Selasa, 31 Maret 2009

ShenZhen - China

Shenzhen is located in the southern portion of the Guangdong Province, on the eastern shore of the Pearl River Delta. Neighboring the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong (located just south of Shenzhen), Shenzhen's location gives it a geographical advantage for economic development. In 1980, the first Special Economic Zone of China was built in Shenzhen. From then on, Shenzhen become a highlighted city of China, one known for its rapid economic growth.
While Shenzhen City does not have as many historical attractions as other famous cities in China, it has created a number of excellent theme parks which entertain while teaching visitors about China and the world. Splendid China and China Folk Culture Villages introduce visitors to China's long history and varied cultures, while Window of the World will take you to every corner of the world in one day. Additionally, if you want to make your stay even more luxurious, visit Happy Valley, the largest of Shenzhen City's theme parks, situated on a picturesque coastline. Come enjoy the coastal view, the theme parks, the city, and especially the people of Shenzhen City

GuangZhou - China

Guangzhou, the South Gate of China, is a prosperous metropolis full of vigor. Guangzhou is the capital city of Guangdong, and the center of its political, economic, scientific, educational and cultural life. Sui (Ears of Rice) is short for Guangzhou and the City of Ram (Yang Cheng) is also an alias of Guangzhou. The kapok is the city flower and the kapok tree is the city tree of Guangzhou

Guangzhou is a famous historical city. In ancient days, Guangzhou was the capital city for three Chinese dynasties: the Nan Yue (South Yue), the Nan Han (South Han) and the Nanming (South Ming). Thus it was put in the list of the 24 most famous historical cultural cities and became a tourist destination. You can not understand most Chinese cities deeply until you know their history. This is true of Guangzhou. Many historic sights: the Western Han Nanyue King's Tomb Museum, the Zhenhai Tower and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall tell us the 2,000-year history of Guangzhou.

Senin, 30 Maret 2009

Panda at Panda Base, Cheng Du - China

Chengdu is the capital of "Heavenly State" (Tian Fu Zhi Guo), habitat of giant pandas and city of cotton-rose hibiscus.

Located in the west of Sichuan Basin and in the center of Chengdu Plain, Chengdu covers a total area of 12.3 thousand square kilometres (4,749 square miles) with a population of over 11 million.

Benefiting from Dujiangyan Irrigation Project which was constructed in 256 B.C., Sichuan Province is reputed as "Tian Fu Zhi Guo", literally a place richly endowed with natural resources. Chengdu, as the capital, is extremely productive. The Min and Tuo Rivers, two branches of the Yangtze River, connected to forty other rivers, supply an irrigation area of more than 700 square kilometres (270.27 square miles) with 150-180 million kilowatts of water. Consisting of bundant mineral resources, the land is extremely fertile.

Kwan Im Statue & Temple, Pematang Siantar - Indonesia

If you’re traveling to Siantar or on an excursion to Lake Toba in Prapat, have a stop off at Vihara Avalokitesvara in Pane street, Siantar. Help yourself to pray (for Buddhist) or admire the statue of Kwan Im (Quan Yin) that is recorded by MURI (Indonesia’s Record Museum) as the biggest Avalokitesvara Bodhissatva Statue in Indonesia.

Kwan Im statue in Siantar was built in 3 years and made public on 15th November 2005. The 22.8 meters granite statue was ordered from China as the heighest statue in South East Asia.

For Buddhist, Kwan Im is regarded as the Goddess of Mercy and known as Bodhisattva or Buddha-To-Be, human being that is almost reaching enlightment and perfection. The position of Kwan Im in Siantar is called “The Sutra Holder Quan Yin” out of 33 other positions.

Kwan Im is also called Avalokitesvara, identical to the Vihara in which the statue is in. Aval means “hear” and lokite means “world” and svara means “voice” which summarizes “Hearing voices of the world”. “Avalokitesvara, as buddhists believed, is compassion. And those who suffer will be heard”, said Monk Dhyanavira of Vihara Avalokitesvara.

The statue is surrounded by “Catur Mahadewa Raja” (guardians of hell, who’s noting merits/misdeeds done by mortals). The site is also featured with a giant bell and a praying wheel. At the lower part of the site, 33 small Kwan Im statues are circling the big statue.

The Kwan Im statues is now one of religious sites to visit in Siantar, visited by many tourists as well as pilgrims especially on holiday and holy day of Buddhist.

Genting Highland - Malaysia

Genting Highlands (Malay: Tanah Tinggi Genting) (About 1850m above sea level is a mountain peak within the Titiwangsa Mountains on the border between the states of Pahang and Selangor of Malaysia and is home to a famous mountain resort by the same name which can be reached by car from Kuala Lumpur in one hour. It is also accessible by the world's fastest and South East Asia's longest cable car called Genting Skyway (3.38km[1]). In 2006, the resort has18.4 million visitors. Genting Highlands was founded by the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong in the late 1960s. Currently, this resort is being lead by Lim Goh Tong's son, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay who is also the current president and CEO of Star Cruises company.

It is sometimes informally known as the Las Vegas of Malaysia, dubbed the "City of Entertainment" as it is the only legal land-based casino in Malaysia, run by Resorts World Bhd, a sub-company of Genting Group. The resort, Genting Highlands Resort, also features many hotels owned by Genting subsidiaries including Awana Genting, First World Hotel, Genting Hotel, Highlands Hotel, Resort Hotel and Theme Park Hotel. Facilities in this resort include two theme parks, a Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, a wind-turbine sky diving simulator, golf courses and shopping malls.

In 2006,2007,2008, Guinness World Records listed the First World Hotel as the world's largest hotel with a total of 10,118 rooms.

There is a computerised system outside First World Hotel which can automatically calculate the number of parking-bays left in four hotels; First World Hotel, Genting Hotel, Highlands Hotel and Resort Hotel.

Genting Highlands is also home to a 100 million year old forest.