China's Top 7 - Seven Places to Visit in Mainland China

China is a country on the move. Peasant farmers are moving to the cities in vast numbers and creating a huge growth in production and demand of resources. In this push in creating the modern China I hope the things that have made China great in the past are not forgotten. China is so huge and there is so much to see this list is almost impossible to limit to just 7, but I'll try.

The following list is my top seven spots I'd like to see in China. I included the province of Tibet in the list, but exclude Taiwan sites from the list - as Taiwan is not part of communist China despite the parties one China policy. To avoid political controversy let's just say this list is the top 7 of mainland China.

1) The Forbidden City.

Just the fact for much of its history an average pleb like me would have been kept out is reason enough to visit. To see the last palace of the Emperors. Even today look at a Google map of Beijing and its not hard to spot the forbidden city from the air. Not just the size of the place and the architecture, but the ornamental details such as the Chinese lions and the Imperial five-clawed dragons which hold interest here. While in Beijing which many will be for the Summer Olympics 2008, there are many temples and sites to see and a visit to the summer palace should also be included. The new Olympic venues like the bird nest stadium and bubble swimming center will be architecture wonders for decades after the games have finished.

2) The Great wall of China.

A wall thousands of miles long just has to be seen. It not my first pick because in reality much of the wall is in ruins. Not all the wall was made from stone. Some sections were compressed mud, but the aim was the same - to separate civilized China from the barbarians of the north. It failed at times as the Mongols clearly showed, but it was still an impressive construction feat. There are restored sections of the walls for the tourists, but to be honest its the original ruined sections that have more interest for me - as well as more history and character.

3) Mount Everest

The tallest mountain in the world. Apart from the amazing height - you likely to suffer attitude sickness even at base camp, visually Everest is a stunning mountain. Add to that the yaks, Sherpas and isolation in the plateau on top of the world and you have something that attracts the adventure. I have no desire to climb the mighty mountain, one I'm getting too old and second going into any death zone isn't my cup of tea. But to climb some of the slopes could be fun.

4) Xi'an

Serving as the Capital to 11 Dynasties over 4,000 years you know there has to be something special about this site. The Xi'an City Walls 14km's long, give you the sense traveling back in time. You can imagine arriving in a caravan from the west seeking China's special silk and other products. Within the city as numerous pagodas, temple and places of interest including the Shaanxi History Museum.

5) The Terracotta Army

1000's of life-size pottery figures modeled after soldiers of the era. The tomb of the first Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi is yet to be fully excavated. The Chinese have great respect for their ancestors so they are moving carefully with this project, though I for one would love to find out what other hidden treasures are yet to be discovered.

6) Shanghai

The bund is not technically Chinese but a hang over from the colonial exploitation of China by the western powers and Japan, which is must be said was a disgusting period of history with Britain and other nations forcing Opium on the Chinese populace - the drug trade is disgusting, to then enforce that trade at the point of the gun is despicable. The bund is the waterfront of Shanghai with a 1920's art deco feel. Other must see places in Shanghai include the Shanghai museum, Yu Gardens and Bazaar

7) Finally the South West - in particular - the Landscape around Yangshuo, Guangxi - towering cliffs with rice paddy's and river give the traditional Chinese feel as China was for thousands of years. These weathered limestone formations from Karst are a photographers dream and inspired thousands of landscapes.

I told you I would struggle to fit everything into seven top picks, this list is just a tip of a large iceberg - as its not yet complete - the 3 Gorges Dam is added as a bonus here. What will become the largest power plant/dam in the world will definitely be worth a visit. As well I'd love to watch the huge tidal bore that occurs on the yellow river as well.

China - home to 1/5 of the world's population is overdue to become one of the world's great tourist hotspots. I for one will be happy to led the charge.

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An Issue For President Obama's First Visit to China - China's Worry About Japan's Military

China and other Asian nations are beginning to assess how the recent election victory by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will alter Japanese defense policies.

Beijing is hoping for a reversal or at least a slowdown of Japan's efforts in recent years to build up its defenses against the growing military power of China, especially any joint defense efforts with the United States.

