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Hebrides

The Hebrides (Scottish Gaelic: Innse Gall) are the islands off the west coast of Scotland - an inner and outer archipelago are separated by the Minch sea channel. They are rugged and thinly populated, but scenic especially on the inner islands. They're far from the cities and feel even further, but straightforward to reach by air or ferry.

The Hebrides do not include the islands north of the Scottish mainland, the Orkney and Shetland archipelagos.

Main islands

 * The map points below are for the principal settlement on each island.

Understand

 * "The Western Islands of Scotland . . . were called by the ancient geographers Æbudæ and Hebrides; but they knew so little of them, that they neither agreed in their name nor number."
 * - Martin Martin from Skye in 1703 wrote one of the earliest accounts of this region.

The Picts are the earliest people we know of here (there were obviously predecessors) but they were supplanted by the Vikings from the 7th century, then by Dál Riata the Gaelic forerunner to Alba and Scotland. The Hebridean bedrock is impermeable so where it lies flat, it's covered in boggy heath, and elsewhere it rises as gnarly hills, equally difficult to farm. There was little reason for anyone to visit, and in the 18th and 19th centuries the population drained away, either voluntarily or driven out by the Highland Clearances to make way for sheep. This left an empty, treeless and impoverished region, though the bonus was that its natural scenery and prehistoric monuments were preserved.

The revival came with the development of modern transport and tourism, attracting new businesses. This most affected the Inner Hebrides, and scenic Skye and easy-to-reach Mull can feel frankly touristy in mid-summer. But the visitors only look many because their destinations are small, it's easy to escape, and there are long idyllic beaches and rugged headlands that you will have to yourself. Even Skye and Mull are tranquil outside July / Aug peak season.

By plane
Flying saves a long road journey to the mainland ferry port, though you'll need to book car hire at the other end. Most flights are by Loganair: they fly from Glasgow daily to Islay, Tiree, Barra, Benbecula and Stornoway; less often from Edinburgh or Inverness. (Barra is the airport where you famously land on the beach, tide permitting.) Hebridean fly from Oban to Coll, Tiree, Islay and Colonsay, but Oban has no connection to mainland air routes, and the service is basically a school bus in rinky-dinky BNF Islanders.

By boat
All the main ferry routes are operated by Calmac. They carry vehicles and sail year round, though in winter the service is reduced and more prone to weather disruption. You always need to book vehicles, and foot passengers should book in peak season. (Island accommodation is limited, so confirm this first then book your ferry immediately.) The ships are comfortable enough but the fleet is ageing, with cancellations through breakdowns, and replacement vessels way behind schedule and over budget. However the main consideration for travellers is getting to the mainland ferry port: these are some distance even from Scottish cities, so you likely need a stopover.

 * Kennacraig is west of Tarbert in Argyll and has buses from Glasgow heading to Campbeltown. Ferries sail to Port Ellen or Port Askaig on Islay - the latter sometimes continues to Colonsay. You reach Jura by a short crossing from Port Askaig. The little island of Gigha is a short ferry ride from Tayinloan south of Kennacraig.
 * Oban is a substantial town with buses and trains from Glasgow. Ferries sail to Mull (Craignure), Lismore, Tiree, Coll, Colonsay and Barra, plus the inshore islet of Kerrara.
 * Mallaig has trains from Glasgow via Fort William. Ferries sail to Armadale on Skye (though most visitors nowadays use the bridge), to Lochboisedale on South Uist, to the Small Isles of Rùm, Muck, Eigg and Canna, and to the "island" of Knoydart, a mainland peninsula not connected by road.
 * Uig on Skye is effectively on the mainland, and buses from Glasgow run via Fort William, Skye bridge and Portree. Ferries sail to Lochmaddy on North Uist and Tarbert on Harris.
 * Ullapool has buses from Inverness which connect with those from Glasgow and Edinburgh. The ferry sails to Stornoway on Lewis.

By road
Since 1995 Skye has been linked by road to the mainland at Kyle of Lochalsh, terminus of trains from Inverness. The A87 crosses two bridges (toll-free) and an islet to Kyleakin, Broadford, Sconser (for Raasay ferry), Portree and Uig.

By boat
Inter-island ferries you might use are
 * Port Askaig on Islay to Jura
 * Fionnphort on Mull to Iona
 * Ardmhòr on Barra to Eriskay, most southerly of the chain through South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist to Berneray.
 * Berneray in the Uists to Leverburgh on Harris, linked by road to Tarbert and to Lewis.
 * Coll to Tiree is simply the continuation of the ferry from Oban.

Port Askaig - Jura and Fionnphort - Iona have local operators, no booking, just turn up and go. They may feature on Calmac timetables but that info is not definitive.

Other routes are boat trips rather than ferries. These include Mull to Staffa (for Fingal's Cave), and Leverburgh to St Kilda.

By road
Several islands are connected by road, the grandest example being the Uist chain between Berneray and Eriskay. Others are Great Bernera linked to Lewis, two islands both called Grimsay linked to Benbecula, and Vatersay linked to Barra; all are inhabited. The road causeways are well clear of the sea, passable at all tides and in all but the worst Atlantic weather.

The main bus routes are:
 * - across Skye from Kyle of Lochalsh to Broadford, Portree and Uig.
 * - across Mull from Tobermory to Craignure ferry port and Fionnphort for Iona.
 * - the length of the Outer Hebrides from Stornoway to Barra

The main roads plied by these buses are mostly two-lane, but sections on Mull, and almost all minor roads, are single track lanes with passing places. They're in good repair as they don't carry the pounding traffic of mainland roads.

See

 * Callanish stone circle on Lewis is the outstanding prehistoric structure in the Hebrides. The Lewis chessmen were found nearby, but you'll have to visit the British Museum in London or the NMS in Edinburgh to see them.
 * Black houses were the traditional Hebridean hovel until late Victorian times. They had a single long room, a peat fire burning in the middle with no chimney, and cattle kept at one end. Several have been preserved as museums or living spaces, with examples on all the main islands. People decamped into cleaner "white houses" but Tiree adopted a curious hybrid, the "pudding house".
 * Castles are mostly gnarly medieval ruins; Kisimul on Barra is the best of these. Those converted into mansions that you can visit include Duart Castle at Craignure on Mull, Dunvegan on Skye and Lews in Stornoway.
 * Iona has an elegantly rebuilt cathedral amidst other ruins. The monasteries of the Hebrides were wrecked by the Vikings, restored by the Normans, then fell derelict again during the Reformation. However their graveyards continued in use, and some were incorporated into later churches, as on Lismore.
 * Trotternish the northeast peninsula of Skye has the most spectacular scenery of that island, with formations such as the Quiraing and Old Man of Storr.
 * Fingal's Cave on Staffa is the most dramatic of the basalt scenery produced by Atlantic eruptions, extending through Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland to the active volcanoes of Iceland.
 * The Northern Lights are frequently visible in winter, as the Hebrides are free of light pollution. But not in summer, as it never gets properly dark.

Do

 * Hebridean Way is a hiking and cycling trail across the Outer Hebrides from Vatersay to Stornoway and the Butt of Lewis.
 * Beaches in many places are long, sandy and unspoiled, but the water is cold. You need a chunky wetsuit for activities such as surfing, windsurfing or kayaking.
 * Check the tides then walk to Orosay / Oronsay, it hardly matters which, as it's the generic Viking term for a tidal island. Examples lie off Barra, Colonsay (with a ruined priory), Coll and Skye, and the Uists have a dozen.
 * Music festivals are held on Mull in April, Islay and Skye in May, and Lewis in July. Look out also for Highland Games, clan gatherings and agricultural shows in summer.

Buy
If you bring a car, fill upon the mainland before coming over. The islands are quite large and you'll spend a lot of time in third gear.

The inhabited islands have small stores. Only Stornoway is big enough for a proper supermarket; it's closed on Sunday.

Sleep

Wild camping is a legal right in Scotland, so long as you stay away from houses and don't disturb livestock. But overnight parking is restricted - the police will fine and move on anyone parking overnight on the roadside. The Hebrides have a real problem in summer with caravans and RVs cluttering the lay-bys and passing places, so you may be turned back at the ferry port if you can't show you've booked accommodation at your destination.

Most islands have designated camping and caravan sites, though most close for winter. Don't camp in summer if you react badly to midge bites - they greet arrivals in hungry hordes.

All short-term accommodation in Scotland must be registered, otherwise it's illegal and probably a flea-pit or fire-trap. The law (which does not apply to England) comes fully into force in July 2024, so for the time being proprietors can reasonably say that their registration is still being processed. Be increasingly sceptical as the deadline approaches. It's unwelcome extra bureaucracy for B&Bs, campsites and so on but in the long-term should better protect travellers and honest providers.

Small independent guesthouses - B&Bs - are the mainstay of Hebridean accommodation; many close in winter. Chains such as Premier Inn have a presence at the mainland ferry ports but have baulked at the economics of setting up on the islands.

You can stay in a castle in Stornoway and Tarbert.

Stay safe
Always beware traffic. The road may look like a deserted country lane, but any moment a truck will hurtle along in a rush to catch the ferry.

Take usual care of valuables. Island folk are honest but what about the visitors? - those roughnecks you saw getting liquored up on the ferry for example.

The Hebrides are on about the same latitude as Labrador. The Atlantic means it's never intensely cold, and the hills are of no great height, but the wind and driving rain can soon induce hypothermia, even in summer. You'll be in a sparsely populated area, often with no mobile signal to call for help. And the cold sea always demands your respect.

Pack enough of your usual medications and some spare, in case of disruptions to your homeward journey. Only the larger towns have a pharmacy, similarly low on stock if deliveries have been disrupted.

Go next

 * Orkney Islands north of the Scottish mainland are a complete contrast, low-lying with green fields and bright red bedrock. They're studded with Viking and prehistoric sites.
 * Shetland Islands further north are low-lying and treeless. Riven by fjords, they're Norse not Gaelic.
 * Islands in the Firth of Clyde, principally Arran and the  Bute, are within a day-trip of Glasgow, so they get busy on summer weekends.
 * Mainland isolates: Knoydart has no road connection so you have to take a ferry. Ardnamurchan has a roundabout road link but the ferry is quicker.

title: Hebrides


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Hebron

Hebron (Arabic: الخليل al-Ḫalīl; Hebrew: חֶבְרוֹן Ḥevron, Ḥeḇrôn, or Ḥebron) is an ancient city in the southern West Bank. It is the traditional burial place of the Biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives. This makes it a significant religious site for the Abrahamic religions. In 2017, the old town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Understand
Hebron is mentioned in the Bible as the home of Abraham, and the burial place of him and several generations of his family. In King David's time, Hebron was briefly the capital of the Israelite state, before the capital moved to Jerusalem. Today, Hebron is holy to both Muslims and Jews due to its association with Abraham. (Christianity is also an Abrahamic religion, but Christians haven't paid as much attention to Hebron.)

