Shanghai Tours-Travel in Shanghai by Bus and on Foot
By Bus
Public buses (gong gong qi che) charge ¥2, but they China tours are considerably more difficult to use, less comfortable than taxis or the Metro, and for the truly intrepid only. Some buses have conductors, but others only have money slots in the front of the bus with no change given. To figure out which bus number will get you to your destination, ask for help in your hotel. Bus nos. 20 and 37, for example, run between People's Square and the Bund; bus no. 16 connects the Jade Buddha Temple to Old Town; bus no. 65 travels from the Bund to the Shanghai Railway Station. Be prepared to stand and be cramped during your expedition, and take care with backpacks and purses, as these are inviting targets for thieves, who frequently seek out foreign visitors on public buses.
By Foot
The best way to see Shanghai's sights and experience life at street-level is on foot. Much like downtown New York or Tokyo, Shanghai's streets can be almost impossibly crowded at times, but they are always fascinating to stroll. Doing so requires Yangtze River cruises a bit of vigilance, of course, as Shanghai pedestrians are distinctly second-class citizens to the motorists who rule the road. Shanghai drivers, who drive on the right side of the road, have never been known to give pedestrians the right-of-way; at red lights, vehicles seldom stop when making a right turn, whether pedestrians are in the crosswalk or not.
Drivers don't pay much attention to lane markings and will always rush to fill an empty space wherever they can find one, even if it's where you happen to be walking. Besides a sea of humanity, Shanghai pedestrians also have to contend with bicycles, scooters, and student tours to China motorcycles on sidewalks. Happily, there are now surly brown-clad, whistle-blowing traffic assistants at the major roads and intersections to make sure both pedestrians and motorists obey the traffic lights. Jaywalkers who are caught may be fined up to ¥50. In general, whether crossing large avenues or small lanes, look every which way before you cross, take your cues from locals, and you should be just fine.
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More Info & History of Shanghai China-Shanghai Tours
By Chinese standards, Shanghai is a young city. For centuries, Shanghai — literally translating China tours as “above the sea”— was a small fishing village. It wasn’t until after the Treaty of Nanjing in the mid-1800’s that Shanghai exploded into an international outpost of trade, high-living, and decadence (just more proof of the evils of those foreign devils!).
"Uh, I guess that means I really can't come in?"
Back in the day, Shanghai Yangtze River cruises was carved out into different “concessions” or neighborhoods — for instance, the American, British, and French concessions. Each area was run independently and even had their own police forces and judiciary. Signs on foreign clubs famously proclaimed: “No Dogs and No Chinese Allowed.”
One side effect of this arrangement was that it became a haven for criminals (as well as revolutionaries) who could easily escape by keeping on the move. An intoxicating brew of the international and counterculture, Shanghai quickly established a reputation as an open, diverse city, where you could rub elbows with merchants, missionaries, soldiers, artists….as well as pimps, hookers, opium addicts and travel to Shangri-la gangsters. Speaking of revolutionaries, China’s Communist Party held its first meeting ever in Shanghai in 1921. By the early 1930s, Shanghai was the fifth largest city in the world, with some 70,000 foreign residents.
Shanghai china 1940-1950s historyBut the party came to an abrupt end. When the Commies took control in 1949, they marched into Shanghai to rid the city of evil Capitalist dogs. Just like last call at your local bar, they shut off the music, flipped the lights on, and yelled, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here!” Clearly reading the writing on the wall, the local elite (and most anyone else who had the means) also left Shanghai in droves — following the mass exodus of foreigners who relocated to Hong Kong.
shanghai china travel tourist attractionSince the 1990’s — after the government decided to revive the city into a business & financial powerhouse — Shanghai has undergone a breath-taking transformation. Almost overnight, foreign investment came flooding in, and new freeways and high-rises starting sprouting up. Today, Shanghai is the world’s largest cargo port with over 3,000 skyscrapers — more than New York Shanghai tours
City (and with some 2,000 more slated for construction).
Shanghai Tours-Some Tips Shanghai Shopping and Bargaining
As you go through the little entrance of Dong Jia Du, you'll see over 100 little China tours shops and each one will tailor make any clothing you like. She had a full length cashmere coat made, with silk lining and fur collar, she selected all the materials, and picked it up three days later. $US 120. (OK and she is Chinese as well so, bring moral and language support with you if you're a foreigner)
If you are hopelessly non-Asian-looking, take prices down to 1/2 of what's on the price tag and start bargaining. If the price is spoken, take it down to 1/3. If you look Chinese and speak Chinese, but are obviously from overseas (XXL) knock down the price by half and start negotiating. Don't pay more than 75% of the asking price. But Yangtze River cruises unless you speak the Shanghai dialect, the shopkeepers will guess that you are from overseas and say things like "but it's only $20 US, what is that to you?" And to some extent, they are right. Prices are so good already and the quality of local manufacture is so good, that you really can't lose. If the all-wool sweater for $12 is not really wool, and you don't care, so be it.
If you don't want to bargain, shop Nanjing Road or one of the foreign department stores. If you do Shangri-la adventure want to bargain, one trick that works is to carry a limited amount of money in a change purse and show it to the clerk after some negotiation, saying "but this is all I have on me". Another ploy is to say "I've only started looking, there are other stores I want to see" because the last thing they want is to let some other store get your sale.
I did not check out imported designer goods, but have been told that they go for about the same price in Shanghai as elsewhere. There may be knock-offs being sold somewhere in China tour the city, but I didn't have time to find out. In any case, the Shanghai styles are fun to look at, and there are some truly beautiful sweaters and silks - why buy Western designers?
Find Bustling Shanghai in Shanghai Tours
Shanghai is like Tokyo on speed; whilst Tokyo is very polite and ordered, Shanghai China tours is raw and very full on. The driving, especially cabs drivers, are nerve-racking and very funny - you haven't seen so much horn abuse anywhere; everyone seems to have a hair trigger behind the wheel.
It's a tourist mecca, but the Oriental Pearl Tower, actually a TV tower, is worth Yangtze River cruises a visit, or at least a viewing from across the river - the mind-blowing, futuristic Pudong view is best seen from the famous Bund at night.
Although it has been a hectic week, Shanghai was a lovely experience that we would recommend Shanghai tours to anyone. We will definitely be coming back for more in the future!
The Forbidden City and the Great Wall will keep, they're not going anywhere. Unlike Shanghai, one of the world's fastest-changing cities – my plan is to fast forward into the future China business tour there, then slam on the brakes in Hangzhou. As Kyoto is to Tokyo, Hangzhou is to Shanghai, its temples and forests where many Chinese think the ancient soul of the country lives on.
Essential Shanghai Travel Tips-Shanghai Tours
Political Concerns: Armed guards and military personnel are less ubiquitous China tours in Shanghai than in China’s political capital, but remain vigilant about what you say and how you conduct yourself. Avoid open criticisms of the Chinese Communist Party, regardless of your audience.
Sunscreen: Industrial and environmental pollution are high. Use a sunblock with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide of SPF 15 or higher.
Insect Repellent: Mosquitoes can appear in humid weather or after a rain shower. Bring Yangtze River cruises mosquito repellent, or buy some there.
Appropriate Fashions: The Shanghainese have long been exposed to Western influences, including fashion sensibility. Women that wear flashy clothing won’t get heckled, but they can provoke stares.
Sturdy Footwear: Some of China business tour Shanghai’s prime attractions—the Bund, the French Concession, Renmin Square, Pudong—require extensive walking. Bring comfortable footwear.
Drinking Water: “Stick to bottled water. Assume fruits and vegetables are contaminated; cook or peel them first.”—Dr. Goldberg.
Toiletries: Shanghai is modernized, but squat toilets (the Shanghai tours kind without seats) may be encountered. Bring your own toilet tissue everywhere. Soaps, shampoos, lotions, and toothpaste are widely available in drug stores. Avoid buying counterfeit toiletries, which may contain hazardous ingredients.
Explore Other Top Shanghai Pastimes-Shanghai Tours
5. Put Frenchtown in the frame
The modish French Concession comes into focus with a meander around China tours its leafy back streets. With politics, shopping, old gangster pads and dining, entertainment is guaranteed. Cap the experience off with dinner and drinks at one of the area's excellent restaurants and bars. Shanghai has its European eccentricity, but little prepares you for the Gothic towers.
6. Fish for fashion around Tianzifang
Shoppers and wanderers take note: this engaging warren of stone-gate houses, architecture and hip boutiques is the perfect spot for browsing while soaking in the flavours of the ever-elusive traditional Shanghai neighbourhood. The Yangtze River cruises handsome recipe of lane housing, wi-fi cafes, art galleries and fashion shops fills out this residential community.
7. Drink and dine among Shanghai's Shikumen
Xintiandi hasn't been around for a decade yet and already it is a Shanghai icon. An upscale entertainment complex modelled on traditional lilong (alleyway) homes, Xintiandi was the first development in the city to prove that historic business travel to China architecture does, in fact, have economic value. Well-heeled shoppers and alfresco diners keep the place busy until late, and if you are looking for a memorable meal or a browse through some of Shanghai's more fashionable shops, this is the place.
8. Link up with Shanghai's laid-back lanes
Shanghai's ultramodern skyline is electric for sure, but also impersonal and dwarfing. Don not fret. For things on a more human scale, where real communities get on with their daily lives, meandering through Shanghai's collection of Shanghai tours lilong alleys and shikumen homes is a helpful antidote. These gorgeous stone-and-brick communities, mainly designed from the mid-19th Century to the art-deco era, hog much of Shanghai's characteristic Concession-era charms, where low-rise tenements line up in neat, pretty rows.
China Tours-The Origins of Ice Sculpting
The World Ice Arts Championships begin in Fairbanks, Alaska on 26 February China tours this year. Like the World Cup of the ice-sculpting world, the competition attracts artists from across the globe. Last year, competitors represented countries ranging from Japan and Russia to Portugal, the United States and the Philippines.
For an idea of just how detailed, complex and impressive these sculptures are, look no further than last year’s winner in the “multi-block” (that is, carved from multiple blocks of ice) competition, titled Prickly Reception, crafted by a Japanese team led by renowned sculptor Junichi Nakamura (who won the gold medal for ice carving at the 1998 Winter Olympics). Nakamura is Yangtze River cruises known in the ice world for taking risks with his pieces, and Prickly Reception was no exception, with the ice for the porcupine quills so thin it boggles the mind that they didn’t break off during the competition. Other sculptures of his have not been so lucky, with one entry in 2005 collapsing during the final stages of sculpting.
Artists use such tools as chainsaws, handsaws, hairdryers, irons and chisels to carve the ice, usually working in ultra-cold environments such as large walk-in freezers to guard against melting. A fascinating Q&A, hosted by New Orleans-based sculptor Dawson List, offers insight into how professional ice sculpting competitions are judged, where the ice for sculptures Shangri-la adventure comes from and why it isn’t simply done by machine.
But from outside the industry, it’s easy to wonder where this idea of transforming ice into something beautiful came from.
The exact origins of ice sculpting are murky, though we do know that the practice has been around for a very long time. Early Inuits travelling across present-day Alaska, Canada and Greenland started building ice and snow houses for shelter – China educational tours commonly known today as igloos – around 4,000 years ago. The uses and benefits of ice as a resource eventually came to be known all over the world. As described by ice sculptor Joseph Amendola in his book Ice Carving Made Easy, written records dating back to 600 BC reveal that in the highlands of northwest China, farmers would flood their fields with water, wait for it to freeze, harvest blocks of ice and then store them in insulated facilities to help preserve perishables like seafood. And, according to Amendola, in both Ancient Rome and India, the wealthy began eating and drinking ice mixed with fruit juices as a lavish dessert – a precursor to ice cream and sorbet.
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Discover Hong Kong’s vibrant art walk-China Tours
Returning for a 13th year is Hong Kong's most vibrant and sociable charity art event, where China tours locals and travellers can immerse themselves in the city’s ever-evolving creative scene. ArtWalk, starting at 4:30 pm on 18 April, invites participants to gallery hop their way around the city, taking in the multifarious works of established and emerging artists while partaking in complimentary refreshments along the way.
The 70 participating galleries are located in the established art districts of Central, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, Chai Wan and in the new arts areas of Wong Chuk Hang and Aberdeen. A map with Yangtze River cruises suggested walking routes is provided, as are free mini buses to transport people between galleries that are further apart.Head to 3812 Contemporary Art Projects in Wong Chuk Hang to see Mind-Scape, a series by six talented artists from China and Malaysia of modern works (on paper and canvas, using ink, pen, charcoal, tea and oil paint) that explore the fusion of mind and landscape – a subject that has captivated Asian artists for centuries.
Schoeni Art Gallery in Central is focusing on just one artist. Chinese new-media artist, Yang Shangri-la adventure v Yongliang, whose work can be seen in London’s British Museum and Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria, will be exhibiting such recent creations as the Moonlight series, a powerful comment on the rapid urbanisation and modernisation of China that combines the traditional (classical Chinese painting style) and the modern (digital and video). What first appear to be tranquil scenes of Chinese mountains and valleys on closer inspection reveal digitally created metropolitan buildings and cityscapes.
New this year is ArtWalk Extra, where local creatives can take their art to the surrounding streets with one-off installations, video screenings, musical performances and photography displays. Look out for mixed-media artist Otto Li Tin Lun, who will business travel to China design and create a sculpture on Central’s steep Shing Hing Street step, while maps created by City University students will be displayed on large banners in Central and Sheung Wan, highlighting nearby heritage and cultural sites.
Tickets are priced at 450 Hong Kong dollars and can be purchased from select galleries. A portion of ticket sales goes to the Society for Community Organisation, which provides for the needy and homeless.
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Travel in Shanghai-Some Useful Tips?
Event
The Shanghai Music Festival is in May and the Shanghai International Tea Culture Yangtze River cruises Festival is usually at the end of April. The Shanghai Marathon Cup is in March and is one of the top sporting events in China. The Shanghai Beer Festival staggers into town around the end of July, while the Shanghai Tourism Festival kicks off in late September. It's worth bearing these dates in mind as hotel accommodation can become scarce - during the Chinese New Year, usually in February, Shanghai is packed.
Useful Information
Shanghai Useful Phone Numbers
Area Code: 021
Fire Emergency: 119
Police: 110
Currency Exchange
Currency exchange service is available at most hotels, all banks. Credit card is widely acceptable as means of payment in hotels, department stores and boutiques. The credit China tours cards commonly acceptable in China are Visa, MasterCard, and American Express Card.
Main Banks in Shanghai
Shanghai Branch of Citibank; Floor 20, China business travel to China Shipping Building, No.1, Pudong Main Street, 58791200
Shanghai Branch of Overseas Chinese Bank; Floor 23, No.710, Oriental Road, 58200200
Yangpu Subbranch of Shanghai Branch of Huaxia Bank, No.1207, Kongjiang Road, 65709961
The Head Quarter of Bank of Communications, No.18 Xianxia Road, 62751234
Shanghai Pudong Developing Bank (The Headquarter), No.50 Ningbo Road, 63291188
Shanghai Bank, No.476 Xianxia Road, 62955327
Post Offices in Shanghai
Lujiazui Post Suboffice; No.365, Shangcheng Road
Post Service Center in New Century Square; No.501, Zhangzhang Road
Oriental Pearl Tower Post Office; No.2, Fenghe Road (259meters away from the Oriental Pearl Tower)
Post Service Center in the student tours to China Sight-seeing Hall of Jinmao Tower; Floor 88 of The Sight-seeing Hall of Jinmao Tower
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Travel in Shanghai Tourism Festival
Celebrated: Sep. 14, 2013 to Oct. 06, 2013
Location: Shanghai
Shanghai Tourism Festival is an important tourist festival that China tours is promoted as the people's festival and has the phrase "entering happiness and pleasure" as its theme. It is sponsored by the Shanghai Tourism Festival Organizing Committee Office.
The festival has been held annually in the middle of September for more than twenty years since 1990, attracting eight million people to it. It acts as a perfect event for locals and foreigners to discover China's fascinating culture and Yangtze River cruises history. A number of traditional and non-traditional entertainment programs are held, and Shanghai's unique charms and native pleasures are well displayed.
Activities
The festival always begins with a grand Opening Ceremony Parade of floats in a very famous commercial street, Huaihai Road, at night. It's the highlight of the festival, and has always drawn enthusiastic crowds, with travel to Shangri-la great numbers of floats and performing teams from China and other parts of the world taking part.
Visitors can also enjoy a wealth of fun activities, including the Rugby Sevens Championship, the Sailing Carnival, the Festive Boat Parade on the Huangpu River, and the Shanghai International Music Fireworks Festival.
Travel Information
A visit to Shanghai Tourism Festival would be best China educational tours combined with one of ChinaTour.com' Shanghai tours. Contact us to tailor-make a tour including the Shanghai Tourism Festival.
Getting there: Huaihai Road can be reached by bus 42, 167, 320, 911, 920 or 926.
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Discover Shanghai Old Street in Shanghai Tours
Shanghai Old Street, or more officially Fangbin Road, is an ideal place to discover what Shanghai was like in the old days. It is adjacent to Yuyuan Garden and runs in an east-west direction from Zhonghua Road to Henan South Road, with China tours both ends marked by decorated archways. The 825 meter-long street can be divided into eastern and western sections.
The eastern section retains characteristics of residences in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and early Republican days (1911-1949). The houses on both sides of the street are fitted with checkered windows, and shop fronts have wooden boards, balustrades, and swing doors. Their roofs have upturned eaves, protruding corners and laced drain-pipes.The Yangtze River cruises eastern section has a variety of shops, including florists’, shoe & clothing retailers’, and noodle restaurants, where you often see specialty dealers selling Chinese tea and snacks such as "Five Fragrant Beans.
The western section is filled with Ming (1368-1644) and Qing style architecture. Black tiles and white-washed walls, red columns, and upturned eaves showcase the style of old Shanghai. The western section has a number of antique & curio shops, restaurants and teahouses. Famous Shops Along the street you will find hundred-year-old student tours to China stores: Tonghanchun, Laotongsheng, Wuliangcai, Wanyouquan, Qiu Tianbao, Old Shanghai Tea House, Deshun Western Food Restaurant, Chunfeng Deyi Restaurant, Xishi Soya Beancurd Store, Dingniangzi Cloth Store, Rongshun Restaurant and Baoyintang.
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What is the Best Time to Travel Chengdu?
Chengdu, "Rong" for short, is the capital of Sichuan Province. Chengdu is one of most important economic centers, transportation, communication and trading hubs in the southwest China. With the total area of 12,400 square kilometers, Chengdu has the population of 12,579,000 and has direct jurisdiction over 9 districts, 4 county-level cities China tours and 6 counties.
Chengdu is rich in tourism resources. Besides some nation-level scenic spots, Chengdu is home to many amazing world cultural and historical heritages and natural splendid beauty such as Leshan Giant Buddha, Mt Emei, Jiuzhaigou, Dujiang Dam, Qingcheng Mountain. In addition, the world's only Giant Panda Breeding and Research Centre is located Yangtze River cruises in Chengdu. In 2007, Chengdu received 42,536,000 domestic tourists and 786,000 foreign visitors. In February of 2007, Chengdu won the title of the Best Tourist City in 2006 of China.
Spring and autumn are two best time to visit most of regions in China, so Chengdu is no exception. But don't go during the national holidays such as National Day (Octo.1 to 7) and Labor Day (May 1 to May 3), for it's very crowded in downtown. The weather of Chengdu in spring and autumn is mild for you to enjoy yourselves. Although it is stuffy in July educational tours in China and August, the attractions nearby the downtown of Chengdu are very ideal places to enjoy coolness.
In winter, it is a good chance to Xiling Snow Mountain and Longchi Forest Park to enjoy the beautiful snowscape. January is the coldest month when the temperature only reaches approximately 5℃,but you China business tour can save money when you travel to Chengdu in winter.
Discover Must-do Things in Shanghai Trip
Jing'an Temple
Jing'an Temple is the famous old temple in Shanghai. Jing'an District was named after Jing'an Temple which was said to be built during the period of Three Kingdom. In the temple, visitors can find a big bell of Ming Dynasty and China tours a stone table with inscription of Emperor Guangzong of Song Dynasty (960AD-1279AD).Admission Fee:30RMB
Admission Fee: 30RMB
Open Time: 7:30-17:30
Jinmao Tower
Located in the Lujiazui area of Pudong District, opposite to the Bund, Jinmao Tower is the third highest skyscraper in China with the height of 420.5 meters. It contains offices, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Sightseeing Hall and so on. The worth-visiting places in tower include Sightseeing Hall, Knowledge Road, Time Machines and Time and Space Tunnel. Sightseeing Hall on the 88th storey is at 340.1 meters. With the area of 1,520 square meters, it is the largest hall for sightseeing. Knowledge Road is 700 meters long and 25 meters wide. There are many statues of famous figures such as Newton, Lu Xun standing on the both sides Yangtze River cruises of the road. As a matter of fact, Time Machines refer to two express lifts which move at the speed of 9.1 meters per second. The middle lobby of Grand Hyatt Hotel is called Time and Space Tunnel by architects.
People's Square
As a public square, People's Square occupies an area of 140,000 square meters at the center of Shanghai. People's Square which was used to be the place of assembly and parade can accommodate 1.2 million persons. After Shangri-la adventure a lot of renovation, the square has become a political and cultural center. People's Square contains many famous building such as Municipal Services Building, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Museum, People's Square subway station, underground mall.
Learn Chinese ancient art in Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum is a museum of Chinese ancient art, which is located on the People's Square of Huangpu District. Shanghai museum was founded in 1952 on Nanjing West Road. In 1959, it moved into former Zhonghui Building at 16S, Henan Road. In 1992, Shanghai government allocated a piece of land on People's Square as its new site. The new building has a round top and square base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese perception of the world as "sky is round and the earth square". With an area of 2,800 square meters, the museum is separated into several exhibition rooms to display the ancient bronze, porcelain and earthen wares, educational tours in China Chinese painting and the carvings.
Get a Panoramic View on the Oriental Pearl TV Tower
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is located the tip of Zhujiazui in Pudong District, by the side of Huangpu River. With the height of 468 meters, it is the tallest in Asia and the third highest in the world. As the famous landmark of Shanghai, it is composed of 15 spheres of different sizes at different levels. There is a revolving restaurant China tours where visitors can enjoy the cityscape on the banks of Huangpu River. A sightseeing platform in the TV tower is on the largest ball accommodating 1,600 visitors. On this platform, panoramic view of Shanghai can be got here. Standing on the suspended sightseeing corridor, you can watch the view of Huangpu River through the glass floor.
Get Close to Irtysh River: China's only East-to-West River
Before the show, a big red flag embroidered with “帅” (general) will be set at the entrance of the village, or another place which catches the eye, to show there will be a performance in the village. The stage may be a village square or a vacant ground on the roadside and the audience usually stands around on the high land for a better view of the performance. Many China tour agents have arranged the Di opera discovery along their Guizhou itinerary to promote sales.
The local farmers are the players. They wear fancy wooden masks carved of wood, dress in cloth shoes, unadorned robes, drape banners on their backs and carry weapons in their hands. When performing, the players cover their faces with black gauze before placing the masks on their forehead. To the tempo of gongs and drums, the performers, wielding wood swords and folding fans, sing the ancient folk stories. Their performance is full of enthusiasm and vibrates with long, loud, resonant voices. No China tours to Guizhou is complete if the Di opera is missed in their schedule.
Most of the popular operas are based on historical battle stories, such as Wars between Chu and Han, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the History of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and Generals of the Yang Family. These stories have been told for hundreds of years but still remain fresh. Many tour agents have arranged the Di opera discovery along their Yangtze River cruises, offering travelers great chances to discover the profound Chinese culture on their trips.
The mask is one of the most important characteristics of Di Opera. The species of wooden masks are quite abundant and each differs in character of roles. As much as 40 different masks will be used in each opera and in some plays the number will even pass 100. There are four categories of masks -- general, Taoist priest, comedian and animal. Why not extend your travel to Shangri-la to Guzihou area to watch the authentic Di opera on your trip?
My Memorable Trekking to the Hidden Lotus: Motuo in Tibet
We set off from Pai Village, known as the springboard of the harsh trek to our destination: Motuo (Metok), the remotest county in southeast Tibet and currently the only county in China inaccessible by modern vehicles. Located on the southern slope of the Himalayas, Motuo is regarded as the "Lotus Holy Land" to the Tibetan Buddhists. After we enjoyed the Shangri-la travel, we just head to discover Tibet by trekking.
Nestled in between Nangaba Mountain and the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Pai Village is the transfer station of supplies to Motuo. The route from Pai to Motuo is considered one of the most dangerous hiking routes in China. Many travelers prefer to discover their China tours of Tibet by trekking. That would be a great way for them.
The reasons are obvious: from November to June, the mountain pathways are covered with ice and snow; from June to September, it's the raining season when slipping, landslides, mud-rock flows and leeches are common; Only in October is the weather suitable for hiking. Even though it is now still in the rainy season, we decided to go, despite that it rained and snowed just last week. Many tour agents have arranged the Tibet discovery along their Yangtze River cruises deals, offering travelers chances to discover the natural beauty of China further.
Traditionally, the trip from Pai to Motuo takes four days. For hikers from outside, it has to be four days – since there are only four stopovers during the whole trip, we can not afford to stay any longer or shorter. Before we set off to Motuo, this is the only thing that we can confirm. This is no wonder that so many student tours to China have arranged the Tibet discovery along their deals to promote sales.
Discover Chishui: Famous for Its Danxia Landforms in China in Depth
When I set foot in Chishui, the first I noticed was of the hot and humid climate. I could not see any hint of the approaching Mid-Autumn holiday because the weather was still too warm. My second impression was that the lush greenery made the town appear like an emerald studded by the Chishui River. Wrapped by countless numbers of plants, it was full of energy and life. No China tours designed for discovering Chinese Danxia landscape are complete Chishui is missed in their schedule. Our exploration of Chishui started from Red Stone Wild Canyon, a tourist resort 16 kilometers south of the city, which is 95 percent covered by forest.
The temperature dropped dramatically when we approached the resort, which welcomed us with its serenity and tranquility. The narrow road was well-protected by bamboo and other plants on both sides. Sitting in the small truck made me feel like I was floating in a bamboo sea. For city dwellers like us, both the refreshing breeze blowing through the bamboo and the pleasant chirping of birds were a nice treat. What travel to Shangri-la is to Yunnan province, Chishui discovery to Guizhou province. Never miss it.
It was 4:30 p.m. when we arrived at the resort. Our guide said it had just poured a couple of hours ago; therefore, we were quite lucky it was not that hot. Tall spinulose ferns grew wildly here and there, and their leaves almost concealed the sky. Our guide told us that the ferns had existed since the age of the dinosaurs. It is no wonder that so many tour agents have arranged the Chishui along their Yangtze River cruises deals, offering travelers to discover the natural landscape of China further.
There were not many tourists at the time, so it was very quiet. All we could hear was the song of brook, the murmur of bamboo leaves blowing in the breeze, and the occasional tweets of cicadas. The bamboo formed a perfect archway over our heads, and the air smelled of plants. As we climbed up to see the Danxia cliff, I could not help wondering where the famous landform was because I was eager to see it with my own eyes to determine whether it really was a masterpiece of nature. On the way, we also see many educational tours in China come here to discover Chinese Danxia landscape.
Experience Samye Monastery: The No.1 Monastery in Tibet in Depth
The Samye Monastery is renowned for the characteristic art of its buildings and the vivid murals as well as other ancient relics stored within them. No China tour to Tibet is complete if the Samye Monastery is missed in their itinerary.
The three-story Wuzi Hall is the soul of the whole monastery. Its design is very special. All of the layers follow different styles, the bottom Tibetan, the middle Han and the top Indian. Hence the monastery is also called the 'Three-styled Temple'. There are also many substantial murals here. On the porch of the middle story is inscribed the reputed 'Painted Historical Records' of Tibet, which extend 9.2 m. (10 yd.) and contains the religious history of Tibet as well as many related legends. Besides these, the murals depicting the 'Historical Records of Samye Monastery' and the 'Biography of Padmasambhava' on the other two levels are also of high aesthetic value. It is no wonder that so many tour operators have arranged the Samye Monastery of Tibet discovery along their Yangtze River cruises in order to enrich their deals.
There are four gates to the Wuzi Hall. The eastern gate leads to the front entrance of the hall. In front of the gate is a nine-story hall, however, only three stories remain standing. On the January 5 and May 16 of the Tibetan Calendar, the large embroidery of Sakyamuni is hung on the wall for people to make homage to, hence the name 'Zhanfo Dian' (Buddha Unfolding Hall). There is also an ancient stele and a bell made during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) along with a pair of stone lions. On the stele Trisong Detsen's edicts for establishing Buddhism as the state religion in 779 are recorded. The bell was the first one made in Tibetan history and is said to memorize the third concubine of the Detsen who led 30 aristocratic women to renounce the world and who later became the first group of nuns in Tibet. Why not extend your Shangri-la travel to Tibet to discover the purified places in China further?
The Samye Monastery is located at the foot of Mount Haibu Rishen, north of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. You can travel there by a regular bus from Lhasa to Samye Ferry and cross the river by boat or bridge. Then you can take the special monastery bus to get there. The mountain top is also the best place to photograph a panoramic view of the monastery. For dining and accommodation, the monastery includes a restaurant and guest house. Alternatively there are other restaurants outside the Eastern Gate and guest houses in the nearby village. When visiting the monastery, bring a flashlight as it is quite dark in the halls. It is no wonder that so many educational tours in China have stretched their itinerary to Samye Monastery in Tibet.
Explore Toasting Songs at a Tibetan Banquet Further
Following the heels of their champions, hospitable Tibetans will sing to you in groups. The chorus has its charm compared to the solo, and it is quite interesting to discover that even among artistically-talented people as the Tibetans, not every one of them, can sing very well, and some of them are even quite shy. But still, you can feel their utmost good wishes as you finish your cups. This just show us the reason why so many China tours to Tibet have arranged discovering the toasting songs along their itinerary.
Don't complain that you don't have a half-time break. It's not part of the experience. The momentum is soon followed, led again by gifted Tibetan "singing princes and princesses". At this stage you have probably forgotten where your hotel is, and your head is a little heavier than normal which is now supported by your forearms. But it is not to be denied that such a state is perfect to appreciate the grand landscapes, passionate affection, and hilarious gatherings as depicted by the beautiful lyrics. And as the flowers of happiness blossom in your heart, you search the entire room for any remaining alcohol and finish it right up. Many tour operator also arranged the Tibetan toasting songs discovery along their Yangtze River cruises deals.
Such is the state of consumption that your eyes can barely focus on the wine glass which is only inches before your face. Your eyelids have developed a tendency of closing on their own, your ears have resonated with all the amazing lyrics and melodies: masculine ones that reminded you of the harsh, raw, laborious life on Tibetan farms; affectionate ones that put you in the heart of a shepherd girl missing her lover, who is absent for months away from home on business. This just show us the reason why so many China educational tours have arranged this discovery in their deals.
The final and finishing blow came from the young and beautiful Tibetan girls or "Zhuo Mala" as they are affectionately called. Those angels of the plateau have the voice of a nightingale, and the looks of a frost lotus. They have a special way of toasting, that is, the guest can choose to listen to their toasting songs and finish one cup by drinking three times, or pick up a favorite song for them to sing and finish three cups in one consecutive move. I don't know what your choice would be under such circumstances, but for me, I never turn down the toast from a beauty, but I must tell you my stomach always protests such a choice the next day. Many businessmen particularly like to discover the toasting songs when their China business travel stops at Tibet.
Discover Shanghai Oriental Sports Center China
Located by the east side of Huangpu River, next to Expo Park, Shanghai Oriental Sports Center consists of an indoor stadium, a natatorium, an outdoor diving pool, a press service center and the supplementary facilities like parking area and public bus stations. The total area is 34.75 hectares and the floor space is 163,800 square meters. In July 2011, the 14th FINA World Championships will be held in this sports complex. When your Yangtze River cruises come to Shangahai, a visit to the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center is highly recommended.
FINA World Championships is a very big and high-level sporting event with a large number of participants. Shanghai won the bid for the hosting right of the 14th FINA World Championships in 2007. To be held in July 2011, the Championships have 5 competition disciplines including swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, water polo and open water swimming. No Shanghai tours are complete if the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center are missed in their schedule.
As the venue of the Championships, Shanghai Oriental Sports Center will be a very special and innovative venue in the history of FINA World Championships. The theme of its architectural design is water. The elements of wave and bridge appear frequently in the Center. The three major buildings enjoy unique features respectively. The architectural appearance of the gymnasium looks like a wave. The natatorium is composed by lined arches. Located on the manmade island, the outdoor diving pool has a roof in the shape of a half moon. The spectators can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Center and the Huangpu River when sitting on the open air seats. Many tour companies have arranged the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in their Shanghai tour designed for sport-lovers.
As one of the major construction projects of Shanghai, Shanghai Oriental Sports Center will be not only an ideal venue for the FINA World Championships 2011 and other international A Level sporting events, but also a green and excellent physical fitness center open to the public. Why not extend your Yangtze River cruises of Shanghai part to the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center? You could get more than expected!
Discover Honghu Lake: The Largest Lake of Freshwater on the Jianghan Plain
As the largest lake of non-contaminative freshwater on the Jianghan Plain, the Honghu Lake is located in the southwest of Honghu City, which is reputed as the city of a hundred lakes and a land flowing with milk and honey. The lake covers an area of 348 square kilometers and has a shape of polygon. With straight lakeshore and flat bottom, the lake is crystal clear in a light-green color. No China tours of discover China lakes are complete if the Honghu Lake is missed in their schedule.
The scenery changing with seasons and special fishing customs make the Honghu Lake a perfect scenic spot. In spring, stretches of wild flowers contend in bizarrerie and beauty, while numerous fishing boats sail in the lake. In summer, the lake is covered with clusters of lotus flowers. In autumn, one can tour in the lake by boat and taste delicious lotus seed and water chestnut, experiencing the pleasure of a fisherman's life. In winter, migratory birds such as wild goose and mallard fly here, and one can hunt in specified areas. Every year, the beautiful Honghu Lake attracts numerous visitors from home and abroad. This just show us the reason why so many China educational tours have arranged the Honghu Lake along their itinerary.
Besides enchanting scenery, the Honghu Lake is abundant in aquatic products. The water of Honghu Lake is rich in organic substances with a content exceeding other lakes in Hubei Province. It is a key producing area of freshwater fish of 84 species. Many fisheries and farms are built around the lake. About 92 aquatic plants grow in the lake and the annual export volume of lotus seeds amounts to over 200,000 kilograms. It is no wonder that so many businessmen prefer to refresh themselves around the Honghu Lake along their business travel to China of Honghu City.
Moreover, the lake is an ideal habitat for migratory birds with its flourishing float grass and abundant fish and shrimps. About 39 species of hibernation water birds fly here to pass the winter, together with 18 species of mallard. The annual fish output totals more than 300,000 kilograms, amounting to over a half of the total output of the whole province. The meat of mallard and wild goose is delicious and their eiderdown can be used to make high-quality clothes or bedding. Indulging yourself in the breathtaking Honghu Lake, you would have an illusion of enjoying a Shangri-la travel.
Mesmerizing West Lake Landscape in Hangzhou China
The cultural landscapes of the West Lake in Hangzhou, the Yuan Dynasty Capital Site and the Silk Road were all included in the key project of the World Heritage application, said Shan Jixiang, CPPCC member and director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, on March 9. Many student tours to China have flocked to Hangzhou during the summer vocation.
Shan said that China now has a total of 40 world heritage sites, including 28 world cultural heritage sites, four world cultural and natural heritage sites and eight world natural heritage sites. Carrying the China map of Hangzhou area is highly recommended here, which would be much helpful for your to find ways along your trip.
Over the next few years, the World Heritage application work will focus on three projects, namely the Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Landscape, the Yuan Dynasty Capital Site and the transnational application of the Silk Road. The best time to visit China West Lake falls into September and October, so plan your schedule ahead.
Meanwhile, the protection and World Heritage application for the Grand Canal is also in full swing. The World Heritage application process table has been discharged. Related departments will launch the World Heritage application work of the Hangzhou West Lake Cultural Landscape project in an orderly fashion, guide the preparation work for the World Heritage application of the Yuan Dynasty Capital Site, promote the application work of the Silk Road and hold relevant international conferences regarding the World Heritage application of the Silk Road. Searching for China city guide of Hangzhou? Visit www.chinatour.com.
Experience White Clouds Mountain in Guangzhou China
White Clouds Mountain is a famous mountain in South China. It is honored to be the first scenery of Goat City and the first mountain of Southern Yue since ancient times due to its magnificence and loftiness. It is made up of 30 peaks with the major peak of Mo Xing Ling whose altitude is 382 meters. The summit of the mountain will be wreathed by clouds whenever the sky clears after the rain or in the late spring time. The mountain is hence called Baiyun Mountain. September to November is most suitable time to climb the mountain because of the fine weather and moderate temperature. May you have discover the metropolitan Shanghai along your Shanghai city guide, but if you discover how China is highly developed, you should head to Guangzhou. When you visit Guangzhou, never miss touring the White Clouds Mountain .
The mountain range is full grandeur with majestic peaks and crisscrossed valleys. There remained the ancient site of mountain Stream Pu which is said to be the residence of Zheng Anqi of the Qing Dynasty when he secluded himself there. It is no wonder that so many travelers prefer to visit the White Clouds Mountain when their business travel to China come to Guangzhou.
There is a Jiu Long Quan (Nine-dragon Spring), with a history of more than 2,000 years, which is said to be discovered in the Qing Dynasty. There is also the tomb of Zhang Erqiao, a singer in the Ming Dynasty, which is called Baihua Mound; a stele with the vivid Chinese charater of "Hu"(tiger) inscribed by Liu Yongfu, a general of Hei Qi Jun (Black Banner Army) in the Qing Dynasty; and the scenic spots of Dripping Rock, Baiyun Mountain Scenery in the Dawn, Baiyun Mountain Scenery in the Dusk, the First Peak on earth, Peal Tower, Shuiyue Pavilion and so on. Travelers can appreciate the overall splendid landscape of Guangzhou and especially the beautiful jade-belt-liked Zhoujiang River when standing at the spot of Baiyun Mountain Scenery in the Dusk, leaning against the railings and staring as far as they can. It is no wonder that so many educational tours in China also come to White Clouds Mountain during the summer vacation period.
White Clouds Mountain is a famous historic attraction in Guangzhou, with lots of splendid scenery and places of interest, elected as the historical and new Eight Attractions of Guangzhou. The whole scenic spot consists of seven tourist spots: Pearl Tower Tourist Spot, Mo Xing Ling Tourist Spot, Ming Chun Valley Tourist Spot, San Tai Ling Tourist Spot, Luhu Lake Tourist Spot, Fei E Ling Tourist Spot and He Yi Ling Tourist Spot. Travelers can not only appreciate the natural scenes but also go grassing, take slideway, and enjoy bungee there. Downloads the map of China of Guangzhou area and carry them on the way would be much helpful along your trip.
Imposing Huangze Temple in Sichuan Province China
The Huangze Temple lies in the west bank of the West Jialing River in Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, east side of Wulong Mountain, and is separated from Guangyuan City by the river. Along your Chengdu travel, you should never miss discovering Huangze Temple along your trip.
The Huangze Temple, originally called the Wunu Temple, has another name Chuanzhu Temple. It is said that the temple was built to memorize Li Bing and Er Lang. In the Zhenguan reign of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when Wu Shihuo, Wu Zetian's father, was in charge of Lizhou County, Wu Zetian, who later became the only empress in Chinese history, was born here. Then, the Chuanzhu Temple was renamed Huangze Temple. The Huangze Temple is another must-see Chengdu tourist attractions along their travel.
The extant Huangze Temple was repaired in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It was built according to the physical features of the mountain, which is uneven and irregular. With green trees and red attics, cinnabar railings and painted pillars, it looks simple and elegant, but in fact it is out of the ordinary. The Big Buddha Building is at the highest place of the temple, while the Zetian Hall is the most low-lying. There are other structures such as the Small South Sea, the Viewing River Pavilion, the Five-Buddha Pavilion, and the Lüzu Hall, etc. Searching for Chengdu tour to discover the Huangze Temple? Visit http://www.chinatour.com/chengdu/chengdu-tours.htm.
The statues and engravings on the Cliff of the Huangze Temple are behind the temple, carved in the cliff against the river. There are more than one thousand statues, from the Southern and Northern Dynasties (386-581) to the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1644-1911) dynasties, mainly including the Central Pillar Grotto, the Big Buddha Grotto, the Shrine of Five-Buddha Pavilion, the Shrine of Zetian Palace, and so on. The Central Pillar Grotto, also called the Zhitishi Grotto, is square, and the lines between its four angles join at the central pillar. www.chinatour.com offer the complete Chengdu city guide of Chengdu, you could visit for more info.
Experience Original Miao Culture in Miao People's Valley China
Miao people are well versed in finding a good place to live, or hide, to be more precise. A track into a Miao village in the deep mountains of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern part of Hunan province has proved the conclusion positively true. Along your student tours to China of Hunnan, never miss discovering the Miao culture along your trip.
"Miao People's Valley", or "Miao Ren Gu" in Chinese, is situated some 18 kilometers from Phoenix town, but the difference between the two tourist sites is striking. While Phoenix town is easily accessible and bears obvious marks of modernization, Miao People's Valley probably wouldn't be shown on a regional map and more than one third of its inhabitants don't have a television. Carrying the China map along with your would be much helpful along your journey.
According to local villagers, their ancestors settled here to stay away from the bandits using the mountains and the rivers as cover. They never thought that what used to protect them would hinder the development of the village now. Communicating with the locals would be a much interesting experience along your China business tours of Hunnan province.
But in recent years, travel buses began to transport packs of tourists to the village. Although it is one hour's bumpy ride from Phoenix town, they consider it worthwhile to experience the unspoiled Miao ethnic culture and breathtaking natural scenery. Lose yourself in the breathtaking scenery of the Miao People's Valley, you may have an illusion of wondering along your Shangri-la tour. So fantastic!
Enchanting Sayram Lake: A Pearl Embeded in the Silk Road
Sayram Lake, renowned as a pearl of the Silk Road, is the largest alpine lake in Xinjiang. It is located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) southwest of Botala Prefecture, Urumqi. In Mongolian language, the name of the lake means 'a lake on the ridge'. In Kazak, sayram means 'blessing'. Searching for China travel destinations to fresh your soul? Visit the Sayram Lake: A Pearl Embeded in the Silk Road.
The lake is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) long from east to west, 30 kilometers wide from north to south. It covers an area of about 454 sq kilometers (about 175 sq miles), and has an elevation of 2,073 meters (6,800 feet). Lingering yourself around the Sayram Lake, you would have an illusion of enjoying the Shangri-la adventure.
Sayram Lake is a fairyland with wonderful natural scenery. The lake is like a brilliant emerald inlaid in the basin surrounded by Tianshan Mountain. The water in the lake is very pure and clear. Flocks of ducks and swans coast on its surface. Flourishing cypress and cedar trees cover the whole mountain range. Cottages scatter the foothills of the mountains. Horses and sheep call on the mountain slope. What a vivid and splendid picture! Boating on the Sayram Lake would offer you totally different experience with Yangtze River cruise.
There is a touching love story about Sayram Lake. It is said that the lake was composed of the tears of a couple of Kazak young lovers. A beautiful girl and a young man were deeply in love. One day, a cruel devil was captivated by the girl's beauty. He captured the girl and confined her to his residence. The girl took a chance to escape, but the devil found out very soon and went after the girl. She was forced to jump into an abyss. Later, her boyfriend heard of this and he was so sad that he jumped into the abyss to be reunited with his lover. Their painful tears flooded into the abyss and formed Sayram Lake. Carrying the China city guide for the Sayram Lake is highly recommended.
Get Close to Colorful Straw-painting Vase China
Straw-painting vase is a kind of manual craft with strong rustic flavor. Made of pure natural raw material, it is eco-friendly; and colored by ironing, the vase is able to maintain its original shape and color for a long time. If you are an art-lover, buying some Straw-painting vase would definitely a must-have along your China tour.
Also called wheat straw paste, straw painting is a kind of court handicraft originated from the Sui Dynasty. It is a treasure of ancient Chinese art. Similar to paper-cut and cloth painting, it is a kind of clip art which requires pure handwork to finish. To make a straw painting, you need to steep wheat straws in medicinal liquid, and then fumigate and steam the straws before splitting them and pressing them into pieces. Many businessmen particularly request their tour agents to arrange the Straw-painting vase factory along their China business travel in order to grasp some potential business opportunity.
Later scalding; through the change of temperatures, the surface of the straw pieces would have different color shades. After that, the straw pieces would undergo over 30 complicated procedures, such as cutting, pasting, sketching, scalding (again), polishing, numbering, plating, imitating, assembling, etc. before a lifelike straw painting artwork comes into being. The straw painting is a folk handicraft acclaimed by folk artists both home and abroad, an equal rival with Bian embroidery and Su embroidery in terms of fame. In addition, the materials used are environmental friendly; the straw painting, with distinct layers and vivid image, has strong visual and artistic impact. It is no wonder that so many businessmen bought some sample Straw-painting vase along their China business tour.
The straw-painting vase has delicate and ingenious workmanship; the design, an integration of classic and trendy elements, has an amazing effect in image composition, with both modern and ancient styles, pure and colorful crafts; moreover, as it is pure hand-made, and has non-replicable artistic features, the market value of a straw-painting vase far exceeds that of some common ornaments. Many travel agencies have arranged the Straw-painting vase into their China educational tours, offering students chances to get close to Chinese painting further.
Discover the Most Popular Tea in China
Of the big three beverages: Tea, coffee and cocoa – tea is consumed by the largest number of people in China. China is considered the home of tea. Chinese tea had begun to be exported to Japan and Korea before the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In the early period of the 17th century, Chinese tea was exported to Europe. The tea from China is in great abundance and variety. To tell if a pot of tea is nice you can mainly rely on the color, smell, taste and form. According to these principles China.org.cn selects 10 of the most excellent from the whole of the country. If you are a tea-lover, you should never miss tasting the following tea along your China travel.
West Lake Dragon Well Tea
The West Lake Dragon Well Tea is a variety of green tea from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It is well-known worldwide and is highly praised for its green color, long-lasting elegant fragrance and mellow taste. The tea has a recorded history of over 1,000 years, and was mentioned in the oldest tea book of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The tea is frequently offered to visiting heads of state, including the British Queen Elizabeth II and former US President Richard Nixon. Many businessmen particularly like to taste the West Lake Dragon Well Tea along their business travel to China.
Dongting Biluochun
Dongting Biluochun is a famous green tea originally grown in the Dongting Mountains of Jiangsu Province. Biluochun's English translation is Green Snail Spring due to its shape of tight spiral, resembling snail meat. It is renowned for its delicate appearance and floral aroma and fruity taste. The tea isharvested in early spring.It is said that Dongting Biluochun tea plant was first found by a nun when she went for an outing in the spring. With a history of over 1,000 years, it was offered to emperors as the tribute during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911). Never miss tasting the Dongting Biluochun when your China travel packages come to Jiangsu province.
Huangshan Maofeng
Huangshan Maofeng is a green tea grown near the famous Mount Huang, Anhui Province, which is home to many famous varieties of green tea. Huangshan Maofeng was initially produced in Qing Dynasty (1636-1911). Its English translation is Yellow Mountain Fur Peak, due to the small white hairs covering the leaves which resemble the peak of mountain. It's best harvested in the early spring. Through special processing technique, the tea is jade-green in color and has complex and refreshing aroma with a lingering aftertaste of floral sweetness. When your Yangtze River cruises come to Huangshan region, never miss tasting the Huangshan Maofeng along your trip.
Picturesque Longshuba Rice Terrace Area,Yuanyang China
New Street (Xinjie) Rice Terrace Area in the town 30 km south, 303 km from the provincial capital Kunming. Major attractions: Yunwushan City, Qingkou Folk Village, Longshujiao dam Sunset View Terrace, Sunrise Terrace soil pot Walled King, the King bamboo Walled pastoral scenery, plantain Chieftain million Ridge Hill's Mo fortifications, the East melon Linlieshi cemetery. If you are a photographing-lover, paying a visit to the Longshuba Rice Terrace Area,Yuanyang would be a must-have along your China tours of Yunnan.
Scenic Spot main content and characteristics: to view the natural landscape and cultural landscape based, Hani, Yi and Han, Dai blend of fascinating cultural diversity reflected in concrete. Now clouds, terraced fields, the study of distribution of all nationalities folk. Many students particularly like to capture the sunset scenery of the Longshuba Rice Terrace Area,Yuanyang along their educational tours in China of Yunnan.
New Street(Xinjie) Yuanyang County for the original political, economic and cultural center, the relocation of the county seat in 1991 after Xinjietian jurisdiction. 1,539 to 1,650 meters above sea level between 7045 urban population, lived in the Hani, Yi and Han and other ethnic groups, the daily maximum temperature 32 degrees, the lowest temperature -2.6 degrees, in each of two to three cold waves into the Baptist, 85% relative humidity throughout the year , in the fog period is 174 to 180 days, 1,770 hours of annual sunshine, rainfall is 1398 mm, the Shuangqi 1.5 days, 2.7 days in the hail. No China tour deals of beautiful rice terrace discovery are complete if the Longshuba Rice Terrace Area,Yuanyang are missed exploring.
As the winter second quarter, ranking Sishu J New Street(Xinjie), a white Huanghuangyunhai show. Only see the waves rolling in, the waves have not heard sound of the sea dotted with a few small verdant mountains, Shen seems to float, red Dongsheng, and colorful, the world embraced the spectacular difficult book, beauty untold. Detai Sunrise Mountain View - No sea, the sea of sunrise - No mountains. Here mountains, sea, terraces, cottage, Fengweizhu taste, and the sun-total. Now is the photograph sunrise and sunset clouds, terraces, mountain areas. Searching for China travel packages of Longshuba Rice Terrace Area,Yuanyang discovery? Visit http://www.chinatour.com/china-attractions/huaqing-hot-spring.htm.
Lincang City is a prefecture-level city,With Lancang ( Mekong ) River to the east, Lincang region is located in the Southwest of Yunnan. It borders Myanmar and includes eight counties, including the only two Wa Autonomous Counties in Yunnan --- Cangyuan and Ximeng, occupying 50% of the total population of Wa nationality in Yunnan. Many students particularly like to communicate with the beautiful girls in Lincang City along their China educational tours of Lincang City in Yunnan.
Lincang City is one of the less visited areas in Yunnan.It does not have any monuments,but offersa a gorgeous scenery.The Lincang Snow Mountain and Yongde Snow Mountain are both more than 3000 meters above the sea level.Depending the altitude,the region lies in the tropical and sub-tropical climatic zones and is blessed with a great variety of plant and animals. These would definitely be highlight along your China tour to Lincang City in Yunnan China.
Lincang City alone boasts 3700 kinds of trees and 3000 medical plants.Among other animals still prowling in the borderland jungles arethe wild elephant,tiger,clouded leopard,pangolin,red panda and lemur. The Wa minority lives along the Myanmar frontier,and the Dai in the plains,several other ethnic groups make their homes in the area. Interacting with the locals would make your last minute China travel deals of Lincang City more unforgettable and interesting!
Enjoying the reputation of "the big natural greenhouse" and cradle of the Wa people, the city of Lincang lies in the southwest of Yunnan, 50 kilometers north of the Tropic of Cancer. Lincang, so named because of the Lancang River that flows nearby, has a land area of 24, 469 square kilometers. Proud of its gorgeous landscape, lovely climate, colorful cultures and customs of multiple nationalities, Lincang has become a very hot tourist destination in recent year and a most preferred city for studying the folk customs of the Wa people. Searching for affordable China tour package of Lincang City discovery? Visit http://www.chinatour.com/ to know more. Explore Peaceful Lincang City in Yunnan China
Lincang City is a prefecture-level city,With Lancang ( Mekong ) River to the east, Lincang region is located in the Southwest of Yunnan. It borders Myanmar and includes eight counties, including the only two Wa Autonomous Counties in Yunnan --- Cangyuan and Ximeng, occupying 50% of the total population of Wa nationality in Yunnan. Many students particularly like to communicate with the beautiful girls in Lincang City along their China educational tours of Lincang City in Yunnan.
Lincang City is one of the less visited areas in Yunnan.It does not have any monuments,but offersa a gorgeous scenery.The Lincang Snow Mountain and Yongde Snow Mountain are both more than 3000 meters above the sea level.Depending the altitude,the region lies in the tropical and sub-tropical climatic zones and is blessed with a great variety of plant and animals. These would definitely be highlight along your China tour to Lincang City in Yunnan China.
Lincang City alone boasts 3700 kinds of trees and 3000 medical plants.Among other animals still prowling in the borderland jungles arethe wild elephant,tiger,clouded leopard,pangolin,red panda and lemur. The Wa minority lives along the Myanmar frontier,and the Dai in the plains,several other ethnic groups make their homes in the area. Interacting with the locals would make your last minute China travel deals of Lincang City more unforgettable and interesting!
Enjoying the reputation of "the big natural greenhouse" and cradle of the Wa people, the city of Lincang lies in the southwest of Yunnan, 50 kilometers north of the Tropic of Cancer. Lincang, so named because of the Lancang River that flows nearby, has a land area of 24, 469 square kilometers. Proud of its gorgeous landscape, lovely climate, colorful cultures and customs of multiple nationalities, Lincang has become a very hot tourist destination in recent year and a most preferred city for studying the folk customs of the Wa people. Searching for affordable China tour package of Lincang City discovery? Visit http://www.chinatour.com/ to know more. l Lincang City in Yunnan China
Lincang City is a prefecture-level city,With Lancang ( Mekong ) River to the east, Lincang region is located in the Southwest of Yunnan. It borders Myanmar and includes eight counties, including the only two Wa Autonomous Counties in Yunnan --- Cangyuan and Ximeng, occupying 50% of the total population of Wa nationality in Yunnan. Many students particularly like to communicate with the beautiful girls in Lincang City along their China educational tours of Lincang City in Yunnan.
Lincang City is one of the less visited areas in Yunnan.It does not have any monuments,but offersa a gorgeous scenery.The Lincang Snow Mountain and Yongde Snow Mountain are both more than 3000 meters above the sea level.Depending the altitude,the region lies in the tropical and sub-tropical climatic zones and is blessed with a great variety of plant and animals. These would definitely be highlight along your China tour to Lincang City in Yunnan China.
Lincang City alone boasts 3700 kinds of trees and 3000 medical plants.Among other animals still prowling in the borderland jungles arethe wild elephant,tiger,clouded leopard,pangolin,red panda and lemur. The Wa minority lives along the Myanmar frontier,and the Dai in the plains,several other ethnic groups make their homes in the area. Interacting with the locals would make your last minute China travel deals of Lincang City more unforgettable and interesting!
Enjoying the reputation of "the big natural greenhouse" and cradle of the Wa people, the city of Lincang lies in the southwest of Yunnan, 50 kilometers north of the Tropic of Cancer. Lincang, so named because of the Lancang River that flows nearby, has a land area of 24, 469 square kilometers. Proud of its gorgeous landscape, lovely climate, colorful cultures and customs of multiple nationalities, Lincang has become a very hot tourist destination in recent year and a most preferred city for studying the folk customs of the Wa people. Searching for affordable China tour package of Lincang City discovery? Visit http://www.chinatour.com/ to know more.
Panoramic Chuxiong Yunnan Travel Guide
Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture is named after the Yi ethnic minority that live in the area. The Yi are one of the largest ethnic minorities in China, and are spread throughout the southwest. If you are just planning to visit Chuxiong along your China tour, this article would be much helpful for you.
Chuxiong is famous for "Yuanmon Man", th fossils of lama ancient ape of Lufeng about 80 million years ago. It is the well- known as one of the birthplace of humanity and a treasure house of ancient living things' fossils. Other scenic spots like Wuding Lion Mountain and Colorful Yuanmou Earth Forest are attractive too. Carrying the China map of Chuxiong along your trip is highly recommended.
The main scene of Lufeng is the dinosaur fossil, a provincial class scenic spot area and the Ramapithecus fossil. The scenic area is made up of the dinosaur hill, the relic of the Ramapithecus fossil at Shihuiba and Wutai Mountain, with an area of 50 square kilometers. Since 1938, dinosaur fossils have been found constantly in Lufeng. 24 categories 33 species and hundred of complete dinosaur fossils have been unearthed. The discovery site of the skull, teeth fossils of many Ramapithecus is listed as a " major cultural relics reserve unit " by the State Council. Four dinosaur fossils are exhibited in Lufeng Dinosaur Museum. The largest is more than nine meters long and the shortest is 2.4 meters long. Never miss the highlight of Chuxiong along your educational tours in China.
Photos and diagrams of dinosaur fossils from all over of the world are also exhibited. There are also the halls of ancient living beings, the hall of bronze ware. earthenware, and the hall of ancient pithecanthropus. At Shihuiba is the pagoda of the sun, the moon, the star. An 11.5 meters high and the glass fiber reinforced plastic sculpture of the ancient pithecanthropus is established. The Dinosaur fossil of Lufeng was once sent to Japan for exhibition. This may just show us where the affordable China tour package of Chuxiong is so popular among travelers.
Explore Less Known Ethnic Groups in China
Ewenki People
When Christmas comes, Santa Claus would fly around the world in a sleigh pulled by magical flying reindeer. In the depths of the primeval forest in northeast China, reindeer abound, as does a semi-nomadic tribe that is regarded as the last tribe of hunters – the Ewenki people. If you want to discover ethnic groups in China along your China tours, Ewenki People should never be missed.
Since they have to hunt and feed the reindeer, they have no fixed houses. They use pine wood to pitch a tent, called Cuoluozi, as they move around in the forests. According to their tradition, people in the same clan cannot get married and they have to choose someone from other clans or tribes. When people decide to tie the knot, the girl has to flee to the boy’s Cuoluozi; the old women will braid her hair into two pigtails, as opposed to the eight pigtails before they are married. Many China tour agents have arranged different itineraries to discover Ewenki People.
The Khmus
Khmus people are still an ethnic minority that hasn’t been officially named. They mainly live along the borderline between China and Laos. Isolated by the atrocious conditions, the people maintain their way of life as in the clan society. Discovering the culture of te Khmus would make your China travel deals more fruitful.
When the boy and girl decide to get married, the girl will take the boy to her home. If her parents treat the boy with hospitality, it means he is accepted, but if they ask the boy, ‘What are you doing here?’ the romantic relationship ends. Why not extend your affordable China tour package to the border area and discover the Khmus in depth?
Get Close to Chengdu Tea Culture China
Visitors to Chengdu will find there are a lot of teahouses scattered throughout the city. Drinking tea has become quintessential part of Chengdu people's daily life. Because of this, Chengdu has formed a special tea culture all its own which attracts visitors from across China, and around the globe. Your China vacation packages of Chengdu would be incomplete if the tea culture in Chengdu is missed discovering along your trip.
