China Points of Interest
Great Hall of the People
Beijing, China
The Great Hall of the People is a parliament building that stands at the western edge of the Tian'anmen Square. Mainly used for ceremonial and legislative activities, it was built in 1959 in just 10 months. The building consists of three parts, namely central, northern, and southern sections, and covers an area of 171,800 square meters (1,849,240 square feet). Each province has its own hall (like Hong Kong Hall, Taiwan Hall) that contains architectural designs and interiors that reflect the region's unique characteristics. In addition, it houses the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of China. The Great Auditorium, where most of the activity takes place, can seat 10,000 people at a time.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai, China
Nanjing Road, located in the middle of the Shanghai, is the main shopping street in the city and one of the busiest in the world. This road is a popular celebration spot for tourists during festivals like the Chinese New Year, Christmas, spring break, and New Year's Eve. The road is 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) long and home to many of the world's most famous brands, from Pizza Hut to exclusive stores like Tiffany and Mont Blanc. In addition, the street contains numerous shops that sell traditional and handmade specialty goods like wool, clocks, embroidered garments, silk clothing, and jade. The road also contains a number of open-air bars, sculptures, a sightseeing train, and street musicians.
Qingping Market
55 Qingping Road
Liwan District
Guangzhou, China
An open-air marketplace focused on traditional Chinese medicine, Qingping Market is an interesting place to browse and perhaps find some unique items to purchase. A variety of vendors sell a mix of exotic items such as herbs, altars, scorpions, starfish, centipedes, shark fins, mushrooms, seahorses, and more. In addition, there are a variety of live animals available such as kittens, puppies, turtles, and monkeys.
Xintiandi
123 Xingye Road
Shanghai, China
One of Shanghai's most popular shopping and nightlife districts, Xintiandi (which means "New Heaven and Earth") is located in a series of restored alleyways lined with buildings known as shikumen. These gray stone buildings, many of which were once homes, are a distinctive feature of Shanghai. Xintiandi is composed of two sections: the North Block, where one finds many dining and drinking options, and the South Block, which consists of a multi-story shopping center complete with a cinema and international chain stores. Though the prices at Xintiandi tend to match the area's well-heeled Western clientele, it is nonetheless a great spot for a high-end dinner or to simply sit and people-watch over a stein of German lager.
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