Highlights:
Macau is such a colorful place. It is full of arts, history, and sights. By day it reveals the Portuguese-inspired buildings as well as traces of Chinese heritage through its temples. I have learned to appreciate Macau through tourists’ eyes during my most recent visit. The good Macanese meals are always a plus. Driving over the bridge (now there are two) to Taipa and Coloane, shopping for such delicacies as chinese tea, passing snake stores in the old streets, and darting motorcycles and swerving cars and pedestrians were all highlights.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
Though this Portugese colony has since reverted back to Chinese rule last December, not much has changed. It has had its share of bad press in the time before the handover as local triads (organized crime units) fought for territorial power. There were shootings and car bombs, but all that has died down. I suggest you don’t wander too far away from main sights. Watch out for pickpockets. I’ve never had a problem, but maybe because I’m always with locals. Most people stay on the resorts on Taipa and Coloane and rent mini-Mokes to get around.

Best Way to Get Around:
Taxis: Taxis are convenient. There are many of them in line right outside the boat terminal. This place is very modern these days. I still remember the time when the pier was no more than a small building, basically a mess especially going through customs. I’ve also paid a taxi for a day’s rate (it’s very reasonable, especially compared to US rates) and the driver would just drive and wait. During lunch, I invited him to join us, but of course, that’s not essential.

Buses: There are a lot of buses-locals get around using the efficient public transportation.

Car: I don’t recommend renting a car, as driving tends to be a little crazy here. You could rent a mini-Moke if you are staying on the islands of Taipa and Coloane. These are cute little jeep-like vehicles. They go a bit slow but there is not much traffic on the island so it’s fine.

Beautiful, breathtaking Hangzhou is the capital and pride of the Zhejiang Province. Being one of the seven Chinese ancient capitals, not only is the history and culture of this legendary city prominent, but its scenic landscapes and serene beauty will leave tourists in complete awe and wonder.

Highlights:
West Lake
The one thing in Hangzhou that struck me most was the tranquility of the famous West Lake, with its fascinating legends and myths that have surpassed time and dynasties. It is the backdrop of all the stories told to me as a little child, including famous legends like “The Lady White Snake” and “The Butterfly Lovers.” Surrounded by vast mountains and lush, misty forests on three sides and the flourishing city on one side, the lake provides an elegant mixture of wilderness, serenity, and modernization.

Song Dynasty Town
Another tourist attraction not to be missed in Hangzhou is the Song Dynasty Town’s singing and dancing performance. Hangzhou, being the capital of the legendary Song Dynasty, pays tribute to this ancient dynasty with traditional dancing, gorgeous, colorful costumes, dazzling laser lights, water displays, stunning backdrops, and a real cannon! The performance was the most memorable Chinese performance I have seen, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it… Definitely a Hangzhou highlight!

Peak Flown from Afar
Other significant places I visited in Hangzhou were the Peak Flown from Afar and the Ling Yin Temple. The Peak Flown from Afar are actually grottoes with hundreds of Buddha statues carved into the stones, which were rather intriguing to me… they are simply ancient works of art.

Ling Yin Temple
The Ling Yin Temple, farther up the mountain from the grottoes, showcases huge gilded Buddhas, beautiful murals, and the highest copper hall in the world! At first I thought it may well be another tourist trap with “the highest in the world” and “the biggest in the universe” catchphrases, but mind you, this temple is worth visiting for its magnificence and grandeur alone.

Overall, Hangzhou can be enjoyed by cruising around the West Lake, strolling on the lakeside at dawn or dusk, hanging out at one of the many bars along the lake, watching the locals play a game of chess in the park, or simply lazing in the gardens. This peaceful city is undoubtedly the Oriental capital of leisure.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
There are things I did not leave Hangzhou without: Sampling the traditional cuisine of Hangzhou, tins of Dragon Well Green Tea (the mother of all teas in China), a silk scarf (Hangzhou is not nicknamed “The City of Silk” for nothing), and a delicately carved sandalwood fan.

Another important note: When in Hangzhou, relax and unwind. Do what the locals do… do nothing.

Best Way to Get Around:
Local Guided Tour
It is best to visit Hangzhou with a guided tour. That way, you can visit all the popular tourist spots and restaurants and don’t have to worry about getting around or not speaking the language.

Buses
If you’d rather stay independent, the buses in Hangzhou are abundant and come in various kinds: common buses, air-conditioned buses, medium-sized buses, double deckers, and tour buses. Stops are reported in both Chinese and English, with prices ranging from RMB1(common) to RMB5(tour).

Taxi
Taxi services are also available in Hangzhou and are charged according to meter. The first 4km costs RMB10.

As in most cities, rush hour is from 7 to 8:30am and 5 to 6:30pm, so try to stay off the extremely crowded buses and limited taxis during these times.

Suzhou…Land of beautiful classical gardens. Capital of the famed Gusu silk. Venice of the East.

I suppose Suzhou is lovely in every way. It offers the modernity of a contemporary city minus the hustle and bustle of a busy metropolitan life. Being in Suzhou is being able to relax, unwind, and get lost in the midst of the stunning landscaped gardens found all over this pretty little city. It is rather obvious why Shanghaians seem to think Suzhou is a good vacation place to run away from all the troubles of a big city life. Situated in the Jiangsu province, only a 2-hour drive away from the lively Shanghai, this unpolluted city is an apparent contrast to what vacationers and “runaways” have left behind. Everything here is straightforward, simple, and uncomplicated.

Highlights:
People: The people of Suzhou are easygoing and make do with their low costs of living, having pays as low as RMB400 to RMB800 a month. This may seem insufficient, but mind you, the residents here eat well, sleep well, and take extremely good care of their health and well-being. There are almost 100 people aged more than 100 living in Suzhou at the current moment. So, in a city where health is an important issue, what could be more significant than… the FOOD?

Food: It is hard not to notice the restaurants in Suzhou. The restaurants here are simply enormous, brightly illuminated with neon lights and banners. Suzhou people believe that eating is one of life’s greatest gifts, so they love having big meals and dining in huge fancy restaurants. Amazingly, despite the eye-catching lightings, the prices in most of these restaurants are inexpensive and very affordable.

Gardens: And not to be missed is the classical gardens of Suzhou. I loved walking along the pathways of weeping willows and strangely formed rocks. Being in the gardens creates a calm sense of security and serenity… and it really is a perfect place to disappear or lose yourself in.

So when you do run away to Suzhou, leave all your worries behind and get lost in the present moment filled with quaint canals, stunning gardens, hearty food, and beautiful ladies in elegant silk.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
There are an amazing amount of gardens located in Suzhou, but only a few are open to the public. The most popular of the gardens are the Lingering Garden and the Humble Administrator’s Garden. A visit to these two gardens is sufficient enough to understand the extent of the beauty of classical gardens.

Also, do visit the place that gave Suzhou the nickname “Venice of the East,” the Zhou Zhuang water village, with its canals and Chinese “gondolas.”

And don’t forget the famous Gusu silk!

Best Way to Get Around:
Like all small cities in China, it is not easy getting around if you don’t know the language. For taxis, you will need instructions written in Chinese, and as for buses, there are not many around Suzhou to begin with. So I guess it’s best to forgo all the hassle and join a tour!