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Hemsedal

Hemsedal is a valley and small town in Norway with about 2000 inhabitants, in the middle of South Norway, right between Oslo and Bergen, it is the northern branch of the great Hallingdal valley. The town is surround by high mountains, similar to the Alps, and has a river, Hemsila flowing through the valley. Hemsedal is known for its alpine skiing area, the second largest in Norway. It is also a fine place in summer with many activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and horse back riding.

Get in
Hemsedal is a 3- to 4-hour drive from Oslo.

By bus
From Bergen you can take Sognebussen or Øst Vestekspressen to Håbakken (near the small village Lærdal), and from there you can take the corresponding Sogn & Fjordane Ekspressen to Hemsedal.
 * Norway Bus Express has buses from Oslo and Bergen to Hemsedal all year round. Check out the timetable for the routes from Oslo 170 Sogn og Fjordane Ekspressen, and route 175 Hallingbussen.

 * Airport Transfer Bus From Gardermoen Airport Oslo directly to Hemsedal on Fridays and Sundays during the winter.

By train
Another option is to ride the NSB train from Oslo or Bergen to Gol, which departs around four times a day. The trip is three hours from Oslo and 4 hours from Bergen and costs from 199 to 499 kr.

From the train station at Gol there is a bus picking up immediately after the train arrives and ending in Hemsedal town centre, about 40 minutes later. The trip costs 46 kr for adults and 23 kr for children.

Get around
During the winter season there are busses going from town to the ski lifts which are free. There is also a good taxi service, but it is quite expensive. You can also walk, e.g., on the other side of the river which takes half an hour or more.

It is practical to have your own car, especially in the summer.

Parking is free of charge, except from the parking lot at Gravset, the main crosscountry area, in the wintertime.

Winter
Hemsedal is frequently rated as the best ski resort in Norway. During 2008-2018 Dagens Næringsliv (Norway's leading business daily) has ranked Hemsedal as number 1. There 42 slopes and 22 lifts. The mountain scenery gives Hemsedal a decidedly "alpine" feel. It has the highest alpine point in Scandinavia, 1500 metres above sea level, and a vertical drop of 810 metres.

Variety and diversity characterises Hemsedal's network of pistes. The pistes are wide, well groomed and suited to all levels of expertise. Panoramic view and the descent from the highest mountain. There are green pistes all the way down to the base area, and more advanced runs.
 * Hemsedal Skisenter is the second largest ski resort in Norway.

Hemsedal on world’s top five to go boarding! The snowboard/terrain park is considered one of Europe's best, known for its high standard and challenges for all. Big jumps, fun boxes, half pipe, two quarter pipes, and rails for the thrillseeker. There is also a separate park for beginners.

The children's area is the biggest in Norway and covers an area of 70,000 m² Here you find several lifts, slopes, forest with trolls, bbq stations, restaurant, bar, sport shop, skirental, supermarket and even an outdoor kindergarten. The area is also perfect for beginners.

Here you find 3 lifts and 6-7 slopes. Suitable for families and those who want to ski in calmer area. Also good off piste possibilities.
 * Solheisen Skisenter is a small ski resort located in Grøndalen, 8 km from Hemsedal Skisenter.

Afterski and nightlife is comparable to or better than the big resorts in the European Alps.

If you would like to do other things then skiing, you can try snow mobiling, dog sledding, winter via ferrata, snow shoeing, ice climbing, paragliding and off course cross country skiing.

Summer

Hemsedal is an eldorado for people who like to stay active on their holiday. The mountains in Hemsedal offer great possibilities for activities such as hiking, biking and climbing.
 * Topp 20, Hemsedal's most popular hiking program. The brochure describes 20 scenic hikes to 20 different peaks in Hemsedal, everyone of them offering beautiful views. The hikes are graded from very easy green to difficult black. The shortest hikes take 1-1½ hour up and down for people in normal shape, the longest hike is a day trip. The trails to the peaks are well marked, except for the black ones, where you do need to bring a map and compass with you. You can pick up the brochure at the tourist information, supermarkets, sport shops and accommodations in Hemsedal.
 * Biking, Hemsedal has 240 km of marked biking routes. There is a biking brochure with description of different trips in the area, which are also graded after the same system as the Top 20. The brochure can be picked up at the tourist information, supermarkets, sport shops and accommodations in Hemsedal.
 * Fishing, the Hemsila river, running through the valley of Hemsedal, is actually a quite famous river for fly fishing. The fishing season starts end of May/beginning of June and lasts until 15 September. You need a fishing permit and this can be purchased at the tourist office, sport shops, some supermarkets and campgrounds and at Shell petrol station in Hemsedal. With the permit you can fish in the river as well as in 18 lakes. The river has different zones, and in some of them you can only fish with a fly. A permit valid for 5 hours costs 120 kr. A permit for 2 days costs 250 kr, or 900 kr for a permit that includes fly fishing zone in the river).

Buy
Hemsedal is not the largest city, but has some good shops:

Eat
There are cafes in the skiing-area. Alternatives are
 * Kjøkken Kroken, Hemsedal Café, Peppes Pizza, Cafe Dali, and the restaurant and Bistro at Skogstad Hotel in the town centre
 * Skarsnuten Hotel in the mountains with a beautiful view over the ski resort/Hemsedal
 * Fossheim Hotel in Ulsåk with first class food.

Drink
Norway is generally expensive for overseas visitors. Expect to pay at least two times the price for a beer in Hemsedal as in the Alps.

The afterski starts in Skistua on the slopes around 4, and continues at Hemsedal Cafe in town from around 7. Be there early to make sure you get in.

Beer can be bought at the supermarkets on weekdays from 08:00 to 20:00 and Saturdays from 08:00 to 18:00 On Sundays it is not allowed to sell alcohol in the supermarkets. Wine and liquor can be bought at the "vinmonopol" (wine and liquor store) that you will find at Rampa kjøpesenter (Rampa shopping centre).

Sleep
Hemsedal has accommodation for most budgets, there are fancy design hotels, cosy cabins and reasonably priced apartments and campgrounds.

Go next
Hemsedal is in the centre of South Norway, right between Oslo and Bergen. This makes Hemsedal the convenient base for day trips to the fjords and mountains. Here are some tips:

 * the Sognefjord, only 1-hour drive from Hemsedal.
 * Flåm, located by the Sognefjord, is a 2-hour drive from Hemsedal. Here you can take a cruise on the Sognefjord and take the famous and 4th most visited attraction in Norway,Flåmsbana.
 * Langedrag, a wolf park 1½-hour drive away. A lot fun for the whole family. They also have farm animals and other wild animals such as lynx, moose, deer and fox.
 * the Bear Park in Flå - watch the bears in their natural habitat, bathing and climbing trees. Other animals are moose, rabbits, goats and more.
 * Hardangervidda, 1- to 1½-hour drive away.
 * Jotunheimen, also 1- to 1½-hour drive away

The tourist office in Hemsedal has a booklet with 7 day trips by car, costs 40kr.

Connect
Internet:
 * WIFI - Hemsedal Cafe, Skogstad Hotell, Hemsedal Tourist Office, Cafe Dali, Hemsedal Alpin Lodge, Experten Sportsbar, the library.
 * Internet Stations - the library

More information
Hemsedal Tourist Office, tel +47 32 05 50 30, e-mail: info@hemsedal.com

title: Hemsedal


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Henan

Henan (河南 hé nán), Yu (豫 yù) for short, is a province located in the Northern Central Region of China. It shares its borders with six other provinces, Shandong to the northeast, Hebei to the north, Shanxi to the northwest, Shaanxi to the west, Hubei to the south, and Anhui to the east. The eastern portion is flat and part of the North China Plain, one of the most densely populated areas on Earth. Indeed Henan is the most populous province in China, with almost 100 million people. The mountainous west and southwest is more remote with vast expanses of forest.

The Yellow River (mother river of the Chinese nation) runs through Henan. The province's name is from he (river) and nan (south), though there are five prefecture-level cities located north of the Yellow River.

Cities

 * — provincial capital, economic and cultural center of Henan.
 * — economic and cultural center during the Shang dynasty. One of the seven ancient capitals of China.
 * — a northern city between Anyang and Xinxiang
 * — former capital during the Northern Song dynasty. One of the seven ancient capitals of China.
 * — site of the Longmen grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the seven ancient capitals of China.
 * — southern city
 * — another ancient capital, home to the Jun Royal Kiln Museum
 * — Xinxiang was the capital of Plain Province in the early years and was an important center city in the northern part of Henan Province.
 * — Xinxiang was the capital of Plain Province in the early years and was an important center city in the northern part of Henan Province.

Other destinations

 * — home to Longmen Grottoes which is considered one of the three great grottoes in China.
 * — home to Shaolin Temple which is a famous kung fu center
 * — home to Longmen Grottoes which is considered one of the three great grottoes in China.
 * — home to Shaolin Temple which is a famous kung fu center
 * — home to Shaolin Temple which is a famous kung fu center
 * — home to Shaolin Temple which is a famous kung fu center
 * — home to Shaolin Temple which is a famous kung fu center

Understand
Henan is the birthplace of the Chinese nation, the cradle of China's 5000-year-long civilization and the place of origin of many Chinese family names as well.

