Facts of Ali Mountain in China

Alishan (Ali Mountain) is the most famous scenic spot for China travel packages which is formed by Dawu Mountain range, Jian Mountain, Zhu Mountain and Ta Mountain. 18 large mountains, stretching from Nantou to Jiayi in two counties. It takes 4 hours by mountaineering train from Jiayi County to reach Alishan scenic spot. There are connected mountain peaks low and high, streams and ponds. Vertical and horizontal in the area, which have not only utter danger of sheer precipices and overhanging rocks, but also the elegance of flying waterfall in deep valleys. The highest peak is 2663 meters above sea level. The mountain is well known to the whole world for its four beautiful scenes of mystical tree, oriental cherry, a sea of clouds and sunrise, thus goes the saying; "Those who haven't been to Alishan can not know the beauty of Taiwan."



The railway leading to Alishan is 72 km in total. It starts from the space 30 meters above sea level and rises up to 2450 meters above sea level, the gradient of which is so big that is rare in the world. From the mountain foot to the peak, train ascends as if it were travelling spirally along "winding staircase". Circling mountain and warming itself into tunnels, striding valley, with birds hovering below the train wheels. Along the route of ascending in a few hours, one can enjoy the scenery of vegetation of four categories in tropical, sub-tropical, temperate and frigid zones. Those rare and grotesque trees form the "green sea" on the Alishan. When the mountain wind blows hard, the mountain forest, like terrifying waves, makes big loud thunder, which is the famous soughing in the forest trees of vast area in Alishan.



Every tourist who have joined AFFORDABLE China travel packages for Alishan is interested in witnessing the majestic view of "Mystical Tree of Alishan". On the east side of the Mystical Tree Railway Station of the main Peak of Alishan, there stands a sturdy towering tree slightly slant. Although the main trunk is broken, yet the branches on the top are green and verdant. The tree is about 52 meters high and the diameter is about 23 meters, which needs ten more people to jointly embrace it. It is estimated that its high age is 3000 odd years, a king tree in Asia.



The oriental cherry all over the slopes of Alishan is also a wonder. During spring, red and white oriental cherry blossoms up hill and down dale, crowding together gorgeously. They mingles with the verdant forest, as if the peaks of Alishan had been splendidly attired in green clothes dotted with red flowers, making one intoxicated.



In the evening, there appears often the magnificent sea of clouds in Alishan. Reaching the terrace at the peak, when one looks far into the distance, he can see the white clouds emerging form valleys and hovering with wind. Sometimes it looks like a vast expense of water drowning mountains and peaks, making pinnacles and tops of trees above turn out like floating islets. Sometimes it looks like waves breaking and foaming with tides high and low. Sometimes it looks like earth covered with cotton, and you feel a vast expanse of whiteness under you feet. When it is fine day, the verdant sunset-bathed sea of cloud glitters in different colors, dark-brown, apricot pink, sapphire blue, bright red and dark green, all changeable without end, it appears more mystical and attractive. The view is very splendid and attracts so many tourists to have private China tours here.



There is a beautiful sun observation tower on the terrace of the famous Zhu Mountain peak of Alishan. At the crack of dawn, if you ascend the tower in the midst of freshness of air, you can see the grey outline of Yu Mountain far away would suddenly be edged with golden glow when radiance, increases all of a sudden. At the very moment, the sun as if jumps out off the top of Yu Mountain, shining with boundless radiance to all sides, myriads of golden rays burst one after another from blue mountain and verdant valley, a scene majestic in all its variety.



If you want to know more info about Ali mountaion, you can contact with local China travel agency.

  1. 2013/03/29(金) 17:57:05|
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Where to Go for your Retrip in China

China becomes a great getaway for many world-wide travel-lovers because of its time-honored history, breathtaking scenery and profound culture. After visiting the must-sees in China, for example,world-renowned Great Wall, impressive Forbidden City, overwhelming Terracotta Warriors, many travelers still prefer to re-trip China travel and explore this ancient country further.



For China re-trip, the following travel destinations are recommended, which covers the destinations for scenery appreciation, culture exploration, history discovery as well as hiking adventure. Explore these China re-trip destinations and discover this imperial kingdom further!



Guilin: Appreciate the Most Picturesque Landscape in China



Guilin, the must-visit for China travel, boasts the most picturesque landscape in China. Cruise along the Li River to appreciate the fabulous landscape like rolling hills, steep cliffs and fantastic caves along the river. Visit the amazing Reed Flute Cave, reputedly "The Palace of Natural Arts", to discover the brilliant natural limestone cave system with stunning rock formations. Pay a visit to the sunning Elephant Trunk Hill, the landmark and most-renowned attraction in Guilin. Head to the mesmerizing Seven Star Park to view the charming scenic spots inside, such as Camel Hill, Follower Bridge, Seven Star Rock. Immerse yourself in the enchanting and tranquil Yangshuo town, the most renowned tourist destinations with picturesque natural sceneries in China. Experience the amazing Longji Terraced Field, the most fantasticating scenery in Guilin, which would be a great feast to your eyes.



Lhasa: Discover Featured Tibetan Culture and Distinctive Landscape of Plateau



Lhasa, reputedly Holy Land, is endowed with numerous historical sites, famous relics and characterized Tibetan culture, which attracts uncountable travel-addicts annually. Visit the awe-inspiring Patala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century. Stroll along the renowned Barkhor Street, the featured quadrangle-shaped bustling bazaar in Lhasa. Discover the sacred Tibetan Buddhist Jokhang Temple, the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan pilgrims. Explore the impressive Sera Monastery to experience the famous Buddhist Scriptures Debate. Head to Gyangtse area to discover the scared Yamdrok Lake surrounded snow-capped mountains, uniquely-structured Pakhkor Monastery as well as well-known Kumbum Pagoda. Proceed to Shigatse area to explore stunning-scenery-surrounded Rongbuk Monastery and Mount Everest Base Camp to conquer highest peak in the world.



Huangshan: Experience Legendary Pines, Jagged Rocks and Ancient Hui Culture



The Yellow Mountain, one tourist destination of Yangtze River cruises, also known as Mt. Huangshan is one of the China's most beautiful and popular tourist attractions, which is famous for its four wonders, odd shaped pines, sea of clouds, grotesque rocks and hot spring. Watching sunrise and sunset on the Yellow Mountain is what can not be missed. Tunxi Old Street is an ancient street with hundred years of history, which is a window to see the ancient culture of Anhui Province. The ancient Hongcun Village & Xidi Village, reputed ad one of China's top 10 charming villages, are another two must-sees in Huangshan, which is famous for time-honored history, unique design and featured architectures.



Nanjing: Explore Time-honored History and Profound Culture


Nanjing, the ancient capital in Chinese history, is another must-visit for your China re-trip. The four must-sees in Nanjing are Confucius Temple (Fuzimiao), Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, Qinhuai River and Zhonghua Gate. Confucius Temple is founded to consecrate and worship Confucius, the great philosopher and educator in ancient China. Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum was founded in honor of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the reputedly "Father of Modern China", the first president and founding father of the Republic of China in Chinese revolutionary time. Cruise along Qinhuai River to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and experience time-honored Nanjing culture. Visit the impressive Zhonghua Gate, the magnificent building with ingenious design and complicated structure.



Yunnan: Discover Shangri-La, the Referred Paradise in Lost Horizon



Yunnan boasts breathtaking scenery, rich ethnic culture and numerous historical sites. In Kunming, capital city of Yunnan, the world-renowned Stone Forest, impressive Golden Palace and breathtaking Green Lake Park are all what you can not miss. Ancient Lijiang Old Town, enchanting Jade Dragon Mountain, famous Black Dragon Pool and impressive Mu Palace are all must-haves to discover Lijiang. Dali Ancient Town, known as "Backpackers' Paradise" in China, is famous for magnificent towers, elegant streets, exquisite courtyards, colorful flowers blooming in profusion. Visit overwhelming Three Pagodas, the landmark of Dali to explore this old town further. For Shangri-La tours, the mentioned paradise in Lost Horizon, is home to 25 ethnic groups, where colorful culture of ethnic groups would be discovered. Explore grand Tiger Leaping Gorge and mesmerizing Pudacuo National Park to discover this paradise heartily.



