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At the end of this year, or more specifically, the end of this week, I plan to visit China, which is a long overdue plan. The plan is to cover three cities: Shanghai, Beijing, and Hangzhou.

Shanghai, as the biggest city, population wise, in China, roots its history back to Song Dynasty (AD 960 – 1279), as a busy seaport. Eventually, it outgrew its original political jurisdictions to become the center of finance and trade in mainland China. What people might not know is that in the 1930s and early 1940s, over 20,000 European Jews fleeing Nazi persecution found refuge in Shanghai, one of the few places in the world that allowed their entry at that time. Shanghai will hold the next World’s Fare in 2010.

Beijing becomes famous long before it wins 2008 Olympic. As the capital of China for the last three dynasties, the city is history rich. It first became the capital of State of Yan, one of the powers of the Warring States Period (473-221 BC) with the name Ji. Most of historic temples/palaces were constructed in Qing Dynasty, except Great Wall, which was done in Ming Dynasty. Forbidden City, Great Wall, and Summer Palace are places worth visiting.

The city of Hangzhou was founded about 2,200 years ago during the Qin Dynasty, it is listed as one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China. Hangzhou was the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty from the early 12th century until the Mongol invasion of 1276. The Venetian Marco Polo visited Hangzhou in the late 13th century and referred to the city as “beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world.”

I will share my journey here with everyone!