The Jewish population of Hebron was evacuated after Arabs killed nearly 70 of them in 1929. After the 1967 war, a few Jews resettled the Jewish quarter. Today, about 500 Jews live in part of the old city of Hebron under continual Israel Defense Force protection, and with a ratio of four Israeli soldiers for each Israeli settler.

Today, the city of Hebron is home to about 500 Jews and 200,000 Palestinians. The Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba (population 8,000) is a separate city immediately adjacent to Hebron. Hebron is divided into two sectors: H1 is entirely Palestinian and includes about 80% of the city's residents, while H2 contains all the Jews and the remainder of the Arabs. H1 is under full Palestinian control (i.e. Area A), while H2 is under full Israel control. The Cave of the Patriarchs, the main holy site in the city, is on the border between H1 and H2.

This has been one of the tensest places between Jews and Palestinians, as in Hebron both sides here tend to be more extreme and violent than the average for their ethnic groups. Jews here have the 1929 massacre on their minds, while Palestinians have Baruch Goldstein's 1994 massacre of praying Muslims on theirs. This is not a good place to express your opinion on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Even Jewish residents here have an often-hostile relationship with the Israel army, because they see it as being too accommodating to Palestinians. Unfortunately, the 2017 declaration of the Old Town as a UNESCO world heritage site has done little to ease the tensions, as the Israeli government protested its classification as an "endangered" "Palestinian" site, despite its Jewish heritage.

Get in
If you are visibly Jewish, it is probably not safe to travel unaccompanied to the "other" side of Hebron. However, if you look and sound like an international tourist, you should be fine on both sides.

To the Jewish side

 * From Jerusalem – Take bus 381 or 383 from the CBS (₪8.10) to the Jewish side of Hebron. The third from the last stop (Me'arat Hamahpela) is in front of the Cave of the Patriarchs on the Jewish side. The final stop (Beit Romano) is a five minute walk from an H1/H2 checkpoint.
 * From Be'er Sheva – Take bus 254 (₪13.50), which terminates at the nearby Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, from where you can take 381 or 383 over to the Jewish side of Hebron. This transfer might be free if you show them the bus 254 ticket.

To the Palestinian side

 * From Jerusalem – Take bus 21 from the Sultan Suleiman bus station just out and to the right from Damascus gate. Tell them Hebron or Al-Khalil (Arabic). They will take you to a mid way drop off point at the Bethlehem bus station. From there, go to the very bottom floor of the Bethlehem bus station where a servees (the Palestinian version of a sherut, called a serv-eese in Arabic) will deliver you to Hebron for less than ₪10.
 * Alternatively, take the bus to Abu Dis and tell the bus driver you are going to Khalil.

 * From Bethlehem – As mentioned before, from the very bottom floor of the Bethlehem bus station (at Manger Street) a servees will deliver you to Hebron for ₪9.
 * From Ramallah – Direct servees to Hebron depart from one of the many bus stations in Ramallah, just ask around. It might be faster to go to Bethlehem first, though.
 * From Be'er Sheva – Make your way to the last stop in front of the Church of the Patriarchs on the Jewish side, as explained before. From there just walk further passing by at least three Israeli checkpoints, with the being a gate which "delivers" you to the Palestinian side. Alternatively, you can directly enter the Palestinian side via a  of the Church of the Patriarchs, after which however you will need to go through a lengthy and little depressing souq alley.
 * Also, arriving at, you can walk directly into the Palestinian part of Hebron – consult Google Maps for the best way. However, taking the short ride with the Egged bus might be more convenient coming here the first time.

Crossing between the sides
There are at least two gates that allow pedestrian traffic between the Palestinian and Jewish sides. The most convenient gate for travelers is the Bab El-Zawiya crossing, a five minute walk from the Beit Romano bus stop on David Hamelech Street. Parking for Israeli registered vehicles is possible just before the crossing.

There is a myth that it is impossible to access the Jewish side of Hebron on foot coming from the highway/main road. However, this was likely only true in tense times, because there were no gates and metal detectors you could be checked with, although this has since changed. Generally, Palestinian taxi drivers are not allowed to drive to the Jewish side. In that case, you will need to go by taxi or bus from an Israeli town or a Jewish settlement (like Kiryat Arba). Either way, internationals can drive into the Jewish side, if your driver is not Palestinian.

It is now possible to make a long (25 min) walk from Kiryat Arba to the Cave of the Patriarchs directly via a stubby sidewalk. If that is not possible directly for some reason, walk via the Palestinian side and then through one of the gates coming from Be'er Sheva.

In general
The for servees to and from the surrounding areas, and even Bethlehem and Ramallah is on the upper floors of the Jeel-Saed shopping centre along Adel Street.

On the Palestinian side of Hebron, taxi rides within the city shouldn't cost more than ₪10-15. For seeing sights out-of-town, it's best to take a servees taxi at the service-taxi/bus station or negotiate a fair price with a taxi driver. Make sure to agree on a price for a taxi before getting in.

On the Jewish side of Hebron, a 10-minute walk will take you from one end to the other.

Do

 * Walk around, cross the gates and experience this distinct example of a divided city. Just the separation and how people are dealing with it, is very interesting to see.
 * Walking through the on the Palestinian side.
 * See Hebron transforming into a ghost town on Friday afternoon, when it is a public holiday.
 * H2 Hostel offers a political and cultural tour of Hebron for ₪50 per person, although the price can also inflate to ₪100 for a 3 hour tour depending on the number of participants, so ask beforehand.
 * A good idea is to hire one of many young folks around (mostly men) to give you a tour – please note . Agree on a fair price before hand. Though, more professional tours can be organised with your accommodation or from Jerusalem.

Buy
Purchasing items in the Old City district of the city (near the Ibrahimi Mosque) Hebron's Old City is an awesome place to get your Holy Land souvenir shopping done.

Work
Hebron has a controversial political history and present. There are a number of NGOs and movements on the ground that monitor the situation and advocate for human rights. These organizations are largely run by volunteers with tourist visas.

Eat
Buy some tabun (large, soft, round) bread in the Bab il Zaweya quarter and pick up a container of hummus nearby and you are set.

Falafel is one of the most famous "snacks" in Palestine in general. Hebron has many famous falafel restaurants that are always crowded because of their tasty falafel. Grab your sandwich for ₪3 and enjoy.

Hebron is famous of its traditional dish called Al-Qidrah (Al-Khaliliyah). This meal contains mainly rice and meat (chicken or lamb). It is very tasty and lovely, Al-Qidra is eaten usually on Fridays and other festivals. Since it needs time to prepare and it should be cooked in a woody oven in bakery, it is not easy to find in casual restaurant. However, it is available in restaurants like "Abu Mazen" and "Alquds" in Ras el jora. It could be expensive for local citizens. The dish for one person with drinks would cost around ₪35.

If you are a sweet lover, do not miss to get some sweets from the many sweets shops around in Hebron. Try kunafa/kenafeh (₪5 for a regular plate), Baqlawa, Harisah, Kolaj and the list can go long.

Drink
As an overwhelmingly Muslim city with a more conservative culture than cities such as Bethlehem and Ramallah, alcoholic drinks are not available on the Palestinian side of Hebron. Nightlife is centered around Ein Sarah street with plenty of coffee shops and shisha lounges open until around 23:00. For those who don't enjoy coffee, most cafés also serve orange, carrot and pomegranate juice cheaply.

Touts
It seems like there are many "guides" running around, trying to catch tourists on the basis of charity or political activism, showing you pictures of other westerners they have supposedly worked together with. They even suggest you're Jewish if you don't tell them your nationality, and might become pushy asking for money.

This tout-like behavior leaves some doubts whether they really stand for what they are claiming. If you just don't want to be bothered, tell them you have been here before and not interested this time. Be firm, you have nothing to fear from these guys. Hebron definitely is a very political place, but you should decide for yourself whether to take action.

In general, be wary of unofficial guides, which mostly will try to take you from one place to the other where you will likely buy something, so they can make their share from the shop owner. They will even ruthlessly tell you that something is closed or might take too long (like the Church of the Patriarchs), which is not true, just to make sure you spend more time potentially spending money. Better to use a regular guide with an agreed and claimable schedule.

Security
Many people are hesitant to come to Hebron, because they get told by hostel owners (e.g. in Bethlehem, for apparent reasons) that Hebron is unsafe. However, Hebron is not less safe than any other city in the West Bank during "peace times". Also, if you are non-Jewish you are not a threat or target, for that matter, to/for any Palestinian, and you are likely to be greeted with the characteristic "welcome!" in the city center. However, in some of the Palestinian suburbs around the Kiryat Arba settlement, tourists are not a regular occurrence and a small minority of locals may be less friendly, especially if they believe you to be associated with the settlement.

In addition, the special situation makes it a must if you want to understand more about the conflict.

Go next

 * Nearby popular sights in the West Bank, that allow for a day trip from Hebron, include Tor-Safa Cave, Taffuh Underground Church, Tomb of Prophet Lot and Birkat al-Karmil (Holy Pool).
 * Bethlehem – The biblical birthplace of Jesus and hometown of David.
 * Jerusalem – Besides the Dead Sea, a central focus for most people coming to Israel.
 * Jericho – One of the oldest settlements in the world and the Middle East.
 * Negev & Judaean – Deserts close to the Dead Sea, featuring amazing sites and desert landscapes, including the Ramon Crater and two other craters.
 * Hiking in the Judaean Desert – Go out to other nearby hiking trails; particularly the Mishmar and Ze'elim streams are very close by.
 * Dead Sea – One of the most famous things to see or do in Israel and Jordan.
 * For bus travel to destinations in Israel, Egged runs various routes from/via inside Kiryat Alba. You may have a hard time gaining admittance to the settlement, but you might still be able to catch the buses at the settlement's . Failing that, it will probably be necessary to take a bus to Jerusalem to interchange for onward travel.

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

title: Hebron


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Hebron (Indiana)

Hebron is a small town in Northwestern Indiana.

title: Hebron (Indiana)


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Hebron (Kentucky)

Hebron is just southwest of Cincinnati in Kentucky's Northern Ohio River Region. It is home to the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, as well as the Creation Museum.

title: Hebron (Kentucky)


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Hebron (Ohio)

Hebron is a city in Licking County, Ohio.

By Car
Clay is connected by I70 and US40.

Go next

 * Newark

title: Hebron (Ohio)


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Hechi

Hechi (河池; Héchí) is a city and region in North Guangxi.

Understand
Hechi is a city dominated by ethnic minorities. It is at the foot of mountains and gives opportunities to watch karsts and forests. The actual city itself it named Jinchengjiang (金城江).

Get in
Hechi is two hours by bus away from Nanning. The central bus station is at 40 Jincheng East Rd, Jinchengjiang District.

Get around
Buses are priced at ¥2 per ride and can generally take you anywhere around the city. There are also local taxis and ride hailing apps like Didi Dache (滴滴打车).