From the Xia Dynasty (about 21st century B.C to 17th century B.C), the first dynasty in China, to the Northern Song Dynasty (around 12th century A.D), more than 200 emperors from over 20 dynasties set up their capitals in (or moved their capitals to) Henan, making it the ancient political, economic and cultural center of China.

Due to poverty, Henan people have a bad reputation of being fraudsters and thefts, and often suffer from discrimination from other places.

See
Henan's famous historical and cultural cities include Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Anyang, Nanyang, Shangqiu, Sanmenxia, Pingdingshan, Xinxiang and others. Traveling Henan means enjoying the beautiful landscape and the historic relics and ruins. It also means seeking the Chinese roots and rediscovering the soul of the Chinese nation.

Landmarks and buildings

 * City wall of Kaifeng — surrounding the old city of Kaifeng.
 * Baima Temple — in Luoyang, the first official Buddhist temple in China.
 * Daxiangguo Temple — in Kaifeng, dating back to AD555.
 * Baogong Memorial Temple — in Kaifeng, temple at the lake side built to honor Lord Bao.

Parks and nature

 * Red-flag Canal — in Anyang, man made canal built in the 1960s due to water supply shortage in the area.
 * Wulongkou Scenic Area — area outside Jiyuan consisting of five scenic spots comprising more than 60 sights.
 * Yellow River Scenic Area — near Zhengzhou, consisting of five scenic spots, Five Dragons Peak, Camel Mountain Range, Yueshan Temple, Stone Figures, and the Ancient City of Liubang and Xiangyu

Museums and exhibitions

 * Henan Provincial Museum — in Zhengzhou, exhibitions on ancient civilizations.
 * Kaifeng Museum — exhibits on Kaifeng ancient and newer history.
 * Jun Royal Kiln Museum — in Yuzhou, history of Yuzhou and surrounds, exhibits on porcelain and its cultural significance.

Do

 * Qingming Festival — enjoy the Garden Landscape at Bian River during the festival.

Eat
Henan is home of Yu Cai (豫菜), one of the eight traditional cuisines of China.

Hú là tāng (胡辣汤). This local breakfast is a must try for those who are willing to adventure into proper Henan cuisine. Its a broth made of black pepper, anise, ginger, cinnamon, beef and bone soup. It comes with a product made of soy, and you can dip items like mantou or youtiao in it. Huì miàn (烩面). Noodles in hot bone soup, with cilantro and wood ear (Auricularia auricula-judae).

Dàokǒu shāojī (道口烧鸡) is the competitor of Beijing duck. People here say that if a foreign dignitary comes to China, Daokou Shaoji will be present on the table.

Xiǎo Sū Ròu (小酥肉). There are halal versions somewhere in Henan, using lamb, but in general it uses pork. The meat is first dipped into flour and then fried. Afterwards, it can be further cooked either in soup with lots of vegetables or plain.

Liáng Cài (凉菜) This variety is all over China, but don't miss this while you are in Henan. It comes in dozens of varieties and is mainly cold, as the name states (liang cai literally means "cold vegetables"). Recommended are: liáng bàn dòu jiǎo (凉拌豆角 - cold green beans), huáng guā biàn dàn (黄瓜变蛋 - cold cucumber and preserved eggs). Kāifēng xiǎolóngbāo (开封小笼包) Original steamed dumplings that were invented in the old Song capital of Kaifeng. After the Jin destroyed this city, the capital relocated to Hangzhou in modern day Zhejiang Province, thus taking along with them these famed steamed dumplings. Nowadays, the Hangzhou xiaolongbao even has its own chain throughout China, therefore its competitor in Kaifeng has lost its fame, but all locals will tell you that Kaifeng xiaolongbao is a must try and the predecessor of all the xiaolongbao in China.

Huì cài (烩菜) is found throughout northern Henan. It can be found in areas like Anyang, a prefecture that borders Hebei in the north. It's basically a stew of different varieties of vegetables although the standard would be cabbage, tofu and noodles made from sweet potato.

Drink
HENAN TEA (眷之茶): With fresh and delicious fresh fruit tea and fresh milk tea as the carrier, the innovative use of Henan's local customs, to make a rich Henan characteristics of the drinks.

MIXUE Ice Cream & Tea (蜜雪冰城)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Henan


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Hendaye

Hendaye  (Hendaia in Basque) is the furthest point in the South West of France you can go, a frontier town with Hondarribia, Spain and confined on the edge of both the Atlantic Ocean and Pyrenees Mountains.

By train
Hendaye is the last station of the South-Western line of the French Railways. SNCF runs several daily TGV trains from Paris (about 6 hours, full-price ticket ) and local (TER) trains from Bordeaux (3 hours, full-price ticket around )

The town is also the last station of the Euskotren, which serves the Basque Country with frequent trains to San Sebastian (Donastia in Basque) (one-way ticket costs ), with connecting services to Bilbao. The station name on the maps are in Basque. These services cannot be reserved, and often do not show up on European train timetables.

In Hendaye the SNCF and Euskotren stations are adjacent, and changing between services is straightforward.

By plane
Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne International Airport is located 25 km from Hendaye. Flights from Bruxelles, Rotterdam, Geneva, Dublin, London, Lyon, Nice and Paris.

The San Sebastian airport  is located in Hondarribia, just across the border. It has direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and Bruxelles.

Get around
A free shuttle runs on two routes every day but Sunday every hour from 08:00 to 19:00, with a two-hour break for lunch.

Taxis are available.

See
Hendaye is split between the old medieval Basque Town on the hilltop, and the beach area, around two kilometres apart. The old town commands good views of the Bay of Chingoudy and the river Bidassoa estuary below to the North & West, with the impressive scenery of the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains to the West, South and East. This is where you find most of the shops, the Mairie, Pelote Basque etc. The beach area is located on a peninsula formed by the Atlantic and the beach to the north and the bay and river to the south & west. This part of Hendaye is relatively modern and it is here that you will find the Marina (on the bay side), Hotels, Casino and the Serge Blanco Thalasso Center (Serge is one the best former French International Rugby team Players).

Do
The large bay provides good sheltered facilities for water sports, windsurfing etc. at the Club Nautique and all types of facilities for boats, while the Atlantic beach has some excellent surf.

Eat

 * Churros

Sleep
In Hendaye, there is a good choice of hotels, guest houses and camping.

Go next
Hendaye as stated above is a border town, with easy access to Spain. Cheaper shopping in Irun and Hondarribia that are accessible by car or the Euskotren and a ferry boat crosses the river on a regular service from Hendaye Marina to Fonterrabia. San Sebastian is an easy daytrip, and from there onwards to Bilbao.

title: Hendaye


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Las Vegas/Henderson and East

Henderson is the second largest city in Nevada. The border between Henderson and Las Vegas has become virtually nonexistent - one city butts up against the other. This article indeed doesn't only cover Henderson but also Las Vegas east of the Strip and south of the airport.

Understand
One area of Henderson, Green Valley, was the first master planned community in the state.

From Arizona, Boulder City, Lake Mead or Lake Las Vegas
If you are coming from Boulder City or Arizona, you can either take US 93 or Route 166. Route 166 is Lakeshore Drive and is going to change into State Route 564 once you are not overlapping with Route 147 anymore. In US 93, it will change into a freeway as soon as you pass the Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino. If you came from Lake Mead or Lake Las Vegas, get on SR 564 and continue until you enter Henderson. If you took US 93, you will have to pass through Boulder City, and never take the exit after crossing over Veterans Memorial Dr intersection. It will head to Searchlight and Needles. Once you get there, it will change into an overlapping I-515, and, take any exit you want, including Wagonwheel Dr/Nevada State Dr, Boulder Hwy, Horizon Dr, College Dr, or any exit, as long as it is not on I-215.

From Central Las Vegas
Get on I-515, or I-215, or whatever road you take to get to Henderson Drive. To enter Central Henderson via I-515, take exit 61 to Lake Mead. On I-215, none, just continue till end of freeway.

From N. Las Vegas
Get on I-15, and then get on I-515 or I-215, do the same as Central Las Vegas.

By plane
is the town's main airport, acting primarily as a reliever airport for the much busier. Otherwise the Henderson Executive Airport is only available for general aviation and VIP flights but can be used as a reliever airport for the busier Harry Reid Airport if needed.

See
There are several sites to see in the Henderson area. They include:

Do

Gambling
There are many casinos of varying sizes throughout the Henderson Area and gambling is a popular pastime. The casinos range from the upscale Green Valley Ranch to smaller, more intimate "locals" establishments.

Buy
Two weekly farmers markets are held in Henderson, weather and wind permitting. They are at 240 Water St. in front of City Hall (Thursdays from 9AM to 4PM), and 200 S. Green Valley Pkwy (Fridays from 10AM to 4PM).

Sleep

title: Las Vegas/Henderson and East


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Henderson (Kentucky)

Henderson is a city in Kentucky's Western Coal Fields. It is the seat of Henderson County and is located across the Ohio River from Evansville, Indiana.

By car
Henderson lies at the intersection of US highways 41 and 60. US 41 provides access from the north and south, while US 60 can be used to access the city from the east and west. Two of Kentucky's parkways terminate in Henderson. The Audubon Parkway provides access from Owensboro to the east and the former Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway, now signed exclusively as Interstate 69, provides access from Hopkinsville to the south. When completed, I-69 will run through Henderson providing access from the north and south.