For Chengdu locals, it is very important to have the proper atmosphere to enjoy their tea. For most people, the perfect place would be a teahouse. The most popular location for teahouses in Chengdu is along the south bridge of Dujiang Weir, where the scenery is wonderful and the weather is pleasant. Tea culture has made great contribution to China tours of Chengdu in some ways because it attracts many tourist to discover it here.
There is a kind of teapot that is unique to Chengdu. It is made of brass and has a spout that is approximately three feet long. The people in the teahouses that can use this style of teapot are called "Tea Doctors". The use of these teapots is an art in itself. The Tea Doctors spin the teapots and it resembles traditional martial arts. Because of the long spouts, the tea can be shot a very long distance. The Tea Doctors can shoot the tea from across the room into a small teacup without spilling a drop. Visitors, who have the opportunity to witness this performance of pouring tea, will never forget it. This is something unique to Chengdu. The Tea Doctors besides being experts in the art of tea are also very familiar with the local culture and area and are the perfect source to find out about Chengdu's local customs, and places to visit. Many China vacation deals have stretched their itinerary to Chengdu, offering travelers chances to discover tea culture there freely.
The design and layout of the teahouses vary according to the owner's tastes. Some teahouse owners prefer a simple and rustic teahouse, while others design eahouses in an opulent style that even the ancient emperors of China would be comfortable in. No matter the style, the tea in each one is of the highest quality. Each Chengdu local has his or her favorite teahouses to visit, ones that they feel most comfortable in. Besides tea, teahouses in Chengdu also have various local snacks or entire meals on the menu. Since many of Chengdu's locals spend many hours in the teahouses, food is a necessity. Why not take a China tour of Chengdu and discover it tea culture in depth?
Explore Thangka Center in Shangri-la Protects Tibetan Culture
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Dakpa Kelden is discussing Thangka painting skills with his students in his office in a two-story Tibetan-style building. The middle-aged Tibetan man is a principal founder of the Thangka Center and the Shangri-la Association of Cultural Preservation in Shangri-la county, Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan province. If you want to touch Tibetan culture along your China vacation packages of Yunnan area, a visit to Thangka Center in Shangri-la has much to offer.
Dakpa Kelden (R2), founder of the Thangka Center, talks to his students in the Thangka Center in Shangri-la county, Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province. [Xinhuanet/Yang Lina] Established in 2006, the non-governmental and non-profit association is dedicated to protecting and inheriting the ethnic Tibetan culture. Discovering Tibetan culture would make your last minute China travel deals of Yunnan more fruitful and enjoyable.
Dakpa Kelden used to be a monk when young and once studied tourism management in Austria. He can speak fluent Tibetan, Han, English and Hindu languages. He said that the Thangka painting skill has to be inherited and passed down to future generations because it is an important part of the Tibetan culture; otherwise the young Tibetans will gradually forget their own ethnic culture. Communicating with the locals would make your China travel more unforgettable.
A Tibetan student paints Thangka in a classroom in the Thangka Center in Shangri-la county, Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan province. [Xinhuanet/Yang Lina] The center, which started with three students at the very beginning, currently has about 20 students, all of whom are Tibetans from Tibet and Tibetan-inhabited areas in other parts of China. Aged 10-25, the students not only study Thangka painting skills, but also learn Tibetan, Han and English languages, and most importantly, the Tibetan culture. This may just show us why so many China tour agents have stretched their itinerary to the Thangka Center in Shangri-la.
Discover Yunnan's Kuoshi Festival: a Boisterous Celebration of Life
Lisu people warmly welcomed guests on December 22nd during the 2011 Nujiang Kuoshi Cultural Tourism Festival. In Yunnan province, renowned for its perpetual spring-like climate, the Lisu people in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture are celebrating their most important festival—the Kuoshi Festival. When you are enjoying your China tour packages of Yunnan, if you are lucky enough, you may see the Yunnan's Kuoshi Festival: a joyful celebration of life.
In Lisu language, "Kuo" means "year and "Shi" means "new." For the Lisu, the festival is equivalent to the Spring Festival celebrated by China's majority Han population. Officially, the festival lasted for three days from Dec. 20-24, but the festivities in Nujiang can last for an entire month. Many students particularly like to join in the celebrations of this festival when their educational tours in China come to Yunnan region.
Fugong County, part of the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, has one of the largest concentrations of Lisu people. Early in the morning on the first day of the festival, local Fugong County residents crossed abridge to a nearby river beach in traditional ethnic costumes. By daybreak, the beach was filled with revelers. The county staged a series of competitions and ceremonies for festival-goers, including bamboo-pole climbing and crossbow shooting. If you are a culture-lover, discovering the Yunnan's Kuoshi Festival: a joyful celebration of life would be a must-have along your China tours of Yunnan region.
In perhaps the most enchanting game of the festival, young couples buried themselves together in the beach sand. In this long-standing tradition among the Fugong people, couples first dig a pit in the sand, then friends place them into the pit and "bury" them. The ritual represents the couple's love and devotion to each other and the wish for a long and healthy life, and staying together even in death. At the festival, locals brewed rice wine on the sand. To make the wine, they built campfires and set iron kettles on top of the fire. Then they pounded corn, sorghum, buckwheat or barnyard millet into pieces and steamed them. After the wine is boiled, they used a piece of gauze to filter the wine. When they drink, they prefer two people to share the wine out of one bowl, which is called "heart-to-heart" toasting. This is deemed the highest honor offered by the Lisu people to drink wine, with faces touching faces, and even mouths neighboring mouths. It shows the intimate kinship between hosts and guests. Celebrating the festival with the locals would make your China travel deals of Yunnan more enjoyable.
Must-do Things During Chinese Spring Festival
The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important festival for people in China and other neighboring countries, comparable to Christmas in the West. Family members try every means to get together before the Spring Festival Eve for the celebrations. The festival starts on the first day of the first lunar month – often one month later than the start of the year on the Gregorian calendar – and ends with Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Here ‘s the list of 10 most popular activities still prevalent today for the Chinese people to do during the Spring Festival. If your China tours just fall onto Chinese spring festival, the following things should never be missed.
1. Laba porridge
On the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, many families make laba porridge, a delicious porridge made with glutinous rice, millet, seeds of Job's tears, jujube berries, lotus seeds, beans, longan and gingko. Boiling Laba porridge is one way people celebrate the harvest and show appreciation by sacrificing to the ancestors and heaven and earth. To any gourmets, eating the Laba porridge would be a must-do along their China vacation packages of Spring Festival discovery.
2. Cleaning and decoration
Before the Lunar New Year comes, it is a tradition for every Chinese family to thoroughly cleanse the house as well as their clothes, bedclothes and all their utensils in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. People also get debts paid or repaid, hair cut and new clothes sewn or purchased as preparation. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of good fortune, happiness, wealth and longevity. Watching the locals cleaning and decoration would be another highlight along your China travel deals enjoying.
3. Eating Jiaozi
People in northern China will eat jiaozi, or dumplings, for supper on the Spring Festival Eve, as "jiaozi" is homophonous to the word phrase “to bid farewell to the old and usher in the new.” Also, the shape of the dumpling resembles gold ingot from ancient China. So people eat them and wish for money and treasures. Meanwhile, people in southern China eat niangao (New Year cake made of glutinous rice flour) on this occasion, because as a homophone, niangao means "higher and higher, one year after another." No affordable China tour package of Chinese spring festival discovery are complete if eating Jiaozi is missed.
Explore the Beauty of Lake Dianchi in Yunnan China
Lake Dianchi sits right in the heart of Yunnan, and its shores fringe Kunming, the provincial capital. There was a time when you threw a pebble into the lake and it would not sink. Dianchi Lake was so polluted it was choked up and dying. But now, the lake is starting to breathe again. Our Yunnan bureau's Li Yingqing and Guo Anfei track its resurrection. No China vacation packages to Yunnan are well-designed if the breathtaking Lake Dianchi is missed in their schedule.
It sits like a sparkling emerald on the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau in southwestern China, close to Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring, the capital of the province South of the Colored Clouds. The water is land-locked, but it is set within a land of milk and honey, where flowers bloom year-round and botanical diversity has attracted collectors from all over the world since the 19th century. Many China tour agents have stretched their Yunnan itinerary to the mesmerizing Dianchi Lake in order to attract travelers.
There is sunshine all year, and the high altitude of almost 2,000 meters above sea level means the lake is relentlessly exposed to bright sunshine. And that's where part of the problem lies. Many parents particularly booked the China educational tours of Dianchi lake discovery to their children in order to develop their great sense of environment-protection.
The Dianchi we see now is the result of years of dedication and commitment to cleaning up and maintenance of wetland filters. The water is cleaner, the seagulls are back, and the fishermen are putting their lines in again. But that was only a recent improvement after years of disasters. Carrying the related Shangri-la tour along your travel to Dianchi lake would be much helpful to find ways on the trip.
Explore Maxrap in Xinjiang Uygur China
There is a great variety of different folk dances existing among the Uygur people in Kumul, all of which have a long history and unique characters. The obvious characters can help us easily tell the Kumul dances from other kinds of dances in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. To introduce the folk dances among Uygur people in Kumul, we should first talk about the Mashrap, which is popular among the common Uygur people living in the vast farming and stockbreeding areas. Along your China tour to Xinjiang area, if you are lucky enough, you may see the Maxrap in Xinjiang Uygur.
Max is the only form of a kind of entertaining activity of Uygur people. Mashrap, meaning evening party in Uygur language, is the main form to show the Maqam, folk songs, dances, folk art forms, dramas, acrobatics, games and oratures of Uygur people. It is also a very important way for common people to inherit, pass on and develop the moral power, folk customs, rituals, cultures arts and so on. Mashrap plays an important role in maintaining the Uygur traditions and folk customs. For thousands of years, Uygur people in Kumul perform all kinds of folk arts on the unique Mashrap, so that these art forms can be passed on generation by generation. Watching the locals playing Maxrap in Xinjiang Uygur would be a much interesting experience along your China vacation packages of Xinjiang region.
Maxrap is the name of a dancing and entertaining activity form, meaning the mass entertainment event that a lot of people take part in to entertain themselves. The main part of it is dancing. Maxrap can be classified according to different criteria. One classification is sing and dancing Maxrap, the game Maxirap and the rap Maxrap. Another classification is the parlor Maxrap, the greeting Maxrap and the harvest Maxrap. The most common one is the harvest Maxrap. All parts of Kumul have their own Maxrap with similar features and a similar style. However, the most typical one is the Doulan people. The Doulan Maxrap is bold, intense and unres Train ed. In the Doulan Maxrap, everyone will seize the opportunity to enjoy the dancing. Playing games is an essential part of Doulan Maxrap, the most commonly-seen of which is Grabbing Belt. Usually, it need two person to lay this Grabbing Belt. One person should try to whip the other one with the belt; however, the other one should try to grab the belt while avoiding the whip. The one who has the belt in his/her hands has the right to choose his/her partner in the game. Many students show their great interest to the Maxrap in Xinjiang Uygur when their educational tours in China come to Xinjiang region.
People can hold the Maxrap in the courtyard, or under the grape trellis, or in the orchard, or just on the grassland. The number of people taking part in it can range from ten or twenty, to several hundred. Even more than a thousand people are ok. No matter how many people are there, everyone takes the Maxrap as a big event. Decided by the host and the organizers, they can hold the Maxrap either during the day or in the evening. At the appointed time, people come to the Maxrap, greet each other, shake hands with each other and take seats according to the order. Everyone immersed in the happy and harmonious atmosphere. Why not extend your China business tours to Xinjiang region and watch the locals playing Maxrap in Uygur as a way of get closing to Xinjiang folk culture? That sounds quite interesting.
Witness the Beauty of Yangzhou in March
As Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai famously wrote, "Go to Yangzhou in March, in the mist of the flowers of spring". During the time of Li Bai, mention of Yangzhou evoked images of prosperity and romance. Today, much of the city's heritage is still alive within its narrow lanes and well preserved family gardens situated in the old town area. If your China travel service designed by your tour agents just fall into March, Yangzhou would be a must-visit along your trip.
Hundreds of cobbled stone lanes sprawl outwards from the center of Yangzhou's seven square kilometer old town area like tree roots; heading in different directions, overlapping with one another, linking together a number of historical residences along the way. The largest and most visited of these lanes is Guandong Street. It is no wonder that so many China educational tours have arranged the Yangzhou stop along their itinerary, offering students chances to touch spring of China.
Over 1000 meters in length, the street was once a business hub where people would come to buy their daily supplies, including food and small furniture. Thankfully, this tradition is still alive today, as tourists can find almost every kind of local specialty food and handicraft on offer here. Many China travel agencies have arranged the Yangzhou tours launched in March for travelers.
Small, homey eateries selling steamed buns, sticky rice balls and bean curd snacks open their doors to neighbors and friends living nearby while also welcoming tourists at the same time. A light meal usually costs about ten to twenty yuan; a price as friendly as the places themselves. Less in number but equally popular are the workshops run by generations of craftsmen which appear around every corner of the street. Yangzhou was a cradle of artists in times past; workshops dedicated to embroidery, paper cutting and lacquer work once flourished here. Carrying the related China maps of Yangzhou area proves quite helpful for you.
Explore History of Tainzhu Mountain China
Tainzhu Mountain is located on the north side of Yangtze River and in the region of Qianshan, hence it used to be called Mountain of Qian as well. The main peak of Tainzhu Mountain is 1489.8 meters high and looks like a giant column touching the heaven and earth. This peak is also quite famous as Peak of Tianzhu. If you want to get a complete idea about Tainzhu Mountain, learning its history would be a must-do along your China travel.
In 106, Emperor Liu Che (Emperor Wudi) of Han Dynasty climbed up to Tianzhu Mountain and marveled at the heavenly scenery of Mount Tianzhu, and then exclusively called it Nan Yue(Southern Holy Mountain. He held the large-scale ritual and show sacrifice to this mountain. Moreover, during the sacrifice and ceremony, the people following Emperor Wudi called out” Long Live! Long Live!” which in Chinese was Wan Sui, so Tianzhu Mountain was named Wansui Mountain too. It is no wonder that so many businessmen visited the Tainzhu Mountain along their China business tour to Anhui province to burn some incense to pray for good luck in the future.
This Mountain since then also highly titled The First Mountain of Jiangnan Region. Also, in the period of Spring and Autumn, it belonged to the enfeoffment of Wan Kingdom, hence it was called Mountain of Wan as well, and the surrounding water was called Water of Wan. This is the origin of abbreviation of Anhui province. In this way, Tianzhu Mountain is also the Origin of Anhui Province.Since Han Dynasty, it was sacrificed by emperors in different dynasties till it was renamed Mountain Hengshan byEmperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty. From then on, Tianzhu Mountain was ranked to be one of Five Zhenshan of Ancient China. This may show us the reason why so many people prefer to take a short stop at Tainzhu Mountain when their Yangtze River cruise come to Anhui region.
Tianzhu Mountain was highly respected by people around the country. In Tang and Song Dynasties, Taoists and Buddhists both considered to be the blessing land and built up lots of temples on it. Seng Can, Sanzu of Zen branch of Buddhism, cultivated to be an immortal over here. Today’s building complex of Sanzu Temple is also magnificent and becomes the National Key Temples. Tianzhu Mountain surely links to Buddhism and Taoism. It was the 14th Dongtian and the 57th Fudi. The second and third Masters of Zen Branch after Master Dharma. Why not extend your last minute deals for China travel of Anhui province to the Tainzhu Mountain?
Sublime Blue Moon Valley (Shika Snow Mountain) in Shangri-la China
Blue Moon Valley scenic area, also called Shika Snow Mountain area, is located in the southwestern Shangri-La (Zhongdian), about 7km away from Shangril-La county with about 15 min driving. Cable in this attraction has began to serve since 2006. With a 4,190-meter-long, this cable is the longest one in Yunnan Province. People can get to the peak (4,000 meters above the sea level) from the foot of the mountain (3,270 meters above the sea level). When standing on the peak, people can have a view of Meili Snow Mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, as well as snow mountains in Daocheng, Sichuan. Along your travel to Shangri-la of Shangri-la, you should never miss discovering the sublime Blue Moon Valley (Shika Snow Mountain) there.
In this area, with the diverse combination of multi-elementary features, including snow peaks, forests, flowers, gorges, meadows, lakes and caves, it is highly appreciated for its sightseeing availability. Within the entire landscape, it has different landscape categories, namely the followings, which should never be missed in your affordable China tour package to Shangri-la.
► Sum and the Moon Platform Landscape Area,
► Rhododendrons Landscape Area
► Migratory Birds Appreciation Area
► Lingxi Lake Landscape Area
► Ancient Gold Mine Landscape Area
► Folklore Village Landscape Area
► Death Valley Landscape Area
♦ Legend of Shika Snow Mountain
Shika is a Tibetan word (Shangri-la dialect) meaning a mountain abounding in deer. It is said when Sakyamuni began to preach Buddhism in the Deer Park, two deer listened to him attentively in knee-down posture. Therefore, deer stands for common people and is regarded as mascots in Tibetan Buddhism. It is the symbol of longevity and strict adherence to dharma. No China vacation packages to the Blue Moon Valley (Shika Snow Mountain) are complete if the above sites are missed in their schedule.
In history, this lofty mountain stood between two important cities of Shengchuan Prefecture of Tubo Kingdom: Dukezong in the east and Tacheng in the west. Therefore, the mountain was the pass connecting Tubo and Nanzhao Kingdom in Dali. It was the first Tibetan sacred mountain along the Ancient Tea and Horse Road and enjoyed high prestige among Buddhist pilgrims in West Yunnan. If you want to escape the bustling life of you business, take a short stop at the Blue Moon Valley (Shika Snow Mountain) would make your business travel to China more interesting and enjoyable.
Mysterious Yuzhu Peak in Tibet China
Yuzhu Peak, with the altitude of 6,178 meters, is located in the east part of Kunlun Mountain. Yuzhu Peak is at the common boundary of Golmud and Yushu in Qinghai Province. To any trekking-loves, conquering the Yuzhu Peak would definitely the most exciting thing along their China tour packages of Tibet.
Yuzhu Peak is covered by snow all year round and there are also many glaciers. Around the main peak are about 20 snow mountains with the altitude above 5400 meters. To its north is Xi Da Tan with the altitude of 4,300 meters, and most glaciers are hanging glaciers. Get over Kunlun Mountain and get to the south side of Yuzhu Peak, where there are different landforms. Even some businessmen particularly request their tour agents to arrange the impressive Yuzhu Peak in their China business tour in order to enrich their travel time.
The 10-meter end of glacier is an ideal place for training mountaineering. The road conditions on the northern side are relatively challenging, and all three glaciers on the slope lead to the summit, requiring good mountaineering skills. All these traits make Peak Yuzhu an optimal destination for both professional and amateur mountaineers. Many China travel agencies have arranged different kinds of tours to discover Yuzhu Peak upon the needs of hiking-addict travelers.
The climate of Yuzhu Peak area belongs to the continental climate. The yearly average temperature is five below zero, and the lowest temperature could be thirty below zero. Due to its geographic location, the east Kunlun Mountain becomes the dividing line of the different climates between the south and the north of western China, and the location also causes the complexity of the climate of Yuzhu Peak. The route of the south slope of the peak is mainly snow slope. Base Camp is located at the altitude of 5040 meters, and Camp One is at the altitude of 5600 meters. Watching the impressive Yuzhu Peak on the rain would be a much interesting experience along your China tour of Tibet.
The Must-see Natural Reserves in Tibet China
Over 5,000 senior plants, 39 of which have been listed as wild plants under state key protection, grow in Tibet. The region also boasts 798 species of vertebrates and 2,305 species of insects. Some 125 animals in Tibet have been listed as rare species under top government protection. When you are just planning to enjoy the China vacation packages of Tibet, the following natural reserve should never be missed.
They include Tibetan antelope, yak, snow chicken and black-neck crane. Tibet, which occupies one eighth of China's total area, has 6,400 kinds of plants including 40 kinds of rare species. It has over 1,000 sorts of herbal medicine, about one third of the national total. No last minute deals for China travel of Tibet natural scenery discovery are complete if the above sites are missed.
Tibetan authorities also took steps to probe fauna and flora resources and strengthen co-operation with foreign countries. Comprehensive probe has been jointly conducted by teams made up of foreign and Chinese scientists on the species, distribution and life pattern of the wild animals in Qiangtang Nature Reserve of north Tibet. The American High Mountain Research Institute has a share in launching the Mount Qomolangma Nature Reserve; it signed an agreement for 12-year co-operation and invested tens of thousands of dollars in technical personnel training and establishment of development foundations. Japanese environmental protection research institutions have also expressed desire to co-operate. Many photographing-lovers particularly request their China tour agents to arrange these natural reserve to their itinerary in order to capture good point.
The following articles will show you around the eighteen nature reserves of Tibet Autonomous Region. The nature reserves tell you their stories, and we believe the rare animals and trees, peculiar wonders and ancient relics must amaze you. Carrying the related China map of Tibet would be much helpful to find these natural reserve.
Explore Youxi Rice Terrace in China Further
The mercury is soaring when the hot summer weather heats up the whole province, there are still some places that remain to be cool and attractive. One of those is Youxi Joint Terraces, an ideal destination to experience cool and wonderful nature. If you are a photographing-lover, a visit to Youxi rice terraces should be a must-have along your last minute China travel deals.
Youxi County, crowned as the 'Pearl in Central Fujian' by Chinese National Geography Magazine, is located in central Sanming. It is famous as the birthplace of Zhu Xi (also known as Zhuzi, a famous philosopher, commentator and educator in Southern Song Dynasty. Knowing its time-honored history would be much helpful to understand something along your China travel to Youxi county.
Other than the noted cultural figure, Youxi is also known for its scenic terraces, the Youxi Joint Terraces, which is one of the five most charming terraces in China. Youxi Joint Terraces, as the name indicates, involves terraced fields of 8 natural villages in YouxiCounty. They are LianheVillage, LiandongVillage, LiannanVillage, LianxiVillage, DongbianVillage, YunshanVillage, XiayunVillage and LianyunVillage. The joint terraces stretch about 1,667 acres. The highest point reaches nearly 1,000 metres, and the lowest point is more than 500 metres, with a perpendicular throw of over 400 metres. If you want to discover the pastoral landscape of China in your China tour packages, the Youxi Rice Terrace has much to offer to you.
The people living there have been toiled in the fields for generations. Standing on the hillside, you can see acres of terraced fields where farmers are toiling, with smoke curling up from kitchen chimneys and gentle breeze soothing you. It's like a fairyland that tourists always forget to leave! This is also the reason why so many travelers take a affordable China tour package to Youxi Rice Terrace despite of fatigue and long journey.
The terraces are like the nature's palette. In spring, the fields are irrigated with water. In summer, the view of the paddy field is amazing. The landscape is even wonderful in autumn, when the golden paddy field shines in the sun. In winter, tourists may be lucky to witness the wonderful sea of clouds after torrential rains. It's suitable for photo shooting all year round, but the months of March, April, May, August, September and December are the best time.Yunshan Village and Lianyun Village are the best places to shoot the natural wonderland. Many tourist particularly request their China tour operator to arrange the Youxi Rice Terrace along their trip.
Dining and local specialties:
Dried Rice Noodle with Loach, Youxi Duck, Sliced Noodle and Plain Noodle Soup are the local dishes and snacks. Peanut, green bamboo shoot, black tea, tea seed oil, Kumquat Vinegar, Shuangli Roasted Duck, Chopstick Noodles and Youxi Herb-root soup are famous local specialties. To any gourmets, tasting the above specialties should be a must-have along their affordable China tours to Youxi County.
How to get there:
Self-driving: Drive along Shenhai Expressway, turn left to Fuyin Expressway in Qingkou Town, get out at Youxi Exit and drive to the destination. For ticket booking or car rental, please call Apple Travel at (86-592)-5074168. Carrying the related the China map of Youxi County would be much helpful for finding ways along your trip.
Must-see Boundless Grassland in China
China has about 400 million hectares of natural grasslands, the second-largest in the world in terms of area, making up about a third of China’s total land area, the second-largest in the world in terms of area, extending from northeast China to Southwest China: Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Gannan, Sichuan, Qinghai and Tibet. If you want to get closer to the boundless grassland along your China tours, the following recommended grassland should never be missed.
But climate change, overgrazing and rural development have inflicted damage to 90 percent of these grasslands. In May, 2011, the Chinese government announced to sponsored a subsidy and reward program for the country’s herdsmen over the coming years in order to reverse and prevent the damage that has been caused to China’s grasslands. Now I have listed the top 10 most beautiful grasslands below with the sincere hope that all of them will grow healthy with us for a better world. Indulging yourself in the broad grassland would never fail to be an terrific experience along your China travel.
1.Narat Grasslands Yili Xinjiang
Narat Grassland is part of Yili Grassland (or Ili Grassland ) in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Xinjiang China. Narat Grassland is about 180km long from east to west along the river bed sandwiched by the mountains of Tianshan in three sides. The famous Ili River zigzags through Ili Valley. Ili River is formed by its principal three tributaries - Kashi, Kunes, and Tekes. Kunes River is the upper reaches of Ili River, passing through the river bed of Narat Grassland. Along your Silk Road tours,you may have chances to see the Narat Grasslands Yili Xinjiang.
Narat Grassland is a typical river bed grassland and the alpine meadows. Narat Grassland is located at the sea-level of 1800 meters. It is inhabitated by Kazakh minority (but ironically, here in Narat Grassland, we, Han people are the minority. Watching flocks of sheep eating grass on the grassland under the blue sky would be the best memory of your affordable China tour package to Xinjiang.
2.Bayinbuluke Grasslands Xinjiang
Bayinbuluke Grassland is located in the middle of Tianshan Mountains, all year round surrounded by snow caped mountains on its four sides, in central Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on the sea level of 2500 meters with an area of 22,000 square km, the second largest grassland, just after Ordos Grassland. Many students particularly like to visit Bayinbuluke Grasslands along their China educational tours to Xinjiang region.
Bayinbuluke literally means “rich with springs” in Monglian language. Bayinbuluke Grassland is typical of Grass meadow steppe, one of the most important herding and grazing area. The abundant rainfall,coupled by snow melting water, form zigzaging streams and lakes, making it one of the fast grass meadow growing place in Xinjiang. It is actually a huge swamp made up of many small connectedlakes, also a place for Nature Reserve for the swan in China. Why not request your China tour operator to arrange the Bayinbuluke Grasslands Xinjiang into your itinerary?
Must-do Things in Shanghai China Travel
Shanghai bristles with buildings, but the city doesn't boast must-see sights like New York or Rome. The joys of Shanghai, instead, are on the street level, where everyday life unfolds with bewildering variety. An elderly woman in pajamas will be chopping vegetables on the stoop of her lane house, while a Prada-clad beauty will sashay past on her way to a nearby art gallery. So sharpen your elbows, pick up a pair of chopsticks and dig in. Shanghai, the metropolitan in China, has contributed greatly to China tourism. When you are enjoying your Shanghai trip, never miss the following must-dos.
1. Shanghai Maglev Train
The magnetic-levitation train ride from the international airport to the city is the perfect metaphor for Shanghai. The train reaches speeds of 430 km/hr (267 miles/hr), and the trip takes less than eight minutes. You'll be feeling a bit whiplashed, but that sense of disorientation hints at the fast-paced city that lies ahead. As of now, the Maglev doesn't extend to the rest of the Shanghai — the train line was built mostly as a prestige project to impress visitors, not to service locals — so the airport run is the one place you can enjoy the ride. Single-ride tickets cost 50 yuan. No China vacation packages to Shanghai is complete if taking the Shanghai Maglev Train is missed. That would be an terrific experience to you.
2. Fuxing Park
Unlike many Chinese cities that appear to have forgotten that people occasionally like to perambulate, Shanghai is made for walking. Start your own walk in Fuxing Park smack-dab in the colonial-era French Concession, with its shady sycamore trees and stuccoed villas. In the park, you'll find grannies in pajamas belting out Chinese opera, and Mao-suited men taking their caged birds for a stroll. Around the corner at 7 Xiangshan Road is the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, modern China's founding father. His house, which contains period furniture and books, reminds you of what Shanghai felt like during its first heyday. Afterward, wander the nearby lanes — past elegant mansions now subdivided into several families' homes, complete with outdoor wok stations and billows of hanging laundry — to get a sense of street-level Shanghai today. Touching the local life of Shanghai people would be an interesting experience along your China tour deals of Shanghai.
3. Shanghai Museum
Given its much-vaunted 5,000 years of history, China's museums are, in general, a sorry lot. Exhibits are badly lighted, the English information often a jumble of incomprehensible nouns. (In truth, some of China's finest artwork was carted off by the departing Nationalists in 1949, when they quit the mainland for Taiwan. But that still doesn't excuse the pathetic state in which most of the country's national treasures are displayed.) The Shanghai Museum, located on People's Square, is a welcome antidote to all that's dark and dingy. You don't — and shouldn't — try to digest it all in one go. My suggestion: Pick one section, whether it's calligraphy or jades or ceramics, and dig in. Personally, I find the bronzes strangely fascinating; in fact, the shape of the museum itself mimics that of an ancient bronze cauldron. It is no wonder that so many China travel agents have arranged the Shanghai Museum in their itinerary.
4. Din Tai Fung
The soup dumpling, or xiaolong bao, is to Shanghai what the chicken wing is to Buffalo. A delicate dumpling skin is wrapped around a juicy pork filling (or, in luxe versions, crab), and like magic, the dumpling also contains a shot of tasty broth. But be warned: All those famous local places listed in guidebooks promising to delight you with an authentic recipe? They're underwhelming. The sad fact is that the very best xiaolong bao in Shanghai are to be found in a sterile mall built by a Hong Kong developer. It gets worse. These dumplings come courtesy of a Taiwanese restaurant chain called Din Tai Fung No matter. Tell your friends you partook of Shanghai's greatest culinary joy. You don't have to mention the whole Taiwanese-made-in-a-mall aspect of the tale. Why not extend your Yangtze River cruises of Shanghai part to the Din Tai Fung as other travelers did?
5. Dongtai Road
There's a store on Dongtai Road, a chockablock stretch of antiques and curio shops off Xizang Road, that proudly displays a milk-bottle delivery box from the 1920s. I once tried to buy it from the couple who owns the shop. The husband laughed. The wife told me that several museum curators had already offered big money, but she wasn't selling. Amongst all of Dongtai Road's tourist tat — and, trust me, there is plenty of it — are treasures. Some, like the milk box, aren't for sale. But plenty else is, including lovely art-deco pieces and lots of Cultural Revolution memorabilia. About halfway up the street is my favorite book-dealer. Collectors of tiny antique metal teapots are also in luck — there's an entire store devoted to that esoteric object. Just east of Dongtai Road is a plant-and-animal market, where you can pick up a championship cricket for the next time you need an insect to enter in a prizefight. Doesn't everybody? If you want to discover a complete Shanghai, Dongtai Road is definitely a must-have along your China vacation deals of Shanghai.
Explore Folk Renqiu Bass Drum in China
Renqiu Bass Drum of Cangzhou City originated from the period of Emperor Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1573—1620), more that 400 years from now. Renqiu Bass Drum was originally inspired to take form by the story “Liang Hongyu fight against Jin soldiers by beating a bass drum”, which was used to resist invaders and boost morale. At present, striking bass drums has become the most traditional way of celebration for Renqiu natives to express their happiness during festivals and holidays of after harvest. If your are just planning to visit Cangzhou area in Hebei province, then Renqiu Bass Drum discovery should never be missed along your China tours of Hebei.
Renqiu Bass Drum is different from drums in other regions, whose obvious features are: first, it’s bulky with general diameter about 2 meters exquisitely made of a whole piece of yellow ox skin, which needs about 1600 nails to fix it and 8 to 10 persons to beat it at the same time. Second, the drum is heavy and the sound strong. If your China vacation packages of Cangzhou just fall into Spring Festival, you will see the boisterous occasion of playing Renqiu Bass Drum.
When beating the bass drum, it sounds like the roars of a lion and feels like the gallop of thousands of horses together. And the third is harmoniously arranged. When the bass drum is ready in a state, accompanied by some traditional folk instruments of music, such as the cymbals, small cymbals and Dangdang songs etc., it will set off by contrast the thunder-like rhythm, strong feeling, unrestrained interest and integrative beauty of the bass drum. In order to enrich their itinerary for their China travel deals of Cangzhou area, many tour companies have arranged the Renqiu Bass Drum in their itinerary.
Renqiu Bass Drum originally has 108 types that 84 sets of drum music scores have been dig tout. Renqiu Bass Drum Party is held on the 15th day of the lunar first month every year. At that time, the scene is of tremendous momentum——scores of bass drums are situated from east to west, north to south, which reflects the power and prestige of Renqiu Bass Drum on one hand. On the other hand, confirms the natives' happy lives. No China travel service designed for Cangzhou area discovery is complete if the Renqiu Bass Drum is missed to be discovered!
The Spicy Hot Pot in Chengdu China
Hotpot is very popular in Chengdu and is known for its spicy and hot flavor. Although this kind of hotpot is taken as the Chongqing specialty by the locals, it has become famous and popular all over the country for a long time. When your Yangtze River cruises come to Chongqing, you should never miss tasting the spicy Hotpot there.
The traditional Chengdu hotpot
A big pot filled with hot spicy oil and surrounded by plates of raw meats and vegetables. The pieces of meat and vegetables are sliced very small so they will cook very quickly. Most of the pots used in hotpot are divided into two sections. One half is filled with the spicy oil, and the other is filled with a delicious broth for those who are not a big fan of spicy foods. Restaurants are also more than happy to turn down the heat on request. To any gourmets, their China vacation packages would be incomplete unless the spicy Hot pot is served.
Various kinds of Chengdu hotpot
As everyone known, the taste of hotpot is determined by the broth. The broth used in Chengdu hotpot is not only a permanent one. Although the main flavor is spicy, the different ingredients will make this food various. Many students particularly like to eat Hotpot along their educational tours in Chinacome to Chengdu region.
There are over 10 varieties of Chengdu hotpot including hotpot with boiled mutton, and hot pot with beer duck, fish head hotpot, medical herbs hotpot, etc.. In order to enrich the traveler’s experience, many China tour agents have left some dinner for the traveler to taste some local snacks. When their tours come to Chengdu, hot pot would definitely a must-have.
Besides the different broths used in Chengdu hotpot, you can also choose the spicy level of this food. Chengdu hotpot has its own style ranging from simple spicy to moderate, three or four kinds of spices. If you are fond of hot flavor, you should not miss this kind of hotpot during your China tours of Chengdu.
Highly Recommended Romantic Cities in China
Shanghai - gorgeous romance
Shanghai, known as the Paris of east, is full of fashion atmosphere everywhere. When you pay a visit to Shanghai you will enjoy the superb things here: the Bund, Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road and Pudong Lujiazui... you will find your gorgeous romance in this colorful city! After your Yangtze River tour ends in Shanghai part, you could take some time to discover Shanghai, a city full of gorgeous romance.
Hangzhou - poetic romance
"Heaven above, Hangzhou below", People praise Hangzhou from the bottom of their hearts. Its natural beauty attracts tourists home and abroad. Besides, the love legends including the Chinese Romeo and Juliet give many romantic auras to the city. Plan your Hangzhou tour now, maybe you will also receive a poetic romance! Carrying the related China maps of Hangzhou along your trip would be much helpful to you.
Guangzhou - humanist romance
Although Guangzhou is inferior to Beijing and Shanghai in gorgeousness and is not as poetic as the city of Hangzhou, Guangzhou is the most livable city among the six because of its people oriented. So, Guangzhou is the best choice for enjoying romantic experience in real life. There are many last minute China travel deals of Guangzhou available on internet, why not join one of them?
Wu Yuan – peaceful romance
Wu Yuan is the most beautiful village in China! As soon as you come, you will feel like strolling around in paradise: the limpid river, lovely cole flower, maple leaf, traditional Huipai construction and old trees… In a word, you will experience a picturesque and peaceful romance in this beautiful countryside. It is no wonder that so many parents particularly booked the educational tours in China of Wuyuan’s natural scenery discovery for their children, offering them a great chance to get closer to nature.
Must-see Attractions in Zhejiang Province China
NO.8 Nanxun Ancient Town
Located 30 kilometers (18.64 miles) east of Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, the Ancient Town of Nanxun is a historically and culturally well-known town, boasting a history that dates back 760 years. It was founded in 1252, towards the the end of Emperor Chunyou's reign during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). If you want to escape from the bustling world along your China business travel of Zhejiang province, Nanxun Ancient Town would be a great getaway for you.
Thanks to the development of the town's silk market and industry, it has long been an important commercial town. As one of the most well-preserved old towns in the region, Nanxun Ancient Town is now among the top six ancient towns situated in southern China. Getting closer to the local folk architecture and culture never fails a great experience along your China tours to Zhejiang.
From a bird's- eye view, the town looks like a cross, covering a total area of 68 hectares. Two waterways intersect at the town: the Shihe River that runs from north to south and the ancient Grand Canal running from east to west. The waterways span a total length of 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles). 15 ancient bridges that were constructed during the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (1127-1911), have remained until today. The style and features of the original architecture used to build the town, have also been preserved. Never miss capturing a bird’s eye view of this peaceful town along your China travel packages of Zhejiang province.
NO.7 Yandang Mountain
Situated in Leqing, Wenzhou, in the southeast of Zhejiang Province, Yandang Mountain is one of China's 10 most famous mountains. The mountain, shaped 120 million years ago, is a typical ancient rhyolitic volcano from the Cretaceous period. Over the past 20,000 years, the Yandang Mountain volcano has experienced four periods and several dozens of eruptions. Numerous eruptions and water plus wind erosions over the course of millions of years, are responsible for the mountain's current landforms. No China tour deals of Zhejiang is perfect if the impressive Yandang Mountain is missed.
Stretching across a total area of 450 square kilometers (45,000 hectares), the mountain includes over 500 tourist attractions, all scattered across its eight major scenic zones. The panorama is mainly composed of peaks, waterfalls, caves and steep cliffs. Among all the charming spots to visit at Yandang Mountain; Lingfeng Peak, Lingyan Rock and Dalongqiu Waterfall are the most famous ones, known as the "three perfections of Yandang Mountain." In 2005 Yandang Mountain was named a UNESCO World Geopark. To any geography-lovers, Yandang Mountain should never be missed along their China travel to Zhejiang province.
Savory West Lake Vinegar Fish in Hangzhou China
West Lake Vinegar Fish is a traditional delicacy of Hangzhou with sweet and sour flavor. It is said that the fish was originally cooked by Song's sister-in-law. She wanted to inspire Song the essence of the true life by the sweet - sour flavor. Along your China tour of Hangzhou, you should never miss West Lake Vinegar Fish there.
“West Lake Vinegar Fish” is also called “Sister Song’s Treasure”. You might well guess that a name like that would have a story behind it. Long ago, there were two brothers by the name of Song. Though they were wise, they chose to live not in the city but in the countryside, catching fish in nearby West Lake. One day, evil Mr. Zhao was passing by the lake and happened to see a beautiful woman washing in its waters. When Mr. Zhou discovered the woman was Elder Brother Song’s wife, he murdered Elder Song. Many students like to eat the West Lake Vinegar Fish when their educational tours in China come to Hangzhou area.
Younger Song and Elder Song’s widow were infuriated by Mr. Zhao’s audacity and sought justice through a local magistrate. Little did they know that the magistrate was a friend of Mr. Zhou’s. Younger Song and Elder Song’s widow were beaten and thrown out of the court. When the two returned to their West Lake home, defeated, Sister Song demanded that her brother-in-law flee to avoid Zhou’s retaliation. “Make your fortune and come back for me,” she said. No China travel deals of Hangzhou is complete if tasting the West Lake Vinegar Fish is missed.
Before Younger Song departed, Sister Song cooked him a special meal of fish with sugar and vinegar. As he sat down to eat it, she said, “This fish is sweet and sour, just as life is sweet and sour. When you have achieved the sweetness of a good life, remember the sour oppression of us commoners and your grieving sister-in-law.” Younger Song was greatly moved. He finished the fish and left, her words ringing in his ears. Later, Younger Song succeeded in garnering fame and fortune and eventually returned to Hangzhou. He avenged his elder brother and found his sister-in-law safe and well. Many China travel agencies have arranged the West Lake Vinegar Fish in the dishes scheduled for their travelers.
We have no way of knowing if the Vinegar Fish we eat today tastes the same as the fish Sister Song served her brother-in-law, but we like to think so. Prepared with fresh grass carp from West Lake, the method used to cook the fish renders it fresh and tender, with a distinct flavor of crab meat. The sweet and sour sauce used to flavor it further is a thick, black paste of vinegar and sugar. Why not take a China travel to Hangzhou and taste the savory West Lake Vinegar Fish there?
Guide for Trekking Daocheng County Sichuan Region China
Shangri-la. the very name is an incantation that evokes images of a mythical mountain paradise where peace reigns and life approaches perfection. Drawn from the pages of James Hilton's 1933 classic, Lost Horizon, Shangri-la has become synonymous with exotic escapism, a connotation not lost on the tourist industry.Daocheng and Aden in Sichuan,are praised as the true Shangri-La. If you are just planning a China travel to refresh yourself, Daocheng in Sichuan region would be a good choice for you.
The county of Daocheng lies near the conjunction areas of Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet, belong to Sichuan Province. Traditionally, there are two routes to go there –from Kunming, or Chengdu. It covers 7,323 square kilometers and its 30,000 inhabitants are mainly Tibetans people. Economically, the county is a region of partial agriculture and partial animal husbandry. Here, the winding and majestic mountains like billows of the sea alternate with valleys, and the scenes are various and bewitching. The hikers can experience the real remote village life and the geographical wonders. Mt. Haizi (Lake), parallel to Daocheng River and with an altitude of 3600-5000m, is the largest remnants of glaciations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Mountains, valleys, and cultural relics absolutely bring you with unforgettable memory. If you are a trekking-lover, they trekking the Daocheng area would make your China tour packages more memorable and interesting.
Mainly, there are two popular trek routes to Daocheng and Aden. Route 1:From Chengdu via Muli; Route 2: From Lijiang via Lugu Lake.
Route 1:From Chengdu via Muli
Veins horseshoe ringing voice, the eyes of the holy sun, his breast is the ambition and love of the prairie. Daocheng Aden sleeping in the years glaciers persist radius of 7323 square kilometers of land in memory of the earth’s most ancient and most genuine of nature’s most pure heart. It was time forgotten, for thousands of years, the rising sun, keep his silence great unrivaled beauty. Here has the most pure lives, most outstanding vault of heaven the eagle, free-living wild animals, forest, grassland birds singing mildly, quietly grazing in the pastoral. Daocheng Aden, there is everything you can think of, but also beyond all you imagine. Before enjoy your China tour of trekking, bringing the related map of China would help you a lot.
Route 2: The Ancient Tea Horse Road Trek——From Lijiang via Lugu Lake
For thousands of years, only humans and horses treaded the mountains of Southwest China as they followed an ancient pathway through the Chinese hinterlands and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Along the unpaved and rugged pathway that was formed, commodities like tea, salt and sugar flowed into Tibet. To any China tour deals of trekking theme, they sounds incomplete if they miss the tea horse road trek——from Lijiang via Lugu Lake.
Meanwhile, horses, cows, furs, musk and other local products made their way to the outside world. The road was called the tea-horse ancient road, and it stretched across more than 4,000 kilometers, mainly through Southwest China’s Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The ancient commercial passage first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Many student also like to change themselves in this trekking way along their student tours to China.
For more than 1,200 years, the road promoted exchanges in culture and religion, and saw ethnic migration that closely resembled what was experienced on the well-known Silk Road. Along the ancient road lived more than 20 minorities. Concentrations of beautiful and mysterious natural landscapes and traditional cultures developed in various sites, including Dali old city, Lijiang old city, Shangrila, Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon, Potala Palace. The road features temples, rock paintings, post houses, ancient bridges and plank roads. It is also home to many national minorities and their dances and folk customs. Why not book a China vacation packages and trekking this way to challenge yourself?
Other Must-haves for Chinese Mid-autumn Day
The Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine in a Mortar
Legend has it that there were three immortals that turned themselves into three poor old men asking a fox, monkey and rabbit for food. The fox and the monkey had food to give them, but the rabbit had none and didn't know what to do. Later, the rabbit said: "just eat me for food!" With that, the rabbit jumped into a blazing fire, making himself ready to be eaten. The immortals were deeply touched and sent the rabbit to the palace on the moon to keep Chang'e company and he was made a jade rabbit. It was reported that Chinese culture contributes a lot to China tourism because it attracts countless travelers to discover it annually.
The Moon-Worshipping Custom of the Dai People
The custom of "worshiping the moon" on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival is popular among the Dai people in Yunnan Province. According to the Dai legend, the moon was the incarnation of Yan Jian, the third son of the god of heaven. Yan Jian was a brave and unyielding man, who led the Dai people in defeating their enemies. He was greatly respected and supported by the Dai people. Sadly, he later died. But he changed into the moon and rose into the sky, giving out gentle light and bringing brightness to the Dai people in the dark night. It is no wonder that China cultural tours operated by different kinds of China tour operators covers Chinese mid-autumn Day experience.
On every Mid-Autumn Festival night, the Dai people traditionally put a round glutinous cake on each of the four corners of a table, with a joss stick on each cake. When the moon rises in the sky over the mountain, the sticks are lit. The whole family then begins to "worship the moon". And black powder gun shots are fired into the sky as a way of paying tribute to the hero Yan Jian. After that, the whole family sits around the table, eating delicacies, chatting and enjoying the moon.
Fire Dragon Dance in Hong Kong
Fire dragon dance is the most traditional custom on the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong, dating back some 100 years. Every year, grand fire dragon shows are performed for three nights in a row in Tai Hang of Causeway Bay starting the 14th of August on the lunar calendar. The fire dragon is more than 70 meters long with its body divided into 32 segments, all of which are stuffed with straw and stuck full of incense sticks. On the festive night, the streets and alleyways in the area are packed with fire dragons joyfully dancing to drum music against the backdrop lit by colored lights, creating a fantastic atmosphere for the festival.
Maybe some travel-addicts have enjoyed the fantastic Tibet Tours and discovered the natural scenery of plateau in China. To discover an authentic China, exploring profound Chinese culture is essentially needed. Come to China and start your Chinese culture exploration from Chinese Mid-autumn Day!
Discover Yi Ethnic Group from its Colourful Yi Headgear
Yi people have a tradition of wearing colorful headgear, which is part of their unique culture. Yi people have many sayings about the tradition, such as "Birds are pretty because of their features, and people are pretty because of their headgear,"and "Han people care about their footwear, while Yi people care about their headgear." Much of the headgear is derived from their original totems or their plant or animal worship. Along your China tours of Yunnan, you would see many women with different colorful headgears.
Yi people, who inhabit southwestern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, account for more than 6.57 million of the country's population (based on the 1990 census). Many travelers particularly request their China travel agents to arrange these areas in their itinerary in order get close to Yi people.
A Yi woman's headgear reveals her age and social identity. A young, unmarried Yi woman wears a thick, ethnic cloth headgear that is in the shape of a cockscomb. The woman will pin silver decorations, such as a silver fower, on the headgear for decoration. According to legend, a cock rescued ancestors of the Yi people when they were young. The Yi believe the cock is auspicious, and wearing such headgear will help protect young unmarried women and keep them safe and happy. Cockscomb is also typical of a pattern frequently used in other parts of Yi costumes. Knowing the Yi customs would be an interesting experience along your China travel.
A married Yi woman will wear large headgear in the shape of a lotus leaf. Legend has it that Yi women were smarter than Yi men in ancient time, and that Yi god Zhige Aluo once asked a couple how many times the husband had ploughed his land. The husband could not answer, but his wife replied by asking the god how many steps his horse had taken that day. The god couldn't answer her. After searching on the internet, you could find that there are many affordable China tours of Yi ethnic culture discovery. These tours are all well-sold.
The next day, the god took a ram to the couple's house and asked the husband to breed the ram. The wife said her husband was at home delivering a child. The god was astonished, and said: "How could a man give birth to a child?" The woman answered: "How could a ram deliver a lamb?" The god was impressed by her wisdom and ordered Yi women to wear large headgear in the shape of a lotus leaf to conceal their wisdom. Now, such headgear is part of married Yi women's traditional costume. No China vacation packages of Chinese ethnic culture discovery are complete if exploring Yi people is missed.
A Yi man's headgear is a black cloth made into the shape of wimble. It is called a hero knot, which reveals the man's strength. Yi people worship the eagle, and they believe Yi men should be as brave as an eagle. A young man's hero knot is as thin as bamboo, while the knots of middle-aged and elderly men are as thick as a fst. Infuenced by their traditions, Yi people's colorful headgear is a precious legacy. Why not take a China tour of Yunnan or Guangxi region to discover Yi people?
Top Beautiful Churches in China
Shenyang Catholic Church
Shenyang Catholic Church, or Shenyang Nanguan Church, is located at 40 Nanlejiao Lu in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Following Renaissance architectural style, it is a typical gothic building and the Catholic center of northeast China. With a height of 40 meters and an area of 1,100 square meters, the church can hold 1,500 people at a time. The huge iron gate and the high walls that surround the church leave people with an impression of solemnity and serenity. In order to promote sales, many China travel agencies have arranged the Shenyang Catholic Church in their itinerary.
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Located on Yide Street in the center of Guangzhou, Sacred Heart Cathedral is the grandest and most characteristic church in Guangzhou. It has also been called "Stone House", as all of the walls and columns are made of granite. The church is an imitation of a European gothic cathedral and its tower spire reaches 58.5 meters. The atmosphere of the church can be compared to Notre Dame in Paris. Why not extend your China travel to Guangzhou to see this sacred Sacred Heart Cathedral?
The Cizhong Church
The Cizhong Church is one of the few churches in Tibet that survived the Cultural Revolution. The church, built at the beginning of the 20th century, is a unique fusion of French and Chinese architectural styles. The overhanging eaves and roof of the church are Chinese style, while the cross on top is Western style. The Cizhong municipal government repaired the church in 1989 and then opened it to the public. It is no wonder that so many people book different kinds of Tibet tours to discover this Cizhong Church despite of fatigue.
Yanjing Catholic Church
Yanjing Church is the only Catholic Church in Tibet. With an area of six square kilometers, it is located in Yanjing Village in Mangkang County of Tibet. Nowadays, 80 percent of Yanjing residents believe in Catholicism, and a Tibetan priest who is in charge of religious activities reads a Bible that has been translated into Tibetan. Why not book some affordable China tours of Tibet to discover this sacred Yanjing Catholic Church?
Discover the Mesmerizing Tongli in Suzhou Further
Tongli Town deserves its reputation of a 'museum of ancient architectures' as there are good many houses and temples dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Built along the riversides and decorated with flying eaves, carved windows, porcelain furniture, figured clay bricks, dapper gardens and small stairs leading down to the water, many of its buildings have kept their traditional facades, with stark whitewashed walls and black-tiled roofs. These complexes mean Tongli is a shining pearl among the water-towns south of Yangtze River. So you should never miss discovering it along your China travel packages to southern China.
Retreat and Reflection (Tuisi) Garden, built by the retired official Ren Lansheng during 1885 and 1887, is the most spectacular in Tongli. Its name is derived from an aphorism expressed in a very famous biography called Zuo Zhuan written by Zuo Qiuming in the Eastern Zhou period (770 BC - 221 BC):'Be loyal to the emperor when in officialdom; be meditative upon the previous faults while away from officialdom.' The ingenious design for Tuisi Garden conforms to the local landforms and conditions and covers about 700 square meters (one fifth acre). If you are an architecture-lover, discovering the residence and bridges would be another must-do along your China tour deals of Tongli.
Built in 1880s, the Tuisi Garden (also known as Retreat and Reflection Garden ) is comprised of the housing complex, a big courtyard and a garden which are aligned on a west-east axis. It's the most notable Tongli attraction. In 2001, the Retreat and Reflection Garden was recognized with other classical Suzhou gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name of the garden originates from an ancient Chinese saying that "loyal to the emperor with honest heart, self reflection is needed after retirement". Many businessmen particularly visited Tongli along their China business tours as a retreat from the bustling earth.
Tuisi garden was built in the Qing Dynasty from 1885 AD to 1887 AD by a degraded official. The housing complex has inner and outer parts. The outer house embraces a succession of three halls, while the inner house to the east is made up of two two-storied buildings in the shape of "U", reached by two stairways on both sides. When summer vacation comes, many educational tours in China would come to Tongli to discover this less touristy but more breathtaking water town.
The spacious court is the transitional area between the housing complex and the garden. There is a boat-like pavilion near the entrance for guest reception, a form of architecture typical in the Venetian town of Tongli, south of Suzhou. Never miss standing on the bridges and take some photos along your China travel of Tongli.
Tuisi Garden boasts unique layout with a complete collection of pavilion, terrace, tower, porch, bridge, hall and house centered by pond as if these architectures are floating on it. The Garden was built simple and unsophisticated, quiet and elegant. Tuisi Garden is definitely another reason for you to take a China tour to Tongli.
With the characteristics of garden of Qing dynasty, Tuisi Garden is a classic work of Jiangnan classical garden. The profound cultural connotation of Tuisi Garden, together with the long history of Tongli, makes tourists fall into reverie and enlightenment. Tongli, as a famous water town in Suzhou, has attracted tens of thousands of visitors, which did make great contribution to China tourism of Suzhou.
Discover Famous Karst Regions in China
The area of karst region in China is the biggest in the world, and the landforms of karst are also quite complete.The karst regions mainly distribute in Guangxi,Yunnan and Guizhou province.Book The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake is the earliest book in the world that records the reaearch on Karst. In 2007 ,South China Karst was listed in the World Natural Heritage Site. If you are a geography-lover, you should never miss discovering famous karst regions along your China tours.
Brief Description of UNESCO on South China Karst
The South China Karst region extends over a surface of half a million km2 lying mainly in Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces. It represents one of the world’s most spectacular examples of humid tropical to subtropical karst landscapes. The stone forests of Shilin are considered superlative natural phenomena and a world reference with a wider range of pinnacle shapes than other karst landscapes with pinnacles, and a higher diversity of shapes and changing colours. The cone and tower karsts of Libo, also considered the world reference site for these types of karst, form a distinctive and beautiful landscape. Wulong Karst has been inscribed for its giant dolines (sinkholes), natural bridges and caves. Many student tours to China come to southern China to discover the featured karst landscape of China.
South China Karst includes three places in China, they are:
Stone Forest in Yunnan
Shilin, literally Stone Forest, is a notable set of karst formations in Shilin County, in the Yunnan province of southwest China, approximately 85 km from the city of Kunming. The tall rocks seem to emanate from the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking like trees made of stone, creating the illusion of a forest made of stone. Discovering the stone forest would be a must-have along your last minute China travel deals of Yunnan.
Libo Karst Region in Guizhou
Libo Cone Karst Nominated Site of South China Karst application for World Natural Heritage lies in Libo County, South Guizhou Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, and has a mean altitude of 747m ranging from 385 to 1109m. If your China travel packages cover Guizhou, never miss the Libo Karst Region there.
Wulong Karst Region in Chongqing
A newly included natural scenery and hiking highlight in the UNESCO World Heritage List is the Wulong Karst. It has become one of the major attractions around Chongqing for people interested in primitive scenic areas, gorges, wildlife and caves. Wulong is one of the regions named on the World Heritage List’s South China Karst. Other areas named are Libo Karst and Shilin Karst. Three sites in Wulong are thought to be the most important. They are Furong Cave, the Three Natural Bridges, and the Houping Tiankengs. Why not pay a visit to Wulong Karst Region after your Yangtze River cruise finished in Chongqing?
Get Close to Dongting Lake Hunan Province China
Dongting Lake, or Lake Dongting Wade–Giles: Tung-t'ing Hu) is a large, shallow lake in northeastern Hunan province, China. It is a flood basin of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang). Hence the lake's size depends on the season. The provinces of Hubei and Hunan are named after their location relative to the lake: Hubei means "North of the Lake" and Hunan means "South of the Lake" in Chinese. If your China tour packages happen to cover Hunan region, you should never miss discovering the Dongting lake along your trip.
Dongting Lake is famous in Chinese culture as the place of origin of Dragon boat racing. It is the site of Junshan island, and is a home to the Finless Porpoise, which is endangered in China. Explore Dongting Lake and get closer to China culture along your China travel of Hunan province.
In the July–September period, flood water from the Yangtze flows into the lake, enlarging it greatly. The lake's area, which normally is 2,820 km² (data before 1998), may increase to 20,000 km² in flood season, when vast amounts of water and sediment from the Chang Jiang flow into the lake. The lake is also fed by four major rivers: the Xiang, Zi, Yuan and Li rivers. Students particularly like to discover the basic knowledge from the tour guide when they are visiting the Dongting Lake along their China educational tours.
Small rivers also flow in, the most famous one being Miluo River where a famous poet Qu Yuan committed suicide. In addition, the Xiao River flows into the Xiang near Yongzhou, before the Xiang flows into the lake. Ocean-going vessels can travel through the Xiang to reach Changsha. No China travel packages of Chinese lake discovery are complete if the beautiful Dongting Lake is missed in the itinerary.
During the Han Dynasty, Yunmeng Marsh, which lies to the north of Dongting Lake in Hubei Province, served as the main flood-basin of the Yangtze. The rich sediment of the marsh attracted farmers. Embankments were built, keeping the river out, and the Dongting Lake area south of the Yangtze gradually became the river's main flood-basin. Many China tour agents have stretched their Hunan itinerary to Dongting Lake in order to promote deals.
At that time, Dongting Lake was China's largest lake. Because of its size, it gained the name Eight-hundred-li-Dongting Nowadays, it is the second-largest, after Poyang Lake, as much of the lake has been turned into farmland. Why not book one of the affordable China tours and discover the cultural lake?
Sacred Emei Mountain in Sichuan China
Emei Mountain lies seven kilometers southwest of Emeishan City and is one of the four mountain ranges in China that Buddhists consider sacred. It was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1996. The mountain stretches more than 200 kilometers from south to north. Its main peak, Wanfo Top, is 3,099 meters above sea level. Since ancient times Emei Mountain has been described as “Beauty Under Heaven”. If you are a scared Buddhist, discovering the Emei Mountain would be a must-do along your China tours.
Four seasons in a year, the most favorite one is autumn, not only like the cool weather, but also love the color of it.The most colorful autumn scenery is the section from Shuangshuijin(双水井) to Leidongping(雷洞坪), where the mountains are all covered with red maples. Many businessmen particularly visited the Emei Mountain along their China business tour to pray for good luck here. Best autumn view time: From Late Oct. to full Dec.
