GLOBE IN PICTURES

China on the rise

 

With an annual economic growth rate of 8.7% in the last year, China is definitely on the rise to become one of the world's largest economies . Guangzhou (Canton), the capital of Guangdong province was our first stop.

 

The last time we were in Guangzhou was in 1991. I only recall the sight of bicycles... and bicycles everywhere. This time, no bicycles in sight, only motorcycles and cars.

Today, it is a very prosperous metropolis bustling with growing industries and trade fairs, modern skyscrapers, financial districts and a vast expatriate community with various social and international Clubs. I was pleasantly surprised how simply and smooth business negotiations are realized, on a professional level, customer service being the first priority. There is a market for excellent quality products.

 

Guangzhou's great location in the South makes it easily accessible to Hong Kong and Macau where I had also once visited prior to Hong Kong's handover to China. Macau is much different today being home to one of the world's largest gambling casino, the Venetian, luxury at its best.

 

Beijing, the political and cultural capital is the second largest city after Shanghai with a population over 17 million. Beijing was more of a cultural phenomenon. Everything about Beijing was impressive, from the post modern CCTV building, the NEST (Olympic Stadium), the gorgeous Opera House to the historical and magical Forbidden City and the strikingly Great Wall. The best Peking Duck was at Li Qun Roast Duck which is a hole in the wall but where Bill Clinton and former Deng XiaoPing dined.

 

Architecture, historical buildings are very traditional and strikingly beautiful, but also worthy of mention, the modern is just breathtaking trying to accomplish the impossible, mostly designed by Europeans. Its also very apparent that China is the largest market for luxury goods. Luxury at its best everywhere...
This unique experience in China will definitely take me back, hopefully, this time to Shangai ...

 

PHOTO GALLERY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the most impressive yet controversial buildings in China, the Opera House also called the Egg. Built by French architect, Paul Andreu, it is made of titanium accented glass dome. Seats 5,500 people and has 3 great halls. When you enter the dome, you pass a hallway underneath the lake and therefore when you look up above you see the lake water flowing above the glass ceiling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the Egg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Wall: this is Badaling section, best preserved part located 70 km from Beijing. The Wall extends 6,400km and built in 4 dynasties, visitors still come in tousands every day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I took this picture, there was a wind factor of -6 C. The section ahead was extremely steep and with the wind could not make it to the top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birds Nest: The Olympic Stadium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiananmen square, unfortunately this was a very smoggy day in November

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beijing: inside the Forbidden City 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rent a Rickshaw with bicyclist to get around through Hutongs (slum areas). Most Hutongs were cleaned up and renovated for Olympics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guangzhou: pharmacist preparing dried seahorses for sale for medicinal purpose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guangzhou Medicinal Market: from dried sea horse, sea star, snakes, beetles, flies, worms, animal hide, plants, frogs, rooster paws - each has particular medicinal cure. Drink the juice after boiling one of the above

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beijing Night Food Market: pictures (up and bellow) speak for themself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guangzhou: dragons outside entrance to a temple