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Well, a heatwave in England isn’t quite the same as in many other parts of the world — like Hungary, where it can reach 36–38 °C, or India, where it climbs to 40–45 °C. Here, when the temperature rises above 25 °C, locals already call it a heatwave. This was the first time I experienced such an event: several days without rain and temperatures hovering around 26 °C. To be fair, in the sun it feels warmer, and it’s no surprise you see so many yobos walking around shirtless. I don't do it. Not because I'm not a yobo, but because it's not that hot. Portsmouth has several beaches, stretching from Old Portsmouth through Southsea to Eastney. The following photos were taken on walks from Spice Island to South Parade Pier. (A large part of the seafront is currently closed for renovation works.)

  What kind of budget accommodation can you expect for around £10–20 in Japan , South Korea , Taiwan , Hong Kong , and mainland China ? Japan is the most expensive of the five, and at this price you're usually looking at a dormitory bed; occasionally, however, it's possible to find a private room with an en-suite bathroom for this price in so-called business hotels. South Korea is similar, perhaps slightly more affordable. In Taiwan, you can find good hotel deals, but prices vary significantly by region — some places are surprisingly expensive even at the budget level. Hong Kong is notoriously poor value for money: budget rooms are tiny and pricey, barely large enough to fit a single bed. Mainland China stands out as the cheapest and best value option, offering surprisingly good budget hotels. The following list of hotels offers a glimpse into what you can realistically expect in this price range in these countries, based on personal experience and without affiliate links....

Chongqing is the last destination of my recent Asia trip, as I'm flying back to Budapest from here on Air China’s weekly direct flight. The city has recently gained popularity for its unique attractions, such as the monorail that passes through a residential building, or the city square that sits at around street level on one side but towers 20 stories above a street on the other. Central Chongqing sits on a narrow rocky ridge between the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, with steep cliffs on both sides. This unique landscape has led to the development of a multi-layered, "3D city". There's also the so-called cyberpunk building, the Hongyadong complex, an 11-story reconstruction of a traditional stilt house, also built into a cliff. Home to around 32 million people, hilly and modern Chongqing offers many other attractions, including a statue of the Hungarian poet and his love, Sándor Petőfi and Júlia Szendrey. 

  Many visitors come for just a few hours on a day trip from Chengdu—but that’s a mistake. You need a full day to properly visit the Leshan Giant Buddha , see it from the river, and explore the nearby Oriental Buddha Park and Wuyou Temple hill. At a leisurely pace, it could easily take two days. You can also do a day trip to Emeishan from Leshan by public bus, but in my opinion, it's better to stay overnight there—perhaps in a monastery below the Golden Summit. So, for Leshan alone, you’ll need at least one night, preferably two. The city itself is quite sprawling, modern, and tidy, but it doesn't offer many attractions. The train station is a bit far from the center, but public transport is a good option to reach both the city center and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Below are the tourist basics. 

  Located about 40 kilometres from Leshan, Emeishan (Mount Emei) is one of China’s most sacred mountains. As one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, it is home to over 30 temples and monasteries, some more than a thousand years old. The main site is the Golden Summit, featuring a giant golden statue of Samantabhadra seated on four elephants, along with a golden temple. The scenery is said to be spectacular, but I couldn’t see much on the day of my visit. Apart from the weather, the trip was somewhat disappointing — it’s still worth visiting, but you need to know what to expect. 

  The Oriental Buddha Park (also called Oriental Buddhist Park and Eastern Buddhist Capital) is a large cultural and religious-themed complex above and under ground, featuring thousands of Buddhist statues, including some monumental creations. Unlike the nearby ancient Leshan Giant Buddha and Mahao Cliff Tombs , the Oriental Buddha Park is a new site built during the late 20th and early 21st century. The statues were crafted using traditional stone carving techniques combined with modern engineering, allowing the creation of impressively massive figures while maintaining the style and spirit of classical Buddhist art. The park’s highlights include a 51-meter-tall standing Buddha representing the Medicine Buddha (also called Pharmacist Buddha and Bhaisajyaguru), a 33-meter-tall seated Buddha, and a 170-meter-long reclining Buddha. While the site does not contain original ancient artifacts, the craftsmanship, scale, and atmosphere make it very much worth visiting. 

  Located near Chengdu, Leshan is home to the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. Carved out of a cliff face, the 71 meters tall statue overlooks the junction of the Min and Dadu Rivers. You can walk up to the statue’s head and look down, walk down to its feet and look up, and view it from a boat. The area also offers distant but nice city views. You could do the walk and the boat ride easily in a short day, along with a visit to the Mahao Cliff Tombs and Wuyou Temple, both located between the Giant Buddha and the cruise port. In a longer day's program you can also include a visit to the Oriental Buddha Park, a separate and fairly large attraction (separate ticket required) that is well worth seeing — see the post about the Oriental Buddha Park . 

  Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, is a very pleasant and surprisingly beautiful city. For me, it was just a stopover on the way to Leshan to see the Giant Buddha, but I managed to explore a bit during the two full days I had there. I only visited the main attractions — quite a few, though there’s definitely much more to see in a city as big and culturally rich as Chengdu. For many visitors, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a major highlight, but I decided to skip it — let the researchers do the researching. It was also great to catch a few glimpses of everyday life just a few steps away from the main tourist paths.

  The two main reasons to visit Zhangjiajie are the striking Tianmen Mountain (Tianmenshan) and the otherworldly Avatar Mountains (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park) — but they are about 40 kilometers apart. How can you get the best out of a visit? Where should you stay, and for how long? The best advice is: take your time. Allow more days than you think you’ll need, as the weather is unpredictable. As for where to stay, both Zhangjiajie city, at the foot of Tianmen Mountain, and the little town of Wulingyuan, near the Avatar Mountains, can serve as good bases. The high speed train station, Zhangjiajie West (Zhangjiajiexi) Station, is between the two. The ideal option is to stay in both. 

  If you’re looking for a different experience and landscape than the Avatar-style mountains of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, consider visiting the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and its famous Glass Bridge. These sites are not as grandoise or scary as the names suggest, but it’s still a nice program that takes about a long half-day or a short full day. The bridge isn’t too intimidating, as it includes solid metal sections alongside the glass panels. The canyon itself isn’t that grand in scale, but it’s definitely scenic. For an extra thrill, you can add a zip line ride across the canyon for just CNY 50, which is very reasonable. Now, looking back, I know I should have done it. A short boat ride at the end of the trail is included in the basic ticket. 

  Located about 30 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie, near the town of Wulingyuan, is China’s oldest national park: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is the place that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar, earning it the popular nickname "Avatar Mountains". The park covers a large area, with shuttle buses, cable cars, and even lifts operating inside to connect the main scenic spots. (Shuttle buses are free with the ticket; the rest are at an additional cost.) There are popular cliff-edge paths as well as quieter hiking trails. The national park is divided into 4 main areas, and the entrance ticket is valid for four consecutive days, which is useful if you want to explore each earea to some extent. It's not likely that you can hike every trail in four days unless you’re an extreme walker. The four main areas consist of Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Huangshi Village (Huangshizhai), and between them are other locations such as the Gol...

  Located about 30 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie, near the town of Wulingyuan, is China’s oldest national park: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is the place that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar, earning it the popular nickname "Avatar Mountains". The park covers a large area, with shuttle buses, cable cars, and even lifts operating inside to connect the main scenic spots. (Shuttle buses are free with the ticket; the rest are at an additional cost.) There are popular cliff-edge paths as well as quieter hiking trails. The national park is divided into 4 main areas, and the entrance ticket is valid for four consecutive days, which is useful if you want to explore each earea to some extent. It's not likely that you can hike every trail in four days unless you’re an extreme walker. The four main areas consist of Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Huangshi Village (Huangshizhai), and between them are other locations such as the Gol...

  Tianmenshan (Tianmen Mountain), located right next to the small city of Zhangjiajie, is one of the most spectacular mountains in China. The dramatic rock massif, with its sheer vertical cliffs and the famous natural arch (Tianmen Cave or Heaven’s Gate) reached by a long stairway, is well-known — but the entire scenic area is much larger than most people expect. Exploring the full mountain top takes a full day, as the area is expansive and involves multiple transport systems. There are two main cable car lines serving Tianmenshan. The most famous connects Zhangjiajie city to the summit, and is one of the longest cable car rides in the world, taking nearly 30 minutes one way. The second line is shorter and operates in combination with shuttle buses. At the top, there’s also an open chairlift line connecting two scenic points, and a network of underground escalators to navigate the steep terrain. It can be a bit confusing at first, but the followings explain how it all works.

  With a population of around 5 million, Guilin is a medium-sized Chinese city, but much larger than Yangshuo. The landscape is similar, characterized by many dramatic karst hills and scenic waterways, but the city also offers historic sites and all the urban features of a regional center. The compact city center is easy to explore on foot. The following photos show different sides of Guilin — from people in traditional dress at Elephant Trunk Hill, to a bustling market, the Muslim quarter, patriotic communist murals, pedestrian streets, the Prince’s City, and my hotel room overlooking the river. See also: Guilin peaks and viewpoints and  Guilin lakes, rivers, bridges . 

