the creator of the universe and that Tai Shan sprouted from his head when his body broke apart.

Tai Shan itself has become more than mountain, it has been given noble titles, elevated to god status and given honors equal to emperor. Tai Shan has a long history of receiving awards: the first emperor of China made a tree an officer after he sought refuge under it during a storm. The mountain has been revered for eons and is central to Chinese mythological beliefs. Because Tai Shan is the highest point in eastern China, and the east was once thought to be where heaven and earth were linked, Tai Shan become a dominant symbol. Throughout China, symbols of Tai Shan abound, whether used as a good luck charm to invoke the powers of the earth or in the numerous temples dedicated to the mountain. (more…)

Heritage: Classical Garden of Suzhou

There has always been a level of elegance, grace and romance in Suzhou that few cities can rival, the gardens and canals lend an air of sophistication.

Over 2,500-year-old, much of old Suzhou’s architecture and scenery continues to impress visitors with echoes of moonlit walks along the canals through the perfume of osmanthus flowers that time and progress haven’t been able to erase. During the Tang dynasty, the Grand Canal (dà yùnhé 大运河) linked Suzhou to the rest of the empire. The canal continues to feed an enormous network of smaller canals that penetrate every part of the city.

Water physically and culturally defines Suzhou. The seemingly infinite maze of canals gave rise to an efficient transportation network, a wealth of picturesque scenery and architecture and lifestyle typical of the eastern Chinese Jiangnan style. Nearby rivers and lakes connected yielded a bounty of fish and shellfish that still dominates the local cuisine. Aquatic images abound in the city’s art, and if you travel the canals by boat, your guide may treat you to a rowing song that has remained unchanged for centuries. (more…)

From social reformers like Lu Xun to wistful poets sipping Shaoxing’s famed wine on the banks of a lazy stream as they compose lyrical dances; Shaoxing’s history is that of China’s cultural heritage.

Just 70km away from Hangzhou, Shaoxing is sheltered by Kuaiji Shan and nestled in Zhejiang Province’s rich Yangtze fed waterways. The architectural style and atmosphere is typical Jiangnan, which means south of the Yangtze. White walls punctuated with black tiles line narrow cobbled streets and when harried city dwellers dream of an idyllic paradise and plan their retirement, they often picture Shaoxing. But more than a quiet city, Shaoxing is also home to many of China’s most renowned scholars, writers and poets. The city draws learned tourists seeking to get a glimpse of China’s rich cultural past.

No city in China can claim to be the hometown of as many nationally known personalities as Shaoxing. Yu the Great (Dà Yǔ 大禹) was one of China’s mythical early chiefs, whose reputation and reverence is on par with England’s King Arthur. He’s credited with teaching the Chinese people how to tame the rivers and control floods. His son followed his father’s footsteps by founding the first Chinese dynasty in 22nd century BC. Yu the Great’s tomb lies in Shaoxing where visitors still come to pay their respects and the former Ming governor of Shaoxing wrote the memorial tablet at his tomb. During the Ming dynasty, a representative of the empire would come and perform ceremonial rituals in his honor. (more…)

When Shanghai first began from its humble beginnings, it was far from obvious that the world would one day hear its roar. Since then, Shanghai has seen dramatic changes, spinning between the far extremes of Fortune’s wheel.

The financial go-go capital of China, Shanghai, which means “go to the sea” in Chinese, is a city of 16 million that remembers its hallucinating history. Divided in half by the Huangpu River into Puxi (west of the Huangpu) and Pudong (east of the Huangpu), Shanghai’s story is one of millions made and mirages lost. Pried open by British guns in the First Opium War, this once sleepy fishing and weaving village gained notoriety as the “Paris of the East” as a colonial city of commerce, vice, money and political intrigue. More recently, Shanghai has benefited the most from China’s economic reforms, rapidly rising as the shining “Pearl of the Orient.”

Dynamic is the best word to describe today’s Shanghai. Since the 1990 opening of the Pudong Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the city has found itself with more building cranes than all of North America, towers of glass and steel sprout up amidst ivy covered colonial villas and old Chinese homes. Displaying all the contrasts of modern China, teeming neighborhoods and birch trees are woven together by elevated highways and modern skyscrapers. Worldly travelers brush elbows with migrant workers; students and artists mingle as they pursue their dreams of wealth. (more…)

Heritage: Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansions, Confucius Cemetery

Qufu is legendary for the Chinese as the birthplace of Confucius, that ancient sage and teacher whose impact continues to influence Chinese education, politics, and thought.

Pleasant street markets and an air of historic importance mark Qufu as a great introduction to Chinese culture and one of China’s most endearing legacies. It’s easy to spend a few days in Qufu exploring the three major sights related to Confucius (Kǒngzǐ孔子): the Confucius Mansions (kǒng fǔ孔府), where the Sage and some 70 generations of his descendents once lived; the Confucius Temple (kǒng miào孔庙) and the Confucius Cemetery (kǒng lín孔林), a forest cemetery where Confucius and many of his deceased clan members rest.

