China

China’s predisposition doing things on the large side is undeniable. Take the 8,000 terracotta warriors of Xi’an, the 21,170 miles of the Great Wall or the Forbidden City’s 800 palaces. Anyone who knows something about it, even from afar, is aware of its contrasting landscapes. From north to south and east to west, one is struck by the extremes of one of the world’s oldest civilisations. From steep mountains to flower-filled plateaus, from sandy deserts to dense forests. With its 1.4 billion inhabitants, China is the world’s second most populous country. Around a third live in the cities and the rest live in the countryside.
We’re talking about a people with thousands of years of history, pioneers in various fields, including science, technology, astronomy and mathematics. Calligraphy was invented in China and bronze, silk, wood and paper were first used within its borders. Gunpowder, the magnetic compass and porcelain were other Chinese creations, which demonstrates the country’s head start over most of its neighbours. Kong Fuzi, known as Confucius, is the figure behind many of the culture’s beliefs and philosophies, for his teachings on everything from education to morality. China is a communist state. The currency of the Chinese people is the Yuan and their capital is Beijing. Standard Chinese and Mandarin are the two official languages and it can be said that over the last 20 years the country has changed more than any other country in the world. 

You may not realise the sheer amount of natural wealth that China has to offer, but a third of its land area is occupied by mountains, and Mount Everest, located on the border of China and Nepal, is considered to be the highest on Earth. China is also home to the world’s third longest river, the Yangtze, although the Yellow River is not far behind in the beauty stakes either. You’d be surprised at the amount of flora and fauna that can be found in this vast country, which is home to more than 3,800 species of fish and hundreds of species of reptiles and amphibians. The famous giant panda can be spotted in the south-west, where the mountains are shrouded in mist and the land is fertile and covered in bamboo. 
The earliest written records on China date back to the Qin dynasty in 222 BC. The dynasties marked a long period in Chinese history, each marked by an emperor, until the last one was deposed in 1912. From that moment on, the country became a republic. A few years after a civil war with the Chinese nationalists, a communist government was installed. And this is how it has remained. From ancient China, a rich, indeed incalculable, heritage remains, both for the country and for Europe and the world. But with all these musings, somewhat as an attempt at contextualisation, we almost forgot to mention that we’re facing a gleaming building, sitting on a futuristic garden bench somewhere in Beijing. With a rucksack on our backs, we’re planning great adventures, so the walk begins here, in the Chinese capital.

After three years of long lockdowns, Beijing has just reopened its doors to tourists, beautiful and welcoming. We have arrived at just the right moment and the frenzy is already indescribable. It seems that the city has a brand-new scent to it, and there’s no guarantee that this isn’t just an impression. Rewired with video surveillance systems that use artificial intelligence, each and every citizen is recognised by the technology, which is not surprising given that there are more active smartphones than people. Cash is almost extinct here and the city has surrendered to the technological age. The green blanket that covers every corner of Beijing is surprising, as if it were rising from the ashes after once being one of the world’s most polluted cities. Our plans for the next three days in the capital include a visit to the Forbidden City, a spiritual walk along the Great Wall and a visit to the Temple of Heaven, one of the country’s largest sacred sites. Not forgetting Wangfujing Street, the best place to experience the authenticity of Chinese cuisine (or at least look at it), where there are ordinary stalls selling Kung Pao and Dumplings, as well as others selling spicy insects as a snack. 
Our next stop is Shanghai, China’s second largest giant, where we’ll be staying for two days. Located in the far east, the city is the showpiece of the Chinese economy. Rich in architectural styles, from art deco to shikumen, it is known for its sky-high buildings and countless historical museums. A visit to the Pearl of the Orient Tower is a must, followed by the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, an experience that is sure to stimulate our minds. Last but not least, we’ll head to Zhujiajiao Water Town, known as «The Venice of China» for the water that surrounds the houses and the tourism it attracts with its unusual character. 

Our appetite for adrenaline brings us to the last city, Hong Kong, where the scenery looks like something out of a science fiction film. We are planning to spend three days there, which doesn’t seem long given the attractions on offer. We’re hoping to see the dragon dances, a cult performed in China for more than 2,000 years, but we’ll only be lucky if we catch a festival somewhere along the way. These traditional performances are believed to bring good luck, largely because of the dragon, the legendary animal symbolising nobility. We also plan to visit the temples in each corner and find a wishing tree, where we can leave a piece of paper on a branch that conveys an innermost wish. The Mong Kok Flower Market is the next attraction, as well as the touristy Tian Tan Buddha, a 34-metre bronze statue. Time permitting, we’ll book a ticket to Hong Kong Disneyland and, come nightfall, there’s always the chance to head out into the city’s dynamic nightlife. Maybe we’ll catch a glimpse of the Symphony of Lights, a light show that dazzles the sky above Hong Kong several times a year.
With no time left for more, our eight days in China have come to an end. But next time we’ll visit the cities that Mother Nature has crafted by her hand, where people continue to live as if the iPhone factories and megacities didn’t exist. We’ll return to visit the places that seem to have emerged from medieval Chinese scrolls, passing through the desert, the mountain peaks and the idyllic beaches. With their ancient roots and avant-garde vision, this is the people that claims to have descended from the dragon.

Fun facts:

1) The Chinese New Year celebrations last 15 days.

2) In China, brides usually wear red because it is considered to be the colour of luck.

3) Hong Kong has more skyscrapers than any other city in the world.

4) Soldiers sometimes wore armour made of paper in ancient China.

5) Around 5,000 years ago, the first chopsticks were used for cooking, not as «cutlery» for eating.

6) If you were join all the railway lines in China, you could go round the Earth twice.