A Bite of Beijing: Specialty Restaurant Guide No.1

Sanlitun Region assembles a number of foreign embassies, and absolutely there are also scattering many foreign gourmet restaurants. On the bank of the beautiful Liangma River, there is an authentic German restaurant called “Schindler Anlegestelle”, in Chinese it is called “Kundele Matou”.

Run by a German, the typical German style building is embodied with simple and natural rural feeling, while decorated with unique harbor element, it is full of port sight. On the roof, a piece of unfolded fishing net is hanged, with various fishes and shrimps spreading on it; on the bar counter, different shapes of ship models are displayed on the wine shelves; The wooden platform looks like a deck in ship, with a compass standing on it; while the dolphins hanged on the windows are very much like fat submarines. Sitting in the restaurant, you will feel yourself in a real German port. What’s more, the pirate’s flag on the bar counter makes the restaurant a vivid pirate ship.

Customers here are almost foreigners, because it is full of their home-style flavor. In the restaurant, you can have a taste of sterling German beer, especially stout, and of course delicious meat is also provided. I had been their when I attend a Beijing Xian tour last time, so I strongly recommended you the dish Pork Knuckle with mashed potato and sauerkraut. In fact, there are also many foreign restaurant if you travel Xian.

Hunan: ancient town of Phoenix

Located in the western part of Central China’s Hunan Province, and in the south of Tujia and Miao Prefecture, the ancient towm of Phoenix is surrounded by mountains and rivers. As Chinese historical and cultural city, tone of the first group of tourism county and national 4A level scenic spot, this small ancient town, according to New Zealand writer Rewi Alley, is one of the two most picturesque towns in China, with colorful and hospitable people. More and more tourists choose to visit the city after they travel xian from Beijing, where is not far from the small town.

The phoenix (feng huang in Chinese) is a mythological creature that is a symbol of the sun. Phoenix Town (Feng Huang Cheng) is so called as legend has it that once two phoenixes flew over the town and found it town so beautiful that they hovered above it, reluctant to leave. Phoenix Town is a small city in the western part of Central China's Hunan Province, hence the name Phoenix Town.

As an ancient town, Phoenix town combines natural beauty and its profound culture together, which is exactly what is worthy visiting. The town was built in Kangxi Reign of Qing Dynasty, and then called the present name. After the publish of the renowned novel The Boarder Town (in the book, the boarder town is phoenix town)written by a great writer Shen Congwen, the town became more and more famous. Now it has attracted many viisitors to this town, but having a Xian tour may bring you more interesting knowledge about Chinese ancient cities.

The Glorious Dusk Huanghe River after Rain

There is a Chinese saying: “the setting sun had boundless beauty, just because the yellow dusk is so near.” Generally, the sunset is fleeting, but during the short moment, the every minute scenary on the Huanghe River may present you great differences.

Sunset is divided several procedures. It begins from turning yellow, then into the reddening long egg-shaped, last the sun disappears from the horizontal line, until the dark blue sky becomes from red to purple sub. What’s more, the sun light happens a big change during the whole process and the scenary is also changing variously according to the light.

People usually have a wrong impression that the sunset goes through a long time, actually the time is really soon. A moment's inattention, the sun has disappeared in the mountains or a horizontal line. One word, accompanied by the Yellow River water, the entire screen of sunset is warm and rich in color. If you live in Jinan city, you can drive to appreciate the sunset by yourself along the North of Lishan Road. Over the head of Lishan Road Bridge, you can drive north about 400 meters along the trail.

Then turn left, you will arrive at Gaijiagou section of Huanghe river after driving 200 meters. At this location, you can witness the boldness and turbulent Yellow River. No tickets, and completely free. If you are luck enough, you can see the swans and wild ducks. Upon your arrival, looking down from a heigh is a nice experience which you should never miss.

Niangua: Yulong River in Yangshuo

Visiting Yangshuo in the golden autumn of October, I couldn’t wait to see the Yulong River in Yulong Village which is seven kilometers away the place I lived. Yulong River is known as “Little Lijiang River” and is famous for its clear water, green bamboo, verdant bridge and odd village”. It is not only a rare beautiful scenery in Guilin landscape, but also best illustrates the Yangshuo landscape.

The tour guide told us that Yulong Bridge was built in Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) and it is the largest and oldest ancient stone arch bridge in Yangshuo County. Yulong Bridge is exactly the bridge in the movie Third Sister Liu(Liu Sanjie). Standing on the bridge and appreciating the surrounding landscape, you can see a few white clouds floating in the blue sky, the hills stretching along the river bank with various shapes.

