Charming Chinese Coastal Cities
－Cities of Blended Culture
With an area of approximately 9,600,000 kilometers, China has a coastline as long as 18,000 kilometers, ranking the ninth in the world. This is a fantastic country not only for its amazing economic growth, but also for its tolerance of different culture. Take a look at Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and find answers for yourself!
Shanghai－Traditional and Modern
Whether you like traditional culture or modern culture, Shanghai is guaranteed to satisfy all your needs. Perfectly located in the eastern part of China, facing the Pacific Ocean, Shanghai is a modernized city nourished from traditional cultural. When I walk on the bank of Waitan (the Bund) in Shanghai, thousands of neon lights cast through the shining Huangpu River like stars twinkling in the sky. Skyscrapers of famous branches like Tencent and China Telecom overlook the calm river, which mirror the busy. Bustle and peace seem to coordinate in Shanghai’s night dream! On the other hand, if you take a look at Qibao Town in Shanghai, you will find a stylish taste of ancient Southeastern Chinese Historic Town. The silently-flowing stream and slowly-drifting boats have successfully incorporated into the busy city life.
Guangzhou－Eastern and Western
Guangzhou, known also as an international city, is the capital of Guangdong Province. It has a long foreign trade history between the east and the west as an important commercial port. Therefore there’s no wonder that a lot of architectures have both eastern and western styles. The statue in the first picture presents Guangzhou as a pioneer revolutionary city in the war period, which reflects eastern style. While in the second picture, you can see the famous Shengxin Stone Church which has obvious western design. Combining both eastern and western architectural culture, Guangzhou TV Tower is of no doubt the landmark of Guangzhou. In Guangzhou, people often call it “Little Slim Waist” for its special shape like a young lady’s slim waist. Actually, it was designed by a Dutch couple. Some eastern Chinese culture elements are blended into the design, too.
Shenzhen－Nostalgic and Energetic
Compared with Shanghai and Guangzhou, Shenzhen is a city with much shorter history. It usually gives tourists an impression that it is young and energetic because it is only thirty years old. If you climb on the Lianhua Hill, you can have the whole view of the city. Stabbing into the sky, the skyscrapers stand closely together. Patches of green land are sprinkled around. Is that all of this fast growing city? Of course not! Having been a fishing village once, Shenzhen has its own unique coastal culture. The whole city is like a long square which is built alongside the Pearl River. If you get to the beach or seaside, you can taste the most delicious seafood. Da Meisha, Xiao Meisha and Xichong are all good choices for seafood lovers. What’s more, alongside the Red Forest, you can watch a beautiful sunset on the shore. When the fishermen pack up their fishing nets and at the same time sing emotionally to the shore, the feeling of nostalgia may slowly grab your heart!
If you really want to have an in-depth investigation about Chinese culture, especially coastal culture, the above three cities are the best choices for travelers. All in all, the core of 5000-year Chinese culture is to make different cultures coexist in harmony. Charming Chinese coastal cities will indeed give you a new definition of city!
沒有留言:
張貼留言