China is actually a vibrant and rapidly developing economy. It’s now one of the strongest in the world, and every Chinese person is proud of their heritage.

Almost everywhere you go in China you can see people who are proud and respectful. As the world looks on, many are uncertain as to what China is about and there is still a great deal of mystery about what will become of this country, as it has rapidly transformed into a major global superpower.

The Beijing Olympics is perhaps the single most important event that could have happened to China. The Olympic Games brought world-wide media coverage to a country which for the most part had been ignored. From Hong Kong to Macau, many westerners have treated China with a wide berth, but China has now proven to the world it can be a great place for a holiday as there are countless great locations to visit. This really is a country that offers something unique every day, but the great part is that much of it is undiscovered and lies ready to be found as the country has largely opened up to western tourists.

Shenzhen is a major city in the heart of China. It’s not Hong Kong, it’s not Macau – it’s Shenzhen. Shenzhen is the third largest city in China, and it is also the country’s richest. It’s a place that’s often been forgotten by the west, however within China itself Shenzhen has a famous reputation for its shopping, restaurants and architecture that makes it very typically Chinese.

Shenzhen is an amazing city, and this is evident everywhere you go with its well-developed infrastructure. It is right next to Hong Kong and many residents from Hong Kong come here regularly to take advantage of the great night life and other attractions such as the many theme parks, museums and galleries which are central to the city.

Shanghai is home to around 18 million people making it one of the largest cities in the world. The city of Shanghai is also one of the most famous, with countless sights and attractions citywide. With Shanghai, simply staying in one part of the city and venturing out is not enough, as there is just so much to see. Everything from the French district that you never knew it had to the Bund which is now the major financial hub of China can be seen in Shanghai as well as countless other spectacles await you in Shanghai.

Shanghai really is the fusion of old, new east and west. It is here that you can really start to see China’s greatness, and from Shanghai you can discover this amazing city which is just as much of an urban metropolis as any city in the west, and with 18 million people is one of the largest cities in the world.

Beijing is the capital city of China and it’s a city that like many in China is growing so fast, that many maps you’ll find in tourist guides are outdated. Beijing serves as the capital city of China and it is here that you can find the world-famous Bird’s nest stadium which held the Olympics, as well as some of the most famous museums in Asia.

This city like no other, with locations such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City just a stone throw away. Beijing is a city with so much character that it simply must be seen to be believed. People say that one of the best ways to get around the city is by bicycle, but that’s only if you’re brave enough!

Hong Kong is one of the very unique islands under Chinese sovereignty, in that it’s very much a Cantonese city and its former British influences means that you can experience a diverse range of cultures on this small island which has also become a major world financial center. Hong Kong is a great city in its own right, and one cannot truly call it Chinese, and whilst the people are proud to be Chinese, they are even prouder when they say they’re from Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is rapidly becoming a major tourist destination because of its history but more importantly because of its future, as even though Hong Kong is under Chinese rule, it still has its own administrative government and currency. There is so much to do here with museums beaches, and also the much loved city life that makes it so famous.

Hangzhou is like the land that time forgot. It’s a world famous tourist destination because it is unspoiled and simply breathtaking. One of the most famous attractions is the Hangzhou it features amazing scenery, from the pavilion located on the island which is around 500 years old, or to the Su causeway which is over 3km long and over 800 years old.

Hiring a bike is something that you can do easily in Hangzhou and it’s one of the best ways to enjoy this famously beautiful city. With so much to see, you really will need to stay here for a while to take in the whole city, never mind everything on the West Lake itself.

No matter what anyone says, China is a magical kingdom that’s developing fast. Now may be the perfect time to see the country which has managed to transform in as little as 60 years. If you’ve thought about a trip to Asia, then visiting China will give you the experience of a lifetime.

During the 17 and 1800’s Portuguese influence was expanding rapidly with the advancement of naval shipping and trade. Before long the customs, traditions and most importantly foods, came back home with them when the voyage was done. After 200 years, there are few dishes or ingredients around the world that Portugal has not borrowed or integrated into the cultural cuisine.

