China Travel Guide

China (中国; Zhōngguó), officially known as the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国 Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó) is a huge country in Eastern Asia (about the same size as the United States of America) with the world's largest population. With coasts on the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, in total it borders 14 nations. It borders Afghanistan, Pakistan (through the disputed territory of Kashmir), India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam to the south; Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to the west; Russia and Mongolia to the north and North Korea to the east. This number of neighbouring states is equalled only by China's vast neighbour to the north, Russia.

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Posted in Shanghai Attractions

Yuyan Garden- Shanghai

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Yayuan is very popular as well as classic garden which is located in Aren Jie in Shanghai. This garden was completed in the year 1577 by Pan Yunduan which was a government officer in the Ming Dynasty. Yu means satisfying and pleasing in china and this garden was made for enjoying the happy and tranquil time.

In nearly four hundred year of the existence of Yujuan Garden, it has undergone many types of changes. During the war of opium in 19th century, it was damaged and after that it was restored in the year 1956 and was opened for public in the year 1961.

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This garden is extended in area about twenty thousand square meter or about five acres. It has many unique characteristics like rockeries, halls, pavilions, ponds and clusters. You can enjoy main six scenic areas wanhua Chamber, Huijing Hall, Sansui Hall, Dianchun hall , Inner garden and Yahua Hall. Each of these areas is fulled with various scenic spots within their borders.

When you will enter this garden you will see a rockery which is also known as the Great Rockery. It has height about 50 feet and it is one of the oldest as well as largest rookeries in the Yangtze River’s Southern region. From the top of this rockery, you can get the bird eye view of this garden. At the foot of this rockery lies the Cuixiu Hall. This place is surrounded with beautiful flower and old trees. You can also find curio shops in Cuixiu Hall.

Sansui hall was built in the year 1760 and used for the entertainment of guests. Later one it was used to hold the ceremonies. It has height about 30 feets and have five halls. It is most commodious and largest structure in the garden.in the areas of Wanhua Chambers and Yule Pavilion you can find corridors, pavilions, courtyards, streams and other natural features. Chamber of Wnahua is dedicately chased building which is surrounded by the derious cloister. You can find the spring bamboos beside the cloisters. Yayuan garden

On the east of Wanhua chamber, lies the Dianchun Hall area. It also includes Relic Hall, Hexu hall, Acting and sing stage and ancient well pavilion. It also has the headquarters of Xiaodau Hi which was a revolt group and fought against the Qing Dynasty government.

 

 

Posted in Shanghai Attractions

Bund, Shanghai- A place for history and culture

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Shanghai has the one of the main attraction for the tourists in China and is full of history and culture. The Bund stretches for one mile from the bank of the river Huangpu and a well known waterfront esplanade. You can enjoy the fascinating view of Shanghai through the extensive walkway of the riverfront on the bank of this river especially at the night time. You can easily get boats which frequently depart from Shiliupu Pier to the south of the Bund and this journey takes approximate three hour’s time.

bund3

You can see the glistening waters of the river Huangpu and enjoy the incredible view of the historic architectures. You can also enjoy the modern sky scrapers and experience the local people’s life by doing Tai Chi or playing the game Chinese checker at the park. You can also look into the promenade which has an amazing architecture which has the styles ranging from Neo-Renaissance, Classic, French Baroque and Art Nouveau. The history of this place also backs to when the British established their trade and banks houses and also created a European style landscape in that area. During the War of Chinese Civil, financial investors had relocated and now days it has evolved as a Shanghai’s financial district and home for many companies related to finance in last two decades. Due to the major reconstruction of Bund by the Shanghai in the year 2008, it has become more tourists friendly and it has been made open for public in the year 2010.

You can visit the Colonial era buildings which has former Hong Kong Bank, Former Shanghai Club which is now called as Waldorf Astoria hotel, Peach Hotel. It also has a Bund History Museum which has free admission during 9 am to 4:15 pm. You can also visit Huangpu Gong Yan which was built in the year 1868 and was previously known as the British Public Garden. Bund Sightseeing tunnel is another attraction for the tourists. Oriental Pearl Tower offers spectacular view, recreation and restaurants. Statue of Chen Yi is another thing to view in Bund.

Bund

Bund

International tourists can get the elegant and best lodging facility at Bund Shanghai. Broadway Mansion and Peace Hotels are facilitated with the massive swimming pools, high flying banks and several other facilities for making your stay a pleasant.