By plane
Two regional airports are nearby in Evansville and Owensboro. The nearest international airports are located just over a 2 hours drive in either Louisville or Nashville, Tennessee.

Drink
Both Henderson and Henderson County are wet. They allow package alcohol sales, bars, and drinks to be sold in restaurants.

By phone
Most telephone numbers in Henderson consist of +1 270 plus a seven-digit number, but the area is now served by an overlay complex of two area codes, with 364 being the second. A local or in-state telephone call now requires all 10 digits of the local number be dialed (omitting just the leading +1 from a local landline call). The same applies on the Indiana side of the river, with that area now being served by 930 in addition to the old 812.

Signage on many established businesses may still display the original seven-digit numbers; dial 270 before these if no area code is indicated (or 812 if in Indiana).

Indiana

 * Evansville
 * Vincennes

Kentucky

 * Hopkinsville
 * Owensboro

title: Henderson (Kentucky)


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Hendersonville

There is more than one place called Hendersonville:

United States of America

 * Hendersonville (Mississippi) - A town in Mississippi.
 * Hendersonville (North Carolina) - A town in North Carolina.
 * Hendersonville (Tennessee) - A town in Tennessee.

title: Hendersonville


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Hendersonville (North Carolina)

Hendersonville is a small town just south of Asheville, North Carolina.

Established in 1847, downtown Hendersonville is full of 19th and early 20th century architecture and has a friendly "Small Town, USA" feeling. You'll find a thriving Main Street complete with fine restaurants, homemade ice cream shops, antique stores, and lots of artists and art galleries. Downtown Hendersonville is a fantastic place to spend a day shopping with beautiful landscaping, wide sidewalks, comfortable benches, outdoor water fountains and plenty of parking, not to mention all of the wonderful and unique shops.

Understand
The population estimate for 2020 is 15,137 and it is 2,200 feet above sea level.

Get in
Hendersonville lies 40 miles north of Spartanburg, South Carolina and 22 miles south of Asheville, North Carolina at the southern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hendersonville can be accessed from three exits from Interstate 26.

The nearest airport served by commercial airlines is Asheville Regional Airport. For more options, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a major airport in Charlotte, is less than a two-hour drive away.

Hendersonville is also served by a privately owned, public use airport. The Hendersonville Airport has been in operation since 1932, and is located 2.5 miles southeast of the town.

Apple Country Public Transit Route 3 offers bus service to and from Asheville Regional Airport, where you can connect to buses to Asheville.

Get around

 * Apple Country Public Transit - 526 Seventh Avenue East. +1 828 698-8571.
 * Checker Cab Co. - 525 S Grove St. +1 828 692-2424.

Do

 * Apple Festival, Labor Day weekend
 * Play golf.
 * Art and Craft Community
 * Play golf.
 * Art and Craft Community

Buy

 * Main Street shopping district.

Connect
Free outdoor wifi is provided downtown.

Go next

 * Blue Ridge Parkway, nearest access is Asheville
 * Great Smoky Mountains National Park, nearest gateway is Cherokee.
 * Pisgah National Forest
 * Chimney Rock State Park 18 miles from downtown Hendersonville on Hwy. 64 East.

title: Hendersonville (North Carolina)


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Hendersonville (Tennessee)

Hendersonville is a city in Sumner County of the American state of Tennessee. It is a well-known suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, and has been the home of many country music stars, including Conway Twitty, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash.

By car
Hendersonville is accessible from I-65 (north–south) via TN-386 ("Vietnam Veterans Blvd"). Highway TN-31E (east–west) bisects the city and is also known as "Nashville Pike" and "Johnny Cash Parkway".

By car
Car is your best bet. The average speed on highways ranges from 55–70 mph, while city streets are generally 40–50 mph unless otherwise posted.

Several major national car rental agencies operate in Hendersonville. Ridesharing and taxis are also available.

Parking
Free parking lots are located around businesses.

By foot
While going on foot is a viable option in certain areas, it is otherwise not recommended due to the spread-out nature of the city. However, an able-bodied person could traverse on foot in decent weather. Sidewalks generally run the length of the city and are prevalent in developed areas, but they become sparse when reaching the city outskirts.

See

Do
Due to its status as the City by The Lake, most recreational activities in Hendersonville are focused on boating, swimming, and fishing on Old Hickory Lake, which weaves around most of the town. However, a number of excellent golf courses are in or nearby, as well as several local parks and indoor options for family fun.

General

Outdoors

Buy

title: Hendersonville (Tennessee)


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Hengshui

Hengshui (衡水; Héngshuǐ) is a city in Hebei Province in China.

By train
Trains from Shijiazhuang are 1h30 to 2 hours and costs ¥9-29. Trains from Beijing are 2h30 to 4 hours and cost ¥30-64.

title: Hengshui


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Hengyang

Hengyang (衡阳; Héngyáng) is in the middle reaches of Xiangjiang River and to the south of Mount Heng in Hunan Province. Hengyang is a historically significant city renowned as the 'Bright Pearl in Southern China'. It is also known as 'Wild Goose City' because flocks of wild geese flying south for the winter have been known to stop there to rest.

By plane
The old Hengyang airport, Jinjialing Airport, is now merely military.

By train

Hengyang North, South and West Railway Stations are now mostly cargo stations.

Understand
Hengyang is the second largest city and the most populous prefecture in Hunan. The Hengyang Basin is a prosperous agricultural area with an abundance of fish and rice, the area is also very rich in natural resources such as coal, zinc, lead and other non-ferrous metals. And it is one of the emerging industrial cities in China.

Orientation
There are five districts in Hengyang:
 * Yanfeng District 雁峰区: Huiyan Peak, Yueping Park and Nanjiao Park, etc. are in this district.
 * Shigu District 石鼓区:Shigu Academy, West Lake Park and Lianhu Square etc. are in this district.
 * Zhuhui District 珠晖区: Hengyang Railway Station, Hengyang East Railway Station, Linghu Bus Station, Xiangjiang Scenic Belt, Linghu Lake and Hengyang College Town etc. are in this district.
 * Zhengxiang District 蒸湘区: Hengyang Zhongxin Bus Terminal, City Government, Ecology Park and University of South China etc. are in this district.
 * Nanyue District 南岳区: Mount Heng is in this district.

And two county-level cities: Leiyang City 耒阳市 and Changning City 常宁市

Also five counties: Hengnan County 衡南县, Hengyang County 衡阳县, Hengshan County 衡山县, Hengdong County 衡东县 and Qidong County 祁东县

History
Hengyang is a city with a long history. According to historical relics, ancestors who settled in the area as early as five to six thousand years ago had already begun to use primitive tools made from stones. They also grew rice and raised animals, chiefly cattle and pigs.

The primeval district of Hengyang was first occupied by the ancestors of the modern Miao, Zhuang, and Hakka people. In the Warring States period, it was a much-fought-over territory of the Chu State.

In 221 BC, when Emperor Qinshihuang united China, the southern state of Chu was divided into Qianzhong county and Changsha county to which the Hengyang district belonged. 400 years later in 220 AD, it was renamed Hengyang and became the administrative seat of Hengyang prefecture.

During the Western Jin Dynasty, its name was changed to Hengzhou, and under the Eastern Jin Dynasty (618–907) it became the seat of Xiangdong prefecture. During the Southern and Northern Dynasty it was the capital of Hengyang kingdom.

After the fall of the Sui Dynasty, Hengyang was a county. It was changed into a superior prefecture which was a part of the province of Huguang until the Qing Dynasty.

This status was retained until 1912, when the superior prefecture was abolished and the city became a county seat, which was in the charge of 34 counties of Hunan province.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), not only was Hengyang a traffic hub in south China, but also the third biggest industrial and commercial city in the area controlled by Kuomingtang. At that time, the population of the area increased tenfold. It became a city in 1942.

After the liberation of Hengyang on October 8th in 1949, the Railway Ministry set up Hengyang Railway Bureau, with jurisdiction over the railways of five provinces in the middle of southern China. The city has been governing the county since July 1983.

Climate
Located in the middle reaches of the Xiang River, Hengyang enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate. There is neither intense heat in summer heat cold in winter. The annual average temperature is about 24℃. Its temperature is relatively higher in spring and autumn, which is very pleasant. Annually, the city has 1524 hours of sunshine and an average rainfall of 1301.9 mm, 57.5% of which came during the April-September rainy season.

Talk
The primary language of Hengyang is Hengyanghua, although Mandarin is widely understood and used. Hengyanghua has lots of different dialects, for example, someone from Hengyang City can think that people in Hengshan County sound off, and can think someone from Qidong county sound hysterically funny. Due to Hengyang's importance during the Kuomintang era, there was a lot of communication between then capital Chongqing and Hengyang, thus explains its slight similarity to Chongqing dialect. Its unique features make it different to a more Changsha dialect-based Hunanese, while still keeping Old Xiang tones and phonology.

English is very uncommon, but students generally speak English well enough to give you directions and you're more likely to meet people who speak English in McDonald's and KFC or near universities. You may see weird and strange signs on the streets in English, which make good photo subjects.

By bus
Buses are the main mode of public transport in Hengyang. The bus network is run by five companies, which provide more than 64 lines, as well as taxis, which connect all parts of the city with suburban areas. Regular buses only cost ¥1 or ¥2 for air-conditioned buses. Some buses to suburban areas may cost more, but there are usually ticket conductors who tell you how much.

