AKINPELU DADA, who was recently in China on the invitation of the Chinese Consulate in Lagos, writes about tourism in the country and some places of interest
If you have never been to China, the country may mean different things to you depending on what part of the world you are from or residing in.
According to Pew Research Centre, a Washington-based nonpartisan fact-tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world, around the globe, people are divided in their opinions of China.
It notes that a median of 40 per cent across 34 countries surveyed has a favourable view of China, while a median of 41 per cent has an unfavourable opinion.
The country’s most positive ratings come from Russia (71 per cent), Nigeria (70 per cent) and Lebanon (68 per cent). The most negative views are found in Japan (85 per cent unfavourable), Sweden (70 per cent) and Canada (67 per cent).
The centre adds that in 19 countries, those who say their national economic situation is good have a more positive outlook on China.
Historically, what is now modern-day China suffered a lot from Western powers and some of its neighbours in the form of colonialism and wars targeted at plundering the country’s resources.
Its growing economy and prosperity, which have resulted in modern infrastructure and a growing middle class with enviable purchasing power, have now made China a compelling place to visit for discerning tourists.
From an African perspective, China has been more of a friend than a foe and has invested massively in the development of critical infrastructure on the continent. Crucially, it is opening its doors to more Africans as it is doing for the rest of the world.
So, if you find yourself in China, whether for business or pleasure, the Oriental country offers lots of attractions that combine the historical with the modern. From landing at either the Beijing Daxing International Airport or the Beijing Capital International Airport, you will be welcomed into the capital city under a cloud of fog.
But don’t be mistaken, the city is a forest of trees and flowers, which help to minimise the impact of its past massive industrial output on the environment.
Beijing hotels
Beijing is home to some of the best hotel brands in the world from five-star to seven-star in different parts of the city. You don’t need to worry about packing too many essentials in your luggage; most of the hotels have you covered.
Transportation to different parts of town from the hotels is easy and can be sorted out by your tour company. The cuisines are warmly Chinese and will test your palate to the limit.
While in China, you will do well to visit the following tourist attractions:
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China, which spans 21,196.18 kilometres, according to Wikipedia, is a series of fortifications built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe.
Several walls were built as early as the 7th century BC, with selective stretches later joined by Qin Shi Huang (220–206 BC), the first emperor of China.
Little of the Qin Wall remains. Later on, many successive dynasties built and maintained multiple stretches of border walls. The best-known sections of the wall were built by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
Apart from defence, other purposes of the Great Wall have included border controls, allowing the imposition of duties on goods transported along the Silk Road, regulation or encouragement of trade and the control of immigration and emigration.
Furthermore, the defensive characteristics of the Great Wall were enhanced by the construction of watchtowers, troop barracks and garrison stations, signalling capabilities through the means of smoke or fire, and the fact that the path of the Great Wall also served as a transportation corridor.
Listed as one of the revised Seven Wonders of the World and located on the outskirt of Beijing, visitors to the Great Wall of China must be prepared to trek and climb dizzying heights.
So, get into comfortable footwear and don’t forget to go with an umbrella in case it rains. Cable cars are available if you have managed to conquer acrophobia i.e. fear of heights. On your return, don’t forget to savour traditional Chinese cuisine at the foot of the high climb.
The Forbidden City
Occupying almost two acres in the northeast quadrant of the Forbidden City, the Qianlong Garden was built by the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) to serve as part of his planned retirement complex following his 60-year reign.
He designed the garden as a private retreat, with four courtyards, many elaborate rockeries, and 27 pavilions and structures that contain decoration and furnishings from a time widely considered to be one of the boldest and most extravagant periods of interior design in China’s history. These interiors represent the most significant exquisitely designed interiors to survive relatively unchanged from imperial China.
Following the departure in 1924 of Puyi, China’s last emperor, the Qianlong Garden was closed. It remained dormant until 2000 when World Monuments Fund and the Palace Museum signed a groundbreaking agreement to collaborate on its restoration.
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is in the city centre of Beijing named after the eponymous Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its north, which separates it from the Forbidden City. The square contains the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, who proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in the square on October 1, 1949. It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history. The square is best known to outsiders for the 1989 protests and massacre that ended with a military crackdown.
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is a complex of imperial religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for a good harvest. The Temple of Heaven was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1998 and was described as “a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world’s great civilisations…” as the “symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries.”
Local and international tourists flood the temple daily to marvel at the architectural masterpiece. Couples in traditional Chinese attire take the opportunity to do what is now known as photoshoots that connect the ancient and the modern.
The temple contains the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar for the performance of many rituals in the olden time.
Bird’s Nest
The National Stadium or the Bird’s Nest is an 80,000-capacity stadium in Beijing. The stadium was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. It was used again in the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The Bird’s Nest sometimes has temporary large screens installed at the stands.
Located at the Olympic Green, the stadium cost $428m and plays host to many musical and entertainment concerts in addition to sporting activities, and is usually a beehive of activities for fun seekers.
Yanqi Lake
Yanqi Lake is a beautiful scenic site at the foot of Yanshan Mountain and is located eight kilometres north of Huairou County. The Great Wall is to the north of the lake, and to the south is the boundless North China plain. The landscape of the area is beautiful. In the background, one can see the great mountain, in the foreground there is the clear water of the lake coupled with refreshing air.
The lake area hosts an international conference centre on the western bank and it is the venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2014 meeting. The restaurants of Yanqi Lake provide various Chinese cuisines, hot pot and barbecue.
