National Geographic Traveler
4 total works
Combining in-depth information with high quality maps and photographs, this guide features detailed descriptions of major cultural, architectural and historical sites and includes commissioned walks and drives, plus regional and city maps. Places of interest are also highlighted on the maps.
The guide includes numerous full-spread, mapped walking and driving tours, three-dimensional illustrations, and a large section of detailed visitor information, including the author's picks of the most unique and charming hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Veteran travel writer and Hong Kong expert Phil MacDonald brings sophisticated, authoritative guidance, and a strong, individual voice to this book. This exquisitely illustrated, comprehensive guide deftly captures the spirit of Hong Kong - its gleaming skyscrapers, shopping streets, and world-famous restaurants - along with its lesser-known side - historic walled villages in the New Territories, green islands in the South China Sea, Chinese markets filled with dried sea creatures and other traditional remedies. 3D cutaways take a closer look at some of the more interesting sites (including the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Building and the bird-filled Mai Po Marshes), while self-guided tours focus on selected aspects of Hong Kong life (for instance a walking tour of Tsim Sha Tsui and a biking tour around a lush peninsula alive with wildlife).
In-depth sidebars explore some of the cultural traits of Hong Kong, including the rising popularity of Chinese tea drinking and the moviemaking industry.
In-depth sidebars explore some of the cultural traits of Hong Kong, including the rising popularity of Chinese tea drinking and the moviemaking industry.
National Geographic Traveler: Thailand, 4th Edition
by Phil Macdonald and Carl Parkes
Published 3 March 2015
Thailand is famous for its beaches, and you'll find all of the best ones here: Phuket and Koh Samui, as well as many others popular with Thais. Author Phil Macdonald makes sure you see all of the famous sights, and lesser-known ones as well. Self-guided tours with maps include a riverside walk in Bangkok and a boat trip down the Chao Phraya River. Special features include a guided boat trip down the Chao Phraya River and a riverside walk in Bangkok. Experiential sidebars abound, including one on staying overnight with a hill-tribe family, another on meditating with monks in Buddhist temples throughout Thailand, and another on culinary courses to learn how to make exquisite Thai dishes. A hefty Travelwise section includes information on how to get there and how to get around, as well as author-picked hotels and restaurants.
Broken into six regional chapters, the guide begins in Taipei, where traditional night markets and bustling Taoist temples contrast its 21st-century skyline (the tallest building in the world is under construction here). You then explore Taipei's surroundings and other sites in the North, including the potter's town of Yingko, where you can stroll down one long lane devoted to pottery shops featuring works made right in town; take the cure at Beitou hot springs; and hike through Yangmingshan National Park, popular for its mountain scenery and spring flowers. Next it's off to Taiwan's East Coast and one of Taiwan's major tourist sites, the stunning Taroko Gorge, a marble canyon etched with a roadway for easy access, but branched with lots of remote hiking trails.Take a drive farther down the coast through the East Coast National Scenic Area, along high-steeped cliffs past turquoise seas and sandy beaches. In the south of the island, you won't believe the gorgeous beaches lapped by turquoise waters; Kenting National Park is a prime birding spot, but is also known for its outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, and hiking.
Explore some of the remote offshore islands in the Taiwan Straits, including Penghu, famed for snorkeling, scuba diving, and charming fishing villages; and Kimen, a national park island whose underground military bases offer insight into the tenuous Sino-Taiwanese relationship. Wrapping back north through central west Taiwan, you can take the alpine railway to the tiptop of 10,000-foot Alishan, a mystical realm high above the clouds offering hiking, fabulous scenery, and the chance to relax.Neighbouring Jade Mountain, Taiwan's highest peak, lurks in the distance, beckoning the brave and adventurous to climb its summit. Sun Moon Lake lies nearby, its peak-ringed waters changing hues with the daylight, creating romantic scenes popular among the honeymooners who flock here.
Explore some of the remote offshore islands in the Taiwan Straits, including Penghu, famed for snorkeling, scuba diving, and charming fishing villages; and Kimen, a national park island whose underground military bases offer insight into the tenuous Sino-Taiwanese relationship. Wrapping back north through central west Taiwan, you can take the alpine railway to the tiptop of 10,000-foot Alishan, a mystical realm high above the clouds offering hiking, fabulous scenery, and the chance to relax.Neighbouring Jade Mountain, Taiwan's highest peak, lurks in the distance, beckoning the brave and adventurous to climb its summit. Sun Moon Lake lies nearby, its peak-ringed waters changing hues with the daylight, creating romantic scenes popular among the honeymooners who flock here.