By taxi
Taxis are ubiquitous, they normally start at ¥5, a taxi across town shouldn't cost more than ¥30. But expect some haggling if you're a foreigner, the best way is to jump in the taxi and ask the driver to turn on the meter. Also, meters may not apply during important Chinese festivals as they make their own prices.

By motorcab
Local people probably use this mode of transportation more than taxi. It's cheaper, more convenient and more Hengyang style, but safety is not always guaranteed. Motorcab fares are completely arbitrary, so it's best to consult local people how much it costs first before hopping on one, otherwise it depends how your bargaining skills are.

By ferry
There is a ferry service between Yangjia Huayuan and Xianfeng Matou.

There are also ferry services from both riverbanks to Dongzhou Island across river from it.

Eat
Spicy Freshwater Snails

Fish Head Stewed with Tofu

Drink
Zhangfei Wine

Huzhijiu (Wine of Hunan)

Budget
The idea of guesthouses and hostels haven't really reached Hengyang yet, but for many Chinese travelers, budget places can be found near Hengyang Railway Station. Just walk around, ask and compare, nonetheless use your haggling skills.

There are cheap places to stay near Hengyang Normal University or University of South China that cater to university students.

Another option is to head to Dongzhou island, where it may be possible to stay in the monastery for rock bottom price. But communication may be a problem between you and the monks and nuns.

Mid-range
Mid-range hotels can be found along Jiefang Road (解放路).

Go next

 * Zhuzhou:You can go from Hengyang to Zhuzhou by high-speed rail in only 27 minutes.

title: Hengyang


text:
Henley-in-Arden

Henley-in-Arden is a historic market town of 2,100 people (2011) in Warwickshire. Henley is known for its variety of historic buildings, some of which date back to medieval times, and its wide variety of preserved architectural styles. The one-mile-long (1.6 km) High Street is a conservation area.

Get in
It is close to Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa.

By road
Henley-in-Arden is just off Junction 15 of the M40.

By train
is a small station with trains to Birmingham and Stratford-Upon-Avon, approximately one per hour running into the early evening. The service is provided by Central Trains.

By bus
Bus service X20 runs from Coventry to Stratford-upon-Avon via Solihull through the town along the High Street, operating up to every 60 minutes.

See
From the High Street it's a short walk to an ancient mount that was the site of a castle. You would never know that there was a castle there, but it looks rather unnatural.

Although the castle no longer remains, several other historical buildings and structures still exist in the town, such as the parish churches of St. Nicholas and St. John the Baptist, the 15th-century Guildhall (which has been restored), the medieval market cross (much of the decoration of whose shaft has been mutilated but which has three ranges of kneeling places and sculptures representing the Holy Trinity, the crucifixion of Jesus, and, it is believed, St Peter), the 16th-century White Swan, and several half-timbered residences along High Street, the main street of the town.

Connect
As of May 2024, Henley has 4G from all UK carriers, but with many dead spots on its approach roads. 5G has not yet reached town.

Go next

 * Warwick
 * Stratford-upon-Avon
 * Leamington Spa

title: Henley-in-Arden


text:
Henley-on-Thames

Henley-on-Thames is a town on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England. Henley is perhaps most famous as the home of the well-known international rowing tournament, the Henley Royal Regatta, held each year in late June and early July.

(NB: Henley-on-Thames should not be confused with Henley-in-Arden.)

By train
is the terminus of a railway branch line that joins the main Reading to London line at Twyford; however most branch line trains continue on to Reading. There are also direct services to London Paddington at peak times taking about 45 minutes. Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling 0845-748-4950 from anywhere in the UK.

By car
Henley-on-Thames is served by the M4 motorway which runs from London to South Wales. It is about 35 miles/40 minutes from Central London. The best junction to use is 8/9. Being close to the M4 this makes places like Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, Windsor, Maidenhead, Slough, High Wycombe and Basingstoke all within easy reach. Henley is also located 20 miles from the M3 Motorway junction at Basingstoke. This allows fast access to Winchester and Southampton. When the M3 ends near Southampton it joins onto the M27 motorway for quick and easy access to Portsmouth and Bournemouth.

By plane
Henley-on-Thames is well served by Southern Eastern England's collection of airports and is actually under the flight-path of Heathrow. For travellers coming directly to Henley-on-Thames, the most convenient (in reducing order of convenience) are:
 * Heathrow Airport is about 20 miles/25 minutes drive straight down the M4 (westbound) motorway. Alternatively it is linked directly to Reading rail station by the RailAir express bus service running every 20 minutes or so and taking about 1 hour. Indirectly, by the Heathrow Connect train service (change at Hayes) take about 55 minutes.
 * Southampton Airport is about 45 miles/50 minutes drive away down the M3 motorway. Alternatively there is a service from Reading direct to Southampton Airport taking about 1 hour.
 * Gatwick Airport is about 55 miles/60 minutes drive away via the M23 (northbound), M25 (clockwise) and M4 (westbound) motorways. There is a through train service to Reading from a rail station in the airport terminal complex, running twice an hour and taking an hour.
 * Luton Airport is about 60 miles/70 minutes drive away via the M1 (southbound), M25 (westbound) and M4 (westbound) motorways. Luton Airport Parkway connects the airport to Kings Cross station every 35 minutes, the tube to London Paddington station.
 * Stansted Airport is about 75 miles/90 minutes drive away via the M11 (southbound), M25 (anti-clockwise) and M4 (westbound) motorways. By train you will need to catch a Stanstead Express train to London Liverpool Street station, the tube to London Paddington station.

By bus
Hurley Link 239 provides a service from Hart Street to Frascati Way, Maidenhead.

Arriva 800/850 stops at various points in the town from Reading to High Wycombe.

By boat
The nearest major ferry port to Henley-on-thames is Harbour''' which is located next to the city of Portsmouth. Destinations from Portsmouth include the Channel Islands, France, Spain and the Isle of Wight. It is about 65 miles/80 minutes straight down the M3 and M27 motorways.

Henley-on-Thames also has numerous boat trips along the River Thames to the nearby towns of Reading and Windsor.

By taxi
Minicabs which must be ordered by phone or app, Henley Taxi Services, & Chiltern Cars are the most popular services.

Get around
All locations in and around the town are walkable or drivable. During the Regatta, the Thames is teeming with classical launches, which are available for booking well in advance of events.

Buy
The town centre is a fairly typical one with most of your high street favourites.

Eat
Hart Street and Market Place, which run inland from the river at Henley Bridge are lined with restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Phone
Henley's area code is 01491 when dialed from within the UK or +441491 from outside the UK.

Stay safe
The town has a moderate amount of crime and antisocial behaviour which mainly occurs at night.

Go next
There are nice walks for people along the River Thames, to places like Reading, Maidenhead and Windsor and many lighter walks for people looking for a short pleasant walk.

 * North East to High Wycombe on the A4155 and A404.
 * West to Maidenhead on the A4130 or  along the Thames River path.
 * North West to Oxford on the A4130 and A4074 or  along the Thames River path.

title: Henley-on-Thames


text:
Henryetta

Henryetta is in the Green Country region of Oklahoma. The coal fields have played out.

Get in
Easy on/off access from I-40.

Do
Attend the Jim Shoulders Living Legends Rodeo in early September.

title: Henryetta


text:
Hepu

Hepu is a small village in Tibet, of some 100 villagers and 30 farming and herding families.

Understand
Hepu is pronounced "Lhe-puh", and means valley of the gods. "Lhe" is god, and "puh" refers to valley in the Tibetan language.

Get in
Hepu is located 3 hours walking distance east of Ganden monastery on the outskirts of Lhasa, Tibet.

Get around
It's a relatively small village, so getting around on feet is easy in the village. However, the village is surrounded by hills and mountains, so be prepared to work out those calf muscles with uphill hiking. Yaks can also be rented to ride around village surroundings, while enjoying the serene beauty.

See
Hepu is an important stop for backpackers travelling from Ganden monastery to Samye monastery. Ganden to Samye is a holy 4 day trek (stopping overnight only), with beautiful surroundings, and typically takes a few days to complete. Guide services can be rented from Hepu, as well as Yaks (to carry things like tents and food), and friendly villagers often offer tea and snacks in their tents or homes.

Do
Many trekkers spend the night camping in Yak hair tents in Hepu, using Hepu as the preparation point for their treks.

Meet the friendly villagers, enjoy the mountainous scenery.

Ride Yaks.

Buy
Rent Yaks for treks.

Hire a guide or two (sometimes to help with the yaks).

Eat
Dried dri (Tibetans distinctly call female yaks, "dri") and yak meat. Sheep or goat meat.

Tibetan bread

Tsampa (roasted barley)

Tibetan dried "dri" (female Yak) cheese

Drink
Yak (dri) butter tea

Sleep
Spend the night in a yak hair tent or a villager's home.

title: Hepu


text:
Heraclea Minoa

Heraclea Minoa is a small village named after its Greek ruins on the south coast of Agrigento province in Sicily, Italy, half way between the towns of Sciacca to the north-west and Porto Empedocle and Agrigento to the south-east.

By bus
Buses do not go directly to Eraclea Minoa, but they will stop and pick up from the road junction on the main SS115, about 4km away. From here you will have to walk (or hitch a lift). It can get very hot in summer. On the way back, you are more likely to be able to find someone to give you a lift to the road junction, or even further afield.

