Taiwan: Shifen Station and Ping-Hsi Line

Because of the movie You are the Apple of My Eye, I listed Pingxi into Taiwan tour. After searching on the internet, I found Ping-Hsi (Pingxi) Line is an one-hundred-year old railway for only 15.4 kilometers long. It was said that there are many old buildings along this line, and in particular, the terminal Jingtong Station still remains the style in Japan-ruled period. Since the open up, Jingtong Station has kept the original appearance. Now it is one of the four existing Japanese style wooden station.

On the train, a young man told us that Shifen Station was very interesting, where the residences are rightly near the railway and also has more Kung Ming Lanterns than Pingxi. It was his word that make us add another scenic spot.

The stations along Ping-Hsi Line: Houdong-Sandiaoling-Dahua-Shifen-Wanggu-Lingjiao-Pingxi-Jingtong

When the train drove into Sandiaoling station, green valley and clear water came into my view. Having seen too much seascape along the way, I was a little bit tired of it and fond of the quiet environment here.

Xian: Mountain Huashan

In my Beijing Xian tour, there are a lot of beautiful mountains in its suburb area, but most of which can not be compared to the Mt. Huashan in terms of steep.

 Located in Huayin City, Mt. Huashan is 120 kilometers east of Xian. With an elevation of 2154.9 meters above the sea level, it is one of the famous Wu yue (Wu yue is the collective name given to China's most important mountains, namely Mt. Taishan in Shandong Province, Mt. Huashan in Shaanxi Province, Mt. Hengshan in Shanxi Province, Mt. Songshan in Henan Province and Mt. Hengshan in Hunan Province). With north to the flat Weihe Plain and the roaring Yellow River, south to Mt. Qinling, Mt Huashan is a granite mountain in the north of watershed Qinling. Endowed with the natural decorations, the beauty of Huashan was vividly sketched out to tourists. Now it is a state-level scenic spot and a 5A level scenic attraction.

Mt. Huashan is famous for being steep. The narrow paths and precipitous crags make many tourists daunting. The mountain has five representative peaks which has its own distinctive charms respectively: East Peak (Facing Sun Peak) is the best place to enjoy the sunrise; South Peak (Landing Wild Geese Peak) has the highest altitude; West Peak (Lotus Flower Peak) is the most elegant; North Peak North Peak is famous as the Cloud Terrace Peak and Middle Peak is also called Jade Lady Peak.

 There are many dangerous passes along the way to East Peak, such as the Thousand-Foot Precipice, Hundred-Foot Crevice, Black Dragon Ridge and Golden Lock Pass etc, so you should be very careful. Although it looks quite dangerous, the security measures is very good. Tourists don’t have to worry too much.

Like the Terra-cotta Warriors, Mt Huashan is also a must-see tourist attraction in Xian tour for most tourists. It is indeed challenging but also interesting.

Shanghai: Indigo Hotel

The Bund has been a symbol of Shanghai for hundred years. It is the most representative name card and the most beautiful scenery of Shanghai. 52 skyscrapers of Gothic style, Romanesque style, Baroque style, together with architectures of Chinese and western style stretch along the bank of Huangpu River, which is called as “ the world Expo of architectures”. If the bund is the legend of Shanghai, then the Lujiazui Financial Center of Pudong New District is the tales of marvels of Shanghai. Currently, it has become the most attractive place of Shanghai. Standing among the rows of these tall buildings, you might understand why Shanghai is called “Modu City”, which means the modern city.
During my last Shanghai Xian tour, I booked the hotel online, fortunately, it did not let me down.

Indigo Hotel, which belongs to the International Hotel Group, is the only one hotel that situates along the Huangpu Riverbank. Standing on the 29 floor of restaurant and the 30 floor of bar, you will have a panoramic view of Lujiazui Financial Center, the “world Expo of architectures” and the gorgeous scenery of Huangpu River, which makes it the first choice to have a taste of “Shanghai flavor” for diners from all over the world. The semi-open terrace is the best place to overlook the magnificent scene along both sides of Huangpu River.