Asian security issues are expected to be high on President Obama's agenda when he visits China in November. China and other Asian nations are beginning to assess how the recent election victory by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will alter Japanese defense policies.

Beijing is hoping for a reversal or at least a slowdown of Japan's efforts in recent years to build up its defenses against the growing military power of China, especially any joint defense efforts with the United States.

Asian security issues are expected to be high on President Obama's agenda when he visits China in November.

The DPJ's landslide victory Aug. 30 prompted calls among leaders for an "equal U.S.-Japan relationship." But it may be weeks before it is clear what such an equal relationship will mean.

Japan's conservative newspaper Sankei Shimbun has called for continuity "based on the alliance." The more moderate Yomiuri Shimbun thinks the DPJ, in calling for an alliance of equals, is "simply clinging to an abstract idea that lacks specific policies" and it warned the DPJ to "avoid words and actions that could weaken the alliance."

Japan's liberal newspaper Asahi Shimbun has forecast that the new policy will be revealed in two weeks when new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama attends the U.N. General Assembly and Group of 20 summit this month. Asahi also wants "reassurance to the Japanese people and the international community." No one seems to know whether the DPJ really wants to renegotiate the Pentagon plans for Japan to fund the transfer of most U.S. military forces from Okinawa to Guam in the next few years.

Japan's neighboring countries are also worried about major changes by the DPJ in its defense strategy. Hong Kong's center-left Sing Tao Daily warns that if Japan "wants to ride this recovery train, its diplomacy has to tilt more toward China."

Beijing's Youth Daily says Mr. Hatoyama's stated intention not to visit the World War II Yasukuni shrine, a controversial symbol for many Asian countries, has been taken by China as a "positive signal."

South Korean media are concerned about the DPJ approach to China, and to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program. South Korea's leftist Hankyoreh Shinmun describes Japan's past "insistence on bringing up citizen abduction issues that are not directly related to the agenda" as having a "deleterious effect" on the talks and now welcomes Mr. Hatoyama's openness to possible dialogue with Pyongyang.

China's state-run Global Times warns that Japan should avoid seeing itself as "the big boss in Asia."

Taiwanese commentators worry that closer relations with China could lead it to concede to possible requests from Beijing to push Taiwan out of the U.S.-Japan security relationship.

South Korea's Chosun Ilbo argues for continuity because the U.S.-Japan alliance has been "an axis of Northeast Asian security alongside the U.S.-Korea alliance.

Why does China's media seem so alarmed about the Japanese military? Judging from Chinese comments, there are seven major developments over the past few years that Beijing is seeking to cancel or stall.

* Japan's army divisions deployed in western and southern areas closer to China have been left largely intact despite cuts in the north. In 2002, the 700-strong Western Army Infantry Regiment charged with amphibious operations was formed in Nagasaki prefecture and a brigade based in Okinawa. It doubled its maneuver elements and added more than 850 personnel. The F-4 air-defense squadron on Okinawa was upgraded to a squadron of F-15s. Japan discussed deploying ground forces and jet fighters on small islands located about halfway between Okinawa and Taiwan.

* The 2005-09 Mid-Term Defense Program established the Central Readiness Force (CRF). The CRF brings many of Japan's mobile and special units under a single command reporting directly to the defense chief. CRF units include Japan's Helicopter Brigade, Airborne Brigade, Special Operations Group (established 2004) and Chemical Defense Unit, which could play a role in against any hypothetical Chinese seizure of the Senkaku Islands.

* Between 1998 and 2003, the Maritime Self-Defense Forces commissioned three 14,700-ton Osumi-class ships, designated as landing ships. Four times as large as any previous Japanese landing ship, the Osumi can accommodate two large hovercraft.

From 2010 to 2014, two large helicopter carriers are to be built, in this case designated as a destroyer but resembling small aircraft carriers. At 20,000 tons when fully loaded, they will be able to handle AV-8s Harriers or some versions of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

* Contingency plans for operations against China have been generated for the first time, and training has been adjusted accordingly. In November 2004, the Defense Agency compiled plans for counteroffensive operations in the event China seized the disputed Senkaku Islands east of Taiwan, according to BBC reporting from Tokyo.

