8 November 8–9, 2014 November 8–9, 2014 9 travel

pec2014 of memories of its past, The halls of the building are literally autumn escape. the thronging crowds, but in autumn, point at which the Great Wall meets the was once the holiday retreat of Qing A thanks to its temples and suspended 50 meters over the ground, If you want to feel like an emperor on you can enjoy the beach in peace. expanse of the ocean. emperors. The site boasts 120 preserved grottoes. forming a hiking trail that is certainly your vacation, Chengde is your destina- Moving inland, you can find natural This section of the Wall is called the palaces, pavilions and pagodas, built in he APEC meeting is bringing If you are more into not for the faint of heart. tion of choice. reserves like Lianfengshan Park, where “Old Dragon’s Head,” because the forti- an harmonious mix of Han, Tibetan and leaders from all over the world hiking than studying Where to stay: offers all sorts you can observe and hear a wide variety fication once featured a dragon’s head, Mongolian styles. The serenity of the Tto Beijing. More importantly, the history, the Mengshan of accommodation options, from budget Qinhuangdao of birds. dipping its mouth into the water. Imperial Summer Palace of Mountain occasion of the summit is giving many Mountain Buddha is the hostels to luxury hotels. Qinhuangdao, resting on the shores Shanhaiguan means literally “the Resort and the spirituality of the Putuo of us a few extra free days. place to go. Located 20 If you decide to spend the night in of the Bohai Sea, is well-known for its pass of mountain and sea.” It is the Chengde Zongcheng Temple – a smaller replica If you are among the lucky ones and kilometers southwest the charming old town of , some sandy beaches. Chengde is a mountain city that of the Potala Palace in Tibet Autono- want to escape the hustle and bustle of of Taiyuan, it is home of its historical mansions have been During summer, you would be mous Region – are actually best experi- the capital, here are a to China’s oldest sitting converted into hotels and guest houses. advised to avoid the beaches enced in autumn, when there are less few tips for how to best Buddha statue. Measur- too has a number of cheaper along Beidaihe and tourists but the beauty of the forests and enjoy the short break. ing 63 meters in height, it is the world’s accommodations as well as more up- Nandaihe on grasslands, including the Ten Thousand second largest statue of its kind. market options. account of Tree Garden, are still intact. Tianjin The approximately 1,500-year-old Getting there: By bullet train, it takes The Palace resort was declared a You might not have statue was opened for public viewing only three and a half hours to get from UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 enough time to travel less than 10 years ago, so it still isn’t on Beijing to Taiyuan, the capital of . and houses a museum where objects far, but you can explore the well-beaten tourist track. You can From Taiyuan Railway Station you used by emperors and empresses are on the whole world in min- either ascend the mountain leading to can hire a taxi or take a bus to Ping- display. iature by visiting Tianjin. the statue on foot, or use an electric cart. yao. The journey takes approxi- If you are looking for even more Italian villas, Bavarian mately 90 minutes. natural wonders, head to the Bashang houses, French castles: Pingyao Mengshan is 20 kilometers Grassland to enjoy a fairy tale atmo- Tianjin foreign conces- The entire historical town of Pingyao from Taiyuan, and easy to g h sphere while watching the sun sions have them all. is protected by UNESCO as a World reach by car or taxi. n rising over the Seven-Star Lake. i for your AP o Walking through the Heritage Site. The city bears well-pre- By train, it takes six s ips EC Where to stay: Being a holi- quietude of the Great served testimonies of both Ming (1368- hours to reach Datong i el t ge l day resort area, all needs are Five Avenues you may 1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. from Beijing. av ta catered for in Qinhuang- find yourself pleasantly confused by Shanxi This jewel-box walled city is pleasant to r r w i dao. the display of European architecture. Is Taking the bullet train, destinations explore on foot, being mostly off-limits Hebei T a d At the mountain  y this really still China? A guided tour is in Shanxi are easily within reach from to cars. Whether you p resort in Chengde it recommended if you want to discover Beijing, and therefore perfect for a short Pingyao is also a treasure trove for prefer relaxing is possible to sleep in the history behind these magnificent holiday. local culinary traditions. While there, on the beaches a one of the Mongolian buildings. If you still aren’t tired of city life, you do not forget to taste the tender Pingyao of Qinhuang- r yurts, which were The Haihe river is perfect for a can explore the capital of Taiyuan. If you beef and the Pingyao Wantuo, a snack dao or explor- y once the exclusive romantic evening cruise. Departing want to refresh your mind and body you dating back to the Ming Dynasty. It is ing the ruins domain of tribal from the Tianjin Eye, the world’s only can opt for a trip to see the Mengshan made of thick white flour noodle dough, of the Great delegations. panoramic wheel on a bridge, the cruise Buddha. If the weather allows, the city of served fried or cold. Wall in Shan- u s Getting there: will enable you to admire the spectacular Pingyao is literally an open air museum. haiguan, The high speed colored lights of the city. If you’re willing to travel further, there Datong Hebei’s S train is once again Feeling hungry? Tianjin Food Street are some breathtaking hiking trails in Datong is a cluster of both natural coast makes a good option to (Shipin Jie), which is actually a two- Datong and its surrounding areas. and historical beauty. Setting off from for a great reach Qinhuang- story building filled with more than 50 Datong, you can visit the Yungang dao from Beijing restaurants and food stalls, is said to be Taiyuan and Mengshan grottoes, a UNESCO World Heri- South Station. the largest food market in China. The Shanxi Museum in Taiyuan is tage Site holding 51,000 Buddhist There is a train Where to stay: In Tianjin there are a the ideal place to immerse yourself in statues, as well as the peaks of the that connects diverse range of choices for accommoda- Chinese history. The “inverted pyramid” Hengshan mountains, with their Qinhuangdao to tion, from hostels to well-known luxury building boasts four stories of Chinese distinctive dramatic forms. Shanhaiguan. hotels. In the vicinity of the Food street artifacts and is considered by many trav- Visiting the Hanging Monastery, The train ride there is also a Hotel Street. elers one of the best museums in the you will find yourself greeted by a from Beijing to Getting there: By bullet train, of whole country. Better yet, it’s free! synthesis of the natural and of the Chengde takes course. Trains depart throughout the Despite becoming industrialized in human; all three of China’s major approximately four day from Beijing South Station. It is a recent years, Taiyuan, or “City of the belief systems (Buddist, Taoist and hours. short 35-minute trip to Tianjin Station or Dragon,” as it was known during the Confucian) are represented in the Tianjin South Station. Tang Dynasty (618-907), retains plenty mountain monastery. Global Times

Top: Jinci in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province Page Editor: xiongyuqing@ Middle: Shanhaiguan in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province globaltimes.com.cn Main: a view of Tianjin Eye in Tianjin Photos: CFP