See

 * Jinchengjiang Public Park filled with many Zhuang motifs and mountain carvings.
 * Jinchengjiang Public Park filled with many Zhuang motifs and mountain carvings.
 * Jinchengjiang Public Park filled with many Zhuang motifs and mountain carvings.
 * Jinchengjiang Public Park filled with many Zhuang motifs and mountain carvings.
 * Jinchengjiang Public Park filled with many Zhuang motifs and mountain carvings.
 * Jinchengjiang Public Park filled with many Zhuang motifs and mountain carvings.
 * Jinchengjiang Public Park filled with many Zhuang motifs and mountain carvings.

Do
Hiking is always a popular past time for the people of Hechi. Also, Hechi can get really hot in the summer so the local water park is a great idea to go and cool down.

Buy
There is a Bank of China at Jiefang East Rd, Jinchengjiang District. Baima Street (白马步行街) is one of the most recognised food and shopping street in Jinchengjiang.

Eat
Suanrou (酸肉), Luosifen(螺蛳粉) and Guilin Noodles (桂林米粉) are staples of the local cuisine.

Drink

 * Gong Cha (貢茶), is a famous Taiwanese milk tea chain that has a branch in Hechi.
 * Gong Cha (貢茶), is a famous Taiwanese milk tea chain that has a branch in Hechi.

Sleep

 * Numerous City Inn hotels offer accommodation for foreigners.
 * Qian'An Interntional Hotel is the more proeminent hotel available for foreigners.
 * Qian'An Interntional Hotel is the more proeminent hotel available for foreigners.

title: Hechi


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Hedmark

Hedmark is a landlocked inland traditional county in East Norway It merged with Oppland in 2020 to form the new county of Innlandet. The area has big rivers, long valleys, wide lakes, fertile flatlands and deep forests. The landscape is generally mellow and unlike Norway's the wild western edge. There big mountains and high plateaus in the north. Hedmark is Norway's most important agricultural and forestry district.

Towns

 * — the regional centre
 * — Norway's largest ski resort and closest to Sweden
 * — small town around 17th century fortress
 * — known for its vast areas of forest and mountain, which are ideal for skiing, walking, cycling, hunting, and fishing
 * — small town around 17th century fortress
 * — known for its vast areas of forest and mountain, which are ideal for skiing, walking, cycling, hunting, and fishing

Other destinations

 * — Norway's second biggest lake, about 60 km long and up to 9 km wide, 600 metres above sea level, the main outflow is to Sweden and ends up in Gothenburg. Passenger boats operates on the lake in summer. Femundsmarka, the uninhabited area between the lake and Sweden, is protected as a national park.
 * — the big valley that makes up most of Hedmark, home to Glomma, Norway's biggest river.
 * — a 2.4-km-long and 200-m-deep canyon that cuts through a mountain ridge between two parallel valleys. The canyon created by the rupture of the dam of a proglacial lake about 10,000 years ago. The canyon is an unusual habitat and is protected as a nature reserve. Jutulhogget is one of the biggest canyons in Northern Europe. The name means something like "the giant's cut with an ax". There is a car park 400 metres from road 3.

Understand
Hedmark together with Oppland are landlocked counties and makes up the great interior between Oslo and Trondheim. As of 2020 Oppland and Hedmark are governed as one entity called Innlandet (literally "the Interior"). Hedmark stretches some 400 km south to north. High mountains and plateaus separate Hedmark and Oppland from Trøndelag and Western Norway, the border with Sweden is less distinct as it mostly runs through forest and mellow landscape. Østerdalen, the main north-south valley of Hedmark, is separated from Oppland and Gudbrandsdalen by wide forests, bogs, uplands and mountains (including Rondane) with only a few roads connecting main valleys east-west. On the lowlands south of Hamar there are fewer natural transport obstacles.

There are no big cities, only the smallish regional capital of Hamar. The area is relatively sparsely populated, population density in Germany or the Netherlands is 50 or 100 times higher. Half of Hedmark is covered by forest, and one third is barren upland/mountains. Several notable lakes and rivers cover some 5% of the area.

Hedmark is dominated by the river Glomma and its valley Østerdalen. Østerdalen simply means "eastern valley(s)" and includes the main valley of Glomma as well as adjacent valleys with tributary rivers. The middle part of the valley is called Stor-Elvdal which simply means Big Rivervalley, whereas the upper area around Alvdal was previously called Small Rivervalley.

Glomma is Norway's largest river and unlike many other rivers in Norway flows slowly down the big valley partly creating wide meanders. In the west lake Mjøsa is shared with Oppland county and the outflow of Mjøsa joins Glomma on the flatlands North-East of Oslo. Mjøsa is Norway's widest lake and at 450 m also one of the deepest in Europe. Mjøsa stretches like a fjord for 120 km between Lillehammer and Eidsvoll. Most of the water in the lake is below sea level. Despite the great inflow of water, Mjøsa's great volume means that the water needs 5 years to flow through lake.

The second major river of Hedmark is Trysil river that flows into Sweden, the only major river that Norway shares with neighbors. There are several other lakes in the area, notably Femunden (the second widest in Norway) and Storsjøen.

Hedmark stretches from the shores of lake Mjøsa to the border with Sweden. The southern section are some of Norway's rare flatlands and an important agricultural district with stately ancient old farms. Hedmark has some notable uplands and mountains in the north such as Rondane and high plateaus separating Østerdalen and Gudbrandsdalen valleys. Hedmark largely consists of mellow land covered by wide forests. The landscape is dominated by the big rivers flowing north to south. Most transport runs along these river valleys and transport in the east-west direction is hampered by mountains, high plateaus, bogs and wide forests. Hedmark and Oppland combined has 40% of Norway's lumber production.

The Hedmark forests are home to Norway's largest population of elk ("elg"), so drivers should be extra aware at twilight. The european elk (known as "moose" in North America) is the biggest wild animal in Norway and the bull can be well over 500 kg. The bull has long legs and a crash can cause serious harm on a small vehicle.

Hedmark has a largely continental climate and the northern areas like Tynset have some of Norway's lowest temperatures in winter. Temperatures can in winter drop below -40°C. During winter months temperatures are around -7°C on average in the south and -11°C in the north. Hedmark has a relatively dry climate and the northern corner is one of the driest places in Europe. While climate is dry in terms of modest precipitation, the long cold or cool season (usually with snow cover) the land is still fertile and green. Summers are pleasently mild in the lowlands (average 16°C) and in the valleys.

The north-eastern corner of Hedmark around Femunden is within the traditional Southern Sami area around the border with Sweden. The Southern Sami language is almost extinct and a distinct language as compared for instance to Northern Sami. There is some traditional reindeer keepers in the uplands along the border.

Around the border east of Flisa and Kongsvinger there is a wide forest area known as Finnskogen, the "Forest of the Finns". Migrants from southern Finland settled in this area in the 16th and 17th centuries and brought their way of life and language with them. These "forest Finns" had a distinct type of agriculture (dominated by slash-and-burn) and particular type of houses. They were gradually assimilated into the Norwegian population and the language disappeared in the early 20th century, but many place-names and small farms is a reminder of the Finnish influence in this area. Forest Finns are regarded as a national minority in Norway. A smaller number of Finns migrated further west and settled in the forests near Drammen, north of Oslo and west of Gjøvik.

Talk
All residents speak Norwegian, some with a hint of Swedish. English is understood and spoken by most adults. Swedish immigrant workers in the service industries are common.

Get in
The south-west corner of Hedmark, along Mjøsa lake, is well connected to all main transport options. Hamar sits on Norway's main transport corridor south-north. The E6, Norway's main road, is a motorway between Hamar, Oslo airport, central Oslo and Sweden (Gothenburg). The main railway line from Oslo at Hamar connects to Dovrebanen (Dovre line, the main line north) and to Rørosbanen (Røros line).

By plane
There is no airport with scheduled flights in Hedmark.
 * The closest for most of the county is Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, a major international airport with flights from the USA, Asia and major European cities. The airport sits just south of county line on the main road (E6) and main railway line north-south, road E16 towards Kongsvinger also pass through the airport. Direct trains to Hamar, and with a change to Kongsvinger.
 * Røros just north of the county line has a small airport operated by Widerøe.
 * Trondheim airport is the closest international airport for the northern part of the county.

By rail

 * NSB's regional trains run 1-2 times per hour between Oslo and Lillehammer. They stop at the Oslo airport and in Hedmark they stop at Tangen, Stange, Hamar and Brumunddal.
 * NSB intercity trains go between Oslo and Trondheim, 3-4 times per day. They stop in Hamar.
 * NSB regional trains go between Hamar and Røros, 3-4 times per day. They stop at several places, like Elverum and Tynset.
 * NSB regional trains go between Oslo and Kongsvinger, stopping at several places.
 * SJ intercity trains go Oslo-Stockholm, stopping in Kongsvinger.

By bus
The long-distance coach operator Nor-Way Bussekspress operates extensively throughout the county, serving Østerdalen valley, Trysil and other destinations. From Oslo, Timeekspressen operates to Elverum.

By car

 * Road 3 (Østerdalen road) runs through all of Hedmark nort-south and connects to E6 south of Trondheim. This is the main alternative to E6 between Oslo and Trondheim.
 * Road 25 connects to road 66 from Västerås in Sweden, border crossing at Støa
 * Road E16 is the east-west european route Bergen-Oslo Airport, Gardermoen-Kongsvinger-Gävle. Border crossing east of Kongsvinger. E16 connects Hedmark to Oslo Airport, Gardermoen.
 * Road 27 (Venabu/Rondane road) from Gudbrandsdalen at Ringebu is mountain pass through the high plateau, named national tourist route.

Get around

 * Innlandstrafikk is the local bus operator (website in Norwegian only). Route info also on en-tur.no (available in English).
 * Røros railway line: NSB trains Hamar-Røros with stops in Elverum, Tynset and over a dozen more places inside Hedmark.

See

 * Norsk skogbruksmuseum in Elverum is a national museum for forests and wilderness in Norway.
 * Vang kirke i Ridabu, Hamar, is a monumental church nicknamed "Hedmark cathedral". With some 1000 seats it is one of the largest churches built in the countryside (now within the town of Hamar) and still one of the biggest in Norway. Because of the octagonal style and wide span without supporting columns the church has a great volume inside.
 * Vikingskipet, the Hamar Olympic speed skating rink, looks like an upside down viking ship, hence the name. It is an indoor multi-use sport and event venue in Hamar, Norway. It was built as the speed skating rink for the 1994 Winter Olympics.
 * Spark, in Tynset, is the world's largest kicksled. A kicksled is used to get around during the winter in Norway. It's like a sledge that you push around on the snow.
 * Vikingskipet, the Hamar Olympic speed skating rink, looks like an upside down viking ship, hence the name. It is an indoor multi-use sport and event venue in Hamar, Norway. It was built as the speed skating rink for the 1994 Winter Olympics.
 * Spark, in Tynset, is the world's largest kicksled. A kicksled is used to get around during the winter in Norway. It's like a sledge that you push around on the snow.