Silk Road: Trace Back to the Glorious Ancient Times



The Silk Road is the most well-know trading route in ancient China and becomes one of the best itineraries for China re-trip. The highlighted places covered in Silk Road tours are Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Urumqi, Turpan and Kashgar.



Bingling Grottoes, a must-see in Lanzhou, is known for delicately-carved statues with different postures and facial expressions. In Dunhuang, stunning Mogao Grottoes and large Dunhuang Museum are all the highlight for Dunhuang travel. In Urumqi, visit the mesmerizing Tianchi Lake, reputedly Heaven Lake, and immerse yourself in the steep forested hill, boundless meadow and beautiful snowy mountain, azure blue water heartily. Shop in the ancient bustling Sunday Bazaar to experience the local culture. In Turpan, wander around time-weathered Gaochang Ruins beneath the clear desert sky and contemplate the rise and fall of civilizations. Pay a visit to the Grape Valley to taste the fresh grape, sweet melons and fragrant wines in Turpan. In Kashgar, visit the world-famous Id Kah Mosque to experience the spectacle occasion of prayer.



The above mentioned destinations are included in discount China travel group perchase.



Source: http://www.chinatour.com/china-retrip.htm


  1. 2013/03/28(木) 18:44:55|
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Helpful Tips for China travelling II

9. Anyone who approaches you trying to practice English should be greeted with a smile and skepticism. Most Chinese are shy and will not speak to you unless you speak first. Those who overtly approach you and make the first move are likely to be selling something or worse. Many tourists reports scams in Shanghai where you can have visa free China travel, so be friendly but careful. Never ever follow a stranger anywhere.



10. Chinese restaurants with lots of foreigners (non-Chinese) are almost always unauthentic, as well as overpriced. Usually frequented by group tours, these places change recipes to conform to what they think are "western tastes." Many middle-class, white linen restaurants, hosting complete nuclear (three-generation) families around big round tables, have English menus with sometimes humorous translations. The more crowded with families it is, the better value and food it has. The menu's color pictures will help also. If they just show you an English menu, ask to see both. They might be pricing the food twice to five-times higher for tourists. If so, just walk out before you drink any tea. Compare the photos and prices. No tipping in restaurants, taxis, or anywhere for that matter.



11. Luxury goods are expensive in China, thanks to a luxury tax. Visit Hong Kong to make a killing on name-brand bargains. In China you can find some good buys in silk, pearls, jade and handicrafts, but you must study a bit to make sure you are getting the real thing. Bone porcelain can be a good buy too, but it must be carefully packed for your air travel.



12. The internet is censored in China. You need a VPN to see Facebook and any blog for that matter. Hotel internet charges rise along with the room rates. Lower cost three-star hotels will frequently have free wired and WiFi internet. Luxury hotels will charge you USD$15-25 per day. Internet cafes can be a huge inconvenience with lots of smokers and unclean surrroundings. Book a hostel or hotel with free WiFi. They are everywhere.



13. Before you leave home, get a good guidebook and buy street maps on line or in bookstores for cities you wish to explore. Free tourism maps are never to scale or easy to follow, with half the streets not there, names unclear. and big advertising splashed right across where you want to go. Amazing how many people budget well over USD$1,500 per person for China travel, yet won't spend USD$30 for an excellent book to help them along the way. DK Eyewitness Guides are well regarded for their color pictorals of everything there is to see, while Lonely Planet has logistics info on most anywhere you want to go. Other books more resemble a group tour itinerary, only covering the overvisited tourism sights and avoiding any real detail.



City guides unfortunately suggest westernized entertainment zones where only monied upper-class people would care to enter. You can have a lot of fun on food streets, wet and dry markets and such. Walk the Bund at night to people watch. Tiananmen Square is best at night.



14. Personal sanitation is important while traveling. Since you are on the "tourist trail," you are actually mixing with people from dozens of countries on six continents, not just Asians. Bring your own alcohol-based wet wipes for water-free hand sanitation. Never drink tap water! Bottled water is common everywhere and cheap at the corner convenience stores.



15. Bring your own toilet tissue with you, as you will rarely find a public toilet supplied with it. Carry it always in your purse, camera bag or backpack. Small flat travel packs (dry tissue and wet toilet wipes) are now available many places. You may use little packs of alcohol wet wipes to go over places your body will touch.



The above-mentioned tips can help you have an easy China tour.




  1. 2013/03/27(水) 18:07:23|
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Helpful Tips for China travelling I

If you plan to organize popular China tour package, the following tips will give you a big favor.



1. Once you buy it in China, it is yours. Like most foreign countries, make sure you are happy with the exact merchandise being sold to you. Inspect what you intend to buy, and not a sample with a "factory sealed" package to be delivered upon payment.



2. China has competitive and generally reliable electronics malls in the major cities. Be sure you are geeky enough to make an informed purchase. There are bargains, but do not expect the technical help you might get from your own electronics stores at home.



3. You should be an experienced shopper to know what something is worth in a Chinese market. Generally the shopkeeper will start at 10X what you should counteroffer. You could ask strangers what they would typically pay for it. Taxi prices are set by meter. Food merchants naturally will jack up the price for foreign-looking people, so be sure to bargain. Bargaining is an art in China. If you do not care for it, have someone else buy things for you.



4. Beggars and street people? There are a few, but no where near the number of homeless on the streets of the U.S. Chinese pay them no mind and neither should you. Just walk on.



5. Like anywhere, some tourist attractions are overrated. Avoid visiting mid-morning and mid-afternoon when group bus tours unload hundreds, if not thousands, of tourists to overrun a previously enjoyable attraction. The cacophony of multiple battery-operated bullhorns in several languages will spoil any visit to a Chinese garden, the Great Wall (a must-see for wonderful China travel packages) or landscape scenery.



6. Tour groups are a good convenient way to see some outstanding things and get taken to tourist trinket stores. When you ditch the tour you probably see more on your own, but with more time spent planning about being a stranger in a foreign land. You cannot hope to get a pulse of the people on a typical tourism visit, as you will not be exposed to common worker Chinese, the hundreds of millions who form the majority in the country. You will see a lot of Chinese hospitality industry workers who speak some English, and maybe some Chinese tourists who also are enjoying the country. They are not at all representative of the country, 48% of which still live on the farm and do not speak one word of English, even if they allegedly learned it in school.



7. Chinese people are delighted if you make any attempt to speak Mandarin, even if it’s only a couple of words. The best way to introduce yourself is with a warm, broad smile. Even when you might be upset or frustrated, smile. It works.



8. Traveling in China on its holidays can be a nightmare. Plan your trip carefully so you know what to expect on the Chinese Official Holidays. China-briefing.com is a good source, so search for the current year. While the holidays may be the same from year to year, even tied to fixed dates, the entire holiday period will shift. New schedules are posted in December, just a week or so before the year begins. Do not assume the May Day holiday is May 1-3. It might be April 29 and 30 and May 1. That mistake might ruin sightseeing and cause you to be stranded without transport tickets.

  1. 2013/03/27(水) 18:04:26|
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Things to Take to China

Having recently returned from a three week long travel to China, here are three travel tips that might be helpful for those who intend to visit this wonderful country. As one might expect, while there are certainly similarities between China and many western countries -- luxurious 5-star hotels, excellent public transport, exciting shopping, and breathtaking sights -- there are some significant differences also. And they are differences that may be surprising and unexpected. This article suggests three simple, but essential, items that you may wish to take with you to China.