This is the location of the first Buddhist temple built in China in the 1st century CE.The site has seventy-six Buddhist monasteries of the Ming and Qing period, most of them located near the mountain top. The monasteries demonstrate a flexible architectural style that adapts to the landscape. Some, such as the halls of Baoguosi, are built on terraces of varying levels, while others, including the structures of Leiyinsi, are on raised stilts. Here the fixed plans of Buddhist monasteries of earlier periods were modified or ignored in order to make full use of the natural scenery. The buildings of Qingyinge are laid out in an irregular plot on the narrow piece of land between the Black Dragon River and the White Dragon River. The site is large and the winding foot path is 50 km, taking several days to walk. Many educational tours in China also come here and offer students chances to discover Chinese Buddhism. Cable cars ease the ascent to the two temples at Jinding (3,077 m), an hour's hike from the mountain's peak.
Great spectacles of Mount Emei include the sunrise and Clouds Sea seen from the Golden Summit of the mountain. The sunrise is very varied, but optimally begins with the ground and sky being in the same dark purple, soon showing rosy clouds, followed by a bright purple arc and then a semicircle where the sun is coming up. The Clouds Sea includes several cloud phenomena, e.g. clouds appearing in the sky above, in addition to the regular clouds beneath. When you are visiting the Emei Mountain along your China travel
Top Beautiful Deserts in China
Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang
The Gurbantunggut Desert, located in the center of Junggar Basin, to the east of the Manas River and south of the Ulungur River. With an area of 48,800 square meters, the desert is the second largest desert in China. Its climate is temperate. Its eco-environment is very fragile, and the impact of human activities on the eco-environment, including the building of a trans-desert highway, has been increasingly significant.The sand hills in the desert are 300 to 600 meters above sea level. Many China travel agencies arranged the Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang in their silk road exploration in order to enrich the travel experience of their travelers.
Singing Sand Dunes & Crescent Moon Spring in Gansu
Singing sand, is sand that produces sounds of either high or low frequency under pressure. The sound emission is usually triggered by wind passing over dunes or by walking on the sand. The sound is generated by shear stress. Along your China tours of Gansu, you should never miss paying a visit to the Singing Sand Dunes along your trip. It is so amazing!
The Crescent Moon Spring locates at 5km south of Dunhuang city in Gansu. Since time immemorial, the scenic spot is famous across the whole world for its “Coexistence of mountain and spring, sand and water”. It is appraised as “Unique Scenery in the north of Great Wall”, and listed as National Key Tourist Attractions of the People's Republic of China in 1994. About over 300 meters long and 50 meters wide, the Crescent Moon Spring is surrounded by Singing sand Dunes. The poplars stand elegantly beside the spring and fishes swim happily and leisurely. The spring water tastes fresh and sweet and water in the color of light blue. The Crescent Moon Spring, as a must-see in Gansu, have made great contribution to China tourism of Gansu.
Shapotou in Ningxia
Shapotou Desert is located on the southern edge of the Tengger Desert. It is the site of the world-renowned Shapotou Desert Experimental Research Station. There is also singing sand in Shapotou. Thousands of domestic tourists descend upon Shapotou each year to enjoy the natural scenery and partake in various activities on and around the 100-metre high dunes.It has a width of 2,000 meters and a height of 100 meters with an inclination of 60 degrees. When standing at the foot of the sand hills, you can see what looks like a waterfall, but is actually sand. Discovering Shapotou would definitely a must-have along your China travel of Ningxia.
Trekking in desert is an adventurous activity in recent years, which has become a popular activity in some tour deals. While please keep in mind that it is much easy to get lost in the desert, so bringing some essential China maps is essentially required, which proves quite helpful along your trip.
Discover the Folk Culture of Qibao Shadow Play China
Today, the town of Qibao celebrates their cultural heritage and works to preserve the past traditions of Shadow Play that are such an important aspect of the town’s history. Though the Chinese government does help to keep these valuable traditions alive through various forms of support, it is the local puppeteers and their apprentices who really ensure that the art of Shadow Play lives on. If you want to discover the folk culture along your China tours, watching the Qibao Shadow Play is a good option for you.
An eighth generation shadow puppeteer, Mr Chu, is currently the head of the Qibao Shadow Play troupe. Mr Chu values the history and culture that surrounds the art, believing shadow play to be one of the seven cultural treasures in the Qibao area. Many students particularly like to watch the Qibao Shadow Play when their student tours to China come to Qibao.
Growing up in the small town of Qibao, Mr. Chu became interested in shadow puppetry very early in his life and began his apprenticeship as a puppeteer. During his interview, he discussed how watching an old artist who did Shadow Play was an integral part of his learning process. Many China tour operators have arranged the Qibao Shadow Play in their itinerary in order to enrich the travel experience of their travelers.
While the aesthetic design of the shadow plays is important, the narrative elements of the show promote intangible meaning and value. Described by Chu as “painting with motion”, Shadow Play is the combination of many different arts. The incorporation of movement with the intricately designed figures makes Shadow Play much like an animation. Apart from the visual qualities of shadow puppetry, the plays also have dialogue, instruments, and opera music – it is a combination of folk art and opera. Why not book the affordable China tour package of folk culture discovery to see the interesting Qibao Shadow Play? You would be rewarded more than expected!
Tranquil Tianping Hil In Suzhou China
Tianping Hill,
Tranquil Tianping Hil In Suzhou China
Tianping Hill, located 14 kilometers west of Suzhou, is one of the favored scenic spots around Mudu water town. The hill’s famous rockeries are thought to resemble scholars holding tablets as they seek an audience with the emperor, and so are called “Thousands of Tablets in Audience with the Heaven.” Halfway up the hill, you will find the White Cloud Spring, with waters that were highly praised by Lu Yu, China’s first patron saint of tea culture. If you want to escape from the bustiling and hustling world in your China travel, Tianping Hill in Suzhou would be a good option for you.
Suzhou falls within north subtropical monsoonal climate zone with abundant rainfall, clear seasons and temperate and humid climate. The four seasons are suitable for travel, especially from April to October. Many discerning China travel agencies have arranged the tranquil Tianping Hill in their Suzhou itinerary, which is quite popula among travelers.
What is perhaps the most impressive view at Tianping Hill can only be seen in the autumn, when the maples covering the hillside turn red. These ancient trees were brought to Tianping Hill from Fujian Province during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), turning the hill into a popular scenic spot over the centuries that have since passed. No China travel packages of Suzhou natural scenery discovery are complete if the sublime Tianping Hill is missed.
It is location at the Western suburbs of Suzhou New District . The Admission Fee is 10yuan, free for senior citizens aged 60 to 70 with valid ID and child under 1.2m. The opening hour is from 7:30 to 17:30. Bus 4,315,662. taxi from city center to Tianping mountain are available. When heading there, carrying the China map about Suzhou proves quite useful. 14 kilometers west of Suzhou, is one of the favored scenic spots around Mudu water town. The hill’s famous rockeries are thought to resemble scholars holding tablets as they seek an audience with the emperor, and so are called “Thousands of Tablets in Audience with the Heaven.” Halfway up the hill, you will find the White Cloud Spring, with waters that were highly praised by Lu Yu, China’s first patron saint of tea culture. If you want to escape from the bustiling and hustling world in your China travel, Tianping Hill in Suzhou would be a good option for you.
Suzhou falls within north subtropical monsoonal climate zone with abundant rainfall, clear seasons and temperate and humid climate. The four seasons are suitable for travel, especially from April to October. Many discerning China travel agencies have arranged the tranquil Tianping Hill in their Suzhou itinerary, which is quite popula among travelers.
What is perhaps the most impressive view at Tianping Hill can only be seen in the autumn, when the maples covering the hillside turn red. These ancient trees were brought to Tianping Hill from Fujian Province during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), turning the hill into a popular scenic spot over the centuries that have since passed. No China travel packages of Suzhou natural scenery discovery are complete if the sublime Tianping Hill is missed.
It is location at the Western suburbs of Suzhou New District . The Admission Fee is 10yuan, free for senior citizens aged 60 to 70 with valid ID and child under 1.2m. The opening hour is from 7:30 to 17:30. Bus 4,315,662. taxi from city center to Tianping mountain are available. When heading there, carrying the China map about Suzhou proves quite useful.
Must-sees in Fengdu Ghost City along Yangtze River Cruise
Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge
Built during the Ming Dynasty, the bridge connects the nether world with the real world and is a testing point for good and evil. According to legend, the Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge is composed on three identical stone arches. The middle arch is used for testing people. There are different protocols for crossing the bridge depending on your gender, age and marital status. Below the bridge are square-shaped pools of water. Virtuous people will pass over the bridge without obstacle; villainous people will fall into the pools below. The other two arches are called the golden and silver bridges respectively. When preparing to leave, visitors are encouraged to pass these two bridges because according to local superstition this will bring them good fortune. If you want to discover the Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge, you could take the Yangtze River cruises, because it is a must-have in most Yangtze discovery tours.
Ghost Torturing Pass
The Ghost Torturing Pass is the second test before entry into the nether world. It is said that this is the place where the dead report to the Yama, the King of Hell, for judgment. In front of the structure there are eighteen sculptures depicting ferocious demons. Each of these devils is quite lifelike creating a feeling of true eerieness. Discovering these life-like ghost would be an interesting experience along your Yangtze River tour.
Tianzi Palace
Having over three hundred years' history the palace covers an area of nearly 2,908 square yards. It is composed of a temple gate (paifang) and the palace itself. The gate is an archway made of wood and stone rising to height of nearly 33 feet. The palace is the nerve center of the Ghost City and is the oldest and largest temple on Ming Mountain. Exploring Tianzi Palace and getting closer to Chinese ghost culture would make your China tours more unforgettable.
The third test to evade hell takes place at a large stone in front of the gate. The ghost must stand on the stone on one foot for three minutes. A good person will be able to do this while an evil one cannot and will be sent to hell. Many China tour packages to Yangtze River has arranged a stop at the Tianzi Palace in the Fengdu Ghost City.
One other ghostly attraction in Fengdu worth mentioning is the Last-Glance at Home Tower. This structure was built in 1985 and commemorates the site where spirits consigned to hell could take one last look at their families. Why not book the last minute China travel deals to discover these attractions on Fengdu Ghost City and get closer to Chinese ghost culture、
Discover Unique Chinese Architecture Further
Yingbi
Yingbi, known as a "screen wall" in English, is the isolated wall either outside or just inside the gate of a traditional Chinese house to shield the rooms from outsiders' view. It is also called Zhaobi or Zhaoqiang in Chinese. It can be made of any material-brick, wood, stone or glazed tile. If you are lucky enough, you may see the Yingbi in the folk villages along your China tour.
The yingbi dates back at least to the Western Zhou Dynasty (11 century-771 BC). In ancient times, the Yingbi was a symbol of rank. According to the Western Zhou system of rites, only royal palaces, noblemen's mansions and religious temples could have a screen wall. Apart from keeping passers-by from peeping into the courtyard, the screen wall could also be used by the visitor, who would get off from his carriage and, standing behind the wall, tidy up his dress before going in. It was not until much later that private houses (mainly the quadrangles of bungalows in the northern parts of the country) began to have screen walls. Many students show great interest to the distinctive Yingbi while enjoying their China educational tours.
The most exquisite of all ancient screen walls are three "nine-dragon walls" built of glazed color tiles. The largest of these, 45.5m X 8m X 2.02m, is now in the city ofDatong,ShanxiProvince. It originally stood in front of the princely mansion of the thirteenth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Sculpted on it in seven different colors are nine dragons flying in clouds. The most splendid of the three is the one which belonged to a palace of the Ming Dynasty and now stands north of the lake inBeijing'sBeihaiPark. It is a mosaic of glazed color tiles showing on each side nine curly dragons in relief. An observant visitor could also count 635 dragons of smaller sizes on the ridges and roof tiles of the wall. The third of these walls stands opposite the Huangji Gate in theForbidden City and is well-known to sightseers. All the three mentioned above were built during the Ming Dynasty and all used to stand in front of the entrance to a courtyard, making a component part of the architectural complex and adding to the magnificence of the buildings. So along your China travel packages of Beijing, you could see the Yingbi in theForbidden City.
There is a screen wall in each of the side palace courtyards of the Forbidden City. Whether made of wood, carved out of marble or built with glazed tiles, it is invariably a fine piece of work with designs symbolic of good luck.In the vicinity of the Five Dragon Pavilions (Wulongting) in the Beihai Park of Beijing, there is a so-called "iron screen wall," a relic from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) of the thirteenth century. At first glance, it appears to have been cast of iron but actually it is a piece of volcanic rock. Carved on it in vivid style are, on one side, lions playing with a ball and, on the other, a legendary unicorn; it is noted for its antiquity and simplicity of execution. It is no wonder that so many architecture-addicts particularly like to discover Yingbi along their China tour deals.
Zoomorphic Ornaments
Chinese palaces, temples and mansions have on their roofs a special kind of ornaments called Wenshou or zoomorphic ornaments, some on the main ridges and some on the sloping and branch ridges. Along your China travel of Beijing, you would see the Zoomorphic Ornaments decorated in the corner of each wall in the Forbidden City.
The monstrous thing at either end of the main ridge, called Chiwen, appears roughly like the tail of a fish. Fierce and formidable, it looks as if it were ready to devour the whole ridge; so it is also known as Tunjishou or the ridge-devouring beast. It is, according to Chinese mythology, one of the sons of the Dragon King who rules the seas. It is said to be able to stir up waves and change them into rains. So in ancient times, a Chiwen was put at either end of the main ridge to conjure up downpour to put out any fire that might break out. But for fear that it might gobble up the ridge, ancient Chinese transfixed it on the roof with a sword.At the end of the sloping and branch ridges there are often a string of smaller animals, their sizes and numbers being decided by the status of the owner of the building in the feudal hierarchy. The zoomorphic ornaments is just a vivid reflection of Chinese culture on architecture.
The largest number of zoomorphic ornaments is found on Taihedian (the Hall of Supreme Harmony) of theForbidden City. Leading the flock is a god riding a phoenix, after whom come a dragon, a phoenix, a lion, a heavenly horse, a sea horse and five other mythological animals, all called by unusual names. Qianqinggong (the Palace of Heavenly Purity), which the emperor used as his living quarters and his office for handling daily affairs, being next in status to Taihedian, has a band of nine animal figures. Still next in importance is Kunninggong (thePalaceofFemale Tranquility), which served as the empress's apartments; it has a group of seven zoomorphic figures. This number is further reduced to five for the twelve halls in side courtyards that used to house the imperial concubines of different grades. Some of the side halls have only one animal figure each on their roofs. These small animals were also believed to be capable of putting out fires. Many China tour agents designed different kinds of China tours for the architecture-lovers to discover unique Chinese architecture along the trip.
Get Close to Chinese Buddha
Buddha is also named as Shakyamuni. Buddha is the appellation for the founder of Buddhism, which means sage or prophet. The Chinese word fo is the abbreviation for Buddha and Shakyamuni means sage of the ShakyaKingdom. People used to regard him as an omniscient divinity while Shakyamuni was an Indian living in the fifth and sixth century with the first name Siddhrtha and the surname Gautama. Because he was from the Shakya clan, he was called Shakyamuni. He was the founder of Buddhism. To any Buddhist, knowing the history of Chinese Buddiha would be a must-have if they are having a China travel of Buddhism.
Shakyamuni Buddha was born on April 8, 464BC. He was the prince of the kingdom of Kapila(now in Nepal) in India. According to the old Indian customs, the 16-year-old prince married a beautiful princess called Yasodhara. They had a care-free life in the royal palace. However, noticing all kinds of pains and worries existing in the world, Buddha was tired of the sumptuous life in the palace and decided to find a way to relieve all these sufferings. At the age of 29, he resolutely became a monk despite the opposition from his father. If you are lucky enough and your China travel packages just fall to December, you may have chances to see how Chinese people celebrate the birthdate of Shakyamuni Buddha on the Laba Festival.
Buddha spent six years traveling throughout the Gangesareas and visiting famous religious leaders. He was not satisfied with all the studies and practices so that he broke from all religious traditions of his time and retreated into solitary meditation under a bodhi tree (tree of intelligence) beside the Neranjara River. After 49 days of contemplation he experienced the enlightenment of how to be released from the cycle of existences. From the moment of his enlightenment on, he was known under the name Buddha Shakyamuni. To pray for good luck, many businessmen particularly like to burn some incense while enjoying their China business travel to pray for boisterous business.
In the Deer Park of Sarnath, Buddha turned the wheel of teaching for the first time and taught his first five disciples according to his insights, who also attained enlightenment and were the first samgha in history. While their morality and intelligence compared unfavorably with those of the Buddha, they received Luohan Guo(Lohan Fruit) (man worthy of oblation) other thanFo Guo(Buddha Fruit). Knowing this kind of knowledge would be much helpful for you to understand something seen while enjoying your China travel deals.
Buddha spent 45 years spreading Buddhism throughout Gangesareas and fostered numerous followers. There is a kin relationship between the Buddha and the Shaolin Temple in Luoyang City of Henan Province in China. Buddha came to China in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) to spread Buddhism and won the respect of all. After the Northern Wei Dynasty moved its capital to Luoyang, Emperor Xiaowen constructed the Shaolin Temple for him, thus Buddha became the founder of the Shaolin Temple. If your China tour cover Heinan, you should never miss watching the world-renowned Shaolin Kongfu in Shaolin Temple.
Nowadays Buddhism is one of the three worldwide religions with the number of disciples exceeding 500 million throughout Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Europe, the US and many other countries. This may just show us the reasons why so many China tour agents have arranged different kinds of B
Learn Some Chinese Cooking Techniques
Simmering
Simmering is a cooking technique in which foods are cooked in hot liquids kept at or just barely below the boiling point of water (at average sea level air pressure), 100℃. To keep a pot simmering, one brings it to a boil and then adjusts the heat downward until just before the formation of steam bubbles stops completely. Water normally begins to simmer at about 94℃. Why not taste some simmering soup accompanied with the main course in the meals of your China tour? That sounds much appetizing!
Baking
Baking is the cooking of food by dry heat in an oven in which the action of the dry convection heat is modified by steam. Three methods of baking can be identified. Dry baking: when baking, steam rises from the water content of the food; this steam combines with the dry heat of the oven to cook the food, eg: cakes, pastry, baked jacket potatoes. Increased humidity baking: when baking certain foods, e.g. bread, the oven humidity is increased by placing a bowl of water or injection steam into the oven, thus increasing the water content of the food and so improving the eating quality. Some foreigner particularly like to learn the Chinese baking bread techniques along their China travel packages, so that they could prepare them after they returned by themselves.
Bain marie: when baking, place food in a container of water which modifies the heat so that the food cooks more slowly, does not overheat or overcook. The advantages are a wide range of savory and sweet foods can be produced; Bakery products yield appetizing goods with eye-appeal and mouth-watering aromas; Bulk cooking can be achieved with uniformity of color and degree of cooking; Baking ovens have effective manual or automatic controls; There is straightforward access for loading and removal of items. Students particularly like to eat the pineapple bread when their student tours to China come to Hong Kong. That seems quite luring.
Poaching
Poaching is the cooking of food - in the required amount of liquid - at just below boiling point. There are two methods of poaching: shallow and deep. Shallow Poaching: where foods, e.g. fish and chicken, are cooked in the minimum of liquid, ie water, stock, milk or wine. The liquid should never be allowed to boil but kept at a temperature as close to boiling as possible. Deep Poaching: where foods are cooked in enough water to cover them, e.g. eggs are cooked in approximately 8cm of water and brought to the boil and then simmered. Cuts of fish on the bone, e.g. salmon steaks are placed into simmering liquid and cooked gently. The advantage is that food is easily digestible when poached. Some people particularly like eating the poaching food along their China travel, which seems much healthy and savory.
Steaming
Steaming is the cooking of prepared foods by steam (moist heat) under varying degrees of pressure. There are two methods of steaming: atmospheric or low pressure and high pressure. In low pressure steaming food may be cooked by direct or indirect contact with the steam. High pressure steaming takes place in purpose-built equipment, which does not allow the steam to escape, therefore enabling steam pressure to build up, increasing the temperature and reducing cooking time. The advantages are: retention of nutritional value; makes some foods lighter and easier to digest; low pressure steaming reduces risk of overcooking; high pressure steaming enables food to be cooked or reheated quickly because steam is forced through the food cooking it rapidly; and labour - saving and suitable for large-scale cookery. To the ones with light taste, eating the steaming food along their China vacation packages is highly recommended, which may meet the needs of their taste bud.
Braising
The food is cooked in liquid in a covered pan. It is a combination of stewing and pot-roasting. There are two methods of braising: brown and white. In brown braising joints and portion cuts of meat are marinated and may be larded then sealed quickly by browning on all sides in a hot oven or in a pan on the stove. Why not taste the soup that braised for a long time after enjoying the main course along your China travel, which seems much healthy. Sealing the joints helps retain flavor and nutritive value, and gives a good brown color. Joints are then placed on a bed of root vegetables in a braising pan, with the liquid and other flavorings, covered with a lid and cooked slowly in the oven. In white braising vegetables and sweetbreads are blanched, refreshed and cooked on a bed of root vegetables with white stock in a covered container in the oven. The advantages are: older, tougher, cheaper joints of meat and poultry can be used; maximum flavor and nutritive value are retained; and variety of presentation and flavor is given to the menu. It is no wonder that many travelers particularly request their China travel agents to arrange the cooking class of brais
Explore Qingdao Marine Products Museum China
The Qingdao Marine Products Museum is a specialized museum of the maritime fishery in China. Built in 1930 after merging the Shandong Fishery Hall and Qingdao People's Museum, the museum lies inside the Luxun Park of Qingdao City, Shandong Province. If you are enjoying your China tour of Qingsdao with your kids, I think Qingdao Marine Products Museum would be a great option for you, which would offer your children great chance to get closer to marine world.
The museum has 1,950 breeds of specimens, totaling 20,000 items. Among the specimens, 1,100 breeds totaling 15,000 pieces are of invertebrates, 700 breeds totaling 3,000 pieces of vertebrates, and 150 breeds totaling 2,000 pieces of algae. Every year, many educational tours in China would come to Qingdao to see the Qingdao Marine Products Museum, which would be a great feast to students.
The museum features two halls: the exhibition hall and the aquarium hall. The exhibition hall displays more than 800 specimens of various sea creatures including protozoan, poriferan, coelenterate, mollusk, fishes, chelonians, sea snakes and whales, and 100 specimens of sea plants including green alga, red alga, brown alga and some spermatophyte. Among the specimens, the North Sea lion and North Sea dog, first discovered along the Chinese coast, are the most precious. Besides, a sperm whale, 14 meters in length and 22 tons in weight, is the first and biggest toothed whale ever caught in China. No China travel packages of Qingdao are fantastic enough if the amazing Qingdao Marine Products Museum is missed.
The aquarium displays various living aquatic animals, including jellyfish, ormer, sea cucumber, prawn and black porgy. The most favorable animals are three penguins and sea dogs presented by China Polar Inspection Team. Visitors may see more than 60 glass tanks filled with a vanity of tropical fish. Why not book the last minute China travel deals for your children and arouse their curiosity of the marine world?
Explore Dasitan of the Uygur People in Xinjiang China
Dasitan is a form of Quyi popular among the Uygur people in Xinjiang and boasts a long history. Dasitan is a Uygur term and it means a long poem that relates an event. As a category of Quyi, it has the basic feature of being a rhymed story of great length. Along your Silk Road tours, chances are offered to discover the Dasitan of the Uygur People in Xinjiang part.
The reason why a narrative long poem became adapted to the Quyi form with singing and storytelling is that the Uygur people borrowed the big song cycle or divertimento from an ancient suite of stories called the Mukam. As early as the third down to the seventh centuries, the Uygurs, who inhabit the Xinjiang region of China, sang Alifu Airdueah as a Dasitan recital. This is a story about the exploits of a Uygur national hero, and since then it has become a tradition to use Dasitan to extol heroes. Knowing the culture of Uygur people from the Dasitan would be an interesting experience along your China tour of Xinjiang.
Dasitan is performed by one to three persons. The chief singer accompanies himself on the Rewalu, Dutaer, Danboer or Shadaer (all stringed instruments). Meanwhile, musicians beat the hand drum or stone chimes. The performances are given at temple fairs, market places, teahouses or dinner parties. Manas, the traditional epic of the Kirgiz people, who are also inhabitants of the Xinjiang region, is also performed and transmitted in the form of Dasitan. No China tour deals to Xinjiang are deep enough if the Dasitan exploration is missed.
When China travel is mentioned, travel-lovers would have different preference to the destinations they are flocking to. To the scenery-seekers, Yangtze River cruises may meet their preference; to the culture-lovers, some culture-profound places like Xinjiang would be good options. In the latter case, a visit to Xinjiang to appreciate the Dasitan of Uygur would be more attractive to them.
Discover the Legend of Chinese Red Porcelain China
Porcelain with red under glaze is distinctively different from other Chinese ceramic styles, with very flamboyant, lively, and intense colors. In traditional Chinese culture, the color red represents joy, happiness, and auspiciousness. This combination of form and meaning has made red under glaze porcelain very popular and demand has always been greater than supply. For anyone who want to discover Chinese culture along their China tour, red porcelain culture should never be missed.
"If you want to go broke, make red glaze porcelain" is a popular saying among porcelain makers, because making this kind of porcelain is very complicated and costly. The expensive materials needed and the complicated technique used to glaze the base are the two major obstacles to making red under glaze porcelain. When the porcelain is fired, temperature and time control is also essential to prevent the glaze from changing color or breaking. Discover the legend of red porcelain in the China tour deals would be an much luring activity for any art-lovers.
Because of the extreme difficulties in producing this kind of porcelain, the skills were once lost, and were only revived very recently with the help of modern technology. Many student tours to China particularly arranged the red porcelain discovery activity in their itinerary, offering students chances to touch Chinese red porcelain culture.
Red-glazed porcelain was invented as the result of a happy accident. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), bronze was widely used in Changsha kilns to make porcelain green, and it was discovered that different firing temperatures made some porcelain red. Many travelers particularly like to buy some red porcelain after they China business travel finished as an souvenir to their friends and family members.
The technique was improved in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), when large quantities of porcelain with red under glaze were produced in Jun kiln in Henan Province. However, the craftsmen's skills were not yet very advanced and there were usually some other colors in the red under glaze. Many businessmen particularly request their China tour agents to arrange Chinese red porcelain discovery in their itinerary tos eek some potential business opportunities.
Discover Chinese Horoscope Culture
The concept of the 12 Animal Signs (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig) is come from China. Each of the animals is corresponding to each year in the Chinese calendar and the signs repeat in a 12-year cycle. In Hubei Province, some written bamboo slips were excavated from a tomb, which indicated that the belief in the Animal Signs by the Chinese people began as early as in the Spring and Autumn Era (770 BC to 476 BC). The bamboo slips depicted the appearances and characters of the 11 thieves at that time that they were like the 11 animals' faces. The Dragon, however, was documented elsewhere. It was said that the Dragon was a celestial body who dwelled in the southeastern heaven. The belief in the Animal Signs is derived from the worshipping of these twelve creatures in ancient China. Along your China travel, you may see some future-tellers seating besides the street. After reading this article, you will never be confused when seeing this again.
Generally speaking, the 12 Animal Signs are divided into 6 categories, which are the teachings by Chinese ancestors concerning the personalities of people whose were born of different signs. The first is the Rat and the Ox. The Rat represents wisdom and the Ox incarnates diligence, which the two characteristics must be combined as a whole, because if there is just wisdom, one may be so tricky. If only diligence, one may be quite stupid, that is to say, one can just work, work and work. The combination of the two good personalities together has been the requirement set by the Chinese ancestors for the younger generations. If you are a culture-lover, knowing the Chinese horoscope culture would be a must-have along your China travel packages.
The second group, the Tiger and the Rabbit, the former is intrepid while the latter is cautious. Indeed, courage and caution must be put together. Impertinent behavior appears if one is having courage in dealing with daily life, but one seems a little bit coward if caution always in one's heart. Therefore, the elderly people have told us that courage is placed at the first position, caution the second. Some students particularly like discover Chinese horoscope culture along their student tours to China, which seems much luring to them.
Third, the Dragon and the Snake. The Dragon is strong and powerful, the Snake is soft and flexible. An ancient teaching told us that tough things are prone to broken, if one is too flexible in dealing matters, one may loses his ideas. So people who were born either in the year of the Dragon or the Snake must know your own personalities better. Many businessmen particularly like to ask advice from the future-tellers along their China business tour in order to avoid the inauspicious issues unexpected.
The Horse and Sheep are in the fourth group, the former represents straight-ahead reaching to the goal that it has set firmly, and the latter incarnates obedience. If a person doing things always in his own way regardless what people say, perhaps he will eventually get quarrel with someone. Conversely, if he only obeys to others, he will lose his direction. The two qualities must be put together in order to have a better career. When you are knowing Chinese horoscope culture along your China tour deals, you would know how profound Chinese culture is.
The fifth is the Monkey and the Rooster, the former is agile and the latter is stable due to it tells time in morning everyday. These good qualities must unite as a whole. If one always likes to move around, the aim that one set won't be reached, stability is the basic thing for daily work.
The last group is the Dog and the Pig whose represent faithfulness and easy-going respectively. If a person always displays faithfulness to his master, inevitably he will some repel his friends. However, if he maintains approving attitude to others all the time, he will lose his principles in dealing daily matters. To your country and to your own cause, fidelity and light-hearted attitudes are the essential. I am sure discovering Chinese Horoscope Culture would be an interesting experience along your China tours.
Time-honored Wannian Traditional Rice Culture China
Wannian traditional rice is a remarkable old and prototype variety, firstly grown in Heqiao village during the North and South Dynasty (420 AD - 589 AD). Formerly called “Wuyuanzao”, this rice is now commonly known as “Manggu”. Wannian rice varieties can only thrive in Heqiao Village due to its combination of cold spring water, special soil conditions and climate which is only found in this village. If you want to discover a complete Chinese culture along your China tours, the time-honored Wannian Traditional Rice Culture, China should be a must-have along your trip.
The traditional rice needs the perennial cold spring water for irrigation, and surrounding forests play a crucial role in soil and water conservation. The surrounding forests and paddy fields are part of the same biodiversity-rich agro-forestry system. Given the rice’s resistance to insects and adaptation to low soil fertility, farmers do not need to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides, resulting in a sustainable planting environment and contributing to the biodiversity conservation. Ingenious Wannian people have also documented their experiences in cultivating traditional rice and rice culture since time immemorial. The rice culture is closely related to their daily life, expressed in their customs, food, language, and form an important part of their cultural diversity. No China travel packages of Chinese culture discovery theme are complete if the Wannian Traditional Rice Culture, China is missed.
For millennia communities of farmers, herders, fishers and forest people have developed complex, diverse, and locally adapted agricultural systems. These systems have been managed with time-tested, ingenious combinations of techniques and practices that have usually led to community food security, and the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity. Agricultural heritage systems can still be found throughout the world covering about 5 million hectares, which provide a vital combination of social, cultural, ecological and economical services to humankind. These “Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems-GIAHS” have resulted not only in outstanding landscapes of aesthetic beauty, maintenance of globally significant agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems and a valuable cultural heritage Above all these systems sustainabley provide multiple goods and services, food and livelihood security for millions of poor and small farmers. Discover Wannian Traditional Rice Culture, China along your China travel, and get closer to authentic Chinese culture.
The existence of numerous GIAHS around the world testifies to the inventiveness and ingenuity of people in their use and management of the finite resources, biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics, and ingenious use of physical attributes of the landscape, codified in traditional but evolving knowledge, practices and technologies. Whether recognized or not by the scientific community, these ancestral agricultural systems constitute the foundation for contemporary and future agricultural innovations and technologies. Their cultural, ecological and agricultural diversity is still evident in many parts of the world, maintained as unique systems of agriculture. Through a remarkable process of co-evolution of Humankind and Nature, GIAHS have emerged over centuries of cultural and biological interactions and synergies, representing the accumulated experiences of rural peoples. Why not join a China travel deals of Wannian traditional rice culture discovery and witness it on your own?
Time-weathered Astana Ancient Tombs in Xinjiang China
Astana Ancient Tombs lie in San Pu and Er Pu Xiang 42 kilometers southeast of Turpan city. It had been the public graveyard of ancient Gaochang people with an area of about 10 square kilometers. Since 1959, 456 tombs have been excavated and thousands of cultural relics have been unearthed. Besides hundreds of dried up bodies, there are murals depicting figures, birds and flowers on display in the three tombs. Altogether 2,000 documents were unearthed, with content covering political, economic, cultural and military developments of Gaochang City. Along your Silk Road tours, you may have chance to discover the Astana Ancient Tombs. Painting on silk with Fu Xi and Nu Wa, two mythological figures in ancient China: (up, length 184 cm); Document written on paper: (bottom, length 76.5 cm)
The Ancient City of Gaochang is located near the seat of the Flaming Mountains. The city walls are high and the crisscrossing streets and the city moat are still visible. The city walls, which are basically intact, divide the city into three parts: the inner city, the outer city and the palace city. The 5.4 kilometer-long wall of the square outer city is 11.5 meters high and 12 meters thick. The wall is built of tamped earth, with some section repaired with adobe. There are two gates on each side of the outer city and the two on the west side with defense enclosures outside the gates are the best preserved. Some history-lovers particularly request their China tour operator to arrange the Gaochang Ruins along their itinerary to touch time-weathered Chinese history.
The inner city, which is located in the center of the outer city, has a three-kilometer long wall, most of the west and the east sections of which are well preserved. The rectangular palace city is in the northern part of the city of Gaochang, and it shares the north wall with the outer city and uses the north wall of the inner city as its south wall. There are still several three- to four- meter-high earthen platforms in the palace city where the court of Huigu Gaochang Kingdom was seated. To the Chinese architecture-lovers, the China travel servicethey booked for their Xinjiang travel sounds imperfect is the time-weathered Astana Ancient Tombs is missed.
In the north-central part of the inner city, there is a high terrace on which stands a square pagoda built of adobe called Khan's castle which means Imperial Palace. Somewhat to its west there is a half-underground, two-story structure which was probably the ruins of a palace. I am sure, the Astana Ancient Tombs would be a great highlight along your Silk Road tour.
In the southwestern part of the outer city there is a temple which is 130 meters long from east to west, 85 meters wide from south to north and covers an area of 10,000 square meters. Murals remaining in the main hall are still visible. The renowned Buddhist monk Xuan Zang of the Tang Dynasty is said to have lectured in the temple for more than one month in the year 628 on his way to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures. In the vicinity of the temple there are also ruins of workshops and market sites. This may be the reason why so many travelers join different kinds of last minute deals for China travel to discover this scared tomb group.
The construction of the city of Gaochang started in the first century BC. First called Gaochangbi, it was a key point on the ancient Silk Road, but after many changes in fortune over a period of 1,300 years, the city was burnt down in wars in the fourteenth century. It was classified as an important cultural unit protected by the state in 1961. Every year, many a China business tour come to visit the Astana Ancient Tombs and offer businessmen a great chance to explore the potential business opportunities along their trip.
Origin of Folk Fengyang Drum Dance in Anhui China
Fengyang, a county in East China's Anhui Province, is well known for the "Fengyang Drum dance," which used to be a dance-song performed by poor wandering musicians and dancers in the streets. It has exerted great influences nationwide on various types of dramas ranging from Beijing Opera to Min Opera in East China's Fujian Province. Along your China tours of Anhui, you should never miss exploring the Fengyang Drum Dance there.
Concerning the origin, the story goes like this: Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was born in Fengyang County, but his blessing did not smile upon people as they had hoped. The local people at that time were plagued by consecutive wars and famines year after year, and consequently were so impoverished that some people had to feed themselves through begging in the neighboring areas. They usually begged from door to door in pairs, with one beating the drum, the other beating the gong, and both chanting the sorrowful ditty: "Rich families sell their mules. Poor families sell daughters and sons. Our families have no children to sell. We walk the streets and beat our drums." Therefore, "Fengyang Drum Dance" became synonymous with extreme poverty. Playing the drum together with the locals would be an interesting experience along your China travel packages of Anhui.
However, even when having a bountiful harvest year, many people continued to beg outside of Fengyang. Why? It is because Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, arbitrarily wielding his imperial power, ordered the migration of 140,000 wealthy households in the neighboring richer areas into Fengyang. Not allowed to go back to their native places, these immigrants had to find a way to return to visit their relatives and pay respects to their ancestors at their tombs, and so disguised themselves as beggars and beat the drum along the way. Why not discover the Fengyang Drum Dance when your Yangtze River cruises comes to Anhui part of China.
Poignant as it was, Fengyang people begged their way well down into the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and even shortly before the foundation of the People's Republic of China (1949) Fengyang drum dance to almost every part of China. To enrich the China travel service offered to travelers, many tour companies particularly arranged the engyang drum dance interacting activity to travelers, which is well-reviewed by travelers.
Anhui, as a renowned China tourist destination, has appealed numerous travels to pay a visit. Some is just for appreciating the natural beauty of Huangshan, while some culture-lovers would pay much attention to age-old Hui culture along their China travel deals of Anhui. In the latter case, these people should never miss discovering Fengyang Drum Dance in Anhui.
Popular Destinations to Appreciate Pony in Luoyang China
Wangcheng Park
The park covering 50,000 square meters gained its name from its location on Wangcheng Ruins, the site of the Capital City of Zhou Dynasty (11th century BC-221BC). It served as the venue for the first Luoyang Peony Festival and as the main venue for the proceeding Peony Festivals every year. Inside the park there is one of the biggest zoos in Henan Province. Visitors are able to view over 10,000 peony trees of 858 different kinds with various colors in bloom. No China tours of pony appreciation are fantastic enough if Wangcheng Park is missed in their itinerary.
Blooming date: peony bonsais in the greenhouse will be in bloom in early April; nearly all kinds of peonies will be in full bloom from April 9th to 25th; the rest late species usually flower during the May Day holiday (May 1-7). Other events: peony lantern fair, peony souvenirs exhibition, melodrama performance, flower arranging art festival, Hebei Cangzhou acrobatic circus and large rare animal show. Many student tours to China particularly arranged the pony appreciating itinerary to the art-majored students to inspire them.
Luoyang International Peony Garden
Luoyang International Peony Garden grows more than 600,000 peony trees with 600 different kinds. The flowering date is usually 3-7days later than other peony gardens because the climate is colder there. However, this peony garden is highly reputed for its big flower, long flowering date and flamboyant colors. In addition to the display of rare peonies from home and abroad, the garden also holds a large exhibition of Chinese herbaceous peony. If your China vacation packages are of pony discovery theme, then Luoyang International Peony Garden would have much to offer to you.
Blooming date: some kinds of peonies grown in the greenhouse will first bloom from April 5th to 10th; 50 or so kinds of rare peonies will be in full bloom from April 11th to 20th; another 400 species usually flower from April 21st to May 10th. Special flowers: the garden has developed a kind of peony which can flower 5 to 6 different species of peonies in one tree. In April, China vacation deals of pony appreciating are hot cakes among travelers, so you should book your tour ahead of time.
China National Flower Garden
China National Flower Garden is located at the south bank of Luohe River between Luoyang Bridge and Mudan Bridge. Over 200,000 peony trees of 600 different kinds are grown in the garden. Blooming Date: The common flowering date is around April 12th; mid-term flowering period is from April 15th to 20th; some late peonies usually flower from April 21st to early May. Other Events: folk culture performances will be held during the flower fair. If you are tired of bustling and hustling world, why not take a business travel to China to appreciate pony to refresh your soul、
Witness the Charm of Gyangze Tibet China
Gyangze's kardian cushions and carpets sell well throughout Asia, Europe and the United States, while its cheese and garlic are also famous in the region. Gyangze's agricultural production was quite well developed even during the time of the Tubo Kingdom more than a thousand years. ago. At present, it is one of the most important counties in terms of commodity grain production in Tibet. The county' s cultivated land totals 8,933 hectares, 55 percent of which is found in the Nyang Qu River Valley. No Tibet tours would be complete if it did not extend to Gyangze, the mysterious land of Tibet.
Major crops include highland barley (qingke), spring wheat, winter wheat, rape and peas. The gross grain and oil-bearing crop production of the county accounts for 10 percent of the total of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and 25 percent of that of Xigaze. By the end of 1999, Gyangze had 14 county-owned enterprises. Of these are 11 industrial enterprises in nine major trades including electrical power, light and textile industry, garments, furniture, cereals and oil processing, building materials and farm machinery. So many China tour agents particularly arrange the Gyangze discovery along their Tibet itinerary, so as to offer travelers a panoramic Tibet.
With aid and support from Shanghai, the starting part of Yangtze River cruises, construction of infrastructure facilities has rapidly developed. A number of beautifully shaped representative buildings have emerged, including Zongshan Square, Shanghai Road, Hero Road, Canda Mansion and Minhang Middle School.
Posts and telecommunications, and sanitation facilities have made much progress in recent decades. Thus far, the county's communication optical fiber cable and mobile phone network are now in operation. TV and radio coverage reaches 60 percent and 85 percent respectively. The medicare system is sound and today there are 18 hospital beds for every 10,000 people in Gyangze. Nowadays, Gyangze boasts 107schools, and all the school age children enjoy six-year compulsory education. Gyangze Stadium is large enough to hold 30,000 people. Each year, Gyangze plays host to the Darma Festival, a chance for locals to enrich their cultural life and develop their economy. When summer comes, many China business travel groups come to Gyangze to appreciate this less-explored pure land in Tibet.
If you have discovered the beauty of Yangtze River in a Yangtze River cruise, but still want to explore something different in China, a visit to Tibet as many other travelers did is highly recommended, which would reward you another totally different landscape of China. Along your Tibet travel, Gyangze would be a must-stop on the way.
Discover the Dingcun Museum of Folk Customs in Shanxi Province China
The Dingcun Museum of Folk Customs, a regional specialized folklore museum in China, reflects the living custom of the Han people in southern Shanxi Province. The museum is located in the south of Xiangfen County of Shanxi Province. It began construction in 1984 and was opened to the public on November 10, 1985. If you want to discover the folk custom of Shanxi province, then Dingcun Museum of Folk Customs would be a good option in your China tour deals of Shanxi.
The museum houses 33 residential houses arranged in three groups -- the north courtyard, middle courtyard and south courtyard, which were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). The oldest house dates back to the Reign of Emperor Wanly of the Ming Dynasty (1593). The houses feature the typical layout of Siheyuan (quadrangle) facing south. The building complex and various carvings are all excellent works of Ming and Qing residential architectural art. They represent the traditional life style and residential building design of the Han nationality. Strolling in the Dingcun Museum, you would be surrounded by the strong atmosphere of local folk customs, which would be an unforgettable experience along your China travel.
The museum boasts over 10,000 pieces of collections, including pottery, furniture, costume, farm tools, transportation tools, textiles, folk art and unearthed relics. There are several folklore displays with different themes related to the Han nationality living in southern Shanxi at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the begging of the Republic of China, including the Display of Seasons and Festivals, the Display of Customs and Etiquettes, the Display of Folk Art and the Display of Production and Life. To any travelers who is interesting in Chinese folk culture, Dingcun Museum would be a must-have along their China vacation packages of Shanxi province.
The six Qing houses with an exhibiting area of 2,700 square meters display over 2,400 cultural relics of folklore. Besides, the museum deploys displays on special topics such as Dingcun Culture, Dingcun Neolithic Age Culture, and Paintings and Crockery. The museum has also collected and compiled brochures such as Selected Traditional Folk Songs and Interesting Slang of Dingcun Village and Selected Folk Couplets of Dingcun Village. Since Shanxi and Shaanxi are close in distance, many travelers prefer to extend their Xian tours to Shanxi to visit the Dingcun Museum to experience the strong folk customs offered.
Discover the Distinctive Danba County in Ganzi Tibet China
Danba County is located at the east of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in western Sichuan Province. Danba means the town of rocks. Special geographical situation, geological condition and unique cultural background all attribute to the well-developed culture of Rock Buildings in Danba. Old Diaolou Buildings have along and colourful history, and represent the masterpieces of Jiarong Tibetan architectural arts. Danba tops China, or even the world in terms of its quantity, density and types of old Diaolou Buildings. So far, it is the place that reserves the largest quantity of old Diaolou Buildings and villages in China, with the highest density, and is known for its rich styles and overall preservation. If you want to discover Tibetan culture along your China travel, a visit to Danba County in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture would never get you disappointed.
The history of Danba can be traced back to Qin and Han Dynasty. According to The Record of Southwest Minorities, Southern Minorities in The Post Han Script, Ranmang People were conquered by the Emperor Hanwu. In the 6th year of Yuanding, it was named Wenshan Shire... (Its people) all inhabit the mountains, and reside houses of rocks and slates. The maximum height of the house points over 30 meters. These folk houses were referred to as Qiong Hutches. In Tang Dynasty, Xian LI noted that, 'Today, the minorities called it Diaolou Buildings.' In Sui and Tang Dynasty, such rock towers prevailed in the west of Sichuan and east of Tibet. The excavation of the ruins and stone coffins at the graveyards at Zhonglu proves that, over 5,000 years ago, the area was densely populated by primeval people, who had mastered fairly advanced technique of building with rocks. No Tibet tours would be complete enough if the distinctive Danba County is missed.
"Lamu" is the name of what seems like 1/3 of Tibetan women in this area. Another third seems to be named "Zhuoma." "Da Lamu" means "Big Lamu." The "Da" (Big) is added to differentiate her from her little sister "Xiao Lamu" (Little Lamu). Many China travel deals to Tibet are so popular among travelers.
There were three young women in the household, already known locally as the “three beautiful sisters,” including one who had recently won third place in a regional beauty contest. If that didn't get the traveler's attention, it soon became clear that this was no ordinary family, and that these were no ordinary sisters. Danba County, as a popular tourist destinations in China, has contributed a lot to China tourism of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Tibet.
In a region of poor subsistence farmers, where many peasants speak little Chinese and few girls go far in school, the three sisters had been raised by farsighted parents to speak Mandarin, and they were full of spunk. Why not take a China tour to witness the distinctiveness of this Danba County?
Discover Guilin from Fubo Hill China
Fubo Hill is located in the northeast Guilin City. It is well-known as the "Wonderland on Wave" as its foot is half in water of Li River and half on land. The Hill also named Wave-Curbing Hill hence the cave on the east foot of the hill curbs the river stream and forming a deep pool. There is a garden at the south foot of the Fubo Hill. The garden is a quite interesting place with full of bamboos, palm trees and flower. Along your China tour of Guilin, you should never miss the impressive Fubo Hill.
A stone path leads you in from the southern side of the hill. At the half height of the hill, there is a terrace for sight-seeing. From here you can see the old Man Hill to the northwest and you can even distinguish the brow and beard as the hill was very life-like. The way from the terrace to the top of the hill is narrow and steep which is comparable with the path of the West Peak in the Hua Mountain. Brave ones can find the climbing interesting by conquer the steep hill. No China tour packages to Guilin are fantastic enough if the magnificent Fubo Hill is missed arranging.
Pearl-Returning Cave is located at the foot of the Fubo Hill. The Cave looks like a labyrinth with many side-caves. In the cave, there is a stalactite column which is thick on the top and tapering at the downwards. It hangs from the ceiling of the cave. The space between the ground and the column is so narrow that seems to be the result of a cut of sword, and this is why it also named Sword Testing Stone. Passing through the Sword Testing Stone, you will see the Thousand Buddha Cave which boasts over 200 Buddha’s statues made during the Tang Dynasty. Fubo Hill is undoubtedly a must-have along your affordable China tour package of Guilin.
If you are planning to visit China and is ask for advice from the travel-lovers, while different people have different opinions. To the river-lovers, Yangtze River cruises would be recommended, while to the culture-lovers, some cultural cities like Beijing would be advised, while to the scenery-seekers, Guilin would be their first choice. If you are h
Mu’s Residence, the “Grand View Garden” in Lijiang China
The old town of Lijiang is well-known as one of the famous cities in China and world cultural heritages. Mu’s Residence is the “Grand View Garden” of this old town. The Mu’s Residence was the mansion of the Mu family, the hereditary ruler of Naxi people that ruled Lijiang for about 470 years since the Yuan Dynasty. They are known for their “elegance and knowledge” among all the local rulers in the Southwest. If you want to discover the Residence architecture of China along your Lijiang China travel, the Mu’s Residence, the “Grand View Garden” of Lijiang old town, has much to offer.
The Mu’s residence is located at the southwest part of Lijiang. Xu Xiake commended that the gorgeous Mu’s residence is comparable to the palace of the Emperor’s. Unfortunately, most of the architectures were ruined by the war in late Qing Dynasty, and even the survived stone arch was destroyed by the "cultural revolution"(1966-1976). The big earthquake hit Lijiang in 1996 and raised the concern of the World Bank. After visiting the place and doing some investigations, the officers of the bank agreed to offer a loan to the Lijiang government to repair the architectures damaged by the earthquake and rebuild Mu’s Residence. With craftsmen’s careful design and construction, the Mu’s residence reappears in the world as if a phoenix reborn from the ashes. If you are an architecture-lover, Mu’s Residence would definitely a must-have along your affordable China tour package of Lijiang.
The Mu’s residence covers an area of 46 mu, with a central axis of 369 meters long. The entire building faces the east, "absorbing energies from the rising sun”. A horizontal inscription on the wooden arch reads “Tian Yu Liu Fang” (a homonym of “Du Shu Qu” in Naxi languages), which embodies the Naxi’s respect for knowledge. The stone arch is made of stones, with three layers. It is an excellent stone construction in the nation. The Meeting Hall is dignified, spacious, and gorgeous, which is the place for local rulers (Tu Si, a kind of official position in Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties that leaders of minority ethnic groups were appointed hereditarily by emperors of the time) to discuss official matters. Visiting Mu’s residence along your China travel packages would reward you much idea about Chinese residence architecture.
Wanjuan Building is a library collecting the essence of the cultural heritages in the past two thousand years, thousands of scriptures of the Dongba religion, hundreds volumes of the Tripitaka, poetry anthologies of six poets from the Mu family, calligraphy and painting of many famous calligraphers and painters. All of them are treasures of arts. Hufa Hall, also called the Hind Meeting, is a place for Tu Si to discuss their family affairs. Guangbi Building is the entrance tower of the backyard garden. It is said that the structure of the entrance tower tops first in the west of Yunan. Why not discover Ljiang’s Mu’s Residence after Shangri-la tour finished?
Yuyin Lou is a building for holding banquets and receiving imperial decree. Sanqing Hall is a place for the Mu’s family to worship Taoism. In the deep forest of the Lion Mountain, there are many places for the Mu’s family to worship the Heaven, their ancestors, and the Nature. The Mu’s residence fully embodies the cultural diversities in the Naxi ethnic culture. Best Time to Travel: As there is a temperature difference between day and night in autumn and winter in Lijiang, you’d better visit the Mu’s residence in spring and summer. So just try to fix your China tours of Lijiang to in spring and summer, which is highly recommended.
Discover the Best Film Producing Base China-Chedun in Shanghai
There are very few benches in the film park for visitors to rest, but a hilarious kung fu performance (in studio no.5) provides a quick way to refuel. Staged twice a day (10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.), the budget stage show borrows its plot from a popular Chinese TV series "Shanghai Tan" and is set in 1920s Shanghai. If you want to discover the metropolitan Shanghai further, Chedun, China's best films producing base, is definitely a must-have for your China travel.
According to the park's official tour map, visitors can hop on the tram and take a ride down "Nanjing Lu." Unfortunately, the tram was locked up in the empty park the day when we visited. Prepare to see a very limited cast presenting a montage of jazz dance, a love triangle scene and (fake) kung fu fight in the 20-minute show, which is dubbed with pre-recorded dialogue in Shanghainese and Mandarin, together with combat sound effects and, amusingly, periodical sounds of mouse clicks. Why not extend you Yangtze River cruises of Shanghai part to Chedun as many travelers did? That sounds a great idea!
A tour around Shanghai Film Park takes about two hours. Family visitors are advised to pay extra attention to children while touring as some of the movie sets are not properly maintained. For example, several safety barrels on stairs and along the creek were missing during our trip. It is no wonder that so many businessmen come to discover it along their China business travel to seek business opportunities.
Visitors can reach Shanghai Film Park from downtown in three ways:Shanghai Tourism Distribution Center has shuttle buses (leaving at 9a.m.) to Shanghai Film Park every weekend; Shanghai Tourism Distribution Center, 666 Tianyaoqiao Lu, below Platform 5 of Shanghai Stadium from 6 a.m to 5:30 p.m; Take Metro Line 1 to Lianhua Lu Station, then switch to bus Lianshi, Lianjin or Lianfengto Chedun. The film park is a 10-minute walk from the bus stop; Take Metro LIne 9 to the last stop at Songjiang Xincheng, and then take a RMB-30 taxi ride. These transportation information would be much helpful along your
Discover the Sacred Lakes of Tibet China
Raksas Tal lies by the holy lake Manasarovar, on its west. The blue Devil Lake has an outline like a crescent moon. Manasarovar, however, is shaped like the sun. When Tibetans pay respects to the holy lakes they also worship Devil Lake because of their tolerant understanding and cheerful kindness. For the China travel packages of Tibetan natural beauty discovery, the devil lake would be a must-have for them.
The devil lake and holy lake are not far away from each other, and between them there is a waterway making them interlinked. However, the two lakes have absolutely different water quality: the water of the holy lake is clear and sweet, and that of Devil Lake is bitter and astringent. For the photographing-lovers, capturing the beauty of the devil lake would be a great highlight of their last minute China travel deals of Tibet.
Such polar opposites are plentiful in Buddhist symbolism, like the devil and Buddha mother hugging each other, which tells us the whole universe is of harmonious and unified spirit. The holy lake and the devil lake ripple mildly in the breeze without any complaint or sorrow. Only eternal waiting is what they have in common. To promote their deals, many China travel agents particularly arranged devil lake in their Tibet natural beauty discovery itineraries.
In the eyes of the Tibetan, Ngari (in the west of Tibet) is the horizon of the sky. It is more than 2,000 kilometers from Lhasa, and is almost impossible to get to. Therefore Ngari is called the “ridge of the roof of the world”. This is the amazing place where Manasarovar lies.
According to the Tibetan holy book Tripitaka, after nine mountains to the north of India there is a large snow mountain. Under the snow mountain is the origin of the four Asian rivers. The big snow mountain in the Buddhist scripture is the holy Mt. Kailash and Manasarovar is the origin of the four Asian rivers. There is the Yarlung Zangbo River in the east, Kongqi River in the south, Sutlej River, and Sengge Zangbo(Lion River) in the north. What Meili Snow Mountain to your Shangri-la travel, Manasarovar is to your Tibet travel.
Buddhists think that Manasarovar is the holiest lake, a gift that Shengledazun (the god who created the Buddhist doctrine, ave to the world. Its holy water can wash off the sorrow and evilness at the bottom of the heart. It is also the oldest and holiest holy land of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Bonpo (苯教). Manasarovar is considered the perfect lake of the spirit, the real heaven of the universe, and the Shangri-La of the gods. Many China business travel comes here a
The Peaceful Anren Ancient Town in Chengdu China
Located in the western part of Chengdu Plain, Anren, a national key town, is 41 km away from Chengdu city, respectively 38 km and 8 km away from Shuangliu International Airport and Dayi County. Anren is also a national youth education base, one of national 4A grade tourism attractions, a national key cultural relic protection unit and the place in which “one of the six flowers” of Sichuan-Liu’s Mansion locates. As a famous Sichuan historic & cultural town, one of the 10 ancient tourism towns in Sichuan and a key town to be supported by the province and city, Anren is applying for the title of “China’s Famous Historic & Cultural Town”. 15 villages and 4 residents’ committees are under the administration of Anren. Anren covers a land area of 21.4km2, 3.2 km2 of which is the town area, with a total population of 23 thousand, 11 thousand of which are town residents. If you want to discover the ancient towns built in Chinese history, then a visit to the Anren Ancient Town would be a great option for your China travel.
Most buildings date to the late Qing Dynasty (early 20th century), with Liu's Manor, considered the country's best-preserved example of a feudal landowner's mansion, the most well-known among them. After visiting this tranquil ancient town along your China travel packages of Chengdu, you would get more idea about the architecture culture of China.
Anren has a long history and was a key town of Shu County (Chengdu of Sichuan Province) in Qin and Han dynasties. According to Tai Ping Huan Yu Ji, the meaning of “Anren” came from “Jen men are comfortable in Jen”. According to Geographical Part of Old History of the Tang Dynasty and Annals of Dayi County, in the third year of Wude reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty (A.D. 620), countries of Linqiong, Yizheng and Tanglong were incorporated into Anren County (today’s Anren Town) which was affiliated to Qiongzhou of Jiannan Prefecture. Anren County was revoked in the seventh year of Zhenguan reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty (A.D. 643), and was reestablished in the first year of Xianheng reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty (A.D. 670) (affiliated to Qiongzhou). After Yuan Dynasty was established, the state power was highly centralized and cantons are cut down and merged into counties on a large scale. In the twenty-first year of Zhiyuan reign of Emperor Shih-tzu Yuan (A.D. 1284), Anren was changed from a county into a town and was merged into Dayi County. Anren had been a county for over 600 years, with a history of over 1380 years as yet. Why not extend your China tour of Chengdu to this peaceful Anren Ancient Town?
In October 1970, a grave of the Five Dynasties Period was disinterred at the Anren Federation Team, the family name of whose owner was Qiao, with a stone carved with “Qiao’s Land Purchase Certificate of Anren County of Shu Kingdom” belonging to the time when Anren was affiliated to Great Sichuan state Qiongzhou. A stele for road guide of Song Dynasty, carved with “Dayi County up twenty Li, Anren County down ten Li, Sujiachang right five Li and Anshunchang left seven Li” on it, was found in July 1982. Historical relics have proved that Anren not only has a long history of being a county but also had developed economy and culture. It is no wonder that so many travelers come to visit this ancient Anren town along their China travel deals of Chengdu.
Anren has a long history, yet since it has suffered from many chaos and turbulence, many historic buildings there have been destroyed. It revived in the period of Republic of China, which is connected with the rise of Liu’s family. After the Revolution of 1911, Liu Wenhui and Liuxiang gradually entered the military & political field of Sichuan Province and more and more people followed them. Thus in the period of Republic of China, nearly 50 persons in Anren were promoted military & political officers above county regiment grade, and landholders, warlords and bureaucrats converged there, thus Anren was dubbed as "Three Armies, Nine Brigades and Eighteen Regiments". Every year, when the summer vacation comes, many China educational tours come to explore this ancient Anren town along their Chengdu itinerary.