Do

 * Trysil, near the border, has one the largest alpine skiing resorts in Norway. Most of the visitors there are from Sweden and Denmark.
 * Femundsmarka national park and surroundings is a gently rolling partly forested landscape. The wide Femunden lake, several other lakes and gentle rivers make this area popular for canoe paddling. The national park itself is only available hiking. There are handful of lodges within the area. Hiking into Sweden also possible.
 * Tron summit is a prominent summit in Alvdal/Tynset area. This is Norway's second highest road. There is a fine panorama from the summit.
 * Tron summit is a prominent summit in Alvdal/Tynset area. This is Norway's second highest road. There is a fine panorama from the summit.
 * Tron summit is a prominent summit in Alvdal/Tynset area. This is Norway's second highest road. There is a fine panorama from the summit.
 * Tron summit is a prominent summit in Alvdal/Tynset area. This is Norway's second highest road. There is a fine panorama from the summit.

Stay safe
Norway is generally a very safe place to visit. Hedmark is peaceful countryside and quiet small towns, and at least as safe as anywhere else in Norway. Be careful around waterfalls (slippery rocks and cliffs). Uplands such as Rondane can occasionally be cool (down to 0°C) even in summer, bring a rucksack with warm clothes if you go hiking for more than 1 hour. Hedmark is the coldest area in South Norway during winter, temperatures can drop to -40°C.

Go next

 * Sweden (Kongsvinger is one of the natural crossing points): Dalarna with Sälen ski resort and Falun.
 * Trøndelag: Røros, Oppdal and Trondheim
 * Oppland: Gudbrandsdalen and Lillehammer
 * Oslo region: The city of Oslo and surroundings

title: Hedmark


text:
Heemskerk

Heemskerk is a town in North Holland in the Netherlands.

By plane
Heemskerk is about a 25 minute drive from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

By train
Heemskerk has a train station served by local trains between Uitgeest and Haarlem. However, because of its location, lack of service, and the lack of a bus stop the station is predominantly used by people who live nearby. The train stations in Beverwijk and Uitgeest have more service, and are linked to all of Heemskerk by bus (line 74 en 167 from Beverwijk and line 73 from both).

By car
Heemskerk is easily accessible by car. It has an exit on the A9 motorway. It takes approximately 30 minutes to Amsterdam, 20 to Haarlem and Alkmaar.

By bus
Line 167 runs from Castricum to Beverwijk via the centre of Heemskerk. Line 74 starts in the north of Heemskerk and runs through all of Heemskerk to end op in IJmuiden via Beverwijk. Line 73 starts in Uitgeest and runs through Heemskerk to Haarlem via Beverwijk. All three lines have a common stop on the Ruysdaelstraat. For longer distances the bus is not the fastest option. Locals primarily use the bus for local trips in bad weather of to get to the train station in either Beverwijk or Uitgeest.

By boat
If coming from Amsterdam a fun way to get to Heemskerk might be by taking the Fast Flying Ferry from behind Centraal Station in Amsterdam to Pontplein in Velsen-Zuid. The hydrofoil takes about 25 minutes. From Velsen-Zuid it is about a 25 minute busride to Heemskerk. If coming from England you could take the ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden. From IJmuiden Heemskerk is about a 30 minute busride away. If coming from below the North Sea Canal you could also cycle and take the free ferry from Velsen-Zuid to Velsen-Noord which goes every 20 minutes (24/7). From Velsen-Noord it takes about 20–35 minutes depending on your speed.

Get around
Heemskerk is not very large. The city centre is very easily accessible by foot. The bike, however, is the best mode of transport. For the unfit the bus is the alternative.

title: Heemskerk


text:
Heerlen

Heerlen is a city in South Limburg in the southeast of the Netherlands. In Roman times, it was a settlement named Coriovallum, which hosted a bathhouse, now the Thermenmuseum. Heerlen has become a part of a new larger project city, called Parkstad Limburg, composed of Brunssum, Kerkrade, Landgraaf, Onderbanken, Nuth, Simpelveld en Voerendaal.

Understand
Heerlen is uncommonly hilly compared to the rest of the country. It is in the southern part of the Netherlands, between Maastricht and Liège to the west, and Aachen to the east. It's also very close to nature reserve Brunssummerheide. Most travelers will mainly go here to visit the beautiful and plentiful limburgish landscapes, either by bike or on foot. However, the city has also plenty of worthwhile attractions to visit.

The city has been building on becoming a more green urban park city, from the old industrial city it was before. The old paved streets have been turned into lush green borders with trees, and the smaller suburbs have also gotten this overhaul, with smaller parks all around to discover between the houses. The city park Aambos houses a small free zoo with deer, goats and other animals. The Aambos is also next to Huize De Berg, an old cloister from 1897 with beautiful architecture, now a nursing home.

History
Even though there have been traces of earlier civilization, the real history of this town starts in the Roman era. The Roman military settlement, known as Coriovallum, sat at the crossroads of the Boulogne-Cologne and Xanten-Aachen-Trier routes.

In the late 19th century, the town's importance for the coal mining industry grew. A railway was built in 1896 and strongly improved the accessibility of the town, which was then only a village. The first major mine, the Oranje-Nassau mine, was opened in 1899, and three more mines followed by 1927. The town rapidly grew in size, changing it into one of the largest in the area.

In 1965, the decision to close all Dutch coal mines left many workers without jobs. In an attempt to create jobs, the Dutch government moved the Dutch Bureau for Statistics and the ABP, the pension fund for government and education employees in the Netherlands to Heerlen.

Tourist information
There is a tourist information office in Heerlen Centrum at Bongerd|d 6411 where they can provide maps for different types of interest related paths such as a path to follow to see the murals throughout the city. Many murals are a reflection of the mining history of the city. One mural is of a gas mask with the filter being a bird as the miners would know to leave the cave if the bird died while underground.

They can assist with maps, region guides, travel information, regional products, theater and concert information.

By train
The main is in the centre of the city. Three other railway stations in Heerlen are, and. The main train station of Heerlen is serviced by NS with an intercity connection to Eindhoven via Sittard-Geleen, Roermond and Weert, as well as by Arriva, which stops at the other stations too, servicing a stopping train between them and Maastricht, Kerkrade and Sittard. DB Regio NRW also stops at Heerlen, connecting the city with Herzogenrath across the border with two trains per hour.

By bus
is close to the back exit of the train station. The bus operator in Heerlen and surrounding cities is Ariva. There is one international busline from Aachen to Heerlen which is faster towards Aachen if you want to visit the city, otherwise use the train for connecting trains from Aachen.

By car
Heerlen is along the A76 highway but get on the N281 if traveling south or north because there is no exit to Heerlen on the A76. You can find taxies waiting on the upper level when exiting at front of the train station. From Aachen by car you will have to take the N281. From Maastricht take the A79 to Heerlen. At the end of the A79 is Heerlen. You can also use the inner ring of parkstad to get to Heerlen. The city center of Heerlen is completely car-free. There are few parking facilities in and around the streets around the center. However there are good parking garages to reach the city center very convienently. It is not hard to find a parking garage as they are indicated all around town and even display the number of parking spots available.

By plane
Maastricht-Aachen airport is 16 km (10 miles) away from the city centre of Heerlen. Albeit it is more convenient to fly to Eindhoven airport and take a bus and train to Heerlen, because of there are few flights arriving and departing from Maastricht-Aachen airport. For international flights it is better to arrive and depart from Brussels (BE), Amsterdam (Schiphol, NL) or Dusseldorf (DE). Each of these airports are about 2–3 hours away from Heerlen by car.

Get around
If you are in Heerlen center, everything could be done on foot. A car is convenient to explore the outskirts of town and attractions in the broader area, but take into account that the city center is car-free and parking there is expensive. Another possibility is to discover Heerlen by bike. There are some interesting parks and locations to reach by bike. Using the extensive bus routes can take you to everything in the city that is bit further away from the center.

On foot
Heerlen is a great city to explore on foot. This is mainly due to the city center being car free. Walking to most things can be done within an hour. The train station is situated in the city center and it's only a short walk to the bongerd. While most streets are free of cars there are a number of streets where cyclists are allowed, therefore be careful when straying off the main streets as it can be busy with cyclists.

By bike
This is a great method of exploring the surrounding areas, but Heerlen is in the southern part of the Netherlands, so it is not flat. Stray even a small distance out of the city center and it will be obvious that there are hills. This becomes even more apparent if you bike to other towns or areas.

By car
Navigating Heerlen by car can be tricky as a lot of the street are one way and some are totally closed of for traffic. The districts outside can even be more of a nightmare if you are unfamiliar with the surroundings, though most tourist should not have a reason to go there. The main road network is however exceptional and getting to other towns is very easy and convienent. Exploring South Limburg is very well doable with Heerlen as the starting base and/or ending point.

Free parking is very difficult to find due to the long distance you would have to walk to get to the center. Note that around the city center most parking spots require a permit to park or you can only park there for 2 hours maximum (don't forget to use the blue parking timer). Parking garages in Heerlen: There are a few options when it comes in regards to car rental.

Parks
The city has a number of parks, usually with a pond, these are great for walking with a baby stroller, as most paths are very smooth and well maintained and virtually no stairs.

Forests, heathlands
Heerlen has only few forest and heathlands in its own borders. However, there is a lot of these directly surrounding the city in neiboring cities and villages such as Voerendaal, Kerkrade, Landgraaf, Simpelveld and Nuth.

Buy
There are two known shopping locations in Heerlen. The center of the city and the Woonboulevard. The Woonboulvard is famous for its living and lifestyle shops. It is the biggest furniture strip of Europe.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays there is a weekly market in the city center, running the entire length of the bongerd. Usually this market lasts till 15:00.

There are three large shopping malls in Heerlen namely, t' Loon (one of the oldest covered shopping malls of the Netherlands), Coriocenter, Maankwartier (above and around the main train station).

Heerlen in general does not have any tourist shops, however for clothing shopping, there are a lot of stores. There is also a boutique street with some more exclusive shops, on the Dautzenbergstraat.

Drink
Entering bars is legally allowed from the age of 16. However, many bars and nightclubs in Heerlen have their own policies and do not allow people under 18, 21 or even 23 to enter. Keep in mind that those under 18 are not allowed to drink any alcoholic drinks.

Most bars in Heerlen are centered at the Pancratiusplein, people can find the many cafes and terrasses who are usually filled with people troughout the year. There is also a few terrasses on the bongerd. Most bars are open till 02:00 during the week and usually longer in the weekends.

Some bars and nightclubs will require you to identify yourself by means of official identification papers. Note that smoking is not allowed anywhere within the establishments, sometimes there are specific dedicated areas for smoking.

Connect
The entire city center of Heerlen offers free-wifi connection.

Go next
Connections to Aachen are via train or bus. Other options by train are to Belgium (via Maastricht) and the remainder of the Netherlands.

title: Heerlen


text:
Hefei

Hefei (合肥; Héféi) is the capital city of Anhui Province in China. It is an industrial, administrative and commercial centre bare of any special attractions. It is not often visited by foreign tourists, who mostly use it as a hub for trips into the hinterland of Anhui. It is however, possible to enjoy oneself for a day or two in Hefei before moving on.