#1 Toilet Paper



With the exception of major hotels and western style restaurants, most restrooms in China do not have toilet paper available in each stall. Some do have a roll of toilet paper on the wall as you enter the restroom and this enables you to tear off as much as you think you might need before entering the stall. But many restrooms do not have any paper available at all, so be sure to carry toilet paper with you wherever you go. Remove the cardboard center from the toilet roll and it will fit more easily into a fanny pack or backpack.



And on the topic of toilets, the ladies should be aware that again, with the exception of major hotels and western style restaurants, most women's restrooms only offer a Chinese style toilet. This toilet is a porcelain bowl set in the floor with a ridged surround on each side where you put your feet so that you can squat. The flushing mechanism is sometimes at floor level on the wall - use your foot to flush - but may also be further up the wall for hand flushing. Here is a photo of a Chinese style toilet just so you are prepared.



#2 Salt and Pepper



While almost everything available on the menu in China's restaurants is enjoyable, there is a conspicuous lack of salt and pepper in restaurants. The food served in restaurants in China is not typically seasoned while cooking. It is tasty, often very spicy, but sometimes quite bland. You can ask for salt and pepper to sprinkle on the food, but more often than not, the serving staff and management either will have no idea what is being asked for, or may not be able to come up with any salt or pepper. In one instance, a traveler pretended to shake salt onto the dish on the table, and it seemed the waiter knew what was required and brought along a small shaker of what looked like salt. After shaking it on to their food and tasting it, it turned out to be garlic powder!



If you like to season your food, even just a little, you may want to take your own filled plastic salt and pepper shakers and just keep them in your fanny pack or back pack while touring. It is alway a problem for tourists to have meals for their popular China tours.



#3 Paper Napkins/Serviettes



Unlike a lack of salt and pepper shakers on the table as mentioned above, paper napkins/serviettes are usually available on the table in most restaurants. The problem is that they are tiny and flimsy. Normally the diner is only provided with one paper napkin/serviette which proves to be quite inadequate. Either pack some paper napkins/serviettes from your home country, or improvise with the toilet paper suggested in #1!
In summary, while a lack of toilet paper, salt and papper, and adequately sized paper napkins will not ruin your trip to China, taking them along with you will undoubtedly enhance both your toileting and dining experiences!



THe above-mentioned are very useful and helpful for your customized China tours.

  1. 2013/03/26(火) 19:16:00|
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Affordable China Tours - Travel the Best for Less!


The following are guaranteed:


China vacation deals for value-seekers, best price & quality guaranteed.


Providing budget travelers with the most affordable China tour packages.


5 or 4-star hotels, guided sightseeing tours, standard meals as specified, etc.



China travel deals

 


Affordable China tours are the budget offer of ChinaTour.com. These China travel deals on promotion are perfect combination of top China tours like Beijing tours, Xian tours, Shanghai tours, Suzhou tours, Hangzhou tours These affordable China tour packages would be the best choice for budget travelers. Choose these China tour deals and get your memorable China travel started. Join us and enjoy your China vacation deals at affordable price!



You can save more money and enjoy very good China travel service.



Besides that some group tour packages are arranged with the following services: The ultimate in luxury travel arrangements to China.



*The highest standards of service


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*Guaranteed tour departures for a minimum of 2 passengers


All this service is contained in all destinations of China tour packages.


  1. 2013/03/26(火) 18:52:28|
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Unveil the secret of Lanxi Underground River in Zhejiang


If you have a China tour in Zhejiang, you should visit Lanxi undergour
Lanxi Underground River lies in Liudongshan scenic spot, six kilometers east of Lanxi City, SE China's Zhejiang Province. The travel route in the scenic spot

is about 2.5 kilometers, covering an area of 25,000 square meters.



The Underground River scenic spot consists of three sections, namely Yongxuedong (Gushing Snow Cave), Shijiansuidao (The Time Tunnel) and Yuludong (The

Jade Dew Cave). The river is more than one kilometer long; with crystal water running all the year round. Tourists may visit the place either by boat or on

foot. The temperature in the cave always keeps around 18 degrees Celsius, making it warm in winter and cool in summer.



For more information, you can contact with China tour

operator
.


  1. 2013/03/22(金) 15:35:45|
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Beautiful Dragon Pavilion Park in Henan

As the main scenic site of Kaifeng, Henan, Dragon Pavilion Park totals more than 80 hectares, half of which is water area. The park consists primarily of two lakes - Family Pan Lake and Family Yang Lake. For some strange reason, the Family Pan Lake is muddy while the latter is clear, which people have likened to the characters of two officials who served during the Northern Song (AD 960-1127) Dynasty: Pan Renmei, a treacherous official; and Yang Jiye, an honest one. It is one of tourist destinations for student tour to China.



Overview



Over a thousand years ago, the area of the present-day Dragon Pavilion Park in Kaifeng, Henan Province, was the Office of the Border General of the Xuanwu Army of the Tang (AD 618-907) Dynasty. During the Later Liang (AD 907-923) Dynasty of the Five Dynasties (AD 907-960) period, the site was reconstructed into the imperial palace and named Jiangchang Palace. During the Later Jin (AD 936-946), Later Han (AD 947-950) and Later Zhou (AD 951-960) Dynasties, the site was still the imperial palace, but under a different name: Daning Palace. During the Northern Song (AD 960-1127) Dynasty, a forbidden imperial palace was built here, and thus the area became inaccessible and declined in importance.



During the later years of the Jin (AD 1115-1234) Dynasty, the area became a regular, open-access imperial palace again. During the Ming (AD 1368-1644) Dynasty, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's fifth son, Zhu Di, constructed his own house, called Prince Zhou's Mansion, in the vicinity, increasing the area's prime importance. However, due to flooding caused by the nearby Yellow River, the imperial palace, which in the meantime had become a repository for memorial tablets dedicated to former emperors – to which government officials were required to make regular visits – was no longer suitable as a repository for the memorial tablets, due to its low-lying locality, and therefore a new repository, Wanshou ("Longevity") Palace, was constructed to house the memorial tablets. This explains the peculiar form of Longevity Palace, i.e., a pavilion atop a 13-meter high, flood-proof stone structure. It was at about this same time that Longevity Palace began to be called Dragon Pavilion.



The architectural highlights of Dragon Pavilion Park include Wu ("Noon") Gate, Yudai ("Jade Belt") Bridge, the Chao ("Wise, Benevolent Spirit") Houses on either side of Imperial Road, Dragon Pavilion, Chaomen Gate, the ruins of the Northern Song Dynasty Imperial Palace, Monument Pavilion, North Gate, and East Gate. Dragon Pavilion is an immense hall built atop an imposing, 13-meter high, flood-proof stone structure that has a moderately-sloped, 72-step stone staircase leading up to the entrance. In the center of the hall stands a large dragon carving. The hall's ceiling is decorated with yellow glazed tiles, reinforcing the link to China's imperial past, as yellow was the favorite color of emperors. On either side of Dragon Pavilion are placed eight Chao Rooms, which, together with the palatial courtyard, form an impressive whole. The pavilion also houses a Waxwork Hall that exhibits vivid waxwork likenesses of prominent personages.



Scenic Spots for your private China tour.



Dragon Pavilion


Dragon Pavilion is a typical representative of the cultural and historical heritages of Kaifeng City. It is the main part of the constructions in Dragon Pavilion Park. In fact, Dragon Pavilion is a grand hall built on a 13-meter (43 feet) blue brick terrace with 72 steps.



This hall, a wooden structure built facing south, is 26.7 meters (88 feet) in height, covering 19.10 meters (63 feet) from east to west and 11.90 meters (39 feet) from south to north. It holds many rare cultural relics, and dragons playing with pearls are carved on the ceilings and walls. Dragon Pavilion is also a favorable place to overlook all the sceneries of Kaifeng City. In a word, travelers can have a visual feast here.



