Thailand [top]
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| | Bangkok [top] |
| | Thailand’s capital city brims with a rich diversity of cultures and traditions, and is the center of political, commercial, industrial, and cultural activities. Bangkok (“village of wild olive groves”) was formed by the young general Phya Tak Sin, who was later proclaimed first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty. He transferred the capital to Bangkok during the 17th century so that it would be nearer to the sea and thus facilitate foreign trade and improve military defense. Bangkok is known for its fabulous temples and palaces, museums, fascinating river and canal scenes, excellent shopping, and night life. There are about 300 temples in the city. The most impressive are the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on the grounds of the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the Temple of the Golden Buddha (housing a 10-foot-high statue of solid gold), and the Temple of the Dawn, whose five towers rest on a series of terraces supported by statues of demons and angels. The romantic and exotic images of Bangkok will remain with you long after you return home. |
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Singapore [top]
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| | Singapore [top] |
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Founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, the British East Indian administrator who established the port settlement, Singapore quickly became the center of British colonial activity in Southeast Asia. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 along with the advent of steamships, an era of prosperity began for Singapore.
After World War I, the British built a large naval base in Singapore that came to symbolize British power in Southeast Asia. With power struggles between Japan and Britain, it wasn't until 1965 that Singapore established its independence as a city state. Since then, Singapore's economy has grown rapidly — by the late 20th century it had attained the highest per capita income of any country in Southeast Asia.
With a colorful mix of cultures, Singapore offers you a wealth of striking diversity — a rich kaleidoscope of colors and cultures that blends ancient and modern, spiritual and material, and earthly with exciting. Along the bustling streets of Chinatown you can see fortune tellers, calligraphers, and temple worshippers — all of whom are a vital part of daily life. In Little India you can buy the best sari material amid the aromas of freshly ground spices. From the small shops of Arab Street you can hear the cry of chants from the nearby Sultan Mosque.
Highlights of Singapore's attractions and landmarks include the grand Merlion statue, the mythical half-lion and half-fish creature that has become the city's official symbol; the Istana, the official residence of the elected president of Singapore; and the two statues of Sir Stamford Raffles. The original statue stands outside the Victoria Concert Hall at Empress Palace, while a replica stands behind Parliament House, the site where Raffles is believed to have set foot on the island. In addition, the Raffles Hotel, a restored grand dame of the civic district, is a must-see. Also be sure to visit the famous Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling was invented.
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Vietnam [top]
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| | Ho Chi Minh City [top] |
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In 1859, Saigon was captured by the French and became the capital of Cochin-China. The occupiers put their stamp on it with a city plan featuring broad Parisian boulevards, a red-brick cathedral, a city hall — Hotel de Ville — with an ornate facade, and streets of villas, cafes, and French-style administration buildings. This French Colonial “Old Saigon” is still largely intact, though somewhat frayed at the edges and set off by some new highrises. Indochina was the most profitable of the French colonies, and the occupiers lived the high life, with all the comforts of home and then some.
After the French were run out of town and Vietnam partitioned into two countries, Saigon served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam from 1956 to 1975, when it fell to North Vietnam (“the fall of Saigon”).
The city is more like a province, stretching from the Cambodian border to the South China Sea. It is divided into 17 urban districts and five rural districts and has an unofficial population of six million. It is the country’s largest city and is the economic capital. Ho Chi Minh City is where young, ambitious Vietnamese settle in order to “make a go of it.” Places of interest include Notre Dame Cathedral, the Art Museum, and the Presidential Palace (also known as Reunification Palace), one of the most fascinating sights in Saigon.
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| | Nha Trang [top] |
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Established as a port town in the 1920s, Nha Trang now has a population of 250,000 and serves as the capital of Khanh Hoa province. Fishing is its major industry, and its beaches are the most developed of all the beaches in Vietnam, although noticeably tranquil and architecturally lacking.