By train
Hefei has two major train stations.

 * receives most of the high speed trains (G or D categories) from all over China. It is in a newly developed zone far south of the city center.
 * is in the north part of the city. Few high speed trains arrive here, however, all of the conventional trains are operated through this station.

Both stations are connected by the Hefei Metro. Go between the two stations by Line 1, costs ¥3 and takes around 30 to 40 minutes.

By taxi

 * Green, blue or orange taxis: These taxis are metered and start at ¥8 (November 2015).
 * Black taxis: Black taxis are also properly signed and metered and are usually a more comfortable and newer car. The fare for these taxis starts at ¥9.
 * Unmarked taxis: There are other unmarked cars (usually black Santanas) that may offer to give you a ride. You often see these kind of illegal taxis around the railway station, airport, or in the outskirts. These are unmetered and the price is negotiated beforehand. The fare will always be higher than usual. If you don't know Hefei well, the fare will be significantly higher. There is also the risk of taking a car that is not insured to carry you and having an unidentifiable driver. Saying that, there are times when legit taxis are very scarce, and if you really need to be somewhere, it might be an option.

Legally, every taxi must have the driver's picture and licence number displayed in a plastic plate affixed to the dashboard. If you have any major problems with a taxi driver, discretely write down this number if you need to make a complaint and ask for a fa piao (receipt) at the end of your journey. Avoid getting into arguments with drivers if possible.

Around the city area in Hefei, you can reasonably expect to pay between ¥10-30.

In Hefei, a driver might occasionally try to pick up an extra passenger and carry them with you, i.e. pooling. They sometimes try this on foreigners who don't know how to object. Make it known if you don't want this to happen. Chances are the other person has negotiated to pay a lower fare and is riding on your back.

By motorbike
You can also jump on the back of a motorbike if taxis are scarce. There are plenty of motorbikes and they usually congregate on the corners of busy intersections. They are not legal, but are generally tolerated. They are unmetered and you negotiate a price beforehand.

By bus
Public buses are the dominant mode of public transport in Hefei. The central hub is in Municipal Square. A single bus fare to anywhere costs ¥1 for a non-air-conditioned bus or ¥2 for air-conditioned. All bus routes, schedules, and announcements are in Chinese. But don't let this put you off. An excellent way to navigate the Hefei bus system is to use Google Maps app. on your mobile phone. Using the "Get Directions" function, you can search bus routes, find bus numbers/stops in Engilsh and pinyin. The results are very accurate. Beware that in peak hours buses are absolutely crammed to the limit. There is no such thing as a "full" Hefei bus; the driver will always allow more people on.

By subway
As of March 2021, there are four subway lines in operation. The Line 1 goes north–south direction, passing the Hefei South Railway Station and Hefei Railway Station. You can change to Line 2 at Dadongmen (大东门) subway station. Line 2 goes east–west direction, passing right through the cite center.

Line 3 runs from the northeast to the southwest, and Line 5 operates in the south of the city. Line 4 is expected to open in 2021.

English service is available when buying tickets.

By bike-share
As with other modern Chinese cities now; all over this city (particularly at major intersections) there are rows of self-service "bike-sharing" bicycles lined up, available for rent (provided by companies such as 'mobike' & 'hellobike'). Most are regular city bikes (no gears), but some newer models are also electric (no pedaling needed, or pedal-assist for charging the battery as you ride). To unlock and activate a bike (as a foreigner), you must have a Chinese bank account, Chinese cell number, passport (for ID), then download Wechat or Alipay apps on your smart phone, link your bank/personal info to the app, and scan the bar code. It's usually very cheap (¥1 or 2 per use), and when finished remember to lock the mechanical latch, on the back tire.

See
Hefei isn't known as a tourist destination, but if you are using it as a stop-off point there are some pleasant places to see. In particular, Hefei has many fine parks and gardens.

Other

 * Yu Feng Flower Market (裕丰花卉市场 Yù fēng huāhuì shìchǎng) A market that sells plants, pots, sculptures, aquariums, pets, paintings, ornaments etc. Bus 137 from Municipal square.
 * Dà wéi Township (大圩乡 Outskirts of Hefei City). Go there to pick seasonal produce yourself from the farms or go fishing. Very comfortable in Spring. Catch bus 14 from Municipal square to 包河花园 Bāo hé huāyuán (35mins), then change to bus 23 or get a taxi to Dà wéi township. A taxi direct from Hefei will cost maybe ¥40-50.
 * Yu Feng Flower Market (裕丰花卉市场 Yù fēng huāhuì shìchǎng) A market that sells plants, pots, sculptures, aquariums, pets, paintings, ornaments etc. Bus 137 from Municipal square.
 * Dà wéi Township (大圩乡 Outskirts of Hefei City). Go there to pick seasonal produce yourself from the farms or go fishing. Very comfortable in Spring. Catch bus 14 from Municipal square to 包河花园 Bāo hé huāyuán (35mins), then change to bus 23 or get a taxi to Dà wéi township. A taxi direct from Hefei will cost maybe ¥40-50.
 * Yu Feng Flower Market (裕丰花卉市场 Yù fēng huāhuì shìchǎng) A market that sells plants, pots, sculptures, aquariums, pets, paintings, ornaments etc. Bus 137 from Municipal square.
 * Dà wéi Township (大圩乡 Outskirts of Hefei City). Go there to pick seasonal produce yourself from the farms or go fishing. Very comfortable in Spring. Catch bus 14 from Municipal square to 包河花园 Bāo hé huāyuán (35mins), then change to bus 23 or get a taxi to Dà wéi township. A taxi direct from Hefei will cost maybe ¥40-50.
 * Yu Feng Flower Market (裕丰花卉市场 Yù fēng huāhuì shìchǎng) A market that sells plants, pots, sculptures, aquariums, pets, paintings, ornaments etc. Bus 137 from Municipal square.
 * Dà wéi Township (大圩乡 Outskirts of Hefei City). Go there to pick seasonal produce yourself from the farms or go fishing. Very comfortable in Spring. Catch bus 14 from Municipal square to 包河花园 Bāo hé huāyuán (35mins), then change to bus 23 or get a taxi to Dà wéi township. A taxi direct from Hefei will cost maybe ¥40-50.
 * Yu Feng Flower Market (裕丰花卉市场 Yù fēng huāhuì shìchǎng) A market that sells plants, pots, sculptures, aquariums, pets, paintings, ornaments etc. Bus 137 from Municipal square.
 * Dà wéi Township (大圩乡 Outskirts of Hefei City). Go there to pick seasonal produce yourself from the farms or go fishing. Very comfortable in Spring. Catch bus 14 from Municipal square to 包河花园 Bāo hé huāyuán (35mins), then change to bus 23 or get a taxi to Dà wéi township. A taxi direct from Hefei will cost maybe ¥40-50.
 * Yu Feng Flower Market (裕丰花卉市场 Yù fēng huāhuì shìchǎng) A market that sells plants, pots, sculptures, aquariums, pets, paintings, ornaments etc. Bus 137 from Municipal square.
 * Dà wéi Township (大圩乡 Outskirts of Hefei City). Go there to pick seasonal produce yourself from the farms or go fishing. Very comfortable in Spring. Catch bus 14 from Municipal square to 包河花园 Bāo hé huāyuán (35mins), then change to bus 23 or get a taxi to Dà wéi township. A taxi direct from Hefei will cost maybe ¥40-50.
 * Yu Feng Flower Market (裕丰花卉市场 Yù fēng huāhuì shìchǎng) A market that sells plants, pots, sculptures, aquariums, pets, paintings, ornaments etc. Bus 137 from Municipal square.
 * Dà wéi Township (大圩乡 Outskirts of Hefei City). Go there to pick seasonal produce yourself from the farms or go fishing. Very comfortable in Spring. Catch bus 14 from Municipal square to 包河花园 Bāo hé huāyuán (35mins), then change to bus 23 or get a taxi to Dà wéi township. A taxi direct from Hefei will cost maybe ¥40-50.

Do

 * KTV (Karaoke TV) Going to KTV at least once is an essential part of experiencing China. Many of the bigger, flashier places have a larger selection of English songs. Best to go with some Chinese friends/colleagues so you can see how it's done.
 * Ten Fu Teahouse These are nice stores on Huayuan St (花园路) and near the corner of Mengcheng and Shouchun lu (across from the main gate of Xinghua Park). Complementary tea and snacks. You will be presented with some tea sets etc. but there is no pressure to buy.
 * Take a picnic to Emerald Lake scenic area (翡翠湖风景区 Fěicuì hú). A good place to escape the bustle of the city and ride bicycles around the lake.
 * Ferris wheel at Xinghua park Costs ¥10/person and you can get a good birds-eye view. Early in the morning you can also see observe people practising Tai Chi in groups. At other times of the day you might see older people singing traditional songs or playing er'hu or flute in pavilions. In summer, the park is filled with people flying kites.
 * Have a massage There are a few well-known places (incl. Laohu massage) along Hupo Ave. in Hǔpò shānzhuāng (琥珀山庄) area. ¥40/hour.
 * Go-Karting at Anhui Fu Bang Racing Club D1 Indoor Go-Karting (安徽馥邦赛车俱乐部D1卡丁车馆 Ānhuī fù bāng sàichē jùlèbù D1 kǎ dīng chē guǎn)新站区铜陵北路与物流大道交叉口馥邦汽车城3栋 New Station area, intersection of Tongling North Rd and Wuliu Ave., Fu Bang Motor City 3.
 * Tian an Bowling Alley (合肥天安保龄球馆 Héféi Tiān'ān bǎolíngqiú guǎn) 马鞍山路68号 68 Ma'anshan Rd
 * Drive duck boats around the lake at Bao Gong park or Xinghua park. Costs about ¥30/half an hour.
 * Watch dancing in the square Go in the evening to Municipal Square (市政府广场 Shì zhèngfǔ guǎngchǎng) or the square outside the main gate of Xinghua Park to see mass numbers of people (mainly older women) dancing.