Qufu’s history is directly linked to Confucius. Legend states that he was born in a cave 60km to the east of Qufu in 551 BC, during the Spring and Autumn Period. Confucius settled in modern day Qufu, a pauper, after years of unsuccessfully wandering through various kingdoms in hopes of influencing rulers to adopt his teachings. It was only after his death in 479 BC that his ideas gained prominence. (more…)

Qingdao’s clean beaches, European architecture and great beer inspired from Lao Shan’s crisp spring water make this city an idyllic getaway to spend a few relaxing days strolling along the boardwalk while watching the sunrise over the ocean.

Despite having no island, Qingdao is deceptively named “Green Island” in Chinese. This doesn’t deter locals from referring to this laidback city as the “island city.” In southern Shandong, this city was only a small scenic fishing village until the might of international politics thrust it upon the world stage. In 1897, two German missionaries in Shandong Province were killed, using this as a pretext, and in 1898, Kaiser Wilhelm II forced the Qing government to lease Qingdao to Germany for 99 years.

The Kaiser intended to keep Qingdao for those 99 years and built a typical German-styled city. The Germans expanded Qingdao’s infrastructure, expanding its excellent harbor, building a rail connection to the provincial capital and piping in spring water from Lao Shan. Taking advantage of Lao Shan’s spring water, a beer brewery was built in 1903 and today Qingdao is a center of Chinese beer production. (more…)

Nanjing has seen its shares of ups and downs – from an imperial capital to the capital of the Taiping Rebellion in Chinese history and later became capital of the Republic of China. Sights telling the story of China’s past and memorials to the events that shaped modern China are strewn all over this pleasant city.

The capital of Jiangsu has seen its fair share of crucial historical events. With the Yangtze River on one side, surrounded by the Purple Mountain and shielded by massive city walls, Nanjing was perceived as impenetrable – but the city has been destroyed and rebuilt on several occasions. Today Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu Province, one of China’s most economically vibrant provinces, receiving a big chunk of the foreign investments in China. (more…)

Heritage: Lu Shan

Historic villas, forest trails and cool mountain peaks have been drawing people to this mountain hideaway for more than 100 years. The misty clouds blanket the lush forests and provide a mystical scene.

The peaks of Lu Shan in northern Jiangxi Province have long been a magnet for the spiritual, the rich and famous, the learned and powerful. Although wet, cold and misty for more than 200 days, Lu Shan’s wooded slopes offer cool repose for those escaping the summer heat in the ancient city of Jiujiang in the south and the lowland valley areas of Yangtze River in the north.

Once you set eyes on the scenic landscape of Lu Shan, you will understand why people keep coming back. Of the some 99 peaks, Dahanyang Peak (dàhànyáng fēng 大汉阳峰) stands tallest at 1,474m. Peaks aside, there are gorges, waterfalls, overhanging cliffs, lakes, verdant forests and amazing bird life. No wonder eminent poets of every dynasty have eulogized the natural beauty of Lu Shan. (more…)

Heritage: Huang Shan, Xidi & Hong Villages

Huang Shan has been a major tourist destination since ancient times and still captures the imagination of those who have glimpsed its jade mountains protruding through the frosty mists.

Huang Shan, which means Yellow Mountain, has been a well-known destination for scholars, poets and the occasional recluse, all seeking personal inspiration and enlightenment – when you visit you will easily appreciate why.

Situated in the southern portion of the agriculturally rich Anhui Province and bordering Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces, the picturesque Huang Shan has long been effusively described as “awesome,” “a wonderland” and “Heaven on Earth.” The formation of the remarkable peaks and breathtakingly sharp precipices has been attributed to the many thousands of years of geological activity on the imposing granite mountains, creating the astounding natural wonder visible today.

During the Qin dynasty, the mountain was called Black Mountain (yī shān 黟山) because of the dark color of its cliffs. Legend has it that Tang dynasty emperor Xuanzong, who reigned during the Tang’s golden age, changed the name of the mountains to Huang Shan because the legendary Huang Emperor was thought to have made his pills of immortality here. (more…)

Hangzhou’s legendary West Lake conjures images of sweeping willows and morning mist along the shores of China’s most famous and revered of lakes.

Heralded as one of the most romantic cities in China, Hangzhou is ripe with historic and sensual sites to enchant the amorous and curious who make their way here. Just over 200km southwest of Shanghai, Hangzhou requires only a short jaunt to scratch the surface its charming pagodas, the timeless West Lake and modern amenities.

What really put Hangzhou on the proverbial map is the Grand Canal (dà yùnhé 大运河). Built during the Sui dynasty, the Grand Canal was a massive network of canals and waterways linking Hangzhou to the north. Food and goods were shipped from the agriculturally rich south to supply the comparatively desolate north, Hangzhou quickly developed into an important center of transportation and trade.

Hangzhou’s height came when the Song dynasty court was driven from its capital at Kaifeng by northern invaders, and the Song court resettled in here and made it the imperial capital of the Southern Song dynasty. A population boom followed and the city flourished economically and culturally. Song influences still abound throughout the city – from the food to the language. (more…)