Taishan (Mount Tai) is one of China’s 5 sacred mountains, a set of Taoism’s holy places that includes Huashan. A symbol of sunrise and renewal, Taishan is foremost among the five mountains and is considered a deity in itself, a son of the Jade Emperor in heaven who acts as a channel between gods and men. In ancient times, the first thing a newly-crowned emperor would do is climb up Taishan and pray to heaven (at the peak), earth (at the base) and his ancestors. A total of 72 emperors have ascended this mountain, as well as numerous poets and literary scholars; the various monuments, temples and stone tablets throughout the slopes bear witness to these visits with poetic inscriptions. The first Chinese emperor, Shih Huang, left an inscription on the mountain; Confucius has also written poems about it, as well. “The Pride of Shandong Province” is located at the center of the region, and is visited by six million people every year. These visitors can explore the 22 ancient temples, 1,800 carved stones and all the ruins, pavilions, bridges and pine trees in between.

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One place in China serves as the country’s sole ghost city, not just as a place of burial but as a gateway to hell. Feng Du is located on Ming Mountain, on the northern banks of the Yangtze River between Zhongxian and Fuling. Established more than 1,700 years ago, this necropolis is steeped in Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian lore, and is now frequented by tourists who visit the 75 temples and shrines dedicated to the gods of the afterlife.

It is believed that after death, the souls register at the Hell of Feng Du, and obtain their entrance permit, reviewed by 10 Yama officials and wait for the decision of the King of Hell before entering the Gate of Hell. Sinful people are punished and reborn as animals, while virtuous people are reborn as humans after a wonderful time in paradise.

Humans may also spend time in the necropolis, among its many temples and shrines. On the way to the main temple, visitors have to undergo a series of “tests” to see if they are good or bad. The first of these are the three bridges, of which only the middle one lets you in the land of the dead (the other two serve are exits). Couples who wish to remain together in the afterlife must hold hands while crossing the middle bridge and take nine steps, nine being a lucky number in China. When entering each of the temples, girls must step in with their right foot first if they wish to remain female in their next life; boys must use their left. The next test is a 200-pound iron stone which men must balance on top of a round point if they wish to prove they are good husbands. Another test is climbing a set of stairs; those below 33 years of age must do so in one breath while those above it may walk. The final test, to be done in front of the temple and besides a display of small figures being tortured by supernatural beings, is balancing on a rounded point for three seconds. Women need to use their right foot for this while men need to use their left.

Feng Du is one of the 72 graveyards of Taoism, places where Taoists believe the souls will gather after death. At the center of Feng Du is a large palace that covers 3,000 square meters, and is reachable through a huge arc of stone and wood. Amidst the traditional-style buildings and the well-kept gardens are creepy structures, among which is the tower house where spirits who are condemned to hell supposedly have one last chance to look at their loved ones. Its name, appropriately enough, is Last Glance At Home Tower, after which the souls drink a memory-erasing soup before moving on. Other disturbing place-names are called “Ghost Torturing Pass”, “Nothing to be Done Bridge”, and so on. Many statues litter the area, each one said to hold responsibility over areas in the spirit world and many describe the horrifying punishments waiting in the after-life for people who disobey ancient Chinese morals. One statue in particular, the Ghost King, is 138 meters high and 217 meters wide, and is the biggest rock-side sculpture in the world.

Feng Du is near Chongqing, the most economically significant city in West China and the biggest inland city in the country. The city is the launching point for boat trips down the Yangtze River past the Three Gorges Dam. Chongqing itself has many attractions, from Chiang Kai-Shek’s old military headquarters (the city served as the China’s capital during World War II) to the prosperous downtown center of Chongqing Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street.

With the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, Feng Du has turned into an island, accessible only by boat, with part of the graveyard now submerged underwater. The best time to visit Feng Du is between the 3rd and 15th of March, when fairs containing spirit shows and magic shows are held. Many local believers choose the names of their newborn babies with the help of these shows. Feng Du is usually the first shore excursion in the Yangtze River cruises and is a perfect getaway for this season of spooks and spirits.

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There is a long history of zoos in China, starting in the second century BCE, when the Chinese Empress Tanki had a “house of deer” built, while King Wen of Zhou kept a 1,500-acre zoo called Ling-Yu, or the Garden of Intelligence. Today, Chinese zoos offer a modern approach to animal caretaking while keeping classic aesthetics intact to landscape architecture and habitat design. The 5 zoos below are considered the best in the country, places where families can enjoy the company of indigenous wildlife, both endangered and prospering, as they live protected near the city centers.

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There is a difference between mountain climbing and mountain hiking. Mountain climbing requires specialized equipment and experienced climbers who are aware of the risks involved. On the other hand, mountain hiking is a more casual affair and aimed at amateurs outdoorsmen. The trail at Huashan, a mountain in China’s Shaanxi Province, blurs the line between the two activities, subjecting hikers to a perilous ordeal with minimal gear and little support.

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As sad as it sounds to discuss, funeral customs really do vary significantly from country to country. If you should ever find yourself in a position where you must attend a Chinese funeral it will be helpful to understand exactly what the traditions entail as the customs are much different than those found in the west or even in surrounding European countries.

Customs and Traditions before Death

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The travel time from Bangkok to Ayutthaya took close to two hours. It was a great thing that we decided to hire a private taxi for our trip. We were only charged THB2000 including all toll fees for the Ayutthaya tour. Needless to say, it was an enjoyable and comfortable ride given that we were able to take quick snacks and naps on the road.

In no time at all, we found ourselves being “delivered” by our taxi to the entrance of the Bang Pa-In. This particular attraction was the first stop in our Ayutthaya tour itinerary. The Bang Pa-In, which was located about sixty kilometers of forty miles North of Bangkok, is also called the Summer Palace of the kings of Thailand. It is also situated along the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

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The Forbidden City is a great example of imperial Chinese architecture, and is designed with the idea that the palace is the very center of a land that is the center of the world, the “middle kingdom” between heaven and earth. Decorations, numbers, even colors that are reserved only for use by the emperor are seen throughout the palace and other imperial buildings, and travelers who get the chance to visit Beijing’s central attraction will enjoy it more  when they know the stories behind each design.

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Though not as well known as the glitzy and glamorous city of Shanghai or the historical sight filled capital city of Beijing, Chengdu which is the capital city of the Sichuan province has its many special attractions which qualify it as a must-do on any visit to China.

Photo Credit:avlxyz

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The city of Guilin, named after the scent produced by the Osmanthus tree, has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful and most picturesque areas in China. Two sparkling rivers cut straight through the center of the city which is also surrounded by magnificent rock formations, mountains, and simply breathtaking landscape.

Guilin sprang into existence more than 2,000 years ago and has been fortunate enough to survive through not only the Qin Dynasty but through the Tang, Qing, and several others. The city is now home to over 1.26 million people including those from at least a dozen different nationalities.

Considered one of the best tourist destinations in China, Guilin has much to offer. Make sure you adhere to local customs and visit some of the following local attractions while you’re there. Read the rest of this entry »

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Considered the best acrobatic troupe in China, the award-winning Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe is a tightly-choreographed marvel of human agility known all over the world. Starting every night at 730pm and continuing on for 2 hours at the Shanghai Theatre Centre, the feats of dexterity and magic performed by these entertainers have amazed and delighted visitors and residents of Shanghai with displays of contortionism, glasses-balancing, juggling, silk rope hanging, unicycling, chair-stacking and plate-spinning. What’s more, international audiences can appreciate the show due to its non-verbal content, letting impressive physical skills leave a mark for every one who attended a performance.

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