The many charms of Rabat

The blue and white walls in Kasbah of the Udayas are very photogenic. Liu Lu / For China Daily

Rabat has many other fascinating historic sites, including the unique Hassan Tower, which started to be built at the end of the 12th century. The tower was meant to have the world's largest minaret, but was never completed. Just opposite the tower lies the 20th-century Mausoleum of Mohammed V, another of the city's main attractions.

Both places are visually spectacular and popular attractions. Listen to your guide or learn the history of the tower and mausoleum before you go, so you can better appreciate the sites. The tower and mausoleum may are not be must-sees, but they are certainly worth a visit if you have the time, and both are good places to take pictures.

No tour to Rabat is complete without visiting the local bazaar. I visited Medina of Rabat, the biggest and oldest bazaar in the city. It is advisable to take Souika street, the biggest and busiest in the medina. As the evening drew close, people from all walks of life converged on the street.

It has everything you would expect in an open air market, from traditional silver mint tea kettles, cooking utensils, food, scarves and jewelry to leather goods, carpets, traditional clothing and ceramics. There are also lots of traditional food stands and cafes that you can visit and explore in this shoppers' paradise. It is fine to bargain and the vendors are not pushy at all.

Interestingly, despite the hustle and bustle of the market, when the mosque's bells rang, some people stopped what they were doing to pray. Rabat's medina is a pleasure to walk around in, as it is relatively hassle-free and easy to get around in without getting lost.

Chinese citizens will have an easier time traveling to Morocco in the near future, as Rabat and Beijing are keen to promote their cooperation in tourism.

If you go

Transport: There is no direct flight between China and Morocco. You can fly from Beijing to Doha, Dubai, Paris, Istanbul, Cairo, London, or Amsterdam, then transfer to a flight to Casablanca, the country's busiest airport. Rabat is well served by train and you can get frequent connections to most places. Marrakesh is a 4-hour journey, Fez 2.5 hours and Casablanca 1 hour. It is possible to get a bus from almost any town in the country to Rabat.

Language: French and Arabic are widely spoken in Morocco. Some well-educated people can also speak good English.

Tipping customs: Tipping is common in the country, so prepare some small change in coins and notes in advance.