Israel: The Beauty and Sorrow of Jerusalem

“The world has ten parts of beauty, nine are in Jerusalem.” “The world has ten parts of sorrow, nine are in Jerusalem.” 🌟 For long stretches of history Jerusalem was regarded as “the center of the world,” a sacred city where Judaism, Christianity, and Islam meet. It holds a pivotal place on the globe; only when you stand in the city can you truly feel its spell. 🕍✨ Holy City A turbulent fate: bullet holes in the walls are visible to the naked eye. Great inclusiveness: different faiths, religions, languages, and skin colors blend here—what greater inclusiveness could there be? Peace & Love: serenity in the present day. 🌈 How to get there? Several Chinese carriers (e.g., Sichuan Airlines) operate non-stop flights to Tel-Aviv. A free train from the airport runs directly to Jerusalem. 🌈 How to get around? Jerusalem’s Old City is compact and its sights are clustered. Choose a hotel nearby; the light-rail system makes moving around the modern city easy. 🌈 Suggested timing Day 1 – Old City: cover all must-sees inside the walls. Day 2 – Bethlehem (Israeli-Palestinian barrier wall) + Mahane Yehuda Market + shopping. 🌈 Must-see sights Church of the Holy Sepulchre: where Jesus was crucified and resurrected. Western Wall (Wailing Wall). Mount of Olives: panoramic view of the Holy City and the Dome of the Rock (the Dome is open only to Muslims). Tower of David Museum. Jewish Quarter inside the Old City: wander and explore. Mahane Yehuda Market: a street-food paradise. Recommended: the Israeli-Palestinian barrier wall (about 1 hour by bus from Jerusalem, actually in Bethlehem). 🌈 Local experiences Kiss the Stone of Unction in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Pray at the Western Wall. Climb the Mount of Olives before sunset for a golden-hour view. Sample local delicacies in Mahane Yehuda Market.☀️ After dark, watch the sound-and-light show at the Tower of David. Visit the barrier wall to pray for world peace. 🌈 Local food Falafel: vegetarian chickpea balls. Hummus: the local specialty. Pita: Israel’s version of a stuffed meat-and-veg sandwich. Labneh: tangy strained yogurt. Fried sardines. Kebabs: basted with a special sauce. A tomato-and-egg dish similar to shakshuka; most restaurants start the meal with complimentary bread.☀️ ⚠️ Tips ▪️ 1. Respect local customs and religions. Dress modestly in churches and do not disturb worshippers. ▪️ 2. Urban transport is by surface light-rail; tickets (single, time-limited, monthly, etc.) can be bought at every stop. ▪️ 3. Inter-city travel: Jerusalem sits in the center of Israel; reaching Tel-Aviv, Haifa, or border crossings north and south is convenient. ▪️ 5. Security is strict in Israel; please cooperate with routine checks. #Jerusalem #HolyCity #JerusalemTravel #Israel