Don't miss our China & Hong Kong Cruise Deals with Ponant. This is your chance to enjoy one of the bucket list cruises available. China is one of the most exhilarating countries in Asia to cruise to. Approaching it by water allows you to appreciate the coast bordered by the China Sea and to visit some of the country's must-see sites a complete contrasts between its ultra-modern world-cities and rural villages,
China is a country of enormous diversity from the hustle and bustle and craziness of urban life in the cities, so the soft sounds in the mountains and the terraced hillsides. From the burgeoning skyline of Shanghai to the Ming Dynasty Villages.
Beijing is immense too. The Forbidden City and the Great Wall such incredible achievements for their day, now vestiges of the past as modernity creeps in everywhere, including to the cruise port facilities that are truly amazing. And if history is your thing, you’ll love steaming into Hainan Bay in Hong Kong, mingling with the colourful sampans as they sail past.
Shanghai
Who could believe that Shanghai was originally a simple fishing village. Today it is China's most populous city, with 24 million people and a major center of the global economy. To visit Shanghai is to come face to face with a city where yesterday's monuments rub shoulders with futuristic urbanism. Admire the famous Bund, this artery lined with sumptuous colonial buildings, discover the Shanghai Museum with pieces dating back more than 3,500 years and enter the Jade Buddha Temple which houses unique statues, carved from one piece in white jade. Then proceed to the Pudong districtwith its skyscrapers, climb to the top of the Jin Mao tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the whole city then climb aboard the Maglev, this magnetic levitation train which reaches 430 km/h in a few seconds.
Watch a Chinese acrobatics show
If the practice of Chinese acrobatics dates back to time immemorial, it was not really recognized until the 14th century, when artists had the opportunity to perform on stage. Gradually elevated to the rank of art in its own right, it nevertheless draws inspiration from everyday life from which it borrows certain objects: plates, parasols and other fans. Even today, the performances of Chinese acrobats, requiring self-control, flexibility and extreme application, are recognized all over the world.
See the Xi'an Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an is one of the oldest cities in China: its origins date back more than 3,100 years. It was also one of the great capitals of ancient China, under several dynasties. Today, we visit it above all for its museum of terracotta warriors. No less than 7,000 life-size statues of soldiers are exhibited there. They are grouped in order of battle, according to their rank, on foot, on chariots or horses, equipped with lances of swords or crossbows. Each of the statues has unique traits.
The Skyscrappers of Hong Kong
Hong Kong is the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ rising up from the South China Sea. Victoria Harbour is one of the most frenetic ports in the world and not just in Asia. Everything is in motion here: restaurants, bars, people, old and new. Top restaurants, opulent hotels, street food, all abuzz with life and vim.
Nothing like an immersion in the city to take the pulse of Hong Kong. Looking for calm? Go to the Man Mo temple, dedicated to the gods of literature and martial arts, or to the ancestral temple of Tang Chung Ling and the fortified village of Lo Wai,both classified as historical monuments. Want a livelier atmosphere? It is in the middle of the aisles of the Hong Kong markets that you have to sneak. The city is also famous for its bird, flower and fish markets, or exhibiting many jade objects. To observe the city as a whole, nothing beats taking the tram to reach the top of Victoria Peak. Culminating at 552 meters in height, it offers an unobstructed and spectacular view of the megalopolis and its skyscrapers.
Tai Chi and good tea
Here are two essentials of Chinese culture: tai chi and the tea ceremony. When you can combine the two, you might as well take advantage of it. These two centuries-old traditions - tai chi was created in the 12th century - have the merit of providing as much relaxation as real well-being. Tai chi is known to improve breathing, muscle tone and digestion in particular. Much more than a simple beverage, tea follows a real ritual preparation. The medicinal virtues of certain preparations are also recognized in traditional Chinese medicine, and many Chinese consume them to prevent or cure certain ailments.
A country getaway on the Nanxi River
150 kilometers long, the Nanxi River offers an environment conducive to relaxation, 23 kilometers from Wenzhou. A boat trip is an opportunity to admire the pretty landscapes that border it, between fields and greenery. Around the river, several villages are worth seeing, such as Cangpo, a small thousand-year-old town or Yuantou, where it is pleasant to walk. The Nanxi River borders the region of Mount Yandang, one of the ten most important mountains in China, classified as a UNESCO Global Geopark, particularly famous for its “spiritual peaks”, its “spiritual rocks” and its “Great dragon fall”. , waterfall 190 meters high.
Peace and calm in Zhujiajiao
Nicknamed the "Stream of Pearls" or the "Chinese Venice", Zhujiajiao is the best preserved of Shanghai's four ancient towns. Located about forty kilometers from the megalopolis, this lakeside city, over 1,700 years old, offers a breath of fresh air to visitors who will appreciate the canals lined with small houses decorated with red lanterns and willows. The bridges, made of marble, wood or stone, remain one of Zhujiajiao's main attractions. The best known is the Fangsheng Bridge, erected in 1571 and whose name means "putting the fish back in the water". It is the longest, widest and highest stone bridge in the city.
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