The Most Popular Precipitous Cliff Paths in China
Ningwu Ancient Cliff Path: Miniature Hanging Temple and Hanging Coffins
On Ningwu Ancient Cliff Path, you can see "hanging" coffins, an unsolved mystery of cliff burial. On the ruins of an ancient 20-kilometer (13-mile) path on the cliffs of the Xiangfeng Mountains, only one kilometer has been rebuilt for tourism. It is a mysterious historical site, because nobody knows why ancient people built such a long path on the cliff. Along Yangtze River cruise, chances are offered to discover the Hanging Coffins.
Features: After climbing up the steep 208 steps, visitors arrive at the path. The path consists of different sections, including wooden path, caves, a hanging bridge, and stone path. The ancient hanging temple and the mysterious hanging coffins are by the path.
Ningwu County is about 200 kilometers from Pingyao Ancient City, a Qing Dynasty financial center. The highlights are of massive courtyards in typical Qing-Dynasty architectural style such as: Wang Family Courtyard, Changjiazhuang Park, and Qiao Family Compound (they are regarded as the Imperial Palaces of businessmen), and Mianshan, which is well-known for its picturesque landscape and its Taoist and Buddhist culture. For any pastoral scenery-seeker, discover Ningwu County along their China travel packages also has much to offer for them.
Mount Taimu: A Bird's Eye View of Sea Scenery from a Cliff Path
Mount Taimu is located on the East China Sea coast, embraced on three sides by sea. The path (a section is concrete, and another is wooden path) is about 1,000 meters long, hanging on the cliff-side. If you climb the mount in early morning, you may see scenes of the mountain-seemingly floating on the clouds. To any hiking-lovers, Mount. Tianmushan is good option for their affordable China tour package.
Features: In the 210-square-kilometer )81-square-mile) scenic area, you can appreciate the graceful mountains made of rocks with various shapes, and the seascapes; discover mysterious Hulu Cave, and visit a temple built in ancient architectural style. Ancient cliff Path on Mount Taimu has contributed greatly to China tourism, which has attracted thousands of challenge-seekers domestic and abroad to conquer it.
Fuding City is about 3 hours from Xiamen or about 4 hours from Hangzhou by train. Mount Taimu could be a destination for extending a Xiamen tour or a Hangzhou tour.
Explore Fujian Tulou (Earth Building) in Fujian China
Fujian Tulou (earth building)
Fujian Tulou, or "earth building," is a type of Chinese rural dwelling of the Hakka and Minnan people in Fujian. Because the Hakka people originally liked to live together in remote mountainous and forested regions, they built fortified houses to defend themselves against fierce animals and thieves. Built on a stone base, the Tulou's thick walls were packed with dirt and internally fortified with wood. A tulou is usually between three and five stories high and houses up to 80 families. If you want to discover the ancient dwelling architecture along your China travel deals, Fujian Tulou (earth building) would be the best option for you and you would be marveled at the sophisticated building skills of Fujian Hakka peoples.
The first Tulou appeared during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), and the building style developed over the following dynasties until reaching its current form during the Republic of China (1912-1949). Its design incorporates the traditions of Feng shui (favorable sitting within the environment) and shows the perfect combination of unique traditional architecture and picturesque scenery. You shall never know how powerful the brilliance of Hakka people in Fujian is unless the Toulou is visited along your China travel.
In 2008. UNESCO branded a total of 46 Fujian Tulou sites as World Heritage Sites-the "exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization in harmony with their environment." This may just show us the reason why so many China tour agents have added the Fujian Tulou in their Fujian itinerary.
Meizhou Island
Meizhou Island is a small island close to the shore of Putian, Fujian Province. It is known for being the birthplace of Matsu, or Mazu, who is the indigenous goddess of the sea and is said to protect fishermen and sailors. She is the patron deity of all southern Chinese and East Asians. The Ming Dynasty witnessed the construction of many temples dedicated to her across China. These temples later also spread to other countries with large numbers of Southern Chinese inhabitants. For any island-addicts, Meizhou Island would definitely a sparkle in their China vacation deals of Fujian.
Pilgrimage and beach vacation are two reasons to visit Meizhou Island. Jiubaolan beach located in the southwest of Meizhou Island is a must-see for tourists. Its soft sand and clean sea have earned the beach the l nickname "China's Hawaii." Erwei Stone Park, a cluster of amazing stone landscapes, is also worth seeing. It is no wonder that so many businessmen choose Meizhou island as the first stop for their China business travel to relax themselves.
The Impact of Silk Road on Technology Exchange
The cultural exchange between China and the West offered mutual benefit and achieved common progress. The Chinese Four Great Inventions (paper making, printing, gunpowder and compass) as well as the skills of silkworm breeding and silk spinning were transmitted to the West. This greatly sped up the development of the entire world. Apart from Chinese exquisite goods, many Chinese advanced technologies were also exported to the west, such as the silkworms breading, silk spinning, paper making, printing with movable type and gunpowder. Silk Road do make great contribution to China culture exchange with other countries.
In Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), China had a monopoly on silk trade by keeping the silk's production technology a secret. A Han princess smuggled silkworms and mulberry seedlings as well as skilled workmen into Yutian (now Hetian). It was not until the 12th century AD that this technology reached to West Europe. In 750, a war between the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and the Arab Empire broke out in Bishkek City and the Tang troops were defeated. As a result, Arabs took Chinese prisoners to Samarkand along the Silk Road. Among them there were paper making workmen. Enjoy the Silk Road tours and trace back to the glorious times in Tang Dynasty.
In Tang Dynasty, Printing Technique had been introduced into the Central Asia. In the thirteenth century, many European travelers reached China through the Silk Road and brought back Printing Technique to Europe. In 1444, Gutenberg, a German inventor of letterpress printing, printed the Bible using a similar printing technique. Considering this, Silk Road did make great contribution to China tourism, because it lures tens of thousands of travelers to pay a annual visit.
During the early period of the thirteenth century, Mongolian hordes used gunpowder to flatten resistance against them in their westward conquests. That was equivalent to weapons of mass destructions in those days. What's more, the technique of karez was introduced into the Western Regions in the Han Dynasty. The Han troops stationed in the West Regions used the technique to storing water under desolate conditions. To any adventure-seekers, their China tour packages s
Discover Hong Kong Tea Culture
The tea-drinking habits of Hong Kong residents derive from Chinese tea culture. After more than 150 years of British rule, however, they have changed somewhat to become unique in the world. This uniqueness is not only in terms of the tea itself, but also in terms of the underlying social and cultural values. If you want to discover Hong Kong culture along your China travel of Hong Kong, Hong Kong tea culture should never be missed.
The first teahouse in Hong Kong was established at the end of the 19th century. At that time people bought tea leaves from tea houses so that they could serve tea to visiting guests. Tea would be brewed at the beginning of the day and would be served as guests arrived during the day. At night, the remaining tea would be poured away. They did this whether or not visitors actually arrived. This gave rise to the idiom "Tea is for pouring away." If you want to fresh yourself, why not invite some friends to taste tea together, which would bring much pleasure to your affordable China tours of Hong Kong.
In contemporary society, Hong Kong people buy tea at teahouses not only for serving their guests, but also for themselves. In a study, it is estimated that China supplies more tea to Hong Kong with 22%, while India comprises the 13% and for Taiwan having 7% of total supplies of tea in Hong Kong. Hong Kong domestically produces 20% of the total supplies of tea. Many businessmen particularly invite their Hong Kong business partners to taste tea together along their business travel to China.
Fast and convenient without losing the original taste, the tea pocket is changing the domestic habit of tea drinking in Hong Kong. "Tea pockets", also known as tea bags, have in recent years been used in Chinese tea. Initially they could be found in the supermarket, but were not popular as they were not well-publicised and not very attractively packaged. As earlier with tea leaves, there has been an increase of well-packaged tea bags with any number of varieties of tea leave contained within. Most modern packages can be resealed so as to keep the tea dry. One of the brands has even made an inspiring design of the tea pocket that it gives the tea pocket a tetrahedral (pyramid-like) shape which allows more volume for larger sized tea leaves to expand and impart their flavor. Learning how to brewing tea would be an unforgettable experience along your China vacation packages of Hong Kong.
Discover Korla, the Fruit Paradise in Xinjiang China
Korla or Kurla locates in central Xinjiang with an area of 7116.9 square kilometers. Korla means "overlook" in Uygur and is the capital of the Bayin' gholin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, which has a similar territory as France and claims the largest prefecture in China. To the northeast, it is the Tarim Basin, to the north is the Tianshan Mountain's branches-Kuluke Mountain and Hualashan Mountain, the Taklimakan Dessert (second largest desert in the world) is on the south. Korla has the Han (majority), Uygur, Mongolian, Hui and so on 23 nationalities, the minorities accounts for 30.1% of the population. If you are planning to discover Xinjiang along your China travel, Korla is highly recommended.
Korla has long been a prosperous and the biggest centre in the region after Karashahr itself with abundant water and extensive farmlands, as well as controlling the main routes to the south and west of Karashahr. Due to the discovery of oil in the Taklimakan Desert, Korla is now both more populous and far more developed than Karashar. Korla is home to a huge operational center for Petro China's exploration in Xinjiang. It is known for its production of fragrant pears, which are well known in the region for their sweetness and flavor-so called "the City of Pears". Along your China vacation packages of Kola, never miss visiting their apple garden.
The city of Korla was known as Weili in ancient times and served as one of the important stops on the ancient Silk Road. At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, the city served as the site of the ancient Juli Kingdom. Korla City has become the political, economical, cultural and educational center of the Bayangol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture. Korla is rich in natural resources including the Bosten Lake, the Bayanbulak Grasslands, the Taklimakan Desert, the Altun Mountain Nature Reserve, and the Yadan scenic spot, another must-have for your China vacation deals of Kola.
Korla City is located on the southern slope of the Tianshan Mountains and at the northeast edge of the Tarim Basin. The area has a continental climate characterized by dry weather, light rainfall, adequate sunshine and a huge temperature disparity between day and night. May through October is the best time to travel to Korla. Korla City appeals to tourists with its breathing-taking scenery, rich culture and long history. Favorable geographical features endow the city with abundant natural scenic spots, including the Bosten Lake, the Bayanbulak Grasslands, the Taklimakan Desert, the Altun Mountain Nature Reserve, and the Yadan scenic spot. Tiemen Gate, the Ancient city of Loulan, the Xikeqin Thousand Buddha Caves, the remains of Miran and the Yellow Lamasery in Baluntai, are a few of the cultural sites for which the region is known. Korla is known for its "fragrant" pears which are juicy, sweet, refreshing, anti-storage and nutrient-rich Korla is known for its "fragrant" pears. Never miss tasting these fruits along your China tour packages of Kola.
Pear here produced the most famous, known as "Rikyo" reputation. Korla fragrant pear, Uighur called "milk Xi Muti," it thin, Roucui, juicy, sweet, Su Xiang, refreshing, anti-storage, nutrient-rich and so famous. India called it a "prince of China" and its precious is obvious. According to the scientific laboratory analysis, Korla pears and high nutritional value, 10 percent sugar content, acid 0.03%, ash 0.12%, per 100 grams pear is about 4.3 milligrams of vitamin C, edible parts of up to 83.6%. Every year, many China educational tours come to Kola Xinjiang to explore this great fruit paradise and offer students great chance to get close to nature.
Distinguished Chinese Gardens and Collectors' Rocks
According to historical records of the Zhou dynasty, the earliest gardens in China were vast parks built by the aristocracy for pleasure and hunting. Han-dynasty texts mention a greater interest in the ownership of rare plants and animals, as well as an association between fantastic rocks and the mythical mountain paradises of immortals. Elaborate gardens continued to be built by members of the upper classes throughout China's history. If you are a garden-lover, then paying a visit to Suzhou to discover Chinese garden culture would reward your China tour greatly.
A smaller, more intimate type of garden, represented by the Museum's Chinese Garden Court, also developed in China. Gardens of this kind are associated with scholar-gentlemen, or literati, and have been celebrated in Chinese literature since the fourth century A.D. Paintings, poems, and historical books described famous gardens of the literati, which were often considered a reflection of their owners' cultivation and aesthetic taste. The number of private gardens, especially in the region around Suzhou in southern China, grew steadily after the twelfth century. The temperate climate and the great agricultural and commercial wealth of the region encouraged members of the upper class to lavish their resources on the cultivation of gardens. During the period of the Mongol conquest in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, many literati in this region found official employment either disagreeable or hard to obtain and therefore devoted themselves to self-cultivation and the arts. The garden became the focus of an alternative lifestyle that celebrated quiet contemplation and literary pursuits, often in the company of like-minded friends. Many year, many school both foreign and domestic particularly arrange some student tours to China to appreciate Chinese garden architectures.
Traditional Chinese gardens were meant to evoke a feeling of being in the larger natural world, so that the occupant could capture the sensations of wandering through the landscape. Compositions of garden rocks were viewed as mountain ranges and towering peaks; miniature trees and bushes suggested ancient trees and forests; and small ponds or springs represented mighty rivers and oceans. In other words, the garden presented the larger world of nature in microcosm. Masses of colorful cultivated blossoms, flowerbeds of regular geometric shape, and singular vistas (such as the formal gardens at Versailles) were all avoided, in keeping with the goal of re-creating actual landscapes. Instead, the many aspects of a Chinese garden are revealed one at a time. A garden's scenery is constantly altered by the shifting effects of light and the seasons, which form an important part of one's experience of a garden and help engage all the senses, not just sight. Many businessmen prefer to visit these gardens along their China business tour to seek some potential business opportunities while enjoying their trip.
One of the most important considerations in garden design is the harmonious arrangement of elements expressing different aspects of yin and yang. The juxtaposition and blending of opposites can be seen in the placement of irregularly shaped rocks next to smooth, rectangular clay tiles; soft moss growing on rough rocks; flowing water contained by a craggy grotto; and a dark forecourt that precedes entry into a sun-drenched central courtyard.
Rocks have long been admired in China as an essential feature in gardens. By the early Song dynasty, small ornamental rocks were also collected as accoutrements of the scholar's study, and the portrayal of individual rocks, often joined with an old tree or bamboo, became a favorite and enduring pictorial genre. By the fourteenth century, depictions of gardens almost always included representations of a fantastic rock or "artificial mountain" and scholars' rocks often supplanted actual scenery as sources of inspiration for images of landscapes. After searching on the website, you could see that many China tour deals have included Chinese garden culture discovery activities to attract travelers.
Sculptural garden rocks, with distinctive shapes, textures, and colors, have always been treasured as focal points of Chinese gardens. By the Tang dynasty, three principal aesthetic criteria had been identified for judging both garden stones and the smaller "scholars' rocks" displayed in literati studios: leanness (shou), perforations (tou), and surface texture (zhou). These criteria led to a preference for stones that were vertically oriented, often with a top-heavy shape; riddled with cavities and holes; and richly textured with furrows, dimples, or striations.
When China travel is mentioned, many outdoor-lover would book the Yangtze River cruises as their start point of their China trip, while, to many culture-lovers, the Chinese garden culture would be more seductive to them. To these kind of people, a visit to Suzhou would never disappoint them.
Call of the Wild, Gubeikou Great Wall China
"One cannot be called a real man until he has reached the Great Wall." This is a famous line from one of Mao Zedong's poems. But if you visit the Badaling section of the Great Wall, the best-known among tourists, especially during a big Chinese holiday, you may find yourself in an awkward situation: The scenery is good, but it's hard to enjoy it when you are squeezed in a big crowd. To avoid the throngs of tourists, many are choosing to explore other parts of the more than 8,000-kilometer-long Great Wall, mostly built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), or its remains in some cases, as many segments have not been repaired in decades or even centuries. Gubeikou, a less-explored section of Great Wall, has attracts thousands of hiking-lovers to join different kinds of affordable China tours to visit it.
There are a great number of wild sections of the Great Wall outside of urban Beijing and in the nearby Hebei Province. I chose to see a place called Gubeikou, as it is not too far and is ideal for a day trip or weekend excursion. It is also worth visiting for the cluster of attractions that surround this stretch of wild wall. Located in northeastern Miyun county, Gubeikou is about 120 kilometers from downtown Beijing. As small as it is, a total of about 25 kilometers of the Great Wall snakes through the town. It consists of four main parts: Wohushan Great Wall, Panlongshan Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall and Jinshanling Great Wall, which is mostly in Hebei Province. It steepness and precipitous terrain just give us the reason why so many hiking-lover particularly request the China travel agency to arrange Gubeikou instead of Badaling Great Wall in their itinerary.
Built during the later years of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589), and reinforced during the reign of Emperor Hongwu (1368-98) of the Ming Dynasty, this part of the Great Wall has a history of over 1,000 years. Like the other parts of the Great Wall, its original purpose was to ward off invaders from the northern areas. And as a strategic pass to Inner Mongolia and Northeast China, over the centuries, it has witnessed countless wars, 138 of which were recorded in historical documents. This area of the wall began to fall into disrepair during the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), as Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722) believed even the strongest wall could not prevent war if the ruler did not have the support of civilians. Standing on the wall to meander the age-old history of Great Wall should never be missed when you are enjoying your China travel deals on promotion of Beijing section.
However, battles on the Gubeikou Great Wall were a common occurrence after his rule, the most recent skirmish being in 1933, when three Chinese divisions fought against an invasion from the Japanese army. The clash lasted for over two months, from March to May, with casualties of more than 4,000 on the Chinese side and 2,000 on the Japanese side. This incident is remembered as a bloody chapter in Chinese history, with a mass grave of over 360 Chinese soldiers buried at the foot of this section of the Great Wall. Each of the four parts of the Gubeikou Great Wall is known for something different.
Jinshanling is famous for the large number of different buildings that were constructed along the wall, varying in structure and form. Simatai is known for its danger, as much of this section was built on high bluffs, and some areas are so steep they're nearly upright. These upright sites are all the most luring part for the adventure-lover when conquering the Great Wall along their China tour.
The Panlongshan section, named for Panlong Hill, which lies at a relatively low 150 meters at its highest point, has the most storied past. It is said that Qi Jiguang, an important Ming Dynasty general, used one of the buildings as an office, and the top of another building was blown off by a Japanese plane in 1933. The Wohushan section is on Wohu Hill, from whose summit hikers can view the nearby village and some of the best scenery the Great Wall has to offer. No men could say he had truly discovered Beijing unless visiting the Great Wall along their 72-hour visa free China travel of Beijing.
The Pastoral Hakka Walled Village in Southern China
A Hakka walled village is a large multi-family communal living structure that is designed to be easily defensible. This building style is unique to the Hakka people found in southern China. Walled villages are typically designed for defensive purposes and consist of one entrance and no windows at the ground level. If you want to capture the pastoral scene along your China travel, the Hakka walled village would be a great option for you.
The Hakka were originally immigrants from northern China who settled in the southern provinces. From the 17th century onwards, population pressures drove them more and more into conflict with their neighbours (called punti in Cantonese). As rivalry for resources turned to armed warfare, the Hakka began building communal living structures designed to be easily defensible. These houses, sometimes called tulou, were often round in shape and internally divided into many compartments for food storage, living quarters, ancestral temple, armoury etc. The largest houses covered over 40,000 m² and it is not unusual to find surviving houses of over 10,000 m². After discovering the distinctive Hakka residential buildings along your China travel packages of Fujian province, paying a visit to the Hakka Walled Village would made your trip more fruitful.
Hakka walled villages can be constructed from brick, stone, or rammed earth, with the last being the most common. The external wall is typically 1 metre in thickness and the entire building could be up to three or four stories in height. Often turrets were also built to extend the range of defensive power and to cover otherwise indefensible points. Battlements were also constructed on the top floor for muskets. The gate was the most vulnerable point and it was usually reinforced with stone and covered with iron. A number of smaller gates followed, in case the outer one was breached. With the exception of a few excessively large forts, Hakka houses usually only had one entrance. The round shape of the walls, which became popular in later stages, added to the defensive value of the fortifications and reduced the firepower of artillery against it. A Hakka fort could withstand a protracted siege, since it was well stocked with grains and had an internal source of water. They often also had their own sophisticated sewage systems. It is no wonder that so many photographers choose the destination for their last minute China travel deals here to draw pictures for nature while enjoying their beauty.
The architectural style of Hakka forts is largely unique in China and around the world. The typical Chinese house contains a courtyard and, other than pagodas, does not often contain any structures higher than two stories.Researchers note similarity between some of the walled villages and some ancient fortifications in southern China, as seen in Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms tomb models unearthed in Guangzhou, Guangdong[1] and in Ezhou, Hubei. It is no wonder that tours designed by different China tour agents arrange this pastoral sites in common in their deals to attract clients.
Discover the Mysterious Devil City in China
On the droughty and barren desert of the Asian continent, a khaki city wall breaks the plane horizon. The 'constructions' inside the city stand in twos and threes; some of them are huge and grand while some are low and separate. The roads of the city are flat and winding, but they are desolate. When a strong wind comes, the air becomes dusty and one can hear the sad and shrill whistling sound coming from the city. People guess that it is the place where devils live, thus Urho has another name 'Devil City'. If you want to discover the myth and legends of China further, then visiting the Urho Devil City along your China tour would offer you want you need.
The Urho Devil City is located in the Urho County, at the borderland of Dzungarian Basin of northern Xinjiang. On this barren Gobi, there are rugged and interlaced earth mounds which look very much like the deserted ancient castle. After walkinh inside, you will find that all the earth mounds and ridges are the masterpiece of nature, without any trace of being carved. If you want to discover the boundless Xinjiang further along your private China tour of Xinjiang, Urho Devil City may be a great option for you.
The devil city actually is not the habitat of devils, and there is no devil in the city. In geography, this unique topography is called 'Yadan Topography', and the local Uighurs called it 'Yardang', meaning steep hillock. It is a kind of aeolian landform which was formed under drought and windy environment. It is mainly located in the dry region of China's Xinjiang and Gansu. It is no wonder that so many adventure-seekers extend their Silk Road tours of Xinjiang section to the mysterious Devil City.
About 100 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period, the Dzungarian Basin was a huge lake, near which the plants were prosperous and the water grass was luxuriant. From the fossil excavated from this area, people have found many strange prehistorical creatures, such as Urho stegosaur, plesiosaur, dinosaur and Dzungarian pterosaur. In later period when the earth's crust went through two huge changes, the lake disappeared while the bottom of the lake rose, becoming dry land. Knowing the background and history of this Devil City would bring much help for further-understanding the Devil City when enjoying your China vacation packages.
Under the scorching sun and severe storm for millions of years, the original flat dry land turned into deep mixed ravines. The exposed stones were carved into grotesque shapes by the fierce wind. Since Urho is located at the wind gap, when gale came, it became dark all round and a big dust-storm was usually caused. The pebbles and stones thus became forceful hammers and chisels which beat heavily on the remaining soil layers. The places which were not hard enough had all been worn away, with only those various unique 'earth carvings' left: short and round earth mounds, steep hummock and lays upon layers of ridges…
Upon entering the devil city, visitors will get an eyeful of different weird earth hummocks. You will find that the whole city is in color of pale yellow except for some camel thorns. The world before you is in silence. However, once the wind blows across, you will hear strange moans coming from all quarters. The airflow would rampage about between the rough stones and the earth mounds and hummocks become huge natural instruments which magnify the sounds into infinite quantity. The stronger the wind, the louder the sounds will be. At last, the sounds would turn into cries and scream of the 'devil', which usually would reverberate in the city for a long time. To any adventure-seekers, discovering the mysterious Devil City would be an unforgettable experience along their China travel.
The Cascading Jiulong (Nine Dragons ) Waterfall in Luoping in Yunnan China
It is consist of 10-tier waterfalls which are compactly grouped in a valley with a length of 4 km and a depth of 200 m ,which forms a splendid view. The biggest waterfall is 110 m wide and 56 m high. Each of them represent a dragon, so we call it 'nine dragon waterfalls '. Along your Shangri-la travel in Yunan, a visit to the Jiulong (Nine Dragons ) Waterfall in Luoping would make your travel more memorable.
Twenty kilometers to the northeast of the county town, the Jiulong Cascades is located on the Jiulong River by Yidulei Village and is one of the most magnificent sights of Luoping. The cascades are scattered is on a two-kilometer-long section of the river. It is the most peculiar part of the river course. Thousands of years' scouring and sedimentation have given birth to the ten terraces of cascades which vary from each other in height and width. Before heading to discover the Jiulong (Nine Dragons ) Waterfall in Luoping along your China tours of Yunnan, just make sure the memory card of your camera has enough space.
The largest cascade, known as 'No.1 Cascade of Jiulong,' is 56 meters high and 110 meters wide. During the wet season, the roar of the cascade can be heard from several kilometers away. Observed from below, it seems to be a cataract roaring down from heaven with the force of a bolt, shrouding everything around in mist. In winter and spring, the cascade turns into a silver chain hanging from the sky, throwing spray into the air. In sunny days, rainbows will rise above the cascade, presenting a grand view of colors. To any photographer-lovers, their China travel deals could never miss capturing the beauty of Jiulong (Nine Dragons ) Waterfall in Luoping on the way.
The second cascade, known as 'Lovers' Cascade,' is 43 meters high and 39 meters wide. At the foot of the cascade is the deep and tranquil Jiaobu Pond. The rest of the cascades all possess their peculiar charms. Standing on the belvedere, one can take in the ten cascades at one sight. Bu He, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, wrote, 'Jiulong Cascades has no match in its majesty in south China.' Every year, on the second day of the second month of the Chinese lunar calendar, young people of all nationalities will be dressed in their best and flock to celebrate the 'Antiphonal-Style Singing Festival.' At the festival, they will dance their traditional dances and carry out many other activities of distinctive national characteristics. The best part of the festival for the young men and women is that they can get to know each other by singing antiphonal songs. The Jiulong (Nine Dragons ) Waterfall in Luoping would offer you an unforgettable memory of your private China tour in Yunan.
Enchanting Zhaosu Grassland in Yili Xinjiang China
China is a large tourist country in the world, which has much to offer for visitors, from natural scenery, historical sites to cultural sites. Follow this article to discover the sublime Zhaosu Grassland in Ili to obtain more idea about your China travel. Zhaosu Grassland in Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The blooming cole plants fill fields with vibrant yellow and green colors each summer.
It means “the slope of Sun” in Mongolian. Kongnaiz Grassland, in broad sense, is a general name used for grasslands in Kongnaiz River basin, mainly located in Territory of Xinyuan County with an area of over 733 thousand hectare. It is the home of Xinjiang fine-fleece sheep and Ili horse which is also called “Heavenly horse”. The landscape of Kongnaiz grassland is beautiful all the year round, especially the spring season when the grassland looks like a green blanket dotted with various wild flowers. If you are a photographer-lover, paying a visit to Zhaosu Grassland along your China travel packages of Yili Xinjiang would never get you disappointed.
Qiahe Waterfallshaped by Qiahepu River, 3 kilometers southwest of the seat of Xinyuan County, is one of key scenic spots in Kongnaiz. To north of the grassland lies Kuokeqiaoke (means green mountain) Mountain on whose northern slope grow tree woods and the only wild fruit in the country, including Saiwei wild apple, Maling (bramble), European plum, etc. Covering Xinyuan County and Gongliu County, a natural reserve was established around the mountain for fruit tree species resource, and a wild fruit woods improvement farm has been established. It is no wonder that every summer many people flock here to photograph while enjoying their China travel service booked.
About 2,000-3,000 meters above sea level, the Zhaosu Grassland is located on the lower slopes of the Tianshan range. With the surrounding majestic peaks, tall spruce trees, golden rape flowers, white yurts and galloping herds of horses, this grassland resembles a gorgeous painting. Standing on the grassland, you would have an illusion of immersing in the paradise on a Shangri-la travel.
Discover the Jinmao Tower Shanghai Further
The observation deck on the 88th floor is one of the AAAA scenic spots in China, and China's biggest observation deck with a panoramic view of Shanghai. At a height of 340.1 meters and with a built-up area of 1,520 square meters, the Skywalk is the tallest and biggest one of its kind in China, and becomes a new tourist destination of Shanghai. Access is through two express elevators with a capacity of 33 passengers each from the basement that travel at 9.1m per second and take only 45 seconds to reach the top. Standing there and looking afar, visitors can get a panoramic view of the dynamic metropolis, the sky submerging in the sea at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the landscape lighting at night and a topside view of the hotel atrium below. The Skywalk is a new spotlight of Shanghai's scenery. You should never miss capture the stunning views through the Observation Deck along your Shanghai China travel.
J.LIFE is a fashion and recreation center in Jin Mao Tower, and a new fashion landmark for the elegant lifestyle. J.LIFE is in the 6-level podium building of Jin Mao Tower with a floor space of 14,921 sq m. It is designed to be an elegant and refined upscale fashion and recreation venue, whose service is categorized into three scopes: leisure service (SPA, beauty hair salon), luxury brand retails (world famous watches, suits, leather shoes made at order) and Chinese and western cuisine catering. Right here customers can not only explore the pleasure of shopping, but also enjoy VIP services as in a five-star hotel like post-shopping refreshments, personal image design consulting, invitation for purchase priority of fashionable clothes like new arrivals. The J-Life now becomes a new fashion landmark for its elegance, exquisite architectural style, service tailored to customers' needs. Visiting the J.LIFE and relax yourself at the J.LIFE along your affordable China tours of Shanghai would offer you more idea about this metropolis.
Jin Mao Concert Hall sits on the ground floor of Jin Mao Tower’s podium building. It consists of the 395-seated concert hall and the art corridor, and mainly hosts performances of chamber music, modern drama and Jazz. Qin Liwei, a famous cello virtuoso, has been invited to be the Art Director for the concert hall. Staying in the Jin Mao Concert Hall to appreciate the concert would be an unforgettable experience along your private China tour of Shanghai.
Jin Mao Concert Hall regularly invites musicians for various concert and Jin Mao music forum. Apart from having it well equipped with the advanced audio & visual equipment, the management is dedicated to make it the ideal place for cultural and art events, and artistic cultural destination. To any music-lovers, Jin Mao Concert Hall would undoubtedly be a must-have along your China vacation packages of Shanghai.
When Should Be Avoided to Travel In China?
China tours are highly favored by many travel-lovers because of unbeatable charm of China. Whenever you come, China has something for you. While some periods should be avoided when you are planning to travel China.
Weather aside, avoid traveling during any of the China’s national holidays if at all possible. In the 1990s the Chinese government introduced the “Golden Weeks” to develop domestic tourism industry.
Unlike in the West, the average Chinese worker has little to no flexibility in scheduling their vacation/holiday time. Instead, the entire country essentially takes their vacations at the exact same time! If you China vacation packages fall to these period, your travel may be less enjoyable, because the sightseeing area would be much crowded.
The bottom line: If you’re attempting to travel or see anything resembling a tourist attraction during these times, you will quickly lose the will to live. Just imagine if the U.S. celebrated Thanksgiving, the 4th of July, and Christmas all on the same week. Now multiply our population of 300 million by a factor of four. So avoid your affordable China tours during the Gloden Weeks are highly recommended.
You don’t have to take Econ 101 to understand the Supply & Demand implications of this. Competition and prices for airline, train or bus tickets get jacked up (and don’t think you’re going to out-elbow a billion Chinese travelers). Same goes for hotels, restaurants, and any other tourist-related services.
If you can’t avoid traveling during these times, make all reservations well in advance or sign up with a tour (but expect to pay more). Consider visiting less popular tourist destinations and staying put in one location until everyone gets back to work. In this case, you China travel deals during this period would be money-efficient because hotel accommodation fees would be higher than that in shoulder seasons.
Discover Northern Guangxi Tourist Area China in Depth
The city of Liuzhou is in central Guangxi by northeast, on the middle reaches of the Liujiang River. It has hills at its back and overlooks the Liujiang River. There are Yufeng Hill where Sister Liu the Third, a singing immortal of the Zhuang tribe, went up to the heaven, the Dalong Pool Scenic Area which has a concentration of the Dong, Miao, and Yao-style architectural arts, and scenic spots at Dule Crag. Rongshui, Jinxiu, and Sanjiang counties in the vicinities are the principal tourist areas featuring the customs and habits of the ethnic groups. I you want to discover the northern Guangxi tourist area further, just follow the writer to discover the following must-have for perfect Guangxi China travel.
The Lijiang River
It flows 83 kilometers from Guilin City to Yangshuo County, an area known for its scenery in the world. The river features crystal-clear water and winds its way like a jade belt in the mountains. The Lijiang River drainage area is known .for the four excellences -- green hills, beautiful water, strange caves, and grotesque rocks -- and such scenic spots as deep pools, treacherous rapids, springs, and waterfalls. Cruising along the Li River would reward you totally different experience with the Yangtze River cruises.
Elephant Trunk Hill
Also called Elephant Hill, it overlooks the west bank of the Lijiang River in southern Guilin. It is so named because the entire hill resembles an elephant putting out its trunk to drink from the river. The elephant has two eyes -- the elongated openings of a small cave that penetrates the hill from one side to the other. The trunk and the forelegs of the elephant form an arch known as Moon in the Water Arch. It got its name from the moon-shaped reflection it casts onto the water at bright moon night. During the high water season, excursion boats can sail through the arch. No China vacation deals of Guangxi are complete if the amazing Elephant Trunk Hill is missed.
The Dayao Mountain State Forest Park
It extends for 500 square kilometers in the Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County. The Danxiatype landform presents a spectacular landscape. There are 60 peaks, each with an elevation of more than 1,300 meters, 2,353 species of plants and flowers that are in bloom the year round. The park has a mean temperature of about 20 in summer, making it an ideal place to escape from the summer heat, carry out investigations, spend holidays, and admire the beauty of nature. If you want to admire the beauty of nature in your private China tour of Guangxi, the Dayao Mountain State Forest Park would be the best choice for you.
Discover Southern Guangxi Tourist Area Further
Situated in southern Guangxi by west, the city of Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has a history of 1,600 years. There are such tourist spots as the Qingxiu Mountain Scenic Area, the Yiling Crag Scenic Area, and Fenghuang (Phoenix) Lake; Guangxi Museum, the Guangxi Folk Customs Center, Guangxi Square for Nationalities, and the Cultural Palace for Nationalities in the city proper; and paintings on the face of cliffs on Floral Hill in Ningming, the Friendship Pass in Pingxiang, the Lesser Liancheng Castle, Detian Waterfall on the border between China and Viet Nam in Daxin, and the Longhu (Dragon and Tiger) Mountain Nature Reserve. If you want to discover the sublime Guangxi area further, the following sites would be must-haves in your China tour of Guangxi.
The Beihai Silvery Beach State Tourist Resort
The Silvery Beach in Beihai City is called "the No. 1 beach in China" with a vast stretch of fine, smooth sand, unpolluted sea water, plenty of sunshine, and fresh air. Built on the 100-hectare tourist resort are villas, a beach sportsground, and a pseudo-classic architectural complex. To the beach-lovers, they should never miss walking along the Beihai Silvery Beach State Tourist Resort along their private tour of China in Guangxi.
Weizhou Islet
It is 36 nautical miles to the southeast of Beihai. Weizhou and Xieyang islets are separated from each other by sea for nine nautical miles and known as the Greater and Lesser Fabled Abodes of Immortals. The beaches are good for swimming and the islets feature marine abrasion rocks of fantastic shapes. Cruising along the Weizhou Islet to experience the tranquil atmosphere are totally different with that along Yangtze River cruise.
The Mangrove Forest Nature Reserve
Also called a submarine forest, it is on the western shore of Yingluo Port in Hepu County. When the tide is at ebb at Yingluo Port, a dense growth of mangrove trees that are eight meters tall each appear. When the tide comes in, the trees are submerged under water, and boats can sail over the tree tops. It is a new tourist center. To the nature-lovers, they should never miss wondering in the Mangrove Forest Nature Reserve along their trip to refresh themselves, which may offer you an illusion of enjoying a Shangri-la travel. So sublime!
Explore Shanghai Ocean Aquarium China
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is the biggest aquarium in Shanghai, and one of the most beautiful ones in the world. The aquarium has a total built in area of 20,500 square meters. It is a US $50 million joint investment by Singapore-based Straco Corporation Limited and China's China Poly Group. Since its opening in February, 2002, SOA has received more than 1 million visitors every year from within China and all over the world. Shanghai, the starting point of your Yangtze River tour has much to offer for visitors. If you are traveling with your kids, paying a visit to Shanghai Ocean Aquarium should never be missed, which is full of educational significance to children.
Located just next to the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai's bustling financial district of Lujiazui, SOA is divided into 9 different thematic zones, with a collection of more than 450 species of aquatic animals from the five continents and four oceans. The design concept of SOA is to bring our visitors along an underwater journey that starts from China and continues throughout the major continents and regions of the world. Each zone in the aquarium is specially designed to recreate the most natural surroundings for our aquatic animals, and also to enable our visitors to experience and admire the uniqueness of every region around the world. SOA is currently the only aquarium in the world to have a separate exhibition zone that showcases aquatic animals from China, particularly rare and precious species from the famous Yangtze River. It is no wonder many China tour operators particularly arranged the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium for their family tours of Shanghai.
For visitors to SOA, the fascinating “round the world” underwater journey begins from the Yangtze River in China, then on to the mysterious flooded forest of the Amazon in South America. Next you will find yourselves at the mangroves and billabongs of Australia. You will then meander through the rivers of Africa before arriving at the rainforests of Southeast Asia. Brave the cold as you go through the icy waters of the Antarctic. The last leg of your journey will take you from the sandy shores to the depths of the ocean. The main highlights from these various zones include the Chinese sturgeon, Giant Salamander, Electric Eels, Spotted seals, Weedy Seadragons, Jellyfish, Sand Tiger Sharks... and many more! No China travel packages for children are not fantastic enough without visiting this Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.
Address: No. 1388 Lujiazui Ring Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 200120
Operating hours:
Daily operating hours: 9:00 – 18:00
Ticket sales and admission close at 17:30
Operating hours are extended to 21:00
During the following peak seasons:
Chinese New Year Holiday
Chinese National Day Holiday
Summer Holidays (July & August)
Ticket sales and admission during peak seasons close at 20:30
Admission price:
Adult: RMB 135
Above 1.4m in height and able to tour the aquarium independently
Child: RMB 90
Between 1.0m – 1.4m in height and accompanied by adult at all times
Senior citizen: RMB 70
Senior citizen pass to be presented before ticket purchase (above 70 years old)
Hope this guide would be much helpful for your discovering the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium along your private China tour of Shanghai.
Sublime Yalong Bay in Hainan China
Yalong Bay boasts unparalleled beauty. The 7.5-kilometer (4.7- mile) long, crescent-shaped bay with an area of 18.6 square kilometers (about 7.2 square miles) is one of the famous scenic spots in Hainan Province. To the scenery-lovers, Yalong Bay would undoubtedly a must-have for their China tours of Hainan.
With the average temperature a pleasant 25.5 C all year-round, Yalong Bay is situated in the southernmost part of Hainan Province, 25 kilometers (about 15.5 miles) away from the tropical seaside tourist city, Sanya. The scenery is amazing, with endless rolling hills, serene gulfs, clear blue sea and silvery sand beaches--three times as long as any in Hawaii. Home to several well-preserved coral reefs with tropical fish of varied kinds, colors and shapes, the ocean here is crystal clear, allowing visitors to view underwater sights up to 10 meters (33 feet) deep from the surface.
Yalong Bay boasts the five essential elements of modern tourism: sea, sands, sunshine, lush green plants and fresh air. In 1992, the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization once marked that this bay embraces the unique and unparalleled natural settings, sands, crystal sea water, endless seashore, unspoiled hills and pristine vegetation, making it a paradise for holiday travelers. With its unparalled charm, Yalong Bay lures uncountable traveler to join different kinds of affordable China tours to discover it.
Because of the unbeatable environment, Yalong Bay Resort was authorized by the State Council in 1992. The unique state-level tourist resort is characterized by its tropical ambiance - the resort holds seaside parks, deluxe villas, conference centers, top-end hotels, golf-courses and so on. In recent years, with the perfection of facilities, thousands of travelers are attracted by its unique charm to swarm to this ideal place for vacation. And it is the first choice for people who conduct conferences and matches, including the New Silk Road Model Look China representing the top level model contests in China. If you only have time for one attraction in Hainai for your China tour packages, the sublime Yalong Bay is highly recommended.
In the centre of Yalong Bay square stands a Totem Pole of 27 meters (about 88.6 feet), on which the God of Sun, and Gods of Wind, Rain, and Thunder as well as those legendary animals such as Dragon, Phoenix, Kylin and Fish are engraved. The design of this square embodies the Chinese civilization of 5,000 years and has received recognition in winning the Luban Prize - awarded to the top level design of architecture in China.
With an area of 3,000 square meters (about 3,558 square yards), Shell Hall of Yalong Bay is located in the central square of the resort. And with the shell as its theme, the Shell Hall is a comprehensive exhibition hall combining exhibition and shopping. When traveling through the hall, visitors will be surrounded by natural wonders dazzling each of the senses. In the north of Yalong Bay is the site of Butterfly Valley, which is classified into five halls that present the most precious species of butterflies in China and other countries as well. Since Yalong Bay is so beautiful, why not choose it as the start for your China travel?
Explore the Sacred Mahayana Temple in Xiamen China
Mahayana Temple is also called Temple of Big Buddha, which is located at the southeast part of the central city area of Qiqihar City and adjacent to Cemetery of Ximan Revolutionary Martyrs in south. The preparation for construction was started in the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935), the construction was started in the 28 th year of the Republic of China (1939), and the construction was completed in the 32 nd year of the Republic of China (1943). The temple covers 31000 ㎡. It's named Mahayana because it was established by family dependants and disciples of the 44 th Master Yanxu of Tiantai Sect of Chinese Buddhism. If you are a devout Buddhist, burning some incense along your China travel deals of Xiamen should never be missed.
Mahayana is a Sanskrit word, which is a comparison to ferry all the flesh from the temporality of reality to the Faramita nirvana ambit. This temple is currently the largest Buddhist glass tile building complex of Heilongjiang Province, which is called the three large jungles of modern Buddhism in Heilongjiang Province together with the Bliss Temple of Harbin and the Fahua Temple of Suihua.
Mahayana Temple faces south, which consists of 2 halls of glory, 8 wing halls, 1 Scripture Tower, fences of the Eight Diagrams shape and 8 gates. The gates are porch type, with rows of colored drawing and sculpture rare birds and strange beasts, and the kylin carries 1-meter exquisite pagoda on its back. It is no wonder that so many travelers particularly request their China tour agents to arrange the sacred Mahayana Temple along their Xiamen trip. Now it seems make sense.
After entering the gate, one could see a copper bell with 1.5-m diameter and over 3-m height hanging on the left; and a big drum with diameter of over 2-m on the right. The roofs of halls are arch type covered with yellow and green glazed tiles. The front hall is the exquisitely decorated and magnificent Heaven King Jeweled Hall and 3 characters of Mahayana Temple pieced together with glazed tiles beneath the eaves of the hall. There are three halls in the center of the temple, the Laughing Buddha is enshrined in the middle hall, the Amitabha Buddha is enshrined in the left hall and the Dipamkara Buddha is enshrined in the right hall. The entire height of the small lotus seat and golden Buddha is around 4 m high. The Four Heavenly Kings are respectively standing on both sides in front of the Laughing Buddha with dharma instruments in their hands. Goddess of Mercy and Dizang Wang Buddha (Rescuer of the Dead) are enshrined respectively in the single rooms at the east and west end of the hall.
The main hall, that is the magnificent and grand Jeweled Hall of the Great Heroes, is behind the Heaven King Jeweled Hall. Buddha Sakyamuni, Wisdom Buddha and Samantbhadra Buddha are respectively enshrined in the three central rooms of the hall. The Eight Guardian Warriors are being arrayed on both sides in front Buddha Sakyamuni with dharma instruments in their hands, and there are statues of disciples and serving arhats behind them. Fathers of Confucianism and Taoism are respectively enshrined in the singe rooms at the east and west end of the hall. The back hall is Scripture Tower, which has upper and lower two storeys. The middle room downstairs is for recite-sutra or meeting. There are Three Collections of Sutra, Law Essays and History in rooms on both sides. There are 5 rooms respectively for the 8 wing halls for purposes of dinning, kitchen, dwelling, temple fair and temple, etc. To the private China tour of Buddhist temple discovery, Mahayana Temple would be a must-have.
This famous northern temple was once closed for a long time. The temple was ranked to be the Municipal-Level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1980. In the same year, there were 39 large white marble Buddhas of Sakyamuni, Wisdom, Samantbhadra and Goddess of Mercy, etc that were buried more than 30 years underground unearthed from the surroundings of the temple under the instruction of Rabbi Yuan Zhi who once assumed as Temple Supervisor. The temple was ranked to be Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by Heilongjiang Provincial Government in 1987. The temple is listed in Dictionary of Chinese Historic Interests.
The construction of renovation and expansion in accordance with the former appearance of the temple was completed in June 1995. All the 15 halls respectively of East Hall of Three Saints, Jeweled Hall of Great Heroes, Heaven King Hall, Drum-Towner, Dizang Hall, Temple Gate Hall, Yunshui Hall and Jialan Hall, etc have become brand-new. The newly-built Arhat Hall covers more than 5000㎡ , which is a Qing Dynasty temple style with 500 arhats inside and looks magnificent and grand. Mahayana Temple has become a tourist scenic spot integrated with Buddhist culture and sight-seeing.
To the people who have strong religious belief, having the Tibet tours to discover the Tibetan religion, while to some temple lovers, they may want to see some temple while enjoying the beautiful natural sceneries. In the later case, Mahayana Temple has much to offer.
Tianjin Water Park Discovery in China
The Tianjin Water Park is the largest urban park and recreation area in Tianjin, China. The park was formally established in 1951, covering an area of 126.71 hectares. The park is one of Tianjin's leading tourist attractions, which was officially acknowledged when it was listed in the National Tourism Administration 4A Level List of Scenic Sites in 2004. If you are traveling with your kids and do not know what to discover for your China vacation deals of Tianjin, Tianjin Water Park is highly recommended, which is optimum for family tours.
The Tianjin Water Park formerly known as "Green Dragon Pond" prior to its official establishment. Its history can be traced back first century AD. Historically, the site was known for its lush vegetion and natural ecosystems, particular in summer and autumn. With the establishment of Beiyang University and Nankai University at the turn of the 19th century, the waterways of the park became popular for swimming among academic staff and students during the hot summer months. The ground-breaking for the Tianjin Water Park occurred on 26 August 1950 and it was officially opened July 1, 1951 to visitors. It is no wonder that so many travelers particularly request the China travel agencies who organized their tour to add the Tianjin Water Park for them. That seems make sense now.
The Tianjin Water Park consists of nine islands (Islands 1 - 9) and three lakes (East Lake, West Lake and South Lake). Surrounding the waterways are pathways, pagodas and gardens. The gardens showcase both Chinese and foreign architectural styles. Visitors enjoy boating on the lakes. A long corridor winds its way from the east gate of the park to the Children's Amusement Park, equipped with a mini-train and a merry-go-round. A walk along the bank planted with peach trees and willows leads to the Culture Corner, with an alfresco theatre, a reading room, a swimming pool, a skating rink, and waterside pavilions. Another attraction is the Ten Thousand Buddha Island, with 36 spots that illustrate the Buddhist world view through the reconstruction of scenes from Buddhist stories. For the ones traveling with kids, Tianjin Water Park would undoubtedly a must-have for their private China tour of Tianjin.
The recreation area of the Tianjin Park has one of the city's highest ferris wheels. Visitors are also encouraged to travel on the lakes via rowing boats and high speed water shuttles. The park changes its theme according to season, for example, during spring there is the Tulip Show, and in autumn there is the Chrysanthemum Show.
What to See for Tianjin China Travel
Tianjin is one of the four municipalities in China. Its name means 'the place where the emperor crossed the river'. In recent years Tianjin has received more and more attention from both tourists at home and abroad due to its numerous travel resources and rich history. If you want to extend your China travel of Beijing, a visit to Tianjing as many travelers did is highly recommended. When you are visiting Tianjing, the following ten must-sees should never be missed.
It is no exaggeration to say that Tianjin bears a splendid historical background. However, it was desecrated by foreign invaders long before the foundation of People's Republic of China. Tianjin was shared by nine countries: Italy, Germany, France, Russia, Great Britain, Austria, Japan and Belgium. This marked an extremely hard period for Tianjin and her people because those imperialist countries left permanent marks in her body, most notable of which were thousands of villas. Today those villas provide an exotic flavor to Tianjin, enhancing the beauty of the entire city. No China tour packages of Tianjing are perfect enough if the following ten must-sees are missed.
Blessed with variety of tourist attractions, Tianjin is a good place to explore. The top ten attractions in Tianjin, known as Jinmen Shijing, are Huangyaguan Pass, Dule Temple, Ancient Cultural Street, Mount Pan, Tianjin Radio and Television Tower, Tianjin Water Park, Nanshi Food Street and Hotel Street, Haihe River, Dagu Fort, and Zhonghuan Cailian. There are also many natural scenes of beauty as well as great historical events. These ten must-haves would a great highlight in your China travel deals of Tianjin.
Kaleidoscopic Liulichang in Beijing China
Liulichang is known throughout China and the world for its ancient books, calligraphy, paintings, rubbings, ink stones and ink. The street, which is only 750 meters long, is located south of Hepingmen (Peace) Gate within walking distance of the Hepingmen Quanjude Peking Roast Duck. If you are an art-buff, meandering around the Liulichang Street would be an unforgettable experience along your China travel of Beijing.
In Ming and Qing times, Liulichang was a favorite haunt for scholars, painters and calligraphers that gathered there to write, compile and purchase books, as well as to paint and compose poetry. By the Kangxi period (1661-1722), Liulichang had become a flourishing cultural center and was described as having “homes and buildings lined up like fish scales.” During the Qianlong period (1736-1796), the street was even more prosperous. There one could find “rooms filed to the roof beams with all kinds of books,”“a street filled with treasures and trinkets,” and the “quintessence of all the markets in the capital concentrated in one street.” When Emperor Qianlong decided to revise the Complete Library of the Four Branches of Literature, he ordered scholars from the project, and Liulichang became a center for research in textual criticism. For visiting scholars, a book-buying trip to Liulichang’ s over 30 bookstores was one of the pleasure of a stay in Beijing.
The Liulichang of Qianlong period was described in the notes of Li Wenzao: “To the south of the kiln is bridge which separates the tile works in to two sections. To the east of the bridge, the street is narrow and for the most part, the shops there sell spectacles, metal flues for household use, and daily necessities. To the west of the bridge, the road is wider, and besides the regular bookshops, there are shops selling antiques and other curios, shops specializing in calligraphy books, scroll mounters, professional scribes, engravers of name seals and wooden blocks for painting, as well as shops where stone tablets are inscribed. Here also are shops offering the articles needed by a scholar participating in the imperial examinations-brushed, paper, ink bottles, paperweights…” This was Liulichang up till the end of the Qing Dynasty. In his book Postscript to the Bookshops of Liulicahng, the bibliographer Miao Quansun (1844-1919) listed bookshops, the names of which had remained unchanged from the Qianlong period up through the early 20th century. Those established more recently were also recorded, of which one, Hanwenzhai, was still in business during the 1950s. Liulichang, this ancient area, has contributed greatly to China tourism of Beijing, because it has become a must-have for art-favored travelers domestic and abroad.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Superior-Level Normal School, the Five-Cities (in the Ming, Beijing was divided into five city districts) School and the headquarters of the Telephone Company were built on the site of the glazed tile works. In 1927, when Hepingmen (Peace) Gate was opened up in the city wall, the bridge was demolished and Nanxinhua Road was built, dividing Liulichang into eastern and western sections. The east became known as a center for antiques and curious, while the west was famous for its books. Shanghai Commercial Press, China Publishing House and Youzheng Press, which published books of Chinese calligraphy, all established branches here.
To the scenery-lovers, they may take Yangtze River cruises to as their starting point of their China travel, while to the art-seekers, they may prefer to discover more about Chinese art along their travel. In this case, exploring the ancient books, calligraphy, paintings, rubbings, ink stones and
The Magnificent Imperial College in Beijing China
The Imperial College is located immediately to the west of the Confucian Temple and, in fact, connects with the temple through a side gate. Generally recognized as the highest official institution of learning in imperial China, it was first established in 1287 during the Yuan Dynasty and subsequently enlarged several times, attaining its present dimensions during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. After the founding of the People's Republic in 1949, the Imperial College was completely renovated and the Capital Library was incorporated within its grounds. If you want to discover Chinese education along your China vacation packages, heading to Beijing to visit the imposing Imperial College, the highest official institution of learning in imperial China, would definitely a must-have for you.
After entering the main gate, the visitor will be confronted by a pair of wells and the Taixue (Highest Scholarship) Gate, also known as the Jixian (Assembled Virtue) Gate. Inside this gate is a glazed tile memorial archway with bell and drum towers to the east and west. Directly in front of the gate is the famous Biyong (Jade Disc) Hall. The square pavilion, which stands in the center of a circular pond, has a double-eaved roof surmounted by a gilded sphere. The pond is crossed by four marble bridges and provided on four sides with stone spouts in the shape of dragonheads. It was here that eh emperor came occasionally to expound the classics to an audience composed of civil and military officials from the imperial court and students of the Imperial College. After the new visa free transit policy in China is announced, many visiting this ancient dynastic city during their transiting period is workable now, so many travelers prefer to explore the Imperial College during this period.
The east and west auxiliary halls of the Biyong Hall originally housed the Qianlong Stone Scriptures. In the middle of the 18th century, Emperor Qianlong ordered to have the Thirteen Classics engraved in stone. To carry out this order, Jiang Heng, a scholar from Jiangsu Province, spent 20 years carving the 630,000 Chinese characters onto 189 stone tablets. Today these tables are located to the east of the Taixue Gate.
Behind the Biyong Hall stands the former Chongwen (Exalted Literature) Pavilion, which was used as a library during the Yuan Dynasty. Later its name became the Yilun (Ethics) Hall. Here the emperor and other noted scholars gave lectures during the period before the Biyong Hall was built. It is now one of the reading rooms of the Capital Library. To enrich their Beijing trip, many travelers traveling with their children particularly ask their China tour operators to arrange the Imperial College in their itinerary, because this site is of significant educational value.
Magnificent Sanxingdui Museum in Sichuan China
The Sanxingdui Museum is near an archaeological site that dates to the Neolithic, Shang and Zhou periods. In 1988 this site was declared a National Key Cultural Relics Protected Unit, due to its scope, the wealth of its contents, and the rarity and precious nature of its excavated objects. Before your Yangtze River cruise starts, if you still have some, paying a visit to Sanxingdui Museum is highly recommended.
The site is north of Nanxing Town of Guanghan City in Sichuan Province. It is mainly located on the raised platform between the Yazi River and the Mamu River and it covers 12 square kilometers in total area. The most concentrated parts of the site are at the towns of Sanxing, Rensheng, Zhenwu, and Huilong.
The artifacts from Sanxingdui have had global influence. In 1986, two large Shang-period sacrificial pits were unearthed with more than one thousand gold, bronze, and jade objects, shocking the entire country and shaking the world. Among other things, the finds proved that Sanxingdui was the capital of the ancient Shu Kingdom more than 3,000 years ago. Of all the objects excavated at Sanxingdui, the bronzes are the most fabulous and strange, with their high degree of historical, artistic and scientific value. If you are a relics-lovers, discovering the Sanxingdui Museum would undoubtedly a must-have along your China vacation packages of Sichuan.
Ceramics: Most of the ceramics unearthed at Sanxingdui are made of 'jiashahe' clay and are made on a wheel. They date mainly from four periods: the first from some 4,800 to 4,000 years ago, during a representative Neolithic period culture in the Sichuan basin, the second is roughly contemporary with Xia to Shang, the third with the late Shang, and the fourth with late Shang to the early Western Zhou. From the shape, decoration, and base and method of manufacture, the above ceramics represent an unbroken line of development of Shu culture.
Jades: Although not numerous, the level of production is high and these are well preserved. Among them are ceremonial objects, military objects and tools, with the blades still as sharp as when they were buried. The blades of these objects are so very thin that one can see they were ceremonial in nature and not for actual work or warfare.
Gold objects: Not only were the gold objects excavated from Sanxingdui very finely made but they were quite special. They included face masks and various kinds of ceremonial equipment. Among them, a gold staff, with a human head carved on top with fish, birds, and grain is executed in a fine manner with an extremely beautiful pattern.
Bronzes: The Sanxingdui bronzes have been exhibited both inside and outside China and have shaken the field of art history. The imaginative power of the human statues in particular, their artistic exaggeration, majesty, refinement, and execution make them truly divine works among Shang and Zhou bronzes.
To many mature-appreciating-lovers, Yangtze River tour would be the most attractive destination if they only have time for one attraction in Chongqing, while to the culture-lovers, they may prefer to pay a visit to the Sanxingdui Museum to get closer to ancient Ba Shu culture.
Breathtaking Water Mill Gully (Shuimo Valley) in Urumqi
Water Mill Gully is located in a northeastern suburb of Urumqi, about 5 kilometers from the urban area. The Water Mill River flows through the gully, with old woods embracing the two banks, fountain water spewing out from the river, and beautiful pavilions scattered around. As early as the Qing Dynasty, it was constructed as a tourist attraction, and there were a large quantity of visitors during summer. There is a famous hot spring in the gully with yearly temperatures ranging from 28℃ to 30℃. This spring water contains several elements like potassium, sodium, magnesium, potassium nitrate and zinc, etc. This mineral-laden water is supposed to have a curative effect on the arthritis and dermatosis, and is famous as a healing mineral water. In 1982, a Hospital of Physical Therapy was built on the site. With the introduction of state of the art, Japanese made, medical devices, many visitors have come here for therapeutic getaways. There are plenty of nearby sights to explore such as the Water Mill Gully Park, the Xuelian Mountain Golf Club, and the Longji Horsemanship Club, etc. If you only time for one attraction in Urumqi along your China travel service booked for Urumqi, then it should be Water Mill Gully (Shuimo Valley).
In the Water Mill Gully Park, tens of fountains spews out and converge into rivers creating a spectacular mist. As the temperature of water is 14 ℃ all year around, it is a perennial river. The mill was constructed over 200 years ago, and the “Xiang Fei Chu Yu” (Bathing Beauty) spot is a great place to take in the view. If you want to explore the natural beauty of Urumqi, then your China tour packages should include the Water Mill Gully Park, a must-have in Urumqi.
The Xuelian Mountain Golf Club encompasses around 9,000 Sq/mt, and is located at the foot of Bogda Peak, Tian Shan Mountain. There are 18 holes and 72 bogeys, and the golf course meets the standards of international tournaments. There is also a ski resort, tennis courts and other facilities for entertainment.
Longji Horsemanship Club takes is about 1,500 Sq/mt. It has a standard racing track 1,400 meters long and more than 70 horses of fine breed. It offers tours of Tian Shan Mountain by horseback, a chance to feel the life of a true cowboy of the western pastures. Skiing is also possible here in the winter. In brief, Water Mill Gully is an all-around tourist attraction, offering natural beauty, historical sights, man-made entertainment parks and ethnic folklore together in one place.