Lake of Family Pan and Lake of Family Yang



In front of the Dragon Pavilion is a straight road. On the east side of the road is the Lake of Family Pan, and on the west side is the Lake of Family Yang. Can you believe that Yang Lake is always clean and smooth while Pan Lake is dirty? There is an interesting story about this. Both the Pan and Yang families are renowned from the Song Dynasty. The Yang Family is famous for their loyalty, so the lake of their family is clear, while the Lake of the Pan Family is feculent due to their treachery.



Waxwork Hall


To the west of Dragon Pavilion is the Waxwork Hall, which exhibits nine groups of vivid waxworks reflecting the important events under the rules of nine emperors of the Song Dynasty. All clothing of the historic characters, even the color and style of their hats and ribbons were carefully investigated and are historically accurate. What's more, the sculptors display superior skills. The skin, hair and expressions of the waxworks are so vivid that they look like real persons. This hall certainly deserves a China visit there.



Botanical Garden



The Botanical Garden (zhí wù yuán 植物园), which backs to Dragon Pavilion, is a masterpiece in such kind of gardens. Junipers, arborvitaes and other plants are tied into various vivid animal shapes, plane and train models, and models of many famous scenic spots in China, such as the Iron Pagoda in Kaifeng. Visitors will be impressed by the superb pruning techniques and wisdom of the gardeners. To its west is another garden featuring various kinds of bonsai.



Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Show



Beginning every October 18, Kaifeng celebrates the month-long Chrysanthemum festival (jú huā jiē 菊花节) at the Dragon Pavilion Park. At that time it becomes a carnival of flowers and the best place for visitors to spend the festive season. Though it can get little chilly, it is a beautiful time to soak in the atmosphere and join in the festivities and take at the gorgeous flowers.



Location: North Section of Zhongshan Road, Longting District, Kaifeng City


Tel: 0378-5660142


Transportation: Take Bus No. 1 at the railway station and get off at the Dragon Pavilion. Bus No. 20 can go to the Dragon Pavilion directly as well.


Opening Hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.


Admission Fee: CNY45


Tips: The famous Chrysanthemum Exhibition is held in Kaifeng every year from October to November. This exhibition has been held for twenty-three consecutive years. As the main venue for the exhibition, the Dragon Pavilion will become a sea of colorful chrysanthemums, and the city of Kaifeng looks its very best.



Come to visit here to add more color for your China tour packages.

  1. 2013/03/21(木) 17:45:57|
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The Guide of Norbulingka

Norbulingka, meaning 'Treasure Park' in Tibetan and must-see for Tibet tours, is situated in the western suburb of Lhasa City, at the bank of the Kyichu River, about one km (about 0.6 mile) southwest of Potala Palace. The garden covers an area of 360,000 square meters (about 430,000 square yards), with 374 rooms inside. It is the biggest man-made gardens in Tibet Autonomous Region.



Construction began in the 1740s. The area used to be wasteland with wild animals , weeds and scrub which the Seventh Dalai Lama liked and often visited, and, as a result, the Qing magistrate had a palace built. Years later, Kelsang Potrang was built by order of the Seventh Dalai Lama. Later it was used as the Summer Palace for successive Lamas, where they solved the political problems and held festive celebrations. After a series of expansions and renovations, the appearance was improved with potrangs, pavilions, gardens and woods. It has now been turned into a park open to the public.



Norbulingka consists of several palace complexes, such as the Kelsang Potrang, Tsokyil Potrang, Golden Linka and Takten Migyur Potrang. Each palace complex is divided into three sections - the palace section, the section in front of the palaces and the woods. Norbulingka is also listed on the best China travel packages.



Kelsang Potrang, named after the Seventh


Dalai Lama, is a three-storey palace with halls for worshipping Buddha, bedrooms, reading rooms and sanctuaries. Tsokyil Potrang, when the Eighth Dalai Lama was in power, is considered to be the most attractive in Norbulingka. Khamsum Zilnon built during that time is really a striking pavilion of the Han architecture style, where Dalai Lamas enjoyed Tibetan opera. In 1922, a wealthy benefactor had Golden Linka and Chensel Potrang constructed for the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Meanwhile, a lot of flowers, grass and trees were planted. In 1954, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama built Takten Migyur Potrang, which is also called the New Summer Palace, means 'Eternal Palace' in Tibetan. The architecture has combined the characteristics of temple and villa and is more magnificent than other palaces. The exquisite murals in the palace are well worth a mention and visit. The murals in the northern hall show the kind, calm Sakyamuni and his eight contemplative disciples. However, the murals in the southern hall vividly tell the developmentof Tibet in comic strips.



Norbulingka both reflects the ethnical, religious features of the Tibetan people and embodies the architecture style of inland China. It is of great cultural value and was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2001 as an extension of Potala Palace.



Admission Fee: CNY 60

Opening Hours: 09:00 to 12:00 in the morning, 15: 00 to 16:00 in the afternoon

Recommended Time for a Visit: Three hours

Bus Route: 2


If you want to know more, you can contact with local China travel agency.

  1. 2013/03/20(水) 19:03:41|
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How to keep healthy when you are on the road

How to keep healthy during your popular China tours.



It’s a common traveller’s tale – you run around in a mad rush organizing yourself to get away for that longed-for annual overseas holiday, desperately trying to pack three weeks worth of work into the 3 days before you depart – then you collapse on the plane with exhaustion and all of a sudden you're feeling under the weather.



Unfortunately, you can’t prevent every medical ailment, but you can take a few precautionary measures to reduce your chances of getting sick when you’re on the road.


Before you leave for your private China tour.

*If you’re travelling overseas, you’ll likely be exposed to nasty bugs and diseases that we don’t have here in Australia. Visit your local doctor before you leave to find out what vaccinations you might need for the countries you’re headed to. It’s important to do this at least six weeks before you travel to give your immune system enough time to respond to any vaccination you’ve had, and to allow for vaccines that need more than one injection.


*Pack any medications or supplies (including inhalers, allergy medication and insulin) that you and your family use frequently because they might be hard to find (or very expensive) at your destination. You should also pack a small first aid kit (with antiseptic, bandaids, etc), sunscreen and insect repellent.


*Take your vitamins – although there’s no conclusive evidence that vitamins will prevent colds, heaps of travelers swear by Vitamin C and Echinacea.

*Dosing up on these supplements well in advance of your trip may help to build up your immune system and reduce the severity or duration of symptoms.



On the plane



According to a study by the Journal of Environmental Health Research, you’re 100 times more likely to catch a cold on a plane than you would doing your normal day-to-day activities on the ground. So how do you avoid the dreaded plane cold when you leave for your China tour deals.



*Wash your hands – planes are a breeding ground for all types of germs (especially the bathroom), so make sure you wash your hands before eating. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer to make it easy.


*Stay hydrated – dehydration dries out your body’s natural defenses against gets?. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages (tea, coffee, soft drinks, etc) as much as possible and drink lots of water. Saline solutions (such as?) also can keep your eyes and nose moist, which acts as a barrier against germs.


*Get plenty of rest – the time you have on the plane is an important break from the manic rush you face getting to the airport and arriving at your destination so rest up and recharge – you’ll need all your energy for when you land.


*Fight jetlag – once you’re on the plane, adjust your sleep schedule so that you’re following the local time at your destination.



At your destination



*If you’re travelling in less developed countries, you’re more likely to run into water that contains nasty microorganisms which make you sick. Bottled water is the way to go - use only purified water for brushing your teeth and mixing infant formula, and avoid ice in drinks. If you’re staying in the same place for a little while, buying in bulk is a great idea.


