On a Trip that Never Ends: July 2015

China - World Populous Country with vast landscape. I Planned for 4 days trip to Beijing.It took 3.30 hours of travel from Japan to Peking airport China.Most of the famous places can be covered through subway Train, but we need to have place name written in Chinese. Minimum charge is 2 RNB.

Day 1 : Half a day tour

Temple of Heaven:
It is located in southern part of Beijing.Ceremonies were taken place to thank god for Good Harvest. Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors visited this place.

It always 3 tier structure with dragons are carved on all side of these monument.

One More still of Temple of Heaven.

Temple of Sun, Earth, and Moon is situated on the sides of Temple of Heaven. It is 600 years old.

Day 2 : Tiananmen square & Summer Place
Summer Place:
This place is surrounded by vast lake, garden and Palace. It is easily accessed by subway train. one hour of travel from Wangfujing(place I stayed)

After a small hiking you go down all the way on the other side, Using small boats we can reach the Center of Summer palace.

On top of small hiking you can see the beautiful pagoda tower and have best view of the summer palace.

There used to be a religious building group-Houda Temple, a composite structure with both Han and Tibetan characters.

Tiananmen Station East/West:

Tiananmen Square refers “Receiving the mandate from heaven, and stabilizing the dynasty". From Tiananmen station East/ West you can visit Gate of Heavenly Peace, Monument to the People`s Heroes, China National Museum and Forbidden City.

My suggestion here is visit Gate of Heavenly Peace and Forbidden City first, it operates from morning 8.30 to 4:00 PM in the evening.Since I was late , I couldn't Enter Forbidden city on same day , So I spent my last day over there.

Gate of Heavenly Peace:

Which is another name of Tiananmen Square. Political events and number of protest took place here. Remarkable protest was May Fourth Movement.

Monument to the People`s Heroes:

It is built in memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the revolutionary struggle of the people`s Republic of china in 19 and 20^th Centuries.

People`s Heroes is situated just opposite side of "Gate of Heavenly Peace".

Day 3 :The Great Wall of China & Ming Tombs

The Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Many part of the Great wall can be visited most of the people visit Badaling, Jinshanling, Mutianyu etc. During my trip I visited Badaling.

Badaling:
It is 70km to the north from Beijing. They mainly started to build the wall to protect China's borders from the intrusion of the northern nomadic tribes.We can find small holes on the wall to allow archers to shoot arrows.

Finally I felt happy and proud after visiting this place. one can really feel the effort taken to built such wall that too for kilometers.

Ming Tombs:
This is the place where they buried emperors in Ming dynasty.Yongle Emperor onwards, 13 Ming dynasty emperors were buried in the same area. The below image is hall of Eminent Favor. offerings will take place here.

Changling Tomb's Gate Tower:
Emperor Zhu Di and Empress Xu are actually entombed here in Earth Mound. They built a big palace below 15 meters in Earth Mound and buried the Emperor and Empress.

On top of the Changling Tombs we can see this.

Only diseased person walk in this way, they will never return back. after death they will be buried in Earth Mound. Only Emperor and Empress can be buried here and not for normal people.

Prayer happens every day , they present all food items for prayer, after the ceremony they will burn them in a place.Having belief that it will go to the people who were buried in tombs.

Shopping Streets:
Wangfujing Market
It is one of very famous market in Beijing, which attracts most of the visitors.

Here they sell Live scorpions,snake,caterpillars,sea horse , star fish etc.

No way of missing these yummy insects.

Ready for Grill ,10 yuan per stick

Grilled Scorpions

If you really like to try road side food stall you try in Wangfujing street. The good thing was ,the place I stayed was very near to this Wangfujing street.

Silk Street Market:

Indoor complex which sells almost everything. those who knows to bargain well , here is the big treat for them.

Day 4 : Forbidden City
Forbidden City:
It is busy, huge and difficult to navigate.It is largest and well preserved historic place.Rectangular in shape, the Forbidden City is the world's largest palace covers 178 acres. It is surrounded by a deep moat and a ten meter high wall. Entrance is always on South gate and Exit is on North gate.

A day will not be enough to cover all the halls here. It consists of different halls the most important are Hall of Supreme Harmony,Palace of Heavenly Purity etc.

You Might think like I am standing on same place and taking photo, No I am not.In forbidden city they different halls are there and different activities will take place but they look alike.

Hall of Supreme Harmony

That magical stone which is used as watch.

Dynasty people will participate in many ceremonies and activities but they will not use same path to come and return.

That happiness when you complete your bucket list as planned.

Tips:
1. Have your hotel address in chinese
2. Don't get cheated, be careful when you buy things
3. Read reviews about Tour agent and book your tour inside china
4. Have clear route for the place where you planned. Maps will not work so keep things handy.
Hope you enjoyed reading my blog! Thanks for your Time and Support.

Feel Free to Leave your Comments.
Cheers!!!

Hiroshima - Popular City of Chugoku

Whenever we think of World War II, First thing that comes to our mind is Atomic Bomb and Hiroshima. The city was completely destroyed for 2kms from the bomb blast place. The greatest effort of people and Government the city was rebuilt, some of the monument places are reconstructed. Everyone's prayer is "Lets Not to Repeat the Evil Again".

Here is my Experience.

I have planned for 2 days Trip in which I covered Miyajima, Kintai Bridge and Monumental places in Hiroshima.

Day 1 : Miyajima & Iwakuni

Miyajima - Itsukushima Shrine

The Torii Gate and Shrine is famous. In Train it took us 20 mins to reach Miyajima station and 10Mins of Ferry ride to the Shrine from Hiroshima Station.

During High Tide you can go to the gate by boat or kayaking

During Low Tide you can walk near to the Gate.

Without fear you can Touch and Feed the deer

Taken in Itsukushima Shrine - The shine is built Over the water

That moment when you want to try your cam tricks and get disturbed by someone else.

The Gate when water on Low tide , From here you get chance to see Land,Sea and Mountain togather

Finally I took Picture with Adorable deer

Kintai Bridge - Yamaguchi Pref :

It took us 30 mins to reach iwakuni station from we took cab to reach this place. It is more than 100 years old bridge and it was built using wood without nails.

Iwakuni Castle from the Nishi river bank , cable car facility help us to reach this castle

Day 2: Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Castle

Once upon a time it was an Industrial Promotion Hall, after WWII it became a memory for all.One will forget the posture for photos and No words to explain the Emotional Feel you get in this place.