On the afternoon of July 23, 2019, the Minister of Tourism of Sri Lanka, His Excellency John Amaratunga, officially announced at a press conference in Colombo that Sri Lanka will implement a visa-free policy for Chinese tourists to attract more Chinese tourists.
It will be officially implemented on August 1, 2019, and the entry stay is valid for one month .
For travelers, Sri Lanka, which has been rated as the best tourist destination in the world for many times, is no stranger.
She is “the most beautiful island in the world” and “a tear in the Indian Ocean” written by Marco Polo.
The endless sea, the tea garden on the high mountain, the beautiful sea train journey, the beautiful castle, the pure black tea… are all her business cards.
There are beautiful natural scenery, a long history and rich world heritage; there are not too many tourists here, only innocent and romantic smiles.
If you are curious about this island country, you might as well learn about it with Little U~
There is everything here except snow
01. There are endless beaches
If you love beaches, you will love Sri Lanka. Looking down on Sri Lanka from the air, you will see silver beaches encircling the entire island like a dazzling necklace. Walking along the coastline of Sri Lanka, you can see clear and beautiful blue sea and silver sand everywhere. What’s more wonderful is that many beaches are almost empty.
02. This is a paradise for blue whales
Even the blue whale, the largest mammal on earth, is particularly fond of Sri Lanka. The number of blue whales gathered in the waters near Mirissa and at Cape Tanga to the east is the highest in the world.
From December to April every year, travelers from all over the world gather here just to meet this group of lonely and mysterious marine wild animals.
03. Here is the warmest elephant orphanage
The Elephant Orphanage is located in the small town of Pinnawala between Colombo and Kandy. It was built in 1975 and is currently one of the two elephant orphanages in the world.
Nearly 100 homeless, seriously injured, lost, war-injured and sick baby elephants are adopted here, and staff take care of them to eat, walk, play and bathe regularly.
After watching the elephants take a bath, you can visit the small shops along the road, and you can buy the most distinctive elephant dung paper here. Here, you can get close to the cute baby elephants. Groups of elephants play in the water, which makes people come and go endlessly. It is really worth visiting.
04. Here is the most beautiful sea train in the world
The small train on the sea is also a must-see attraction, located between Galle and Colombo, this small train that seems to float on the sea inspired Hayao Miyazaki when he created “Spirited Away” and created a classic screen.
The closest distance between the train and the Indian Ocean is only one meter. You can hang outside the train door and quietly experience the beautiful scene of the Indian Ocean. It is a very unique experience. This railway is also the longest coastline railway in the world.
05. Here is a holy and pure faith
The Temple of the Tooth Relic is located on the banks of Kandy Lake. It is the most famous place of pilgrimage in Sri Lanka. It is full of incense. The most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka – the tooth relic of Buddha Sakyamuni is placed in the temple. The temple has two floors, and the hall is set. The hall has a complex and exquisite structure, and the most important building is the central hall.
The security level of the temple is very high, the relics are placed in boxes, and the altar is 3 meters away from the door that tourists can reach. Everyone has a very limited time to stay in this sacred room, but everyone who has been here , will be shocked by the pious beliefs of the local people.
The day I came to the Temple of the Tooth Relic coincided with Vesak Day, a traditional festival in Sri Lanka. “Wesak”, that is, the day of the full moon in May, is the day of the birth, enlightenment and nirvana of the Buddha. Local residents will celebrate this sacred festival with a grand parade, and pray for the blessing of the gods in this way.
06. Here is the most beautiful pink post office in the world
Nuwara Eliya is more than 2,000 meters above sea level and is the highest point in Sri Lanka. It is known as the garden city of Asia, and the pink post office is located in the city center. It is a local landmark building next to the picturesque Lake Gregory.
This British Tudor revival style building was built by the British in 1894. There is a bell tower on the roof. Because the outer wall of the building is made of red bricks and the white stucco between the bricks, it looks like a whole from a distance. Pink, so it is called the Pink Post Office.
On the stamps published by Sri Lanka on December 26, 1990 to commemorate the World Post Day, the pink post office was printed on the 10 rupee stamp. Now it has become a must-see for tourists because of its eye-catching appearance. What is mentioned is that the Pink Post Office is still operating as an ordinary post office.
07. Super cheap fruit here
We once bought a lot of delicious fruits for 500 rupees (equivalent to 25 yuan) in the local market. Golden coconuts can even cost one yuan, and the coconut meat is very delicious.
The common feature of the locals is that they love to laugh. The vendors will enthusiastically ask you where you are from, and the children will take the initiative to chat with you a little shyly. Such simple kindness and care make people feel warm during the journey.
Practical information
Flights: At present, domestic cities with direct flights to Colombo include Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Kunming, Hong Kong, etc. Tourists from other cities can transfer to their destinations.
Currency: The currency of Sri Lanka is Rupee, and some hotels and restaurants can accept US dollars. Local ATMs can withdraw cash, most banks accept UnionPay cards, and credit cards with VISA or Master logos can also be used for payment. The exchange rate is about: 1 RMB = 25.6023 Sri Lankan rupees
Communication: You can apply for a phone card at the counter at the local airport. We recommend the package of the largest local communication provider dialog. The Internet traffic is 9G (5G during the day and 4G at night), and domestic and foreign calls are 50 minutes each. It is valid within one month and costs about 58 yuan.
Language: The official languages of Sri Lanka are English, Sinhala and Tamil. Affected by the colonial period, most public places have English and local text descriptions. English is widely used and travel is more convenient.
Sri Lanka is visa-free, will you go?