 

Posted in Beijing Attractions

Beijing Hutongs

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Beijing Hutongs

Beijing Hutongs

Hutong, called as Mongolianese, is a small city lane featuring the unique Beijing customs and old Beijing living way. As the there was strike rule for the city building in ancient times, so the Hutong sets in the straight style in complicated distribution with more than 7,000 lanes named not only with person’s name such as prime minister Hutong, but with market or shop’s name such as goldfish Hutong, and with something certain Beijing dialect such as stuffy pot Hutong etc. Among which the west-eastern Jiaomin lane is the longest one with a total length 6.5 kilometers; the shortest Hutong just 1 inch wide and 10 meters more long, and the narrowest one is undoubtedly the Money Market Hutong in the front of the fence area with the width only 0.7 meter, where person of certain fat can go through there only with the breath controlled. There are hundreds of thousandths Hutong lanes in Beijing surrounded around the Forbidden City, and most of them were built in the Yuan dynasty, Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty in China’s history. There are the unique cultural building of the Beijing in China or even in the world.

 

Beijing Hutongs

Beijing Hutongs

Hutong is not only the pulse of the Beijing city, but also the living sites of the Beijing common people. The Beijing citizens have special emotion to the Hutong as there are not the passage for the common people go out and in home, but one and one customers museums which leaves lots of the vestige of the society and life in Beijing. Therefore, it means a lot of to the Beijing citizens. The Hutong is normally near the downtown, where it is convenient for people living there to go shopping. There are not so much crowed in Hutong when compared with the city centers, but you can sense the kind and close neighbour relationship.  You will truly experience the Beijing old life in these friendly and well-preserved Hutong during your Beijing tour.

 

Beijing Hutongs

Beijing Hutongs

Hutong, ancient but unique in Beijing, has been the bridge of the Beijing culture showing and transferring its unique culture to the other area of Beijing and other countries in the world. The living phenomenon of the old Beijing is set and showed in the corner of these Hutong, within every brick and tile of these Siheyuan and the neighbour relationship among the Beijing citizens there. People who have never gone there cannot really experience the special meaning and feelings there.  Just have a visit there in person during your Beijing tour by hiring the rickshaw, and you’ll have a true taste of Beijing!

Posted in Beijing Attractions

Tian’anmen Square

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tian'anmen square

tian’anmen square

Tian’an Men Square, the heartland of the Beijing city, is the biggest city central plaza in the world. It covers an area of 44 hectares with its width from the west to east 500meters and its length from north to south 800 meters. Its ground surface is decorated with the light color granite stones which have been dealt with special workmanship technology. It is the most solemn ceremony when the national flag rises in the morning and drops down in sunset. You will raise endless infuriation and move when seeing the bright-color national flag of the People’s Republic of China shinning in the morning glow. It is the happening place for numerous important politic events and historical events, moreover, it has witnessed the up and down, the decay and development. It has been listed as one of the sixteen famous attractions in Beijing.

tiananmen square

tiananmen square

The Tian’an Men Square is a majestic and must-see attraction in Beijing, with whose north is to Tian’an Men Hall, south to Zhengyang Gate, north to Historical Museum and west to People’s Hall. It is a largest square with a capacity of 1 million holding functions here. The Monument of the People’s Heroes and the solemn Memorial Hall of the Chairman Mao are standing in the middle of the Square and both sides lies Working People’s Cultural Palace and Zhongshan Park. All of these architectures make the Tian’an Men Square grand, distribution symmetrical and magnificent to be a great and spectacular attraction in Beijing.

tiananmen square

tiananmen square

Having witness numerous times of the Chinese people fighting for democracy and freedom and fighting with reactionary rule and the foreign invasion, the Tian’an Men Square is an virtual and holy place for important celebrations, assemblies and welcoming guests of foreign fairs. It has been the symbol of the coagulative power and the prosperity of the People’s Republic of China. When you are walking around the Tian’anmen Square, viewing the magnificent distribution, feeling the majestic momentum, appreciating the vast and profound landscape, you will upsurge a burst passion and honor.

Posted in Travel Tips

How to Make Your First Trip to China Enjoyable and Comfortable?

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Maybe you have gone to China for one time or even several times, or maybe you have never been to China yet, no matter which type you are divided into, here I’d like to share some travel tips with you to make your trip to China much more enjoyable and wonderful next time or for your first time.