*If you do use tap water, boil it first or purify with an iodine tablet. One TID traveller actually had a great suggestion – if you have a kettle in your hotel room, boil water just before you go to bed, leave it overnight to cool and then fill your water bottle with it in the morning.


*When it comes to food, remember that old rule: “If you can’t cook it, boil it or peel it, you should forget it.” Salads are probably the biggest risk here.


*Stay active – if your hotel has a gym, try to use it daily to keep your body healthy. Early morning walks and bike tours are great ways to not only explore your destination but also get some exercise in.


*Eat wise– this is especially the case for budget travellers who load upon carbohydrates to stretch their dollar. Protein is necessary to resist infection and rebuild muscles, so don’t skimp on it. Lay off fatty foods and opt for healthy options where you can.



What to do if you do get sick



If you’re unlucky enough to be struck down with an illness when you’re travelling, here’s what you should do:



*Keep up the fluids - drink plenty of water and, if necessary, electrolyte drinks help to rehydrate your body.


*Rest up so that your immune system has enough strength to fight off the infection.


*Sip drinks and eat small, light meals and snacks (the blander the better).


*Seek medical advice – if you need to see a doctor, make sure you keep all the receipts. You’ll need all this documentation if you’re making a claim.



The above-mentioned is very useful and helpful for not only for relatively safe journey but also adventurous travel like Silk Road tour.


  1. 2013/03/20(水) 18:18:37|
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Learn China customs in China Folk Cultural Village

China Folk Cultural Village is located adjacent to the Splendid China theme park, it displays the daily life and architecture of China's 56 ethnic groups. It was opened to the public in October 1991. China Folk Cultural Village covers an area of 200 thousand square meters, including 25 villages, houses and streets which were built according to the ratio of 1:1. It should not be missed for your educational China tours.



Distinctive Architecture


When coming to the Mosuo people's yard, you will find that the prototype of modern flats are originated from the Mosuo people's living structures. They pile the solid wooden stocks crossways into a square or rectangular house which is quakeproof. What really makes you interested is that this group is the world's only matriarchal community in existence today. The Dai ethnic group inhabits Yunnan Province, where there is an abundance of bamboo, because of this, all the girders, tiles and roofs in their homes are made entirely of bamboo, you may call it a “bamboo garden”. Actually, this kind of building is a two-storied attic in the air, dozens of wooden stocks support the whole attic and the floor is tiled with flakes of bamboo. The Mongol ethnic group is generally known as “a group on horseback” because of their nomadic living habits. Mongols live in the yurts which are not only cool in summer and warm in winter but also easy to set up or dismantle. The stone village of the Buyi ethnic group which is distributed mainly in Sichuan and Guizhou Provinces(these two are always contained in popular China tour package), is a wonderful stone world. The simple furniture such as tables, stoves and basins are made of stone as well as the stone-paved path. No matter which group you are visiting, people there will welcome your arrival warmly.



Brilliant Festivals


At here, you can also experience some unique festivals of the minorities, including the Water-splashing Festival of Dai ethnic group, Torch Festival of Yi ethnic group, Lusheng Festival of Miao ethnic group and Great Temple Fairs of Han nationality are celebrated in a magnificent manner. In the Water-Splashing Festival, water is splashed on each other, so come prepared to get thoroughly soaked. The Torch Festival is the most traditional event of the Yi ethnic group and held in the sixth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Tourists will see the Yi people in bright garments carrying torches as they walk around their houses and farmlands. The dragon-boat contest each spring, maintains the most important event in Dai people's lunar calendar. They hope to get rid of evil and misfortune from the last year and anticipate blessings in the coming year. Usually, chickens or ducks will be sacrificed to pay homage to ancestors. Maybe you will be invited to take part in the performance when the villagers happily sing and dance around their bonfires. If you are lucky to visit when the festival is on, your China tours will become more interesting.



In China Folk Culture Village, you can also enjoy Yunnan Stone forest, Hainan Coconut trees, Avalokitesvara, Huizhou Memorial Archway Group etc.. Apart from these, there are local snacks and handicrafts. You can choose various souvenirs from diverse designs and taste lots of snacks and delicious foods. In a word, you will have a better understanding of the Chinese culture after visiting China Folk Culture Village.



Address: Shen Nan Avenue, Nanshan District, Shenzhen

Admission fee: CNY 120 (including the ticket for Splendid China)

Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. (6:00 p.m. closing for Splendid China)

Transportation:

Bus: No. 26, 101, 105, 113, 204, 209, 21

Subway: Line 1 - Hua Qiao Cheng Station


If you want to know more info about this village, you can get some knowledge from China tour agents.


  1. 2013/03/19(火) 18:14:57|
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The Guide of Jiefangbei in Chongqing

Jiefangbei, which stands in the most prosperous downtown of Chongqing where Yangtze River cruises start is not only the symbol of civilization but also the evidence for history of half a century. It is referred to as Chongqing’s mother town, which is backed up by plentiful cultural gatherings, vibrant streets and enthusiastic people, representing a city in the eyes of the local people and serving as a pronoun for Chongqing in the eyes of peoples outside of Chongqing.



Liberation Monument (Jiefangbei)


Jiefangbei, or the People’ s Liberation Monument, formerly known as the Monument of Victory in the War of Resistance, is a 27.5 meter highs structure. It is one of the symbolic constructions in Chongqing City, southwest China. The image of it can be easily found in many types of Chinese merchandise.



The stele was originally of wooden structure, called as "The Soul Castle" and opened to the public in March 12, 1940, which was the date commemorating the death of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (sūn zhōng shān 孙中山), the founding father of modern China. The stele was then rebuilt after the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in 1945, christened as "The War Victory Stele". In 1950, General Liu Bocheng(1892 - 1986) inscribed "Chongqing People's Liberation Stele". This drab clock tower is for the celebration of the Communists’ liberation of the city from seventy years of colonial and right-wing occupation. Historically speaking, the reality is that we Chongqing's development and changes of a witness, also the most prosperous business in one place, on behalf of Chongqing. There is a saying that there will be no less than Jiefangbei to Chongqing.




"First Street West "



10 years ago December 27, the first commercial pedestrian street in China built, Jiefangbei Street opened. In the past 10 years, in the pedestrian street, driven by rapid economic development of Jiefangbei shopping, taken on business, trade dual function, it is the very core of Chongqing CBD area, become a well-deserved "First Street West".


Today, it is the center of the city marked as Chongqing’s commercial heart, isolated by broad, paved pedestrian square and glassy offices. The shopping square, completed at the end of 1997, is 400 meters from east to west, and 350 meters from north to south, covering an area of 24,400 square meters.



Bayi Street


As the catering business is thriving in Chongqing, many food streets are forming gradually and naturally. The area around Jiefangbei, Bayi Street teems with street vendors and restaurants. Many local snacks are worth tasting, but only if you are adventurous with hot and spicy experiences of China tours! The street is full of small stalls and restaurants offering dishes from the entire country. Traditional hotpot, Wangyazi , Hot and Sour Rice Noodles, and the Vegetarian restaurant at the Nengren Temple are great places to try.



Beauty



One of Chongqing’s well-known name cards is beauty. It’s famous that Chongqing produces beauties. There is a popular saying that only when you come to Chongqing, you understand you marry too early. Though it may be a joke, you can see the effect of Chongqing girls in all over the country. Chongqing girls enjoy catching fanshion, so as the most prosperous area in Chongqing, Jiefangbei is the best place for you to experience the beauty of Chongqing. Just Stand under the People’ s Liberation Monument, you will have too much to observe.



Address : Centre of Chongqing, Chongqing Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, The Yuzhong peninsular.

Transportation : Bus 401, 402, 405, 413, 418, 481, 301, 303, 251, 215, 103, 104, 105, 111, 112, 122.

Admission : Free.