During the Xian tour, I stayed in Westin Hotel in south square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, where provided me the most beautiful night scene of Xian.

Beijing: The Old Summer Palace(Yuanmingyuan Imperial Garden)

Everyone comes to the Old Summer Palace just to see the same scenery — the dilapidated walls and rubble stones after a smoke of the war. I still remember when I first came to Beijing in my Beijing Xian tour, I heard many friends say: “ You wanna go to Yuanmingyuan? Just forget about it. It’s really boring to see a mess of stones.” And I replied: “ This is a must-see place for me. As a Chinese, I go there especially for the unrepaired mass stones. Because it bears too much nationalistic sentiments.”

In a winter morning of north China, with the respect and worship for eastern culture and Chinese history and also the curiosity about the Imperial Garden, I entered the Old Summer Palace.

The Yuanmingyuan (the Gardens of Perfect Brightness) Imperial Garden is hailed as the “Garden of Gardens”, which indicates that it is known for its extensive collection of Chinese ancient garden and building architectures and other works of art. Built from 1709, it was gradually completed under the reigns of fiver emperors with over 150 years. From the picture below, you may understand why the Old Summer Palace is called “Garden of Gardens”. It is not only featured with the elegant and poised imperial palace style, but also characterized with the grace and charm of south China’s water town, combining with the dignified and solemn style of European gardens. It is the only one garden that integrates gardens of different styles together in China.

 In this winter day, the palace looks a little bit depressed with few tourists coming, which, I think is exactly corresponding with the garden however. Despite of the tragedy of burning down the Old Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan Garden still and always will be live in Chinese people’s hearts.

Similar to Beijing, Xian is also a famous historical and cultural city. A Xian package tour will give you a full display of Chinese history, especially the Qin, Tang and Ming Dynasties.

Beijing: Shufangzhai Palace

Occasionally, I see the Shufangzhai Palace today. I knew the big name of Shufang zhai from a popular Chinese TV series called “Princess Pearl(“Huanzhu gege” in Chinese)” ten years ago. As a matter of fact, Little Swallow(the Princess Pear), Little Desk and Little bench(the two servants of the princess ) etc did not lived in it. It is actually the place where Emperor Qianlong watch dramas. Shufangzhai is located in east of Chonghua Palace in the Palace Museum and is originally built in the 18th year of Yongle Reign(1420) in Ming Dynasty.

At present, the building and its interior fittings are well preserved. Being the VIP reception center, it served as the resting room for the national leaders and foreign leaders when they visit the Imperial Palace. It is the non-open area for tourists. If you visit the Imperial Palace in your Beijing Xian tour without seeing Shufangzhai, it is really a pity.

In late Qing Dynasty, the Peking Opera Master Mei Lanfang was invited to the Imperial Palace and put on plays. In 1922, when Qing Dynasty’s last Emperor Fu Yi got married, Peking Opera had been performed for three days and nights. Peking Opera stars such as Mei Lanfang, Yang Xiaolou, Yu Shuyan, Ma Lianliang and Li Wanchun were all invited to the stage.

Such architectures of Ming Dynasty also can be seen in a Xian tour, such as the famous Bell Tower and Drum Tower.

Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden

Located in Huangpu District, the center of Shanghai City, Yuyuan Garden was originally built in 1959 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan. It is a private garden which is specially built for Pan’s parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age.

The garden gives a full display of Chinese classical garden architectural and design style. Covering an area of 20,000 square meters (about five acres), Yuyuan Garden is one of the famous classical gardens in lower Yangtze River area. With its long history and beautiful sceneries, it has been one of the popular tourists attractions in Shanghai and has attracted numerous visitors every year. There are six main scenic areas in the garden: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each area features several scenic spots within its borders.

I went there during my Shanghai Xian tour last year in March, and I remember it was time for Plum blossoms. Chinese people are particularly fond of plums, while traveling in Xian, you will see another group of Japanese Sakura in Qinglong Temple, which usually blooms in early April.