Closer Lives | China Country Guide
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Your guide to visiting China

Charming China: Plan your trip to the Land of the Red Dragon

Having spent most of 2023 in southern and central Asia, we were really excited to finally make it to China, albeit only for a quick visit! First we head to Hong Kong, where we spend 4 days enjoying one of the world's most famous cities. From all of our food to our accommodations, we aim to share as much as we can about our experience. Including at the renowned Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, which was very much an unplanned surprise! 

After leaving Hong Kong, we head back in to China by way of the Pudong district in Shanghai, getting a feel for a more local area of this fascinating country. Alongside documenting our travels, we have spent a lot of time on research, and have compiled some of the top facts, places, things to know and more to save you time and help you get the best out of your trip to the Land of the Red Dragon!

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Our top recommended places

Our interactive map & guide to China

Check out all of the places we visited in China courtesy of this interactive map from Wanderlog. Tap any of the numbers for more information including directions, our blog posts, links to reviews and much more.

Wanderlog is a free travel planning app that allows users to create trip itineraries, organize flights, hotel and car reservations, view places to visit on a map, and collaborate with friends. It is super handy and has made a big impact on our travel planning. It saves time and is super easy to use!

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Interesting Facts

Here are 12 interesting facts about China. Some may just surprise you!

1. Great Wall of China: The Great Wall of China, one of the world's most iconic structures, stretches over 13,000 miles. Contrary to popular belief, it cannot be seen from space without aid!

2. Pandas: China is home to the giant panda, an endangered species. It's an important symbol for conservation efforts. These adorable creatures are found mainly in the mountainous regions of central China.

3. Population: With over 1.4 billion people, China is the second most populous country in the world, only behind India. They only lost top spot in 2023.

4. Inventions: China is credited with inventing many items crucial to human progress, such as paper, the compass, gunpowder, and printing.

5. Three Gorges Dam: The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the world's largest hydroelectric power station. It helps control flooding, generates electricity, and supports navigation.

6. Silk: The Silk Road, an ancient trade route, was crucial for the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas between China and the Western world. It was named after the lucrative trade in silk.

7. Terracotta Army: Discovered in 1974, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an consists of thousands of life-sized clay soldiers and horses buried with China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

8. Chinese New Year: Celebrated in late January or February, Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a significant cultural event in China, marked by family reunions, feasts, and traditions like dragon and lion dances.

9. Long History: China has one of the world's oldest civilizations, dating back over 5,000 years. Its history is rich in culture, philosophy, and inventions.

10. One-Child Policy: China previously had a strict one-child policy (now relaxed to a two-child policy), which aimed to control the country's population growth. This policy has had significant social and demographic effects.

 

11. Cuisine: Chinese cuisine is diverse and varies greatly from region to region. It's not just about popular dishes like Peking duck and dim sum but boasts numerous flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques.

 

12 Economic Growth: China's rapid economic growth over the past few decades has transformed it into a global economic powerhouse. It's the world's second-largest economy and a key player in international trade and finance.

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Our first time in Hong Kong! 🇭🇰 Was it what we expected??
26:05

Our first time in Hong Kong! 🇭🇰 Was it what we expected??

