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Meru Sarpa Monastery
The traditional wood-block printing press in the middle of this traditional housing compound doesn’t really welcome visitors, so head instead to the atmospheric chapel in the northwest corner. Look for the statue of thousand-armed Chenresig, an unusual frog-faced Palden Lhamo and t
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Lolo Hot Springs
If you only stop off at one hot springs in Tibet, make it this one. The clean swimming pool-sized hot pool is the perfect temperature to shake off the rigours of the road, especially after a visit to the natural steam room. The springs are 11km west of Baber. Just 1km east of here
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Sōngyáng Academy
At the foot of Tàishì Shān sits one of China’s oldest academies, the lush and well-tended Sōngyáng Academy, a building complex which dates to AD 484 and rises up the hill on a series of terraces. In the courtyard are two cypress trees believed to be around 4500 years old – and they
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Shöl
Nestled at the southern foot of Marpo Ri (Shöl literally means ‘at the base’), the former village of Shöl was once Lhasa’s red-light district, as well as the location of a prison, a printing press and some ancillary government buildings. Reconstructed buildings include an inn and a
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Golden Bauhinia Square
A 6m-tall statue of Hong Kong’s symbol stands on the waterfront just in front of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre to mark the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR in 1997. The flag-raising ceremony, held daily at 8am and conducted by the Hong Kong police, is a must-se
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Chénghuáng Temple
The 600-year-old City God temple – any old Chinese city worth its salt should have one – bustles with worshippers who leave its trees festooned with red ribbons and its entrances swirling with incense smoke. Take bus 2 from the train station.
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Century Park
This modern park at the eastern end of Century Ave is strong on hard edges and synthetic lines, but there’s an attractive central lake (with expensive boat hire). Children will enjoy themselves, and the spacious paved area between the Science & Technology Museum and the park is
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Pawnshop Museum
This museum housed inside the former Tak Seng On (‘virtue and success’) pawnshop offers an atmospheric glimpse into Macaus pawnshop business, which dates back to the Qing dynasty. Built in 1917, it comprises an office, a lobby and an eight-storey, fortress-like tower. On display is
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Old Protestant Cemetery
As church law forbade the burial of non-Catholics on hallowed ground, this cemetery was established in 1821 as the last resting place of (mostly Anglophone) Protestants. Among those interred here are Irish-born artist George Chinnery (1774–1852), and Robert Morrison (1782–1834), th
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Hong Kong City Hall
The City Hall, built in classic Bauhaus style in 1962, was Hong Kongs first large-scale civic centre. It remains a major cultural venue today, with concert and recital halls, a theatre and exhibition galleries. Within the Lower Block, entered to the east of City Hall’s main entranc
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Hall of Middle Harmony
This hall was used as the emperor’s transit lounge. Here he would make last-minute preparations, rehearse speeches and receive close ministers. On display are two Qing-dynasty sedan chairs, the emperor’s mode of transport around the Forbidden City. The last of the Qing emperors, Pu
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Chungking Mansions
Say budget accommodation and Hong Kong in one breath and everyone thinks of Chungking Mansions. This huge, ramshackle high-rise caters to virtually all needs – from finding a bed and a curry lunch to changing your Burmese kyat and getting your hair cut. The buildings infamy is fuel
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Shartse Tratsang
Shartse Tratsang is one of several renovated kangtsang (residences) that offer the opportunity to meet the local monks away from the tourist trail. In the early afternoon (1.30pm to 3pm) listen out for debating in the enclosed courtyard to the south. Nearby is the interesting Barkh
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Húnán County No 1 Teachers’ Training School
Between 1913 and 1918, Mao studied here and returned to teach classics from 1920 to 1922. It’s still a working college, and sometimes students keen to practise English will show you around Mao’s dormitory and classrooms, the halls where he held his first political meetings, and the
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South Cathedral
Běijīng’s South Cathedral – the first church to be built in central Běijīng – was constructed on the site of the house of Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci, who brought Catholicism to China. Since being completed in 1703, the church has been destroyed three times, including being burn
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Palace of Moon and Water Kwun Yum Temple
Not to be confused with Kwun Yum Temple nearby, this dimly lit temple honours Kwun Yum of a Thousand Arms. Kwun Yum aka Guanyin is the Goddess of Compassion. According to legend, Buddha gave her a thousand arms so she could help everyone who needed it. For a small donation, you can
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Fung Ying Sin Temple
This huge Taoist temple complex opposite the Fanling East Rail station has wonderful exterior murals of Taoist immortals and the Chinese zodiac, an orchard terrace, a herbal clinic and a vegetarian restaurant (ground and 1st floors, Bldg A7) . Most important are the dozen ancestral
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Chapel of St Francis Xavier
This chapel built in 1928 contains paintings of the infant Christ with a Chinese Madonna, and other reminders of Christianity and colonialism in Asia. It’s a quirky place painted in yellow and embellished with red lanterns. In front of the chapel are a monument and fountain surroun
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Bái Tǎ
In the middle of the fields, 7km east of the airport (about 22km from Hohhot), is Bái Tǎ, a striking seven-storey octagonal tower built during the Liao dynasty. A steep, double-barrelled staircase leads to a small shrine room at the top. Few travellers come here, so you will feel l
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Hotan Cultural Museum
West of the centre is the regional museum. The main attractions are a fine painted wooden coffin and two 1500-year-old Indo-European mummies unearthed from the nearby Imam Musa Kazim Cemetery. There are also some fascinating finds from ancient Niya, including a large wooden pillar,
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