Johann Strauss, the Waltz King No city has given so much to the world of music as Vienna. I view the bronze statue of Johann Strauss in the City Park ("Stadpark") as the symbol of Austria. The music spirit of this city has inspired and given joy to peoples all over the world for hundreds of years. Vienna has been the world center of music. Besides Richard and Johann Strauss, many great composers and musicians were born and grew up, or have lived and worked here, such as Haydn. Mozart, Beethoven, Shubert, Brahms, Bruckner and Mahler.

The Blue Danube This is not the "Swan Lake", but the "Blue Danube". Danube is a major European river across 12 countries with the following share of the water area: Romania (29.3%), former Yugoslavia (22.5%), Hungary (11.7%), Austria (10.0%), former Czechoslovakia (8.3%), Germany (7.0%), Bulgaria (5.3%), former USSR (5.2%), Switzerland (0.4%). Italy (0.3%), Poland (0.0% and Albania (0.0%). The length of the river is 2,860 Km, and its area is 817,000 square Km.

The "Kursalon" This palace was built in 1862 in Italian Renaissance style, and has been used primarily for concerts. Johann Strauss used to conduct a music group for his waltz in the Kursalon.

A Strauss Concert inside Kursalon The members of the chamber orchestra dressed the costumes of the Strauss time, and played the most well-known Waltz. In the end of the concert, people are invited to dance with the live Waltz music.

Street Music Informal music in Vienna streets are also enjoyable.

The City Hall The Vienna city hall was completed in 1885. This is another place for music. During summer evenings, a big screen is set up to show the concert movies. Thousands of people sit in front of the city hall to watch and listen the concerts on the screen.

Upper Market This is the location of the oldest market ("Hohe Markt"). In the end of 12th century, the New Market ("Neue Markt") was built here. This square has attracted many musicians to perform in the evening.

St. Charles Church The St. Charles Church ("Kariskirche") is the most important religious structure with its unique design in Vienna. The church was built in 1738.

Schonbrunn Palace Emperor Maximilian had a hunting lodge in 1569. The lodge was burnt down by the Hungarians in 1605. Emperor Matthias rebuilt the lodge. After the Turks burnt the lodge down again in 1683, Emperor Leopoid I decided to build a new summer residence for himself and his son Joseph I on the west side of Vienna. This is the Palace we are seeing today. The basic structure was completed in 1700. The Palace is as fantastic in its architectural design and art works as other most famous Palaces in the world, such as the Versailles in Paris and the Forbidden City in Beijing.

The Albertina This art museum holds the world's largest collection of graphic art works: about 40,000 drawings and water colors and more than one million prints. The collections include original works by Rubens, Holbein, Van Dyck, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Many original music notes by the great composers who once worked in Vienna are also exhibited.

The New Palace The Hofburg is the former imperial Palace and seat of the Austrian emperors. The new section of the Palace was completed in 1913, called New Palace. The Statue of Prince Eugene of Savory stands in front of the New Palace. The Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History are also located in the New Palace.