First of all, lock you destination for your China trip and avoid somewhere inconvenient and adventurous unless you are an adventurer. For those who have never been China before or just been China just one time, it’s best for you to decide your tour destinations so as to make your trip smoothly and familiar. You can make the famous and highlights destinations such as Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Shanghai , Hong Kong or somewhere your know about or at less your have hear about from your friends or those who have been China before. In that case, you won’t feel strange when you traveling there. Besides, those famous cities also have so many highlight attractions for you to enjoy experience and explore their beauty and fantasy. Moreover, most local citizens in these cities can speak English well, which will make your conversation and communications with them not so much difficult when necessary.

Next, do best preparation before starting your trip. You’d better to learn something basic about your destinations such as when is the best time to visit, what is the local delicious food of that destination, what should you pack for your trip and so on. Take Guilin as an example, the best time to visit is April when you will meet some drizzling days which make your Li River much more picturesque and poetic; and Guilin noodles will be a must-taste local food in Guilin; and you’d better take an umbrella and wear warm as it is still somehow cold in Guilin at that time. Learn more about the travel trips of your destinations as possible as you can.

Finally, take it easy when starting your tour.  As there are so much wonders and beauty for you to enjoy and experience in a new country, you will be exhausted with what you are going to see, listen and face such as new sights and sounds, new customs, ways of doing things, a new language, different food, and a different time zone and climate. Therefore, just make time available during your trip so that you can do something what you like to do or just relax yourself after your tour time. Do remember not to take the adventurous trip for you first time to China or anywhere else, just explore only the absolute best of easily-accessible China, only in that way your first trip to China will be much easier and more enjoyable.

Posted in Beijing Attractions

The Forbidden City

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forbidden city

forbidden city

The Forbidden City, also called the Imperial Palace or the Palace Museum, is located in the center of Beijing. Covering an area of 72 hectares, the Forbidden City is the best-preserved imperial palace in China, and also the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment and even the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. It is a great ancient architecture works where 24 emperors had been living here during the period of the Ming and Qing Dynasty and it has been listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987. It is a famous AAAAAA attraction in China without which any of your Beijing tour would be incomplete.

forbidden city

forbidden city

The Forbidden City is divided into two parts: the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation in the south and the Inner Court where he lived with his royal family in the north.  When you are walking inside the Forbidden City, you will find that its roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles; decorations in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow by a special process—Yes, you may guess it, this is because yellow is the symbol of the royal family in China. You will first reach its main entrance— Meridian Gate, then to the outer court where you can see three main buildings—the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, finally to the inner court to view the Palace of Heavenly Peace, the Palace of Union and Peace and the Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility. All of these majestic architectures will make shock you and make you unbelievable and unspeakable.

forbidden-city

forbidden-city

Tips: 1) Ticket price: 60 RMB/ adult (not include the Pearl Hall and the Hall of Clock and Watches) for the peak tourist season from 1st April to 31st October; 40 RMB/ adult (not include the Pearl Hall and the Hall of Clock and Watches) for the slack tourist season from 1st November to 31st March; 2) Open time: 8:30 a.m.to19 p.m. for the peak season and 8:30 a.m. to 15: 40 p.m. for the slack season. 3) Best time to visit: late April to early June and late August to the end of the November. Late April to early June will be the best time of the best when the colorful flowers are blossoming. 4) Ways to go there: Take the No. 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 20, 52, 22, 120, 728 and 802 city buses to Tiananmen Square west stop or Tiananmen Square east stop and then get off.

Posted in Travel Tips

Best Places for Your Tour to China in April

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April, as an excellent month of the spring time characterized by colorful flowers blossom, green trees, fresh air and warm weather, is ideal time to go out for a travelling.  Thought it still drizzles in some places, the cow-hair-like rains make it a picturesque scene in some southern cities in China, which cannot be met in anywhere else. Here are the best places for you to visit in China in your April time, just prepare for your tour there now!

Xiling Gorge

Xiling Gorge

The Three Gorges will be the No.1 place for your April tour in China as it is neither cold nor hot at that time, which make it a best time to take a relaxing Yangtze Cruise to enjoy the mighty Yangtze River between Chongqing and Yichang. During the cruise, you will appreciate the captivating and astonishing scenery of the Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge and also the biggest dam in the world—the Three Gorges Dam. All of the attractive scene will make your Yangtze Cruise along the Three Gorges memorable and worthwhile.