If China travel destination is mentioned, many people may think of Yangtze River cruises, while to the adventure-lovers, they may prefer to discover the northwest part of China, then Xinjiang may meet their preference. In this case, why not pay a visit to Water Mill Gully in Urumqi?
Kaleidoscope Aqua City: A Brand New Zone in Hong Kong Ocean Park
Hong Kong Ocean Park launched a new flagship marine-themed zone - "Aqua City" on Jan. 26th, in the hope that these fresh attractions will bring 15 percent more tourists to the theme park. Hong Kong Ocean Park launched a new flagship marine-themed zone - "Aqua City" on Wednesday, in the hope that these fresh attractions will bring 15 percent more tourists to the theme park. If you are having a China travel with your kids, then you should never miss visiting the Hong Kong Ocean Park, the most favorable places for children.
Chairman of Hong Kong Ocean Park Allan Zeman said at a ceremony to mark the event that the opening of the "Aqua City" represents the birth of the New Ocean Park as it "gives us a new flagship aquarium and a new iconic entrance." He expected the Aqua City will lure more tourists from not only the Chinese mainland, but also from Philippines, India and South Korea, regions which have provided the largest share of attendance to the park in 2010. It is no wonder that many China travel agencies particularly arranged the Hong Kong Ocean Park to the family Hong Kong tours. It senses make sense now.
The newly-unveiled "Aqua City" includes three major attractions. Among them, Grand Aquarium features the world's largest aquarium viewing dome, where guests can encounter around 5,000 marine animals of over 400 species. Ocean Park opened in 1977 and is now among the world's top 15 most visited theme parks.
For visiting China, many people may prefer to take the Tibet travel to discover the mysterious Holy Land to discover ethnic minorities there, while to the modern-seekers, Hong Kong may fall to their preference. In this case, a visit to the Hong Kong Ocean Park should never be missed.
Ancient Songtangzhai Museum: A Place to Honor Old Culture Rising from Rubble in Beijing China
Songtangzhai Museum is tucked in tree-lined Chengxian Street of central Beijing's Dongcheng District. Peacefully tucked in tree lined Guozijian Street, just opposite the Lama Temple, Songtangzhai Museum appears as a tiny little antique without glimmering modern decoration. Yet when you approach it, you will find every part of it is engraved with brilliant but probably unfamiliar traditional Chinese culture. It is regrettable that such masterpieces are often hidden somewhere few people recognize. Especially today, as our city is growing bigger and faster, many historical relics are gradually disappearing from our memory. If you only have time to see one museum of carving arts theme along your 72-hour visa free travel in Beijing, it should be the Songtangzhai Museum.
Thanks to the curator Li Songtang, who has dedicated half his life to collecting and preserving Beijing's past, history will not be completely lost in the expansion. He has saved thousands of cultural relics by poking around the rubble. His collections mainly consist of folk items, including an elaborate gate pier, ornate wooden doorways, lacquered screens, and hitching posts, which occupy a 18th century serene courtyard in Beijing's central Dongcheng District.
From an 11th century lintel carved with hundreds of people, animals and plants, a pair of Yuan Dynasty gate piers, to a Qing Dynasty stepping stone, the refined patterns engraved on every item has an interesting tale which can be dated back to hundreds of years ago. No China tours in Beijing of museum discovery is fantastic enough without visiting the Songtangzhai Museum, a place to honor old culture rising from rubble.
Wang Banruo, an English teacher from Beijing Jiaotong University, also appreciates these ancient pieces of art. She leads a group of students to visit this museum and pays the entrance fees from her own pocket, as part of a field study. Wang said her foreign friends usually find Chinese culture quite fascinating and amazing but really hard to access. She found the same thing happened among her students. "Probably because of modernization, students are more familiar with foreign culture than our own domestic ancient cultures. I think this is a tragedy. So although I'm an English teacher, I made up my mind to be a basic Chinese culture transformer. I like to be a basic intermediary, to introduce the Chinese culture, especially the ancient aspects to the modern students and to foreign friends." It is no wonder that so many culture lovers particularly request their China travel agents to arrange the Kaleidoscope Songtangzhai Museum in their itinerary.
The museum charges 10 Yuan or 1.5 Dollars as entrance fee, and the front courtyard is rented to help make ends meet. Currently, there are no government subsidies for private museums, according to Zhang Wenguang, the executive curator at Songtangzhai Museum.
Impressive Wang Family Grand Courtyard: A Typical Ancient Residence on the Loess Plateau
An enclosed residence stands on the Loess Plateau, covering more than 250,000 square meters. This is Wang Family Grand Courtyard, a typical ancient residence in Shanxi Province, northern China. If you want to extend your Xian travel, then you could ask your China tour agents to arrange Taiyuan into your itinerary as most travelers did to discover the impressive Wang Family Grand Courtyard, the reputedly Folk Forbidden City.
More than 200 years ago, a group of successful merchants made splendid achievements in Shanxi Province. They made huge investments in residential buildings and created a number of gorgeous ancient residences which attract numerous visitors nowadays. Wang Family Grand Courtyard is a typical one which was built up continuously during the Qing Dynasty.
The whole residence was divided into five parts, and each decorated with elements of a lucky animal in the Chinese tradition, such as dragons, phoenixes, and tigers. Two parts of the residence, Gaojiaya and Hongmenbao, are open to the public. If your China travel deals is of ancient Chinese architectural art discovery, then a visit to the Wang Family Grand Courtyard has something for you.
The two yards were built up by the hillside. Exquisite brick-carving, wood-carving and stone-carving with dragons and phoenixes decorate the architectures. As the years passed by, the well-preserved architectures show outstanding skills of the craftsmen.
The layout of the yards shows the strict hierarchical system of ancient China. Rooms and yards with different scales used to be offered to people with different status. Besides, the height of eaves and the width of paths represented the status of the owners. These independent houses were connected by staggered paths and formed a huge maze for strangers.
When China travel is talking about, many people may think of Yangtze River cruise, while to the culture-lovers, they may prefer to see something about culture-testimonies, such as art, architectures and the like. In this case, a visit to Wang Family Grand Courtyard is what they are looking for.
Impressive Forbidden City in Beijing China
Forbidden City, a must-see for a Beijing travel, is the best-preserved imperial palace in China presently, which is also the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. As the masterpiece of traditional Chinese architectural complex, the Forbidden City attracts tens of thousands of travelers home and abroad to pay a visit every year. If you only have time for one attraction in Beijing along your 72-hour visa free China travel, Forbidden City should be it.
Located in the center of Beijing, Forbidden City was the place where 24 emperors in Ming and Qing dynasty lived and handled their state affairs in ancient times. It was begun to build in the fourth year of Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty in 1406, and was finished in 1420, lasting 14 years in total. It stretches 720 thousands of square meters in size, and one-fifth of which is occupied by architectures. It hosts 8707 splendid palaces, timber-structured, glazed tile-roofed and green-white-stone-based.
In ancient times, it was said that emperor was the son of Heaven, and therefore Heaven’s supreme power was bestowed upon emperors. The emperors’ residence on earth was built as a replica of the Purple Palace where God was thought to live in Heaven. The Forbidden City is divided into two parts, the southern section and the northern section. The southern section, also known as the Outer Court, was the place where the emperor handled the state affairs. The northern section, or the Inner Court, was where the emperor and his royal family lived. If you want to discover the architectural art of imperial palace in ancient times, then you could ask your China travel agents to arrange Forbidden City into your itinerary.
For security purpose, the Forbidden City is enclosed by ten-meter-high walls, which is 961 meters in length and 753 meters in width. Outside the wall lies a defensive moat, 3800 meters in length and 52 meters in width. At each corner of the Forbidden City stands a magnificent watchtower, which was closely guarded by the soldiers in the past.
The Forbidden City is reputed as one of the top five famous palaces in the world, including Versailles palace in French, Buckingham Palace in UK, White House in America and Kremlin Palace in Russia. As a treasure house of Chinese cultural and historical relics, the Forbidden City was listed into World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO In 1987.
Nowadays, the Forbidden City is open to world-wide tourists and it appeals numerous travel-addicts with its magnificent scale, and gorgeous palaces and profound history. No memorable Beijing trip is complete without visiting the overwhelming Forbidden City. Come to the Forbidden City and discover why countless travelers come here despite of fatigue and long journey.
After the new visa free transit policy in China is announced and many travelers prefer to visit something during the limited transiting time. In this case, a visit to Forbidden City should never be missed.
Chinese History, Culture and China Travel Destinations
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations. The written history of China can be found as early as the Shang Dynasty (c. 1700–1046 BC), although ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian (ca. 100 BC) and Bamboo Annals assert the existence of a Xia Dynasty before the Shang.[2][3] Much of Chinese culture, literature and philosophy further developed during the Zhou Dynasty (1045–256 BC). Have the unforgettable China tours to discover the ancient Chinese history. Chinese culture is one of the world's oldest. The area in which the culture is dominant covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces. Important components of Chinese culture include literature, music, visual arts, martial arts, cuisine, etc. Plan the China travel packages to explore Chinese culture heartily.
China is also a world-renowned tourist country, which appeals numerous travel-addicts annually. To travel China, the terrific Yangtze River cruise tour is what you can not miss.
Why Travel to China Despite of Fatigue and Long Journey?
As a kid, someone probably told that if you kept digging a hole, you’d eventually end up in China. Hopefully that person wasn’t your science teacher otherwise you probably also learned that humans hunted dinosaurs to extinction.
But my point is, China was another planet as far as you knew — some far-off, alien place that you’d never see. The closest you could hope for was a Panda Express in the food court at your local mall followed by a lame Jackie Chan buddy-cop movie. After your Yangtze River cruise finishes in Chongqing, you could pay a visit to the Chengdu Zoo to see the lovely pandas and interact with them.Today China travel is almost as common as the clichéd summer backpacking tour through Europe. And with an upgraded tourist infrastructure following the 2008 Olympics in Beijing — China’s impressive coming out party — it’s never been easier to explore one of the world’s most fascinating civilizations.
Writers like to describe China as a sleeping giant that has woken from a long slumber. If you’ve been reading the news, you know that China has not only woken up, it woke up with morning wood, had some strong tea, and is honking its horn all the way to work. Yes, without a doubt, modern China is now wide awake and overly-caffeinated. And for better or worse, it’s growing into a global power that will help shape the next millennium. But prepare to have your preconceptions shattered. Indeed, it' s easy to get an inaccurate picture of China from “what they say.” There’s no shortage of negative press: government crackdowns, earthquakes, corruption, poisoned dog food, and out-of-control pollution. But these media fragments give a hazy, distorted view. In contrast, I wonder what impressions a first-time visitor to the U.S. must have? A war-loving and water-boarding government, drive-by shootings, terrorist bombers, serial killers, crazed postal employees, levee breaks, and oil spills. Do they think we’re all Super-sized, gun-crazed, gas-guzzling, road-raging, celebrity-obsessed, Octomom freakshows? (the fact that it’s all true is beside the point). My point is, to even start to understand modern China you need to leave your preconceptions at home and dive in headfirst. Join the private China tours and go to see it by yourself!Peking Opera, the Essence of China
Peking opera or Beijing opera is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing Dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. Peking opera is a must-have for your China tours to Beijing. Peking opera features four main types of performers. Performing troupes often have several of each variety, as well as numerous secondary and tertiary performers. With their elaborate and colorful costumes, performers are the only focal points on Peking opera's characteristically sparse stage. They utilize the skills of speech, song, dance, and combat in movements that are symbolic and suggestive, rather than realistic. Above all else, the skill of performers is evaluated according to the beauty of their movements. Performers also adhere to a variety of stylistic conventions that help audiences navigate the plot of the production. The layers of meaning within each movement must be expressed in time with music. The music of Peking opera can be divided into the Xipi and Erhuang styles. Melodies include arias, fixed-tune melodies, and percussion patterns. The repertoire of Peking opera includes over 1,400 works, which are based on Chinese history, folklore, and, increasingly, contemporary life. Liyuan Theater is suggested to watch Peking Opera for your China tour deal.
Peking opera was denounced as 'feudalistic' and 'bourgeois' during the Cultural Revolution, and replaced with the eight revolutionary model operas as a means of propaganda and indoctrination[9] After the Cultural Revolution, these transformations were largely undone. In recent years, Peking opera has attempted numerous reforms in response to sagging audience numbers. These reforms, which include improving performance quality, adapting new performance elements, and performing new and original plays, have met with mixed success. No China vacation packages are complete without watching the terrific Peking Opera.The Profound Chinese Dining Culture
Since China is a large tourist country, which is endowed with profound Chinese culture, which attracts numerous travel-lovers to join diversified China vacation packages annually. Chinese culture is profound in different kinds of aspects. Chinese people love to eat and China boasts one of the world's greatest cuisines. During the long development of Chinese eating culture, many practices have evolved that foreign visitors may find quite different from what they are used to and even consider weird. These pages have been written to help those from other parts of the world to understand Chinese eating culture.
China is a country with a long history of ritual and etiquette, and eating is highly important feature of China’s culture, so naturally dining etiquette has developed to a high degree. Dining etiquette is said to have its beginnings in the Zhou Dynasty (1045-256 BC). Through thousands of years of evolution it has developed into a set of generally accepted dining rituals and practices. However, there is still variation in table etiquette according to the character and purpose of a banquet and great differences regionally. Your China travel is incomplete without knowing Chinese dinning etiquette.
Eating Ambience
Being surrounded by much loud talking and laughing is a typical ambience at a Chinese restaurant. (This goes against what you will see on the dining etiquette page about talking little and quietly and laughing reservedly, as will many other things you see in restaurants.) Chinese people like a noisy and upbeat atmosphere when having a gathering and meals are no exception. People regard it as a rule of thumb that if the dishes of a restaurant are good and tasty then the restaurant will be noisy and busy. The crowds at a restaurant indicate the deliciousness of the dishes. If you want a quiet place to enjoy your meal, some restaurants provide private rooms with one or more tables.
Book the China travel deals and discover the profound Chinese dinning etiquette by yourself!
Chinese Mid-autumn Day, an Important Traditional Festival in China
China is a world-renowned large tourist country, which attracts tens of thousands of travel-addicts domestic and abroad to join different kinds of China tour deals despite of fatigue and long journey. Besides its breathtaking landscape, China is also endowed with profound culture. When mentioning Chinese culture, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is what cannot be missed.
The 15th day of every 8th lunar month is the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. It is the most important festival after the Chinese Lunar New Year. The moon on the night of the 15th day of lunar August is believed to be fuller and brighter than in other months. A full moon is a symbol of togetherness. As such, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion. It's also called "Reunion Festival". Those unable to get home to join the get-together miss their family even more on the festival. The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival derived from the tradition of worshipping the Goddess of Moon. The festival is also a time to celebrate a good autumn harvest. It dates back thousands of years and the modern-day festive customs were gradually formed over the years. Generally speaking, eating moon cakes, enjoying the moon and lighting up lanterns are common traditions on the festival.
In addition, various parts of the country and all ethnic minorities have different Mid-Autumn Festival customs. In Nanjing, the festival coincides with the blooming season of sweet-scented osmanthus flowers. Local people like to pick fresh osmanthus flowers for delicious food preparing. They traditionally eat osmanthus flower ducks and drink the flower juice. In Zhejiang, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an ideal time for tide watching. Fire dragon dances are usually performed in Hong Kong on the festival and people in Anhui do a game called "pagoda building" and the Dai ethnic people pay tribute to the moon and the Gaoshan ethic people usually perform ball-holding dance. All these interesting customs are an indication of people's love of life and good wishes for a better future. It is no wonder that so many foreigners prefer discover Chinese culture further after they finished their first-time China travel.
There are lots of Chinese legends about the moon. The story of Goddess Chang'e, Wu Gang and the Jade Rabbit living on the moon is still popular today. There have been numerous poems about the Mid-Autumn Festival since ancient times, the most famous piece being Shui Diao Ge Tou by the Northern Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo. Although he lamented by writing "Men have sorrow and joy, they part or meet again; the moon may be bright or dim, she may wax or wane. There has been nothing perfect since the olden days", he also expressed his wishes by writing "So let us wish that man will live long as he can; though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.", reflecting how much those far away from home would like to reunite with their families and how deeply they missed their hometowns.
No China tour packages are complete enough without experiencing the terrific Chinese festivals! Come to China and experience it by yourself!
Fuxi and Nvwa are the human ancestors in Chinese ancient mythic legends
Story has it that Fuxi is not only the clan leader in the east and the chief of the three sage kings and five virtuous emperors of China at the dawn of human civilization, but also an omnipotent wise man capable of various kinds of skills. He created the Eight Diagrams and simulated the spider to weave fishing net. He was not only able to make musical instruments, but also good at cooking tasty food. Moreover, he contributed a lot to the traditional Chinese medicine and was the forefather of Chinese civilization. He also formulated etiquettes and regulations for people, reducing the barbaric marriage by plundering. Every year, millions of Chinese-culture-lovers flock to China for discovery during their China tours.
Nvwa is a famous female leader during the remote legendary period of China, provided with powerful abilities. It is said that a great disaster once took place in nature and then the heaven collapsed, the earth was sunken, and wild beasts cruelly killed common people. Nvwa repaired the heaven with colored rocks and killed the brutal beasts. She also used clay to create humans and human society by simulating her own appearance. It is also said that Nvwa invented a kind of musical instrument called reed pipe wind instrument so that she is esteemed as a musical goddess. Moreover, she created the marriage system to enable humans to multiply offspring, so she is called the marriage goddess. In China, people living in different places have different culture, if you have a Tibet travel , then you can discover the Tibetan culture, which is brimming with ethnic features.
There are a lot of legends on Fuxi and Nvwa, which are recorded in many Chinese ancient books such as Book of Changes, Elegies of Chu, Writings of Prince Huainan and Book of Mountains and Seas. These myths have all been passed down and their impact is very wide and profound. Up to now, the Miao and Dong peoples in China's Yunnan Province still worship Nvwa as their own primogenitor.
Every year, many students joined different kinds of educational China tours during their summer or winter holiday to discover Chinese culture. When discovering Chinese culture, Chinese legend can not be missed.
Discover the Fantastic Dragon Dance of China
Dragon Dance is also known as "Playing dragon lantern" and "Dance of dragon lantern", with the "Dragon" made of grasses, bamboos and cloth as the main prop. Dragon dance is very popular around China during the Spring Festival and the Festival of Lanterns. Dragon in Chinese culture is a symbol of fortune, nobility, bravery and, especially, power. The archetype of Dragon Dance is the "Dance" performed in the Emperor Yan and Emperor Yellow period for sacrificing the heaven and praying for the rain, in which some witches danced like dragons soaring into the sky. Thence, people weaved "Grass Dragon" with haulms and osiers and invented the dragon dance. During festivals, people perform dragon dance to pray for the blessing of the dragon and a good harvest. If you are lucky enough and your China tour deals just falls into Chinese Spring Festival, you should never miss watching the terrific Dragon Dance, which would offer you more idea about Chinese custom.
Dragon dance is a form of traditional dance and performance in Chinese culture. Like the lion dance it is most often seen in festive celebrations. Many Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity, as part of a trend started in the 1970s. Another derivation is from i.e. the descendants of Shennong, the legendary first king of the Chinese people who taught them agriculture, law and medicine, the foundations of civilization. Many private China tours of spring festival discovery theme mostly provided the dragon dance discovery activities in their itineraries.
The dance team mimics the supposed movements of this river spirit in a sinuous, undulating manner. The movements in a performance traditionally symbolise historical roles of dragons demonstrating power and dignity. The dragon dance is a highlight of Chinese New Year celebrations held worldwide in Chinatowns around the world.
Dragons are believed to bring good luck to people, which is reflected in their qualities that include great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness. The appearance of a dragon is both frightening and bold but it has a benevolent disposition, and so eventually became an emblem to represent imperial authority.
To discover China, many travelers may think of take a Yangtze River tour to discover the Mother River of China, while to the culture-lovers, they may want to experience more about Chinese customs and the like. In this case, watching the dragon dance would be a must-have along their China travel.
Beautiful Taiping Lake: The Largest Man-made Lake in Anhui China
Taiping Lake is the largest man-made lake in Anhui province. Surrounded by mountains, the scenic area boasts beautiful waters, differently-shaped peninsulas, and stunning stones. Its advantageous location, good harmonious ecological environment, abundant products, and profound culture predict a prosperous future of tourism.
Taiping Lake is located at the southern foot of Mt. Huangshan and to the southeast of Mt. Jiuhua. It is only about 30 kms away from the north entrance of Mt. Huangshan and the south entrance of Mt. Jiuhua and hasbecome a natural ligament connecting the two mountains. The Taiping Lake scenic area covers 275 square kilometers. It looks from the air like two dragons lying within the mountains. In June of 2000, the provincial government determined to boost the province’s economy by promoting tourism focusing on Mt. Huangshan, Mt. Jiuhua, and Taiping Lake. Since then, Taiping Lake has been as important as Mt. Huangshan and Mt. Jiuhua to the province’s tourism and nicknamed “loving mate of Mt.Huangshan.” If you want to explore the beautiful man-made lakes along your China tours , then a visit to Taiping Lake is highly recommended, which is the largest man-made lake in China.
As a mountainous lake, Taiping Lake covers an area of about 88.6 square kilometers, holding 2.4 billion cubic meters of water. It is 60 kilometers long from east to west, with a maximum width of 6 kilometers and a minimum of just 150 meters. Converged by the brooks of Mt. Huangshan and Mt. Jiuhua, the water is limpid and meets the frist grade of the national water quality standards. The forest coverage of the mountains around reaches 95 percent. Hidden in the green mountains, Taiping Lake enjoys a reputation as "Jade of South of Yangtze River".
The central part of Taiping Lake is wide. The mist-covered water joins the sky at the edge. The canyons at the upper and lower reaches of the lake zigzags to the farmost and the chain of mountains strew at random. The five major scenic spots are Lingyang Hill, Taiping Bay, Gold Island, Sanmen Canyon,and Wushi Ridge. The most popular attraction is at the Gold Island in the lower reaches of the lake. Enchanted by Taiping Lake, the famous Chinese poet Su Wang toured the lake in 1980 and wrote a poem in appreciation of its unparalleled beauty compared with the country's other tourism attractions. No affordable China tour package to Anhui is fantastic enough without discovering the most beautiful man-made Taiping Lake beside the enthralling Huangshan Mountain.
Taiping Lake is endowed with superior ecological environment. Beside the lake grows over 400 kinds of plants from 41 species. Near half of them are ornamental plants. The area is inhabitated by about 170 birds, 70 mammals, and 40 freshwater fishes. It is also rich in fruits and various local specialties, such as the world famous Taiping Houkui green tea, Huangshan Maofeng green tea, Longmen persimmon, Chinese goosebeery, Qiaoshan Chinese torreya nuts, dried wild fish, and Taiping silver fish.
The history of Taiping Lake scenic area can be traced back to 109 BC when it was built into Lingyang county. Till 1950s, the area at the foot of Lingyang mountain at the central part of Taiping lake had been the location of the county. According to the folklore, Lingyang mountain is the place where Dou Ziming, the first magistrate of Lingyang county in Han Dynasty, cultivated himself and finally became an immortal. To the west of the lake still exists Xifeng Temple and Yongqing Nunnery, the only temples preserved from the history. Tools of the New Stone Age were found near the Egret (Bailu) islet. Some other historic sites like old-timey Longyao, mysterious Eight Diagrams (Bagua) Island, and the grand Taiping Lake bridge also marked the flourishing culture and profound history of the area.
The advantageous location, superior ecologial environment, beautiful scenery, and rich resources lay a solid foundation for the future development of Taiping Lake. With the support of policy, clear market orientation, and the opening of Hefei-Tongling-Huangshan expressway, a splendid future is unfolded for Taiping Lake. Combining the advanced development concept of international tourism programming with the unique geographic situation and abundant resources of Taiping Lake, experts from home and abroad worked out the development target for Taiping Lake that is to build the scenic area into an international tourism resort.
No visiting China is talked about, many travels would plan to have the terrific Yangtze River cruises as most people did, while to the culture-lovers, they may pay a visit to the historical and cultural places like Anhui and Beijing. When visiting Anhui, a visit to the beautiful Taiping Lake should never be missed.
Travel Tip for Visiting Yabuli Town in Heilongjiang Province China
Dubbed the City of Snow, Yabuli Town, 193.8 kilometers east of Harbin, the capital of northeastern China’s Heilongjiang Province, is characterized by a high concentration of ski resorts, of which the Yabuli Ski Resort is the largest in the nation. The resort includes runs for both tourists and expert skiers, becoming a winter paradise for both competitors and novices. This winter, I made a trip to the resort with some friends. The following tips would be a great help along your China travel deals to Yabuli Town, Heilongjiang Province.
Tourists can drive to Yabuli by themselves. Also, trains run daily between Harbin and Yabuli. Passengers can then take a bus from the Yabuli Railway Station to the ski resort. Admission to the ski resort is 10 yuan per person.
Many lodging options are available at Yabuli Ski Resort, including family guesthouses, apartments, and 3-star hotels. Advanced reservations are recommended during holidays. Typically, the room rates are higher on weekends than weekdays. A standard room in star-rated hotels costs about 680 yuan per night. Tourists are strongly recommended to try family hotels, which offer brick beds heated by firewood and special countryside cuisine at affordable prices. Each bed costs a few dozen yuan per person. Many China tour agents also suggest their travelers to stay in the family hotels to experience the lifestyle of local people.
Eating rural cuisine and local dishes featuring wild animals such as pheasant and rabbit, and sipping homemade liquor are must-do activities during Yabuli’s chilly winter. Skiers are suggested to pack snacks, such as Harbin sausages, kvass, milk tea, bread, and chocolate. As a hot tourist destination, Yabuli features comparatively expensive prices. Bringing as much food as possible is an ideal strategy to save money. Eating the local cuisine of Heilongjiang province would be a great experience along your private China tour to Yabuli Town in Heilongjiang Province.
Discover the Delicate Craft on Clothings of the National Minorities in China
The women of the national minorities excel in these crafts.Pringting and dyeing in either monochrome paper matrix printing or color-process block printing are two different methods.In Za Ran(tie-dyeing),sewn and folded designs are immersed in dyestuff,and in La Ran(batik),wax-coated designs placed are in vats filled with dye materials.Examples of these processes may be found in Uygur nationality's polychrome printing,the Bai nationality's Za Ran and the Miao and Buyi nationality's La Ran. If you want to discover the craft on clothings of the national minorities along your China travel packages, I think this post would give you much hint on this.
Brocade,the interweaving of colored silk and or cotton threads into one piece,is best exemplified by the highly regarded brocade of the Zhuang,Dai,Tong and Tujia nationalities.The most commonly employed methods of embroidery are the plain stitch and the cross-stitch.Various other methods are braiding,coiling,creasing and cocoon-like winding.The Miao,Li and Uygur nationalities show expert embroidery skills. Many travel-lovers particularly request their China travel agents to arrange the Chinese folk culture discovery activities in their itinerary, I think these handicrafts should never be missed.
Embroidered Baby Carrier
Dong Nationality
Liping,Guizhou Province
Late 20th century
Embroidered Belt Wallet
Li Nationality
Yunnan Province
Late 20th century
Embroidered Shoulder Bag
Shui Nationality
Sandu,Guizhou Province
Late 20th century
Braided Embroidered Material
Braided embroidered material for making sleeves
Miao Nationality. Many travelers prefer to buy some braided embroidered materials after their affordable china tours finished as the souvenirs for their trips.
Taigong,Guizhou Province
Late 20th century
Discover Chinese Culture Further-Cantonese Opera
Yueju or Cantonese Opera is one of the major categories of Chinese opera and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage. For the next two months, acclaimed Hong Kong artists will perform spectacular Yueju Opera, usually high-pitched melodrama accompanied by percussion and suona (traditional oboe-like instrument). The shows are part of the Hong Kong Arts Festival demonstrating the region's traditional arts and culture in the year of the World Expo in Shanghai. On August 19-20, Yueju Opera lovers will be treated to a classic performance and a new innovative play at Shanghai Theater Academy. The first performance features excerpts from "The Imperial Emperor of Heaven Holds Court," about the immortals' celebration. If you want to discover essence of Chinese culture along your China vacation packages, I think appreciating Yueju Opera is a must-have along your tour.
The newly created show "Cao Cao, Guan Yu and Diao Chan" is based on a story of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." It stars Law Ka-ying as general Guan Yu and Liza Wong as the famous beauty Diao Chan. Yueju Opera has much in common with other Chinese opera genres. It features varied performing styles, including martial arts, acrobatics and acting. Most plots are based on Chinese history and famous classics and myths. However, like many other traditional Chinese operas, Yueju Opera also faces difficulties in surviving and developing. The spread of standard Mandarin among the younger generation also puts Cantonese Opera at a disadvantage. Many culture-lovers particularly ask their China tour agents to arrange the Cantonese opera in their itinerary to discover Chinese culture further.
From September 3 to 5, an experimental Yueju Opera, "The Legend of the Purple Jade Hairpin," will be staged. The opera is an attempt by director Fredric Mao to mix the traditional opera with modern elements from film, music and drama. The romantic play by Tang Xianzu is a new interpretation of the ancient love story between young scholar Li Yi and prostitute Huo Xiaoyu. It's about loyalty, morality, love and faithfulness.
For the destination for China travel, the scenery-lovers may want to have the Yangtze River cruises to discover the majestic Yangtze River in their tour, while to the culture-lovers, they may want to see more things about cultural themes. In the latter case, exploring the Cantonese opera is a must-have along their tour.
Discover the Ancient Qinhuai River in Nanjing China
The Qinhuai River used to be called Huai Water, and was renamed Qinhuai for the legend that Qin Emperor Shihuang, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), ordered to introduce Huai Water to the city by excavating a mountain. It is a branch of the Yangtze River, running about 110 kilometers, a major watercourse around Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. It was very famous in the history but lost its fame due to wars, which destroyed many buildings along both banks. The water became filthy and no sign of wealth could be found anymore. After repair and restoration in 1985, the river became a beautiful resort. If you are having a China travel in Nanjing China, cruising along the Qinhuai River to appreciate the breathtaking night-scene of this ancient city is highly recommended.
In Chinese ancient times, places around the Qinhuai River and the Confucian Temple were already very prosperous. The banks along the Qinhuai River were the gathering place for noble and wealthy families, and were also frequently visited by scholars. Those places lost glory once in the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and the Tang Dynasty (618-907), but regained popularity in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Just because of its scale, cruising along the Qinhuai River is totally different from the exciting Yangtze River cruise, which need time to discover the history and culture of Nanjing as the cruise moves forward.
Floating lights are the most famous view on the Qinhuai River. On the river, any boat or ship, large or small, will hang color lamps. It is a very important activity for a visitor to ride such a boat, floating on the river to enjoy the scenes. The prestigious Chinese writer Zhu Ziqing (1898-1948) wrote a verse on the floating lights, which gave a very good description of the wonderful view.
The Confucian Temple is now the center of Qinhuai scenery belt with the Qinhuai River winding through. Other spots are the Zhanyuan Park, Confucian ancient buildings, the Aigrette Island, the Fort at Zhonghua Gate, boats on the river and many views along the banks. The tour is really attractive with so many historical relics, parks, and local features. It is no wonder that many China travel agencies have arranged the cruise on Qinhuai River for the Nanjing itinerary.
Discover Xihe in Gannan Tibetan Region of China
Three interesting features of the area are the natural scenery, the many Tibetan temples and mosques and especially the large Labrang Monestary, and the local folk customs. In the spring and summer, there are a lot of flowers in the surrounding area and there are several local festivals such as the April 15th Niangnai Festival, the June 6th Lotus Hill Flower Festival, the June 15th Arrows Inserting Festival, and the July 6th Shower Festival. During these festivals, the local people have competitions like horse races, elephant tug of wars, and competitions between Yak owners. If you want to discover the Tibetan culture without taking Tibet tours, then a visit to Xiahe is highly recommended, because it is just a epitome of Tibet.
The large Labrang (or Lapuleng) Monastary complex is a spectacle all year around, but especially in the winter because between the 8th and the 16th of the first month of the lunar calendar, the monasteries and temples in the area hold ceremonies and Buddhist gatherings. Special ceremonies during this time are the Buddha Basking Day, Scripture Debate Day, Mask Dance Day, the Exhibition of Colorful Lanterns, and the Qiangba Buddha Touring Day. These festivals are eye-openers for people to know about the Tibetan culture, art, and religion. For those interested in the Tibetan religion, this is the best time to tour Xiahe. Along your Xiahe China travel service, you would get more idea about the culture and life of Tibetans.
Xiahe's has a plateau monsoon climate. The area is cold and humid, with a relatively small annual temperature range, but with relatively big day and night temperature differences. The annual average temperature is 4 °C. In the summer, the average temperature varies between 8 - 14 °C. The annual precipitation varies between 400 – 800 mm. There is an average of about 1800 to 2,600 hours of sunshine a year. The best time for tourists to visit is in the summer in June, July and August. It is warmer, above freezing, and the festivals are a spectacle. But be prepared for the big temperature drops at night. There are often sudden storms, so water-proof shoes, raincoats, and warm clothes are important.
The local Tibetan, Muslim, and Mongolian cuisine appeals to the western sense of taste: yak burgers, yak milk and butter, yogurt, and barbecued beef, along with Muslim-style beef noodles and bread and butter and Muslim tea. You may also like the many Sichuan-style restaurants. Visiting this region, you'll get to taste an unusual variety of ethnic and Chinese food and enjoy a lot of inexpensive beef, lamb, and diary products. Muslim noodle and stir-fry dishes usually taste better. The food is more similar.
To the scenery-lovers, Yangtze River cruises would be their first choice to discover China-the great middle kingdom, while to the culture-lovers, especially that of ethnic minorities, they may pay a visit to the ethnic minority-inhabited area to get closer to these groups. In this case, pay a visit to Xiahe to discover the Tibetan culture should never be missed.
Top Must-sees along Guangzhou China Travel
Guangzhou Chimelong Holiday Resort is located in Panyu District, Guangzhou City. It is a world class tourist kingdom which always brings happiness to the world. The holiday resort is mainly composed of Chimelong Paradise, Chimelong Xiangjiang Safari Park, Chimelong Water Park, Chimelong International Circus, Guangzhou Crocopark, and Chimelong Golf Center. All are full of excitement and wonder waiting for your arrival. Along a Guangzhou travel, many China tour operators usually arrange the following site that popular among travelers.
With almost 60 different attractions, Chimelong Paradise really deserves its name and is proud to be the amusement park whose rides are the richest in China. Many rides, such as the Ten-looped roller coaster, rank as the best in Asia and second in the world, the Motorbike Launch coaster and the Half Pipe will bring you the most exciting feelings. Besides, the paradise provides its visitors with all sorts of performances such as magic tricks, songs and dances, acrobatics and fancy car parades. The international super theater and the most advanced IWERK 4-D Theater supply a new experience in watching films. If you are planning the affordable china tours of Guangzhou, you should never miss Chimelong Paradise, low price but high quality.
The Chimelong Xiangjiang Safari Park is a national-grade wildlife world which is considered to reach international standards. It is the biggest wild animal theme park in Asia and home to over 460 species and 20,000 rare animals including five pandas, 10 koalas, Honduras anteaters, pygmy hippopotamus, black rhinoceros, white tigers and white lions. You are allowed to drive your cars inside the stock area to get a close up view of the wild beasts and this is the best way to watch animals in China. You can feed the animals and take pictures with them. The once fierce beasts such as tigers, bears and lions now cooperate to present you with an excellent performance.
Chimelong Water Park is the biggest water park in Asia and has the most aqua-play structures in the world. All the water park amusements are designed and provided by the world's top aqua-play corporation. Many of them have been awarded with international prizes. For example, "the Tornado" takes visitors who sit in the four-leaf clover shaped ring from high up down a huge horn-like cone. Visitors will feel like they are being absorbed by a tornado. The Family Boomerango, with its breakneck speed, invites family members and friends to have a try. Besides, the advanced water treatment system and the professional first-aid measures ensure the visitor's safety while at the same time of offering them complete happiness on water. The breathtaking Chimelong Water Park is usually included in many private China tour of Guangzhou.
Sacred Yaowang Mountain and the Stone Inscriptions: Commemorating Sun Simiao
Yaowang Mountain is 2 km east of the county seat of Yaoxian County, Shaanxi Province. The Stone Sculptures on Yaowang Mountain, or Bhaisajyaraja, are located on Yaowang Mountain 1.5 kilometers east of the Yaoxian County seat, in Shaanxi, China. There are 200 stone tablets at Yaowang Mountain, erected during the past dynasties; seven grottoes of the Sui and Tang dynasties; as well as Buddhist statues from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty eras. Because Yaowang Mountain is a sacred mountain, many CChina travel agencies particularly arranged Yaowang Mountain to their customers, offering a great chance to them to worship.
Yaowang Mountain was called "Panyu Mountain" in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is 1,100 m above sea level and is formed by five peaks connecting one with another, so it was also called "Wutai Mountain" (Mountain of Five Peaks) from the Song (960-1279) to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The mountain is high but not dangerous, full of green pines and verdant cypresses, with towering ancient trees, being always a famous scenic spot in central China. Its naming of "Yaowang Mountain" has something to do with Sun Simiao, the famous medical scientist of the Tang Dynasty. Sun Simiao (581-682), born in Yaoxian County, was world famous because of his monumental works in medical science such as Qianjin Yaofang (Prescriptions Worth One Thousand Pieces of Gold),Qianjin Yifang (Supplement to Prescriptions Worth One Thousand Pieces of Gold), etc. He wrote thirty books (more than a million words) in his life, and was renowned as "Yaowang" (King of Medicines). Later generations built a Yaowang Temple on Panyu Mountain to commemorate him, hence the name of the mountain. No China vacation deals to Shaanxi China are fantastic enough without visiting the sacred Yaowang Mountain to discover the stone sculptures there.
On Yaowang Mountain, you can find stone inscriptions everywhere, and they chiefly fall into such two categories: steles and stone caves. There are more than a hundred steles, and the most precious one is the group of five steles with Qianjin Yaofang inscribed on them, made in the sixth year (1572) of the Longqing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which is valuable data for the study on traditional Chinese medicine. The stone caves were all chiseled during the period from the Tang to the Sui Dynasty (581-618), and the extant ones are 7, containing more than 40 Buddha statues. Moreover, among the chain of mountains are preserved 66 statue steles from the Northern Wei (386-534) to the Tang Dynasty, called "Stele Forest of the Medical World". There is a well-preserved Yaowang Temple on the mountain, which was built in the 37th year (1558) of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, but kept the architectural styles of the Jin (1115-1234) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties.
To the culture-lovers, they would take Tibet tours would be their first choice to discover the ethnic culture of China, while the history-lovers would pay more attention to the historical sites. In this case, the stone sculpture in Yaowang Mountain has something for the latter.
Distinctive Huguang Club: Living Antique of Beijing Opera
While much of Beijing's traditional Xuanwu District undergoes modern reconstruction, the Huguang Club on Hufang Road stands as a testament to the neighborhood's historic roots. The club's history dates back to 1807, when it was built as a meeting place for scholars, businessmen, and high-ranking officials from Hunan and Hubei provinces. At that time, the two provinces were together referred to as Huguang Province. "The Huguang Clubhouse was built by high-ranking officials from the Qing Dynasty to serve as an entertainment venue and gathering place, so it's different from an ordinary clubhouse," said Huo Jianqing, current general manager of the Huguang Club. Many culture-lovers particularly request their China travel agents to arrange the Beijing opera in their itinerary. To the places to appreciating Beijing opera, Huguang Club is highly recommended.
In 1830, the club added an opera house to serve as a prime venue for the blossoming art of Peking opera. During its lifetime, the opera house has served as a performance center for several of Peking opera's most famous performers, including Chen Delin, Mei Lanfang, Tan Xinpei and Yu Shuyan. The Huguang Club made history again on August 8, 1912, as the birthplace of the Kuomintang party. Sun Yat-sen chose the club as a meeting place because many of Beijing's important revolutionaries lived in nearby neighborhoods. Now a tribute to old Beijing, the Huguang Club currently houses a restaurant, teahouse, opera house and small museum complete with interior courtyards and talkative mynah birds in hanging cages. The attendants are friendly and enthusiastic as they welcome visitors to the club. Now, to the culture-lovers, 72-hour visa free travel to Beijing is workable, so they could appreciate the Beijing opera in the Huguang Club within in their transiting time. Why not?
Photos of various Peking opera stars appear on the walls of the complex, but the real gems are located in the club's one-room museum. The attendant doesn't speak English, but is happy to answer any questions from visitors in Chinese. There is an exhibit about Sun Yat-sen's work on one wall, but the rest of the room is dedicated to Peking opera. The colorful opera costumes displayed in glass cases are the most popular attractions for visitors, according to Huo Jianqing. But the museum's most precious and exclusive item is an embroidered picture featuring Qing Dynasty opera star Chen Delin alongside photos of his students.
The museum is a good complement to the daily Peking opera performances, which provide English and Chinese subtitles as well as English and Japanese translations via headsets. The performances take place in the club's traditional opera house with tickets starting at 180 yuan per person. On weekends, the club also hosts other types of performances, such as Kunqu opera and crosstalk shows, although they do not provide translations for foreign audiences. The Huguang Club also hosts foreign students studying Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University, who want to learn more about Peking opera through workshops on performances and costume makeup.
To the natural scenery-addicts, Yangtze River tour would be their first choice to discover China, while to the culture-lovers, the profound Chinese culture would be more attractive to explore China. In this case, Beijing opera would be a must-have for them. To appreciate the authentic Beijing opera, Huguang Club is highly suggested.
Featured Makye Ame: Tibet's Allure in Beijing
For many people, Tibet is a land shrouded in mystery and tradition. Because of its location in China's extreme west, everything from Tibetan food to decorations, clothing, and traditions differ from those of eastern China. But enthusiasts do not have to go West to experience the culture. The Tibetan chain restaurant, Makye Ame, aims to bring a little bit of Tibet's allure to Beijing. If you want to experience Tibetan culture in Beijing, then you could ask your China tour agents to arrange the Makye Ame Restaurant in your Beijing itinerary.
Makye Ame has two branches in Beijing. One branch, near Silk Street, relates the style of common Tibetan homes; but the Tuanjiehu branch is a lesson in Tibetan opulence. Decorated in royal Tibetan style, the restaurant's large, stuffed couches, intricately carved and painted walls, displays of curiosities shipped in from the autonomous region, and beautifully-costumed Tibetan staff members create an authentically rich Tibetan atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Beijing. No private China tour to Beijing are fantastic enough without tasting the dishes in the Makye Ame restaurant.
The deep yellow hue that sets the tone for the restaurant's décor also relates the restaurant's history. Makye Ame's first restaurant in Lhasa, Tibet, is in a yellow building, while all the surrounding buildings are painted stark white. "In Tibet, only the houses built for religious purposes and the houses used by the Dalai Lama can be painted yellow," Mu De Jing, the restaurant's deputy general manager, said. The yellow building was once a bar frequented by the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso. There, he met a beautiful woman who inspired the Dalai Lama's poem, "Makye Ame" ("Pure Lady"). He never saw the woman again, but the building and its story are the basis for the modern Makye Ame Tibetan Restaurant chain.
The Tibetan atmosphere doesn't stop at interior design. Many of the restaurant's ingredients are flown in from Tibet. Some of the common additives and spices are on display for guests to see, such as yak cheese and barley flour. Yak meat is heavily featured on the menu, which is a rare find in Beijing. Tibetan cuisine is meat-based with beef and lamb being most common. Dairy products are also widespread in Tibetan cuisine, which is a departure from other types of Chinese cuisine. For vegetarians in Tibet, various kinds of mushrooms are favored. Tibetan food is mostly roasted or boiled, and salty flavors dominate.
To the visitors would only have the limited transiting time, 72-hour visa free China travel is now workable. Why not pay a visit to the Makye Ame restaurant in Beijing to experience the Tibetan culture?
Discover Tibet, the Holy Land in China, Further
Lake Yamzho Yumco
In Nagarze County in Sharman Prefecture, the lake is 4,400 meters above sea level. It covers an area of 800 square kilometers and is 30-40 meters deep. Yamzho means upper pasture and Yum means green jade in Tibetan. In a bird's-eye view, the lake is like a big piece of sapphire inlaid in the mountains and is very beautiful. The lake is rich in hydropower resources. Its surface is more than 800 meters higher than the Yarlung Zangbo River at the foot of the mountain. Also here stands the Yamzho Yumco Power Station well known for its high elevation in the world. To its south stands the magnificent Samding Monastery where Doje Pamo, the only woman Living Buddha in Tibet, stayed and presided. If your China travel packages cover Tibet, you should never miss visiting the breathtaking Lake Yamzho Yumco.
Tombs of the Tibetan Kings
On the Mure Mountain opposite to Qonggyai County seat in Sharman Prefecture, this burial ground of the 29th-40th Tsanpos of the Turbo kingdom is the only group of the tombs of the Tibetan kings in Tibet and has a history of more than 1,300 years. Today nine are visible, but only those of Songtsan Gambo and Trisong Detsen can be verified. Others have to be verified later. To the culture-lovers, they particularly request their China tour operators to arrange the Tombs of the Tibetan Kings along their Tibet itinerary.
Changzhug Monastery
Standing by the highway on the east bank of the Yalong River in Nedong County, Sharman Prefecture, this monastery was built in the seventh century and has been repaired in various historical periods. A legend says after Songtsan Gambo established its capital in Lhasa, he came and stayed here together with Princess Wen Cheng who planted the willow trees around the monastery. The monastery houses a precious Thangka picture of a Buddha inlaid with pearls and gems.
The Hot Springs in Oiga
In a small pastureland in the Oiga Town there are seven hot springs. The spring water is effective for treating the stomach and eye diseases and welcomed by local people. Of these hot springs, the Choluka Hot Spring is exclusive for the Dalai Lamas of various historical stages. The hot springs in Oiga boast beautiful scenarios and a unique local folklore. In the spring and summer, flocks of people come here for bathing.
When visiting China is talked about, many people may think of Yangtze River cruises to discover the impressive Yangtze River, while if you want to explore the landscape of the highland of China, then you should never miss Tibet, the holy land in China.
Discover Shikumen-Stone Gate Houses in Shanghai China
The Shikumen is the residential houses in Shanghai with the most typical local flavor. The gates of these houses are made of solid and thick wooden boards painted in black. And the door frames are made of stone, hence the name-Shikumen, or stone gate houses. Entering the Shikumen-lined lanes, you'll be overwhelmed by the strong flavor of the Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s.No China tours of Shanghai are complete without visiting the Stone Gate Houses, the residential houses in Shanghai with the most typical local flavor.
Such stone gate houses first appeared at the end of the Qing Dynasty. The most typical feature of these houses is the fusion of eastern and western styles. The typical Shikumen house is a brick-wood structure, two-storey house including courtyard, drawing room, wing-room, cooking stove, back door, garret and flat roof etc. The slope roof is installed with roof dormers and the outer walls are made of red bricks. Usually, there's a traditional Chinese style archway at the entrance of the lane. The gates of the house are made of two solid wooden doors pained in black. The doors are joined by wooden hinges and the striking of knockers always makes a resounding sound drifting inside the old stone-house lanes. Now, visitors could visit Shanghai during their transiting time within 72 hours according to visa free transit policy in China.
The door heads are often made of traditional carved bricks and black tiles. The overall row-house layout is after European fashion. Carvings of western buildings are adopted in the detail parts of the outer walls. The triangle or arch-shaped decorations on the door head also bear western style motifs. In those days, Shanghai people living in the stone gate house would listen to some western gramophone records and drink coffee, leading a somewhat westernized petty bourgeoisie life. In the culture of old Shanghai, the Shikumen reflects the elegance, boom and petty bourgeoisie of Shanghai life. Its east-meets-west feature embodies the spirit of the modern metropolis. The unique features of Shanghai have given special characteristics to its people and formed its own city style.
If your want to discover the residential houses in Shanghai with the most typical local flavor along, then a visit to Shikumen would be a must-have along your Shanghai tour package.
South of the Clouds -Enthralling Sights of Yunnan China
Yunnan's prolific attractions, some of the most diverse and inspiring in all of China, have beguiled travelers from abroad for decades. The name of the province literally means "South of the Clouds" (given how it lies just south of the lofty Tibet-Qinghai plateau). For this tour, we craft an itinerary that captures the general essence of central and northern Yunnan, visiting many of the province's most celebrated destinations. Traveling in a northerly direction, the surrounding scenery changes from verdant low-lying valleys to spectacular white-capped mountains. We meet wonderful minority tribes (Bai, Naxi, and Tibetan amongst others), visit ancient cobblestone towns trapped in a distant era, and explore the region's botanic and geological wonders - all as we make for the end point of Zhongdian, a town lying on the border area of a tantalizingly close Tibetan world. Moving from one mesmerizing locale to the next, one can easily appreciate how James Hilton was inspired to christen this extraordinary land as "Shangri-la;" by the end of this journey, perhaps you too will claim to have discovered your own version of Shangri-la. Along your Shangri-la tour, you should never miss the classic sights of Yunnan.
The journey begins with the flight from Kunming to the old Bai town of Dali, the once ancient capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom. From here we explore the city's peaceful surroundings, taking boat rides across Erhai Lake to nearby rural villages (where we dine and stay with a local family), and summiting Cang Mountain for breathtaking views of the valley below. We then go off the beaten path to search out the market town of Shaxi - old, decadent, and the only surviving example of a Southern Silk Road trading center (so precious it's been included on the World Monuments Fund's 100 Most Endangered Sites list). Arriving next in Lijiang, we are delighted by scenes of narrow cobblestone streets lined by rushing canals of crystal clear, freshly melted snow. Much of the original architecture of this proud city was leveled in a 1996 earthquake; the old-town section has since been restored to its old splendor and is today one of the most faithful (and elegant) representations of Ming architecture anywhere in China. We visit the town's Museum of Naxi Culture, and take a moment to savor the stunning vistas of nearby Jade Dragon Snow Mountain before heading onto one of Yunnan's landmark attraction, Tiger Leaping Gorge. As we hike into the gorge, we gaze awestruck at its massive cliff sides (considered to be the deepest in the world) as they plummet downwards onto the fearsome Yangtze river below. We overnight in the gorge, then drive northwards to Baishui Tai, a surreal and beautiful collection of limestone terraces, formed over the course of hundreds of years. After searching on website, you would see the top China tours all have includes Yunnan in their itinerary and these classic sights should never be missed.
Our journey comes to a fitting and satisfying end at the northern town of Zhongdian, where we take the opportunity to visit the city's old markets and stroll in beautiful nearby meadows. This close to the border, we are also afforded a glimpse of the fascinating and deeply spiritual Tibetan world. Here we visit the resplendent Songzhanlin monastery, possibly Yunnan's largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery and home to several living buddhas.
Along your China travel of Yunnan, you should never miss visit these classic sights.
Must-visit Attractions in Tibet China Travel
Namtso Lake
Namtso, or Lake Nam, is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet Autonomous Region and should not be missed by any traveler to Tibet. In Tibetan, Namtso means "Heavenly Lake." It is famous for its high altitude and imposing scenery. The second largest salt lake in China, Namtso covers 1,920 square kilometers and is also the second-highest salt lake in altitude in the world at an elevation of 4,718 meters above sea level. If you are planning to have a China travel and dazzled about where to travel, why not travel in Tibet, the roof of the world?
Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon
The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is one of the deepest and longest canyons in the world. The Yarlung Zangpo River starts at Mount Kailash before reaching the juncture of Mainling and Medog counties, where it swerves around towering Namjagbarwa, the highest peak in the eastern section of the Himalayas, carving a U-shaped gorge. The canyon is home to many animals and plants barely explored and affected by human influence, while its climate ranges from subtropical to Arctic. Many adventure-lovers particularly request their China travel agencies to arrange the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon to their itinerary.
Former site of Guge
Now in present-day Zanda County in western Tibet, Guge was an ancient kingdom founded by a branch of descendents of the last king of a unified Tibet in the 10th century. It flourished for more than 700 years before encountering civil strife and foreign attacks and falling into disrepair. Now, visitors can see its ruins of temples and palaces, whose inscriptions, statues and murals still remain intact. The city wall with fortresses at each corner is also still standing.
No China vacation deals to Tibet are not complete without visiting Namtso Lake, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon and Former site of Guge.
Popular Water Parks in Beijing China
Tuanjiehu Park
Tuanjiehu Park is an ideal spot for great summer fun. The park features a large swimming pool with a wave machine and a tiny but hot man-made yellow sand beach surrounding the pool. The park is so clean that it attracts many families with kids. Additional kids activities at the park includes boating and roller skating. The park has free locker, but showering at the park is a big challenge, because only cold water is offered here. If your China travel packages of Beijing falls in summer, you should never miss a visit to Tuanjiehu Park, which would be fantastic enough.
Water World in Qingnianhu Park
The Water World in Qingnianhu Park is a 1.5-hectare outdoor paradise of water recreations, with a maximum capacity of more than 3,000 tourists. It features slides in different shapes, kids' water slides and other entertaining facilities for kids. The Water World is also a perfect place for daytime office workers to relax and cool down after work. The floodlit pools at the Water World keep the park open into the evenings during the peak summer months. No Beijing tour package in summer are perfect enough without discovering the Water World in Qingnianhu Park.
City Seaview at Xiedao Resort
The City Seaview at Xiedao Resort is the biggest man-made seaside bathing beach in China. It's a good choice to escape the urban summer heat and enjoy the sea view within reach. The park boasts a miniature tropical seaside landscape, with large man-made wave pools and vast beach areas surrounded by coconut trees. Entertaining facilities are available with fees.
To the ones who want to visit China during the limited transiting time, the next would be a good news. From now on, the ones transiting in Beijing could have a 72-hour visa free China travel to Beijing. Why not take such limited time to discovering this ancient city?
Exquisite Ethnic Embroidery of Qiang: A Miracle in Chinese Folk Art
Qiang ethnic minority is one ancient nation in our Chinese ethnic family. For thousands of years, together with the other members of our big folk family, the ethnic minority of Qiang have created the Chinese nation's great splendid civilizations.
From the nomadic times to the farming times, from ancient times until today, The Qiang nation has experienced countless glory and honor, also suffered from hardships and tribulations. They always keep the Chinese nation's fine qualities of hard-working, kind-hearted, simple and unadorned. In the mountains on the northwest Sichuan, between the canyons, they spread over and descended toughly from generation to generation, to retain a special, ancient folk culture gene in China. Although ethnic embroidery of Qiang is just a folk art, it do contributed a lot to China tourism, because it attracts numerous travel-addict home and abroad to pay a visit to China every year.
Embroidery is a kind of traditional Chinese handicraft that using needles to draw various color threads go between fabrics and created drawings on it. The various embroidery patches and embroidered image patterns on Qiang nation people's apparels are all belong to the traditional Qiang's ethnic folk arts and crafts, which has a long history.
As to the production means, Qiang's ethnic embroidery were produced by various individual families, also is through this method to achieve following and continuation traditionally. It is a unique art created own by Qiang nation's people, which is imbued with their wisdoms and originalities. No China vacation packages of China minority culture discovery theme are fantastic enough without experiencing the ethnic embroidery of Qiang people China.
Qiang's ethnic embroidery works full of free imaginations and followed regular norms at same time, it is a sort of art creation that featured with merits of spontaneity, amateurism and self-entertainment. In the long history of development, Qiang's ethnic embroidery formed its unique aesthetic styles, color specifications and functional forms naturally, also folk and self-embodied with national folk art rules which has aesthetic values.
As to the function, Qiang's ethnic embroidery mainly used for decorating people's coats and skirts, shoes, head towels, belts, ribbons, bands, straps, cuffs, pants, trousers bodies, shoe-uppers, insoles, pillowcases, handkerchiefs, clothing edges, sleeves and sachets, from these art patterns we can view the history line of Qiang's ethnic costume culture.
As long as to do a bit statistics, we can learn that there are over 100 kinds of embroidery patterns merely in Qiang's ethnic apparels, that is really colorful! Containing Qiang nation people's fine aspirations for a better life, these exquisite embroidery works created by fine techniques are simple, rigorous, arranged ingenious and reasonable, also using moderate colors, thus to integrate the aesthetic forms and functional forms naturally: Not only for wearing beautiful, but also wearable, and the use lift extended consequently.
To many scenery-lovers, Yangtze River tour would be their best choice to visit China, while for the culture-addicts, Chinese culture may be more luring for them. When discovering Chinese culture, never miss explore the culture of ethnic minorities. Why not start from ethnic embroidery of Qiang people?
Discover the Highlight of Yunnan Province China
Old Town of Lijiang
The Old Town of Lijiang, a well-preserved old city, has retained a historic townscape of high quality and authenticity. In December 1997, the old town appeared on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List. It dates back more than 800 years and blends together the elements of ethnic minorities. It was once a confluence for trade and the political, cultural and educational center in the region. Many private China tour cover Yunnan in their itineraries. Kunming, Dali and Lijiang would be a must-have among them.
Kunming
The capital of Yunnan, Kunming is known as the City of Perpetual Spring for its pleasant year-round spring climate and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. It has a history of more than 2,400 years with many must-see attractions, such as Dianchi Lake and the Village of Ethnic Culture. The most eye-catching architectures in the city is grouped together around Jinbi Square. Kunming also has a large ethnic minority population, giving the city a varied and exotic minority culture. Kunming is also noted for many local delicacies, including "Across the Bridge Rice Noodles" (guo qiao mi xian). No China travel deals to Yunnan are complete without covering Kunming. In Kunming travel, Stone Forest Park would be a must-have.
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is located in the beautiful Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, at the south end of Yunnan. The prefecture itself harbors surprising biological diversity and is noted for its mysterious tropical rainforests, wild animals and ethnic minority customs. Founded in 1959, the garden has more than 10,000 species of tropical plants and combines research, education and preservation of rare plant species. When China travel is mentioned, Yangtze River cruises would come to the mind of many people, while a visit to Yunnan do have something different to offer, breathtaking scenery, profound culture and friendly ethnic munities people.
Discover Lijiang Old Town in Yunnan China
Located in the northwest plateau of Yunnan Province with an altitude of 2,400m, Lijiang Ancient City was built in the Southern Song Dynasty, dated back to more than eight hundred years ago. It takes Jinsha River and Lishui River as its soul, with the zigzag streets, lanes, high and short civil residents and the quiet bridge as well as flowing water forming the harmonious unity of human, building and natural environment. Three rivers come through the ancient city. Get dazzled by the numerous tourist sites in China and do not know where to go for your China travel ? If yes, a visit to Lijiang Old Town to experience the tranquil atmosphere there is kindly suggested.