Shanghai
Your visit to China will not be complete until you visit Shanghai. The former Chinese capital city is arguably Asia’s financial capital and one of the world’s prominent financial hubs in the league of New York and London. The fastest way to get to Shanghai from Beijing is by air and this will take two and half hours, but be prepared to spend some time on the road as the airport is a bit far from the city centre. High-speed or bullet train is a better and cheaper alternative if you have the time to spare as the journey will take about five hours.
While in Shanghai, make sure you visit the following places:
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
Nanjing Road is in the eastern part of which is the main shopping district of Shanghai. It is one of the world’s busiest shopping streets, along with Fifth Avenue, Oxford Street, Orchard Road, Takeshita Street and the Champs-Élysées. The street is named after the city of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province neighbouring Shanghai, and the former national capital of the Republic of China. Nanjing Road is the world’s longest shopping district, around 5.5 km long, and attracts over one million visitors daily.
Huangpu River
The Huangpu is a 113 km-long (70 mi) river flowing north through Shanghai. The Bund and Lujiazui are located along the Huangpu River. The Huangpu is the biggest river in central Shanghai, with the Suzhou Creek being its major tributary. A number of lines of the Shanghai Metro cross underneath the river. A boat cruise at night will reveal the splendour of the city.
Yu Garden
Yu Garden (Garden of Happiness) is an extensive Chinese garden located beside the City God Temple in the northeast of the Old City of Shanghai in Huangpu District, Shanghai. It abuts the Yuyuan Tourist Mart, the Huxinting Teahouse and the Yu Garden Bazaar. A centrepiece is the exquisite Jade Rock.
Wukang Road
Wukang Road is a historic road in the Xuhui District of Shanghai, located in the western part of the former French Concession area of the city. In 2011, Wukang Road was recognised as one of the national historic and cultural streets of China. It is only 1.17 kilometres long, but is lined with 37 officially protected historic buildings incorporating a diverse range of architectural styles, including Mediterranean, French Renaissance, English, and Art Deco.
Shanghai Tower
The Shanghai Tower is situated in Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai, and was designed with a unique curve that twists and rises. Standing at a height of 632 metres, it has 127 floors above the ground and five floors below; it offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the city. It is the tallest building in China and the world’s second. The elevators in the building are the fastest in the world, travelling at 18 metres per second and taking visitors to the observatory at 546 metres in 55 seconds.
Beijing’s Shougang Park
The Shougang Park hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 2022. The remarkable thing about the park, according to www.olympics.com, is that it was once a giant steel mill, which has been turned into a trendy urban area. Established in 1919, in its peak years the site produced as much as 10 million tonnes of iron and steel. But nearly 90 years later, ahead of Beijing 2008, the city developed an ambitious plan to fight air pollution. As a result, production was gradually halted, leaving room for the industrial site to be transformed into a bustling hub fit for tourism, sport and cultural events.
Any building deemed structurally safe was kept as intact as possible. Smokestacks, blast furnaces and other factory and warehouse remains are now surrounded by expansive greenery, sports facilities, commercial buildings and modern offices, including the headquarters of the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee.
Lessons for Nigeria
Tourism is an essential part of the Chinese economy and Nigeria has a lot to learn in developing its tourism sector appropriately to attract local and international tourists.
The Chinese work very hard and enjoy in equal measure. At different tourist sites, young and old citizens, including the elderly, who are bent by old age and past labour, make daily visits. The Chinese ingrain the spirit of patriotism and national values in their kids, no wonder Western influence has been unable to overthrow their culture.
Security is highly valued in China; unlike in Nigeria where one will see gun-toting security agents at different points, some mounting roadblocks and frustrating easy passage, the Chinese rely on cutting-edge technology to monitor the cities and reduce crime to the barest minimum.
Chinese cities are a massive forest of trees and flowers and represent a sustainable way of transiting from a highly polluted industrial enclave into a climate-friendly environment through a deliberate focus on climate change mitigation measures. China is also gradually moving away from fossil fuels as many of the vehicles are electric-powered; Nigeria can indeed learn a thing or two from this.
For tourists from Nigeria, if you rely on WhatsApp, Yahoo mail, Google mail, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to communicate with your loved ones and social media friends, you are likely to remain incommunicado for the duration of your visit except your family members and friends can download and be familiar with Chinese equivalents like WeChat, Sina Weibo, Tencent QQ, Tencent Video, Xiao HongShu, Douban, Zhihu, Meituan, Toutiao, and DouYin (TikTok).
There is a lot of American influence on young Chinese, which is reflected in their dressing and fancy Western names like Joe, David, Jessica, Ben, etc. The names do not have anything to do with Christianity though, as the People’s Republic of China is officially an atheist state with about 74 per cent of the population having no religion at all.
Final word
In the area of the impact of technology on infrastructure, China arguably has overtaken many Western societies with its modern facilities and the country is not relenting.
Despite this, the citizens have embraced walking as a pastime and most of them keep fit by trekking or riding bicycles even in fast-paced urban areas. The country is deliberately opening up to the world by showcasing what it has been able to achieve during the period of isolation from the rest of the world through the resilience of its citizens and strong leadership.
Chinese kids are generally shy and don’t easily mix with foreigners, but learning to say hello (ni hao) in Mandarin elicits a broad grin from the young and old alike. Don’t forget to appreciate every good gesture by saying xiè xiè (thank you).
