My China experience

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I always wished to visit Tian'anmen Square, China since I was a teenager. I held my fire for almost 35 years for that wish to materialize. Throughout these years I used to observe China through newspapers, books, films and comments from visitors. One fine morning one of my colleagues told me that I have been chosen for a business tour to China. I was expecting this, but never told this to anybody till it got confirmed. We had to visit Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen as business places. At my home we were discussing this tour. We thought, let us try to make it business cum pleasure tour by adding Xi'an and Guilin for sight-seeing purposes. This would add a flavor of interior China. This idea proved extremely successful; and because of this sight-seeing element, I took my wife also with me to make the episode enjoyable for both of us.

The author and his wife Mrs. Jayashree R. Karve in Guilin, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

When we arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport from Singapore at 11 pm on 21st Apr. 2011, the temperature was 80F. Huge airport, compared to others, I have seen till now. It had become the busiest airport in Asia in terms of passenger traffic and total traffic movements by 2009. It is the main hub of Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, which flies to around 120 destinations (excluding cargo). Hainan and China Southern Airlines also use the airport as their hub. It is served by Airport Express Line of the Beijing Subway.

We used the rail and moved to Shang Da International Hotel at Xicheng district.

Tian'anmen Square

It's positioned at the core of Beijing Conurbation. Thousands of people reach to the Square every day. The present Square has an area of 440,000 square meters and has become a relaxing place for the common people to fly kites and walk. Because it was a holiday, the whole square was covered with fresh flowers. Tian'anmen Tower at the north end was built in 1417 during Ming Dynasty. The square was the front door of the Forbidden City. The main function was to pronounce in a full-size ceremony to the general public who became the emperor and who became the empress. Until 1911 when the last feudal kingdom was over, no one could enter the Tower except for the royal family and aristocrats.

Great Wall of China

At the northern frontier, stretching across nine provinces. It spans from longitude 100 degree east to 120 degree east. It zigzags and winds up and down mountain edges and valleys.

Temple of Heaven

When we went there, it was raining heavily. Because of this, in the month of April, the weather was cold.

Tiantan, the Temple of Heaven, was established in 1420 during the reign of Ming Emperor Yongle, who also founded the Forbidden City.

Tang Dynasty & the Show

It is said, if you want to see 30 years' history of China, go to Shenzhen. For 1,000 years' history, go to Beijing and for 5,000 years' history, visit Xi'an. In this show at Xi'an, they spoke about only 3 neighbors' of China, viz., India, Korea and Quicci country i.e. Arabia. During the Tang Dynasty, the so-called Gupta Art in India was also introduced into China. The skills and practicality on painting and music were also once introduced from India. Tianzhu kingdom once paid tributes of music and musical instruments to China, in turn, Chinese musical works were also introduced into India; for example, Music of Emperor Qin Breaking Battle Array prevailed in India for a time. Some classic works concerning the Tang Dynasty has records that Indian acrobatics and magic were introduced into China. The Music Record in the Old Tang History has that, Musical amusement and acrobatics generally belong to magic. The magic all comes from the Western Regions, especially Tianzhu (India). Arabians played a bridge role for the introduction of Chinese culture into the western world.

In Xi'an we found very strange variety of food. The Chinese food as we know in India is totally different from what is available here.

Guilin foot massage

Guilin foot massage helped me to relax my weary body following a tiring travel around.

Cruise on the Lijiang River at Guilin

Voyage gave an absolute unusual vision on the surrounding. The reflection of the weird shaped mountains was a thrilling. I saw for the first time in my life such bizarre shaped mountains. They were entirely unfamiliar and strange.

Living guide for City Infrastructure Development

We saw a lot of world class city infrastructural development throughout the tour. In fact it charmed us like anything. May it be Shanghai Maglev & other high speed trains or beautiful wide roads?

It took only 7 minutes and 20 seconds for the maglev train to cover the 30 km long distance. Shanghai Maglev Line begins in the west from the Longyang Road Station and ends in the east at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The line is the first commercial operation maglev train in the world. The maximum speed is 431 km/h. The train has been authorized by Guinness Book of World Records to be the fastest train in the world.

In our India lots of talk is in the air of making Shanghai of Mumbai. After observing Shanghai Urban Planning Museum one understands the magnitude of work that needs to be done. One bad point about Shanghai I want to mention here. Outside the Jade Buddha Temple, we were troubled by many beggars. This is an unusual sight in China.

You see beautiful roads in the day time as well as nights in not only in Beijing and Shanghai, but also in Shenzhen, Xi'an and Guilin. Some of my friends who have visited other cities do vouch about first-class and very clean roads everywhere. In the morning you catch sight of many a variety of flowerbeds on the parts of footpaths frequently. In the nights you set eyes on the astounding illuminations on the roads in the form of lamp posts and lightings on the beauties that is, skyscrapers.

The author is from Thane, India, and he works as Business Development Director at ICS Pvt. Ltd.

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