From the SS115 road junction there are frequent buses from and to Sciacca and Agrigento.

See

 * The They are not that impressive - a semi-circular open air theatre and a few buildings - but the setting of a hill overlooking a sweeping beach, backed by a narrow band of pine trees, more than makes up for it.

Do

 * Venture down to the beach through the pine trees and relax in or outside one of the two bars.

Sleep
Rooms are available in the village behind the beach, and apartments may be rented near the beach.

Go next

 * Sciacca – on the coast 22 km to the north-west
 * Porto Empedocle – on the coast 22 km to the south-east
 * Agrigento – just past Porto Empedocle

title: Heraclea Minoa


text:
Heraklion

Heraklion (Greek: Ηράκλειον, Irákleio) or Iraklio is the major city and capital of Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. Its archaeological museum holds the remains of the 4000-year-old Minoan civilization, which centred on the nearby palace of Knossos, with its Minotaur legend. The city has several Venetian and Byzantine churches and the biggest in East Mediterranean well-preserved Venetian wall and harbour fortress from the 15th century.

Understand
Around 1880, the Greek Kalokairinos, and later in 1900, the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans began excavating a site just south of the city, thinking to find remains of ancient culture maybe Mycenean. He quickly discovered a much older, more powerful civilisation, which he called “Minoan” after the Minotaur legend. 4000 to 3000 years ago, Crete dominated the east Mediterranean from this site, Knossos. These discoveries changed our ideas of the ancient world – and Crete's modern fame and tourist industry were born.

Heraklion (also transcribed as Herakleion, Iraklio, Irakleion) has been much fought-over down the centuries. From 1204 it was held by the Venetians, who built a great wall around the city, and a harbour fort, to defend against the Ottoman Turks. But the Ottomans won in 1669 and held the island until 1898 when their empire was crumbling. Crete for a time was independent, then was incorporated into Greece in 1913.

Modern air transport brought huge numbers of tourists, mostly heading to resorts further along the coast, and the city sprawled out way beyond its historic centre – the population of the urban area is now some 211,000 (2021). Many developments were ugly and ill-planned. Then came recession, and turmoil in the Greek economy. Heraklion today is an interesting city with a pedestrianized center and a lovely coastal promenade.

Like the rest of Crete, Heraklion has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry with clear skies, but often with stiff breezes to relieve the heat. Winters are mild with little rain and rare frosts.

Tourist information

 * Heraklion Tourism website

By plane

 * Flat priced taxi service from the airport to downtown Heraklion is available for €18 (April 2024). Public bus service is also available.

By boat
The principal ferry route is from Piraeus, the port for Athens. These ferries mostly sail overnight, leaving in each direction around 21:00 to dock next morning at 06:00. The Heraklion ferry terminal is near the KTEL bus station just east of town centre. The operators are Minoan Lines, Anek Lines and Superfast Ferries

Other routes are:
 * from Thessaloniki and Dodecanese by G.A. Ferries
 * from the Cyclades by G.A. Ferries, Sea Jets and Hellenic Seaways.
 * from Santorini by Anek, Seajets and Hellenic, links above.

Most ferries take vehicles and run year-round – trucking is an important part of their business, especially since so many people nowadays fly. But frequency is much reduced in winter, so for island-hopping you may find you have to double back via Piraeus.

By road
See below under “Get around”.

By bus
Heraklion is connected with the rest of Crete by regular bus lines operated by two KTEL companies for Western and Eastern Crete. The coaches are modern, comfortable and air-conditioned. Fares are reasonable. The main inter-city buses run hourly.

There is only one bus station for all inter-city buses in Heraklion:

In and around Heraklion, use the public city buses. For trip planning, route, schedule and stop information use Herakleio City Bus app. Or check bus itineraries and departure times at https://astiko-irakleiou.gr/en/itineraries.

The main bus stops have routes and schedules posted, LCD displays for the next buses, and ticket machines, which are cheaper than buying onboard the bus (which costs €2 Zone A, or €2.50 Zone B). Small stops may have none of these, so consider buying two tickets, keeping one for your return. At bus stops, signal the driver by raising your arm. Orange ticket (A zone whole, B zone students) costs €1.20, blue ticket (B zone whole) costs €1.70, all tickets have a QR code, directing to Astiko KTEL website. There are two free circular "Citybus" lines in the city centre which run from 07:00 until 22:40. When you get on the bus, hold the bottom half of your ticket in your right hand. The driver will take the top half (side with ticket price) and the two of you will rip it in half. Tickets are available inside buses but cost more.

 * Line 1 goes to the airport
 * Line 2 goes to Knossos
 * Line 7 goes to Amnissos
 * Line 8 goes to FORTH (Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas)
 * Line 11 goes to University hospital
 * Line 12 goes to HMU (Hellenic Mediterranean University, formerly TEI - Technologiko Ekpedeftiko Idrima Kritis)

By car
Traffic in Heraklion is bad and parking is worse. You can see the main central sights on foot, and take the bus for Knossos, Rethymno and Chania. You hardly need a car for your trip.

Hiring a car is easy with the usual documentation (a standard EU driving licence is fine.) Get prior permission in writing from the rental company if you plan to take the car away on a ferry.

Petrol stations often close around 21:00, particularly in villages. Most petrol stations expect you to pay cash; they serve you, so you can choose for them to fill the tank or put in fuel to a cash value. On the National Highway, there are service stations, but they are often 50 km or so apart. Fill up before public holidays and Sundays when you may have more difficulty finding an open station.

By taxi
Lots of taxi ranks in all the main locations, downtown and at the airport and ferry port. Usually they're looking for trade and will spot you before you spot them. If they're sparse, call or via their website.

By motorbike
Even though Crete is the biggest Greek island, it is still easy and quick to get around it by motorcycle. Riding mopeds and motorcycles is a common activity in Crete and a lot of tourists choose this way of exploring the island. The minimum driving age for a moped in Greece is 16. As Crete is a very rural island, riders should be aware of livestock who often are present along the sides of the highways, and sometimes can make their way into the middle of the road. As tempting as it might be to explore off the beaten path, a good rule of thumb is to stick to roads and trails that emergency services will be able access should there be a need for emergency assistance.

There is no lack of motorbike rental providers around the Island, but mostly are concentrated near the airports and within Heraklion, Chania, and Rethymno.

See
The must-see sights are the Archaeological Museum downtown, and the Palace of Knossos 5 km south. A combined ticket is no longer offered.

Take a stroll along the city's Venetian wall (Greek: Τείχη). It's 7.5 km long, with seven bastions jutting out. On the southernmost of these, the Martinengo Bastion, is the grave of Nikos Kazantzakis with its moving inscription, "I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free." From the wall head towards the harbour, taking in the Historical Museum, which picks up the story where the Archaeological Museum leaves off. The Koules or fortress stands over the inner harbour but the mole continues for almost 2 km, with views back over the city and the ferry port. You don't need to enter the Koules to go on the mole, but you may need to dash where the waves are breaking at its base.

Take the main highway east towards Malia to reach the Cretaquarium and the folklore museum.

Do

 * Amoudara the city's beach area; a 6 km strip of sandy beach, lots of cafes, bars and hotels and the site of "Technopolis", a modern multiplex cinema and open-air theatre.
 * Horseback riding, experienced and amateur riders can ride at the beach of Karteros, or take riding lessons at Ippikos Omilos Hrakliou, located 6 km east of Heraklion, in Karteros.
 * Rock climbing, locals and visitors can climb a 15 m rock at the suburb of Karteros, east of Heraklion. Safety equipment is provided.
 * Water fun at Water City and Aqua Plus water parks.
 * Football: OFI Crete play soccer in Superleague, the top tier in Greece. Their home ground is Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium (capacity 9000) on km west of city centre.
 * Heraklion Sailing Club (Ιστιοπλοϊκός Όμιλος Ηρακλείου) offers sailing lessons, sailing trips, yacht charters and has its own seafood restaurant. It's on the former premises of the port refrigeration plant, east of the Port Authorities.
 * Heraklion Summer Arts Festival is held from June to September.

Buy

 * Visit the central open market near Meidani square and buy mountain herbs, spices and folk natural remedies.

Budget
Throughout the city centre, it is easy to find cheap tavernas (ταβέρνα) offering full meals for under €20 for two people. A strict budget can be met by sticking to the supermarkets which provide the usual array of fruits, vegetables and cheese for modest prices (€5/day is quite feasible.) Central cafes serve the local breakfast treat bougatsa, a local pastry with cottage cheese, served with honey, or cinnamon and sugar. Also available are the usual complement of pastry shops for standard meals such as spanakopita (spinach pie) and various cheap desserts.

There are many low-priced restaurants in the city centre:

Drink

 * Raki, also known as tsikoudia, is the trademark of Cretan day and night life, a strong clear drink similar to grappa in Italy or orujo in Spain. It is made from the 'must' of grape skins and twigs after the local production of the white wine. It doesn't taste like aniseed, as opposed to the Turkish rakı. Most raki is standard spirit strength of 40% or 80o proof, but some are much stronger. It's often served in small glasses after dinner with a plate of fruit or other dessert.
 * Cretan wine: Try the distinctive Cretan wine, produced in the island for at least 4000 years. Labels: Sitia, Peza Union. The Cretans themselves drink so called 'open' wine, straight out of the barrel, like fresh white wine, and the sometimes very old dark rusty red wine, a bit like port. Typical Cretan wine varieties are Marouvas and Kotsifali (both red wines).

