Journey To The Jade Buddha

The Hong Kong Island skyline, with its ever-growing number of skyscrapers, speaks to ambition and money. Paris, London, even New York were centuries in the making, while Hong Kong's towers, bright lights, and glitzy shopping emporia weren't yet part of the urban scene when many of the young investment bankers who fuel one of the world's leading financial centers were born. Commerce is concentrated in the glittering high-rises of Central, tucked between Victoria Harbor and forested peaks on Hong Kong Island's north shore. While it's easy to think all the bright lights are the sum of today's Hong Kong, you need only walk or board a tram for the short jaunt west into Western to discover a side of Hong Kong that is more traditionally Chinese but no less high-energy. You'll discover the real Hong Kong to the east of Central, too, in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and beyond. Amid the residential towers are restaurants, shopping malls, bars, convention centers, a nice smattering of museums, and—depending on fate and the horse you wager on—one of Hong Kong's luckiest or unluckiest spots, the Happy Valley Racecourse. Kowloon sprawls across a generous swath of the Chinese mainland across Victoria Harbour from Central. Tsim Sha Tsui, at the tip of Kowloon peninsula, is packed with glitzy shops, first-rate museums, and eye-popping views of the skyline across the water. Just to the north are the teeming market streets of Mong Kok and in the dense residential neighborhoods beyond, two of Hong Kong's most enchanting spiritual sights, Wong Tai Sin Temple and Chi Lin Nunnery. As you navigate this huge metropolis (easy to do on the excellent transportation network), keep in mind that streets are usually numbered odd on one side, even on the other. There's no baseline for street numbers and no block-based numbering system, but street signs indicate building numbers for any given block.

With the glittering lights of Taipei - a futuristic metropolis of culture and ideas - sparkling nearby, Keelung is the first calling point for many visitors arriving in Taiwan. While this port city essentially serves as Taipei's ocean gateway, you shouldn’t be too hasty in dashing off to Taipei's neon-lit magic – first it’s well worth spending some time exploring the famous glowing night market, which hums with life each evening and is famous for its local seafood.

Ishigaki is a city in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and includes Ishigaki Island and the disputed Senkaku Islands territory. Ishigaki City is the political, cultural, and economic centre of the Yaeyama Islands. At approximately 85 square miles (221 square kilometres) Ishigaki City covers all of Ishigaki Island. Ishigaki Island is part of the island chain comprising the Yaeyama Archipelago, and surrounded by coral reefs. Its highest point is Omoto, an approximately 1,726-foot-high (about 526-metre-high) mountain located on Ishigaki Island, and the tallest mountain in the Okinawa Prefecture. Together with Kabira Bay, Mount Omoto is a nationally-designated Place of Scenic Beauty. The uninhabited Senkaku Islands are located approximately 93 miles (about 150 kilometres) north of Ishigaki Island, and have an area of approximately 2.4 square miles (about 6.3 square kilometres).

Shanghai is a city of two faces. It is home to some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, miles of luxury goods shops, and scores of trendy bars and restaurants. But look just beyond the main streets and you’ll find narrow alleyways packed with traditional lane houses, where laundry billows from bamboo poles, and local communities are alive and well.Shanghai has always been China’s most Westernized city. In its heyday, Shanghai had the best nightlife, the greatest architecture, and the strongest business in Asia. Nearly a century later, after extreme tumult and political upheaval, it’s back on top.Shanghai’s charm lies not in a list of must-see sites, but in quiet, tree-lined streets, the Bund’s majestic colonial buildings, sweet boutiques, and a dizzying array of places to eat and drink, from literal hole-in-the-walls to celebrity chef restaurants.Today, Shanghai has nearly 24 million people, the skyscrapers keep getting taller, the metro keeps getting longer, and the historical buildings continue to evade the wrecking ball. For how much longer is anyone’s guess.

Shanghai is a city of two faces. It is home to some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, miles of luxury goods shops, and scores of trendy bars and restaurants. But look just beyond the main streets and you’ll find narrow alleyways packed with traditional lane houses, where laundry billows from bamboo poles, and local communities are alive and well.Shanghai has always been China’s most Westernized city. In its heyday, Shanghai had the best nightlife, the greatest architecture, and the strongest business in Asia. Nearly a century later, after extreme tumult and political upheaval, it’s back on top.Shanghai’s charm lies not in a list of must-see sites, but in quiet, tree-lined streets, the Bund’s majestic colonial buildings, sweet boutiques, and a dizzying array of places to eat and drink, from literal hole-in-the-walls to celebrity chef restaurants.Today, Shanghai has nearly 24 million people, the skyscrapers keep getting taller, the metro keeps getting longer, and the historical buildings continue to evade the wrecking ball. For how much longer is anyone’s guess.

Incheon is a major port city located on the northwest coast of South Korea, near Seoul. Known for blending modern development with rich history, it serves as a key gateway to the country, especially through the world-class Incheon International Airport, one of the busiest and most advanced airports globally.

The city offers a variety of attractions, from the futuristic Songdo International Business District—a modern smart city with high-tech infrastructure—to cultural and historical sites like Incheon Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in South Korea, filled with vibrant streets, traditional architecture, and delicious food.

Incheon also has scenic coastal areas, parks, and islands such as Wolmido Island, known for its seaside views, amusement rides, and relaxing atmosphere.

With its mix of innovation, history, and coastal charm, Incheon provides a unique experience for visitors, combining urban convenience with cultural exploration.

Incheon is a major port city located on the northwest coast of South Korea, near Seoul. Known for blending modern development with rich history, it serves as a key gateway to the country, especially through the world-class Incheon International Airport, one of the busiest and most advanced airports globally.

The city offers a variety of attractions, from the futuristic Songdo International Business District—a modern smart city with high-tech infrastructure—to cultural and historical sites like Incheon Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in South Korea, filled with vibrant streets, traditional architecture, and delicious food.

Incheon also has scenic coastal areas, parks, and islands such as Wolmido Island, known for its seaside views, amusement rides, and relaxing atmosphere.

With its mix of innovation, history, and coastal charm, Incheon provides a unique experience for visitors, combining urban convenience with cultural exploration.