We are finally in Hong Kong! This is our first day! Is it everything we'd hoped it would be? In this Hong Kong travel vlog we talk about the costs of a visit to Hong Kong city in 2023-2024 and we walk through the famous Hong Kong markets such as Mong kok street market and Temple Street Market. We walk along Tung Choi street and get a real feel for what this city is all about. We try out the food and even get a haircut! These are our first impressions of Hong Kong city! Chapters: 00:36 Hong Kong International Airport 01:15 Airport Taxi 02:25 Hong Kong currency 02:53 Stanford Hotel Hong Kong 04:05 Hotel Room Tour 06:43 A walk through Mong Kok 09:20 Wingman The Wing Specialist 11:24 7-11 morning breakfast 12:45 Leon gets a haircut in Hong Kong 14:00 WP SALON 14:59 Temple Street Market 16:00 Egg Tarts and Pineapple buns 17:35 Fortune Tellers in Temple Street market? 18:35 Clawsome fun! 21:16 Kentucky Fried Chicken Hong Kong 22:30 Temple Street Night Food Market 23:06 Tung Choi Street 23:45 Sweetest kittens Other places visited in this video: Stonecutters Island Fu Pak Mong Kok CTMA center Chong hing Square Arthur Street temporary playground Temples Street night market Tung Choi Street 👩🏻‍💻READ OUR **TRAVEL BLOG** and FIND OUR PHOTOGRAPHY! ✍🏻 BLOG & WEBSITE https://www.closerlives.com/jennandleontravelblog ✍🏻 JENNS BLOG https://writingsofamrs.wordpress.com 💼Business inquiries 📧 EMAIL contactus@closerlives.com 📧 JENN abroadperspective@closerlives.com 📸 INSTAGRAM @jennandleontravel https://www.instagram.com/jennandleontravel/ 💁🏻‍♀️JENN https://www.instagram.com/_a_broad_perspective/ 🙋🏻‍♂️LEON https://www.instagram.com/leon.gregori213/?hl=en FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/JennandLeonTravel We are JENN and LEON. We are a Canadian and British couple that has been traveling the world FULL TIME since 2021. Our vlogs are helpful to those looking to travel abroad, slow travel, budget travel, fast travel and luxury travel. We hope to help inspire and encourage others to make their travel and life dreams become a reality! #hongkongvlog #hongkong #香港 #travel
Why you should attend the HONG KONG Wine & Dine Festival in 2024!!
14:56

Why you should attend the HONG KONG Wine & Dine Festival in 2024!!

We had an EPIC evening at the Ladies' Market and The Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival 2023 at Central Harbourfront, Peir 9 in Central, Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Wheel Observatory was shining the brightest along the beautiful harbourfront city line. It was simply a delicious start the evening! In this Hong Kong Travel vlog we start with a quick shop through in the Ladies' Market while walking to Mong Kok Station to use the MTR system on our way to the festival. The event highlights food and wine and showcases latest trends in chinese wines that are getting noticed on a global front. With delicious samples, an epic lineup of global entertainers and interesting seminar and workshops, this festival has a lot to keep you busy over the 4 days! One of the highlights for us at the event was the opportunity to see one of the America's Got Talent All Stars runner ups; Filipino singer and performer Marcelito Pomoy! 00:00 Intro 00:20 Ladies' Market 01:40 Mong Kok Station, riding the MTR 03:15 Bridge to Harbourfront 04:14 The Hong Kong Observation Wheel 04:50 Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 05:55 Harbour Lounge 07:55 Wine tasting stall 10:35 Who is this news reporter from Hong Kong? 10:56 Filipino singer Marcelito Pomoy live on STAGE 14:18 outro 👩🏻‍💻READ OUR **TRAVEL BLOGS** and FIND OUR PHOTOGRAPHY! ✍🏻 BLOG & WEBSITE https://www.closerlives.com/jennandleontravelblog 💼Business inquiries 📧 EMAIL contactus@closerlives.com 📧 abroadperspective@closerlives.com 📸 INSTAGRAM @jennandleontravel https://www.instagram.com/jennandleontravel/ 💁🏻‍♀️JENN https://www.instagram.com/_a_broad_perspective/ 🙋🏻‍♂️LEON https://www.instagram.com/leon.gregori213/?hl=en FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/JennandLeonTravel #hongkong #hongkongtravel #explorehongkong #nightlife
3 days in Hong Kong on a budget! Don't miss this INCREDIBLE city!
31:58

3 days in Hong Kong on a budget! Don't miss this INCREDIBLE city!

