The many charms of Rabat

Moroccan shoes and slippers are popular souvenirs for tourists. Liu Lu / For China Daily

Entry costs 10 dhurims, but then you have the run of the place. Everything is in either French or Arabic, but even if you do not know the languages you can have a great time. There are tour guides you can hire who speak English and can tell you about what you are seeing.

The picturesque Kasbah of the Udayas, with its narrow alleys, art galleries and magnificent ocean views, is also one of Rabat's most famous tourist sites worth exploring. Built in the mid-12th century, it is the oldest part of the city

The kasbah, originally an ancient fortress used to protect royalty from attacks, stands magnificently on a cliff over the Atlantic Ocean, providing amazing views of the ocean and of Sale, Rabat's neighboring city.

It is a picturesque place with houses and streets that are of a different standard to the rest of the city. If you don't have time to get to Morocco's blue city of Chefchaouen, you can see a mini version in Rabat's kasbah. You will find yourself walking in zigzagging alleyways, just like Beijing's hutong. Whitewashed residences are on each side and half are painted bright blue.

The blue and white walls are very photogenic, and the people living there don't seem to mind at all if they catch you photographing their artistic front doors decorated with metal work, plants and tiles.

The busiest parts of kasbah are the beaches, where you can sit for hours watching the ocean waves as they roll in and hit the walls of kasbah. Hundreds of people from outside of Morocco visit this place because of its shoreline and picturesque views.

There is also a little bit of shopping in kasbah and a chance to enjoy mint tea and Moroccan pastry with the sea breeze and a great view.