ruinix's blog ^pro

There are so many amazing places in China that is easy to find some "rankings" on internet about the most beautiful cities in China.
Personally, even though I visited some 30 chinese cities until now, I can't say if I prefer Hangzhou or Xiamen or Beijing or Suzhou or Xi'an or Dalian. They are all amazing, as well as many others. The difference in all of them makes China. And like I read somewhere: "China is not a country, is a different world.".

But Dalian is referred in a lot of those rankings as the most beautiful city in China. And I was waiting for the summer to visit this coast city. I agree that this city is amazing.
Hope you enjoy these photos.

I like Xianggang (aka Hongkong), I like more Shanghai (and that's why I live here...), but HK is also nice. Different than other Chinese cities and with a great night life.
I went there again last week. I'm publishing my last photos from this place here, enjoy them.

In the last days I went to Xiamen, in Fujian province. This is really one of the most beautiful chinese cities I saw.
Besides several beaches, I visited Gulangyu island, Hulishan fort and Zhongshan lu.
Take a look around. I'm publishing some photos here.

I went with Elsa in the beginning of this Chinese New Year of 4707 to the capital of People's Republic of China, Beijing, to visit (or re-visit) some Olympic Games infrastrutures, Great Wall of China, White Pagoda, National Grand Theatre (Opera House), Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, new CCTV building, Temple of Heaven and Chaoyang Park.
All my photos of Beijing are here. Enjoy! :)

I never was a big fan of journalism (or of the business of journalism).
It's "amazing" what words can do to distort unsure minds. It's "amazing" how it's possible to lie without showing it's a lie. Xīzàng (Tibet) is a good example.
I was always afraid about this "reform and opening-up" of China, that's for sure. But it's nice to hear this from the president of this country.

--
President Hu Jintao said today that China would adhere to its own social system and development path and never bow to foreign pressure.
Hu made the remarks while addressing a grand gathering in Beijing to mark the 30th anniversary of the reform and opening-up drive, which turned the once poverty-stricken country into one of the world's largest economies.
Hu said the future and fate of China as well as the rest of the world have become increasingly intertwined, thus the country should maintain its independence while courageously participating in globalization.
For such a populous developing socialist country as China, independence and self-reliance should form the basis of development, which means the country must adhere to the social system and development path chosen by its own people, he said.
President Hu said the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and the common interests of the world would be the starting point for China's foreign policy. Thus, China's position and policies would be based on the merits and demerits of each case, Hu added.
He also said China would address its affairs with careful observation and in the spirit of mutual respect while searching for common ground. Nonetheless, China would never succumb to external pressure, he said.

As one of the oldest cities in Chinese history, Xi'an is one of the ancient capitals of China because it has been the capital (under various names) of some of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui and Tang dynasties. This Chinese city has more than 3100 years of history and that fact makes this city even more interesting. Nowadays is the capital of Shaanxi province.
The Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses (兵马俑 - bīngmǎ yǒng) are absolutely amazing and impressive. Because of the quantity, because of the perfection, because they were made more than 2000 years ago and because they were found only 30 years ago.
But like a chinese friend from Xi'an advised me one time, this city has much more to see than just the Terracotta's. And it's true.
I am publishing some photos here.

This is my 3rd Chinese National Holiday in People's Republic of China.
This year, I went with her to Nanjing and Yangzhou. Two wonderful chinese cities. I published some photos here and here.
Yangzhou is another great city of China. The city was founded 26 centuries ago, with its oldest known name being Kuang-ling.
In the year 590, Kuang-ling began to be called Yangzhou, which was the traditional name of the entire southeastern part of China. Beginning in the 7th century, Yangzhou was the main commercial city of the Yangzi valley, due to its importance as a canal port, seaport and administrative center.
Nanjing is at 250km from Shanghai and it's the capital of Jiangsu province. In the past it was also the capital of China.
This was also the third time I came to this city but the first time I visited the Memorial Hall of Nanjing Massacre, where in 15 days the Japanese invaders killed 300000 Chinese people in this city. But the Japanese underestimated the courage and strength of the Chinese people. And instead of breaking the people's will, the invasion only served to fuel a sense of identity and determination, and with Mao Zedong and CPC, start to build what China is nowadays.
From all the museums I know, in Europe and here in China, this was definitely the most impressive one.

Right now i am a tourist in my hometown. Two years later i'm back to Portugal and i'll stay here for some time before return to China.
I'll publish some photos here.

Neste momento sou um turista na minha terra natal. Ao fim de dois anos voltei para Portugal e irei estar nesta terra à beira mar plantada nos próximos tempos antes de regressar à China.
Irei publicar algumas fotos aqui.

Last saturday i went with Elsa to the Shanghai zoo.
I've been publishing these photos in this album. Take a look! ;)

This sunday i went to the city of Zhouzhuang, in Jiangsu province.
In the next days, i'll upload the rest of the photos of this trip. Meanwhile i created this album.

These days i've been in Hongkong. I published some photos here.

In the end of 2007 i went with her to Hangzhou.
This time i visited not only the city of Hangzhou but also the Qiandao lake.
We entered in 2008 in this beautiful Chinese city.
The photos of this new year trip are in these albums (Hangzhou, Qiandao).

Before ipernity i used to post photos here. Due to some problems of this service i decided to move 5 months ago to ipernity.
I uploaded now to my ipernity some of the previous photos i took on Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai.

Yesterday i visited the Shanghai's ancient town of Qibao.
At the entrace there was a sign that said: "If you want to see 10 years of Shanghai you should see Pudong, if you want to see 100 years of Shanghai you should see the Bund, if you want to see 1000 years of Shanghai you should see Qibao."
I published the photos of this little trip and created this album.

They are here! Ipernity is getting better and better. :D
I created the group China, everyone is invited to join, to contribute with photos of China or just to take a look around.

http://www.ipernity.com/group/china/

This weekend i went to Suzhou with friends. Check out the photos here. ;)

I've been in Macau this week. I travelled by train from Shanghai to Shenzhen, then by boat to Macau, some days later back to Shenzhen, then i went by train to Guangzhou and then back to Shanghai.
I posted already some photos of this little trip. In the next days i'll post more.

Today was my first day of work to Ipernity, helping in the translation to Portuguese.
I'll try my best!!