Buy

 * Carrefour Shopping Center on Ma’anshan Rd (家乐福 吗 鞍山路 Jiālèfú Ma'ānshān lù). 马鞍山路1000号 (1000 Ma'anshan lu Baohe district)
 * Hóngxīng lù (红星路 Hóngxīng St.) A tree-lined street with little boutique clothing stores and some homeware/knicknack stores.
 * 合肥步行街 Héféi bùxíngjiē (Hefei's main pedestrian street or 淮河路步行街 Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street). Includes Gu Lou, a well-known, high-quality department store on the Suzhou lu end of the mall. Also includes a Parkson department store and a Starbucks. Many clothing retailers. A cinema complex is near the temple. After 21:00 (and after 23:00 directly on Huaihe Road, before only around the Pedestrian Street), street sellers peddle goods and the pedestrian street is transformed into a night market.
 * Huizhan Center (会展中心) Has a market of locally produced Chinese products, including painting, wooden sculptors and furniture, jade and tea pots. This is a fairly tourist free zone so expect to be able to get deals you might not be able to get in bigger cities.
 * Carrefour Shopping Center on Ma’anshan Rd (家乐福 吗 鞍山路 Jiālèfú Ma'ānshān lù). 马鞍山路1000号 (1000 Ma'anshan lu Baohe district)
 * Hóngxīng lù (红星路 Hóngxīng St.) A tree-lined street with little boutique clothing stores and some homeware/knicknack stores.
 * 合肥步行街 Héféi bùxíngjiē (Hefei's main pedestrian street or 淮河路步行街 Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street). Includes Gu Lou, a well-known, high-quality department store on the Suzhou lu end of the mall. Also includes a Parkson department store and a Starbucks. Many clothing retailers. A cinema complex is near the temple. After 21:00 (and after 23:00 directly on Huaihe Road, before only around the Pedestrian Street), street sellers peddle goods and the pedestrian street is transformed into a night market.
 * Huizhan Center (会展中心) Has a market of locally produced Chinese products, including painting, wooden sculptors and furniture, jade and tea pots. This is a fairly tourist free zone so expect to be able to get deals you might not be able to get in bigger cities.
 * Hóngxīng lù (红星路 Hóngxīng St.) A tree-lined street with little boutique clothing stores and some homeware/knicknack stores.
 * 合肥步行街 Héféi bùxíngjiē (Hefei's main pedestrian street or 淮河路步行街 Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street). Includes Gu Lou, a well-known, high-quality department store on the Suzhou lu end of the mall. Also includes a Parkson department store and a Starbucks. Many clothing retailers. A cinema complex is near the temple. After 21:00 (and after 23:00 directly on Huaihe Road, before only around the Pedestrian Street), street sellers peddle goods and the pedestrian street is transformed into a night market.
 * Huizhan Center (会展中心) Has a market of locally produced Chinese products, including painting, wooden sculptors and furniture, jade and tea pots. This is a fairly tourist free zone so expect to be able to get deals you might not be able to get in bigger cities.

Eat
Local specialties include:

 * Crayfish (小龙虾 xiǎo lóngxiā). This is Hefei's signature food. The longxia are boiled and then eaten with dipping sauces, usually vinegary or spicy. One pound (一斤 yijin) of longxia is now around ¥50. Longxia are known as a spicy food and are typically eaten outside with beer. Chinese are often selective about where they buy longxia because longxia needs to be cleaned and cooked thoroughly. They are finger food typically eaten with gloves, which helps with the messiness.
 * Fish Bites Lamb fresh mandarin fish stuffed with lamb
 * Li Hongzhang's Combination prepared with fresh water prawn, snails, chicken, sea cucumber, abalone and shark's fin.
 * Clay Pot Fish fresh fish from Changjiang River cooked with ham
 * Pigeon and Mushroom soup Yellow Mountain fungus, baby pigeon slowly cooked in a clay pot

Local food areas include:

title: Hefei


text:
Heflin

There's more than one place called Heflin:

United States of America

 * Heflin (Alabama) - a city in Cleburne County, Alabama
 * Heflin (Louisiana) - a village in Webster Parish, Louisiana

title: Heflin


text:
Heflin (Alabama)

Heflin is the county seat of Cleburne County. It is on Interstate 20, approximately half-way between Birmingham and Atlanta.

See
Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places:

title: Heflin (Alabama)


text:
Heho

Heho is a city in Shan State, Eastern Myanmar.

Get in
Heho is mostly known because it has an airport with connections to Yangon, Mandalay and other domestic airports.

From there, most people take a tour bus, taxi or pickup to get to Inle Lake. Directly outside the airport, taxi drivers charged between 15,000 and 30,000 kyat in Sep 2010 for the 45-minute drive to Inle. Private cars would do it for 10,000 kyat if you had good negotiating skills.

Taking a bus or pickup, you have to walk to the main road outside the airport. This is a 2 km walk to the right when exiting the airport.

Go next

 * Kalaw
 * Inle Lake

title: Heho


text:
Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a jewel among German travel destinations. Heidelberg has retained its baroque charm of narrow streets, picturesque houses and of course the world-famous Schloss (castle ruins). It is home to the oldest university in Germany (est. 1386).

Understand

Heidelberg, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, sits in the Neckar river valley where the legend-rich Odenwald (Forest of Odes or Odin) opens up towards the plains of the Rhine Valley.

With 28,000 students, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität (or Ruperto Carola, the Latin equivalent of its name) is one of Germany's larger academic institutions and boasts the full spectrum of an ancient academy, from Egyptian Studies to Computer Linguistics. The faculties for Medicine, Law and Natural Sciences are considered to be among the best in Germany. The university fostered the establishment of several other world class research institutions such as the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the European Molecular Biological Laboratory (EMBL), Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), Max Planck Institutes for Medicine, Astronomy, Nuclear Physics, among others. Generally speaking, Heidelberg is an academic city with a long and rich history and is similar in many ways to cities such as Cambridge or Oxford (Heidelberg and Cambridge, England are twinned).

During World War II, the city was almost completely spared Allied bombings which destroyed many of Germany's larger inner cities. After World War II, the US Army built large barracks at the southern end of the city. Heidelberg's 149,600 inhabitants at one point included 28,000 students at the university, nearly 20,000 US citizens, almost all of them soldiers and their families. However, in 2015, the US Army presence relocated to a different city in Germany.

With hundreds of thousands of tourists flocking to the city annually, Heidelberg is truly a culturally diverse and international destination, despite its small size. Over the years, Heidelberg has attracted numerous artists, intellectuals and academics from all over Europe and has sometimes been referred to as Germany's unofficial intellectual capital. People who have lived and worked in the city include the poets Joseph von Eichendorff, Jean Paul and Goethe, scientists such as Bunsen and Kirchhoff, philosophers such as the founder of the "Illuminati" order von-Knigge, atheist Ludwig Feuerbach, existentialist Karl Jaspers, political theorist Hannah Arendt, architect Albert Speer, and many more. Mark Twain wrote in A Tramp Abroad:
 * "... Out of a billowy upheaval of vivid green foliage ...rises the huge ruin of Heidelberg Castle, with empty window arches, ivy-mailed battlements, moldering towers—the Lear of inanimate nature—deserted, discrowned, beaten by the storms, but royal still, and beautiful."

By plane

 * Frankfurt Airport — The nearest intercontinental airport.
 * Stuttgart — for European 'EU-domestic' flights.

ICE Train from Frankfurt or Stuttgart Airport to Heidelberg
You can travel to Heidelberg via ICE (InterCity Express), Germany's fastest train, running at up to 300 km/h (180 mph) on German rails. For more info and booking see German Railways (Deutsche Bahn, DB) website.

Frankfurt and Stuttgart airports have train stations inside the terminal. Frankfurt Airport also is a major ICE train stop.

Reservations are not necessary; just buy your ticket at the counter or machine after you land. Credit cards are accepted; most staff speak English. It might be necessary to change trains (only once) at Mannheim, Stuttgart, or Frankfurt Central Station, but it is still likely to be faster than the bus. One-way prices: Frankfurt €31.50 (ICE) or €25 (IC or EC), Stuttgart €36 (IC) or €49 (ICE).

Lufthansa Shuttle Bus
Lufthansa provides a shuttle bus from Frankfurt to Heidelberg for €26 one way (taking one hour) and €48 round trip. If you have a Lufthansa ticket, you get €2 discount.

Minor airports

 * Frankfurt-Hahn - An airport in the middle of the beautiful green mountains of Hunsrück is a major hub for Ryanair. There are frequent bus connections from Heidelberg Hbf to Frankfurt-Hahn; the trip takes a little more than 2 hours, and costs €20 with Hahn Express, bookable via Flixbus (fixed price one way as of 2018). Other bus companies offer indirect connections only and there is no train to Hahn, though DB operates a bus from Frankfurt main station to Hahn.
 * Baden-Baden has an airport, too. Mainly domestic flights are handled at this airport

By train

 * There are direct train lines from Heidelberg to Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Mannheim and Frankfurt – and direct long distance trains to Munich, Vienna, Hamburg and Cologne usually running at least every 2 hours.
 * For most long distance destinations it is useful to take the regional train to nearby Mannheim Hbf (S-Bahn, about 15 minutes), from where there are frequent direct high speed connections to all major cities in Germany and some places in the nearby countries (e.g. Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam).
 * Taking slow trains will be much cheaper on a Saturday or Sunday, especially if you have a five-person group ticket, "Länderticket Baden-Württemberg" for €24–48.
 * Flixtrain serves the city. DB tickets aren't valid on Flixtrain and vice versa.
 * Flixtrain serves the city. DB tickets aren't valid on Flixtrain and vice versa.

By car
The A5 connects Heidelberg directly to Frankfurt and Karlsruhe. It's easy to reach from any direction.

Get around
The city runs a small but rather effective system of trams and buses. The two most important nodal points are the main station and Bismarckplatz. A single trip costs €2.80, and a day ticket costs €6.70. Ticket machines at most tram and bus stops take cash and cards, and have instructions in English as well as German.

As of July 2019, the area around the main railway station is being redeveloped, and so buses and trams calling there are diverted, and using different stops to usual.

Bus #32 and #33 connect the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) with the old city area; detailed maps, schedules and routes can be found online. A mountain railway runs between four stations (including the castle), linking the old city on the level of the river with the summit of the Königstuhl Mountain, about 400 m (1312 feet) above the city.

The "HeidelbergCARD", a tourist pass that includes public transportation, many museums, and the lower section of the mountain railway (a separate fare is required for the upper section), can be bought at the tourist information centre outside the main station.

See

Do
The city has more than 12 cinemas, and 8 theatres, including

Buy
The main shopping area is from Bismarckplatz along the Hauptstraße. Here you will find the big chains and the small, unique shops.
 * Go by the Cathedral during the day for small markets selling souvenirs
 * The outdoor Christmas market during December can get extremely busy. (The market has been relocated to the Altstadt from the castle to protect the bat population in the castle)
 * The outdoor Christmas market during December can get extremely busy. (The market has been relocated to the Altstadt from the castle to protect the bat population in the castle)

Eat
BBQ & Beer — On sunny summer days the Neckarwiese ('Neckar meadow', northern bank of Neckar river, just west of Bismarckplatz) is full of people relaxing in the sun, having a barbecue or a beer... This place also offers a nice view to the castle. You will have to bring your own grill, beer and steaks. Cheap grills to use once are available at the "Bauhaus" do-it-yourself store at Kurfürsten-Anlage 11, 200 m south of Bismarckplatz. Nice way to mix with locals. Grilling is only allowed in two zones marked with cobblestones. Do not put one-way-grills onto the grass, it will leave a hole in the grass.

Snacks — Along the Hauptstraße, which runs through the center of town, you will find several bakeries that serve local specialities including “Brezeln” (pretzels). Department stores have a nice selection of delicatessen stalls called “Markthallen” where you can eat everything on the spot.