* The Japanese media have reported that these plans call for dispatching troops, warplanes, destroyers and submarines. During the first phases, sea- and air-reconnaissance craft would provide intelligence. Finally, units of the Western Army Infantry Regiment (Nagasaki), designated as Japan's amphibious assault force, would retake the captured islands.

* In February 2006, a Yamasaki exercise, a biannual joint Japan-U.S. Army command-post exercise, focused for the first time on a counteroffensive scenario against enemy forces occupying one or more small southwestern islands, according to Sankei newspaper.

* In June 2007, eight Japanese F-2s fighter-bombers deployed to Guam and conducted the aircraft's first-ever live-bomb runs. It was only the third time that any Japanese fighter aircraft had conducted bombing runs in the organization's 60-year history.

The shift in political power in Tokyo, when combined with China's continuing lack of transparency in its military buildup, deserves close attention in the weeks and months ahead. Prior to Mr. Obama's trip to China, the United States will need to examine carefully what changes the new DPJ has in mind for China.

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Visit Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei is the only Taiwanese city developing a subway system at the present time. The Metropolitan Rapid Transit or MRT has been plagued with cost overruns and delays in opening. Taipei is the vibrant center of commerce on the island of Taiwan. It is home to many of the technology industry?s leading OEMs, supplying 79% of the world?s personal digital assistance (PDA) devices, 72% of the world?s notebook PCs and 68% of the world?s LCD monitors. Taipei is not the first city in Taiwan to have such a system. Kaohsiung started its own system at the beginning of this month.

Taipei is your Chinese home, away from home. Taipei is Taiwan's chief transportation center. The main domestic airport, Sungshan, is located northeast of Taipei's old central business district. Taipei is a city that developed around a river culture. Taipei was essentially divided among immigrants from different areas of China.

Taipei is definitely out of your budget. Hopefully you can get more money that 3,000 dollars, I'd shoot for at the very least 5,000 dollars if you plan on staying half an academic year. Taipei is a fascinating blend of old and new, a centre of government, business, finance, fashion and culture, where the only constant is change. Shoppers strolling north from the hotel on either Hsin Yi or Ren Ai roads will also find a wealth of possibilities, both modern and traditional. Taipei is full of beautiful temples and shrines. Night market and parks are worth a visit.

Taipei is composed of 12 urban districts and is a special municipality under the direct jurisdiction of the Taiwan Government. Taipei has a population of 2.6 million and the territory covers 270 km2. Taipei is a center of information flow, and businesses located in the city enjoy the additional advantage of having access to open markets and information. Taipei is the home of a myriad range of hotels. The hotels in Taipei can provide accommodation to all sorts of travelers.

Taipei is also internationally known for its traditional Taiwanese and neo-Chinese cuisine. The National Palace Museum, located at the northwest edge of the city, contains the greatest collection of Chinese art in the world. Taipei is also one of the world's top three cities for broadband deployment, with PCs in 88% of homes and 77% of households connected to ADSL service. Where hardware and infrastructure is concerned, Taipei is justly proud of being a global leader. Taipei is Taiwan's leading commercial, industrial, and cultural center. It is also the northern hub of the railway system.

Taipei is the capital city and Taiwan's economic and cultural center. It is a modern and convenient city located in the northwest corner of the island. Taipei is the capital and largest city in Taiwan. It is California's fourth largest trading partner. Taipei is the political, economic, educational and recreational center of the country, offering an array of significant cultural sights. The city is situated in a basin in northern Taiwan.

Taipei is located in northern Taiwan, covering 271.8 square kilometers. Its population is approximated at 2.62 million people. Taipei is located in a natural basin, surrounded by mountains on all sides, and belongs to a subtropical region, which has the effect of causing high humidity. The summer months of May through September are very hot, while the relatively short winters (usually mid-December through February) can be quite cool.

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