Sitting in the bamboo raft and floating on Yulong River, the green mountains was gliding by. On a whim, the young boatman began to sing a folk song for us. The river was quite clean so that we could see aquatic weeds under the water clearly on the bamboo raft. We were just like in a picturesque scroll painting.

Macao: a world full of temptations

Macao is renowned for its gambling industry. In recent years, more and more hotels like Las Vegas Hotel emerged. They were all sumptuously built, particularly the starred hotels. I have been visiting many casinos these years like the Las Veges Hotel In Amrica, the Australia’s Gold Coast, Malaysia’s Genting Highlands and South Korea’s Sheraton Walkerhill casino. But I am no interested in gambling, though we are all experiencing kinds of game playing in our lives. I just go there to see the various gamblers.

StarWorld is a gambling hotel in Macao, speaking of which, we will always be remind of the milky river in the night sky. In fact, StarWorld is exactly a sparkling star under Galaxy Entertainment Group. In one of the four Chinese famous classics, Journey to the west,heaven is described as a place where stocks everything from fabulously decorated residence to attractive women. StarWorld is exactly the paradise in real world.Everything is offered here.

The Drunk Shrimp in Flame is a live show in Laurel Restaurant. The kicking shrimps was watered with high alcoholic osmanthus wine. The shrimps get drunk.

Boil the shrimps When the flame reaches its highest point.

Later, a nice dish of shrimp will be offered on the table.

Eat in Xi'an

Speak of historical and cultural tourism, the local food culture is definitely can not be ignored, no matter from which aspect you explore one city. About 100 meters west of Bell Tower in the center of Xi’an, there is a “Hui people’s Historical Block”where stand 10 Muslim Mosques of various shapes. The mosques were built in different ages. Now around 20,000 Hui people live there remain the traditional religious belief and lifestyle habit. The famous Beiyuanmen snack street, the Great Mosque at Huajue Lane and one of the three God Temples, Xi’an City all situated in the block. The residents there are mainly Han and Hui people, mixtured with other peoples, which makes the block furnished with diversified cultural atmosphere. Once you visit Xi’an, the Hui Street absolutely can not be skipped for two reasons. It is not only because of the numerous food restaurant on both sides along the street but also because of the profound cultural connotations. 　　

The Hui Street, which is literally the place where is the Hui neighborhood. The street is about 500 meters long from south to north, and the shops and restaurants there are all owned by Hui people with strong muslim characteristics. Whether you live in Xi’an or not, I bet you must have heard about the Hui people’s snacks. The Damaishi Street in West Street of Xi’an is the most famous place for you to enjoy the Hui flavor, such as the cruded pancake in mutton soup, various fruit pies, sweet rice porridge, roast beef, mutton and lamb etc. OK, after listening to my gossip, it’s time for us to eat, because my stomach is crying for these delicacy.

Hanshan (Cold Hill) Temple

The temple was built in the period 502 to 519, and located in Fengqiao Town, five kilometres west of Suzbou City, Jiangsu Province. It is so named after hanshan, one of two high priests of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) who said to have live and conducted prayer services here. And ever since the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji wrote in his poem these lines: "From Hanshan Temple in the outskirts of Suzhou. the bell peals Forth to the passengers sail at midnight. The temple, along with the Verse, became known far and wide. Among the relics here are the famous bell of Hanshan Temple, stone statues of hanshan and his friends as well as an archive of Buddhist scriptures. Longxing Temple Also known as Big Buddba Temple. Longxing Temple was located within Zhengding County, Hebei Province. It was first built in 586 in Ihe Sui Dynasty (1581-6181), with a history of mare than 1,400 years. The twenty-two-metre-high and 42-arm bronze statue of the Great Mercy Bodhisattva in the temple is one of the highest bronze statues still in existence in China. In the temple there are some precious steles left from Sui (581-618), Song (1060-1279), Jin (1115-12341), Yuan (1279-1368), Ming(1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Qingjing Mosque Located on the Tumen Street, Quanzhou city, Fujian Province, Qingjing Mosque was built in the Northern Song Dynasty in 1009, and it is one of the oldest mosques in China. Encompassing 2, 100 square meters, the mosque is a copy of the mosque in Damascus of Syria. Its main entrance, 20 metres high and 4.5 metres wide. consists of three gates, one inside the other. All the three gates are in arched form with a dome ceiling but the outer and the middle gates have a pointed summit against the west wall lies an altar. The niches in the exterior of the south wall and in the wall of the altar are inscribed with passages from Koran in Arabic.