Cafes — Many of the cafes in Heidelberg set up outside tables when the weather is fair, and these are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. A popular destination for summer cafe beer sipping and lounging is the Marktplatz, which is adjacent to the Heiliggeistkirche.

Meals — The Haupstraße is plentiful with an amazing variety of restaurants. Dishes tend to be served in large portions, relatively inexpensive and of good quality. You can find something for almost every taste including Japanese, Indian, Italian, Chinese, German and Bavarian. American fast food and "Döner" restaurants cater to the budget conscious and late-night crowds.

Budget
All these are in the Old Town:

Drink
More than 300 bars, pubs, clubs, discothèques and the like, from Bavarian style tourist restaurants with deer antlers on the walls to extremely left-wing student bars which reserve the right to refuse police officers entry to the bar. You name it. Find your place and enjoy yourself. Heidelberg knows no curfew. Most bars close at 01:00, but especially the students bars are often open until the early morning. Although the locals—even the police officers—are used to drunk tourists as well as to drunk students, please be calm on your way home and do not riot. As a remnant of the student revolts, Heidelberg has the largest ratio of policemen per capita and you may find yourself in the arms of an officer much faster than you think.

If you are a young person and happen to discover one of the student parties (which are quite numerous but advertised mostly by word-of-mouth), you scored the jackpot. Get inside, get a (dirt cheap) beer and have fun. But try to avoid being recognised as a tourist. No party ends before 03:00 and many run until 06:00 or 07:00. Either Untere Straße or the Zieglers (Heidelbergs oldest students' bar) are frequently crowded with students.

 * Wines are produced around Heidelberg (e.g. Schriesheim, Wiesloch), but it might be difficult to get hold of them - unless you go to a vineyard. When you buy wine, always a safe bet is a Riesling from Pfalz or some white wine from Baden instead, or try any of the numerous wines from other German wine regions.
 * Vineyards are usually found in the middle of small towns along Bergstraße (Highway B3). Fruit farmers sell wine right on their farm or vineyard – make sure you also ask for Apple Wine (Hesse specialty) and New Wine (wine still in process of fermentation - sold from the barrel, bring a canister!) which you can sometimes drink in some 'wine-beergarden' right on site. Take a tram (5/5R) northbound to any place between Schriesheim and Lützelsachsen or a local train (S3/S4) southbound to Wiesloch – or (even better, if you have the time) S1 or S2 to Neustadt, where you will find yourself in an endless landscape of vine stocks.

Most pubs close, even on the weekends, at around 02:00. Just move to one of the numerous clubs, which usually have no entrance fee this late at night.

Stay safe
Heidelberg is an extremely safe city (even by German standards). However, people walking alone at night should take the usual precautions they would do anywhere else. Walking along the northern Neckar banks at night would not be advised, except in groups, particularly by the Studentenwohnheime (dorms). The shrubs are thick and it is very dark.

Usually there won't be a problem. To be extra safe you can take a taxi. Prices are reasonable.

'''Don't walk on bicycle lanes! Really don't!''' (they are often painted in red, but always separated from the pedestrian lanes by a white line): Heidelberg has more cyclists than motorists, and many of them have a rather cavalier way of riding. The southern parallel street to Hauptstraße (called Plöck) is the main traffic channel for student cyclists between Bismarkplatz and University Square. During the day it can be such a buzz, it's already a sight worth visiting. But watch out: many cyclists feel safe from the tourists there and lose all their good manners.

Go next

 * Bertha Benz Memorial Route - Follow the tracks of the world's first automobile journey (Mannheim - Pforzheim - Mannheim) back in 1888, leading right through Heidelberg
 * Darmstadt
 * Small cities on the Bergstraße between Darmstadt and Heidelberg: Weinheim, Heppenheim, Bensheim and Zwingenberg
 * Heilbronn
 * Karlsruhe
 * Mannheim
 * Schwetzingen
 * Dilsberg / Neckarsteinach - has four small castles in a row. Dilsberg's castle has a well which is accessible by a tunnel. The most enjoyable way to get there is to take a boat https://weisseflottehd.de/ to Neckarsteinach. Or take the train there, 20 min by S1 or S2 train from Hauptbahnhof or Karlstorbahnhof. From there it is a 5-km walk on a forest trail to Dilsberg, a medieval village with a town wall. The Dilsberg youth hostel is in the old city gate.

title: Heidelberg


text:
Heidelberg (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Heidelberg:

Germany

 * Heidelberg - A city in Baden-Württemberg.

South Africa

 * Heidelberg (Gauteng) - A town in Gauteng.

title: Heidelberg (disambiguation)


text:
Heidenheim

Heidenheim an der Brenz is a city in the Swabian Mountains (German: Schwäbische Alb) near Stuttgart.

By train
Heidenheim is a stop along the Brenz train line that runs from Aalen via Heidenheim to Ulm. The regional train line is also part of Heidenheim's local public transport system.

By car
Heidenheim is located near the Autobahn A 7 just off the Exit Heidenheim and is also easily accessible by car and truck via the federal highways B 19 and B 466 that travers the city.

Do

 * Football: FC Heidenheim were promoted in 2023 and now play in the Bundesliga, the top tier. Their home ground Voith-Arena (capacity 15,000) is 1 km southwest of town centre.
 * Football: FC Heidenheim were promoted in 2023 and now play in the Bundesliga, the top tier. Their home ground Voith-Arena (capacity 15,000) is 1 km southwest of town centre.

title: Heidenheim


text:
Heihe

Heihe (黑河; Hēihé) is a city in Heilongjiang Province in China.

Understand
Border town right on the Heilongjiang River across from the Russian city Blagoveshchensk. Heihe City has a population of more than 100,000 (1.7 million in the Heihe Prefecture). The city's economy is based on selling stuff to Russians, which is helped by Heihe and Blagoveshchensk forming a free-trade zone.

Get in
Residents of the Amur Oblast of Russia may enter Heihe without visa for one day, regareless of their purposes.

By train
Trains from Harbin take 10-13 hours and cost ¥43-234. Other trains include from Qiqihar (11h30; ¥38-133).

Buy
There are many shops here specialising in Russian products, so if you are into Russian dolls and kitch Russian artifacts, this is the place.

Go next

 * Take a boat trip to the Russian city Blagoveshchensk (Chinese citizens do not need visa, but check first if you do). In the winter, the river is frozen and can be crossed by bus.

title: Heihe


text:
Heijing

Heijing (黑井; Hēijǐng) is a city in Central Yunnan Province.

Get in
Heijing can be reached by train from Guiyang or Kunming and by bus from Chuxiong (2.5 hours) or Guangtong (1.5 hours).

Possibly the fastest way to get to Heijing from Kunming is to get a fast train from Kunming to Guangtong (1.5 hours) and then a bus to Heijing (1.5 hours).

Get around
At the train station you'll probably find horse carriages and mini buses waiting for you. A horse carriage into Heijing costs ¥5.

There is a city entrance fee (¥30). The horse carriage/taxi will stop at the ticket office and make you buy a ticket before driving on into the city. If you get the bus to Heijing it may not stop at the gate to make you buy a ticket, however you will need one if you want to visit the Wu house, the ancient salt factory or the guild hall. You can buy the ticket at any of those places. The ticket has a handy map of the town printed on the back.

Once you're in the city you'll be able to and will have to walk everywhere other than the old salt works, to which you can take a horse carriage.

See
The main thing to do in Heijing is to walk around its alleys. The old salt works outside town also has an interesting display on the history of the town (Chinese only).

Sometimes there is an animal market under the train bridge near the north end of the city.

Do
There are pavilions, pagodas and temples in the hills around the old town to which you can hike.

Buy
Heijing is famous for being the salt city and you'll find souvenirs made from salt everywhere. There are things like kitschy hearts, little Confucius statues and bowls made from salt.

Eat
Heijing has several local specialities (mostly involving large amounts of salt) which all the restaurants on the main street sell.

Sleep
There are simple rooms in regular guest houses (also on the East side of the river) for around ¥40. Alternatively you can stay in one of the big old courtyard houses for about ¥200.

Go next
Buses and horse carriages leave near the bridge in the south/center of town. There are buses to Chuxiong and Lufeng.

title: Heijing


text:
Heilbronn

Heilbronn is a city with 117,000 inhabitants in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.

By plane
Stuttgart airport is the closest with international connection although Frankfurt airport has a greater number of connections.

By rail
Heilbronn has direct rail connections to Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Mannheim and Würzburg as well as S-Bahn to Bretten, Karlsruhe and Schwäbisch Hall.

By bus

 * Flixbus
 * Dein Bus
 * One Bus

By car
The A 6 from Mannheim to Nürnberg and the A 81 from Stuttgart to Würzburg meet near Heilbronn at Weinsberger Kreuz.

Go next

 * Sinsheim
 * Bietigheim-Bissingen
 * Schwäbisch Hall

title: Heilbronn


text:
Heiligenblut

Heiligenblut is a village of 1,000 people (2018) in Carinthia (Kärnten) at one end of one of Austria's most scenic roads.

Understand
Heiligenblut is located in a high valley of the High Tauern range within the Central Eastern Alps. It is at the foot of the Grossglockner, the highest mountain in Austria, and of the Pasterze Glacier. Neighbouring peaks include the Johannisberg and the Fuscherkarkopf in the north, both part of the Alpine divide marking the Carinthia-Salzburg border.

The construction of the nearby railway tunnel to the Fleißalm mountain area at 1,798 m (5,899 ft) is unique in Europe. The 1.6 km-long (1-mile) tunnel is filled with water during the summer but serves as a railway tunnel leading to the Fleißalm winter sports region in winter.

See

 * . None of the approximately 30 paths to the top are easy, and they all take 1 or 2 days (incl. descent). The easiest are south paths and those mostly start from the hut . The northern paths passing glacier and around  are not easy nor marked, consult some specialized alpine-hiking guide.
 * an open-air museum,
 * Lake Kachelsee to the west, the Möll, Gößnitz and Leiter waterfalls, the, and Lake.
 * an open-air museum,
 * Lake Kachelsee to the west, the Möll, Gößnitz and Leiter waterfalls, the, and Lake.
 * Lake Kachelsee to the west, the Möll, Gößnitz and Leiter waterfalls, the, and Lake.

Go next

 * Hohe Tauern National Park
 * Kaprun
 * Zell am See at the other end of the alpine road.

title: Heiligenblut


text:
Heilongjiang

Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省; Hēilóngjiāng) is in the far northeast of China. The province is famous for its fierce winters, snow and ice festivals and Russian influence.

