Macau (or Macao in English) is a former colonial trading port of Portugal on the Pearl River estuary in Southern China. Macau was returned back to China in 1999, and it’s governed as a Special Administrative Region of China (like Hong Kong). While it’s much smaller than its counterpart across the river, Macau has made […]
Shamian – the historic concession island of Guangzhou
Shamian in Guangzhou is a former concession island that was established by the French and British after the Second Opium War. This small island has some of the best preserved colonial architecture in Asia. It might also be the best 19th century historical site that isn’t a UNESCO World Heritage Site (yet). The island was […]
Notes on Guangzhou: A worthy stopover city beyond the trade fair
It had been nine years since my last visit to Guangzhou. Nine years is a long time in modern China, and Guangzhou (like Shenzhen) seemed like another city compared to my previous visit. I don’t know anyone who has ever gone to Guangzhou just for a holiday. I have many friends who go for the […]
A day in Hong Kong is better than no day in Hong Kong
Taking a stopover between flights is a good way to get a bonus trip within a trip. Hong kong is one of those places where I’ll build in a stop if I have the time. I figure that a day in Hong Kong is better than no day in Hong Kong. I first used this […]
The Aiqun Hotel – A budget hotel in a landmark building of Guangzhou, China
Hotel Name: Aiqun Hotel Address: 113 Yanjiang West Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China. The Aiqun Hotel is a historic landmark in Guangzhou, which I didn’t know at the time of my booking. I was just looking for somewhere to stay near the river in the old part of the city. The Aiqun (also spelled Oi […]
Staying in a Blade Runner-esque apartment block in Hong Kong
Hotel Name: Daxiong Hotel Address: Flat K, 4/F, New Lucky House, 15 Jordan Road, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong. “I’m staying in that building!” I exclaimed to myself as I approached the Daxiong Hotel. As a frequent visitor to Hong Kong I was familiar with this apartment block, though I didn’t know it’s name. When I […]
Notes on Macau – Where US casinos and Portuguese heritage meet
When I was in Hong Kong I visited the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which meant a trip to Macau. I was in Macau unexpectedly last December so I didn’t expect to be back again the following December. I like visiting Macau, even though I’m not into casinos. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Historic Centre […]
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge – 3 bridges and an undersea tunnel on the world’s longest sea bridge
The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge opened in October 2018, making it possible to travel directly by car or bus from Hong Kong to Macau. The HKZM bridge is an overseas highway with three cable-stayed bridges and an undersea tunnel, so it’s not technically a continuous bridge. However you classify it, at 55-kilometres long it’s the longest […]
Hong Kong West Kowloon – The railway station of the Hong Kong – Beijing high-speed railway
The Hong Kong West Kowloon Station is the terminus of the Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed railway. With the opening of the station in September 2018, it’s now possible to travel from Hong Kong to Beijing in one train trip. Construction began in 2011, which is about the same time that I became a regular visitor to […]
SanVa Hotel – The last guesthouse in Macau
Hotel Name: SanVa Hotel Address: 65-67 Rua da Felicidade, Macau, China. I stayed at the SanVa Hotel in Macau. The SanVa isn’t listed on hotel booking sites, and I only knew about it as I have been here before. I was travelling around China for two months, and I went to Macau to reset my […]
