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Sorry if this kind of thread has been done before, but what are some of the places in far East Asia or South Asia that are historical, elegant and timeless?
Kyoto obviously. Though I would not describe Paris and Rome as elegant. They are both dirty and shady as ****.
I remember reading somewhere that Kyoto, Paris, Rome and London (I'm not sure about this one, can be Istanbul or maybe Vienna) are the 4 must-see cultural capitals in the world.
Kyoto obviously. Though I would not describe Paris and Rome as elegant. They are both dirty and shady as ****.
I remember reading somewhere that Kyoto, Paris, Rome and London (I'm not sure about this one, can be Istanbul or maybe Vienna) are the 4 must-see cultural capitals in the world.
I'd rule out London. Istanbul & Vienna and/or Prague, Barcelona & St. Petersburg hands down!
Kyoto obviously. Though I would not describe Paris and Rome as elegant. They are both dirty and shady as ****.
I remember reading somewhere that Kyoto, Paris, Rome and London (I'm not sure about this one, can be Istanbul or maybe Vienna) are the 4 must-see cultural capitals in the world.
How is it possible that Kyoto is include but Xi'an is not?
Xi'an (Chang'an) was the capital of Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang dynasties, and once the largest city in the world. It had been the capital of China for over a thousand years.
Even if you only consider historical sites, Xi'an offers much more than Kyoto: Terracotta Army (210 BC), Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (652 AD), Great Mosque (742 AD), City Wall, and so on.
How is it possible that Kyoto is include but Xi'an is not?
Xi'an (Chang'an) was the capital of Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang dynasties, and once the largest city in the world. It had been the capital of China for over a thousand years.
Even if you only consider historical sites, Xi'an offers much more than Kyoto: Terracotta Army (210 BC), Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (652 AD), Great Mosque (742 AD), City Wall, and so on.
Yeah sure, in the 7th century it could be called elegant and timeless. But now? Xi'an is just another Chinese city with overwhelming (not to mention uncivilised) crowds, dystopian-looking concrete jungle, and is one of the most polluted cities in China. Besides, the Cultural Revolution destroyed much of Xi'an's historical heritage, most of what you see now were rebuilt recently and often look tacky af (like with the neon lights after dark). Kyoto on the other hand is refined, quaint, spotlessly clean, and surrounded by gorgeous nature.
I don't need to point out which city is which.
I know you would say I am anti-China and biased and all that jazz, but deep down you know what I wrote is completely true and literally everyone in the world would agree, including Chinese people.
Yeah sure, in the 7th century it could be called elegant and timeless. But now? Xi'an is just another Chinese city with overwhelming (not to mention uncivilised) crowds, dystopian-looking concrete jungle, and is one of the most polluted cities in China. Besides, the Cultural Revolution destroyed much of Xi'an's historical heritage, most of what you see now were rebuilt recently and often look tacky af (like with the neon lights after dark). Kyoto on the other hand is refined, quaint, spotlessly clean, and surrounded by gorgeous nature.
I don't need to point out which city is which.
I know you would say I am anti-China and biased and all that jazz, but deep down you know what I wrote is completely true and literally everyone in the world would agree, including Chinese people.
Wow so ignorant.
The terracotta army, Great Wild Goose Pagoda, Great Mosque were all intact during the cultural revolution. None of them was built later.
In fact the terracotta army was firstly discovered in 1974, and opened to public in 1979. The cultural revolution ended in 1976.
Even during the cultural revolution, many of the most important historical sites were protected by the government, including the Forbidden City of Beijing.
Have you ever been to Kyoto? I have.
The city is just a "concrete jungle" but with a much smaller scale than Xi'an. Nothing historical in downtown area at all.
The famous 鹿苑寺 was actually rebuilt in 1955. Japan demolished many of its old architectures after the Meiji Restoration, and WWII destroyed everything else.
As a Taiwanese, you know that too, but you just hate China so much and you don't want to admit it.
In downtown Xi'an, the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, the City Wall and so on were built in Ming Dynasty. There were some later renovations but nothing fundamental.
And yes, Xi'an is also a hub of education and technology, so it has a modern face as well.
Wow so ignorant.
The terracotta army, Great Wild Goose Pagoda, Great Mosque were all intact during the cultural revolution. None of them was built later.
In fact the terracotta army was firstly discovered in 1974, and opened to public in 1979. The cultural revolution ended in 1976.
Even during the cultural revolution, many of the most important historical sites were protected by the government, including the Forbidden City of Beijing.
Some of them are real, many are fake. And even the real ones are ruined by the incredibly rude and uncivilised crowds and the toxic air. It's a terrible experience. Actually even Kyoto is slowly becoming too crowded with Chinese tourists.
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Have you ever been to Kyoto? I have.
The city is just a "concrete jungle" but with a much smaller scale than Xi'an. Nothing historical in downtown area at all.
The famous 鹿苑寺 was actually rebuilt in 1955. Japan demolished many of its old architectures after the Meiji Restoration, and WWII destroyed everything else.
And yes, all Japanese shrines and temples are rebuilt every few decades, but they are all restored tastefully and look awesome, unlike the trashy Chinese aesthetics.
Some of them are real, many are fake. And even the real ones are ruined by the incredibly rude and uncivilised crowds and the toxic air. It's a terrible experience. Actually even Kyoto is slowly becoming too crowded with Chinese tourists.
And yes, all Japanese shrines and temples are rebuilt every few decades, but they are all restored tastefully and look awesome, unlike the trashy Chinese aesthetics.
Oh Xi'an is also a major city with 10 million population (7~8 million urban), much larger than any city in Taiwan.
So of course it has many recent and modern architectures, but it also maintained some old ones.
Japanese cities look wonderful in the 1980-1990s but now they are just ordinary and boring.
On the other hand, Chinese cities have built much better things in recent years.
Xi'an also adopts lots of traditional styles in its new projects and have some unique scenes.
Oh Xi'an is also a major city with 10 million population (7~8 million urban), much larger than any city in Taiwan.
So of course it has many recent and modern architectures, but it also maintained some old ones.
None of that contradicts what I wrote. Yeah any city in China has a **** ton of people, and? Xi'an is still polluted af and everywhere you go there are people behaving in the most uncivilised manner. When Japan has air pollution (which is very rare), it basically all comes from China.
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Japanese cities look wonderful in the 1980-1990s but now they are just ordinary and boring.
On the other hand, Chinese cities have built much better things in recent years.
Xi'an also adopts lots of traditional styles in its new projects and have some unique scenes.
According to you perhaps.
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