Opening hour : Anytime.


For your free China vacation deals in Chongqing, Jiefangbei should be listed on your plan sheet.

  1. 2013/03/18(月) 18:26:36|
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What is Qingming and its story


For those tourists who visit China for learning more about Chinese culture, Qingming should be known if you happen to come to China during Qingming.



Tomb Sweeping Day, also called "Cold Food Day", is the most important day for people to offer sacrifice to ancestors. It started from the Zhou Dynasty, with a history of over 2500 years. Qingming is one of the 24 solar terms in China, indicating the coming of late spring, thus the best plowing and growing time, while "Cold Food Day" is a day when folks sweep the ancestors' tombs and eat cold food. Qingming was adjacent to Cold Food Day, so later on they gradually became one festival, and thus "Cold Food" became another name for Qingming, and dusting the tomb and eating cold food turned into the customs of Qing Ming. Qing Ming has evolved into a culture-rich and meaning-deep remembrance day.



Since people with weak constitutions might get hurt by eating cold raw food on Qingming, when the weather is still cold, various activities were invented for body-building, like stepping-the-green outgoing, swing, Chinese football, polo, willow-planting, tug-of-war, and rooster-fighting, etc.
Since the ancient times, there have been a lot of works of art and poems about Qingming, manifesting the emphasis and passing-on of the Chinese people on Qingming. Of these, Tomb Sweeping Day by Du Mu in the Tang Dynasty is a poem of household fame.



This is a story about the Cold Food Festival. It happened in the Jin State 2000 years ago during the Spring and Autumn Period.



Chong Er was the prince of Jin. During the internal conflict of the court, Chong Er was set up by some treacherous officials, and his father was made to believe that Chong Er was going to rebel. The King flew into a rage and commanded to kill Chong Er. So Chong Er had to run away from the country.



When he was on his way to escape, Chong Er and his subordinates got lost in the mountain. For several days, they didn't get enough food, and Chong Er was almost starved to death.



To save Chong Er, one of his subjects named Jie Zitui secretly cut a piece of flesh from his own thigh and roasted it to feed Chong Er.



When Chong Er later found out, he was moved to tears.



Years later, Chong Er became the King of the Jin Kingdom. He wanted to thank Jie and asked him to be his minister, but Jie refused and hid in the mountain. To force him to go out of the mountain, Chong Er asked his men to set a fire to the mountain. Unfortunately, Jie Zitui did not come down the mountain and was burnt to death instead. Filled with sorrow and regret, Chong Er ordered that no one should make fire to cook and only cold food can be eaten on that day every year.



And from that day on, people began to offer sacrifice to the ancestors and martyrs. The Cold Food Festival was gradually evolved into the "Qingming Festival". The Chinese will go to dust the tombs of ancestors as a means of commemorating the deceased. Therefore, the Qingming Festival is also called "Tomb Sweeping Day".



Chinese usually sweep tombs and fly kites on this day. Because Jie Zitui died at the foot of a willow, the Chinese also cut sticks of willow and hang them over their gates.



If you want to learn more about Qingming, you can get more from China tour agents.

  1. 2013/03/15(金) 19:06:15|
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Walking Marriage of Mosuo People

The customs of wedding marriage are very different from minority nationalities. If you travel to China in Luogu Lake, Yunnan Province, you should know something about special walking marriage of Mosuo People.



The walking marriage widely adopted by the Mosuo people of China is a unique marriage custom that is deeply related to its social and cultural traditions of the matrilineal family system. In a walking marriage, the couples do not marry to each other and both stay in their own matrilineal family for their whole life. The marriage and propagation of offspring is realized through "walking" by male. The women open their doors to their lovers every evening, and the men walk home to work in their mother's household every morning. Neither of them is a member of each other's family. The woman and man in this relationship call each other A-xia, which means lovers in the sense of husband and wife.



An ancient ceremony called "Cang Ba La" is held for the walking marriage of Mosuo people, which means worshiping the Kitchen God Bodhisattva and ancestors. The ceremony is held in the bride's house, often at midnight, without feasting, receiving gifts or attendance of friends. The bridegroom's family should invite a voucher to bring the proposing man to the woman's home. Then the man should introduce himself to the woman's mother and uncles and obtain acknowledgement. He needs to send reasonable gifts to the family, with one for each elder and junior. After that, the man should bow down to the Kitchen God, ancestors and elders of the family and receive the blessings from the elders and sisters. The A-xia should dress up all over according to Mosuo customs, while the man will receive the characteristic colorful Mosuo linen belt meticulously knitted by the woman. When the voucher finishes clarification of certain issues to A-xia's mother and uncles, the relationship between the man and woman will be open.



The Mosuo people in a walking marriage maintain their marriage only by their affection without involving in material or interest factors. Today, over 90% of Mosuo people still perform the walking marriage.



Lugu Lake is the main place of Mosuo people. If you are interested in walking marriage, you can partake private China tour to learn more.


  1. 2013/03/15(金) 18:26:44|
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The Disapearing History -- Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake (Lúgū Hú 泸沽湖) is located at the border of Sichuan and Yunnan Province, the two hot destination of China travel packages. It is 202km north of Lijiang and is also under the control of both provinces. The lake is a high mountain plateau lake. 2685 meters above sea level and has an area of 48.5 square km. The deepest end of the lake is about 93.5 meters. The beauty of the lake with its surrounding breath-taking scenery makes this lake an excellent tourist resort. It is surrounded by high and sublime mountains. Since the lake is rather deep, a definite regulating influence is exerted on the temperature of the lakeshores. Therefore the surrounding mountains abound in forest resources that afford an exquisite beauty, much fresh air and charming scenery. At present it is one of the places in China that is least damaged by human activity and best preserved in its natural features.



The Mosuo people, a minority group considered to be a sub clan of Naxi people, are the main inhabitants of the area. They still hold on to their traditional matriarchal society where the inheritance is passing on through the female lineage. Hence this area is also known as "The Last Girls Empire".



Customs


The Mosuo people live in log cabins, in the middle of which there is a kitchen range each where fire keeps burning forever. They put food beside the kitchens for worshiping their ancestors.



When boys and girls aged thirteen years old, a ceremony shall be held to celebrate their growing-up. In the ceremony, standing on pork under a column (the upper end being the column of women and the lower end that of men), boys put on leather boots and wear red gimp lace on the waist; girls put on top-knots from ancestors and white pleated skirts. Afterwards, both sides can begin social contacts. Young men are allowed to pursue girls publicly. He can cohabit with a girl on condition that girl approves. In the morning, lots of men come and go. They all come out of their lovers' house. The relation is not steady when they are young. Sons and daughters all live with their mothers and their fathers have no duty to take care of them. When men become old, their nephews support them. Here you can learn more customs about enthnic groups for your educational China tours.



Marriage free - "Axiao"(阿肖) Lovers


Mosuo People are marriage-free. When the Mosuo girls reached 15 years of age, the boys reached 17, they are allowed to start their love affairs. The lovers found each other freely. Mosuo people are good in singing and dancing. The young people dance together and sing in Musou language to express their love. The Musou girl has a special "Axiao house to meet her lover. Her lover visits her during the whole night and leave in the morning.
If the girl wishes to stop the love affair, she closed the door of her "Axiao" House to the man. Then the man can’t come again. The love affair is finished. The lovers have no economic or any legal relationship. It is based on mutual love affection only. The wiliness of the females is much respected.



Single Mothers



The children will grow up with their mother and uncles. They inherit their surnames from their mother. They even don't know who their father is.
Woman is the head of the family. Women are in charge of most works in the society. These "single mothers" are happy. The uncles play the male part in the family and looking after the boys. Such blood connection may be more stable than the love-based marriage & duty. What a unique but wise arrangement.