Cities

 * - capital of Heilongjiang Province and a city with Russian influence and a winter snow festival
 * - northernmost settlement in China
 * - a city famed for the nearby oilfields
 * - a port on the Black Dragon River facing Blagoveshchensk
 * - an industrial city in the east of the province
 * - gateway to Eastern Heilongjiang Province
 * (双鸭山)
 * - gateway to Eastern Heilongjiang Province
 * (双鸭山)
 * (双鸭山)
 * (双鸭山)

Other destinations

 * - the last area in China where the Manchu language is spoken natively
 * - clear reflections of the tree-lined coast and small islands gives this lake the nickname of Mirror lake
 * - nature reserve and health spa destination
 * - one of the largest skiing areas in China and venue for the 1996 Asian Winter Games
 * - peaceful wetlands home to 260 species of birds

Understand
This northeast province derived its name from the river (Black Dragon River) flowing along the border China has with Russia. A distinctive geological land form and peculiar climate combine to turn Heilongjiang into a fabulous tourist destination.

Get in
Mohe Gulian Airport, Mudanjiang Hailang International Airport

Landmarks and buildings

 * Russian buildings — most prominent in Harbin shows the strong Russian influence in the area.
 * Temple of Heavenly Bliss — in Harbin is an active Buddhist temple.

Parks and nature

 * Siberian Tiger Preserve — in the outskirts of Harbin is home to hundreds of tigers and is a must see.
 * Zhaolin Park — in Harbin is home to the city's famous ice sculptures in the winter.

Museums and exhibitions

 * Heilongjiang Provincial Museum — in Harbin is not great but big

Do

 * Harbin Festivals — Harbin International Snow and Ice Festivals (from 5 January until warm weather) are the main events in the province and worth planning for if you can stand the cold. Harbin is also home to a beer festival (late August) and a music festival (every two years, next one in 2010)
 * Heilongjiang River — cruises on the river from Mohe and Heihe. Mohe has the best Aurora Borealis viewing in winter.  It is also possible to take a swim in the river
 * Skiing — there are a number of skiing resorts in the province, one of the best is in Wofoshan near Jiamusi

Eat
Heilongjiang food is part of the northeastern cooking tradition with many dishes originating from Manchu cuisine. The food here is influenced by the long winters and relies on preserved foods and hearty fare. The staple crop is wheat and not rice and more raw vegetables and fish than elsewhere in China are eaten here.

The most famous specialty from Heilongjiang is the fish banquet based on fish from Heilongjiang River.

There are many different types of Russian-style bread.

title: Heilongjiang


text:
Heiloo

Heiloo is a town in North Holland in the Netherlands.

See
Heiloo is a suburban town on the railway line to Haarlem and Amsterdam. The village is an old settlement on a sand ridge, and the church is associated with the earliest Christian missionaries in the region, led by the monk Willibrord. Beside the church is a holy well which bears his name, one of several in the region. However the oldest church was destroyed in 1573, again by the troops of Diederik Sonoy, and the present church  dates from around 1650. The rest of the village has some quiet rustic streets, and not much else. On the local internet forum, a user posted this question on 'Backpackers in Heiloo' in February 2006: "I have friends coming from Australia in a few weeks and we can't go to the beach, and I wonder if there's anything to do here." To which another user replied: "Indeed there's nothing to do here. Heiloo is meant for living in, and not for doing anything interesting."

title: Heiloo


text:
Hejaz

The Hejaz (or Hijaz) covers the central Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Home to both commercial hub Jeddah and the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina, this is where the famous railway from Damascus led in its brief heyday, and while politically somewhat eclipsed by Riyadh, Jeddah in particular remains the most cosmopolitan city in the country.

Cities

 * — where Muhammad filled the wells along the route for the Muslims to defeat the powerful Quraish army
 * — new city under construction, as of now mainly golf courses and luxury hotels
 * — new city under construction, as of now mainly golf courses and luxury hotels
 * — new city under construction, as of now mainly golf courses and luxury hotels

Other destinations

 * — splendid Nabataean ruins akin to Petra
 * — Ruins of a former Jewish oasis town that was the site of a major battle in 628 CE.
 * — Ruins of a former Jewish oasis town that was the site of a major battle in 628 CE.

Talk
Arabic is the official language of the region. However, due to pilgrims coming from all over the world most if not all major world languages are spoken, especially Urdu, Hindi, Bengali and English.

Get in

 * King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is the primary gateway to the region as well as the rest of Saudi Arabia.
 * Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport
 * Ta’if Regional Airport

Get around
A new high-speed rail line, the Haramain line, has been built on a Mecca-Jeddah-Medina route. There is also stations at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport and the planned King Abdullah Economic City.

Stay safe
Conservative clothing is not optional when traveling through here, especially for women. Women are strongly advised to wear a hijab, or head covering, and need to wear long pants and conservative upper-wear. Men are advised to be equally cautious in appearance.

title: Hejaz


text:
Hekou

Hekou (河口) is a town in Yunnan, China. It is the administrative center of Hekou Yao Autonomous County. It is located on the border with Vietnam, adjacent to Lao Cai.

Crossing the border
There are two border crossings in Hekou, both of which appear to have the same name on the Chinese side (the signs says 中国河口 Zhongguo Hekou, i.e. "Hekou, China"):
 * The is used primarily by pedestrians, although bicycles and motorcycles can cross the border here as well. Connecting the old downtown Hekou with downtown Lao Cai with a short bridge over the Nanxi River, it is the one more popular with foreign travelers. This is also where Vietnamese market vendors cross the border with their giant cargo bicycles. The border is open 8AM-11PM (7AM-10PM Vietnamese time).
 * The, a few miles upstream from downtown, is more convenient for motor vehicles. It is heavily used by trucks and buses. The check point on the Vietnamese side is called Kim Thành (Cửa Khẩu Kim Thành).

By train
The century-old narrow gauge railway from Kunming stopped passenger service in the early 2000s, and a new standard-gauge railway from Kunming opened in December 2014.

As of 2016, there are 5 pairs of trains (one of them, overnight) every day between Kunming and. One train continues beyond Kunming to Dali. (Current schedule, in Chinese). A train trip to Kunming takes 6-7 hours; the hard-seat fare is around ¥70.

As of 2016, the local authorities are literally moving mountains in order to construct a grand boulevard connecting the new Hekou North Station with the city. Until this project is completed, getting to the station involves driving on a winding back road across residential neighborhoods. Bus service from the station to downtown Hekou is available.

The old narrow-gauge still stands near the railway bridge across the border river, even though there has been no passenger service there for many years. A train ticket office (selling tickets for all trains on China's national network) operates in a building across the street from that station.

If you want to come to Hekou by train from Vietnam, you can take a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, and walk a few blocks from the to the border crossing. There is no cross-border passenger train service. (Narrow-gauge freight trains, however, still use the old railroad bridge; according to a warning sign, they mostly move at night).

By bus

Buses run from various destinations within Yunnan, including a wild overnight sleeper from Kunming (¥109). Some connections, including Jinghong require you to change buses in Mengzi. The bus station is within walking distance of the border post, and Lao Cai is just across the bridge.

Do
Watch people crossing the border over the bridge at the old border crossing. Vietnamese traders use it to move produce and consumer goods on remarkable "cargo bicycles", likes of which you most likely won't see elsewhere (either in China or in Vietnam).

Buy
A large shopping district exists near the old border crossing. Signs in Vietnamese abound, as people from Vietnam come here to buy consumer goods that are cheaper in Hekou than in Vietnam.

There are also "Vietnamese specialties" shops near the new border crossing and the new bus station.

Cope
When you leave the border office, ask the Chinese officials for a small guide with basic map of Hekou map and a glossary, if it is available.

Stay safe
Beware of helpful guys speaking English at the bus station, offer to sell bus/train tickets in Vietnam for triple their real price or exchange currency several times more expensive than in respectable places. Check prices and exchange rates in advance. Tickets can be bought easily at Vietnam side of border.

When crossing the border from Hekou to Vietnam, beware of Vietnamese border officers asking you to pay a bribe. If a bribe is not paid, the officers may give you a hard time.

Go next

 * Vietnam - Night bus to Hanoi from Lao Cai. Costs about 350000 dongs. Very uncomfortable with loud music and no leg space. Train is much better option, but often need to be booked in advance.
 * Kunming: Several trains a day. There are also buses. First bus is at 8h45, next 10h50 and 1pm, cost about ¥140. It takes about 7-8h to arrive to Kunming Eastern bus station. Take bus 60 (¥2) to reach town center / railway station. The Hekou bus station is about 3 km from the border to Vietnam.
 * Yuanyang rice terraces: first bus at 9h, ¥65.

title: Hekou


text:
Hel

 * HEL is the airport code for Helsinki Airport. Hell can refer to several places.

Hel is a town at the end of Hel peninsula in Poland. It is surrounded by the sea and is a water sport centre. The settlement was first mentioned in the early Middle Ages and its inhabitants lived on piracy. In 1266 Hel received its town charter which was affirmed in 1378. From 1454 until the Second Polish Partition in 1793, Hel was a private property of the city of Gdansk. After World War I, Hel was the biggest Polish fishing harbour. It defended itself for one month against the German invaders at the beginning of World War II.

Get in

 * From Gdańsk by bus, train or ferry. There is an international airport and harbour in Gdańsk.

Get around
The only way to get there on land is along the peninsula. The town is pretty small so you can get on foot everywhere. The main road is the Ulica Wiejska with a lot of cafes, bars and souvenir shops. Its fine buildings are from the 19th and early 20th century. The south boulevard leads from the old military harbour to the new harbour, where tourist ships leave for a trip on the sea.

See

 * In the pine forest northwest of the city there are several World War II trenches and bunkers. You can climb right into the bunkers, but look out for the barbed wire strung along the ground in some places.
 * In the pine forest northwest of the city there are several World War II trenches and bunkers. You can climb right into the bunkers, but look out for the barbed wire strung along the ground in some places.
 * In the pine forest northwest of the city there are several World War II trenches and bunkers. You can climb right into the bunkers, but look out for the barbed wire strung along the ground in some places.
 * In the pine forest northwest of the city there are several World War II trenches and bunkers. You can climb right into the bunkers, but look out for the barbed wire strung along the ground in some places.
 * In the pine forest northwest of the city there are several World War II trenches and bunkers. You can climb right into the bunkers, but look out for the barbed wire strung along the ground in some places.

Do

 * The white sandy Big Beach is situated in the north of the city near the pine forest. A big (41,5 metres) lighthouse of brick stone can be climbed. It was a place of severe fighting between the German invaders and Hel defenders in September 1939. There is a beautiful view from the top.
 * Bike hire (ulica Kaszubska 6 and ulica Lesna 10c).
 * Hel Summer Festival (July).

Buy
Souvenir shops are along the ulica Wiejska. Amber is a typical souvenir from Hel.

Eat

 * Fish restaurants and pubs along the ulica Wiejska (all with fried fish and beer):

Sleep

 * Lots of rooms and flats for hire.

Go next
There are a lot of other sea resorts along the Hel 34 km long and 300 to 3000 m wide peninsula, from east to west Jurata, Jastarnia, Kuźnica, Chałupy, Władysławowo, Chłapowo, Rozewie and Jastrzębia Góra. You can get to Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia by ferry.

title: Hel