A few weeks ago, I experienced Hong Kong for the first time, spending five days there on my way back home. For real, I just came back from my first trip to Beijing, in mainland China. Since, my mum wants to see China then I just loved accompanied her. And on our way back home, I was like to have a short trip to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is full with impressive and interesting place to visit. Lots of night markets, small shops, intriguing food (some more palatable than others), there were certainly thousands of industrious and friendly people, and boy, was there tropical humidity. The city is exhilarating to walk through and there are new and unusual things to see on every corner.

Capture the Yellow Duck on Victoria Harbour

When I was in Hong Kong, I did visit two big and famous attractions, one is Lantau Island and Victoria Harbor. Strolling around Victoria Harbor which located between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon was a great way to take a break from the intensity of the city. Another highlight is Lantau Island (largest island in Hong Kong) to visit Big Buddha and Polin Monastery. We took the MTR there, it is a very easy way to get the island just from Hong Kong. As one of the outlying islands Lantau is much greener and sparser than areas like Hong Kong island and Kowloon.

The Big Buddha on Lantau Island

Big Buddha which has known as the Giant Buddha or Tiantan Buddha is the biggest Buddha statue on earth. The statue reaches more than 111 feet (34 meters) high, making it the world's largest seated, outdoor bronze Buddha. To reach the base part of Big Buddha statue, we should hike up about 260 stairs. After climbing on these stairs, I reached to a giant bronze statue of Buddha sitting on a lotus flower on the top of 3-platform altar. It depicts Sakyamuni who sits on a lotus pedestal in meditation position. The statue is named Tian Tan Buddha because its base is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The statue was so magnificent and majestic.

However, it is well worth climbing the 260 steps for a closer look at the statue and surrounding views, which was breathtaking for city visitors like us. Before back to Hong Kong, I did visit Po Lin Monastery which just situated across from the base of the statue. It is the centre for Buddhism in Hong Kong and of course the atmosphere was very sacred. Locals come to pray and burned incense everywhere around us. Overall, I just love my first visit experience to Hong Kong, especially visit Lantau Island.

Last weekend I escaped my worries for a while on a family trip to Guilin, somewhere I had never visited before. With this tour, we could have a nice and convenient tour from Beijing to Guilin. From the first start, the staff has picked us up right in front of our resident in Beijing then transferred us to Beijing Capital Airport for domestic flight to Guilin. On the first day, in the morning, we could directly visit Guilin famous attractions such as Elephant Trunk Hill and Reed Flute Cave. My first impression about Guilin as I exited the airport was that it reminds me of my hometown in back. There has fresh air, no pollution, great landscapes, more nature and extremely calm.

One of Our Great Shots in Reed Flute Cave

So, my trip began as we did visit Reed Flute Cave, first attraction that made me shocked. Not far enough from the city, we took about one hour tour explore the cave where we could see many beautiful stalagmites and stalactites equipped with an artificial lighting system. So beautiful indeed but it was so hard to capture it by camera, might be because of its lighting system. We should take some shoots first till we got the pictures that we want. Next stop is Elephant Trunk Hill which can be said is the symbol of tourism in Guilin. But for honest, I could not find something special with the stone, it is just about the stone which shapes like an elephant drinking water from the river. Unique form, but nothing more!

Back to Nature, Back to Yangshuo in Guilin

And on the second day, last full day tour in Guilin, our guide took us for a visit to Yangshuo, small town near Guilin by ship. Cruising along Li River, have sightseeing in surroundings was relaxing. Great escape from the crowded city Beijing to the nature, I had a nice vacation. Yangshuo is a beautiful town surrounded by stunning karsts mountain landscapes. Very impressive! Tour guide brought us to visit many important spots in Yangshuo and explained everything interesting about the town. From her explanation, it makes me have some other plan for create our own trip privately to Yangshuo another time. Since I have a job in Beijing, so we have lots of time in China, we can travel Yangshuo again next vacation. Thank you for this organized trip, we enjoyed every detail of it from the beginning till the end of our holiday.

My first flight to China this year was so interesting and memorable. That was my second time visit Beijing and I would like to recall my memories back. So last time I visit the city, I did not have a chance for visit Forbidden City so this time I would like to have my own personally experience see this ancient palace. With my family, I could have an organized trip visited Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Everything was so prepared, from the hotel, itinerary, driver, van, tour guides etc. The city was like last time I did visit it, same condition, clean environment, organized traffic regulation and nice weather. So happy I could back to Beijing this time with my family.

Stunning Old Classical Chinese Garden of Yuyuan Garden

Besides Beijing, this time I did have chance explored Shanghai. My wife and kids were so excited to enjoy the atmosphere and have fun in this modern city of China. So before the trip, I asked our tour agency about how long that I should stay in Shanghai then we got the answer. Since actually we did not have lots of spare time in China so I did stay only 2 days in Shanghai. Thanks to our travel agency for arranging the tour itinerary for us.

The Symbol and Center of Shanghai, The Bund

From Yuyuan Garden, a famous Chinese classical garden till the Bund, symbol of this modern city Shanghai, a travel explore everything representative in Shanghai was priceless. We had seriously fun vacation in Shanghai. My kids specially love the city and its environment. There are so many entertainment spots such as, The Bund, Nanjing Road, Xintiandi etc. A cruise short trip along Huangpu River was memorable and interesting. Although it was little bit cold outside, but from the deck we could have a clear views of Shanghai on both backs of the river. The varied old classical western architecture on the west bank of the Huangpu River and the towering modern buildings on the east bank present a spectacular contrast, increasing the beauty and magnificence of the river. At the same time, with this tour we can also catch a glimpse of many other famous, important and magnificent buildings on the Bund.

Besides its itinerary, with this tour we also could enjoy the well serviced from our guides and driver. What a great trip that should not be regret!