Religion and Society



The relationships between the members of the Mosuo large families are very nice. They always look after each other, care and pay respect & priority to the old people, the illness and disabled people.



The Mosuo people's religion is Nature. The Gamu Mountain is their Goddess Mountain. In August "Turn-Mountain Festival", the Mosuo people will come together, climbing the Gamu Mountain to pay their respects.



After dying Mosuo people usually perform cremate. They believe that human has the soul, it has to be freed from the dead body and becoming the "Skirt Soul".They believe that a child hasn’t had soul yet, hence if a child die, the body has to be buried.



If you want to know more about Lugu Lake, you can get more from China travel agents.


  1. 2013/03/14(木) 19:07:02|
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Introduction of Site of Zunyi Conference

If you want to have a student tour to China, the Site of Zunyi Conference should not be missed.



Site of Zunyi Conference is located at Hongqi Road in the old town of Zunyi City, Guizhou Province. It is a two-storied wood-and-brick building, with grey tiles put on the roof. The building was originally the private house of Bai Huizhang, the division commander of Qian Army. It is 25.75 meters long, 16.95 meters wide and 12 meters high, covering an area of 528 square meters. In the 1930s, this building was the grandest architecture within Zunyi City.



On the two sides of the door, there were eight shops which belonged to Bai Huizhang. In the center of the eight shops, there hangs a black stele, on which there are the “遵义会议会址" written by Mao Zedong . Enter the door and going through the hall, there is a huge brick archway, on the top of which there are four Chinese characters, which are inlaid by pieces of decorative porcelain. Then there is the courtyard, in the south of which there is a door leading to the courtyard. Although it is not a very popular attraction in China, the journey there is very meaningful and significant for your China tours.



In early January of 1935, the First Army of the Red Army arrived in Zunyi after the Long March. From January 15 to 17, the Central Government held the Extended Conference of the Political Bureau, also called Zunyi Conference, here. It put right the Left opportunism in the Fifth Anti Encirclement Campaign and at the beginning of the Long March. It confirmed the military principles of Mao Zedong, and elected him a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau. It replaced the top commanding right of Bo Gu and Li De with the Central Commanding Group consisting of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Wang Jiaxiang. Zunyi Conference is an important event in the history of the Communist Party of China. It saved the party, the Red Army and the revolution. It is a vital turning point in the history.



The meeting room of Zunyi Conference is on the second floor, which was originally the small sitting room of the house-owner. It is rectangular and covers an area of 36 square meters. In the center of the ceiling, there is a light. On the east wall, there is a clock and two cabinets. On the west wall, there are the windows. In the center of the room there exhibits a rectangular brown table surrounded by a circle of foldable chairs.



Site of Zunyi Conference

Location: No. 80, Hongqi Road, Honghuagang District, Zunyi City

Admission fee: CNY 40

Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Transportation: you can take bus No. 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 18, 20 and get off at Hongqilu Stop


As an option, you can choose to visit Site of Zunyi Conference for your China tour deals.


  1. 2013/03/14(木) 18:33:20|
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Chinese people have haircut for good luck today

There are many traditional festival in China. If you are travelling in China now, you may find that many Chinese choose haircut today.



In Chinese lunar calendar, today (March 13, 2013) is the second day of the second month, which is called Longtaitou Festival, meaning "the dragon raises its head".



Many Chinese people choose to have hair cut today not only for the sake of good luck, but also because the custom “no shaving in lunar January” followed in some areas in China.



Longtaitou is celebrated in various ways, including eating Chinese pancakes, dumplings, and noodles.



In ancient agrarian culture, the long (Chinese dragon) was believed to in charge of rain. Longtaitou Festival is celebrated as an important worshipping ritual to wish for a good harvest in the coming months.



Longtaitou Festival is around the time of Jingzhe, one of the 24 solar terms when the hibernating insects begin to wake up at the beginning of early spring, which is often accompanied by the arrival of the first rains. The weather is getting warm, meanwhile, farmers start their spring ploughing today.



If you want to know more about this festival, you can contact with China tour agents.

  1. 2013/03/13(水) 18:47:45|
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Terracotta Warriors cry out for clean air II

The Otago Museum in New Zealand announced a plan to use air curtain technology to resolve draughty conditions in the museum, Otago Daily Times reported in September. However, the air curtain only worked as an alternative solution to prevent cold air entering and causing visitor discomfort.



The reason behind the less-frequent use of air curtains to directly protect relics is, on the one hand, that air pollution in other countries is not so severe, and on the other hand there are fewer historic pit sites outside China that are especially suited for air curtains, Gu Zhaolin said.



Gu, as a prominent environmental expert, did not pay any attention to historic preservation projects before he visited the Han Yang Ling Mausoleum in 2006.



The Han Yang Ling Mausoleum (a must-see for Silk Road tour) is the largest underground archaeology museum in China. Most relics are kept in the primitive environment in the pit, separated from visitors by windows.



"But windows cannot preserve the environment completely, and they are much more expensive," Gu said.



As a result, Gu came up with the idea of air curtains, an already mature technology.



"The underground relics need a different environment than tourists, just like food in a freezer needs a lower temperature than the consumers. So I was inspired by the air curtain system in the freezers - why can't we separate the environment using an air curtain, so the control of the environment is possible without influencing people viewing the site," Gu said.



Different from the air curtain in freezers, the air curtain in the museum not only adjusts the internal and external temperatures, it also keeps pollutants outside.



As the pit holding the Terracotta Warriors is lower than the viewing gallery, Gu plans to install the air curtain system between the pit and the gallery so that clean air can be delivered into the pit under the air curtain without being mixed with the air above the tourist area.



"Most researchers in the museums have backgrounds like chemistry and archaeology, and few have a knowledge of physics. So interdisciplinary studies bring some fresh ideas to solve old environmental problems," Gu said.



Gu said that his team, which includes physicists, chemists and relic experts, has finished the system design for an air-curtain system for the Terracotta Warriors.



The air curtain system will first be tested in a model pit before being used in the heritage site, he said.



Gu said there are still some difficulties to overcome in existing museums like the Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum.



Besides the Terracotta Warriors, the pit itself is a relic too, because it shows evidence of a fire, which according to legend was started by Xiang Yu, the king of Chu, after he beat Qin's army. "So it offers tough challenges for scientists to install an air curtain that both covers the whole area and keeps the completeness of the tunnels," Gu said.



Gu added that reforming the existing museum facilitates is not his first goal.



"The best application of an air curtain is to add it into the design of a new museum, so that the air curtain becomes a part of the whole, which both protects the relics and ensures a comfortable exhibiting environment," he said. If you need more about China vacation deals, you should carefully read the above-mentioned info.



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http://www.yelp.com/biz/china-tour-burlingame-2


  1. 2013/03/04(月) 18:51:43|
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Terracotta Warriors cry out for clean air I

Even the Terracotta Warriors, a must-see attraction included in China travel packages , are feeling the effects of China's choking air pollution.



Chinese scientists have found that the indoor environment where the Terracotta Warriors are housed could cause them to deteriorate, prompting some scientists to raise the idea of using air curtain technology to help control the environment in the pits.



In early February, Gu Zhaolin, a professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University, and his team published a paper in Environmental Science and Technology, a prominent journal under the American Chemical Society, which showed the results of a research project sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop a system to maintain a comfortable environment for the Terracotta Warriors.



An air curtain looks similar to household air conditioners. The machines eject a powerful airflow, which forms a sheer air layer that separates the environment on the two sides.



"When you are shopping in the supermarket, you might have seen those freezers without a cover. The reason that the temperature in the freezers is lower than the outside is that they have the air curtain, which you cannot see but does exist, to prevent the exchange of air and heat," Gu said.



"The air curtain is just like other barriers, for example a glass wall. It can prevent more than 90 percent of the pollutants in the air from entering the pits," he said.