The Yuquan River water from the foot of Xiangshan Mountain winds into the City in middle, eastern and western branches and then divides into numerous branches surrounding streets and residential buildings. The comfortable and peaceful living style of the local people in the ancient city is most haunting for people. A lot of small courtyards and houses are built by the river. The ancient style building of earth and wooden structure takes Han, Bai and Naxi styles into one, and integrates with arts and pragmatism. In addition, various flowers are planted in the courtyards, making each courtyard a small garden. Strolling around the ancient Lijiang Town to discover its profound ethnic culture there would be a great experience in your China vacation deals.
When you come to the beautiful Lijiang Ancient City, the Naxi people here will let you experience the strong Nanxi folk culture. The wise Naxi ancestors created the ancient and mysterious Dongba culture and also created the splendid plateau civilization. Dongba characters, the “only live hieroglyph in the current world”, the primitive and lingering Dongba music, and the mysterious Dongba ancient religion all display the unique, marvelous and distinctive features of Naxi minority.
The world famous Old Town of Lijiang is located in Lijiang City. It is a UNESCO Heritage Site. The town has a history going back more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road. The Lijiang old town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. The old town of Lijiang differs from other ancient Chinese cities in architecture, history and the culture of its traditional residents the Nakhi people, therefore people there are called Panjinge and Pangjinmei.
When visiting Yunnan China, many people may think of a travel to Shangri-la to discover the charming scenery there, where for the culture-lovers, a visit to Lijiang Old Town should never be missed for them as well, because it do have something to offer for them.
Top Must-visits in Hainan China
Monkey Island
Located on the Nanwan peninsula, 14 kilometers south of Lingshui County, Monkey Island is a state-protected and only nature reserve for macaque monkeys in the world. Established in 1965, the island has become a popular tourist destination. More than 400 kinds of plants and fruits, 100 animals and numerous grottos make the island a perfect paradise for monkeys. It is now home to approximately 2,500 monkeys among 21 species. It also has the longest over-water cable car in China, spanning 2,138 meters, providing convenient transportation to the island. Free guides advise visitors how to play with the monkeys and experience the harmony between humans and nature.
Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden
Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden in Xinglong Hot Spring Tourist Zone is a splendid natural region in Hainan, famous for tropical cash crops, wild plants and rare species. Built in 1957, it covers 400,000 square meters and is one of four national eco-environment education centers and gene pools of species in China. Called the "tropical plants encyclopedia," the garden consists of five areas: Plants Area, Experiment and Demonstration Area, Technology Innovation Area, Stereo Effect Planting Area and Ecological Leisure Area. The garden also plays an important role in agricultural cultivation and research.
Coconut trees in Wenchang
The Wenchang coconut trees form the largest group of coconut trees in China and is one of the most popular scenic areas in Hainan. There are more than 500,000 trees. Coconut juice is called "holy water" by local residents and is said to help people who drink it regain their youthful vigor.
Highly Recommended Spa Resorts in China
With the winter freeze well and truly upon us, why not melt the ice away by luxuriating in a steaming spa? China, with its more than 2,300 hot springs, is a haven for spa lovers in search of a blissful, relaxing spa to transport them away from the stresses and strains of the everyday, freezing winter world. China's Ministry of Land and Resources has recently released the top 25 spa destinations in China, all of which are endowed with unparalleled high quality hot springs and tantalizing spa environments to provide visitors with a unique and simply stunning experience. Many China travel agencies arranged spas into the itinerary upon the request of the travelers. If you still prefer to take spa in China, the following spas are highly recommended.
Yingwuxi Spa Resort in Sinan, Guizhou
Sinan County is located in western Tongren Prefecture of Guizhou Province, 375 kilometers from the provincial capital city of Guiyang. The county, rich in geothermal resources, boasts 11 hot spring sites in Yingwuxi Town, Xinglong Township, Sandaoshui Township and Tianqiao Township, which produce 12,000 tons of spring water per day. The water is rich in various minerals and ranges in temperature from 40°C to 58°C. There are presently four spa resorts under development: Yingwuxi Spa Resort, Luowantuo Spa Resort, Xinglong Spa Resort and Tianqiao Spa Resort. AS well as enjoying a relaxing spa experience there, you can also marvel at the gorgeous views of both the Sinan Stone Forest and Wujiang River. If your China tour deals cover Guizhou, you should never miss taking a spa at the Yingwuxi Spa Resort in Sinan.
Chaohu Bantang Imperial Spa Resort
Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province, is more than just the S&T base and hometown of the much-praised Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127) official Bao Zheng. The city is also famous for its superior mountain spa resorts such as the Chaohu Bantang Spa Resort, Lujiang Tangchi Spa Resort and Chaohu Fragrant Hot Spring Resort. Feidong County and Binhu District have also been found to be rich in geothermal resources.
Lying at the foot of Tangshan Mountain, six kilometers northeast of Chaohu City, Bantang Spa Resort is a Mecca for those seeking therapeutic baths, vacations and relaxation. A hot spring and a cold spring mix here, creating a unique spa experience. With an average temperature of around 55℃, the clear and transparent spring water contains more than 30 minerals which have been shown to have a beneficial effect on health.For enjoying the beauty of China, taking the Yangtze River cruise in their China travel would be highly preferred by many travelers. Since travel is energy-consuming activity, why not take a spa along your trip for relaxing. For taking spas in China, the above sites are highly recommended.
Discover Chinese Art- Lacquer Works in China
Lacquerwork is an ancient technique originated in China, which is to cover the surface of a carved panel with lacquer. True lacquer comes from the sap of a sumac tree native to Southeast Asia. After application, the lacquer hardens and dries and can then be decorated or carved.
Starting from red lacquer wood bowls and painted potteries in the Neolithic age, the development of Chinese lacquer art embraced the first peak in the Warring Period (770 – 256 BC), which continued into the Western Han Dynasty (206BC – 25AD). In the Warring Period (770-256BC), lacquer wares were used in every sphere of society, including daily utensils, music instruments, tomb wares and even weapons. Along your China travel, you may get dazzled by the numerous gadgets in China, while to shop something worthy, I think the Lacquer work would be a great idea for you.
Chinese lacquer art came into its golden age during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). At that time, the court, nobilities and local merchants regarded lacquer wares as symbols of fortune and status. Decoration techniques witnessed new developments in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD); inlaid gold and silver pattern appeared on the lacquer wares at that time.
Lacquer art was further developed in the following Song Dynasty (960- 1279AD). The flourishing economy and stable society gave rise to varieties of lacquer wares, among which the most distinctive style is single-color lacquerwork. Though deprived of decorative patterns and designs, single-color lacquerwork were made with extremely meticulous craftsmanship. If you do prefer to buy some lacquer works along your trip, you could ask for advice from your China tour agents and they would recommend some places for you.
In the Ming Dynasty, a famous craftsman named Huang Cheng, based on experiences of his own and previous craftsmen, wrote the first book on lacquer art. The book was later annotated by another famous lacquer craftsman, which make it China's only completer theoretic works on lacquer art.
Based on traditional lacquer techniques, modern lacquer artists have explored different qualities of lacquer and created many new techniques. Lacquer is not simply a decorative material. It is now used to stick egg shells and mental pieces. Lacquer is also used as a cohesive to make colored paint together with mineral pigment. The flowing quality of lacquer enables artists to use it at their will in their creations. When it is dried, lacquer can be grinded by charred wood or abrasive paper, which makes the modern lacquer art possible.
To discover the culture of ethnic groups in China, Tibet tours does have something for you, while to discover authentic China, Chinese culture exploration is essentially needed. Why not start your Chinese culture discovery from Chinese lacquer art?
Ningxia Discovery-Western Xia Mausoleum
The Western Xia Mausoleum is located on the eastern slope of the Helan Mountain, 30 kilometers west of Yinchuan City. Covering an area of 53 square kilometers, the mausoleum is one of the largest and best preserved imperial mausoleums in China. Dubbed the "Eastern Pyramids," the Western Xia Mausoleum includes nine imperial mausoleums and 250 tombs of imperial relatives and officials. The Western Xia Mausoleum is just like the original appearance of Jiaohe Ruins discovered along the the Silk Road tours.
Each main tomb has four corner towers and an array of watchtowers, pavilions housing stone tablets, a sacrificial hall and a coffin platform – most of which are now unrecognizable. Archaeologists believe that octagonal glazed-tile pagodas once stood by each tomb. The tombs were originally created by the founder of the Western Xia Kingdom (1038-1237), Li Yuanhao, who built over 70 tombs – one for himself, some for his relatives and more to be left empty, presumably a decoy against theft.
In contrast to the wooden and stone structures of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasty imperial tombs, the Western Xia Tombs are made of earth and brick, reflecting the culture of the ancient western kingdom. In recent years, scientific research and exploration have been conducted at the site in hopes of decoding the sudden disappearance of the Western Xia civilization. The shape of the Western Xia Mausoleum is just like the Ming Tomb discovered along the Beijing tours, but each of them has their own features.
The Western Xia dynasty (also known as Tangut Empire), existed between 1038 and 1227, when it was finally conquered by the Mongols under Genghis Khan. The empire was founded by the Tangut ethnic group, about which little is currently known. Of current excavations, only the No.3 mausoleum has been adequately excavated and researched. This mausoleum is attributed to Western Xia's first emperor Jingzong, born Li Yuanhao, (1003-1048), has been determined as a pavilion-tower construction fusing both traditional mausoleum and temple styles with Buddhist characteristics.
The Western Xia capital city and the burial complex eluded early 20th century explorers of Central Asia, including Nikolay Kozlov, Aurel Stein and Sven Hedin. During modern times, it was first reported by Wulf-Dieter Graf zu Castell, who recorded the site in an aerial photograph, published in 1938 in book Chinaflug.
Just a few minutes from the busy atmosphere offered along Shanghai tours and get closer to the culture of Hui people to refresh yourself. This will never fail to be an interesting experience along your travel.
Top Must-sees in Ningxia China
Cliff Carvings in the Helan Mountains
The Cliff Carvings in the Helan Mountains, 56 kilometers from Yinchuan, are known to be a carved history of ancient Chinese nomads, who lived and hunted some 10,000 years ago near these mountains. Those thousands of cliff carvings display a rich variety of themes such as astronomy, human activities and geography. Most of them were discovered at entrances to the mountains, recording the scenes of nomadic life with scenes of rituals and drawings of people and animals. Especially noteworthy are carvings about mythical tales, legendary figures and genital worship. These cliff carvings have become a national cultural relic under special protection. It was listed on the unofficial world cultural heritages by the UNESCO International Committee of Rock Painting in 1977. It is no wonder that so many private tours of China have covered Ningxia area and The cliff carvings in Helan Mountains would be a must-have among them.
Suyukou Forest Reserve
The Suyukou Forest Reserve sits on the eastern side of the Helan Mountain, 50 kilometers northwest of Yinchuan. The area was famous even during ancient times for the liveliness of its scenery. The scenic zone includes such gorgeous sights as the Baiyu Vale, the Guest-Reception Pine, the Twin Waterfalls, the maze of winding footpaths in a forest of fir trees, fossilized plants, the Sky in a Slip, the Dasi Canyon, the Stone Descended from Heaven, and the Mushroom-shaped Rock. Wandering yourself in the Suyukou Forest Reserve, you may have an illusion that you are having a Shangri-la travel just because of its breathtaking scenery.
108 Pagodas
The 108 Pagodas is located on the east slope of the Xiakou Mountain on the west bank of Yellow River in Qingtongxia City. The pagodas sit in tiers on the mountain slope forming an equilateral triangle. The biggest tower sits at the top, with smaller ones making up the base of the pyramid . The pagodas have three different shapes (pyramid, gourd, and vase), and range in height from 2.5 to 3.5 meters. Each pagoda is composed of three parts: pedestal, body and ornamentation decorating the upper. Buddhists think that there are 108 kinds of worries in a person's life, and a devout would wear a rosary with 108 beads and say prayers 108 times. It is said that tourists will forget their worries and become lucky by praying in front of – and count out – the 108 Pagodas.
When mentioning China travel, Yangtze River cruises would be suggested by many people, just because of its amazing natural beauty, while for discovering the less-touched northern scenery of China, a visit to Ningxia will never get you disappointed. When visiting Ningxia, the above three should never be missed.
The Difference Between Chinese Tea Ceremony and Japanese Tea Ceremonies
Though born from Chinese rituals which have their roots in Zen Buddhism, the Japanese and Chinese tea ceremonies have now diverged to contain many differences. These years, many China travel agencies have arranged Chinese tea culture discovery activities to their customers, which are well-reviewed by travelers.
The Japanese tea ceremony features a quietly reflective ceremony where the preparation of tea takes place in silence. The Chinese tea ceremony takes place to celebrate a wedding and is seen as a fun and happy occasion.
During the Japanese ceremony guests sit in silence watching the host prepares matcha tea. As the newlyweds in the Chinese ceremony prepare tea the good luck woman speaks positive, often funny phrases to amuse the guests. Many China vacation deals of Chinese culture discovery theme have included tea culture discovery part. Through these activities, visitors would know the difference between Chinese tea and Japanese tea.
Sweet candies are served before the Japanese tea ceremony while the Chinese ceremony uses dried fruits served with the tea.
The Japanese ceremony is a social event completed by the guests discussing both the tea and handmade utensils used by the host. The making and giving of tea in the Chinese ceremony bares similarities to the exchange of vows during a Western wedding ceremony.
A number of Zen principles govern the Japanese ceremony which include harmony, respect and purity. The presenting of tea in the Chinese ceremony serves as an introduction by the newlyweds to their new families and a sign of respect to the parents.
To explore China, many people would begin their exploration from joining a Beijing tour, while to discover an authentic China, Chinese culture discovery should never be missed, among which, tea culture would be a must-have.
Discover the Shanghai World Financial Center of China
The Shanghai World Financial Center is a supertall skyscraper located in the Pudong district of Shanghai, China. It was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and developed by the Mori Building Company. It is a mixed-use skyscraper, consisting of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls. Park Hyatt Shanghai is the hotel component, containing 174 rooms and suites. Occupying the 79th to the 93rd floors, it is the second-highest hotel in the world, surpassing the Grand Hyatt Shanghai on the 53rd to 87th floors of the neighboring Jin Mao Tower. Along your Shanghai tour, you should never miss visiting the Shanghai World Financial Center.
On 14 September 2007, the skyscraper was topped out,at 492.0 meters (1,614.2 ft)making it the second-tallest building in the world and the tallest structure in the People's Republic of China at the time. It also had the highest occupied floor and the highest height to roof, two categories used to determine the title of "world’s tallest building". The SWFC opened on 28 August 2008, with its observation deck opening two days later. This observation deck, the world's tallest at the time of its completion, offers views from 474 m (1,555 ft) above ground level. The SWFC has been lauded for its design, and in 2008 it was named by architects as the year's best completed skyscraper.The SWFC will be exceeded in height by the adjacent Shanghai Tower, which is due for completion in 2014. The Shanghai World Financial Center would offer you unforgettable experience to discover the modern Shanghai along your China tour packages.
The most distinctive feature in the design of the building is a trapezoid aperture at the peak. The original design specified a circular aperture, 46 m (151 ft) in diameter, to reduce the stresses of wind pressure, as well as serve as a subtext for the design, since "Chinese mythology represents the earth with a square and the sky with a circle".It also resembled a Chinese moon gate due to its circular form in Chinese architecture. However, this initial design began facing protests from some Chinese, including the mayor of Shanghai, Chen Liangyu, who considered it too similar to the rising sun design of the Japanese flag. Pedersen then suggested that a bridge be placed at the bottom of the aperture to make it less circular. For witness the natural beauty of China, Yangtze River tour would be highly preferred by many scenery-lovers, while for discovering the modern sights of China, a visit to Shanghai is essentially needed. During your trip, a visit to Shanghai World Financial Center should never be missed.
Top Destinations for Traveling China in December
Hong Kong
As the "Pearl of the Orient", Hong Kong is a leading financial, banking, trade and tourism center around Asia and the world. Situated off the southeast coast of China, Hong Kong is renowned for its impressive natural scenery and splendid man-made wonders. When traveling there, visitors can swim and sunbathe on the Repulse Bay; visit Ocean Park and Disneyland; take pictures at the Golden Bauhinia Square and the Avenue of Stars; enjoy stunning panoramic views at Victoria Bay and The Peak. After a busy day of sightseeing, dinner and drinks along Lan Kwai Fong is the best way to relax. A delight for shoppers, Hong Kong is arguably the best place in Asia to get something for everyone on your Christmas list. The Hong Kong tours in December do have much to offer to you.
Sanya, Hainan
Situated on the southern tip of Hainan Province, Sanya is the southernmost city on the island. Featuring blue sky, beautiful beaches and clear water, Sanya is perhaps the most famous coastal city in China. The climate is hot in summer but warm in the three other seasons. When other cities are shivering in this month, a stroll along the coastline and breathing the fresh air will provide you with a warm, comfortable holiday. If your China tour packages just fall into December, a visit to Hainan to see the stretching beaches and boundless sea would be a great experience for you.
Harbin
Tourists visit the Ice and Snow World in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on the first trial opening day. The 13th Harbin Ice and Snow World prepared magnificent ice and snow sculptures and wonderful performances to visitors. To appreciate the beautiful winter of China, many China tour agents have arranged the Ice Festival of Harbin upon the request of the travelers, which turned out to be much popular.
Must-see Attractions in Xinjiang China
Heavenly Lake Scenic Spot in Tianshan Mountain
With an altitude of 1,928 meters, Heavenly Lake is located at the base of Bogda Peak, the highest peak of the east side of Tianshan Mountain, 110 km east of Urumqi. Covering a total area of 380.69 square kilometers, the scenic spot includes the lake and surrounding mountains. No China vacation packages to Xinjiang are complete without discovering the breathtaking Heavenly Lake Scenic Spot in Tianshan Mountain.
In the shape of crescent, the lake is 3,400 meters long, 1,500 meters wide at its widest point, and 105 meters deep at its deepest point, covering an area of 4.9 square kilometers. The water, sourced from mountain snow, is crystal clear. It has been given a beautiful name: "Pearl of Tianshan Mountain." In 1990, the Heavenly Lake Scenic Spot was included in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve program.
In summer, Heavenly Lake is an ideal place to escape the heat; in the winter, the frozen lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains becomes a ski resort. The Heavenly Lake Scenic Spot in Tianshan Mountain would offer you unforgettable experience along your China tours.
Mori Forest of Diversiform-leaved Poplars
A forest of diversiform-leaved poplars, a tenacious ancient species, can be found at the south edge of Junggar Basin, 150 km away from Mori County, covering an area of 35 square kilometers. With a history of 65 million years, the forest is the oldest primeval forest of diversiform-leaved poplars in the world, and is known as a "living fossil".
Faced with broiling heat and droughts, the forest stills stand in the desert, brimming with energy and life. The trees are described as "having the ability to grow erect for a thousand years, live for a thousand years after falling, and the life remain undying after death for another thousand years." It is no wonder that so many China tour operators have arranged the Mori Forest of Diversiform-leaved Poplars to their Xinjiang itinerary upon the request of travelers.
Far away from urban and rural areas, the forest contains about 30,000 diversiform-leaved poplars with an average age of 200-400 years. The oldest tree, known as the "ancestor tree," has lived there for over 1,000 years, with its trunk measuring 3.1 meters in diameter.
Amazing Harbin Ice and Snow World in China
The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has been held since 1963. It had been interrupted for a number of years during the Cultural Revolution but had been resumed by 1985. Harbin is located in Northeast China under the direct influence of the cold winter wind from Siberia. The average temperature in summer is 21.2 degrees Celsius, -16.8 degrees Celsius in winter. Annual low temperatures below -35C are not uncommon. In winter, top China tours do have the Harbin Ice Snow Festival in their itinerary, which is so popular among travelers.
Officially, the festival starts January 5th and lasts one month. However the exhibits often open earlier and stay longer, weather permitting. Ice sculpture decoration technology ranges from the modern (using lasers) to traditional (with ice lanterns). While there are ice sculptures throughout the city, there are two main exhibition areas: Enormous snow sculptures at Sun Island (a recreational area on the opposite side of the Songhua River from the city) and the separate "Ice and Snow World" that operates each night. Ice and Snow World features illuminated full size buildings made from blocks of 2–3 feet thick crystal clear ice directly taken from the Songhua River. There are ice lantern park touring activities held in many parks in the city. Winter activities in the festival include Yabuli alpine skiing, winter-swimming in the Songhua River, and the ice-lantern exhibition in Zhaolin Garden. The Harbin Ice Snow Festival would offer you an unforgettable experience along your private China tour in winter.
The Harbin festival is one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival.
The 2007 festival featured the Canadian theme, in memoriam of Canadian doctor Norman Bethune. It was also a Guinness Record of the largest snow sculpture: 250 metres long, 28 feet (8.5 m) high, using over 13,000 cubic metres of snow. The composition consisted of two parts: "Niagara Falls" and "Crossing the Bering Strait" (the latter depicting the migration of the First Nations).
When it comes China travel, Yangtze River cruises would be suggested by many people, but please note that most cruise ship do not operate in winter. If your want to trave China in winter, experience the Harbin Ice Snow Festival would be your best choice.
Top Rural Retreats for 2013 China Travel
Yuntai Mountain in Niudachang
Niudachang, located in the southeast of Guizhou Province, is a town in the Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in the southeastern part of Guizhou. The area has many ethnic minorities, in which Miao and Dong are the main body of the population. With mountains to the north and south, and several rivers crossing the area, the town features mist-covered mountains, gurgling springs, unspoiled forest. Unique customs, and a peaceful life of local residents also render the town addition allure. The must-see attractions around the town include Yuntai Mountain, Shanmu River, Wuyang River and Heichong scenic area. If your private China tour happen to cover Guizhou, then a visit to Yuntai Mountain in Niudachang should never be missed.
Peitian, Fujian
Peitian, nestled in the deep mountains of western Fujian Province, is a well-preserved ancient Hakka (Kejia in Chinese) village. Formed between the Ming Dynasty (1368- 1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1616- 1911), the town has a long history of 800 years. But after hundreds years, the area is still undisturbed and retains its original appearance. With a population of just over 1,400, the ancient architectural complex consists of 30 grand mansions, 21 ancient ancestral temples, six ancient Chinese schools, two memorial arches and a 1000-meter-long ancient street of cobblestones. Travelers can not only experience the unique local customs, but also enjoy a quiet and peaceful lifestyle. If your China vacation packages happen to cover Fujian, then a visit to Peitian is highly suggested.
Heijing, Yunnan
Situated in the center of Yunnan Province, about 60 kilometers west of Kunming, Heijing is a small town in the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture. With abundant well salt, the town was one of the most important places for salt production in ancient China. But today, it boasts antique roads, houses, temples, arches, sculptures, and quiet and simple local life. The most distinctive attractions in Heijing Ancient Town include the gate of the town, Wu Family Mansion, Dalongci Temple, Confucius Temple and Qixingtai. Along your Shangri-la travel, you could pay a visit to Heijing, which would reward you an extraordinary experience.
Top Turpan Scenic Spot-Flaming Mountain
Turpan has long been the center of a fertile oasis at a basin of the central Xinjiang. The extreme heat and dryness of the summer allow the land to produce great amounts of high-quality fruit. There is a well-known folk song: "Turpan's grapes are ripe; Anarhan's heart is ecstatic…" Turpan is famous for its fruits, especially grapes, and the best place to enjoy the grapes is the Grape Valley. Along your Silk Road travel, you will see the Flaming Hill.
Located in the western part of Flaming Mountain, the Grape Valley is a zone of vineyards of 8 kilometers long and 0.5 kilometers wide. The grapes here are crystal and watery: some as green as emeralds; some as red as agates, some as small as pearls, while others look like olives. Its annual production of a dozen types of fresh grapes surpasses 6,000 tons. Creeks, small rivers, springs and various plants and fruits, including peaches, apricots, apples, pears and melons, make the valley even more beautiful and productive. Visitors can take a rest under the grape trees, taste the juicy grapes, or have a stroll in the valley. The best season to visit the valley is summer, when it is cool and ideal to escape from the heat. It has long been a tourist destination attracting visitors from home and abroad. Tasting the delicious grape in Turpan would be an interesting experience along your Silk Road tours.
The Flaming Mountain, the most famous attraction of Turpan, is a barren, eroded, red granite mountain in the north of the Turpan Basin. Nicknamed the "red mountain", it extends over 1,000 km long and is about 500 meters high, with its main peak at an altitude of 831.7 meters. The mountain is the hottest place in China. In the strong summer sun, the sandstones shine and the scorching air flows up, creating a flaming appearance at the mountain at certain times of the day. Because of the unique features of the mountain, there are gullies and trenches growing with green plants, small rivers and fruit trees. The mountain was mentioned in the classic novel Journey to the West, making it even more attractive to visitors.
When mentioning traveling in China, having the Tibet tours would be the first that come into your mind, while for many adventure-lovers, have a Silk Road travel would be highly favored by them. On the way, you would pass Turpan and see the renowned Flaming Hill.
Yunnan, the Home to Ethnic Minorities in China
In Yunnan life comes in a plethora of cultures. Surely, Yunnan Province is a special case for Chinese millionaires. And so is it for everybody else. Where else in China life comes in such a plethora of cultures? Out of China's fifty-five officially recognised ethnic minorities, twenty-five can be found in Yunnan, giving the province additional cultural value in terms of colourful festivals, unique customs, versatile clothing styles and the cuisine which will surely take your taste buds into paradise of peculiar flavors. It would be wise to start exploring Yunnan in the capital city of Kunming. One of the good destinations to continue could be the Old Town of Lijiang founded by the Naxi people. In 1997, this “Venice of the East” was claimed the UNESCO World Heritage site. That may be why so many travelers prefer to have the Shangri-la travel despite of fatigue.
Yunnan is noted for a very high level of ethnic diversity.[10] It has the second highest number of ethnic groups among the provinces and autonomous regions in China, after Xinjiang (which has forty-seven ethnic groups). Among the country's 56 recognised ethnic groups, twenty-five are found in Yunnan. Some 38% of the province's population are members of minorities, including the Yi, Bai, Hani, Tai, Dai, Miao, Lisu, Hui, Lahu, Va, Nakhi, Yao, Tibetan, Jingpo, Blang, Pumi, Nu, Achang, Jinuo, Mongolian, Derung, Manchu, Sui, and Buyei. Several other groups are represented, but they live neither in compact settlements nor do they reach the required threshold of five thousand to be awarded the official status of being present in the province. Some groups, such as the Mosuo, who are officially recognised as part of the Naxi, have in the past claimed official status as a national minority, and are now recognised with the status of Mosuo people. To experience the ethnic culture of Yunan, upon the request of clients, many China tour agencies have arranged different kinds of cultural activities for visitors.
Ethnic groups are widely distributed in the province. Some twenty-five minorities live in compact communities, each of which has a population of more than five thousand. Ten ethnic minorities living in border areas and river valleys include the Hui, Manchu, Bai, Naxi, Mongolian, Zhuang, Dai, Achang, Buyei and Shui, with a combined population of 4.5 million; those in low mountainous areas are the Hani, Yao, Lahu, Va, Jingpo, Blang and Jino, with a combined population of 5 million; and those in high mountainous areas are Miao, Lisu, Tibetan, Pumi and Drung, with a total population of four million.
An oft-repeated proverb tells the story of three brothers who were born speaking different languages: Tibetan, Naxi, and Bai. Each settled in different areas of Yunnan and Tibet, respectively, the high area, the middle area, and the low area.
For adventure-lovers, Silk Road travel would be their first option for China travel, while for the culture-lovers, a visit to Yunnan do has what they need.
Must-visit Attractions for Hong Kong Travel
Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront
Tsim Sha Tsui is the southern tip of the Kowloon peninsula, and a major shopping and tourist area. Avenue of Stars is modeled after Hollywood”s Walk of Fame, and boasts a Bruce Lee Statue and imprints of other Chinese movie stars. It points towards Victoria Harbour.
The Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront is as well the best place to watch the night view of the harbor. Every night, the tall buildings along Hong Kong harbor will set up light bulbs on their walls and form into a wonderful sight-seeing. China travel service to Hong Kong are incomplete if they do not cover Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is composed of the Hong Kong Disneyland Park, Disneyland Hotel (5-star) and Disneys Hollywood Hotel (4-star), and retail, dining and entertainment facilities. Hong Kong Disneyland speaks English and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin). You will meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy. Themed areas there are Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. Hong Kong Disneyland has convenient transportation of being linked to Hong Kong public transit system. A visit to Hong Kong Disneyland would be an unforgettable experience along the Hong Kong tour, which is particularly true with children.
Victoria Harbour
Victoria Harbour, one of the most popular travel tourist attractions in Hong Kong, is a natural landform harbour situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula.
Victoria Harbour covers an area of about 41.88 square kilometers. Victoria Harbour is world-famous for its magnificent panoramic sight. Tower on the Victoria Peak is the best place to soak in the beautiful view. Vistas from the Culture Centre and Tsim Sha Tsui are also very nice. Number of people go for rides on the Star Ferry to see the harbour.
For recommendation of China travel, Yangtze River tour is highly recommended for scenery-lovers, while for the fashion and shopping-lovers, a visit to Hong Kong do have something for you.
Featured Kelly's Courtyard - Keeping Beijing's Traditions Alive
Tucked away in one of Beijing's alleyway hutongs, doorways open up to families' traditional courtyard residences. One unmarked door is the same as the other abodes, but hidden behind it is Kelly's Courtyard, a clandestine haven for travelers looking for something different.
Although it is grouped together with other hostels in the listings, Kelly's doesn't quite fit in with the others. A mere nine rooms offer a degree of intimacy unheard of in typical hostels. The warm staff is accordingly small, happy to share information and stories about the city. Along your Beijing tours, stay at Kelly’s courtyard to experience the traditions of Beijing never fails a great idea for you.
Kelly and her husband Zheng don't run this place strictly as a business, but more as a labor of love. They both have day jobs; the Courtyard is their pet project, but one they treat seriously.
Talking with Zheng, it's obvious how much he cares about Beijing and its traditions. Zheng's family's been in the same Beijing courtyard residence for 15 generations, he proudly states. He's big on Beijing history and culture and the preservation of the two. He sighs with resignation when noting how historic hutong residences commonly make way for shopping malls and apartment buildings.
It seems like Zheng has a mission to help people appreciate what he calls "the real charm of Beijing," as can only be shared by a Beijing native." He hopes the hostel itself can help people feel that connection with history.
Upon entering the courtyard, the sound of trickling water accentuates a zen-like tranquility. Sunlight from the sloping glass ceiling washes over the wood and slate floor. Plants and flowing draperies designed by Kelly herself add an organic flow to the space. The guest rooms run the perimeter of the courtyard, giving it a sense of community.
The rooms themselves are more European than Chinese, tastefully decorated with antiques. Each room has its own modern bathroom.
The open and spacious roof area is the ideal place to slowly sip a cup of tea and watch the locals amble past below. Children who spot travelers overcome their shyness to call out "Hello!" Although Kelly's is near a major shopping area, foreigners in this neighborhood are in short supply. Discover the traditions of Beijing through this featured courtyard would be a great experience along your Beijing tour package.
Zheng is proud of the hostel's reputation, which is the top rated hostel on the Hostelworld website. People appreciate the thoughtfully designed environment, but not as much as the service. He, his wife, and staff all speak English, and even have adopted English names to accommodate guest's difficulties with Chinese.
Zheng claims that helping people appreciate Beijing is a bigger priority than making a profit. He then mentions an American student who was terminally ill, with only 2 years left to live. When Zheng learned she had a desire to visit Beijing for a week, Zheng invited her and she stayed free of charge. His words slow down as he speaks. "You want to travel in Beijing. You must experience it. We are Beijingers. We appreciate that. We want to help you."
But Zheng's words seem to encompass all travelers. There's a spirit to Beijing that he, his wife, and the staff can understand, and Kelly's Courtyard is their medium to pass that spirit on to others.
Double bed with private bathroom: 350 rmb/night (high season), 445 rmb/night (low season) Breakfast: included Location: Xidan area, a bit hard to find. Pretty close to historic sites, but not good for nightlife access. Perks: The cultured place to stay. (Partiers should probably find somewhere else to hang out.)
Maybe you are tired of seeing bustling scene experienced along Hong Kong tours but want to discover Chinese traditions, then stay at the Kelly’s Courtyard would never disappoint you.
Useful Tips for Jiuzhaigou China Travel
Due to its breathtaking scenery, many travel-lovers particularly request their China tour agents to add Jiuzhaigou Valley to their itinerary. For the convenience of travelers, some helpful Jiuzhaigou travel tips for visitors.
Where to stay: There are more than a hundred hotels, which can offer more than 20,000 beds, ranging from star graded to economic ones. There are several choices for you.
For those who want to make the trip extremely enjoyable, Sheraton Jiuzhaigou Resort and Jiuzhai Paradise International Resort & Convention Center are good choice. Sheraton Jiuzhaigou Resort offers you excellent breakfast and comfortable bed, which is only 1.5km to the entrance. Jiuzhai Paradise International Resort & Convention Center has a fabulous lobby with a steel structure and glass roof, and Qiang style stone pillbox, and flowing water with some beautiful birds hovering in. This resort is located on Ganhaizi semi-marsh land, about 20km to the entrance.
Some four-star and four-star-standard hotels, such as the Jiuzhai Grand Hotel, Xinjiuzhai Hotel and CTS Hotel, are not far from the entrance. Another nice hotel worth recommending is Jarpo ancient town, which means the king town in Tibetan language. It is located near ganhaizi semi-marsh land, 55km to Jiuhuang Airport and 27km to the entrance of Jiuzhaigou. It is a lovely small town with all buildings in Tibetan style decoration, with villas and shopping streets available.Some economical ones secretly stay in Heye guesthouses owned by local Tibetan people which is just at the entrance of Jiuzhaigou Valley. But this is officially forbidden in order to protect the enviroment,all visitors are requested to stay out of the valley. This would be the first thing that you need to handle along your China travel to Jiuzhaigou.
Where and what special to eat: Nuorilang restaurant is not the only choice in the valley. Located at the cross of three gullies, it is always very crowded. Buffet served there. During your journey you can see three Tibetan villages, there are Heye village, Shuzheng village and Zezhawa village. It is easy to find food in Shuzheng village and Zezhawa village, especially Shuzheng village is so popular as a shopping mall.There are still much more choices outside the valley, such as fungus soup hot pot in Jiuzhaishanzhen Restaurant and traditional Tibetan food in Zangwangyanwu Restaurant.Even hamburgers and fried chickens, French-fries can be found near the entrance at the same price as those in Chengdu.Goat barbeque party is so exciting. When dark fallen, setting a camp fire in local Tibetan garden, with a goat baked, drinking butter tea and Qingke barley liquor, singing and dancing with the Tibetan family. You can hardly describe what a wonderful life it is! These dinning tips would be great helpful for your China travel deals to Jiuzhaigou. Entrance fee: The tickets to Jiuzhaigou include the sightseeing ticket and the traffic bus ticket. In low season(Nov.16th to Mar.),the ticket fee is 80 Yuan while in the high travel season(April 1st to Nov.15th) it is 220 Yuan. The traffic bus fee is always 90 Yuan. For the visitors who are interested in hiking in Jiuzhaigou national park can buy only the sightseeing tickets. There is a very nice newlly-built wooden plank road in the park.
The entrance fee to Huanglong national park is 200 Yuan from Apr. to 15th Nov. and 80 Yuan from 16th Nov. to march the next year.
The Mesmerizing Zechawa Valley in Jiuzhaigou China
Jiuzhaigou is located in the north of Sichuan Province and is known far and wide as "a fairyland." The name Jiuzhaigou came from nine Tibetan villages scattered throughout the valley. Its attraction lies in its simple, idyllic beauty; a fairyland, primitive and natural and still in its pristine state. With majestic and unrivalled emerald lakes, layered waterfalls, colourful forests, snow peaks and Tibetan folk villages, all blending in harmony with each other - it is nature's jewel set into the mountains. Jiuzhaigou lies in a transitional area where northern and southern flora and fauna meet. A natural botanical and zoological garden, it is a home of densely growing conifers and broadleaf trees, and of rare and endangered animal species such as the giant panda, golden monkey, and white-lip deer. Recently, UNESCO has recognized the Dujiangyan Dam as a world cultural heritage site. Your China tours to Jiuzhai would offer you memorable travel experience in China.
The Zechawa Valley, 18 kilometers long, stretches from Nuorilang to the Chang Lake, the route of the highest altitude of all your Jiuzhaigou tours, featuring overlapped and erecting peaks. Overlooking from a distance, you will have a full view of the U-shaped valley, under the sun and covered with glaciers. Looking afar from Mt. Duona, you will find tranquil snow peaks and meandering mountain ranges, as if you were touring around in the universe. Your China tour packages would be definitely highlighted by the breathtaking Zechawa Valley.
Changhai lake: At the top of the Jiuzhaigou Valley is located the largest lake - the Changhai Lake. With a length of about 8km, it is over 4000m for the deepest part. The lake is vast without a single water exit on the earth surface, and does not rise sharply during storm seasons in summer or autumn, nor dry up during spring or winter. It is said to have monsters appear now and then, adding to the mystery of the lake.
Five-Color Pond: Five-Color Pond is one of the smallest but most spectacular bodies of water in Jiuzhaigou lakes. Despite its very modest dimensions and depth, it has a richly colored underwater landscape with some of the brightest and clearest waters in the area.
For traveling China, many adventure-lovers may take a Silk Road travel to follow the trace of Marcco Polo, while to many scenery-addicts, a visit to Jiuzhaigou Valley is highly recommended, which would never disappoint you.
Snow-coved Xue Bao Ding in Sichuan China
Xue Bao Ding lies in Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. In the Aba region of north central Sichuan is a range of peaks known as the Min Mountains. Mt. Xue Bao Ding is the highest peak of the range, known to the local Tibetans as Shar Dung Ri. Though it is just 5588 meters high, the mountain is strangely awesome and perennially snowcapped. For the adventure-lovers, the snow-capped Xue Bao Ding would be a must-have along their Sichuan China travel.
The Tibetans form the majority of the population in the area, are pious practitioners of Buddhism, and in this region Bonism. Bon was the dominant religion in the area before the arrival of Buddhism - and today the region continues to be a Bon stronghold. Also living here are Muslim, Chinese, Qiang, and Yi peoples. The walk into the mountains presents visitors lush valleys dotted with farms, evergreen forests, and small monasteries representing the Buddhist, Bon, and Daoist religions. While walking, Mt. Xue Bao Ding continually looms higher in front of us. Visiting (in fact trekking ) there will take about 3 days on the Bon religion's pilgrimage route. The route takes three days and crosses several high, non - technical passes before dropping us into the World Heritage site of Huanglong. Many hiking-lovers particularly request their China tour operator to arrange the Xue Bao Ding into their itinerary of Sichuan.
The other option is to trek through the upper valleys which lead to the glaciers of the peaks, and several exquisite lakes. This trek is perfect for those wishing to experience the indigenous peoples of Aba as well as a mountain landscape of great beauty in an area totally unspoiled by tourism. The low angle of Mt. Xue Bao Ding makes it an attractive goal for climbers interested in one day semi - technical ascents. Depending on group interest, this climbing option can be included with little extra cost.
Although it looks easier for mountaineers on its appearance,but in fact the loose snow on the mountain slope will cause a lot troubles to mountaineers, in 1985, several members of Sino - Japan mountaineering team stayed there for ever.because the climate here is relatively warm, and the rainfall is more than other places for its geographical location in a valley on the souther side of huge Min shan mountain ranges.
Breathing the fresh crisp air and appreciating the untouched scenery of Xue Bao Ding would be the unforgettable experience along their private China tours.
Time-weathered Jiaohe Ruins Along Silk Road Travel
The Jiaohe Ruins is an ancient Chinese archaeological site found in the Yarnaz Valley, 10 km west of the city of Turpan, Xinjiang province, China. It is a natural fortress located atop a steep cliff on a leaf-shaped plateau between two deep river valleys. Both the Nara National Cultural Properties Research Institute and the Xinjiang Cultural Relics Bureau have been cooperating in a joint venture to preserve the ruins of the site since 1992. The Jiaohe Site is located about ten kilometers to the west of Turpan, Xinjiang. Along your Silk Road tour, you will see this site.
Jiaohe was the capital of the former Cheshi Kingdom concurrent with the Han Dynasty. It became Jiaohe Prefecture of Gaochang Kingdom in the period between the Sixteen States and the Northern Dynasty. After 640, the fourteenth year of the Zhenguan Period during the Tang Dynasty, it turned to Jiaohe County of Gaochang Prefecture. Due to years of destruction done by wars, it came to decline gradually between the ninth century and fourteenth century. Discovering the time-weathered Jiaohe Ruins would be a great experience along your Silk Road travel.
The Jiaohe Ruins is the largest, earliest and best-preserved city with adobe buildings in the world. The government offices, temples, pagodas, residential blocks and streets are well-preserved in the ancient city.
When mention China travel, a travel to Shangri-la would be the first mind for many people, while to discover China further, I think a Silk Road travel would reward you more.
Top Must-sees in Hainan China
Millions of visitors are attracted to Hainan every year for its special beauty, including the splendid Botanical Garden, coconut trees and monkey island, as well as enigmatic Buddhism and Taoism culture. China.org.cn picks the top 10 attractions in Hainan, which will definitely give you an amazing visual enjoyment! Your China tours Hainan would be highlighted by the four top attractions.
#1 Yalong Bay National Resort
Yalong Bay is famous for its soft, white sand and crystal blue sea.Yalong Bay is a 7.5-kilometer stretch of beach located southeast of Sanya. As a hot tourism destination, it is famous for its soft, white sand and crystal blue sea with visibility down to 10 meters. It is a favorite place of divers. It also has advanced golf clubs and sailing clubs. This is the first must-have along your last minute deals for China travel of Hainan.
#2 Daxiao Dongtian Scenic Spot
axiao Dongtian Scenic Spot has a history of more than 800 years. Located 40 kilometers west of Sanya, Daxiao Dongtian Scenic Spot has a history of more than 800 years. It covers 22.5 square kilometers, featuring gorgeous sunsets, caves, verdant mountains and bizarre stones. The place is perfect to appreciate spectacular sunset on the beach with those rocks that witness the passing of history. It is the most popular mountain for its special views of the sea, typical mountain landscape and beautiful rocks, which have been the subject of many classic Chinese poems. It is also home to the Natural Museum of Sanya, which features dinosaur fossils.
#3 Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone
Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone is famous for Buddhist culture and beauty. Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone is famous for Buddhist culture and beauty. Millions of visitors go every year. The zone features three theme parks: Buddhism Culture Park, Blessing and Longevity Park and Hainan Custom Culture Park. It is also home to Nanshan Temple and the statue of the South China Sea Kwan-yin Bodhisattva. The giant sea-side statue of Kwan-yin stands 108 meters and was constructed out of gold, diamonds and jade.
When mentioning China travel, many people may recommend the majestic Yangtze River cruises, while getting close to the boundless sea and enjoying the breathtaking landscape along the seaside still has something different to offer. Travel to Hainan and you would be rewarded much.
National Aquatics Center, Also Known as Water Cube, in Beijing China
Located on the west side of Landscape Avenue in the Olympic Green and to the west of Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest), the National Aquatics Center contains the official 2008 Olympics swimming facility. The construction started on December 24th, 2003 and was finished on January 1st, 2008. It measures 177 meters (194 yards) long, 177meters wide, and 30 meters (98 feet) high and covers an area of 62,950 sq meters (75,287 sq yard). It has four floors: one at street level, two above, and one below. Its floor space reaches 79,532 sq meters (95,119 sq yard), while the below street level area is no less than 15,000 sq meters (17,939 sq yard). The one below served as the service area during the Olympics. The first floor is for tourists. The auditorium is on the second floor with 6,000 fixed seats (2,000 of which are movable), and 11,000 temporary seats. The third floor is strictly for business. Along your Beijing tour package, you should never miss visiting the Water Cube.
Design Idea
The Water Cube design combines modern technologies with Chinese traditional values. In tradition, Chinese conceptualized a square Earth and a round Heaven, and this formed the design's central theme. Moreover, the cube shape dominates ancient urban buildings. The National Aquatics Center's design is of traditional style to meet all its functional requirements. The National Aquatics Center, designed by Chinese and Australian, is the first building in the world built upon "the soap bubble" theory, and sports a polyhedral steel-framed structure. Many China vacation deals of Beijing have included this site into their itinerary.
The ETFE (the ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer) membrane insulates the Water Cube. This advanced membrane structure is formed by 3,065 bubble-like pneumatic cushions of all sizes. The National Aquatics Center becomes the first large-scale public project coated with the membrane, and it also has set up a new world record for its massive deployment.
The National Aquatics Center looks like a huge blue box, from which it takes its nickname: the Water Cube. The Water Cube is blue in order to reflect sunlight. The National Aquatics Center shines in the sunlight like a pearl in water. From the inside of the National Aquatics Center, you may discover that the pneumatic cushions of all sizes are just like sea bubbles. No China travel service of Beijing is fantastic enough without visiting Water Cube.
Various high technology and green technology are present in the National Aquatics Center construction. Popular Science magazine chose it the Best of What’s New of 2006.
Introduction of Exorcizing Dance in China
Commonly called "the ghost opera" or "the ghost dance", the exorcizing dance is a kind of dance originated from the ancient exorcizing culture. It is honored as "the living fossil of Chinese dance". The exorcizing dance derived from the totem worship of the clan society in ancient times. Originally, it was a dance believed capable of driving away ghosts performed at sacrificial exorcizing rituals. Later, the dance gradually evolved into a festive sacrificial performance normally staged between the first and 16th day of the first month on the lunar calendar. Today, the exorcizing dance is still performed in rural areas in Jinagxi, Guizhou and Yunnan etc. Along your travel to Shangri-la, you may have chance to discover the exorcizing dance.
Nuo Masks
People often wear the mask of a certain character in exorcising dance, or Nuo dance performance, such as mythic images, ordinary figures and historical celebrities. Thus an enormous pedigree of gods driving away the plague is constituted, with a saying goes like this, "With the mask a human being becomes a god".
Temple of Nuo Gods
The Temple of Nuo Gods is the habitat of all gods (the masks) and the major location for holding the ritual of exorcising dance. People in different places worship their own god in Nuo altar, such as the Qingyuan God, Nuo God and Goddess and the Ouyang Jinjia General. In order to show respect to the gods, people in some places would hold a regular ceremony to imitate the patrol of the dignitary, accompanied by music and drumbeats and a crowd of people. Chinese culture discovery would be a great experience along your China tour deals.
Nuo Opera
The Nuo opera is a kind of opera formed on the basis of folk sacrificial ceremony and drama. It originates in remote antiquity, when in the pre-Qin period there appeared the exorcising dances and songs entertaining both gods and human beings. In the period of the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, operas thrived everywhere in China. The exorcising dances assimilated the formats of Flower Drum Opera, Festival Lantern Opera, Hui Opera and Mulian Opera, thus forming different genres and artistic styles.
To explore China, the Silk Road tour do offer the exciting experience of tracing back to ancient times, while I think the Chinese culture discovery has something different for travelers.
Diverse New Year Paintings in China
Also known as "paper paintings" and "painted pictures", New Year paintings is a unique art form in Chinese folk culture. The paintings are called "New Year paintings" because they are mostly posted during the New Year holiday for decoration and they are also a symbol of New Year's greetings. Spring Festival has contributed greatly to China tourism because it mesmerize many travelers to pay a visit to China during this period.
New Year paintings appeared around the Tang Dynasty, replacing the previous door pictures featuring gods believed to be able to protect the residents and drive away ghosts. In the Song Dynasty, New Year paintings were created on a considerable scale. With the advancement of printing technology, the content and forms of New Year paintings became more diversified. The development of the paintings matured in the Ming and Qing dynasties, when the art hit its heyday. Traditional printing methods of New Year paintings include woodblock printing, stone block printing, offset printing, traditional Chinese painting, watercolor painting and sketch etc. Woodblock printed New Year paintings are the most popular ones and at the same time they are most interesting. If your China tour packages are during the Chinese New Year, you could see many spring painting are hanging for selling on the street around the spring festival.
As decorative paintings for the New Year, the paintings mostly feature auspicious and joyous subjects. Simple lines, bright colors and happy atmosphere are combined to define New Year paintings, which capture all jubilant festive customs and life details as well as anecdotes, stories from traditional opera novels and folktales etc. The creation of New Year paintings are closely linked with people's daily lives and have strong local features.
China's most well-known production locations of New Year paintings include Yangliuqing of Tianjin, Yangjiabu of Weifang in Shandong, Taohuawu of Suzhou in Jiangsu and Foshan of Guangdong. In addition, "calendar-picture" New Year paintings of Shanghai and Mianzhu paintings of Sichuan also hold important positions in the development history of New Year paintings.
As a folk handicraft, New Year paintings embody people's best wishes for the future. Every lunar New Year, almost all Chinese families post two New Year paintings on the front door in the joyous atmosphere, symbolizing good luck and wealth. New Year paintings, a pioneer in Chinese folk art, reflect the development and changes in the history, life, religious beliefs and customs in Chinese society.
To many travel-lovers, Yangtze River tour do showcase the charm of China. But from my humble opinion, the charm of China is far more than that and Chinese culture do have much to offer for travel-lovers. Why not discover Chinese culture from Spring Festival?
Chinese Culture Discovery- Little New Year
New Year (Chinese: Xiaonian), which falls about a week before the lunar New Year, is also known as the Festival of the Kitchen God, the deity who oversees the moral character of each household. In one of the most distinctive traditions of Spring Festival, a paper image of the Kitchen God is burned on Little New Year, dispatching the god's spirit to Heaven to report on the family's conduct over the past year. The Kitchen God is then welcomed back by pasting a new paper image of him beside the stove. From this vantage point, the Kitchen God will oversee and protect the household for another year. The close association of the Kitchen God with the Lunar New Year has resulted in Kitchen God Festival being called Little New Year. Although very few families still make offerings to the Kitchen God on this day, many traditional holiday activities are still very popular. Many China travel deals have added Chinese culture discovery activity in their itinerary. If your travel falls onto spring festival, you could see how Chinese celebrate Chinese little new year.
Studies of popular Chinese religion indicate that the Kitchen God did not appear until after the invention of the brick stove. The cooking stove was a fairly late development in the history of human civilization. Ancient writings indicate that the Fire God, the earliest form of the Kitchen God, was worshipped long before the stove was invented. Zhu Rong, China's ancient Fire God was a popular folk deity and had many temples built in his honor. Stone lined fire pits, an early form of the brick stove, are still commonly used among China's ethnic minorities. People in these regions make offerings to the Fire Pit God. People living in different regions of China have different ways for celebrating little new Year, the ones discovered on your Tibet tours are different from the ones along your Xian travel.
The Kitchen God appeared soon after the invention of the brick stove. The Kitchen God was originally believed to reside in the stove, and only later took on human form. Legend has it that during the Later Han Dynasty, a poor farmer named Yin Zifang was making breakfast one day shortly before the Lunar New Year, when the Kitchen God appeared to him. Although all Yin Zifang had was one yellow sheep, he sacrificed it to the Kitchen God. Yin Zifang soon became rich. To show his gratitude, Yin Zifang started sacrificing a yellow goat to the Kitchen God every winter on the day of the divine visitation, rather than during the summer as had been customary. This is the origin of the Kitchen God Festival, or Little New Year. To explore the beauty of China, many people may think of Yangtze River cruises, while to explore Chinese culture is another must-have for your China travel. Just start your Chinese culture exploration from knowing little Chinese New Year.
Recommended Rafting Places in China
River rafting is a quite exciting sport that beloved by many people, especially the young. Screaming, laughing,ups and downs, getting wet totally, all give you an exciting and relaxing experience. In addition, if the scenery is gorgeous, the journey will be more pleasing. Here we lisited top 10 places for river rafting in China, ranging from river rafting, gorge rafting to underground rafting, which is a true feast for rafting lovers. For adventure-lovers, no last minute deals for China travel are crazy enough without rafting outside.
Shapotou (Ningxia, Yinchuan)
Perhaps only in the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia, in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, can you see such a unique vehicle for water travel - sheepskin rafts. Drifting on the Yellow Rivers, where the water moves rather quickly, the small vessel allows one to feel the special complexity of the mother river. Experience breathtaking excitement and appreciate the unusual folk-custom scenery on the both sides of the Yellow River. A unique experience indeed. To rafting in this area, you could particularly ask your China tour agents to add this site to your itinerary and they would be pleased to do that.
Minjiang River (Sichuan, Wenchuan)
Stemming from Qianlixue, near Min Mountain, and gathering around Huanglongshui of Jiuzhai, this river flows across Zang County of Qiangzhai, breaks through magnificent and beautiful Minjiang River Canyon before leaping down the Dujiang Dam. Minjiang’s power and beauty together with strength and kindness and extremely of the nearby mountains tell a story of harmony for both man and nature to learn from. Surging down the Minjiang River is a elarge part of the Dajiuzai Rafting Tour Projects. Be sure to check those out if you choose to pay homage to this place. Many top10 China tour package available on the website includes this activity in their itineraries.
Maling River (Guizhou, Xingyi)
After China’s first International Kayak Competition, held in 1998 at the Maling River, met with great favor, this gem of a river turned into an international attraction for kayakers the world over. The reason is that the Maling River rafting route is more than 50 kilometers, over 80 dangerous shoals, above 70 deep pools, and more than 60 bends. Even more seductive is the nearly 30 kilometers of “Slot Drifting” in its lower reach. People who like to challenge themselves are keen to access this spot. No wonder that it is referred to as the “No.1 place for river rafting in China”.
Top Must-sees Along Yangtze River Cruise
Built between cliffs on Yuyin (Jade Seal) Hill facing the Changjiang River in the south, the town of Shibaozhai is 45 kilometers east of the Zhongxian County seat and 52 kilometers west of Wanxian County. The solitary Yuyin Hill features a steep peak in the shape of a jade seal. Legend has it that the hill was formed with stones left by Nu Wa, a goddess in the Chinese mythology, who mended the sky. Hence, it is called Shibaozhai (the Town of Stone Treasure). It is no wonder that the top10 China tours all cover Yangtze River because it really has much sites to offer.
Shibaozhai consists of an entrance, a city tower, and an ancient temple on top. It is the only passage to the hill top. On display in the halls are historical relics from the Neolithic Age as well as works by famous calligraphers and painters.
Nestling at the foot of Feifeng (Flying Phoenix) Hill on the southern bank of the Changjiang River in Yunyang County, the temple faces the county seat across the river. It was built to the memory of Zhang Fei at the end of Shu State (221 263) during the Three Kingdoms Period. With a novel layout, the 1 ,400-square-meter temple is composed of the Jieyi Tower, the main hall, side halls, the Wangyun (Watching Cloud) Kiosk, and the Zhufeng Pavilion. This site is another must-have along your Yangtze River cruise.
The city we see today is a group of architectural structures built during the Ming and Qing regimes. It is on Baidi Hill four kilometers east of the Fengjie County seat, on the northern side of the western end of Qutang Gorge. The major structures in clude the Mingliang Hall, the Temple of Zhuge Liang, and Star Viewing Tower. Baidi City overlooks the mighty Changjiang River and is a key link in eastern Sichuan Province. Many men of letters visited it and left poems and inscriptions. The imposing Chijia and Baiyan hills towering opposite each other on either bank of the Changjaing River.
Just a minute from the bustling cityscape offered along Hong Kong tours and view the breathtaking natural beauty of China. Yangtze River do have much to offer to you.
Interesting Puppet Shows in China
Called "marionette show" in ancient China, a puppet show is a theatre performance in which puppet figures are made to move by puppeteers pulling strings or by putting their hands inside them. To enrich their itineraries, many China tour operators have arranged this to their itineraries, which is well-reviewed by travelers.
In China, the origin of puppets dates back to the Shang Dynasty, when the custom of burying slaves alive with their deceased masters was practiced. Of the 3,000 funeral objects excavated from the Yin Ruins in Anyang City, there are pottery figurines of slaves with cangues. In the Warring States Period, there appeared entertaining figurines used in story-telling and singing performances as props. And such art forms became popular. After the Han Dynasty, a puppet show gradually developed into a folk art combining opera, literature, sculpture and painting that appealed to both humans and divinities. Viewing this show would be a great experience of your China vacation deals.
During the Three Kingdoms Period, there were "water-driven one hundred play" featuring exquisitely-made puppets performing humanlike singing, dancing and acrobatics. In the Song Dynasty, puppet shows enjoyed an unprecedented boom, with a wide variety of puppet types used in the plays, including string puppets, rod puppets, water puppets, pyrotechnic puppets, iron stick puppets, glove puppets and flesh puppets etc.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, puppet plays caught on in all areas. By integrating with local operas, various kinds of regional puppet plays came into being, such as Heyang string puppet play of Shaanxi and Zhangzhou glove puppet play of Fujian. Puppet shows also advanced with the times. After the movie came into being, they found their way into the movie field, creating increasing impact of puppet shows. It is no wonder that so many private China tour have puppet plays enjoyment in the tours as an discovery of Chinese culture, which seems make sense now.
In former times, a puppet show was one of the most popular entertaining art forms among ordinary people. Such shows were usually staged on occasions like sacrificial rituals and festive banquets, adding color to people's life. In modern times, however, puppet shows suffered decline due to war chaos. But they caught on again shortly after the war.
After 1949, except for a handful of private puppet troupes, most others were restructured as government-funded troupes. While retaining traditional plays, these puppet troupes created a large number of modern plays, also known as "civilized new plays".
Breathtaking Wuzhen Water Town in Zhejiang Province China
Wuzhen is an old town in the south of Yangtze River Delta in China with a history of more than 1300 years. It is located in the north of Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, with Huzhou City to the west and close to Wujiang County of Jiangsu Province to its north.
Wuzhen is a representative of the old towns in the south of Yangtze River. Though it has gone through more than 2000 years of historical change, Wuzhen still retains all its original scenes and structures. The cross-shaped inland water system divides the town into four blocks of East, South, West and North, which according to the local people are respectively called "East Grid, South Grid, West Grid, North Grid". The streets are formed along the river all over the town, and are connected with bridges. The houses are also built alongside the river banks, with different styles and delicate woodcarvings and stonework on girders, pillars, doors and windows. Thus come into being the typical scene of "little bridge, flowing river, and household" in areas south of Yangtze River. Among these the old street in the West Grid is one of the best preserved building complexes of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Wuzhen is a must-visit along your Hangzhou tour.
