Things to Do in China

Back when Beijing consisted of single-story courtyard houses organized into hutongs, the Drum and Bell Towers in central Beijing dominated the landscape. While both structures have been rebuilt, they both date back hundreds of years.

The Drum Tower, built in 1272 during the Yuan Dynasty, originally housed 25 drums; today, only one remains. The Bell Tower was added in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, and together, the two structures were used as a method of official timekeeping until 1924, when the last Emperor was forced out of the Imperial Palace (Forbidden City).

While you’re touring Beijing’s Imperial sites, keep you ears open and you might hear the drum performances staged daily, even if you’re not at the towers. It’s also possible to climb into both towers. After ascending the steep staircases, you’ll be rewarded with excellent views over the surrounding hutongs.

Hong Kong’s public transportation system is one of the most modern and efficient in the world, but for an authentic, street-level tour of old Hong Kong Island, hop on the Ding Ding Tram. These double decker trams got their nickname from the dinging sound used to warn other traffic and pedestrians that the tram is approaching. The bell was replaced by a beeping sound in 2000, but the public vehemently opposed the change, and the “ding ding” sound was shortly reintroduced.

Trams have been ferrying passengers along the streets of Hong Kong since 1904, but the iconic double deckers didn’t show up on the scene until 1912. The modern line makes a loop from Kennedy Town in the west to Shau Kei Wan in the east, passing through some of the island’s oldest neighborhoods. Hong Kong maintains the largest fleet of double decker trams in the world, so you’ll only have to wait a minute or two, and you can pay the inexpensive fare with your octopus card.

In 1910, the Kowloon-Canton rail line began service, shuttling passengers between Mainland China and Hong Kong. Five years later, the Clock Tower was erected at what was then the Kowloon Station, where it still stands today. The 144-foot (44-meter) tall red brick and granite structure has since become one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, and a quite meaningful one for Mainlanders who passed through the station on the way to their new lives in Hong Kong and abroad.

Located in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, the Clock Tower is easily accessible from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue of Stars and Star Ferry Pier. If you’re in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, it’s worthwhile stopping by to see one of the city’s Declared Monuments and to do some people watching, as the public area in front of the Clock Tower has turned into a popular hangout among locals.

Nowhere is China’s rapid modernization more apparent than in Beijing at the China World Trade Center. Completed in 2010, the complex houses Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, the China World Trade Center Tower III, as well as upscale hotels, shopping complexes, apartments, convention space and office buildings.

The entire complex is also representative of China’s opening relations with the rest of the world. The China World Mall, located within the China World Trade Center, was one of the first places to sell imported brand name good in the country. The China World Exhibition Hall has hosted several high-profile trade shows since its opening.

From a tourist perspective, the China World Trade Center is perhaps best known as the home of the China World Hotel, Shangri-La's Beijing luxury accommodation offering. For shopping enthusiasts, the China World Mall houses an ice skating rink as well as retailers for brand names like Cartier, Prada, Gucci and E. Zegna.