Hong Kong might not be a bike-friendly city compared to some European cities, namely Utrecht, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Yet, in some parts of the New Territories and on outlying islands, we are still able to find some recreational cycling tracks for the locals and the tourists. From Tai Wai to Tai Mei Tuk, an approximately 3-hour one-way ride is one of the popular options. Stop 1: Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Che Kung Temple Established in December 2000, the museum is an exampl

Rest is returning to the ease and effortless state within. Living in this hustling and bustling city, how long haven’t you rested? “Twinkling Lullabies” in the 500-seat Theatre. A light installation by Artist Kingsley Ng and his creative team partnered with Videotage. Find a moment of tranquility within the urban landscape, as the acclaimed program premiered at Paris’s Centre Pompidou makes its Hong Kong debut this summer. An empty stage awaits you in the theatre. Make yourse

The statues of Tutankhamun and his family reflect the reconstruction of religion and kingship during the late 18th Dynasty. Pharaoh Akhenaten was generally considered as Tutankhamun's father. He initiated radical religious reforms, namely replacing traditional polytheism with the exclusive worship of the sun god Aten, and relocating the capital to the new city of Amarna. Tutankhamun ascended the throne at the age of 9 amidst turmoil, restored traditional worship of the god Am

The pursuit of eternal afterlife is a key tenet of ancient Egyptian faith. They believed that after death and successful passage through judgement in the underworld, a person’s soul would attain immortality. Behind the funerary practices , such as multi-layered painted wooden coffins and canopic jars for containing organs, were the efforts of preserving the bodies of the deceased. Eight Steps of Mummification Process Step 1: Cleaning the body Step 2: Removing the brain Step 3

Since the Predynastic Period (about 4000 BC to 3200 BC), sacred animal cults reached unprecedented heights among Ancient Egyptians. Instead of worshipping animals, they regarded certain animals as earthly incarnations or emissaries of gods and goddesses. Most deities were anthropomorphised, but they retained their heads as a defining feature of divine hybridism. While Bastet was a war goddess depicted as a fierce lioness, she gradually transitioned into a gentle domestic cat,

Located in western Kanagawa Prefecture, the town of Hakone is part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (富士箱根伊豆國家公園). It takes only 1.5 hours from Tokyo to Hakone, which offers the tourists an easy excursion from the hustle and bustle of the capital, brimming with stunning views of Mount Fuji, high quality natural hot springs and more undiscovered treasures. Owakudani (大涌谷) is accessible from Hakone-Yumoto Station either via train, cable car, or ropeway. Due to the volcanic erupt

Nagano (長野) boasts the highest mountain ranges in the country, so it is regarded as the “roof of Japan”. We can reach the sky via visiting the Matsumoto Castle (松本城). It was built in the 16th century. Stepping into its wooden interiors, we can admire the medieval weapons in the oldest surviving castles of Japan. Interestingly, the castle is coined as “Crow Castle” with its jet-black outlook. Not only is Matsumoto (松本) a gateway to the Japan Alps, it is also the birthplace of

Mt. Fuji is the most obvious power spot. This UNESCO-designated World Cultural Heritage site nurtured the Fuji Five Lakes upon volcanic eruptions, when lava blocked rivers or split existing lakes. Lake Yamanaka was split from Utsuko; Lake Saiko, Motosu and Shojiko were split from Se-no-umi; while Lake Kawaguchi was a result of barrage formation by solidified magma. Here is the top ten power spots in search of spiritual connection: 1）Mt. Taikan Observatory, Kanagawa (大観山スカイラウン

“The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country (国境の長いトンネルを抜けると、雪国であった).” — “Snow Country”, Yasunari Kawabata Alongside Kurobe Gorge and Osugi Gorge, Kiyotsu Gorge stands among one of the three great gorges in Japan. Towering cliffs with “columnar jointing" created a V-shaped grand canyon over the Kiyotsu River. It was not until 1996 that a 750m pedestrian tunnel was constructed, from which one could admire the gorge safely. Inspired by the "five elements" of nat

The Railway system in Japan offers world-class services. As a celebration of its culture, visitors can learn about its history in a museum, including the first bullet train “Shinkansen” in the world… Japan celebrates Railway Day (鉄道の日) every 14 October in order to honor the achievement of its transportation system. The Mumbles to Swansea Railroad in Wales was the first fee-paying railroad, while the history of Japan rail transport can be traced back to the 19th century, when