Wuzhen is not only renowned as a water town, but also boasts its numerous cultural celebrities in the history. During the period of Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, Wuzhen boasted almost 200 provincial graduates and metropolitan graduates. Lots of literators and calligraphers came to Wuzhen for study or settled down here. Such celebrities include Xie Lingyun, the inaugurator of China's landscape poetry, Shen Yue, the chief of the literary field in the Qi and Liang Dynasties, and Fan Chengda, one of the four great poets in the Resurgence period of South Song Dynasty. They had left precious cultural legacies for the later generations. There have been furthermore in modern times China's great literary master Mao Dun, caricaturist Feng Zikai, the legendary master of the overseas Chinese culture Sun Muxin, who went out of Wuzhen, and left their eternal footprints in Chinese and world history. No private China tour to Hangzhou is fantastic enough without covering the enchanting Wuzhen Water Town.
The culture passed down from a thousand years' of history, the plain but graceful landscape, delicious food of unique taste, various folk festivals, profound humanistic accumulation and unchanged lifestyle are all the elements that have made Wuzhen the living fossil of the ancient Eastern civilization, attracting each year more than two millions of tourists from both home and abroad. Wuzhen has among the first batch of the Four A-level Scenic Areas appraised by the National Tourism Bureau, and has gained the "2003 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award".
To discover the essence of Yunnan, a travel to Shangri-la is a must-have, while to explore the mesmerizing water towns in southern China, Wuzhen is a must-have. Why not discover China from Wuzhen Water Town?
National Stadium, Affectionately Known as Bird's Nest in Beijing China
The National Stadium, affectionately known as Bird's Nest, is situated in Olympic Green Village, Chaoyang District, Beijing. It was designed as the main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Olympic events of track and field, football, gavelock, weight throw and discus were held there. Since October, 2008, after the Olympics ended, the National Stadium has been opened as a tourist attraction. Now, it's the center of international or domestic sports competition and recreation activities. If your China travel covers Beijing, National Stadium would definitely a must-have along your Beijing travel.
The design of this large stadium was accomplished together by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and Chinese architect Li Xinggang and the others. The designers didn't do any redundant disposals to the look of the stadium. They just exposed the steel structures entirely and let them become the most natural appearance. The form of the stadium looks like a big nest which embraces and nurses human beings. Also it looks rather like a cradle bearing human beings' hope of the future.
The construction of the National Stadium started on December 24, 2003. On July, 2004, the project was stopped temporarily due to the amendment of the design. On December 27 of the same year, the construction was resumed and finished in March, 2008. The gross cost of the whole project is 2,267 million Chinese yuan (about 33 million dollars). This well-designed National Stadium would be a great highlight along your Beijing tour.
The stadium covers an area of about 258 thousand square meters (99.614 square miles), which can accommodate 80,000 fixed seats and 11,000 temporary seats. Its appearance was formed by big steel frames. Its top surface is saddle-shaped with the major axis of 332.3 meters (1,090 feet) and the stub axis of 296.4 meters (972 feet). The tallest point of the stadium is 68.5 meters (225 feet) above the ground and the lowest point is 42.8 meters (140 feet). The top is covered by semi-transparent air bubble film. This kind of material is waterproof and can make enough sunshine penetrate into the stadium. Owing to that, the lawns in it can grow well.
In the National Stadium, the designs of everything are humanistic. The bowl-like stands zone surrounds the court. The stands can be changed in many ways, which can satisfy the needs of different numbers of spectators in different periods. During the Olympics, the temporary seats were set at the top of the stands zone. Rows of the stands distribute scientifically. No matter where the spectator is seated, the whole game can be seen without any visual obstruction. The stadium adopted the electro-acoustic public-address system. It makes the index of voice definition reaches 0.6. This number assures that all the audience can hear the broadcast very clearly. What's more, there are more than 200 wheelchair seats intended for the disabled. Many architectural experts think that Beijing National Stadium not only is a symbol building of the 2008 Olympics but also set a very good example to the world's architectural history.
No China vacation packages to Beijing is complete without discovering the world-renowned National Stadium.
Must-visit Shopping Area in Beijing China
The Silk Market
Up until 2005, this market was called Silk Street and had the same location but was an outdoor market. Today, everything is covered by a roof and this market is probably the most visited by foreign tourists in Beijing. Just like HongQiao Pearl Market offers more than pearls, Silk Market offers a lot more than just silk. In the basement floor you'll find shoes, belts, handbags and suitcases etc. On the first and second floors there are mainly designer clothes. Be careful to try on everything you buy here, to be sure you get the right size. Many China travel agents has arranged the Silk Market to their travelers in order to enrich their itinerary, which seems workable and beneficial.
Silk products are sold on the third floor: ties, tablecloths, traditional clothes as well as dressing gowns, underwear and many other products made of silk, and children's wear. There are also tailors here, willing to make suits or dresses for tourists that often pay a little more than they should. Floors four and five have jewellery, pearls, Chinese crafts and art, watches, electronics etc. Having walked all the way up here, you'll probably be quite tired of all the yelling salespeople pulling at you. In that case, continue to one of the restaurants on floors five and six, where you can sit down and eat something.
Panjiayuan Market
Panjiayuan Flea Market, or Panjiayuan Market, or Panjiayuan Antique Market, or whatever names you use, is a must for those who like something really Chinese. Panjiayuan for me, it is also a place for nostalgia, finding some things reminding me of the time during 1960s. Shopping boutique in Panjiayuan market would be a great experience along your Beijing tour.
People often say the difference between the old and the young is that the old have the past before and the young have the future ahead. Maybe I'm really geting older now. Panjiayuan is one of my favorite places to digg into the past. Every year I will go there to fill my working heart with some sentiment. People need to feel, not just work and work!
Panjiayuan Market is located No.18, Huaweili Road, just 100 meters east of Panjiayuan Bridge on the east third ring road. It is its main gate - the north gate. If you take the bus or taxi here, you'd better enter the north gate. If you drive to Panjiayuan Market, you should go through the west gate. The west gate has a huge park lot while there is no parking place at the north gate. To get to the west gate, you just drive past the north gate westward and turn left at the first traffic light, for about 100 meters on your left side, you will find the west gate.
To travel China, many people may recommend the fantastic Yangtze River tour, but to explore the ancient history of China, Beijing travel is suggested, which do have much to offer for history-lovers. Along your Beijing travel, you should never miss shopping in the above two shopping areas.
Flower-embraced Jiayang Mini Steam Engine Train in Sichuan China
From Leshan Great Buddha down to south about 50km, there is a train called Jiayang mini steam engine train. It is a steamed train (locomotives) on the narrow gauge tracks to transport passengers and coals daily in the area. It is the major transportation to link local residents living in mountains with the outside world. Because of its unique and rare in China, it became a tourist attraction as well. A visit to Jiayang mini steam engine train as an extension to your Yangtze River tour in Chongqing would a great idea for you considering short distance and visit-value.
Train is running from Bagou town to Shixi town, both in Qianwei county. The rail is about 20km long with a track width in 762mm (half of standard tracks in gauge), and it was built in 1958. Train will take about two and half hour for a round-trip in a maximum speed of 35km per hour. When loading with passengers, the train speed is limited to 20km per hour.
There are usually seven cars for the train, and each car on the train has only 18 seats. Every day there have four trains to and from Bagou and Shixi. However, during holidays, extra steamed trains are available for tourists. It is reported that many China tour agents have arranged this off-the-beaten site to their itinerary in order to meet the needs of clients, which turns out to be efficient and beneficial.
There are eight stops in the rail, and four are scenic stops for tourists. Stations are Shixi, Yaojing, Mifengyan, Caibazhi, Xianrenjiao, Jiaoba, Bagou, and Huangchunjing.
Jiayang mini steam engine train carrying tourists and villagers runs in Qianwei County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 20, 2011. Built in 1958, Jiayang mini steam engine train with a narrow rail gauge, used to be a coal transportation. Later, added some passengers carriges, it became the major transportation for local villagers living in and around the mountainous Bagou town and Shixi town. As the steam trains disappear in the world, more and more tourists from home and abroad came here to visit the mini steam engine train.
No China travel deals to Sichuan of scenic discovery theme is complete without covering this ancient Jiayang mini steam engine train in their itinerary.
Top Must-visit For Sichuan China Travel
Huanglong Scenic Area
Located in the southern part of the Minshan Mountain range, Huanglong is a scenic and historic area in northwestern Sichuan, extending over an area of 700 square kilometers (70,000 hectares). No China travel deals to Sichuan are fantastic without visiting the enchanting Huanglong Scenic Area.
This area is known for its colorful pools created by calcite deposits, especially in Huanglonggou (Yellow Dragon Gully), as well as for its diversity in forest ecosystems, snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and hotsprings. Its highest peak, or Xuebao Peak, measures a height of 5,588 meters and is covered with eternal snow. It is located at the eastern end of China's currently remaining glaciers.
Huanglong is also home to many endangered species, including the Giant Panda and the Sichuan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Huanglong was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1992 and listed in the World Human and Biosphere Reserve by the UN in 2000.When browsing the website, I found that many a classic China tour package has included Huanglong into their itinerary as a highlight to attract travelers.Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Dujiangyan is an irrigation infrastructure built by Governor Li Bing of the Qin State in 256 BC, during China's Warring States Period (476-221BC). It is situated on the Min River in Sichuan Province, near its capital Chengdu.
Dujiangyan is the only existing ancient hydro-power project, featuring diversions without a dam, in the world. It is widely regarded as the "ancestor" of the world's hydro-power culture, with a history dating back over 2,200 years. It also functions as a means for preventing floods and plain shipping. It is still in use today, irrigating over 5,300 square kilometers of the region's land. It is no wonder that many private China tours to Sichuan have covered this great site.
Dujiangyan is known as one of the "three great hydraulic engineering projects of the Qin Dynasty." The other two are the Zhengguo Canal in Shaanxi Province and the Lingqu Canal in Guangxi Province.
Dujiangyan is also one of China's better-known touristic spots, with many historic sites surrounding the area.
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Bustling Qingping Market in Guangzhou China
Qingping Market came into existence in 1979. It has over 2000 stall along 1-km-long Qingping Lu and Ti Yun Lu in the north of Shamian Island. It is the largest street market in Guangzhou. Over 60, 000 people shop there every day. If you want to extend your Hong Kong tour package, then a visit to Guangzhou could be a great idea. During your Guangzhou travel, you should never miss visiting this ancient market and enjoying the pleasure of bargaining.
As one of the first markets to flourish after China’s ‘reopening’, until very recently Qingping Market had something of a notorious reputation for its trade in exotic animals. Health scares mean that most of that has now been swept away, but what remains is a fascinating sprawl of literally thousands of stalls scattered over a number of streets. The focus these days is mainly on medicinal herbs and various vegetation. But you’ll still find plenty of places proffering weird and wonderful merchandise including dried seahorses and scorpions, not to mention a few tiger claw vendors who continue to warily carry on their business from the streets. Qingping Market is centered on Qingping Lu and Tiyun Lu (which runs parallel to Luersan Lu to the north). There are also stalls all the way along Luersan Lu from west of Zhuji Lu to east of Qingping Lu. It’s well worth taking an half an hour or so to wander around the area. To recommend some must-have for your last minute deals for China travel, then a visit to Qingping Market would be a great idea.
Directions: The Qingping Market is directly opposite Shamian Island to the north. Take exit D from Huangsha subway station, go left as you exit and continue straight along Luersan Lu. You will start passing market stalls. Continue until you reach Qingping Lu.
I had heard about the Qing Ping market from a couple of other travelers. They told me not to miss it if I made it to Guangzhou as it was huge and held all sorts of interesting items! They were right! For me it was very intesting as I could see so many "exotic" animals and a different way of life that I hadn't experienced before. I was totally appalled and intrigued at the same time with finding dogs being butchered but at the time I didn't understand that the dogs were raised to be slaughtered unlike the dogs that were kept as pets. Once I understood that! it was easier for me to understand. (I know some of you won't like the idea of this) Like most westerners (except vegetarians) I don't have any problem with seeing butchered cattle so I don't know why seeing the dogs upset me at first. There are different sections in this huge market. You can find endless rows of seafood, turtles, fish, snakes, and all parts of animals are on display for your shopping pleasure.....gosh you name it and you can find it here. There were other parts of the market that had dry goods but I didn't visit that area. It's a place that I would need 3 rolls of film for if I ever had the chance to return.
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The Delicate Gourd Carving in Lanzhou
Gourd carving is a well-known traditional craft. Craftsmen use needles to draw people, landscapes, flowers, and other patterns on specially bred gourds, accompanied by poems or calligraphy. The craftsmanship is delicate, exquisite and impressive. With its ethnic characteristics, it is favored by domestic and foreign appreciators.
Lanzhou gourd carving originated out of practicality. Lanzhou City, as the most important spot on the Silk Road, attracted many merchants. Merchants from the Hu tribe held water in giant gourds that were sculpted with Chinese characters and patterns, and Chinese inland merchants transported the gourds to foreign countries. At that time, gourd carving techniques were rough. Medicine sellers hung huge gourds with the Chinese character “药(yao)” (medicine) in the doorway of their shops. During the Tang dynasty, the carving technique of gourds developed in a more exquisite way, turning the gourds into art pieces. Along your Silk Road travel, you would visit Lanzhou, where gourd carvings are ubiquitous.
Gourd carving is a special art, not only because it has a long history in Lanzhou City, but also because people who learn carving have abundant artistic training. A master of carving should have exquisite carving techniques and knowledge of Chinese classical culture, poems, ancient books and records, calligraphy, and drawing. Therefore, the subjects for gourd carving are abundant: Tang poems, Song Poetry, Buddhism, famous classic writings, various plantations, flowers, birds, fish, insects, natural sceneries, etc. The abundant knowledge of the sculptor makes his every piece unique, accurate and exquisite. Today in Lanzhou City, there are many gourd sculptors. Even the gourds found among a vendor’s items is delicate.
There are two kinds of gourd-carving techniques. The first method employs specially made steel needles in different sizes, engraving the patterns in thin lines on the surface of the gourds, and then paints inks on the lines to bring them out. The technique is called “portray.” Another method involves hollowing out the gourds, then drawing the patterns in thick lines. The technique is called “carving.” When the patterns are down, “卐” patterns are drawn. For the last step, chemical or silver pedestals are added to the gourds, and the whole production process is finished. Along your Tibet travel, you could also see the delicate gourd carving on the street.
Gourd carving can be divided into two categories: gourd-engraving and gourd-carving. Gourd-engraving differs from other gourd sculptures in its production process. It mixes mold-production, engraving, heating, collating, and becomes a comprehensive gourd art. It uses various-sized natural gourds, reorganizing the parts into various gourd sculptures.
If engraving is added to the collage, the gourds become more artistic. The methods used on gourd-engraving are based on the experience of bamboo-carving and wood-carving. The sculptor is required to be peaceful in mind, accurate and delicate in technique, slight in strength, and slow in pace. This is how exquisite gourd sculptures are produced.
Gourd-carving, namely carving calligraphy and paintings on gourds, produces artistic gourds for people to appreciate. Gourd-engraving is a three-dimensional art, but in gourd-carving, all the work is done on the surface of the gourds. During your Shangri-la tour, you may also see this. Gourd-carving is said to have originated in Gansu Province. People carved the gourds into simple patterns for appreciation. With continued improvement of craftsmanship, specialized gourd-carving art was formed.
The gourds used for carving are herbal fruits, solid, smooth, yellowish brown in color, looking like eggs. Therefore they’re called “egg gourds.” Mostly they’re round, but some of them are oval. Lanzhou gourd carving started during the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that there was a tailor named Wang who often sculpted scenic patterns on egg gourds for himself to appreciate. This can be considered the start of Lanzhou’s gourd-carving business.
When it came to the Republic of China (1912-1949), a number of people sold sculpted egg gourds as toys, and caught people’s attention. Between 1914 and 1921, due to people’s wide advocacy and creative works, sculpted gourds stepped into upper society, and became a precious artistic gift among officials. Gourd carving is a branch of Chinese carving, which would be a great highlight of your China vacation deals. "Hu mang" is the most famous product of Lanzhou. Lanzhou Special Craft Community, formed by Ruan Guangyu, created “The West Chamber,” “The Water Margin,” “A Dream in the Red Mansion,” “Pilgrimage to the West” and other products, making “Hu mang” a shining star on the market. Ruan Wenhui, using his knowledge of and specialty in Chinese painting, created many techniques such as “ink portray,” “imitation,” “color carving,” and “miniature.” Many of his miniature gourd sculptures are part of the national collection of the China National Arts and Crafts Museum.
Huangmei Opera, a Folk Opera in China
Huangmei Opera was formed in the 18th century, when Chinese local operas were flourishing. Originally it was a combination of local folk songs, dances and some widely spread ancient operas. Bordering on Anhui Province, Huangmei in Hubei is a count famous for its tea and tea-picking songs, from which Huangmei Opera got its original name, "tea-picking tunes" or "tea-picking opera". So many visitors request to add Huangmei opera into their China travel service. It seems make sense.
Before 1949, rivers and lakes often flooded, and the displaced victims had to seek refuge in neighbouring provinces. Thus Hubei's Huangmei Opera was brought to Anhui by victims of flood and famine. It developed from folk tunes to short operas and complete dramas. Nowadays, the lively short operas, called "everyday shows", are still performed frequently. Even "big plays" are almost always about folk life. The performers manage to infuse simple humour into plays about the privileged, so that audiences see a down-to-earth way of life in all the 72 short plays and 36 full-length dramas that have accumulated.
From the time when Huangmei Opera earned its initial popularity in the rural areas, it had a long way to go from recreational activity there to professional performances in the cities. It began as a diversion acted by and for peasants and artisans, usually at festivals and special solar times (the 24 weather-oriented divisions of the year). If your China travel packages planned covers Anhui province, you should never miss watching it.
As time went by, seasonal, semi-professional groups appeared, and they had to perform together with troupes specializing in more popular forms like Beijing Opera and Anhui Opera. Not until 1926, 140 years after its advent, did the Huangmei Opera manage to reach Anqing, then the capital of Anhui Province. It appeared in Shanghai in 1934, but only on the cheap stages of the city's poor quarters, where it was denounced as "bawdy entertainment" and where its unfortunate performers were harried by the local authorities.
Since 1949, with the support of the government, the Huangmei Opera has bloomed like a wildflower. In particular, the Anhui Provincial Huangmei Opera Troupe's "The Heavenly Maid and the Mortal" began a new epocj in its history. Though the play was a traditional favourite, the troupe revised the script, music and make up. Huangmei opera is a slice different with Beijing opera watched along your Beijing tour package, which has its own features and stress.
The opera tells how the Jade Emperor of Heaven has seven daughters, the youngest of whom, the ravishingly beautiful Seventh Fairy Maiden, daringly flees down to the world in search of a love of her own choosing, and marries Dong Yong, an honesr, kind-hearted serf, in defiance of her father. She makes the cruel landlord shorten Dong Yong's three years' indenture to 100 days, but just as they are leaving to set up their own home, the Jade Emperor has her snatched back to heaven, breaking up the happy couple. Pregnant and indignant, she writes a letter in her own blood to Dong, vowing, "When next spring comes and the flowers bloom, your son shall be yours beneath the scholar trees." It was reported that among the top China tours, Huangshan is a common must-have, while in many Huangshan tours, Huangmei opera are included as a Chinese opera discovery activity.
The moving plot, beautiful music and excellent singing made the play a household work. It was filmed in 1956, when there were few opera films, and given 150,000 domestic showings, also travelling to a dozen or so places abroad, so that the obscure wildflower became a masterpiece admired by thousands. The success owed much to the work of renowned performers, among them Yan Fengying, a country girl from Luojialing in Tongcheng County, Anhui Province. A versatile performer who played a variety of roles, she died young, a great loss to the profession. Anqing City put up a statue of Yan Fengying as Seventh Fairy Maiden in one of its parks.
Recommended Places to Watch Peking Opera in Beijing China
Beijing ( Peking ) opera is a national treasure with a history of over 200 years. It can date back to the 55th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty(1790) when the four big Huiban opera Troupes entered the capital and mixed with Kunqu opera, Yiyang opera, Hanju opera and Luantan in Beijing's thearetical field at the time. With over half a century of mixture and combination of various kinds of opera there came the present Peking ( Beijing ) opera, the most impressive kind of opera in China. It is rich in repertoire with large number of artists of performance and of audiences. It has a profound influence in China. For western ears, the Peking Opera might need getting used to. The story is sometimes difficult to follow. It is very colourful bright and extremely noisy and bears absolutely no resemblance to western opera. No Beijing tours are complete without watching Beijing opera, the must-have for Chinese culture discovery.
Peking opera - a number of combined stylized actions:
Beijing Opera is a number of stylized action, including singing, dancing, dialogue and acrobatic fighting to tell a story or present different characters and their feelings of happiness, anger, sorrow, surprise, fear and sadness. In Peking opera there are four main types of roles: sheng (male) dan (young female), jing( painted face,male), and chou (clown, male or female). The characters may be loyal or treacherous, beautiful or ugly, good or bad, their images being vividly presented.
The rich repertoire of Peking Opera:
Beijing Opera is mainly about the tales of successive dynasties regarding important historical events, emperors, ministers and generals, geniuses and great beauties, from the ancient times to Yao, Shun, Yu, the Spring and Autumn Period, the Warring States Period and the dynasties of Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing for 5000 years. It is indeed that Beijing opera has made great contribution to China tourism,which has drawn uncountable tourist to discover it.
The music of Peking Opera:
The music is that of the "plate and cavity style". With harmonious rhythms, its melody is graceful and pleasing to the ears. The melody may be divided into two parts: "Xipi" and "erhong". The chief patterns are guiding pattern, original pattern, slow pattern, quick pattern. The performance is coupled by a tune played on wind instruments, stringed instruments and percussion instruments. The chief musical instruments is jinghu which is a two-stringed bowed instrument with a high register, yueqin which is a four-stringed plucked instrument with a full-moon-shaped sound box, Sanxian which is a three-stringed plucked instrument, suona horn, flute drum, large-gong, cymbals, tiny-gong, etc.
The costumes in Peking opera:
The costumes are graceful, magnificent, elegant and bright. As the conventional Chinese pattern are used, the costumes are of a high value. Peking Opera costumes show the beauty of traditional Chinese embroidery: surface embroidery with gold or silver threads; woollen embroidery with silk or gold threads, among many others. Every costume is a masterpiece of art and craft. One costume with elaborate designs and patterns may take a handicraftsman months or even years to finish, and the best are indeed priceless.
What Beijing opera is to Beijing, what acrobatic show to Shanghai tours. Never forget to watch the classic Beijing opera, the classic essence of China.
Tibet Culture Discovery- The Ongkor Festival
In the vast land of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, which is regarded as "the Roof of the World," diligent and smart Tibetan people have achieved much. Tibetan architectures, costumes, cuisines, folklores, epics, dances and festivals appeal deeply to outsiders. Tibetans are one of the oldest ethnic groups in China. They mainly reside in the Tibet Autonomous Region, as well as in Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. There agriculture is mainly the planting of highland barley. In addition, there are other crops such as wheat, rape and peas. Tibetans believe in Tibetan Buddhism, i.e. Lamaism. In the past, there were many traditional festivals relating to religious activities. The Tibetan calendar is based on the Yin-Yang (lunisolar) calendar, which consists of "five elements" (wood, fire, earth, gold and water). Twelve animals symbolize the calendar assorted by Yin-Yang. A round needs 60 years. And the New Year is the most important festival on the Tibetan calendar. If you are no idea about your last minute deals for China travel, a Tibet travel would never disappoint you.
The Ongkor Festival is an old festival in farming areas of Tibet when all crops are waiting for the harvest. The Ongkor Festival is a time to wish for a good harvest. The Ongkor Festival originated in the valley in the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. The initial reason for the festival was to offer sacrifices to gods in the hope of receiving a good harvest. The date of the Ongkor Festival is not a fixed one, but it is decided according to the time when the qingke (a kind of highland barley) ripens in each village. The Ongkor Festival lasts three days and will be celebrated a few days before the harvest. All the villagers, men and women, young and old, will put on their best holiday clothes, hold colorful flags with good wishes, and carry a "harvest tower" built with barley stalks. They sing and dance, beat drums and gongs, and walk around the fields. On this festival, people also enjoy horseracing. After the Ongkor Festival, locals will start their intense autumn harvest. If you are having your Tibet tours, you could discover the landscape and exotic culture heartily.
This is a very ancient tradition in Tibet. When Bonism dominated years ago, Bonism priests would manage the procedures. After the rising of Tibetan Buddhism, the ceremony changed to the present form. It is believed the original intention was probably to train Tibetan farmers for military coordination. "Ongkor" in Tibetan means "surrounding the farmland." Major activities include horse racing, shooting, singing and dancing, Tibetan opera, stone holding and wrestling. The "Ongkor" not only shows people's wish for a good harvest, but is also a good time for them to rest. Since crops ripen at different times, the festival is held accordingly.
Some areas hold the Ongkor Festival in mid-summer. Each family sends out a representative, mostly woman, to form a 100-member team. They are dressed in grand Tibetan robes, wear their gold and silver jewels, carry dou (a measure for grain) and scripture books showing a good harvest and hold colorful arrows. Under the leadership of a revered man and accompanied by the sounds of ritual trumpets and drums, they move round the farmland outside the village, shouting: "Yangguxiu! Yangguxiu!" (meaning "Come back, the soul of the earth!" ) The old villagers will burn mulberries on the way and the Ongkor team must pass to worship gods. Now the Ongkor Festival is more enriched than ever before. Besides the traditional folk performances and sports like horse race and archery, trade fair has been a new part in the festival, which promotes local economic exchange.
To discover the natural scenery of China, the Yangtze River cruise may come to your preference. But to discover a true China, Chinese culture is another must-have. Why not discover China from Tibet?
China Tea Museum in Hangzhou Around West Lake
Located in the Longjing (Dragon Well) Village -- a tea growing area south of the West Lake District in Hangzhou, the China Tea Museum was completed and opened to the public in October 1990. It occupies an area of 3,500 square meters and comprises 4 groups of buildings with displays outlining the traditions of growing tea south of the Yangtze River. Here you can learn about the history of tea, the best varieties and the etiquette of tea drinking in China. Along your Hanghzou tour package, you could pay a visit to this museum.
The four separated buildings are respectively of exhibition, tea sipping and tasting, tea service ceremony, and multi-function. The exhibition building is again divided into 6 exhibition zones, including history of tea-growing, the varieties and distribution of tea in China, events related to tea, various tea utensils used in the old dynasties and tea-drinking habits in different parts of China with tea-related culture. Visitors can also learn about the scientific and technological aspects of tea growing and processing. To save time, you could extend your Suzhou tour package to Hangzhou and visit the mesmerizing West Lake while tasting Dragon Well tea.
No.2 building has been a fine locale for a number of cultural activities on tea, including a series of international seminars on tea culture and exchange.
No. 3 and 4 buildings serve as tea drinking and performance sections, which not only introduce you the way to drink tea in detail, but also display various drinking rituals seen in different provinces and foreign countries.
One of the largest theme museums in Hangzhou City, the China Tea Museum lies with the green hills at its back and tea plantations in front. In the museum the trees made a shade everywhere with flowers in bloom all the year round. It is a calm and quiet place for relaxing and enjoying a cup of tea. Upon the request of clients, many China tour operators have include the Chinese tea tasting experience in their itinerary, which is well reviewed by clients.
Admission Fee:Free
Opening Hours:8:30-16:30 (Oct. 8 - the next Apr. 30); 9:00-17:00 (May 1 - Oct. 7);Close on Monday
Bus Routes:Take bus 27 or Y3 (Tourism Bus Line 3) and get off at Shuangfeng Station.
Shanghai Old Street, a Must-visit in Shanghai Travel
Walking into Shanghai Old Street, will probably make you think you have arrived in a bustling open-air market of turn-of-the-century (1900) Shanghai. Nestling in the Yuyuan Garden commercial tourist area, the street affords the perfect tourist combination of sightseeing, shopping, entertainment and cultural shows. At one time, the street also housed Shanghai’s earliest native bank, gold and silverware shops. There are also pubs, theaters and many commercial businesses located in vicinity. Along your Shanghai tours, you should never miss visiting this ancient street.
Formerly named Middle Fangbang Road, these 825 meters long old Street starts from South Henan Road in the west and ends at Renmin Road in the east. The street is mainly laid out with ancient buildings with black tiles and white-washed walls, red pillars and upturned eaves, typical of the architectural style of old towns in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Here you will find many shops and stores dating back more than 100 years, such as the Old Shanghai Tea House, Chunfeng Deyi Restaurant, Xishi Soya Beancurd Store, Dingniangzi Cloth Store, and Baoyintang. To extend your Shanghai tour, Suzhou tour would be a great choice for you.
The architecture and the layout of the shops in this street show its development that began during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) until the period when European influence made an impact on the city. The western part of this old street begins at South Henan Road and continues to Guanyi Street. The buildings here reflect the style of the Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties and the architecture is elegant in its classic simplicity. Red poles, pink walls and black roofs with upswept eaves are in harmony with the buildings in Yuyuan Garden. The eastern end of the street, with a length of 500 meters (about 1640 feet) ends at Renmin Road and after reconstruction and decoration retains the residential characteristics of later Qing Dynasty. The swing doors reach to the ground, the lattice windows and the graceful roofs with upswept eaves are fascinating as they are precisely how foreigners imagine China to be. Although there are several European buildings, they don't contradict the styles of old Shanghai. On the contrary, they are a vital part of the diverse culture here. To enrich your eastern China travel, join the Hangzhou tours to visit the breathtaking West Lake would never disappoint you.
As an ideal place to explore old Shanghai, and also an important east-west passageway to Shiliupu, the City God Temple and Yuyan area, Shanghai Old Street fully expresses the historical and cultural evolution of old Shanghai in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Tourists can enjoy the unique local flavor whilst absorbing the typical human and cultural elements of old Shanghai.
Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, a Must-have for Shopping-lovers
Along with Tsimshatsui, Causeway Bay is where shoppers in Hong Kong love to spend their money. If the crowds in Hong Kong overwhelm you, wait until you see the intersection of Hennessy Road and Sogo, one of the most popular department stores in the area on one of the busiest streets. If you are a shopping-lovers, then a visit to Causeway Bay would be a great experience in your Hong Kong tour package.
Shopping in Causeway Bay is not confined to the biggest department stores of Mitsukoshi, Sogo and Lane Crawford. Jardine's Crescent and Lee Garden Road are two of the best spots for bargain hunters in Causeway Bay. All of your favourite name brand clothes are here, as well as watches, luggage and electronics.
If the lanes are not your style, a bit more up market is the new Lee Gardens and Times Square. The latter is a popular multi-purpose complex where one can shop, eat, bank or catch a movie all in an afternoon. In addition to shopping, people come to Causeway Bay for the restaurants, pubs, karaoke bars and nightclubs. If your China tour operator offers some free time along your Hong Kong travel, then a visit to Causeway Bay should not be missed.
Foodies will appreciate the wide variety of restaurants in the area. On Jaffe Road, Cannon Street and Houston Street, you will find restaurants serving Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican or Spanish. The hardest part will be deciding which restaurant to choose. After dinner, why not try your luck at the nearby Happy Valley Racecourse. The locals love betting on the races and who knows, maybe it could be your lucky day. A full day in Causeway Bay will be, without a doubt, one of the highlights of your stay in Hong Kong.
No China vacation deals to Hong Kong is perfect enough without offering some free shopping time for visitors. During your free time, a visit to Causeway Bay would never disappoint the shopping-addicts.
Other Famous Local Snack Streets in Shanghai
Yellow River Snack Street
Situated in the north side of the People Square and near the Nanjing Road, Yellow River Snack Street has an assembly of good but fairly expensive seafood restaurants in the Chinese style. Besides, there are a hundreds of different sizes of restaurants specialized in Shanghai food in this not-so-long Road. It is said: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, so the foods here are cater to the taste of Shanghai people, which are very popular. A majority of the restaurants here offers the local food, the price probably ranging from 40RMB to 60RMB. In addition, Hong Kong tea also could be available in this street and a lot of food restaurants have received favorable reports. Snacks in this street are totally unavailable along your luxury Hong Kong tours, which is focused on its local flavor.
Guling Snack Street
Located between the Nanjing West Road and Beijing Road, Guling Snack Street is a characteristic street gathering dining and leisure. Entering Guling Road, Guyuelongshan Wine Shop will greet firstly, which provides Yue Opera and Beijing Opera performance together with the tea in a cheap price. Along the street, there are Master Jin Wonton Shop, Dama Dumpling, Kun Mountain Aozao Shop, etc. Along your Shanghai tour package, you should never miss tasting the delicious local snacks on this street.
Yunnan Snack Street
Yunnan Road is where the most authentic-and cheapest-street snacks are served from dark to dawn. Its Shanghai specialties include Steamed buns cooked on small bamboo steamers, Pan-fried buns stuffed with pork, Fried bean curd and vermicelli soup, Won ton stuffed with shrimp meat, and Duck and Chicken blood soup, Nian Cake with Spare-ribs, Nanxiang Xiaolongbao (Steamed Pork Dumplings). In addition, Beijing Roast Duck, Xiaojinling Brine Duck, Tianjin Goubuli Steamed Dumpling, Shandong Boiled Dumpling also make you mouthwater.
Zhapu Road Snack Street
It is the well-known cate street in Hongkou, collecting restaurants, wine houses of different taste from all the parts of China. You can take Bus No.100, 848 stop at Zhapu Road Terminus; No.63,563,stop at Wusong Road Terminus; No.61 stop at Tiantong Road Terminus.
May you just finished your Shangri-la tour and discovered the paradise on earth in Yunnan, but to explore a modern China, a visit to Shanghai is highly recommended, which is the place where west culture meets eastern culture.
Age-old Jinli Street in Chengdu China
Jinli Street is truly ancient. Its origins can be dated back to the Han Dynasty (approximately contemporary with the Romans) when this area on the south bank of the Jin River (hence the name) was famous for silk production - especially the very decorative fabrics known as brocade.
For historical reasons this area is known as Shu, and Shu Brocade was one of the finest, suitable for the emperor and therefore extremely valuable. Brocade production brought such wealth to this area that at one point the city that we now know as Chengdu was referred to simply as Jinli. The thoroughfare still retains the title 'First street of West Shu' even though the brocade is long gone. If the China travel service offered by your tour operator cover Chengdu, then a visit to Jilin ancient street should not be missed.
Although only 350 metres long, Jinli Street contains many features to give visitors an impression of how Chengdu would have looked in days gone by although one distorted, admittedly, by the wealth that was here. The houses are exceptionally fine with extravagant details in wood and stone that could have only been produced by master craftsmen at the peak of their trade.
Shops and cafes have now been added to capitalise on the attraction and these now provide another level of interest for visitors. The brocade production may have gone but other new crafts are on display to add interest for visitors. Among the many craftworks to be seen some of the most popular are the carvings - in clay and in brightly coloured candy. Candy drawings are popular with youngsters, though they rarely last long. To enrich your China vacation packages in Chengdu, then a visit to Chengdu would never disappoint you.
Silk makes an appearance - in the form of floss. The Zhuoshang Silk Workshop offers demonstrations of the various processes by which raw silk is turned into a useful product. Of course, the main purpose is to attract sales and many small items are available to catch the compulsive shoppers. Those with a deeper interest in the subject may enjoy a visit to the Jinxiu Museum where a huge loom dominates the exhibits.
There are a wide range of other handicrafts, and this is part of the attraction of Jinli Street - you just don't know what will pop up next.
Jinli Street is just as famous for its wide range of local snacks. The most famous of these is Zhangfei beef (Zhangfei being one of the main charcters in the 'Sanguo' classic Chinese novel - see below). This preserved meat is ideal as a gift especially as the modern form comes in convenient vacuum packs. Tofu, noodles and dumplings are also popular for one-the-spot consumption. You can choose whether or not to go for the full-on spiciness preferred by locals. To extend your Yangtze River tour, then a visit to Chengdu would be a great idea for you. Besides pandas and other muts-haves, Jinlin street is another must-have for visitors.
Those with bigger appetites and more money may be tempted into the Sanguo Restaurant, one that combines excellent Sichuan cuisine with the Three Kingdoms historical theme. Many dishes capitalise on well-known (in China) passages from the classic novel though few foreigners would understand the significance of a dish called ' Borrowing Arrows With Straw Boats' even if the characters were translated. For those dying to know, this title refers to a scene where one army are desperately short of ammunition. Their clever strategist sends out a fleet of boats in fog loaded with hay bales not soldiers. The enemy shoot arrows at them and when the boats return to base the army is restocked.
Famous Snack Streets in Shanghai China
Shanghai is thronged with delicious food and snacks from all over China. Various kinds of local snacks have distinctive flavor. Food and cuisines from other regions of the country are also authentic and popular. Do you have a good appetite? We will lead you to a number of snack streets clustered with restaurants and eateries in Shanghai. They will be sure to satisfy your one-stop tasting. After your Yangtze River tour finishes in Shanghai, you could head to these famous snack street for tasting this palatable snacks.
Shanghai Chenghuang Temple Snack Street
“If you didn’t go to Chenghuang Temple, you actually haven’t gone to Shanghai.”, which is the witness of the status and infection of Chenghuang Temple in Shanghai. Located in the Middle Fangbang Road, It is high reputation as one of the famous snack streets of Shanghai. It collects all kinds of flavor snack of Shanghai including: Characteristic Snack in Lubolang, Vegetable Stuffed Bun in Songyuelou, Pigeon-egg Dumpling in Sweet-scented osmanthus Hall, Eight-treasures rice pudding in Songyuelou, Nanxiang Xiaolongbao (Steamed Pork Dumplings), Ninbo Rice Ball, Wine Dumpling, Spiced Beans,etc. It is highly boasted the Snack Kindom. These delicious snacks would be a great feast in your Shanghai tour package.
Qibao Old Snack Street
In the center of the town, there is an old street named Qibao Old street, with a length of 360 meters. The street is divided into two parts by a bridge: the South Part and the North Part and the south street is called “a snack street”. In this bustling street gathers all kinds of delicious snacks from different places of China: the dumpling with pork from Wuxi; Sichuan taste and various bakings. However, the most famous popular food is the cakes and pastries and most of the snacks include colorful as well as appetizing snacks such as dried bean curd served in Lotus Leaves, roasted sweet potatoes, sugar coated haws, and smoked toads.
Wujiang Road, by the Nanjing Road, is a short, twistly alleyway packed with fiercely competitive shops selling snacks and small meals. Very cheap but very Chinese, it is really a good choice to visit here and enjoy the testable foods. Here you can enjoy not only the famous snacks from Zhejiang province or Shanghai but also many delicious foods from the other parts of China. For example, Xiaoyang Shengjian (the fried steamed bread and steamed buns with stuffing) is Shanghai’s most famous purvey of its kind. Guotie (fried dumpling), baked foods, Hong Kong-style crystal cake, Guangzhou-style congee and noodles in Luyuan Restaurant are all very popular.
The snacks on these streets are different from the ones eaten along your Silk Road tour, which has its own features and special flavor.
Top Visit-worthy Beijng Attractions in Autumn
Beijing has more than 20,000 hectares of foliage in its surrounding mountains, spanning 230 kilometers. Maple, smoke trees, persimmon, hawthorn, gingko, torch trees, birch, aspen, hickories, linden, chestnut, walnut, sawtooth oak, jujube and more to beautify Beijing.
Leaves change color based on a variety of factors including light level, temperature, soil conditions and more. Get an eyeful of nature's painted canvas! Plan a fall foliage getaway with tour-Beijing travel service - some pre-arranged tours as well as the customized tours per your specific request. To promote the deals in autumn, many a China travel agency have extend their itinerary to these less-explored but suitable for traveling in autumn.
Mangshan National Forest Park
Mangshan National Forest Park is to the east of the Ming Tomb’s Reservoir, 35 kilometers from the center of Beijing City. There is nearly 86 square kilometers forest within the park. The forest coverage is up to 86.5%, which is the largest in Beijing. Every autumn, there is a Red Leave Festival lasting from October to late November. If your China tour deals fall into autumn, then a visit to Beijing to these sites has something for you.
Shangfangshan National Forest Park
The Shangfangshan National Forest Park, with an area of 340 hectares (840 acres), is situated in Hancunhe Village, Fangshan District, and about 70 kilometers (44 miles) from Beijing. With its main peak 860 meters (2,820 feet) high, the park is characterized by vast area of woods, nine marvelous karst caves, twelve stupendous peaks, seventy-two ancient temples, and the largest stupa group in North China.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden in the view without introduce more naturally “looks graceful” Fall to the botanical gardens, in addition you can see red leaves, but also many of the South do not have close contact with fruit such as plum, crabapple, etc., but this time it is when they mature. The first Botanic Gardens in heavy spots are Cherry Vale, valley streams running, the cool and pleasant, Journal of Dalian tactfully. Construction of a wooden plank Botanic Gardens, winding deep valleys, and large in both sides of the plant are a national treasure – Metasequoia glyptostroboides.
May you just have enjoyed the beauty of China along Yangtze River cruises, but to discover the history of China, a travel to Beijing, the capital of China, is what you can not miss.
Amazing Heshun Ancient Town in Southwest China
Photo taken on March 1, 2011 shows the night view in a house in Heshun Township of Tengchong County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Located in west Yunnan Province, the Heshun Township is a small ancient town with pleasant climate and tranquil surroundings. Small as it is, the town is a charming place in many ways. Eighty percent of its population is returned overseas Chinese or families of overseas Chinese. It used to be an important stop on the ancient "South Silk Road" where the Chinese culture converged with that of the Southeast Asia and the West. It owns the nationwide largest country library. Besides, it also displays a harmonious picture of nature and people with blooming cole fields, evergreen hills and old-fashioned dwelling houses. Nowadays, Heshun has become a hot tourist destination for worldwide travelers. If your China tour packages covers Yunnan, a visit to Heshun Town would never disappoint you.
The meandering stone paths are all being torn up, pipes being laid beneath. Even with the construction, the town is very quiet and slow-paced. The mornings come early and old women sell pickled vegetables and rice noodles outside the village's library. The evenings also come early and children skip home downhill in the darkened alleys. Beside the lake, families have made small fires and sit around on heavy, ski-lodge wooden benches warming their hands. To enrich your travel to Shangri-la, a visit to Heshun town is a good idea.
Heshun is a beautiful old village, but with a twist: half the town's inhabitants haven't returned yet. For the 6,300 residents currently living in the village, nearly 6,000 others are still overseas working, waiting to retire and return to Heshun. It appears the town is destined to become a retirement home for overseas Chinese. Despite its remote location near China's border with Myanmar, the town has always had connections to the outside world. Back in the Ming Dynasty, Heshun's first generations of overseas traders traveled frequently to Myanmar and dealt in jade. These days, there's said to be a Heshun-er on every continent. These years, many China tour agents have included this peaceful town into their itinerary as a highlight for their deals. This seems makes sense now.
Over the years, this legacy of international trade has put its stamp on the town. Exotic goods from Southeast Asia and beyond have trickled into town via old caravan routes. The Li family mansion, home of one of the village's most wealthy trading families, boasts Japanese pottery, French stained glass and a 19th century Italian clock.
Peaceful Tonglu County on Fuchun River in China
Tonglu County, situated on the Fuchun River, is under the jurisdiction of Hangzhou is the Shanghai Economic Development Zone. It is endowed with not only natural beauty but also historic and cultural sites, which were both greatly extolled by ancient poets. Its tourist attractions ranked as national parks as early as 1983 include the Fuchun River, Tongjun Hill, Yan Ziling Angling Terrace, the Baiyunyuan Valley and Yaolin Wonderland, while the recently developed items add to the radiant splendour of Tonglu County, such as the Forest Park of Daqi, the Angling Islet in the Luci Bay, the Fuchun River Stele Garden ,the Yaolin Wonderland "Myth World" Show Palace, the "Thirty-Six Tricks" Wax House, the Tianmu Stream bamboo rafting and skin rafting, Celestial Coak Temple at Dongzhou, tenting on the sandy beach, picnicking at bonfires and villas in the Daqi Mountain area. Along your Yangtze River cruises, if you are lucky enough, you may see this beautiful town.
At present, the scenery and tourism organization of Tonglu is renovating Daqi Monastery and developing the paradise on the water in the Three Gorges Along the Fuchen River, the folklore garden on Tongjun Hill, the Villa of Yanlingwu, the log cabin and hammock area in the Daqi mountain and a big shooting range. The program of night tours on the Fuchun River from Hangzhou to Tonglu is in preparation, too. The picturesque scenes in Tonglu welcome and will surely please visitors from all over the world. If your China tours plan to cover Hangzhou, then a visit to this peaceful but breathtaking town would never be missed.
Accommodation recommend
Shangfu Holiday Shanzhuang The Shangfu Holiday Shanzhuang (Tonglu Shangfu Jiari Shanzhuang) is located at the foot of Fenghuang Shan in the north of Tonglu, about 80 km from Hangzhou, north of it, and 75 km from Qiandao Lake, to the south
New Century Grand Hotel Tonglu[1] The New Century Grand Hotel Tonglu (Tonglu Kaiyuan Mingdu Dajiudian) is located in the city's central business district, at the intersection of South Yingchun Road and Baiyunyuan Road.
Jinxin Hotel The Jinxin Hotel (Jinxin Binguan) is a three-star tourist hotel in Tonglu city, around 80 km from Hangzhou and next door to Qiandao Lake.This 20-floor Tonglu hotel provides various deluxe rooms. Hope these information would bring much help for your Hangzhou tours.
Old-fashioned Yangmei Ancient Town with Antique Lasting Flavor
Founded during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), the town of Yangmei burgeoned during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and reached its heyday during the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912 AD), when it became a major port on the Yongjiang River. Through more than a thousand years, Yangmei ancient town was prosperous for the developing of waterway transportation but also depressed for it. Built in Song dynasty and developed in Ming dynasty, it met the most prosperous time in Qing dynasty. Even now, it still preserves architectures of Ming and Qing dynasties, such as ancient street, lane, temple, shrine, house, tree, port, Wenwu pagoda, and beacon tower, all of them having an old-fashioned and antique lasting flavor. Entering the town, old houses of Ming and Qing dynasties are presented one by one, as well as other historical relics like Qizhu house, Juren's (the former second degree candidate in the provincial examination) house, Jinshi's (the former third degree candidate in the national civil service examination) house, Muyi gate, Jinyue monument, Huang's garden, old streets and lanes, ancient windows, carving eaves and lichened basement, from which a sense of peace and mildness is pervading. No China tour packages is complete enough without covering Yangmei Ancient Town in the itinerary.
There were 8 scenic spots which are still addressable in Yangmei, namely the Sunset Reflected on the Dragon Pool, Green Trees on Thunder Peak, Sword in the Spring, Pavilion Facing the River, Moon Night on the Beach, Medication on the Slope, Rosy Clouds Watching in the Pavilion and the Sound of Beach and Pine Forest. Walking along the beach, Yangmei wonder stones appraised by the traveler Xu Xiake in Ming dynasty can be found here or there, like steeple stone, penguin stone, golden frog stone, sea lion looking back stone, horse stone, dolphin kissing stone, all of them with their fantasies and stories. Being 15.3 meters in height, its main building is in the shape of a square like an imperial seal, thus called the Imperial Seal. With a majestic appearance, Kuixing Tower is not only a precious historic relic, but also an important memorial for the 1911 Revolution. This old-fashioned and antique lasting flavor old town lures many China tour agents to explore it with its unbeatable charm.
In addition, there are two historical relics in the ancient town. One is the former residence on Jinma Street for the revolutionists, Liang Zhitang and Liang Lieya, leaders of the 1911 Revolution. It was the secret place for meetings of Zhengnanguan Revolution leaded by Sun Yet-sun, the first president of the Republic of China. The other one is Kuixing Tower built in the first year of Qinglong period of Qing dynasty (1736 A.D.).
Located in the lower reaches of the Zuojiang River, the ancient town is surrounded by a river at three sides. About 30 kilometers away from the capital city Nanning, it has a convenient transport both by water and by land. Started from Nanning, the boat will enter the Zuojiang River after operating on the Yongjiang River for above 30 kilometers, and then arrive at Yangmei ancient town. It is no wonder that so many China travel deals of ancient towns discovery theme cover here. It seems make sense now.
Hidden Charms of Beijing Less-known to Many People
The charm of a great capital, such as Paris, Rome or London, reveals itself the moment you arrive. It is in your face, obvious for all to see. But to appreciate the essential character of Beijing, you may need to spend some more time. But in the long term, the effort is likely to prove more rewarding than the instant delights of Paris or Prague, and the unique experience is one you will want to revisit, physically or in memory. Call it the hidden magic of Beijing.
Last month, in "Beijing Blitz", we introduced a few less well-known places worth visiting in the historic city, such as the 798 Art Zone, Wudaoying hutong and Huguang Guild Hall. Here are a few more hidden gems where you can soak up the charm of the ancient capital. Caochangdi Art District has attracted more than 300 art bodies. Beijing is undoubtedly a must-have along a China travel package, then a visit to these places would be a great idea for you.
Caochangdi Art District
If the 798 Art Zone is to Beijing what Chelsea is to New York, then Caochangdi is like the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn. Caochangdi, which means grasslands, is as its name suggests, a quieter, more idyllic pasture for Chinese modern artists, compared with the more commercialized 798 Art Zone. This haven is located next to the Fifth Ring Road in the northeast of the city, and surrounded by a boisterous street life. Caochangdi has attracted more than 300 other art bodies, including galleries, photographic studios and documentary filmmakers, with its cheaper rents and "purer" artistic atmosphere. These art spaces are scattered among residents' houses, but stand out either through their avant-garde architecture or the various art forms of their creative interiors. How to get there: Take a 418, 688 or 402 bus to Caochangdi station. Many China tour deals of Chinese art discovery theme cover this site. It seems make sense now.
Panjiayuan Market
For those looking for an authentic shopping experience in China, Panjiayuan Market in the south of the capital would be a wise, discerning choice. The covered outdoor market offers any type of Chinese craftwork and antique imaginable. Exploring the rows of stalls and specialized sections, you stumble across antique paintings and calligraphy, jade jewelry, wooden and lacquered boxes, carved bone opium pipes, and many other relics from a bygone era, such as the Ming or Qing dynasties. Of course, some are fake - like those you think you got for a bargain. But whether you are a browser or buyer, you will probably find a treasure or two to take home. Hillary Clinton did. She bought two art pieces here. The best part is that the sellers never yell at passers-by, so customers can enjoy leisurely browsing without the hassle and pressure of confrontational salesmanship. The flea market is at its best on weekends, when thousands of sellers from all parts of China arrive with their local crafts and specialties. These less-known places are good idea for your Beijing tour package.
Langzhong Ancient City in Sichuan China
Langzhong Ancient City is located in the northern part of Sichuan Province and about 4 hours drive (330km) from Chengdu, the Capital of the province. The city is famous for its time-honored architecture. Currently, of the city's 860,000 residents, over 30,000 still live in the ancient streets and lanes.
Surrounded by green mountains on one side and the Jialing River (the third longest tributary in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, totaling 1,119 kilometers with a drainage area of 159,300 square kilometers) on the other, Langzhong City has been standing for more than 2,300 years. The mountains, river and the black tile roofs of the ancient structures form a natural Chinese atmosphere. Strolling along the narrow pebble lanes tourists might have the chance to experience the different architecture of the past dynasties. Langzhong boasts 92 ancient streets and lanes mainly in the construction style of the Tang and Song dynasties and more than 1,000 ancient streets, lanes and houses register 1.5 square kilometers. If the China travel service offered by your tour operator covers Sichuan region, then a visit to Langzhong Ancient City would never be missed.
The layout of Langzhong's ancient streets and lanes is in the shape of a chessboard. Streets and lanes link with each other, and all lead to the Jialing River. Most of the ancient houses face the north, with their front parts serving as shops and the rear parts being the residences. Supported with a wooden pole, the shops' eaves extend over two meters, sheltering pedestrians from rain and sun. In the town some ancient quadrangle dwellings of the rich have also been preserved, featuring small courtyards, screens and rock works. Gingko, sago cycads and sweet-scented osmanthus trees are mostly seen. The hollowed-out window decorations are popular and are carved in the shape of flowers, birds, animals and paintings. In addition to their artistic taste, the decorations make the rooms brighter. The dwellings in the Langzhong Ancient City are different from the hutong seen in your Beijing tour, which is mainly focused on folk flavor.
Since the Warring States period (475-221 B.C.), rulers of different dynasties regarded Langzhong as an important strategic stronghold for governance of southwest China and established government offices there. During their stay in Langzhong, many princes, members of the royal families and government officials of different ancient dynasties were fascinated with its fengshui, or Chinese geomancy (the location of a house or home, supposed to have an influence on fortune of a family), and invited talented architects to build house and palaces. Nowadays, Langzhonbg is valued as one of China's four largest and best-preserved ancient cities together with Shexian in Anhui Province, Lijiang in Yunnan Province and Pingyao in Shanxi Province. If your want to see how Langzhong Ancient City differs from Lijiang in Yunnan, then extending your travel to Shangri-la has something for you.
Attractions of Fengdu Ghost City along Yangtze River Cruise China
Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge
Built during the Ming Dynasty, the bridge connects the nether world with the real world and is a testing point for good and evil. According to legend, the Nothing-To-Be-Done-Bridge is composed on three identical stone arches. The middle arch is used for testing people. There are different protocols for crossing the bridge depending on your gender, age and marital status. Below the bridge are square-shaped pools of water. Virtuous people will pass over the bridge without obstacle; villainous people will fall into the pools below. The other two arches are called the golden and silver bridges respectively. When preparing to leave, visitors are encouraged to pass these two bridges because according to local superstition this will bring them good fortune. If your China tourism service you order covers Yangtze River, the you will see this thrilling Fengdu Ghost City.
Ghost Torturing Pass
The Ghost Torturing Pass is the second test before entry into the nether world. It is said that this is the place where the dead report to the Yama, the King of Hell, for judgment. In front of the structure there are eighteen sculptures depicting ferocious demons. Each of these devils is quite lifelike creating a feeling of true eerieness.
Tianzi Palace
Having over three hundred years' history the palace covers an area of nearly 2,908 square yards. It is composed of a temple gate (paifang) and the palace itself. The gate is an archway made of wood and stone rising to height of nearly 33 feet. The palace is the nerve center of the Ghost City and is the oldest and largest temple on Ming Mountain. These attractions of Fengdu Ghost City would be a great highlight along your Yangtze River tour.
The third test to evade hell takes place at a large stone in front of the gate. The ghost must stand on the stone on one foot for three minutes. A good person will be able to do this while an evil one cannot and will be sent to hell.
One other ghostly attraction in Fengdu worth mentioning is the Last-Glance at Home Tower. This structure was built in 1985 and commemorates the site where spirits consigned to hell could take one last look at their families.
It is no wonder that so many China travel agencies extended their Yangtze tours to Fengdu Ghost City. It seems make sense now.
Dragon Robe, the Clothes Emperors Wear in Ancient China
The robe embroidered with dragon patterns was made for the exclusive use of an emperor during the Qing dynasty. The ritual of embroidering dragon patterns on the emperor's robe, however, dates back to as early as the Zhou Dynasty (11th century-256 B.C.). If your China tour agents have arranged some Chinese ancient culture discovery activities along your travel, then you will have chance to see the dragon robe in some palace.
During the Yuan and Ming, the emperors were already wearing robes graced with dragon patterns, but it was not until the Qing that they were named “dragon robes” and became part of the official attire system. A dragon robe is either yellow or apricot-yellow dragons in color, and embroidered with nine yellow dragons and five-hued auspicious cloud patterns. In your Beijing tours, you will see the dragon robe in the impressive Forbidden City.
The clouds are interlaced with twelve other patterns—the sun, the moon and stars (representing the light of the throne), mountains (synonymous to stability to changes) auspicious bird (denoting elegance and beauty) water reeds (which represent purity and cleanness), and fire (meaning light). According to imperial Qing rituals, the emperor's dragon robe was a kind of auspicious attire for lower-grade celebrations and ceremonies—it as by no means the highest grade of imperial attire.
The dragon robe that was passed down from one emperor to another is embroidered with a dragon on the front and the back, before or behind the knees, on the shoulders, and on the lining of the chest. Thus a total of nine dragons are embroidered on a dragon robe. Observed from the front or behind it, five dragons could be seen at a glance, because in Chinese tradition the figures nine and five tallied with the dignity of the throne. Discovering the costume of emperors would be a great experience for getting more about Chinese culture along your China travel.
Baisha Ancient Town, a Must-have along Your Lijiang Travel
Baisha Ancient Town is one of the oldest towns in Lijiang. It is the earliest settlement of the Naxi people and is the birthplace of "Tusi", chief of the Mu clan. In the town there are many ancient buildings built during the Ming Dynasty, including Dabaoji Palace, Liuli Temple, and Wenchang Palace. The well-known Baisha Frescoes are located in Dabaoji Palace. Because of the white sand on the ground, the town was named "Baisha", which means "white sand". In the Naxi language, it is called "bengshi". The architectural complex is made up of two parts, folk residence and cultural sites. The folk residence is called "pengshizhi" which in the local language means "Baisha Streets". The streets all go from south to north. In the center of the Ancient Town there is a square where three thoroughfares intersect. Houses and small stores stand on the both sides of these streets. A crystal clear stream winds around all the houses flowing through the small town from north to south. If your China tours cover Yunnan, then a visit to Baisha Village has much to offer to you.
Baisha Ancient Town is the cradle of the Mu clan. There the Mu family became experienced in city planning. Early in the Tang Dynasty when the king of Nanzhao State named the Yulong Snow Mountain North-Yue, the ancestors of Mu clan began to build Baisha Streets and North-Yue Temple in Baisha Ancient Town. In the Song Dynasty the prosperous little town became the economic, political and cultural center of Lijiang. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties the Mu family gradually moved to Dayan town. The central district of the town is characterized by temple groups called "Mudu" and a big square symbolizes the political rights of the Mu family. Among the surviving ancient architectural groups, the Fuguo Temple, Dabaoji Palace, Liuli Palace, and Dading Pavilion were built during the reign of Tusi. During this time, the Mu people began to channel water from Yulong Snow Mountain into the town. After your Lijiang China tour packages, you will get more idea about ancient villages in China.
In the center of Baisha Ancient Town is a group of temples called "Mudu". There are many ancient buildings such as Dabaji Palace, Dading Pavilion, Jingang Palace and Baisha Frescoes. All of these ancient buildings witnessed the golden age of Baisha Ancient Town.
