15 Days in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China

About the destination: Taipei is the largest city and the capital of Taiwan. Surrounded by the Xueshan Range and the Datun mountains, Taipei is rich in everything, from scenery to culture to good food. Taipei is a cosmopolitan and vibrant city with a perfect blend of Chinese and western culture. The city is filled with temples, parks, memorials, and modern buildings that can be endlessly explored. Taipei is a huge city with many things to see. Some of the city’s main attractions include the Shi Lin night market, the National Palace Museum, the Da-an Forestry Park, Mt. Yang-ming, the Hot Springs in Bei-tou, the Taipei 101 building, the CKS Memorial Hall, the Longshan Temple and the remaining City Gates. Taipei is a buzzing and exciting city that has a lot to offer, but is also the perfect base to explore the rest of the country. Taiwan is a land of beautiful mountains, deep gorges, white sandy beaches, lush forests and national parks, not to mention ornate temples and offshore islands.

About the destination: Taichung, officially known as Taichung City is a special municipality located in center-western Taiwan. Taichung has a population of over 2.7 million people, making it the third largest city on the island after New Taipei City and Kaohsiung. On 25 December 2010, Taichung County merged with the original provincial Taichung City to form the special municipality.[8] The city's motto is "economic, cultural and international city."

About the destination: Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It is a dynamic harbor city and one of Asia's major financial centers. It consists of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, and more than 260 small islands. Hong Kong Island presents an impressive skyline and is the main focus of most tourists. Hong Kong is a mix of ocean, islands, modern skyscrapers, old temples and fishing villages. The heart of the city is Victoria Harbor which both divides and connects Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The most famous view of Hong Kong is from the Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island, reached by the Peak Tram. Other main attractions to visit in Hong Kong are the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island, the old colonial buildings of Central amidst the uniquely modern and mirrored towers, some interesting museums, the densely populated areas of Kowloon and Mong kok and the picturesque and more peaceful areas of Stanley and Aberdeen. A city full of life and soul, Hong Kong offers an electric atmosphere, a vibrant cultural life, delicious cuisine, shopping, exciting night life, and many more surprises that will amaze even the most demanding tourist.

About the destination: Shanghai is modern city located just south of the mouth of the mighty Yangtze River and split in two by the Huangpu River. It is one of China's largest metropolis and it is considered the most cosmopolitan, sophisticated and progressive city in mainland China. Shanghai is a good place to visit if you want to catch a glimpse of the future of China. A whole new city of skyscrapers has been built in its Pudong district, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, which has become one of the city’s landmarks and is one of the tallest structures in Asia and the Shanghai World Financial Center, the third largest building in Asia and the world. At the west side of the Yangzi River is Puxi area, the older central part of the city. Puxi has very rich history and is here where you will encounter many of the city’s old buildings and attractions, such as the French Concession, the Bund, the Yuyuan Garden, the Jiu Qu Bridge, the Huxin Pavilion and the Temple. Shanghai is China’s cosmopolitan hub of finance and culture. Shanghai has a special oriental charm and a fresh western style that appeal to everyone. And it is also a good base to explore the more rural and classical sights of nearby Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

About the destination: Xi’an is a historic city in Shaanxi Province in China. Xi’an lies in the central part of Guanzhong Plain between the Wei River to the north and the Qinling Mountain to the south. It is a harmonious town, where tradition and modernity stand side by side. Xi’an has immense historical significance and it houses some of the famous China attractions and some of the most important archaeological sites in China. The city was the capital for 13 dynasties, and a total of 73 emperors ruled here, with so much history within the ground the city lies upon, it is no wonder that there are so many historical ruins, museums and cultural relics to be found here. The most important sites to visit in Xi’an are the City Wall of Xi'an, the world's largest city wall, the Grand Mosque and the historic Qin Terra Cotta Warriors. But the city is filled with historical relics with 72 tombs of Emperors and palaces, temples and multiple other reminders of the past. Other notable sites in and around Xi'an include the Large and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, which were built in the Tang Dynasty. Xi'an is also home to one of China's best museums, the Shaanxi History Museum, which contains an outstanding collection of artifacts from the various early dynasties that ruled China.