Budget
There are two hostels in Heraklion, both in the city centre, a 10-minute drive from the airport and a 5-minute drive from the port. A taxi from the airport to either hostel should cost less than €10, and from the port less than €6.

Connect
Free WiFi provided by municipality, and some cafes. 3G & 4G networks are also available

Stay safe
Road safety is wanting and generally the attitudes of all road users are poor and reckless. For pedestrians, there are haphazard pavements, usually entirely obstructed by parked cars and bikes, meaning the road itself has to be used by pedestrians. Other roads lack pavements. Road crossings for pedestrians do not seem to be recognized by motorists, making crossing difficult in busy roads. Drivers and bikers may even drive through junctions when the "green man" is indicating it is safe for pedestrians to cross. The bikers seem to be the worst, usually wearing no helmet and happily talking on a mobile phone or reading a text message while driving. Sometimes bikers ride on the pavements, and expect pedestrians to move out their way.

There are many stray cats and dogs in the city. The dogs can often be seen in small packs, and may bark and growl but do not attack if they are left alone.

Cope
Heraklion can seem traffic-choked, polluted and crowded with chain-smokers at times. A visit would not be advisable for those very sensitive to cigarette smoke (e.g. asthmatics), as smoke is everywhere. Even no smoking rooms in hotels are likely to have the smell of cigarettes drift from the corridor or the window. Fortunately anywhere near the sea front there is a refreshing mild sea breeze.

Go next
Within reach of a day-trip, but worth longer, are Rethymno, Chania (the most charming old town on the island), and Agios Nikolaos. Chania is the best base for exploring the Samaria Gorge, and Agios Nikolaos is your base for seeing Spinalonga. You'll need your own car to see Anogia, or Phaistos Palace and Matala beach, on a day trip.

title: Heraklion


text:
Herat

Herat (Dari: هرات) is a big, relatively wealthy city in western Afghanistan.

Understand
Herat is the third largest city in Afghanistan, located in the western part of the country, close to the border with Iran. It is called Nagin Aseeya or Diamond of Asia in some literature. The city has an eventful history of more than 3,000 years. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times; perhaps most notably, it was destroyed by Tamerlane in the 1300s.

The people are very friendly and hospitable to foreigners and are also more religious than people in Kabul. Many of the young understand English or other foreign languages. It is relatively safer than other provinces of Afghanistan except Kandahar.

The attempted revolution against the communist government in Afghanistan began in 1979 in Herat with demonstrations that exploded into something larger when government forces shot some people, provoking a group of young officers to distribute weapons from a military armory to the crowd. They soon conducted a massacre of both Afghan communist officials and Russian advisors. That brought the first bombing of Herat that killed over 20,000 and then a Russian invasion of the whole country.

Ismail Khan, one of the officers involved, soon became the main mujahideen leader in this region. When the Russians finally withdrew in 1989, he ruled Herat until the Taliban takeover in the mid-1990s, and the city changed its face due to the many development works he undertook. He resisted the Taliban and even tried to attack their capital city, Kandahar, but they defeated him, then captured and imprisoned him until he escaped and fled to Iran. When the American-led alliance invaded, his forces liberated Herat before the invaders reached Kabul. In the Karzai Government, Ismail Khan became the governor of this province and built on his earlier works, but later he was removed from the governorship.

Get in

The Herat International Airport is 15 km south of the city just east of the road towards Farah. Daily flights from Kabul are available from Kam Air and Ariana for 3500 Afs. UNAMA and UNHAS operate flights between Kabul and Herat, occasionally via Bamiyan, available to staff of partner NGOs.

A bus service is available from Mashhad in Iran, buses are supposed to leave at 07:00 from the bus terminal but departure times are flexible, be there early. Arrival at the border is around noon and in Herat a bit after 15:00. Border procedures are relatively straightforward.

Overland travel by car can be time-consuming and dangerous. The road from Kandahar has been rebuilt but is extremely dangerous as it passes through Helmand and Farah, both which are war zones. The roads from Iran and Turkmenistan are both in good shape, the latter one being tarred, although with occasional craters. There are occasional security incidents on the road from Turkmenistan as trouble spills over from the unstable Badghis province. Get up-to-date advice before attempting this route. The A76 highway connects to Mazar-e Sharif via Maimana. Upgrading of the road is not yet completed, largely due to the kidnapping of the construction team in 2009. This route is not recommended. The central route to Kabul via Chagcheran and the Minaret of Jam is a very rough 3- to 6-day journey, sleeping in chaikanas along the way. However, from Bamiyan, the longer northern route to Kabul is safer than the southern route.

See

Ghala Ekhteyaradin, Takht Safar, Bagh Milat, Bagh Shaidayee, Masjid Jami, Howz Charso, Minarets, Poli Malan (Malan Bridge), Gowhar Shad Tomb, Gazer Gah Sharif, Sang Haft Ghalam, Dig Masjid Jami and tens of other beautiful places exist in Herat, and they are really worth a visit.

Do

 * Take a shower in the huge subterranean Hammams.

Buy

 * There are several antique shops on the north side of the mosque that sell jewellery, tea pots, old coins and traditional clothing. Sultan Hamidi will happily show his photograph in the Lonely Planet guidebook, demonstrate any instruments he has for sale, and direct you to the glassblowers' workshop where many of his wares are made. Bargain hard and in Afghanis.
 * There is also a silk bazaar near Chahar Su and the Friday Mosque, where you can watch the weavers at their looms, and bargain on scarves and cloth.

Money

 * There are money changers near Chowk Gulha and along Bagh-e Azadi, north of the old city.

Eat
Herat has a mixture of traditional and modern foods. While in Herat do not forget to try Kichiri Goshti and Chainaki. Also Halwa Sohan Herat, Shirperra Zafarani and Dashlama Herati are the best sweets.

 * Chaikanas are plentiful, and serve cheap local Afghani food.
 * Shahiste Restaurant, jad-e Badmurghan, is in the Marco Polo Hotel and is the one of the best restaurants in the city. The menu changes daily, and usually features several Iranian/Afghani options. Meals from around 200 Afs.
 * Arghawan Restaurant, next to the Nazary Hotel, serves kebabs and pizza, with a garden for hookah. Women may be assigned to a small "family room" at the back. Meals from around 200 Afs.
 * Fardeen Supermarket, jad-e Ghomandani, about two blocks north of Bagh-e Azadi. A well-stocked supermarket with plenty of western and Iranian imports.

Budget

 * Jaam Hotel, in the old city west of Darb Khosh, . Has 30 basic double rooms, all sharing 2 squat toilets and 2 showers. Management speaks some English and are very friendly, and there is a restaurant on site. 300 Afs.

Mid-range
Guesthouses are recommended for longer stays

Stay safe
See the warning on the Afghanistan article for information on the security situation.

Respect
Be quiet, respectful and dress appropriately when visiting mosques and shrines. These are holy places of worship and should not be treated as tourist attractions. Be discreet with your camera.

Go next
Chisht-i-Sharif is 177 km from Herat city. As you approach it across a plateau, you can see the two famous domes of Chisht. The town with its meandering bazaar street sits in the ravine between these plateaus. Winding down and up, you will find an avenue of pine trees leading directly to two ruined buildings now standing in the middle of an extensive graveyard. Experts argue as to the purpose of these buildings. Some speak of them as mausoleums. Others see them as parts of a grand complex of buildings.

title: Herat


text:
Herborn

Herborn is a town in North Hesse

Understand
Herborn was the residence of the Dukes of Nassau for most of the medieval and early modern era and called itself "Rothenburg of Hesse" for tourism purposes before World War I. It is one of the better preserved small towns which was thankfully largely spared bombing in the second world war.

By plane
Herborn is only 80 km away from Frankfurt airport, Germany's busiest airport. From the airport, heading to the north (Autobahn A5, then change to A45 direction of Dortmund). Or you can reach Herborn from the Cologne/Bonn airport, about 100 km.

By car
Herborn has a good connection to Autobahn A45, the connection between Hanau and Dortmund. Two junctions lead from the A45 into the city. Federal route B255 from Montabaur (Westerwald) leads to Herborn, also the route B277 connecting Wetzlar with Siegen leads to Herborn.

Get around
In Herborn you can visit all of your target destinations via city buses. In addition to this, many Taxi and Minivan services are also available (e.g. at train stations)., as well as a bike rental outlet situated at Schneider's Sports Shop along the Konrad-Adenauer street.

See
One of the main sights of Herborn is historic townscape with many beautiful half-timbered houses

Do

 * Take a walk through the historic city on your own, or get a guided city sightseeing tour (available at any desired day/time, also in English language)
 * Herborn is also popular for hiking - there are qualified hiking trails starting (or ending) in Herborn, like the "Westerwaldsteig" and the "Lahn-Dill-Berglandpfad", very attractive hiking routes, leading through the beautiful landscape with many forests and exciting views!

Buy
There is a shopping centre in the "Au", located near Wellenbad. Additionally, there are numerous other markets and shopping locations throughout the whole town as well as the districts.

Eat
Local specialities are "Schlumpeweck" and "Fastebrezel" in a few bakeries and/or cafés. Also, Herborn is famous for its meats.