The most common types of food you will find in Portuguese cuisine are hearty and inexpensive. They are fond of using various spices and other indigenous ingredients including cinnamon, vanilla, saffron, and several types of nuclear-strength hot peppers. Their food is highly reminiscence of the neighboring Arabian and Moorish specialties. The spices used in Portugal’s cuisine follows along with the seasons, and of course (jus like most of us) the average price at market.

A large part of Portugal’s population makes their living from the sea, whether in commercial fishing, boating or shipping. Because of this Portugal and especially areas like Lisbon feature a large variety of seafood and fish, especially “bacalhau” The name for Lisbon’s national dish – salt cod. According to locals they have devised 365 ways to cook salt cod, one for ever day of the year. You can also find various other seafood and fish in Lisbonian cuisine including octopus, hake, lamprey, a variety of shellfish and sardines, especially grilled sardinhas or assadas.

Portuguese cuisine is also heavily influenced by local meats like chicken, pork, partridge, goat, quail, rabbit and kid. The typical afful and by product meats that westerners typically shy away from and toss in the bin are always used in Portuguese dishes. In fact, in most places in the world, dishes like kidneys, liver, heart and tripe are staple foods and actually taste wonderful when prepared correctly. Many visitors to Portugal leave the country with quite a few strange favorite foods!   

Portugal also has a large community of vegetarians and many of the counties most popular dishes don’t include meat or seafood t all. Many types of dishes use beans, grains, and various local vegetables and ingredients that are free of any animal byproducts.

Desserts are far from forgotten in Portugal. Two of the countries most popular sweet dishes are Leite-creme – a creamy egg custard flavored with real locally grown vanilla beans and Arroz doce – a delicate set rice pudding that is typically decorated with cinnamon and anise, much like a western cupcake is decorated in with icing.

Clean energy advocates and activists have noted for decades that the barriers to a clean energy transition are political, not technical. Today, particularly in the United States, this is more apparent than ever.

Oil is at the core of issues like the health of our communities, global warming, war, and developing country debt. The profits of the oil companies have increased just as the price of gas for all of us has gone up. But whats good for Exxon, Chevron, and others is not necessarily good for the rest of us. Its time to ensure that our representatives represent us, not the oil companies. Its time for a separation of oil and state.

The situation is really dramatic for the unstable countries, which are have no or little ressouces to face the global warming. The countries who will lose water sources, lands, or will face unbelievable strong tempests will need efficient governments for competing all these ugly scenarios. Otherwise, the population will organize itself in defending groups, and the conflicts will be very intense.

So, dear reader, what do you think about this? Tell me plese your argumented opinion.

In my opinion, there are several crucial questions for our planet.

- demographic bomb

- environmental problems

- global warming

- the lack of raw materials for the industry. Soon (30 years) there will be no oil on earth!

- the lack of drinking water and food in many countries

What do you think about all these matters? Are you optimistic or rather pessimist? Which problems are easy to solve (what are you solutions?) and which not? Even if you don’t want to accept, these problems affect you and you must be aware of them! I would like to go in details and I need your help for it.

Shanghai (Chinese: Pnyin: Shànghai; ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in the eastern China, is the largest city of the People’s Republic of China and the eighth largest in the world. Widely regarded as the citadel of China’s modern economy, the city also serves as one of the nation’s most important cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers. Administratively, Shanghai is a municipality of the People’s Republic of China that has province level status. Shanghai is also one of the world’s busiest ports, and became the largest cargo port in the world in 2005.

Originally a fishing town, Shanghai became China’s most important city by the twentieth century and was the center of popular culture, intellectual discourse and political intrigue during the republican era. After the communist takeover in 1949, Shanghai languished due to heavy central government taxation and cessation of foreign investment, and had many of its supposedly “bourgeois” elements purged. Following the central government’s authorization of market economic redevelopment of Shanghai in 1992, Shanghai has now surpassed early-starters Shenzen and Guanzhou, and has since led China’s economic growth. Some challenges remain for Shanghai at the beginning of the 21st century, as the city struggles to cope with increased worker migration, a huge wealth gap, and environmental degradation. Despite these challenges, Shanghai’s skyscrapers and modern lifestyle are often seen as representing China’s recent development.