A major attraction here is the Cham Towers, a sanctuary of Po Nagar (goddess mother) constructed between the 7th and 12th centuries. They are the best-preserved Cham towers in central Vietnam, although only four of the sanctuary’s original eight towers remain Three of the towers shelter lingas, phallic sculptures symbolic of Shiva the Creator and royalty, and popular objects of devotion in Cham art. The main shrine is the north tower where the statue of the 10-armed deity of Uma (called Po Nagar), believed to be the female state of Shiva, resides. Two other interesting sights are the Long Son Pagoda, an active temple featuring an unusual red bress Budda, and the Nha Trang Cathedral, complete with stained-glass windows and French gothic lines.
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China [top]
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| | Hong Kong [top] |
| | There is little remaining evidence in today’s modern Hong Kong of the older China of walled villages and ancient temples. The first Europeans to sail into the area were the Portuguese navigators whose voyages paved the way for the foundation of Macau, Portugal’s 16th-century port on the Cantonese coast. By the late 17th century the lure of a flourishing trade with the Orient had also attracted the British, whose East India Company maintained a lively commerce throughout the area. However, when opium was introduced to the area’s commerce, Sino-British relations rapidly deteriorated. The famous “Opium Wars” that followed were settled by the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842 which ceded Hong Kong to the British. Kowloon, the New Territories and adjacent islands were added later. On July 1, 1997, the sovereignty of Hong Kong reverted to China.
Today Hong Kong is a modern city with offices, apartment blocks, and factories resting amidst the few remaining evidences of an older, more traditional China. Yet for all its Western-style modernity, Hong Kong remains intrinsically a Chinese city-state. It is bustling with world commerce, with hundreds of international banks, stock companies, and trading organizations. |
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| | Shanghai [top] |
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Shanghai is China’s most populous and sophisticated city. The city’s location at the confluence of the Yangtze and Huangpu Rivers has historically made it a major seaport and an important Asian economic center. While Shanghai’s recorded history dates back to 4,000 bc, the city’s importance blossomed in the 16th century when it became a commercial textile center. In the 19th century, Shanghai earned the nickname “Paris of the East” due to its prosperity and the influx of colonial businessmen. Today, the city continues to serve as the center of Chinese trade and industry.
As one of the world’s largest cities, Shanghai has a unique atmosphere that sets it apart from its Chinese neighbors. The city’s prosperity and sophistication is evident in the bustling cosmopolitan streets and buildings reminiscent of New York, London, Paris, etc. Yet the city has preserved an intriguing mix of old and new, east and west. Historic avenues and beautiful parks and gardens coexist with busy harbors and crowded streets. Pagodas, temples, and museums share the city with specialty shops and major businesses. Some of Shanghai’s best known sites include the Bund, a waterfront promenade located near the old city; the Children’s Palace, a former palatial home converted to a special school where children learn music, dance, and art; and the Shanghai Museum of Art & History, one of the best museums in the country.
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| | Beijing [top] |
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Beijing, now the capital of the People's Republic of China, is an ancient city where Peking Man (Sinanthropus pekinensis), ancestor of mankind, lived some 500,000 years ago. Here, primitive communities settled over 3,000 years ago, and a city was founded more than 2,000 years back. From the beginning of the 10th century, it served as the second capital of the Liao Dynasty and as the capital of the Jin (Chin), Yuan Ming, and Qing (Manchu) Dynasties.
With its long history as the birthplace of China's ancient civilization and center of modern culture, Beijing is a flourishing metropolis. This city boasts many scenic spots and historical monuments, precious artifacts, and world-famous architectural wonders, such as the Great Wall, the underground palace of the Ming Tombs, the Imperial Palace (referred to as the Forbidden City of the Ming and Qing Dynasties), and the Summer Palace. All these embody the exquisite unique features of Chinese traditional architecture and symbolize the long history and splendid culture of China.
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Taiwan [top]
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| | Taipei [top] |
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Taipei, the political and financial center of Taiwan, is the island's most populous city. Taipei originated as a small trading port over 200 years ago before becoming the administrative capital; the last few decades has seen tremendous growth in the city. Now a sprawling metropolis, Taipei is an ideal place to visit for those who love the hustle and bustle of the big city. The city is made up of several distinct districts, a few of which are detailed below.