At the end of Baisha Old Street, there is a huge group of temples built during the Yongle Period, in the Ming Dynasty. It consists of three yards including the gate of the temples, the dooryard, Sutra Collection Pavilion, the cloister, Liuli Temple, and Dabaoji Palace. Dabaoji Palace is the backyard. The total area of the palace is about 73 square meters. There are 28 fresco groups located in the palace. Among these frescos the painting about Sakyamuni explaining the sutra passages to his disciples is the most famous one. These mural paintings, with their fine and smooth lines, bright colors, vivid pattern, balanced and harmonious composition are a wonderful display of more than 100 figures depicting religious tales and activities from Taoism, Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. These frescoes are not only treasures of the history of Chinese painting, but also important cultural relics as well. The fresco group is a collaboration of artists from Han and Tibet nationalities. They represent superb artistic skills, as seen by the flowing lines and well-defined colors. They are a rare treasure. Dading Pavilion, dating back to Wanli period, the Ming Dynasty (1572 AD) is about 10 meters away from Dabaoji Palace. The 16 mural paintings preserved in Dading Pavilion were finished in the Qing Dynasty. Different from those in Dabaoji Palace, the beautiful shapes, in bright colors and precise lines form a sharp contrast. They too are a national treasure. These places arranged in your China travel deals in Yunnan would be a great feast to your eyes.
Characteristic Statues of Tibetan Buddhism in China
Tibetan Buddhist sculpture in the Ming and Qing Dynasties has its own unique characteristics.
The sculpture “Mountain of 500 Arhats” carved out of purple sandalwood, the Buddhist niche carved out of nanmu wood and the Grand Buddha carved out of white sandalwood in the Yong he Lamasery in Beijing are praised as the “three matchless pieces of wood sculpture”. The Grand Buddha is carved out of a single log of white sandalwood, with 18 m of it above the ground and the other eight meters below ground. The “Mountain of 500 Arhats” is nearly 5 m high, 3.5 m wide and 30 cm thick. The 500 arhats, each 10 cm high, are made of gold, silver, bronze, iron and tin. These Buddhist sculpture are just similar as the one discovered along your Tibet tours.
Statues of the Buddha in the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism (also known as Lamaism) are mostly made of gilded bronze, but some are made of gold or silver. In the collections of artistic works in the Palace museum, there are many precious pieces, such as the standing statue of Maitreya and the seated statue of Sakyamuni is 45 cm tall; together with the halo and the lotus-throne pedestal, the statue is 90.5 cm high in total. With his right shoulder exposed Sakyamuni is rotating the “wheel of the law” (an emblem of the power of the Buddhist doctrine, which crushes all delusions and superstitions just as a wheel crushed anything it passes over). The simplicity of the statue itself forms a distinct contrast with the splendor of the halo and lotus throne. No Chinese culture discovery is complete without including the Buddhists figures exploration along your last minute deals for China travel.
The imperial mausoleums of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are guarded by monumental stone animals. In the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty in Nanjing, on each side of the tomb passage are lined up 12 pairs of six stone animals, namely, lions, xiezhi (a fabulous animal reputed to be able to distinguish between good and evil), camels, elephants, qilin (Chinese unicorn) and horses, and two pairs of civil officials and military officers. The Ming Tombs near Beijing cover an area of about 40 sq km. eighteen pairs of grandiose stone civil and military officials and animals line the approach to the mausoleum.
Miniature carvings using jade, stone, ivory, bamboo, horn, wood and clay materials were quite will developed in Ming and Qing Dynasties. There was a special jade workshop installed in the former Imperial Palace during the Ming Dynasty. A masterpiece of the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty is a huge jade carving weighing seven tons, titled, “Yu the Great (reputed founder of the Xia Dynasty) Harnessing the Floods”. In addition, the wood carvings of Dongyang, Zhejiang Province, and the clay figurines of Huqiu in Suzhou, Huishan in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, are quite famous, but most of them were made by unkown artisan. The colored clay figures made by “Zhang the Clay-figurine Master” of Tianjin in the late Qing Dynasty are vivid and lively, demonstrating the extraordinary workmanship of folk sculptors.
These year, Chinese-culture-lover becomes more and more, which makes so many China tour agents arrange the Tibetan Buddhist sculpture exploration activities in their itineraries, which is really a great reflection of Chinese culture.
Hidden Meanings of Blessings and Happiness in Chinese Folk Art
Chinese folk art reflects the long history of popular customs and traditions in Chinese culture. Deeply rooted in agriculture, people’s daily life and rituals are inevitably connected with nature, the surrounding landscape, and the various captivating tales told from one generation to another about the origin of the world, mankind, and mythological beings that once roamed the earth. The handicrafts and objects created by the common folks for everyday use are thus a combination of practicality and local customs, traditions and beliefs. No wonder that the last minute deals for China travel are so popular among travel-lovers.
Being a vast and diverse country with over fifty minorities groups, China is homeland to myriad different types of folk handicrafts. Chinese folk art can be broadly divided into costumes and embroidery, paper cuts, New Year woodcut prints, toys, wood carvings, pottery and dough figurines, masks, batik and fabric dyeing, weaving, architectural ornaments, shadow puppets, lacquer, and jewelry. In this exhibition at the Chinese Culture Center, we have assembled many of these objects in celebration of Chinese New Year—1998 being the Year of the Tiger. Because family continuity and prosperity are of utmost importance in traditional Chinese society, parents would provide great care to their children to ensure they would grow into adulthood. However, they usually attributed the death of children to evil powers rather than to poor hygiene, lack of medical attention or malnutrition. As a result, parents would adorn their children’s costumes and toys with auspicious designs to symbolize the presence of other supernatural powers to deter evil spirits. For example, according to popular belief, children’s clothing and footwear in the shape of animals could be used to frighten off malicious spirits or fool them into thinking that the child was only an animal and not a human being, therefore, not worth harming or snatching away. Experience of discovering Chinese folk art is totally different from that walking along the glorious Silk Road travel, which focus much on Chinese culture discovery.
There are several types of patterns and images that appear frequently on children’s clothing, adornments, and decorative objects. Of these images, the most common are: the tiger which is believed to be the king of the forest and fierce enough to frighten off malicious spirits; the rooster whose loud crow every morning scares away evil ghosts; the pig which symbolizes abundance and also fools the evil into thinking that the child is only an unworthy pig; the fish which is a homonym of the Chinese word for surplus; the bat, which is a homonym for good fortune; the deer which signifies wealth as the word is a homonym of the Chinese word for the salary of a Chinese official; the five poisons (scorpion, lizard, centipede, snake, and toad) which have the effect of neutralizing evil; the lotus and pomegranate which symbolize fertility (because of their many seeds); and the peach which represents longevity.
Other kinds of auspicious imagery are found on woodblock prints. These prints, also called nian hua, are pasted onto doors, walls, and furniture of homes, business establishments, and temples in Chinese villages and towns. The iconography reflects traditional Chinese folk and popular cultures. The images are of gods and deities, heroes and sages, to whom the Chinese prayed and worshipped in return for protection and blessing. In ancient China, people believed that numerous gods inhabited the Three Realms (heaven, earth, and the underworld) and ruled over human affairs and destiny. To fulfill their hopes for a bountiful harvest, healthy male heir, official promotion, and other auspicious wishes, people sought the blessing of these deities by representing them graphically in a medium that has become a unique folk art tradition known as "paper gods" or "paper joss." With the development and proliferation of printing, the Chinese were able to mass produce woodblock prints since the late Ming dynasty (mid-sixteenth century) to satisfy the high demands.
The most popular characters appearing on prints are the door gods Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong, the demon catcher Zhong Kui, the Three Star Gods of Happiness, Wealth and Longevity, the God of Wealth, and Guanyin—the Goddess of Mercy. Playful, plump children are also favorite during New Year times to symbolize the wish for many sons to come or a blessing for good fortune. It is during Chinese New Year that people hope for a plentiful and prosperous year to come.
May you just bored with the cityscape discovered along a Beijing tour and want to get close to culture. If yes, discovering
Distinctive Cuotaiji of Yi Ethnic Group in China
Cuotaiji is a kind of ancient drama that only exists in Luoga stockaded village in Bandi Town of Weining Yi, Hui and Miao Autonomous County of Guizhou Province." Cuotaiji" is the transliteration of the equivalent in Yi language of Bandi Town. In Yi language, "cuo" means human being or ghost, "tai" means change and "ji" means playing games and disporting, so "cuotaiji" is usually translated to "the age when the human being was formed" or "the game of human's change", and it is usually abbreviated to "human changing drama". But some scholars regard that "cuotaiji" reflects hard scenes of migration and opening up virgin soil of the ancestors who changed to ghosts and gods, and the Yi people want to draw support from the ancestors to protect and bless the descendants. Therefore it will be more appropriate to interpret "cuotaiji" into "a game of asking the ancestors who have changed to ghosts and gods to protect and bless the descendants" or "a game of human's changing to ghosts and gods". If you want to enrich your travel to Shangri-la, a visit to Yunnan ethnic village to discover the culture of ethnic minorities in China would never disappoint you.
Due to the scarce historical data, it is hard to prove the exact age when "cuotaiji" initially appeared. The analysis of the drama content tells us that "cuotaiji" was possibly gestated in the Han Dynasty, and it was continuously modified and supplemented in later generations, and it was in the middle Qing Dynasty that "cuotaiji" finished its essentials. Nowadays it is only in Luoga stockaded village in Bandi Town of Weining Yi, Hui and Miao Autonomous County of Guizhou Province that "cuotaiji" still exists. Because of the the backward medical and health care, remote and isolated geographical position, and the inconvenient transportation, the local villagers are accustomed to adopting methods of offering sacrifice to mountain god, shooting powder-fire, rolling eggs and reciting ghosts to dispel catastrophes and diseases and pray for peace. If your China vacation packages covers Yunnan, you would be shocked by the colorful of culture of ethnic minorities in China.
Wen Daohua, the chairman of "cuotaiji", is of Yi ethnic group, and five generations of his family before his father were all "bimo"(a knowledgeable elder who is proficient in scripture and other folk activities) and all of them took part in and presided over the performance of "cuotaiji". "Cuotaiji" is usually performed from the 3rd day to the 15th day of first month in lunar calendar every year in a purpose of expelling evil influences and invoking blessings as well as praying for abundant harvest. The performance is usually held in evenings in a flat ground beside the village or between hills. If natural or man-made disasters happen, or the harvest is bad, then "cuotaiji" will be held one time for several years. These years, culture-themed itinerary are hot cakes, so many China tour operators have arranged different kind of culture-themed tours to prompt their deals, which proves quite beneficial to them.
Chengdu Panda Base in China, a Must-have for Your China Travel
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (hereafter Chengdu Panda Base) is a non-profit organization engaged in wildlife research, captive breeding, conservation education, and educational tourism. Panda, the treasure of China, is quite popular among visitors domestic and abroad. It is no wonder that the China vacation packages with Chengdu are hot cakes.
The Chengdu Panda Base was founded in 1987, with six giant pandas rescued from the wild. Today (2008) our captive population has increased to 83 individuals from that founding population of only six. Genetic diversity in the population is sustained by the exchange of preserved genetic material with other facilities. We are very proud that we have not taken any giant pandas from the wild for 20 years. This demonstrates our unique and uncompromising commitment to the conservation of the wild ( in situ ) population and the healthy growth of the captive ( ex situ ) population. If you want to interact with lovely pandas, you could request your China travel agency to arrange the relative activity into your itinerary.
Due to our research and commitment to animal health and welfare, 124 giant panda cubs have been born to our Base in 85 litters, 88 survived and now we have 83. To assist other institutions holding giant pandas we provide technical support and send our experts to assist with care, rearing, and breeding. So that all giant panda researchers can share their knowledge, we host the Giant Panda Annual Technical Meeting, inviting researchers from all over the world to share information to improve captive management for the conservation of giant pandas. No China vacation deals to Chengdu is not terrific enough without visiting Chengdu panda base.
The Chengdu Panda Base covers an area of 106 hectares and will be enlarged to 200 hectares during the third phase of our expansion. Red pandas, golden monkeys and other wild and/or endangered species live and breed here.
Causeway Bay in Hong Kong, the Paradise for Shopping-lovers
Along with Tsimshatsui, Causeway Bay is where shoppers in Hong Kong love to spend their money. If the crowds in Hong Kong overwhelm you, wait until you see the intersection of Hennessy Road and Sogo, one of the most popular department stores in the area on one of the busiest streets. During your Hong Kong tour, you could explore the Causeway Bay, the paradise for shopping-lovers.
Shopping in Causeway Bay is not confined to the biggest department stores of Mitsukoshi, Sogo and Lane Crawford. Jardine's Crescent and Lee Garden Road are two of the best spots for bargain hunters in Causeway Bay. All of your favourite name brand clothes are here, as well as watches, luggage and electronics.
If the lanes are not your style, a bit more up market is the new Lee Gardens and Times Square. The latter is a popular multi-purpose complex where one can shop, eat, bank or catch a movie all in an afternoon. In addition to shopping, people come to Causeway Bay for the restaurants, pubs, karaoke bars and nightclubs. For the shopping-addicts, if the China travel service they booked covers Hong Kong, then shopping would be a must-have for them.
Foodies will appreciate the wide variety of restaurants in the area. On Jaffe Road, Cannon Street and Houston Street, you will find restaurants serving Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican or Spanish. The hardest part will be deciding which restaurant to choose. After dinner, why not try your luck at the nearby Happy Valley Racecourse. The locals love betting on the races and who knows, maybe it could be your lucky day. A full day in Causeway Bay will be, without a doubt, one of the highlights of your stay in Hong Kong. No Hong Kong tours
Shanghai Happy Valley, the Paradise for the Young
Shanghai Happy Valley is largest theme park in China, which is mainly composed of 7 theme area including Sunshine, Happy Hour, Shanghai Bund, Shangri-La, Ants Kingdom, Goldmine Town and Typhoon Bay. Just as its slogan says “Let us open the happy gate and step into the happy hall in the name of “happiness”, more than 100 amusement items are equipped in Shanghai Happy Valley including 12 world class amusement facilities. No China tour deals to Shanghai is complete without visiting the Shanghai Happy Valley, which is really a paradise of the young.
Shanghai Happy Valley has equipped various advanced entertainment apparatus including Wooden Coaster-Fireball, Diving Coaster, Gyro Swing, Mega-lite, Disco Coaster, Ants Kingdom, Splash Battle, OCT Theater, Shoot the Chute, Splash Over, Mine Train Coaster, Souring Dragon and Three Dimensions, Arthur Palace, Space Shot & Turbo Drop and so on. The River All Red is a large scale real show mixing with acrobatics, magic, circus and magnificent war of horse. The entertainment performance will be put on include the Happy Cube, Real Drama of Film Stunt “Shanghai Bund”, Theme Parade “Happy Cruise”, and Exotic Performances. In your Shanghai tour package, the crazy shy wheels in Shanghai Happy Valley may impress you most, which would reward you an unforgettable experience.
The various theme activities hold in Shanghai Happy are highly recommended, such as Fashion Culture Festival, Beer Carnival, Happy Halloween Day and Snow Festival, whenever these activities start a large number of visitors including local citizens are attracted to visit there. Enjoy a convenient transportation and superb location, visitors could take Metro Line 9 to Sheshan Station, then take a shuttle bus (Happy Line) it will transfer you directly to Shanghai Happy Valley. Shanghai Happy Valley is just a little resemble with the Happy Valley discovered along your Beijing tour package, but they has their own features. No matter when you come, both of them have something for you.
Gongtan Village with Wooden Stilt Houses in China
Gongtan is one of the famous rapids on the Wujiang River. Located in western Youyang the bordering county, Gongtan connects Chongqing and its neighbor Guizhou Province since ancient times. It had been a waterborne transport artery between Chongqing and Guizhou until 1950s. Afterwards, land transportation became the priority. If your China tourism service arranged by your operator cover Guizhou, you could pay a visit to the Gongtan village to discover the Wooden Stilt Houses there.
There are stories about why this county is called Gongtan. Some people say the majority residents living in east coast of Wu River were surnamed Gong, and they were the distinguished families so they named this county Gongtan(Tan in Chinese means a place along the riverside).
Folklores say that two Dragons, powerful Wu Dragon from Guizhou and weak Along Dragon from Apeng River the nearby, dug up Wu River. They worked together and struggled to cross the canyon Sichuan-Guizhou junction. And then a steep fast flowing rapid formed. People named it GongTuan and later GongTan. If you want to explore the featured houses in southern China, then a visit to Gongtan village would be a must-have along your China travel packages.
This unique 1700-year-old town has a large number of well preserved wooden stilt houses, perched finely on steep slopes, overlooking the Wu Jiang for 100 or even 400 years. Enclosed by these beautiful traditional houses, narrow old street paved with stone slabs and connected by beautiful stone bridges, stretches over 1000 meters along Wu River.
Neither electric streetlights nor modern bars or cafes have come out on the old street. At night, the town is illuminated by a few beautiful lanterns under the eaves as well as dim lights diffused from stilt houses. The whole countryside is permeated in a mysterious and nostalgic atmosphere. These year, Gongtan becomes more and more famous and many folk-lovers particularly request their China travel agents to
Jinxi Ancient Town in Southern China: A Water Town of Cultural Artifacts
Between Shanghai and Suzhou, there is a beautiful town named Jinxi. It is located in the southwest of Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province with an area of about 90.69 square kilometers (35 square miles) and a population of approximately 50,000. It is a typical water township of southern China with 16 lakes of different sizes and 238 river ways. However, unlike some other water townships, Jinxi Town has its own unique style. Compared with the commercial atmosphere of others, this newly developed town welcomes visitors with its quiet natural environment, places of historical interest and its cultural artifacts. China tourism service of old town discovery theme should never miss visiting this site.
Jinxi is an old town with a history of over a thousand years. Many buildings still remain that were built in Ming (1836-1644) or Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The man-made sceneries, such as Wenchang Pavilion, Lotus Pool Temple, together with the ancient bridges and alleyways present an elegant relaxing image of this ideal travel destination. The Eight Sceneries of Jinxi are historically well known. Many ancient poets came here and composed poetry after seeing the picturesque little town. Now, the gleaming Tomb of Concubine Chen, the antique Wenchang Pavilion and Lotus Pool Temple attract more and more visitors day by day. This ancient town would be a great highlight in your China travel packages.
The water town is also an old town with a long history. It was named Chenmu for over 800 years. The reason for this name can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). In order to hide from an enemy's attack, Emperor Xiaozong with his concubine Chen ran away and in doing so, passed through the town. Concubine Chen was attracted by the beauty of the town and could not bear to leave. Unfortunately, Chen died of illness in Jinxi and Emperor Xiaozong was very grieved and buried her body in the town's Wubao Lake. He also ordered the name Jinxi be changed to Chenmu in memory of his lover. It is said that the tomb has never been submerged even when the whole town was flooded. It is not until 1993 that the town regained the name of Jinxi. Now many China travel agents have focused their deals on ancient town exploration, and Jinxi Ancient Town would be a great idea for them.
Old Town of Shuhe in Yunnan China: The Hometown of Springs
Four kilometers (2 miles) to the northwest of the Old Town of Lijiang, at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, lies a compact village hidden in the forest, the Old Town of Shuhe. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has listed it as an important component of Lijiang as it is a well-preserved example of a town along the ancient tea route and one of the earliest settlements of the ancestors of Naxi people. It is called 'the hometown of springs'. If you are just having a travel to Shangri-la, extending your Yunnan travel to Shuhe old town will never disappoint you.
Ambling along Sifang Street, you will feel time slowly flowing backwards. Though it is only 30 meters long (32 yards), the smooth flagstone remind you of their flourishing past. Listen carefully, you can even hear the light ringing sound of busy horses' hooves from far away places.
Qinglong Bridge, built of stone pieces, measuring about 25 meters long (27 yards), 4.5 meters wide (4.9 yards) and 4 meters high (13 feet), was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Among the countless old stone bridges in Lijiang, it is regarded as 'the First'. The deck has been pock-marked over hundreds of years, revealing the solemn passing of history. Houses in Shuhe old town is totally different from the houses in Hutongs along Beijing tours. Each of them has its own characteristics.
There is a deep pool at the end of the street, called Long Pool (Dragon Pool), from which the overflowing water winds through the village, and the bubbling sound can be heard miles away. Fishes in the pool are appreciated by every tourist, because they are close to people. When you throw food to them, they will fight each other for it. Beside the pool lies a broken stele. When knocked by a stone, it sends out a sharp and light ringing sound, which is very pleasant. Above Long Pool is a temple called 'Sansheng Palace'. Standing against the wooden railings, you can have a bird's eye view of the village presenting a poetic rural idyll.
Tired with the metropolis experience in the Shanghai tours and want to refresh yourself to experience the folk culture? If yes, a visit to Shuhe old town has something for you!
Qiandeng Ancient Town in Jiangsu Province China: A Birthplace of Creative Minds and Gifted Talents
With a history of over 2,500 years, Qiandeng is a famous Historical and cultural town in Jiangsu Province. It was originally named "Qiandun” (literally means “the thousandth mound”). According to the records of the “Annals about the states of Wu and Yue” written in the "Chronicles of the Han Dynasty” and the records of the “Notes of Jade Peak” in the Song Dynasty, there were three rivers in the state of Wu and 999 mounds near the bank of Wusong River. 15 kilometers south of Kunshan situated a tall mound, gaining its name of “the thousandth mound”. This place was referred to as Qiandeng. Qiandeng Ancient Town situates southeast of Kunshan City, with Shanghai City to its east and Suzhou City to its west. Long known as a land of attractive scenery, a birthplace of creative minds and gifted talents, it has always enjoyed the reputation of being named “Gold Qiandeng”. If you want to extend your China tours of Suzhou, a visit to Qiandeng Ancient Town would be a great idea.
Qiandeng is the birthplace of Gu Yanwu, who was the great thinker, writer and patriotic scholar in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty. It is also the native place of Gu Jian, the founder of Kunqu Opera. This ancient town gave birth to a generation of great men and is known to the world just because of such great men. Old but full of vitality, this beautiful and richly endowed town still preserves the chessboard layout of water-and-land traffic network and street-and-river architectural style. Small bridges, flowing waters and households give expression to the unsophisticated folk customs and cultures in Qiandeng. The highlights for travelers include the Tomb of Tinglin, the Qinfeng pagoda, the Temple of Extending Happiness, the Slabstone Street, and the Shaoqing Hill, to name just a few. This ancient town would impress you greatly along your China tour packages to Jiangsu China.
Qiandeng, witnessing the vicissitudes of more than two thousand years and bathed in the south of the Yangtze River, unique places of cultural interest, unsophisticated customs and morals of the local people. To promote their sales of Jiangsu travel, many China tour agents have arranged Qiandeng Ancient Town in their Jiangsu tour deals, which are all popular among travelers.
White Water Terrace in Yunnan China
The Baishui Tableland, also named the White Water Terraces, is located in the foothills of the Haba Snow Mountains, 101 kilometers (about 62 miles) southeast of the Shangri-la County. It is known as one of the most attractive destinations in mysterious Shangri-La and is an ancient Chinese landform with a history of 200,000 to 300,000 years. The White Water Terrace would be a great feast along your Shangri-la tour and it has much to offer to you.
The variegated landform of the tableland is a continual deposition of calcium carbonate that is contained in the spring water. Every year, the surface of the land is covered by the deposition and finally transformed into the terraced structure you see today. Today, the Baishui Tableland covers an area of three square kilometers (about 741 acres).The spring water runs down along the slope of the mountain, leaving an impression of a large white jade carving among the green mountain. The tableland lies layer by layer giving the appearance of a terraced field, so the local people call it 'a field left by fairies'. To the left of the tableland, there is a pool and a moon-shaped platform that is said to be the dresser of the fairies. During the autumn, the mountains around the Baishui Tableland will be covered by various bright-colored flowers and leaves. Amid the mountains, the Baishui Tableland will form a spectacular white contrast. On the way of your Shangri-la travel, you would be mesmerized by the breathtaking scenery, fairyland landscape and crisp fresh air.
Besides being a beautifully scenic spot, the Baishui Tableland is also the birthplace of Dongba culture of the Naxi Minority Group. According to legend, the first saint of the Dongba Religion was attracted by the fascinating scenery of this place on his way back from Tibet. He then stopped to missionize here. Later, the Baishui Tableland became known as the Holy Land of the Dongba Religion. When the second saint of the Dongba Religion came here, he created the Dongba pictograph. Each year, on the eighth day of the second lunar month, the Naxi people will gather here to celebrate their traditional festival by singing and dancing all day and night.
Just a few minutes from the desolation that along the Silk Road tour and treat yourself with a travel to White Water Terrace in Yunnan China to refresh yourself. I am sure you would be hooked by its natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere.
Xiaozhou Village in Guangzhou: A Tranquil Allure to Your China Travel
Heavy fog masked much of the half hour bus trip from Handan city in Hebei province to Guangfu ancient town.
It is a typical northern Chinese ancient town surrounded by an artificial river. Several newly rebuilt bridges span the river and connect the town with the outside world. The city wall stands ten meters tall on the other end of the bridges, showing authority and power which can't be violated. After your Beijing tour package, you could pay a visit to Guanggu as an extension, which would be a great idea for your travel.
The original wall was built in the Tang Dynasty with clay, and reinforced in the following years. The sturdiest part of the wall was made of sticky rice and lime in the Yuan Dynasty. It has withstood more than 800 years with minimal repair. With hundreds of years' weathering, most bricks have ragged edges from erosion. These old bricks have witnessed the transitions of the town for more than 1,000 years.
The town's layout and architecture dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Basic elements, such as the four streets, eight lanes and 72 corners are still kept well. However, most ancient houses have been replaced by newly built ones. These ordinary buildings with white tile walls stand out in this 2,600-year-old town. This kind of travel experience is totally different from the ones along your Shang tour package, which pay much attention to the peaceful atmosphere discovery.
The residence of Wu Yuxiang, a Tai Chi Chuan master, was built in the late Qing Dynasty and well preserved. The house is composed of three courtyard residences and a rectangular yard. Graphics of Tai Chi Chuan movements have been carved on the walls around the yard. Wu once taught more than 100 students here. Now, it is open to the public as a museum of Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan.
Climb up the city wall and look into the distance -- there is a huge swamp covering a total area of 30 square kilometers to the south of the town. A Tai Chi-themed park will be built in the swamp in the near future. To the north, old residences have been pulled down, and a large amount of pseudo-classic buildings are under construction in an attempt to reproduce the original appearance of Guangfu. Although built in the traditional style, these shining buildings are too young to tell the story of Guangfu town. However, locals report that these buildings have been sold out. Soon, restaurants, inns and stores will be opened here. China vacation deals to Hebei is imperfect without visiting the Guangfu village, which is really a must-have for your Hebei travel.
A gust of chilly wind raised a dust cloud from the construction site nearby, with a white plastic bag dancing along the street with the wind. An old p
Shaxi Ancient Town, a Time-weathered Peaceful Town in Yunnan China
Shaxi Town, one of the world's 100 most endangered sites listed by the World Monuments Fund is a place where you can breathe in fresh air around-the-clock.
The ancient village in Yunnan Province is located in the southeastern part of a nature reserve where the Jin Sha, Lantsang and Nu Jiang rivers converge. For your China tours to Yunnan, a visit to this ancient village is really a must-have.
Shaxi's agreeable climate, beautiful natural scenery and rich natural resources make it a place where the temperature is never too high or too low, and the water is greenish-blue and bluish-green.
Shaxi is also a village with a long history that can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period (770 BC-221BC). Shaxi town was built on the remains of an ancient market town and was once an active trade stop on the Southern Silk Road that connected southwest China's hinterland with Southeast Asia and on to Europe, which is actually older than the more famous Silk Road (in the North), predating it by at least 300 years. Your China tour packages would surely be highlighted by this off-the-beaten village.
Stone Treasure Mountain and the Friday Market are the two most popular tourist attractions in Shaxi Town. Stone Treasure Mountain, a fantastic nature reserve and religious site that was designated as one of the first officially protected sites by China in 1982. There are numerous temples and grottoes as well as some fantastic views there. Going up to the temple there are some families of monkeys that sometimes turn very aggressive with visitors, although tourists have reported only minor injuries.
But if you have never seen what an ancient Chinese market looks like, your curiosity will be satisfied if you go to Shaxi. The Friday Market is located on the main road in Sideng. Just follow the crowd. As the last remaining market town on the ancient Tea & Horse Caravan Trail, Shaxi still hosts the local market every Friday.
The Bai ethnic people from all the villages in Shaxi Valley and the Yi people from the surrounding mountains come here to trade everything from fresh produce to supplies and horses. Many China tour agents has discovered this ancient village and add this site to their itinerary to prompt their deal, and it was turned out workable. Minority women dress in colorful traditional costumes, and men will often lead pack mules to carry supplies back to their mountain villages, much like in the days of the Tea & Horse Caravan Trail hundreds of years ago.
Ancient Villages in China That You Should Not Miss
Pianyan Ancient Town – a major industrial and commercial town in history
Pianyan, an ancient town connecting Chongqing and Huaying, used to attract a lot of businessmen and entrepreneurs for its prosperous commerce and industry. Enjoying a history of 300 plus years, the ancient town is still well preserved, with the buildings along both sides of the street, as well as the original unsophisticated look, keeping basically intact. Apart from small bridges, meandering river, old streets and ancient cottages, the most attractive things must be the “Yuanyang (Mandarin Duck) Bridge”, “Husband and Wife Tree”, and female blacksmith. Pianyan Ancient Town is permeated with tranquil beauty, wrapped in sort of poetic atmosphere. It is an integration of antiquity, beautifulness, revolution and fame. After you have the Yangtze River cruises in Chongqing, you could visit this ancient town, which seems wallet-friendly and time-efficient.
Bing’an Ancient Town – Masterpiece of rural architectures
Located at the bank of Chishui River, Bing’an Ancient Town was an important gateway to Guizhou from south Sichuan during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Because of the inconvenient transportation, the thousand-year-old ancient town manages to maintain its unique charm. Apart from a newly-built suspension bridge, there is only a waterway extending to the foot of the ancient city wall. Looking from the other side of the Chishui River, we can see the ancient town basically keeps the same old look since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The tranquility that this ancient town offered is just a great escape from the bustling atmosphere in your Beijing tour package.
The rural architectures of Bing’an Ancient Town attach great importance to the surrounding environment. Well connected with business trade, home living and military affairs, these buildings take advantage of the practical functions of individual house and complex architectures to the full extent. By a comprehensive application of various architectural methods like wood structure, wood carving, stone carving, cottages, shops, military outposts and so on, the ancient building complex makes full use of the limited space, composing a harmonious whole with the people, the surrounding environment, and the nature. The architectural methods and each masterpiece reflect the historical development traces of Bing’an Ancient Town, demonstrating the inheritance relationship of the ‘tiny’ rural architecture heritage of the ancient town to the ‘huge’ Chinese architectural heritage. May be you are just tired of hustling experience in Shanghai tours and the like, then a visit to these tranquil off-beaten path would be a great choice for refreshing your soul.
Mochou Lake, a Must-visit in Nanjing
Located on the western side of Hanzhong Lu, Nanjing City, Mochou Lake occupies an area of 47 hectares (about 116 acres). Once a part of the Yangtze River, gradually became a lake as the course of the river wavered from the Yangtze River to the Qin Huai River.
According to one legend, the name of the lake came from a young woman of beauty and virtue named Mochou.who lived during the Northern and Southern Dynasty (386-589). She married a man from the Lu family in Jinling (now known as Nanjing City) and had a baby. They lived a happy life until one day Lu was recruited to the army. Because there had been no news of him since he had left, she missed her husband dearly day and night. Finally, it is said that Mochou turned into a lake, with the hope of flowing to her husband's side. In memory of the young woman's undying devotion to her husband, the lake was aptly named Mochou Lake by the local people. Along your Yangtze River cruises, you will see the breathtaking Mochou Lake in Nanjing.
In 1929, the lake was renamed Mochou Lake Park and was expanded and rebuilt in 1953 with additional trees and flowers.
A visitor is first greeted by an ornamental pond and fountains, as well as a rock display. Walking ahead, you will encounter the well-known Shengqi Pavilion, which is a two-storey structure of primitive simplicity. On the first floor, paintings and calligraphies of famous artists can be found. On the second floor, there is a picture of two men playing I-go, one is Emperor Taizu named Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the other man is one of his subjects, General Xu Da. Legend has it that Zhu Yuanzhang used to play I-go with Xu Da, who was a master-hand in Chinese draught. However, Xu Da always lost the game intentionally so as not to offend the Emperor. Eventually, Zhu saw through this ruse and ordered him to play to the best of his ability. The next time they played, Xu Da won the game. At the same time, this intelligent subject pleased the Emperor by posting the pieces of the characters 'wan sui', which meant long life. In delight, the Emperor bestowed the Shengqi ('winning the game') Pavilion as well as Mochou Lake to Xu Da. The enchanting Mochou Lake would be a great feast to your eyes along your Yangtze River tour.
To the north of the Shengqi Pavilion is the former residence of Mochou, Yujin Hall (yujin means white cardamom).The hall is divided by a water lily pond into two parts. In the middle of the pond stands a white marble statue of Mochou with a sorrowful expression. To the east and west of the pond are pavilions surrounded by cloisters for lily viewing.
Behind the pavilion is Mochou Lake. The lake is full of lotus roots that present an eye-catching sight when the water lilies are in blossom. In the center of the lake is an island that is accessible to tourists by boat. Water fowls usually inhabit the island all year-round.
Since 1991, the park has hosted dragon boat races on the lake every year, a display of Chinese culture and great pageantry. In April, a boat ride on the lake can help the tourists appreciate the flowering blossoms from nearby crabapple trees while drinking in the beautiful scenery of the lake. No China tour deals to Nanjing is complete without Mochou Lake, which is really a must-visit to Nanjing.
Anhui, the Place Centuries-Old Charm Endowed
Just 250 or so miles to the west of the gleaming high-rises of Shanghai sits a window into a world hundreds of years old. Despite the dramatic upheavals brought by war, the Cultural Revolution and industrialization, the hamlet of Xidi, in the mountainous province of Anhui, along with other villages in the area, has managed to remain largely untouched since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, starting hundreds of years ago. Wander the narrow, labyrinthine lanes and peek into the open-air courtyards of grandiose homes, with their wooden lattice windows, rock gardens, watercolors and calligraphy scrolls, and it can feel as if you are slipping back in time to the days of the Chinese emperors. Along the China tourism service you booked, this ancient town would offer you a totally refreshing experience.
As more and more Chinese move to cities, the small villages of Anhui offer a respite. And perhaps even more surprising, young artists and entrepreneurs are embracing these spots with a renewed sense of pride in their modest scale and tangible sense of history.
After the sun begins sinking behind the whitewashed walls of Xidi’s houses and the day-trippers board their buses home, the art students, visiting from the large provincial capital of Hefei and other nearby cities, linger overnight or for the weekend. Perched behind easels in the granite-tile lanes or on rocks in the shallow streams flowing through the village, they appear inspired by the classical architecture, which has all but disappeared in their skyscraper-studded cities. “Young people don’t typically like this; they prefer big-city culture,” said Wang Nanyan, an 18-year-old from Hefei. “But I’m different. I’m an artist — I like these kinds of buildings.” For Chinese culture and history discovery theme, the China travel packages to Anhui will never disappoint you.
Two reasons these villages — about 20 of which are worth visiting, spread across the southern part of Anhui, an area roughly the size of Belgium — have retained their centuries-old charm are location and economics: they are set deep in the countryside of one of China’s poorer provinces, where residents have lacked the resources to tear down the old and start anew.
But preservationists have played a key role, too. In 2000, Xidi (pronounced shee-dee) and the nearby village of Hongcun were declared Unesco World Heritage sites. Rather than force residents out, Xidi officials wisely devised a plan to guarantee them a share of profits from entrance tickets to the town (104 renminbi, about $16.60 at 6.25 renminbi to the dollar), as long as they maintained the traditional appearance of their properties. Seeing opportunities, entrepreneurs from other parts of China began to trickle in, snapping up rundown properties to refurbish and turn into shops and inns. The result is that tourism is booming — aided in part by the villages’ proximity to another attraction, the famously striking Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), but mainly thanks to their historical and aesthetic appeal. Just escape yourself from the prosperity permeated along your Hong Kong tours, breathing the crisp fresh air and indulging yourself into the peaceful atmosphere would be a great memory along your China travel.
Shuhe Old Town, the Ancient Tranquil Place You Should Not Miss
Shuhe is about 4km northwest of Lijiang Old Town, and feels like Lijiang did ten years ago, before it became excessively touristy. The streets are lined with shops and restaurants, all built of rocks from the surrounding mountains. These buildings also house the owner’s families, transforming it from a theme park like Lijiang, into a working town. If your China tours cover Lijiang Old Town, then Shuhe Old Town would be a must-have.
A couple of the leatherworking shops in Shuhe
Shuhe is one of the earliest settlements of the Naxi people, built a thousand years ago as a crucial post on the Tea Trade routes. In the Naxi language, Shuhe means “a village at the foot of a peak”.
In the last ten years it’s been completely rebuilt. In 2002, over 500million RMB was spent remodelling the 5 square mile area. The channels and waterways still provide spring water to each house, but the tightly packed stone roads are home to a multitude of independent shops and restaurants, along with hotels ranging from youth hostels to a Banyan Tree resort. Immersing yourself into the tranquil atmosphere in Shuhe Old Town would be an unforgettable experience in your China tour packages.
The view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, from the Banyan Tree
Nice place which is less touristic, but does have its fair share of shops selling the same thing (albeit cheaper than in Lijiang!). The canals are not as clean as Lijiang's, but is quaint nonetheless. Overall Shuhe is a bit more rustic and less busy, and well worth a visit! If you are going to visit Yunnan, you could ask your China tour operator arrange the featured Shuhe Old Town into your itinerary, and you will get more than you have paid.
Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Experience
Spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge seems to be sliced by a sword from the heavens. The river's thunderous roar envelops you as you enter the 17-kilometer gorge, considered by many to be the deepest in the world, and certainly one of China's most awe-inspiring natural wonders. Surrounded by snow-peaked Yulong and Haba, both mountains considered sacred by local people, the gorge was carved over millennia by the surging upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Dramatic waterfalls, many more than 200 meters tall, and series of more than twenty rapids are found throughout the gorge's expansive reach. Even the origin of the gorge's name is rife with hyperbole, and follows the legend of a tiger that was sighted leaping over the gorge (at its narrowest point) in order to escape a pursuing hunter. This kind of hiking experience is totally different with that in Yangtze River tour, which is much more close to nature.
This journey begins in Lijiang and ends at the northern border town of Zhongdian (while in these two cities, we follow the same itinerary as our basic Yunnan tour, "South of the Clouds"). The critical highlight of this excursion however takes place in between, and focuses on making the trek through the great Tiger Leaping Gorge. After spending a night in the gorge, we move on the next day to explore (on foot) the gorge's equally interesting nearby environs - encountering remote minority villages as well as the mysterious White Water Terrace. Throughout this journey, we strive to place the gorge in its fascinating cultural and geographic context, by engaging the local natives (including Yi, Naxi, Tibetan and Muslim minority groups) in their indigenous homes located far off the beaten path, so isolated, in fact, that few manage to venture here. This tour is directed at travelers looking for a special Yunnan experience that offers rugged outdoor adventure (in some of the province's most awesome natural settings), but at the same also allows an in-depth and authentic look into the lives of Yunnan's diverse minority people, located within both the province's urban centers and most rural regions. Some adventure lovers particularly request the China travel agency to arrange the hiking experience in their itinerary. This experience would definitely refresh their soul and body.
Featured Trip Plan:
Day 1: Arrive in Lijiang via Kunming; Naxi orchestra performance; overnight in Lijiang
Day 2: Drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge; hike lower trail, arrive at Walnut Grove; overnight in gorge
Day 3: Drive to Haba village; hike to nearby mountain communities; return & overnight in Haba village
Day 4: Hike along gorge, visit Naxi villages enroute; arrive & overnight at White Water Terrace (Baishui Tai)
Day 5: Drive to Zhongdian; Songzhanlin monastery; overnight in Zhongdian
Day 6: Depart by air to Kunming, end of journey
Hope the above plan would give you some hint for your China vacation deals.
Long-zhu Erlongshan Ski Resort in Heilongjiang Province China
Long-zhu Erlongshan Ski Resort is located in the nationally certified "AAAA" Erlong Scenic Reserve in Binxian County, 65 kilometers from Harbin, Heilongjiang Province.
Catering to those keen on winter sports is an emerging industry in China with huge potential for development. Long-Zhu Ski Group is a professional tourism company that focuses on ski resort industry investment and management.
The group formed from the company that took part in the preparation for the third Asian Winter Games in 1996. The group launched two ski resorts – Yabuli Huiyang and the Windmill Village. Between 1999 and 2003, the group built Erlongshan Ski Resort and the Far East Cross Country recreation area. Long-Zhu Group and Zhongqiao Investment Company of Macao have also co-invested in the Avaunce Hotel (Avaunce International Exhibition Center) in Yabuli. Long-Zhu Group doesn't stop at building resorts; it hosted various skiing competitions including the freestyle skiing competition of the 10th National Winter Games and the International Freestyle Skiing Invitational Tournament. Years of intense development have helped the Long-Zhu Group and Erlongshan Ski Resort build up a good reputation in the ski sports industry. In the near future, Erlongshan Ski Resort will introduce enhancements that make it suitable for year round competition, as well as for international exhibitions and fairs. Many travelers prefer to travel harbin after their Beijing tours, since they are near to each other.
The resort hotel provides various types of accommodation and dining options to meet the diverse demands of customers. One may choose to stay in a European-styled villa, a traditional Chinese courtyard or in simple modern quarters. In 2009, the group put more than RMB one million into the hotel's facelift and more serious service extensions. The hotel now provides luxury, standard and family suites as well as double rooms, family rooms, and rooms with a view. The resort is currently able to welcome 1,100 overnight guests and 2,000 diners daily.
Furthermore, a square with a capacity for 10,000 persons, conference rooms in various dimensions and the 1,500 sq m exhibition hall make the hotel an excellent choice for large-scale conferences and exhibitions. When darkness falls, guests can enjoy the pleasure of a campfire in its impressive natural environment. It is certain that the snow world discovery would be an unforgettable memory along their China travel.
Erlongshan Ski Resort enjoys it status today as one of China's first-class tourism resorts. Being the country's outdoor extreme sports training base, Erlongshan Ski Resort provides four-season sport and recreational facilities for the adventurous. The high-quality snow pack in winter combined with safe-skiing courses, finesse the facilities' offerings, and moderate admission fees make this paradise accessible to all skiing enthusiasts. Over the years it has accommodated as many as two million domestic and international sports lovers. There are two ski slopes for amateurs, one snow-covered playground for children, 6 pistes for intermediate and advanced skiers, as well as a park for snowboarding. Two rental centers offer 5,000 sets of imported ski equipment. For a change of pace, they also provide a special area for VIPs, a vast skating park, and trails for sleighs and snowmobiles. Trams and chairlifts carry skiers directly from the hotel to their destinations. To discover the winter landscape in northern China, you should never miss visit Erlongshan Ski Resort in your China vacation packages.
Lhasa, the Holy Land in China
Lhasa is the capital city of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. It's an ancient plateau city with a history of over 1,300 years and boasts its unique styles. Lhasa is on the north bank of Lhasa River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River, in the southeast part of the autonomous region. It is home to people of Tibetan, Han, Hui and Menba nationalities etc, with Tibetans dominating the place. Lhasa is the political, economic, cultural and transportation hub of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. There are lots of temples and monasteries in Lhasa, which is a holy place for Tibetan Buddhism. It’s also nicknamed "sunshine city". If the China tourism service includes Lhasa, you should never forget to visit this Holy Land.
The long history and unique culture of Lhasa has made the city a brilliant pearl on the snow-covered plateau. World-famous ancient buildings are scattered all over the city, with row upon row of magnificent monastery buildings, including the famous Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple, the Potala Palace and Norbu Lingka-the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. Along your Tibet travel, you will say the Potala Palace, the winter palace of Lama.
In the middle of the 7th century AD, Tubo King Songtsam Gambo founded his regime in Lhasa. In 641 AD, Songtsam Gambo married the Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng after he had completed the great cause of unification. After her arrival in Tibet, Princess Wencheng suggested that white goats should be used to carry the earth to fill the lakes for the construction of temples.
Therefore, local people renamed the temple (what’s now Jokhang Temple) "Rasa", which means “the back of a goat” in Tibetan. Later, "Rasa" was translated as "Luoxie" in Mandarin and gradually changed to "Lhasa". For thousands of years, Lhasa has become a Tibetan political and religious center for quite a few times. It is indeed a "holy place". If your China travel packages are of ethnic culture discovery theme, then Lhasa would be your best choice for exploration.
Enchanting Fragrant Hill in Beijing China
Some twenty kilometers west of downtown Beijing, Fragrant Hills Park, or Xiangshan Park, is the most popular place for observing autumn hues. Covering an area of 160 hectares, the park is covered with more than 260,000 maples, ginkgos, smoke trees, pine and other trees. Each November, leaves begin to change color, making the area an ideal spot to take in the glories of autumn. For exploring the autumn in China, many educational China tours come to Fragrant Hill and students are all hooked by the red sea of leaves, which is really a great feast for students’ eyes.
The Fragrant Hills Red Leaves Festival has been held every year since 1989. In 2011, the festival opened on October 12th, and will last until November 16th. So, if you're searching for an autumn and wanting to find a colorful fairyland, don't hesitate, just pack up and go! For discovering more business opportunity, many business prefer to discover this while having their China business tours. Hence they could enrich their ideas while relaxing. Falling their target onto Fragrant Hill would be a great idea for them.
Travel tips:
Admission: 15 yuan
Opening hours: 6:00 --18:30
Best time to visit: mid-October to mid-November
Getting there: Bus No. 318, 331, 360, 563, 630, 696, 714 to Xiangshan; No. 331, 505, 563, 696, Te 5, Yuntong 112 to Xiang Quan Huan Dao. Subway Line 4 to north gate of the Summer Palace, Exit A1, and then transfer 563 to Xiangshan Park.
Red leave on Fragrant Hill is so famous that some even old people want to view it. Since they are old enough and could not traveling around easily, they joined some China customized tour to discover it. Come to China and see why so many people flock to visit here despite of fatigue and long journey!
Typical Jiading Wedding Ceremonies in China
The new couple should bow to the god, the parents and each other.
A typical Jiading wedding always includes a complete set of ceremonies. To earn words of good blessing and satisfy the guests, the hosts often start the busy preparation several months before the wedding, such as butchering pigs and sheep, and preparing the dowry. Generally a complete wedding will last for around one week,and there are more than a dozen traditional rules and ceremonies.
Sending plates
Several days before the wedding, the groom's family must send pork, lamb, herring, chicken, goose, Dingsheng cake and zongzi (made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves). In the 1930s and 1940s the tradition was to send a 3.5-kilogram salted pig's leg, 4-kilogram fresh pig's leg and 4.5-kilogram herring. The groom's family would put all the food on a wooden plate or in baskets and send two men to deliver it to the bride's home. In your China Tibet tours, you may see the wedding ceremony of Tibetans, which is some different from the Hans.
Settling tables
Families of the bride and groom should do a lot of decoration and preparation work for the banquet one day before the wedding. It's called "settling tables." It mainly includes hanging lanterns and colorful ribbons, butchering pigs and sheep, setting up tea stoves, borrowing tables and chairs and establishing a round wooden hall (a kind of temporary house for banquets).
Transporting the dowry
The groom's family will send people to transport dowry from the bride's home before the wedding. In old times, people usually used long poles to carry the dowry items, sometimes by ship if the trip was too long.
The bride's family will put the dowry in the living room. Brothers of the bride should carry the footbath and closestool, which is also called "offspring barrel" (symbolizing more children), out of the room first, then the groom's men could move the rest of the dowry. The "offspring barrel" shall be carried in the first line of the team, lifted by two boys. After it there should be bedclothes, articles for daily use, boxes and wardrobe. When the dowry reaches the groom's home, it should be put in the living room to show off, and then moved into the bedroom. Some China tours for students particularly arranged this Chinese custom experience for foreign students. All the students are shocked by the difference between China and western countries.
Fetch the bride
This refers to the groom going to the bride's home to take her to the wedding. Usually the groom's team will be led by a band, followed by the groom, a boy who holds the "offspring bag" with eggs and a quilt, sedan chair, relatives and friends of the bride and groom. When the team with the bride reaches the groom's home, firecrackers shall be let off. The groom's mother will come out, accept the "offspring bag" and take it to the bridal chamber. Then, the sedan chair will be lowered, and the bride will get off with the support of the emcee and enter the house. The last but not the least important thing for the groom is to go back to the gate and welcome the bride's uncle to the hall.
Gift at the first meeting
Before the banquet, there is a ceremony for the groom's parents and senior relatives to meet the bride. The ceremony will be hosted by the emcee, and the ground will be covered by the red carpet. First, the new couple should kowtow to the elder relatives of the groom in order. Meanwhile, the parents and other senior relatives of the groom will give the bride hongbao (money in red envelopes), and the new couple shall return gifts with sweets, peanuts and fruits covered by a towel.
Holding the banquet
The banquet held by the groom's family is usually in the evening, and there will be at least five baxian tables (an old-fashioned square table for eight people). The two tables on the north are the main tables. The groom and uncle of the bride will be seated to the right and the bride and her maid-of-honor to the left. The other tables are for relatives. The chefs and tea makers are required to serve carefully. Hot towels will be served at least three times during the banquet for the groom, the bride and her uncle. After using the first hot towel, the uncle shall also give chefs and tea makers hongbao as a reward. Some businessmen offered some China business travel service for Chinese marriage, and they were rewarded considerably.
Wedding ceremony
It's the core of a wedding and should be held in the main hall. In the hall center there are two baxian tables put together with varied dim sum, fruit and a pair of red candles on the top. Over the tables on the wall there are auspicious pictures with pretty boys and girls. The ceremony is hosted by the emcee.The new couple should bow to the god, the parents and each other. A red cloth covers the bride's head. When the bowing is done, a boy and a girl will hold the fancy candles and lead the couple around the table three times. Then, the couple will enter the bridal chamber.
Making bed
Before the newly wedded couple enters the bridal chamber there is a "making bed" ceremony. The bed should be made by a married couple whose parents are still alive, have offspring and are senior to the new couple. This task is usually handled by the groom's parents. If both of the groom's parents are not alive, the ceremony will be conducted by other seniors. To enrich their wedding marriage, some new couples particularly join some tailor-made China tours for their honeymoon, among which Yunnan and Guilin would be their first choice.
Eating harmony dumplings
When the bride and groom enter the bridal chamber and sit on the bed, the groom's mother will serve the couple "harmony dumpling" to express her wish that the new couple would live harmoniously in the future. It is a kind of little dumpling made of glutinous rice in brown sugar soup. It symbolizes a sweet and happy life.
Closestool opening
A healthy and clever boy with good looks will urinate into the ciosestool ("offspring barrel"). The ceremony shall be done in public, with a hope that the couple will have a baby just like this healthy boy.Since the closestool is used at the first time, the ceremony is called "closestool opening."
Disturbinglhe bridal chamber
Generally there are three days around the wedding when people shall not get angry. Therefore, when the newly wedded couple enters the bridal chamber, relatives and friends often like to play some tricks on them. And in this case, if thef say or do something that crosses the line, the couple shall not be angry.
Return visit
On the third day of the wedding, parents of the bride will send her brother to the groom's home, expressing greetings and inviting the newly wedded couple for a return visit. The couple shall prepare some gifts for the visit, while the bride's parents will offer a feast to the visitors. It's called "return visit banquet."
Chinese Shaolin Kungfu Experience>
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.
Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin. After the loss of records during the 20th Century Cultural Revolution it would be almost impossible for a particular style to conclusively establish a connection to the Temple, aside from a few very well known systems, such as Xiao Hong Quan, the Da Hong Quan, Yin Shou Gun, Damo Sword, etc. Some popular China travel package has included Shaolin Kungfu experience in their itinerary, which is highly spoken by foreigners.
Monks from China's Shaolin Temple perform Shaolin Kungfu in Be'er Sheva, South Israel, Feb 13, 2011, for Chinese Cultural Week which started on Sunday. During this period, Shaolin Kungfu and modern dances will be performed and photos from the Shanghai World Expo will be exhibited in Be'er Sheva, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Monks from China's Shaolin Temple perform Shaolin Kungfu in Be'er Sheva, South Israel, Feb 13, 2011, for Chinese Cultural Week which started on Sunday. China tours for students are highly spoken of Shaolin Kungfu and most of the foreign students want to learn it. So amazing and fantastic!
Monks from China's Shaolin Temple perform Shaolin Kungfu in Be'er Sheva, South Israel, Feb 13, 2011, for Chinese Cultural Week which started on Sunday.
Monks from China's Shaolin Temple perform Shaolin Kungfu in Be'er Sheva, South Israel, Feb 13, 2011, for Chinese Cultural Week which started on Sunday. Some businessmen got tired and do not want to refresh them from soul to body. For them, China business travel service of Shaolin Kungfu may come their preference.
Clay Figurine Workmanship in China
Clay figurine is one of antiquated folk arts in China. The clay is taken as raw material and manually kneaded into a figurine and the sculptures are mainly the characters and animals. This kind of art can date back to the Neolithic Period. The time of pottery pig and sheep unearthed in Hemudu ancient cultural relic of Zhejiang Province is about six thousand to seven thousand years ago; the time of antique pottery, clay pig and clay sheep head unearthed in Peiligang ancient cultural relic of Xinzheng, Henan Province is about seven thousand years ago. However it was until the Ming and Qing dynasties that the clay figurine had been substantially produced and became one of the main artworks in the mass's cultural life. If you are having a Hanghzou tour package, you may see many local people selling clay figurine in the park or on the street.
The art of clay figurine is divided into two branches in China: Wuxi Huishan Clay Figurine and Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang". The Huishan Clay Figurine which stems from the western suburb of Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province begun in the Southern Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty and had a history of over one thousand years. The most famous character of "Big A'fu" is rich and brisk, deep and concise in sculpture, bright and ardent in color, full of a rich native tinge. Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang" was initiated in Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty and had a history of 180 years. Zhang Mingshan (1826-1906) was the initiator of "Clay Figurine Zhang". It is said that he could complete a lifelike clay figurine with vivid facial expression in a minute while sitting and talking to others. Xu Beihong, the famous contemporary Chinese painter, applauded him as a great folk sculptor in China. The clay figurine would bring much pleasure along your China travel.
In 1992, the representative works "Big A'fu" of Huishan clay figurine was designated as the tourism mascot at that year by the State Tourism Bureau; at a Chinese modern art gallery in Ashiya, Japan, a special display room was built for the painted sculptures of Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang". The art of clay figurine has already walked out of the national gate and become an envoy for the communication between the Chinese and foreign cultures and been gradually accepted and cherished by more and more nations and people. In some degree, the clay figurine has contributed much for China tourism.
Three Gorges, a Must-visit for China Travel
The Three Gorges are grand canyons situated in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River. At the place where the river reaches the eastern Sichuan Basin, it makes its way deep into and through the Wushan Mountains, forming the most spectacular and absorbing gorges. The Three Gorges, namely Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, with breath-taking sceneries, extend 192 km from Baidi City of Fengjie in the west to Nanjin Pass of Yichang in the east. If taking a Yangtze River tour, you may see the majestic Three Gorges.
The Qutang Gorge, known for its magnificence, is the shortest and most marvelous one among the three gorges. Its magnificence lies in mountains and waters. The precipitous peaks, steep cliffs and roaring currents present a splendid sight. The Wu Gorge is famed for its deep valley and quiet beauty. On the banks of the Wu Gorge are exquisite sceneries. To cruise here is like wandering in a natural art gallery. The most absorbing scene here is the twelve peaks, like a string of emerald jades dotted on the banks, among which the Goddess Peak is the most exquisite and famous. The Xiling Gorge, full of turbulent currents and whirlpools as well as rising cliffs and rugged rocks, is one of the most dangerous shoals. Notable tourist attractions in the Three Gorges area include Baidi City, Fengdu City, General Zhang Fei’s Temple, Shibao Fortified Village, and Baiheliang Hydrological Inscriptions and Carvings. Some natural beauty discovery lovers particularly join various customized China tours to experience the breathtaking landscape of China, then the Three Gorges is what they can not miss.
At the two ends of the Three Gorges locate two plains—the Chengdu Plain in the west and Jianghan Plain in the east. The two plains are homes to two different but equally brilliant ancient civilizations - Shu and Chu. The Three Gorges area can be compared to a book of Chinese culture and history with cultural relics and historic sites reserved from the Paleolithic Age to the Qing Dynasty. Uncountable student tours to China flock here and foreign students are all hooked by the impressiveness of Three Gorges and do not want to leave.
Jiuzhaigou, the Amazing Fairyland in China
Jiuzhaigou Valley, reputed as a "fairyland", is situated in the Jiuzhaigou County of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, China. 40 km down the snow-capped Minshan Mountains there is a magic valley where scatter over 100 multicolored lakelets of various sizes, which are named "haizi " by the local Tibetans, the superb mountain lakelets gifted by nature to this place. Jiuzhaigou consists of nine Tibetan villages distributed between the thick virgin forests and "haizi", hence the name. Due to its special geographical features, many people joined different kind of China customized tour to visit Juizhaigou to discover this reputed fairyland in China.
The scenery in Jiuzhaigou is simply charming in all seasons. The spring witnesses green buds coming out of branches and waterfalls flowing briskly; in summer, the lakes are surrounded by green shades where birds sing and dance in between; leaves turn colorful in autumn while everywhere becomes a color palette; in winter, while the mountains and valleys are wrapped in snow, the waterfalls are much of some running jades. Considering limited time and energy, some people prefer to visit Jiuzhaigou after finishing their Chongqing tour, because they are near to each other.
In a secluded pure land deep on the plateau, where the tranquility reveals our heartbeats and the breathtaking sceneries of the four seasons linger, you can hardly confess your feelings in any earthly words. Jiuzhaigou is a divine place of water. Water is the soul of the place, embodied by the mountain lakes and waterfalls. The water in Jiuzhaigou is crystal clear, yet presenting multicolored and twinkling brightness with refractions of the depositions formed under the lakes by dissolved limestone and multiple minerals. Coupled along the lakeshore with the inverted reflection of the tree colors, which will change with seasons, the scenery of lake and mountain builds Jiuzhaigou into a magic dreamy wonderland. What a holy pure “fairyland”! For Xian tours, you may be overwhelmed by the impressive Terracotta Army, but for Jiuzhaigou travel, you may be hooked by the breathtaking scenery of it. You may have the illusion that you are in the fairyland.
Tibetan Culture Discovery-Princess Wencheng
Taiping National Forest Park-a Must-have for Your Xian Travel
Meanwhile, the Taiping National Forest Park has more than 30 kinds of animals that under national first and second-class protection, such as the golden monkeys, takins and syrmaticus mikados etc. Here visitors can easily see them among the trees, by the streams and roadsides. The golden monkeys of Taiping National Forest Park are so gentle that sometimes they just sit there and watch your food calmly, however, the monkeys in Emei Mountain, Sichuan Province would untie your bag and check it by themselves. If your China travel service covers Xian, you could discover this breathtaking park.