Sleep
There are many hotels, guest houses and holiday flats available in Herborn. For any question, please contact the tourist information office in the town hall, telephone (Germany) 2772 7081900.

Connect
Stadtmarketing Herborn GmbH, Hauptstraße 39, D-35745 Herborn, Germany. Email: tourist@herborn.de

Go next

 * Siegen
 * Marburg
 * Wetzlar

title: Herborn


text:
Herceg Novi

Although not the most spectacular city in Montenegro (Kotor takes that prize), Herceg Novi is probably the most pleasant and warrants several days' visit. The city is particularly a good alternative to the very touristy Dubrovnik in Croatia. The cities have similar architecture but Herceg Novi is neither as grand nor as touristy and expensive. Herceg Novi translates into English as "New Castle".

Understand
Herceg Novi is a very popular destination for tourists from the neighbouring Serbia, and, to a lesser extent from Russia. In spite of this tourist boom, the city has managed to some extent to keep the traditional slow Montenegrin lifestyle. The locals are very welcoming and you are never annoyed by street vendors.

A sizeable Bosnian (Serb) refugee population flooded into Herceg Novi during the war years. Many of the camps are still around although they have been turned into more permanent (and quite nice) settlements. You can still see them on the bus as you leave the city. Also if you go for a wander up into the hills you will come into whole new areas of construction resulting from a property boom.

The Financial Times in 2007 listed Montenegro as one of world's 10 top property hotspots and foreign buyers have been snapping up properties on the coast.

Get in
Bus is the only form of public transport in/out of Herceg Novi, and the bus station (located in the centre of town, up the hill) is busy all day long with buses heading (mostly) down the Adriatic coast. There is a regular bus service to Herceg Novi (and further to other Montenegrin cities) from main bus station in Dubrovnik, which runs several times a day. It costs €11 (October 2017) and takes about one hour. There are also regular buses to Kotor, Budva, Bar and Podgorica. Some buses go as far as to Beograd. There are also a couple of buses a day going to Trebinje in Bosnia under an hour.

If Herceg Novi is your main destination, a pleasant alternative to bus travel is hiring a Croat cab from Dubrovnik airport (Cilipi) for about €50; this trip takes about 40 minutes, including border crossings.

There is no rail or ferry access into the town.

Get around
On foot as the city is not big. There are also regular public transport buses but you'll need to check those at the bus station. The nicest by far is to walk on the seafront (where the railway used to go) and scale the stairs where you need to.

See

 * The Herceg Novi old town is amazing. It is on a fairly steep hill that leads all the way down to the sea. Wandering through the small stairways to the various plazas and fortresses is a many hour adventure. There are both Orthodox and Catholic churches that are well worth visiting.
 * The Kanli Kula fortress dominating the old town doubles as an open-air theatre and is worth visiting mainly for the splendid views of the town and the Kotor bay (entrance fee as of August 2012: €1; free for children under 12)
 * The Spanjola fortress higher up the mountain (170 m above sea level) dates back to 16th century. Take a small street going upwards across from the Kanli Kula fortress. Entrance is free and you can freely climb (and fall from) the walls.
 * The Savina monastery, approximately 2 km east from the city center has three beautiful Orthodox churches and (yet again) splendid views of the bay.
 * The Savina monastery, approximately 2 km east from the city center has three beautiful Orthodox churches and (yet again) splendid views of the bay.

Do

 * Swimming - The city has some great pebble and many concrete beaches, although most of them are quite crowded during high season (see photo). There is a path that leads along the beach part of the city for about 3 miles. Follow it until you find a place that is suitable for you. Many small privately owned beaches have loungers, small boats, and other gear for hire.
 * Mud therapy - At the western end of the promenade is a small spa town of Igalo, renowned across Europe for healing properties of its muddy, mildly radioactive sand. A health and hospital centre complex offers mud therapy combined with other treatments, but you can do it yourself by following the locals and wading through the sand. Apply the muddy sand all over your body, or on affected parts, and combine with gentle exercise and sunbathing for best effects. This is believed to be beneficial for rheumatic complaints, skin disorders, and gynecological problems.
 * People watching - Along the promenade, the main square in the Old Town, and almost everywhere else around town, there are about hundred small cafes with tables conveniently positioned for this popular local pastime. All serve good coffee (Italian style) and many also offer a selection of freshly made and delicious cakes and ice creams.
 * Hiking - Going from the bus station up towards the hills you can find some wonderful ancient stone paths that lead up to some very rural communities. The paths are not marked and not very visible but if you wander along any road for a mile or so and keep an eye on the vegetation you should find one. Either way take a 5- to 6.5-km walk up into the hills (whether you find the paths or not).
 * Mountaineering - Get in touch with Herceg Novi based mountaineering society "Subra" if you are serious about mountain sports in some of the most beautiful and unspoiled mountains in Europe.
 * Diving - there are a few scuba diving operators along the beach that offer dives to sunk ships, caves and even the Yugoslav army's submarine tunnels.

Buy
Italian-made clothes in Old Town and Igalo boutiques are reasonably priced up-to-minute fashions. Not great for local arts and crafts, which are available in Kotor and Budva. Go to local market just off the main square in the Old Town on Saturday morning to buy fresh fruit (sweet and cheap), olive oil, sheep and goats cheese, dried figs, locally made wine; this market sells seasonal and locally produced goods, so what you find depends on the time of your visit.

Eat
Go to small eateries around the promenade for fresh local food, grilled seafood and meat dishes, and international cuisine. Count approximately €10-12 for the main dish in a typical restaurant (grilled high-quality fish is more expensive). Almost all cafes serve pizza which is usually well-made. Follow the locals; Montenegrins are usually more picky than foreign tourists when it comes to eating out.

The Petica in the centre of the Old Town is a great place to sit, drink an espresso, or have some fairly priced pasta/pizza (€4-7). The service is very friendly and the food is delicious.

The Tri Lipe restaurant is next to the Sea Fort (Forte Mare), 20m from the beach. You eat in an open-air terrasse under three old lindens, and the service is quick and friendly. If you are on a budget, get a takeaway from the window on the side and enjoy it on a bench next to the sea.

Drink
Herceg Novi is hot in summer, and it usually stays warm late into the evenings, so cold drinks are best sellers. Iced coffee is served in tall glasses with dollops of ice cream and "slag" (fatty whipped cream) and qualifies as a full meal. Local beer made in Niksić is good; also try "spritzer" which is a refreshing mix of chilled white wine and carbonated mineral water.

Sleep
Accommodation is plentiful: Look for signs that say 'soba.' You should be able to get a room for €10 per person during the summer months.

Go next
Half-day or full-day boat excursions along the Kotor bay or to a specific destination (Kotor, Perast, Ostrog monastery) leave from different points on the beach.

title: Herceg Novi


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Herculaneum

Herculaneum (Italian: Ercolano) is a town close to Naples in Campania, Italy. It is named after the ruined Roman city which forms its main attraction. Herculaneum was destroyed by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79, the same eruption that destroyed Pompeii. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
For many people, Herculaneum is a more interesting place to visit than Pompeii. Surrounded by volcanic rock, its location gives you a far clearer idea of the magnitude of the volcanic eruption. While roofs in Pompeii collapsed under the weight of falling ash, only a few centimetres of ash fell on Herculaneum, causing little damage. Subsequently, there was a succession of six flows of boiling mud (a mixture of ash and gases) which then solidified. These gradually buried the city's buildings from the bottom up, causing relatively little damage. The good state of preservation of the site is due to its rapid filling by these flows, which prevented the buildings from collapsing. The high temperature of the first flow carbonized wood in the buildings and extracted water from it. Restoration work is ongoing, and while a lot of the timbers have been replaced, there is still much of the original timberwork present, albeit badly charred. Finally, the volcanic rock, or tufo, that covered the site for 1700 years formed an airtight seal. As a consequence there are many well-preserved buildings, many with the upper stories still intact, and some excellent frescoes and mosaics on both walls and floors to be seen.

Herculaneum really gives you an idea of how ancient Romans lived. For the independent traveller there is an additional advantage over Pompeii. The congested streets around the excavations (it: scavi) mean that access for tour buses is impossible. Thus there are far fewer visitors to Herculaneum than Pompeii. You don't have to fight your way past hordes of other tourists in order to get into the buildings and you can explore the ruins at leisure without being overwhelmed by tour groups. These excavations also cover a much smaller site than do those of Pompeii and thus seeing the whole site is much less exhausting.

By bus
Frequent buses run to and from Naples.

By train
The Circumvesuviana trains take 25 minutes to get there from Naples and 40 minutes from Sorrento. To get to the ruins, get off at the station, from where you exit into a small square. Exit diagonally right (the only way out of the square) and walk 8 blocks downhill to the big arch - the ticket office & baggage check are about a further 2 minutes' walk though the arch (pick up bag 30 minutes before site closing).

There are two train stations in Ercolano. The Ercolano Scavi Circumvesuviana station is on the Sorrento-Naples line, but the trains on the Naples-Salerno stop at the Porticini/Ercolano station. The Herculaneum site is not signposted from the latter station.

By car
Herculaneum is on the Autostrada from Naples to Salerno. There is a toll of €2 for using any part of this stretch of highway. Parking is not easy to find, particularly the type of parking you will want if your car is full of suitcases. Try the parking area behind the police station, just one block southeast of the entrance to the excavations. (€1 an hour in advance).

