In the first article of our Favorite Destinations series, lead editor Ditmar highlighted many urban destinations, showcasing a keen sense for art and architecture. Like Ditmar, I also prefer cities over the countryside. However, unlike my colleague, I tend to focus more on entertainment, hustle, bustle, and bright lights. Almost all of my favorite destinations have more than a million inhabitants and are – as you can see in the highly saturated photos – both a feast and a challenge for all the senses.
Table of Contents
Beijing
Whenever I’m asked about my favourite city, the answer is always clear to me: Beijing. Since 2010, I have visited the city four times in total. The last time I stood in Tian’anmen Square was in 2016, marvelling at the sheer size of the plaza. Surrounded by pompous government buildings and the massive Mao Mausoleum at its centre, you are literally standing in the political heart of the People’s Republic.
But aside from the intimidating splendour in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace, the city has much more to offer. Along with world-class attractions like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, which is about an hour’s drive north of Beijing, there are several lesser-known sights. The Summer Palace, with its exceptional architecture, is one of my favourites. The surrounding park feels enchanted and is just one of many parks in the city perfect for a long walk along a lakefront. The food also suits my taste – from simple charcoal-grilled meat skewers on the street corner to Peking Duck in a speciality restaurant.
Nanjing
Except for a short time during World War II, when Chongqing served as a provisional capital for a few years, China has been ruled from either Beijing or Nanjing for the last 650 years. As a graduated Sinologist (China sciences), I have always been fascinated by the city’s rich history. Here, you’ll find the mausoleums of the Hongwu Emperor, founder of the Ming Dynasty; and Sun Yat-sen, the intellectual father of post-imperial China. The Nanjing Massacre Memorial serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers after capturing the Chinese capital during World War II, with a death toll of more than 200,000 Chinese civilians.
Even for those less interested in history, the city is worth a visit. The sprawling Xuanwu Park stretches around and across four islands south of Nanjing station. The steep walking paths in the Purple Mountains are equally beautiful – though more strenuous. Like every major city in China, Nanjing is brilliantly lit at night and a walk along the city wall becomes a magical experience. Like Beijing, the southern capital (as its name translates) has its own local duck dish: Nanjing duck is cooked in heavily salted water and served cold, but it’s equally delicious.
Vietnam
This fall, I will embark on my fourth trip to Vietnam – and the third within 14 months. Once I start raving about the country’s tourist appeal, it’s hard for me to stop. The food is fantastic, and I would even prefer Vietnamese coffee specialities over Italian ones – at least when it’s more than 28 degrees outside. And the cost of living is notably low, especially with a European income.
Moreover, most of the tourist infrastructure has been developed in the last 10–15 years. You can find many affordable hotels in impeccable condition. Compared to regional neighbours Thailand and Cambodia, I feel much more welcome as a tourist in Vietnam, not like a walking target to be taken advantage of.
Among the many possible destinations in the country, I’d like to highlight three. First, Hanoi and its charmingly hectic maze of streets in the Old Quarter. The area is closed to traffic on weekends, making it perfect for strolling. Additionally, two spectacular destinations, Ninh Binh and Halong Bay, are easily accessible (by Vietnamese standards).
Central Vietnam’s Da Nang is the third-largest city in the country. The city is split by the Han River. West of the river, you’ll find a bustling city centre. East, there is a peninsula about one and a half kilometres wide, with a seemingly endless and beautiful beach. The two parts of the city are connected by several bridges, one of which is decorated with a dragon that actually breathes fire at scheduled times on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Just 30 minutes away by car is Hội An, with a city centre full of well-preserved, two-story buildings. It’s home to an impressive array of small shops, cafés, and restaurants, which serve as an incredibly (maybe even too) effective tourist magnet. The highlight comes in the evening, when boats adorned with hundreds of colourful lanterns turn the Thu Bon River into a sea of lights.
Orlando & Las Vegas
Nowhere else in the world (except Germany) have I spent more time than in the USA. In addition to countless shorter trips, I drove a rental car from sea to shining sea in both 2006 and 2022. And what better places could sum up the absurdity, superficiality, greed, and contradictions of this magnificent country than the two most artificial cities in the world? Orlando is located in the middle of a swamp. Yet the city has become an international tourism hotspot due to the enormous number of theme parks. My personal favourite is the massive Walt Disney World area in southern Orlando, to which I’ve already dedicated a small love letter.
Las Vegas, which is even bigger, was built in an even more nonsensical location. My love for the city can be similarly explained: I enjoy elaborate themed designs. And you can find that not only in the theme parks of central Florida but also in the many casino hotels along the Las Vegas Strip. Most of the resorts are as lovingly designed as individual theme areas in Disney or Universal. Spending two or three days wandering from hotel to hotel, slightly tipsy, sitting down here and there to be serenaded by slot machines while sipping on complimentary cocktails? Always a good time!
La Paz
The remote seat of Bolivia’s government is the only place on this list that I’ve only visited once – in 2018. The city stands out for two reasons: its location and its public transportation system. La Paz itself is situated at an altitude of about 3,600 meters, and its suburb El Alto, which has grown into a city of over a million people and where the airport is located, sits at 4,000 meters. The thin air becomes noticeable right after you land: as soon as the plane door opens, you feel like you’ve had two glasses of wine on an empty stomach.
Due to the altitude differences within the city, a traditional rail system would be difficult to implement. So, the different districts of La Paz are connected by cable cars. Every trip with public transport turns into a spectacular and surreal mix of views and experiences. Below the gondolas, La Paz is a pleasant city: steep streets, a mix of classic and improvised architecture, and friendly people. I’ve rarely felt as safe in any other South American city as I did here.
Honorable Mentions
Of course, there are other places in the world I love to visit time and again. As much as I adore the plastic-and-popcorn cities of Orlando and Las Vegas in the USA, I also look forward to trips to smaller towns like Seaside in Oregon or Page in Arizona.
My most extraordinary travel experiences happened in India. At the Wagah Border ceremony near Amritsar, tens of thousands of people cheer daily as an Indian border crossing to Pakistan is closed. In Varanasi, family members in a festive mood carry the lifeless bodies of their loved ones, wrapped in cloths and jewellery, through the narrow alleys to be cremated at the Ghats along the Ganges River.
Because of my visit to Tehran, I can no longer travel to the USA without a visa. But the city’s bazaar and the nearby Golestan Palace fully justify this trade-off, and I do not regret the decision at all.
Comment (1)
Bravo Felix!
Keep going!