In this Hong Kong travel vlog. We spend the day exploring the THINGS TO DO in Hong Kong city!! From local flea markets such as the Ladies' Market and Temple Street Market and high end luxury malls like K11 MUSEA you can easily spend a day shopping in Hong Kong and exploring the city on any budget. What things can we find on a travel budget? What are the general costs of the city? Join us as we explore the beautiful Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront area in Harbour city. We also check out the much talked about Hong Kong Symphony of Lights! We also explore many things to do in Hong Kong such as the Avenue of Stars and we watch The Hong Kong Symphony of Lights! Also in the area is the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Film Award Statue! Join us in our first impression of all that Hong Kong city has to offer! Are you planning to Hong Kong Travel in 2023 or 2024? 00:34 Jervois Café, Hong Kong 02:12 HOT coke with lemon!? 03:20 Hong Kong currency 7:01 Ladies’ Market Budget shopping 15:06 Hong Kong Museum of Art 16:36 Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront 17:13 Hong Kong Film Award Statue 18:15 Avenue of Stars 20:15 K11 MUSEA Shopping Mall Bougie Shopping 25:23 Symphony of Lights, Hong Kong 28:23 Busker Oliver Ma 29:11 Found a purse and a job? 👩🏻‍💻READ OUR **TRAVEL BLOGS** and FIND OUR PHOTOGRAPHY! ✍🏻 BLOG & WEBSITE https://www.closerlives.com/jennandleontravelblog 💼Business inquiries 📧 EMAIL contactus@closerlives.com 📧 abroadperspective@closerlives.com 📸 INSTAGRAM @jennandleontravel https://www.instagram.com/jennandleontravel/ 💁🏻‍♀️JENN https://www.instagram.com/_a_broad_perspective/ 🙋🏻‍♂️LEON https://www.instagram.com/leon.gregori213/?hl=en FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/JennandLeonTravel 👫🏻 We are JENN and LEON. We are a Canadian and British couple that has been traveling the world FULL TIME since 2021. Our vlogs are helpful to those looking to travel abroad, slow travel, budget travel, fast travel and luxury travel. We hope to help inspire and encourage others to make their travel and life dreams become a reality! #hongkong #hongkongvlog #hongkongcity #홍콩여행 #travelvlog

Check out other countries in Asia

Angkor wat temple complex in Cambodia reflected in water under a blue sky, with "Cambodia" superimposed at the bottom.
Large metal sculptures of a man and woman beside a Ferris wheel, with the word "Georgia" and the country's flag visible. clear blue sky in the background.
The Taj Mahal at sunset with "India" text overlay and a reflection in the front water canal.
Monas tower in Jakarta, Indonesia, with a tall white spire atop a symmetrical platform, surrounded by a circular patterned courtyard under a clear blue sky.
A person in traditional Japanese clothing and a large hat walks through the red torii gates at Fushimi inari shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
A collage of Malaysian landmarks featuring the Petronas Towers, a modern building with a blue dome, and the "Malaysia" logo, set against an evening sky.
View of Fort Santiago's entrance in Manila with the Philippines flag overlayed at the bottom.
Aerial view of Singapore featuring the iconic Marina Bay Sands, Art Science Museum, and surrounding bay area with text "Singapore" overlay.
A traditional Korean palace with intricate wooden architecture under a blue sky, framed by blooming pink cherry blossoms. the words "South Korea" are overlayed at the bottom.
Vibrant street scene in Taiwan featuring a bustling market with colorful signs, traditional architecture, and the Taiwan flag.
Golden buddha statue in a meditative pose with "Thailand" text superimposed, set against a vivid blue sky and lush greenery.
Terraced rice fields in Vietnam, featuring vibrant green layers with a bold red area in the center, surrounded by lush hills under a sunny sky.
A couple taking a selfie on a beach in Thailand.

Jenn & Leon at Closer Lives

We plan to see, learn, love and share as much of the world with others as possible. That is why we created CLOSERLIVES.com, to create a community for like-minded individuals and to help bring the world a little closer together through poetry, history, storytelling, healing, art, purpose and community.

 

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