West Lake in Hangzhou

West Lake in Hangzhou

Hangzhou, where you can appreciate the panoramic view of classic China and the graceful scenery, ranks No.2 for your choice of April tour in China. Travelling there, you will see the beautiful landscape of Hangzhou decorated with spring greenery, jade-green plants, verdant weeping willow, fresh air, elegant and pink blossoms and leisurely atmosphere, which make you feel like walking on a painting, especially the charm adding by the West Lake, make Hangzhou place of poetic living.  Don’t forget to visit the ancient water towns such as the Xitang Town and Wuzhen Town to experience what the ancient China used to be and take beautiful photos there.

Terracota Warriors

Terracota Warriors

Next will come the Xi’an, which is the most influential city in Chinese history allowing you to experience and enjoy the historical culture of the ancient China. Thanks to the ideal weather in April, you can see the best scenery of Xi’an by visiting the majestic Terracotta Warriors, climbing the steep Hua Mountain, taking an Ancient City Wall ride and viewing other Tang Dynasty historical sites.

the Garden of the Master of Nets

the Garden of the Master of Nets in Suzhou

Suzhou, of course is another ideal destination for your tour to China in April, where you can appreciate the unique beauty of the traditional Chinese gardens in the temperate weather and warm temperature. The essence of the traditional Chinese gardens in Suzhou including Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Garden of the Master of Nets, Lingering Garden, the Garden of Harmony, and Lion Grove decorated with the verdant and colorfully beautiful blossoms will be great choice for your Suzhou tour. Don’t miss the ancient water towns which will leave you the charming scenery with the poetic scene.

Posted in Beijing Attractions

The Temple of Heaven

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Covering an area of 273 hectare, the Temple of Heaven is one of the famous attractions in China located in the southeastern of the Forbidden City with 4 times bigger than the Forbidden City.  It is a place to offer a sacrifice to supreme Ruler of Heaven in winter solstice for the emperors of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. The distribution of the Temple of Haven shows “back” glyp and the altar wall is made with two sections: the inner altar and the outside altar, with the outside altar’s length totaling 6,416 meters and the inside altar 3,292 meters.

the Temple of Heaven

the Temple of Heaven

Travelling here, you will find that the Temple of Heaven is enclosed with a long wall, whose south part is square which symbolize the earth and the north semicircular symbolizing the heaven. The northern wall is higher than that of the southern part, which shows the heaven is high and the earth is low, it also reflects that the heaven is round while the earth square.

the Temple of Heaven

the Temple of Heaven

 

The main architecture of the Temple of Heaven gather at the axle wire of the inside altar, which is connected with a broad bridge called Vermilion Steps Bridge whose south end is lower than its north end, and from the south to north are the Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiutan), Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian). In addiction, there are ancient architectures and historical sites including the God Kitchen, the Animal-killing Pavilion and the Hall of the Abstinence, whose design are ingenious, color reconcile and architecture excellent.

the Temple of Heaven

the Temple of Heaven

 

Tips: 1) Ticket price: 10 RMB/adult for the slack season from 1st November to 31st March and 15 RMB/ adult for the peak season from 1st April to 31st October. 2) Opening time: 6 a.m. to 22 p.m. for the entrance gate, 8 a.m. for the inside attractions. 3) Best time to visit: spring and autumn; one advantage to visit in winter is you can experience the acoustic building of the Temple of Heaven. 4) Don’t miss the Three Echo Stones, Echo Wall and Nine-Dragon Cypress.

Posted in Travel Tips

5 Best Destinations for Your Trip to China in 2013

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The year of 2013 will be a year full of surprise, wonders and miracles. As it is just the beginning of the branded new year, have you done any plans for your travel this year? Here are some advices for your tour to China in 2013—Yes, the 5 best destinations travelling to China including Beijing, Tibet, Chengdu, Guilin and Suzhou!

Tinanmen Square in Beijing

Tinanmen Square in Beijing

Beijing, of course a must-visit city in China because of the famous Great Wall there, it is the capital of China and the most historical city in China. Just plan a 4-day tour to visit there, where you can appreciate the magnificence of the Great Wall, view the grand Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, experience the Beijing life of ancient times by taking a Hutong ride, and taste the delicious Peking Roasted Duck and more.

