National Parks of China
Overview
| Location | East Coast of the US, at the southern tip of New York State |
| Latitude, longitude | 40.8, -73.9 Google Maps |
| Nearby sites | Statue of Liberty, Moravian Church Settlements, Independence Hall |
| Highlights | Largest city in the US, world financial center, museums |
| Top sights | Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art |
| City area | 1,200 km² |
| Nearby cities | Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Boston |
| Themes | Metropolises, Museums, Architecture, Great rivers, Islands, Beaches, Gardens |
About
New York City is at the southern tip of New York State in the eastern US, on the western shore of the Atlantic. It is the largest city in the United States and a world financial center.
The city has 8 million people and covers about 1,200 km². Its time zone is UTC−5. It has five boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island.
Manhattan is an island at the mouth of the Hudson River and the heart of New York.
Manhattan sights
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: a world-famous art museum, on Fifth Avenue between 79th and 84th Streets
Central Park
American Museum of Natural History
Empire State Building: currently the tallest building in New York, with an observation deck open to visitors at the top. 33rd Street and Fifth Avenue. Tel: +1-212-736-3100
World Trade Center: destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
Times Square: at 42nd Street and Broadway, covered in neon billboards. A celebration is held here every New Year.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): its collection includes Van Gogh's The Starry Night and other modern works. 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Wall Street: home of the New York Stock Exchange and a world financial center
Brooklyn Bridge
New York Public Library
Battery Park: at the southern tip of Manhattan; boats leave here for Liberty Island
United Nations Headquarters: First Avenue and 45th Street
Broadway
SoHo
Chinatown
Madame Tussauds wax museum: 42nd Street, near Times Square
South Street Seaport: at the east end of Wall Street
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (aircraft carrier museum): 42nd Street and Twelfth Avenue
Rockefeller Center: a giant Christmas tree is put up here every Christmas season
Madison Square Garden: Madison Avenue and 26th Street
Greater New York sights
Statue of Liberty: on a small island south of Manhattan, at the mouth of the Hudson River.
Liberty State Park: in New Jersey on the west bank of the Hudson. You can see the New York skyline at night and the Statue of Liberty, and take a boat to Liberty Island.
The Bronx Zoo
New York Aquarium: Surf Ave. & West 8th St., Brooklyn
Jones Beach: on western Long Island, close to the city.
Sandy Hook: in New Jersey, with swimming beaches, a bird sanctuary, historic military sites and a nude beach.
Fire Island: on the south shore of central Long Island, with several nude beaches. The best known is Lighthouse Beach.
Nearby attractions
Atlantic City: a gambling city on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey
Philadelphia: famous sights include Independence Hall and Longwood Gardens
Events
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: every Thanksgiving morning, Macy's department store puts on a big balloon parade. The route runs from the American Museum of Natural History to the Macy's store.
Halloween Parade
Times Square New Year's celebration: held at midnight every New Year's Eve in Times Square.
Mermaid Parade: held every year around the summer solstice at Coney Island.
Getting around
By air: there are three large international airports near New York: John F. Kennedy (JFK),
LaGuardia (LGA),
and Newark (EWR) in New Jersey.
Subway: the New York City subway is quick and convenient.
By car: New York traffic is heavy, especially at rush hour, and getting in and out of Manhattan is hard. Parking in Manhattan is expensive.
Roads: the Holland Tunnel, the Lincoln Tunnel and the George Washington Bridge link Manhattan with New Jersey.
Sightseeing tours
Sightseeing helicopters
Double-decker tour buses
Boat cruises around Manhattan
Water taxis: boat trips on the waters off Midtown, Downtown and the Statue of Liberty.
CityPass
If you plan to see several New York museums and sights in a short time, consider buying a CityPass.
In 2007 it was valid for 9 days from first use and included 6 tickets: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Empire State Building, and Liberty Island or a sightseeing cruise.
Education
Columbia University: one of the Ivy League
New York University
Travel information
The Chinese Consulate General in New York is at the west end of 42nd Street in Manhattan.