The Shi Lin (pronounced Shihlin) district of the city covers both banks of the Keelung River and spills into the surrounding mountains. Shi Lin is best known for its Shihlin Night Market, Taipei's largest night market. North of the market is the peaceful Tian Mu area which features a large expatriate community and several of Taipei's international schools. The Chinese Culture and Movie Center and the world-renowned National Palace Museum are also found here.
The Da Tong (pronounced Tatung) District was once home to European merchants who settled to trade with the Taiwanese. Walk through its old lanes and you will find numerous tea companies, a few European-style buildings, and several temples including the famous Confucius Temple and Bao An Temple. Perhaps the most popular attraction here is Di Hua Street, one of Taipei's main trading centers during the 1800s. Today, the street is still lined with traditional shops selling dried goods and herbal medicines. Running through the center of the district is Zhong Shan North Road, which divides the city into east and west. Zhong Shan was once the commercial center for Taipei, but now it is better known for its shops and bars. It also has several cultural offerings including the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Lin An Tai House, the Grand Hotel, Xing Tian Temple, and the Taipei Children's Recreation Center.
The district of Xin Yi (pronounced Hsinyi) is mainly residential and commercial and is home to the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei World Trade Center, department stores, and the new Warner Village movie complex. Over the last 100 years, Taipei City has been expanding eastwards towards the mountains and the Xin Yi District marks a new era of the city's development.
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Japan [top]
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| | Okinawa [top] |
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Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture, consisting of a few dozen small islands in the southern half of the Nansei Shoto, the island chain which stretches more than 620 miles from Kyushu to Taiwan. Okinawa's climate is subtropical and normally enjoys 70 degree(F) weather for most of the year. The seas surrounding Okinawa's islands are considered among the world's most beautiful with coral reefs and abundant marine wildlife. Consequently, snorkeling and scuba diving are among Okinawa's top attractions. Okinawa is said to have the most beautiful beaches in all of Japan. Okinawa is a major producer of sugar cane, pineapples, papayas and other tropical fruits.
The islands making up Okinawa Prefecture are also known as the Ryukyu Islands, named after the native culture, which is distinctly different from that of the rest of Japan in terms of language, cuisine, arts, etc. It became a Japanese prefecture in 1879, accompanied by efforts to assimilate the native population. But despite these past efforts, the Ryukyuan culture survived and is now one of Okinawa's attractions.
Towards the end of World War II, Okinawa became the stage of one of the war's bloodiest battles, when American troops invaded the islands. Okinawa remained under U.S. administration until 1972, while several thousands of U.S. military members remain stationed on the spacious military bases on Okinawa Main Island today. The island is largely composed of coral rock, and rainwater filtering through that coral has given the island many caves, which played an important role in the Battle of Okinawa. Gyokusendo, an extensive limestone cave in the southern part of Okinawa Honto, is a popular tourist attraction.
Okinawa has many remains of a unique type of castle or fortress called Gusuku. These are believed to be the predecessors of Japan's castles. Whereas most homes in Japan are made with wood and allow a free flow of air to combat humidity, typical modern homes in Okinawa are made from concrete with barred windows (protection from flying plant matter) to deal with regular typhoons. Roofs are also designed with strong winds in mind, with each tile cemented on and not merely layered as seen with many homes elsewhere in Japan. Many roofs also display a roundish statue of a lion or dragon, called a shisa, which is said to protect the home from danger.
Okinawa has a very large proportion of population living to one hundred years of age. It is attributed to their healthy diet rich in vegetables and fish.
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| | Nagasaki [top] |
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Nagasaki is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki prefecture located at the southwestern coast of Kyushu, Japan. It is known for being the second, and last, city on which an atomic bomb was dropped — by the United States during World War II. Nagasaki lies at the head of a long bay which forms the best natural harbor on the southern Japanese home island of Kyushu. The main commercial and residential area of the city lies on a small plain near the end of the bay. Two rivers divided by a mountain spur form the two main valleys in which the city lies. The heavily built-up area of the city is confined by the terrain to less than 4 square miles out of a total of about 35 square miles in the city as a whole. The city has an estimated population of 419,000.
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