Longji Rice Terraces in Guilin

Longji Rice Terraces in Guilin

Guilin, famous for the Li River, is undoubtedly a masterpiece of Karst Landforms. You will feel it beautiful scene on the Li River with the green water and around the picturesque mountains in the drizzling weather in spring. How wonderful and amazing! Travelling in Guilin, you can experience the countryside life in Yangshuo by taking a bicycle ride; moreover, you can also view the captivating Longji Rice Terraces, which will make your trip memorable!

Potala Palace in Tibet

Potala Palace in Tibet

Tibet, a mysterious place where numerous people yearning for visiting, is also a great choice for you to travel in China. Travelling there, you can not only experience the Tibetan Culture but also appreciate the charming scenery of the highlands which will shock you. Don’t forget to visit the PotalaPalace there.

Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou

Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou

Suzhou, known as “the Oriental Venice”, is famous for its Chinese gardens with graceful watery landscapes. Being the essence of China’s gardens and water towns, you can view the famous and beautiful Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lion Grove, LingeringGarden, and Garden of the Master of the Nets. Just take a 3-day tour to Suzhou to see the charming attraction, experience the profound culture, taste the delicious food and get the Su embroidery there.

the Giant Pandas in Chengdu

the Giant Pandas in Chengdu

Chengdu with the opening bullet connecting Chengdu and Xi’an in 2013, is a one of the best destination for your tour to China this year. You can visit the Great Wall of Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an and the Giant Pandas in Chengdu in a budget tour once you reach China. The Fairy Land of Jiuzhaigou with 8-hour drive from Chengdu, is also alluring and fascinating attraction worthy a visit during your trip in Chengdu.

Tips: Do remember avoid the major holidays in China when the transport and tourist area are crowed with people, what you can see is a sea of people from here to there. Keep in mind some holidays’ time listed as follows: Spring festival (from February 10th and lasting 2 weeks); Labor Day week (May 1– May 7) and National Day week (October 1– October 7).

Posted in Travel Tips

Ideal Places for Your Spring Photography in China

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Are you a photographer? Do you like photography? Have you taken photo every time when you went travelling to keep memory of your wonderful and enjoyable trip everywhere? If the answer is “yes”, then I’m sure you are planning to have a travel to somewhere beautiful in the upcoming spring so as to take photo for those charming and alluring scenery. Here are some great ideas for your spring photography in China, just take them into consideration and you will find them perfect for your photography!

Peony in Luoyang

Peony in Luoyang

Peony in Luoyang, large and gorgeous, is showing its variety for travelers in April—yellow, white, pink, red, green, black, blue, and purple, it will be unspeakable to tell how beautiful it is when a vast area of the peony blooming in front of you. Just have a travel to Luoyang Peony Garden for the captivating scenery there!

Peach Flowers in Nyingchi

Peach Flowers in Nyingchi

Peach Flowers in Nyingchi of Tibet, also called Taohua Valley, is surrounded on three sides by mountains and capped with white snow. Decorated by a blue sky, green water and white cloud, the fascinating scenery also will make your photography there amazing!

Tulips in Shixianghu Scenic Spot in Chengdu

Tulips in Shixianghu Scenic Spot in Chengdu

Tulips in Shixianghu Scenic Spot in Chengdu City, is the best place to appreciate the captivating tulips in March, you will view a vast area of the various tulips—yellow, red, white, pink or purple—blooming everywhere in hills, forests, grassland or hills. Just prepare best camera to take photos there!

Pink Apricot Blossoms in Yili of Xinjiang

Pink Apricot Blossoms in Yili of Xinjiang

Pink Apricot Blossoms in Yili, Xinjiang also shows its unique charm and beauty to all travelers in March, which makes the Yili Valley a beautiful and romantic place. The Xinhua Valley there is decorated by beautiful pink apricot blossoms and pale green grass, together with the farm houses and herdsmen standing by, you will surely love this harmonious and peaceful place!

Yuanyang Terraced Fields in Yunnan

Yuanyang Terraced Fields in Yunnan

Yuanyang Terraced Fields in Yunnan or Longji Terraced Fields in Guilin, where you appreciate and enjoy the immense fields with various colors in Yuanyang Terraced Fields and view the astonishing scenery Longji Terraced Fields with its irrigation of the entire field and its breath-taking sunrise for the reflections of the fields against more gentle terrain slopes in springtime, which will leave you magnificent photographs.

Longji Terraced Fields in Guilin

Longji Terraced Fields in Guilin