See
The section below provides a brief summary of what can be seen.

At the ruins, be sure to see:

Do
Don't be afraid to wander around. There's still a lot of character to the ruins from the city it once was, and you never know what you'll find.

Tour
PompeiIn info@pompeiin.com +39 3284134719 offers itineraries at the ancient Herculaneum lasting minimum 2 hours and covering all the highlights of the city such as Northern Cardo (road oriented north–south), the House of the Skeleton, Thermopolium (restaurant food), Men's Thermal Bath, Temple of Augustali, Forum (main square), House of the Black Saloon, House of Neptune and Amphitrite, House of Bel Cortile, the Samnite House, the House of the Wooden Partition, the Bakery, the Gym, the Home of the Bucks, the Marina gate, terrace of Marcus Nonius Balbus and the beach. The guides are locals, are licensed, and have degrees in archaeology; they are able to provide tours for kids and disabled people, and with their vast knowledge of ancient history and society are capable of making the ancient Herculaneum come to life.

Buy
The ticket office to the site also has an excellent book shop offering a wide range of guides and maps.

If you also plan to visit Pompeii buy the multi-site ticket - it is marginally cheaper that way. Also EU citizens under 24 or over 60 can get reduced admission if they can prove their age - so take your passport.

Eat
There are cake and pizza shops lining the street from the train station to the site.

Take your own food to the site, there's only one vending machine, and that's mostly for drinks.

Drink
In ancient Herculaneum, you could buy wine at Ad Cucumas. Nowadays, you are best off bringing water with you, and make sure you take your empty bottles with you when you leave the excavations.

Sleep
Herculaneum's excavations and the MAV museum can easily be seen in a leisurely day. Most visitors stay in Naples or Pompeii, or even take a day trip from further afield. The town of Herculaneum has few attractions that would justify an overnight stay.

Stay safe
The excavations of Herculaneum are in an area of some economic deprivation, so watch your belongings!

Go next

 * Take the Circumvesuviana commuter train to any of the following destinations:
 * The grand city of Naples
 * The nearby Roman town of Pompeii, which was destroyed at the same time
 * The Vesuvius Natural Reserve, buses leave from the Circumvesuviana station
 * The ruined Villae at Oplontis and Sora
 * The lovely town of Sorrento: from here you can take boats to Capri (also from Naples), and go to the stunning Amalfi Coast

title: Herculaneum


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Heredia

Heredia region of the Central Valley offers much for the visitor in downtown Heredia, and in many of the towns around Heredia, particularly in the north mountains, like Barva, San Rafael, San Isidro, where there are many coffee plantations and fresh air year round.

Downtown Heredia is a medium-sized town in the San José metro area. The town is unexceptional but friendly. The Universidad Nacional Autonoma (National Autonomous University) has its main campus there. Heredia is located near the Juan Santamaria Airport and San José.

Cities and towns

 * Barva to the north is a small mountain town known for its preservation of old traditions, a museum (Museo de Cultura Popular) for that purpose and the August "turno" (fair) with masks are the most famous characteristics of Barva honoring Saint Bartholomew.
 * San José de la Montaña and Sacramento are mountain towns in Barva on the way to the Barva Volcano section of the Braulio Carrillo National Park.
 * San Rafael to the northeast is known for its many conifers tunnels that surround the main road that goes to the Castillo Country Club (private), it has a similar atmosphere to a European forest.
 * Monte de la Cruz is a small section on the north end of San Rafael with a public park with excellent views of the Central Valley.
 * Santa Bárbara is a residential town between Barva and Alajuela with a couple of boutique hotels.
 * Santo Domingo, a town between Heredia and Tibás.

Get in
In the middle of the Central Valley, Heredia is easily accessible by road and train.

By bus
From San José, there are four bus lines that stop in Heredia:
 * Amarillas: Goes from San Jose, through the Interamerican Highway directly to Heredia.
 * La 400: Goes from Uruca to Heredia, useful mostly for workers.
 * Tibas: Visits Tibas and Santo Domingo, nice route to get a quick glimpse of small San José towns.
 * Tuasa: Goes to Alajuela through Heredia, but not all of the rides. Ask the driver.

By car

 * From the airport instead of following the Interamerican Highway to San José, take a left turn on the first junction and follow the Heredia signs, this route goes through San Joaquín de Flores and directly to downtown Heredia. From Alajuela is a similar route, or you can take the internal route through Santa Barbara and Barva.
 * From San José, take the Interamerican Highway and near the first roundabout or Juan Pablo II bridge, stay to the right without taking the bridge, follow the road, cross the Virilla bridge, keep your right and you will be in Heredia.
 * Taxi: use an official taxi service, the orange ones (Airport-only shuttles) or the red ones with a yellow triangle. Never take an unofficial taxi, there are many crime reports about those. There is an informal service of porteadores with a blue circle, those aren't safe either, and can't pickup users in the streets legally, only from door to door.

Get around
You can easily walk most places in Heredia, or take a cab ride which will cost less than ₡1,000 (colones).

In the middle of Heredia downtown there is the central park.

Eat
Heredia has become a foodie paradise (relative to Costa Rica), there are many high quality restaurants preparing exotic dishes and local favorites with a very affordable range of prices for every customer.

Sleep
Heredia offers hotels at several different price levels including the backpacker variety. Local buses ply the route between Heredia and San Jose, taking about twenty minutes to reach San José's main tourist areas.

Go next

 * Alajuela:
 * The scenic route from Heredia to Poás Volcano goes straight from Barva to the north, look for Ruta 126 green signs and brown signs with directions to Volcán Poás.
 * Also through Río Segundo to get fast to the Airport, just follow the Airport signs.
 * San José: Follow the white signs, there are two ways, the more direct through Uruca that joins the Ruta 1 or Interamerican Highway, and also through Santo Domingo and Tibás that ends at the north end (Barrio Amón) of downtown San José.

title: Heredia


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Hereford

Hereford (Welsh: Henffordd) is an historic cathedral city in England on the river Wye. The county town of Herefordshire, the city lies close to the English border with Wales. A small city (population 61,000 in 2018), Hereford nonetheless offers a great variety of attractions for the traveller.

Get in
Herefordshire is a rural county and this is reflected in its transport links to Hereford. Roads from Gloucester or other places tend to be slow and bus transport from neighbouring counties isn't exceptional.

By coach
There are daily National Express coaches from Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, Gloucester, Swindon, Heathrow Airport and London Victoria.

By plane
Hereford has no civil airport but the city is accessible from Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, and London Heathrow.

The journey from London  to Hereford by car is  and takes about 3 hr, depending on traffic. To reach Hereford by train, you'll need to travel via London Paddington; journey times are slightly less than 4 hr.

is away with a driving time of about 1 hr 40 min. By train, a journey via Birmingham New Street takes just over 2 hr.

is away with a driving time of 1 hr 20 min. By train, a journey via Cardiff Central takes around 2 hr.

is away with a driving time of 1 hr 40 min. Don't use Bristol if you're not hiring a car, as the journey by bus and train to Hereford takes 3 hr.

By bus
Confusingly, Hereford has three bus termini: one (urban routes) is behind the Tesco supermarket in Bewell Street; one on St Peter’s Square (rural routes); and one behind the former Odeon cinema in Commercial Road (inter-city). Weather protection is barely adequate (no heated waiting rooms). Some county lines depart from outside the Hereford railway station and also stop at the Country Bus Station. Other services depart from the "County Bus Station" (behind the cinema on Commercial Road - about 3 minutes walk from the station). City services start from the Shire Hall in St. Peter's Square or the "City Bus Station" at the rear of the Tesco supermarket in Bewell Street.

By bike
Cycling in Hereford is not easy, there is a substantial lack of cycling infrastructure.

In 2019, as part of its Sustainable Transport policy, the council launched its Beryl Bike initiative, providing nearly 200 card-operated bikes, available from 40 pick-up points across the city. These emerald green 3-speed pedal bikes are programmed not to go out of the city centre and users must be over 16. Beryl bikes, however, are poorly maintained.

On foot
With pedestrianised High Town its core, central Hereford is extremely compact and no more than 600 metres across, so walking is the best way to explore it. East of Cathedral Close is Castle Street, with some fine early Georgian town houses, ending at the Victorian Castle House Hotel. North of the Close narrow Church Street is lined with shops (30 indies and not a high street multiple in sight). At the bottom, cross East Street, passing through the pedestrian tunnel known as Cabbage Alley brings you into High Town, where you can check out — and grab a bite to eat or a coffee — in the Victorian Butter Market.

See

Do
Formed in 1981, the non-profit-making Guild of Hereford Guides conducts daily walking tours of the city centre (further details from the Tourist Information Centre in the Butter Market). The national Ramblers Association has an active branch in the county.

Go next

 * Leominster
 * Worcester

title: Hereford


text:
Hereford (Texas)

Hereford is a city of 14,600 people (2019) in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle.

Get in

 * US 60 passes through town on its way from Canyon to Clovis, New Mexico.
 * Highway 385 comes up from San Angelo in the south, and down from Dalhart in the north.

Drink
Hereford is known as the "City without a Toothache" because the naturally high level of fluorine in the local tap water helps to prevent tooth decay.

title: Hereford (Texas)