Just off the coast of Xiamen is Gulangyu, a pedestrian-only island that is also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. At only 2 km2 area and home to about 20,000 people, Gulangyu is a major domestic tourist destination and is one of China's most visited tourist attractions.
After spending almost four days in Guangzhou, we took a high speed train to Xiamen. Xiamen, located in Fujian Province, means "door to the house", referring to the city's centuries-old role as a gateway to China.
The thing about this city is that there's so much to do, and it really never gets boring because there's always something fun around the corner.
As the third most populated city in China, Guangzhou is also the best commercial city on the Chinese mainland, according to Forbes. In Zhujiang New Town, there are underground shopping malls, vehicular tunnels and towering skyscrapers.
Guangzhou is the third largest (population wise) city in China, and is located on the Pearl River. It has an rich history of over 2200 years and was a major terminus of the maritime Silk Road and today, still serves as a major port and transportation hub.
Chinese egg tarts are popular treats found all over Chinatown, particularly in tea houses as a dim sum dish. Egg tarts are prominent in Guangzhou's food scene, and scholars call it the "quintessential symbol of the fusion between Cantonese and Western cultures."
798 Art Zone is located at a defunct military factory in Beijing, and the buildings each have a very unique architectural style reminiscent of both the time in which the military factory was still in use and more modern elements.
Here's an extremely simple yet delicious lil' recipe for Amber Walnuts to add a bit of spice and edge to your life! 🙂
They say to save the best for last -- and I'll be the first to say that the food along the Silk Road was the best -- so here's the final post of the Silk Road series: FOOD!
Xinjiang was our final stop on the Silk Route, thus concluding our two-week long (pre-covid) trip that began in Xi'an and passed through three uniquely beautiful provinces. But perhaps more interesting than the scenery were the people themselves, a diverse and hospitable group who truly treasured their heritage, and their lifestyles.
Hungry Mind, Hungry Stomach 