A Visit to a Mosque and Muslim Cemetery in Macau
My trip to Macau wasn’t over. After visiting the Grotto Luiz de Camões—a small cave where the one-eyed poet is enshrined—yellow bus number 18, bound for Portas de Cerco, or Border Gate, took me to my next destination: the Mesquita e Cemitério de Macau, or Macau Mosque, which houses an old cemetery complex. This visit […]
The Fun of Taking a Free Shuttle to Macau’s Casinos
The Macau Ferry Terminal — officially known as the Terminal Marítimo de Passageiros do Porto Exterior — is one of the main entry points to the Macau SAR. This is where a row of jetfoils, high-speed boats that depart every five to ten minutes for Hong Kong, shuttle thousands of passengers to and from the […]
Portuguese Egg Tarts and Matcha at the Ruins of Sao Paulo in Macau
The last day in Macau is always special. After exploring the grand casinos of Taipa, today I chose to explore the other side of the city—Old Town Macau, often called San Ma Lo. From the Grand Lisboa Hotel, a taxi took us along Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, the main street on the Macau Peninsula, which, […]
6 Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Hainan, a Visa-Free Tropical Island
Who says you have to fly to Indonesia to experience a tropical atmosphere like Bali? Now, at the southern tip of China, there’s an island offering blue seas, white beaches, and even its own “Bali village” — it’s called Hainan (海南). This island is now one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Asia, offering […]
Crossing the South China Sea on a Steel Giant
Travel Notes from Hong Kong to Macau When Cathay Pacific flight CX798, carrying us from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, landed softly in the early morning at Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, the cabin was still chilled by the scent of metal and coffee. Through the windows, the runway appeared to circle over the sea. […]
A Tale of Sharks and Pineapples in Hainan
Our trip to Hainan Island began with a brief stop in Sanya, the second largest city in Hainan Province and a city with many Russian-language signs and road signs. With a local tour guide named Angela, also known as Xiao Lung, our group enjoyed the bus ride along the smooth roads in southern Hainan. Angela […]
Kneeling at the Toenails of Goddess Kwan Yin in Nan Shan
The fierce Hainan Island sun immediately burned our skin as we exited the bus at the Sanya Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone. It was quite a busy afternoon, with dozens of tour buses lined up, and most visitors had begun waving umbrellas over their heads, even though there was no sign of rain. With the air […]
Russia’s Footprint on China’s Southern Tip: Travel Notes to Hainan
Hainan is China’s southernmost province—and also the only one entirely island. From the air, its shape resembles a drop of water falling into the South China Sea, as if destined to be a tropical paradise amidst the frigid Asian mainland. This is the island I was headed to for the next few days, on a […]
Roses for Xi Jinping and the One Child Policy
Our journey in Hainan continues. After a morning visit to a legendary traditional Chinese medicine factory, our next destination is one of China’s most famous rose gardens, Yalong Bay Rose Valley, sometimes called Yalong Bay Rose Park. On the way to the flower garden, our tour guide talked extensively about Hainan Island and briefly explored […]
At the Edge of the Sky and the Edge of the Sea: Sunset Notes at Tianya Haijiao
It was nearing dusk when our bus arrived at our next destination: Tianya Haijiao, which the tour guide had called the most romantic beach in Hainan—and indeed, in all of China. “If we hold hands with our partner here, our relationship is guaranteed to last until we’re grandparents,” Angela said teasingly on the bus. Not […]