The city itself is a barrage of colors, sounds and, above all, motion. Nothing seems to stay still in this city, not even the shops. As the largest financial and commercial center in the country, the city seems to be expanding exponentially. It’s a bit strange to find such rapid growth in what was once a fiercely communist area – but that’s just the name of the game in Shanghai China. The Pudong New Area is an important special economic zone in China – as the most prosperous business locations in China, Shanghai leads all the others in both retail and exports. Larger than the rest of Shanghai combined, what used to be acres of boggy farmland now dominates the city.

That’s not to say the city hasn’t embraced tourism. Shanghai China has a mild climate year round, has practical beaches within its city limits and features a number of popular holydays, including the Longhua Temple Bell Striking, the Longhua Temple Fair, the Nanhui County Peach Blossom Festival, the International Tea Culture Festival, the Orange Festival – even the Shanghai Tourism festival.

A busy city indeed, fifteen million people call it home! Add the permanent crowds of tourists, at least two millions daily. As a tourist, can do, watch and live a lot in Shanghai.

Suggested Itinerary for Shanghai

1-3 Days

Though the list of tourist spots seems a bit lacking when spread out in print, it is almost a guarantee that you will spend more time in Shanghai than you planned for. The Bund is Shanghai’s most famous landmark, a monument to glitter and finance and a definite inclusion onto any China trip itinerary. The central district is where many tourists prefer to spend most of their time – at least a day or two is necessary to explore this part of town, which specializes in one thing: shopping. Fighting the crowds of pedestrian-only traffic can be exhausting after a few hours, though, which is why it is best to split the section into multiple days, if only to retain your sanity. Another day can be spent in the Jade Buddha Temple and the Shanghai museum.

Mansions, plazas, palaces – you’ll find these plastered all over the names of many Shanghai Hotels. The Peace Palace, Shangri-La, the usual offerings from the Ritz-Carlton, the Hilton, the Hyatt. Booking a hotel in Shanghai China can be an expensive endeavor, not to mention one fraught with possible problems – if you are looking for any kind of the precious few budget Shanghai Hotels, historically it’s a good idea to plan out your trip well in advance. Especially in the summer and near the Chinese New Year, these hotels will fill up at a disturbingly rapid pace.

If you want to stay for cheap near the People’s Square, there’s the YMCA Hotel, which isn’t nearly as bad as it sounds. Sure, it’s just a big dormitory, but it’s clean and cheap and the location is one of the best of all the budget hotels in Shanghai. Another quality establishment is the Pujiang Hotel, a short walk away from The Bund, and about half the price of even some of the other cheap hotels in Shanghai. You’d never know it from the look of the place, though. Spacious, stylish – the Pujiang is a wonderful value in a city where they can be hard to find sometimes.

Speaking of The Bund, it is the nearby area where you will find the glut of Shanghai hotels. You’ll find the Metropole Hotel, a throwback to colonial British times, complete with a basement pub and the English flag inside. The Jinchen Hotel and Xinya Dajiudian are a couple of the other mid-range hotels in Shanghai located nearby, with the latter being well-known for it’s thirties-era style and charm. But barring a little bit of haggling with the hotel manager, the prices of hotels just go up and up. Almost all of the hotels in Shanghai are top-end or nearly so, even if renovations have culled the character from many of the old style mansions and palaces. But there are plenty to choose from littered throughout the entire city, so it’s not like you’ll be without options. The Peace Hotel is by far the most famous and well-loved of any hotel in the city. Ascending from The Bund itself, its mere location should give you a pretty big hint as to the grandeur and grace with which this hotel is imbued with. What was once the offices of one of the richest men in Shanghai, now anyone (for the right price) can see the old-time luxury that remains in the twelve story hotel. Another Shanghai hotel that specializes in preserving history is the Ruijin Guesthouse – a series of aging mansions that feel like stepping into a time warp.

If you care less about history and more about luxury, the Portman Ritz-Carlton is considered by many to be one of the finest hotels in Shanghai. Located in Shanghai Center, it’s hard to beat the location, either. The Crowne-Plaza Shanghai is similar in many ways, though it has a fewer deluxe accommodations for a similar price.