Dream Hotspots
Dream Hotspots
by Peter Graham
by Peter Graham
Tourism has become one of the biggest industries in the world. As more destinations open up and air travel becomes easier and cheaper, travellers have a huge choice when it comes to holidays. As the new year starts, we visit three destinations that have become international hotspots – the places everyone wants to visit. If you are thinking of going on a dream holiday, maybe one of these locations is just what you are looking for. We start off with Guilin in China, then we head for the Maldives and London, England, before ending off with a visit to Chiang Mai in Thailand.
1. Guilin, China
If you only visit one city in China, you should consider Guilin. It may not have attractions like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City or Shanghai's swanky skyscrapers, but for centuries the countryside around this beautiful city has inspired poets and artists. Limestone peaks rise from mist-shrouded rice fields, lazy rivers wind through 2000-year-old villages, all evoking the fabled China of old. Located in the southern province of Guangxi, you somehow feel that you have stumbled into one of those ancient Chinese scroll paintings.
If you only visit one city in China, you should consider Guilin. It may not have attractions like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City or Shanghai's swanky skyscrapers, but for centuries the countryside around this beautiful city has inspired poets and artists. Limestone peaks rise from mist-shrouded rice fields, lazy rivers wind through 2000-year-old villages, all evoking the fabled China of old. Located in the southern province of Guangxi, you somehow feel that you have stumbled into one of those ancient Chinese scroll paintings.
The Solitary Beauty Peak, a jungle-clad pinnacle, rises dramatically from the city centre. Climb the 400 stone steps to the summit for an unparalleled view of the city surrounded by the jagged mountains. The best way to see the region is to take a day-long cruise on the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, 80 kilometres away.
As you float slowly along the limpid river, you will be surprised by views of the amazing karst limestone peaks around virtually every bend. Water buffalo patrol the fields, peasants reap rice paddies and school kids and fisherman float by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of rural life, the scenery along the Li River has become one of China's top tourist destinations.
Guilin has hotels to suit all budgets. For the best views, choose one alongside the river or the Banyan Lake. The riverside Sheraton flanks a pedestrian street with many shops and restaurants, while the Bravo Hotel has good lake views. Shoppers can hone their bargaining skills at the many shops and markets. Best buys are bamboo handicrafts, woodcarvings, parasols and decorative fans made of lacquered paper or silk. Don't leave without a Chinese scroll depicting Guilin's famous mountains.
2. London, England
There is a saying: “If you're tired of London, you're tired of life.” True or false, there's no doubt that England's premier city is a fabulous tourist destination. As a city, it lives up to most of the hype. You can take in some of the most-famous sights in the world like Piccadilly Circus , Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, but you can also spend time exploring the quieter lanes of the city and the villages that surround big, bustling London.
There is a saying: “If you're tired of London, you're tired of life.” True or false, there's no doubt that England's premier city is a fabulous tourist destination. As a city, it lives up to most of the hype. You can take in some of the most-famous sights in the world like Piccadilly Circus , Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, but you can also spend time exploring the quieter lanes of the city and the villages that surround big, bustling London.
With the strength of the British pound, London is not cheap. However, you can make your budget stretch by buying a multi-day underground pass, which will take care of most of your needs. Many of the attractions are free; you won't pay a penny to watch the Changing of the Guard or visit the British Museum. Be selective about those that have entrance fees, but try to include Madame Tassauds, the Tower of London or the London Eye.
Make sure you go to one of the big West End theatrical productions like Les Miserables or Mamma Mia and visit a traditional British pub for a meal, preferably one of those alongside the Thames River. Take a ride in a black cab, go to Greenwich to see the “meridian line” and buy a ticket for a Premiership football game.
Summer is the best time to visit, but in winter you won't have to fight your way through hordes of tourists. Dress warmly and enjoy one of the greatest cities in the world.
3. Chiang Mai, Thailand
If you want more than the traditional “Bangkok and beach” holiday, head for Chiang Mai. This northern city is still popular with backpackers as a springboard to Myanmar and Laos, but has now become a major tourist destination. With its striking mountain backdrop and over 300 temples, the city has a quaint, historical aura.
If you want more than the traditional “Bangkok and beach” holiday, head for Chiang Mai. This northern city is still popular with backpackers as a springboard to Myanmar and Laos, but has now become a major tourist destination. With its striking mountain backdrop and over 300 temples, the city has a quaint, historical aura.
Within the tumbledown walls and moats of the old city, you can stroll around for hours, dining in little cafes and bargaining in the shops that spill out onto the sidewalk. However, its simple charms hide an extensive tourist infrastructure. Tours to hilltribe villages, elephant trekking, mountain biking and river rafting are only a few of the many activities on offer. The increase in tourism has meant a boom in hotels, internet cafes, guesthouses and restaurants offering European fare, but the city's soul seems to have remained intact.
In the town, the biggest attraction is undoubtedly the Night Market, where hundreds of stalls and vendors offer Thai goods at bargain prices. However, many shoppers head for factories and discount outlets located on the edge of town to find top quality products at reasonable prices. Good buys are lacquerware, teak, silverware, bamboo and china.
Also worth a visit is the temple on Doi Suthep, the 1676-metre mountain. Climb 300 steps for a wonderful view of Chiang Mai. Later this year a Night Safari Park is due to open and a convention centre is planned. The city's airport is expanding and there are flights to Bangkok, Singapore, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Xian and Mae Sot.
If you are interested in other top destinations, read some of the special reports which featured in previous issues of Tangent:
Australia - Travelling the Outback by train
Philippines - Kite surfing on Boracay Island
China - Tea shops in Shanghai
Malaysia - Climbing Mount Kinabalu
Indonesia - Bali's trendy village
China - Tea shops in Shanghai
Malaysia - Climbing Mount Kinabalu
Indonesia - Bali's trendy village
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