  Apart from its dramatic karst peaks, Guilin is famous for its lakes, rivers, and bridges, which give the city a picturesque charm. The Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area winds through the center of the city, lined with ancient-style bridges, pagodas, and tree-covered walkways. This water system includes the Li River (Lijiang), Peach Blossom River, and four connected lakes: Mulong Lake, Gui Lake, Rong Lake, and Shan Lake. Following are photos of a long walk that covered most of the Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. See also:  Guilin peaks and viewpoints  and  random photos .

  Located near Yangshuo, Guilin also boasts many dramatic karst hills that rise abruptly from the landscape. Among the most famous are Diecai Hill, Fubo Hill, and Elephant Trunk Hill, all situated along the Li River. Another prominent landmark in the center of Guilin is the Solitary Beauty Peak, a striking stand-alone limestone rock with a pavilion at its summit. The peak is located within the grounds of the Prince’s City (Prince Jingjiang Mansion), which served as a royal palace during the Ming Dynasty and is now a museum open to visitors. See also:  Guilin lakes, rivers, bridges  and  random photos .

  On my last full day in Yangshuo, I went on another scooter trip—this time with the goal of climbing Damian Mountain, known for its iconic view of the mountains at a river bend. Across the river is Xingping, a village known for its “20 Yuan view”, and a ferry provides access. There is another great viewpoint. Further details and maps below. 

  I prefer pushbikes, but renting an electric scooter cost half as much—about GBP 2.5 for a day—so I went with that. Lilly, the host at my hotel, suggested a great itinerary, and I followed her advice. Most of the big loop ran along the Yulong River, occasionally veering inland. The landscape, with its karst hills, is just stunning—you can’t get enough of it. South of the Yulong River, across a tributary, stands the characteristic Moon Hill with a big hole in its top. Unfortunately the trail was closed, so I could only have a look at the rockformation from a distance. At the end of the tour, back in Yangshuo, I found a hill (Yuping) that I could actually climb to get a view from above. It’s part of a café, and you have to buy a drink to enter, but it’s totally worth it!

  Located in the center of Yangshuo, TV Tower Hill offers the best views of the town and its surroundings. It's a moderate hike, taking 30–40 minutes from the base along a paved path. If you have the Maps.me app, the route is easy to follow, as it's clearly marked. Otherwise, just follow the 上山 signs (meaning "up the mountain") through the alleys until you get to the trailhead. The top is a gated working area, but it's open to visitors during daytime hours. It was quite hazy during my visit, but the scenery was still stunning. Much of what is now the town used to be rice fields back in 1991 . 

  I first visited Yangshuo in 1991 , drawn by its iconic landscape of karst hills. Back then, starting from Guangzhou, it took a full day to get there, taking an overnight boat followed by a bus. This time, also from Guangzhou, it took just a couple of hours on a high-speed train. (It wasn’t the fastest, cruising at around 240 km/h compared to the 350 km/h Shanghai-bound trains .) The scenery turned into the familiar hilly landscape around Hezhou, about 100 kilometers before Yangshuo. The best view was just before Yangshuo Station—set high up, offering a sweeping panorama. The station is about 30 kilometers from town, so you need to take a bus from there. 

  My trip to Taiwan came to an end after exploring much of this small but incredible island. I planned to return to China, though I wasn’t sure which route to take. In the end, I chose the cheapest flight I could find — to Hong Kong. At least it's familiar territory, and from there I can make my way to the places I want to visit next. In the first photo, you can see Taoyuan International Airport, and below are a few other aerial views of Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

  Located on the northeast coast of Taiwan, the small city of Hualien sits in a dramatic setting — nestled at the foot of beautiful mountains, while at the same time there is a long coastline. The beaches, however, are not suitable for swimming. The surrounding area is also stunning, with Taroko Gorge as the main attraction. Unfortunately, most of the national park was closed following the 2023 earthquake. It’s possible to drive along the highway between Hehuanshan and Hualien with your own car, but you can't stop to hike, and there’s no public transport. 

  Chishang is a small town made famous by Japanese-Taiwanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro (金城武) and a commercial filmed here . Nestled in Taiwan’s picturesque Rift Valley, it is known for its vast rice fields and the long mountain ranges that frame the valley on both sides. The best way to experience Chishang is by bicycle, making it the most popular activity in town. All the main attractions can be explored within a few hours, making it possible to visit as a stopover—leaving baggage at the station before continuing on. However, you might find it worth staying the night to fully soak in the tranquil scenery.