Installing an air curtain inside the pits could protect the Terracotta Warriors and other pottery relics from further damage, Gu said.



Major environmental factors affecting the relics include temperature, humidity, air pollutants, lighting, dust and mold.



Ma Tao, deputy director of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, said that the pollutants from visitors and atmospheric pollution could penetrate the enclosed hall and cause the relics to deteriorate. Ma is a co-author of the paper published in Environmental Science and Technology.



"For example, automobile exhaust includes pollutants such as hydrocarbon compounds, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, and when it penetrates the Terracotta Warriors, it decomposes the pigments on the surface, then it deposits and continues to erode the pottery," Ma said.



Earlier studies on the Terracotta Warriors on display show that humidity and dust are the most obvious factors affecting the ancient relics, Ma said.



Most of the more than 1,500 Terracotta Warriors that have been excavated have lost their color, and being exposed to the air will worsen the deterioration, he said.



The Emperor Qin Shihuang's Mausoleum Museum has been monitoring the environment in the pits since the 1980s, and has published successive measures for environmental control, including improving museum greening, adapting windows for proper lighting and banning vehicles from its gardens.



A team of scientists is also studying the influence of particulate matter on the Terracotta Warriors.



Zhou Tie, chief engineer of the Emperor Qin's Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, said environmental control at the museum must be further strengthened.



"Air curtain technology, which is a kind of modern science and technology, has found a good application in other fields. Applying this technology in the museum is a good idea, which can effectively isolate the outside contaminants from the heritage items inside," Zhou said.

However, Zhou said, as there is no successful precedent applying the system to a site museum - which involves water, earth and air in multiple fields with many environmental factors - the technology still needs long-term experimentation.



Air curtains have been used in museums outside China to fix the indoor environment, instead of preserving relics.



For more info, you can contact with China tour agents.



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  1. 2013/03/04(月) 18:44:29|
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When is Tibetan New Year

Tourists who are interested in Tibet tour may want to have experience Tibetan New year. But it usually falls on February when Tibet is closed to foreign tourist.



Dates: The new year begins on February 22 and will be celebrated over a period of 2 weeks.



The Tibetan New year, also known as Losar, is the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar. It is celebrated over a period of 2 weeks, generally during the months of December and January (see Tibetan New Year dates). Take a China Highlights Tibet Tour to experience the local pageantry of Tibet.



Losar festival is celebrated by Tibetan people. It is marked with ancient ceremonies that represents the struggle between good and evil, by chanting, and by passing fire torches through the crowds. A certain amount of levity is provided by events such as the dance of the deer and the amusing battles between the King and his various ministers. Losar Festival is characterized especially by dancing, music, and a general spirit of merrymaking.



During the last two days of the old year, which is called Gutor, people in Tibet begin to prepare for the New Year. The first day of Gutor is spent doing the house cleaning. The kitchen especially must be cleaned because it is where the family's food is prepared, and hence is the most important part of the house. The chimney is also swept free of dirt. Special dishes will be cooked. One such dish is a soup served with small dumplings. The soup is made from meat, wheat, rice, sweet potatoes, cheese, peas, green peppers, vermicelli and radishes. The fillings for dumplings include scraps of wood, paper or pebbles.



On the second day of Gutar, religious ceremonies are held. People go to visit the local monastery to worship and give gifts to the monks. Tibetans also set off firecrackers to get rid of evil spirits which is lurking around.



On New Year's Day, Tibetans get up early, and put on new clothes after having taken a bath. They then worship the gods by placing offerings in the front of their household shrines. The offerings usually consist of animals and demons made from a kind of dough called torma. In addition, this day is for family members to exchange gifts. Families also have a reunion dinner, which usually consists of a kind of cake called Kapse and an alcoholic drink called chang, which is drunk to keep warm. But don't pitty that you can not experience Tibetan New Year for your educational China tours because you can visit Tibetan area in Yunnan and Sichuan.



The Story of Losar

The word of Losar is a Tibetan word which means New Year. The word is composed of two characters: LO and Sar. Lo means Year and Sar means New.



The celebration of Losar can be traced back to Tibetan pre-Buddhist period. At that time, Tibetans were followers of the Bon religion, and held a spiritual ceremony every winter. During the ceremonies, people burnt a large quantity of incense to appease the local spirits, deities and protectors. Later, this religious festival developed into an annual Buddhist festival, solar, in the reign of Pude Gungyal, the ninth King of Tibet.



The festival is also believed to have begun when an old woman called Belma introduced the measurement of time to Tibet based on the moon's phases. This festival was held in autumn, when the apricot trees blossomed. It may have been the first celebration of the traditional farmers' festival. It was during this period that the arts of cultivation of soil were first introduced to Tibet. Religious ceremonies started to celebrate these new capabilities, and these celebrations are believed to lead to the Losar festival.



Practice



The Tibetan calendar consists of 12 lunar months, and Losar begins on the first day of the Tibetan month. The celebrations for the Losar begin on the 29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar in Tibetan monasteries. That is the day before the Losar's Eve. On that day, monasteries hold a special kind of ritual in preparation for the Losar celebrations. In addition, a kind of special noodle called guthuk, which is made of nine different ingredients including dried cheese and various grains, is made.



Also, people place various ingredients such as chilies, salt, wool, rice and coal in dough balls, which are then handed out. The ingredients that one finds hidden in one's dough ball are supposed to be a lighthearted comment on one's character. For example, if a person finds chilie in his dough, that means he is talkative. If white-colored ingredients such as salt or rice are hided in the dough, it is believed as a good sign. If someone finds coal in his dough, it has the same meaning as finding coal in the Christmas stocking; it means that one have a "black heart".



The last day of the year is, as earlier indicated, a time to clean and prepare for the approaching New Year. Houses are thoroughly cleared, after which people get dressed, and proceed to have reunion feast, which is similar in spirit to the Han Chinese New Year feast. Read more on Chinese New Year food.



Traditionally, on the first day of the New Year, the housewife will get up very early. After cooking a pot of barley wine for the family, she will sit beside the window awaiting the sunrise. As the first ray of sunshine of the New Year touches the nearby earth, the housewife takes a bucket and heads for a nearby river, or well, to fetch the year's first bucket of water, which is seen as the most sacred, clearest water of the coming year. The family that fetches the first bucket of water from the river/the well is believed to be blessed with good luck for the coming year?



In Ta'er Monastery contained in China travel packages, on the first day, Lamas will hold religious celebrations, which include worshiping the God, chanting Buddhist, scriptures and having a new year banquet.



On the second day, people visit friends and relatives. At the night, Tibetans whirl burning torches in the homes to drive away evil spirits.



The third day of the Losar is for visiting local monasteries, where Tibetans make offerings.



On the third day, Tibetans in Lhasa especially visit the local monasteries, where they make offerings. Tibetan New Year usually last 15 days.



  1. 2013/03/01(金) 18:47:05|
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Yangzhou, of gardens and gourmets

Yangzhou is acclaimed for its manicured scenery but deserves equal recognition for its cuisine and contained in private China tours.



Jiangsu province's Yangzhou is best known for its lakes and gardens. But this city of beautifully arranged swathes of water and flora has also sired an idyllic cuisine that makes it a foodie's paradise.




Yangzhou's food is healthy and light but tasty. It's known for its elaborate preparation and abundance of seafood.



A prime specimen of Yangzhou's fare is the shizitou - a pork meatball known as a "lion's head" because of its appearance.



Yangzhou's residents start their days with "morning tea" - that is, local breakfast staples.



One of the most popular places for the first meal of the day is Ye Chun. It serves typical fare - boiled bean curd slices in soy sauce, marinated tender pork slices, salted mustard leaf with bamboo shoots and marinated vegetables.



I dug into breakfast with dim sum master Chen Ende, whose students serve as Ye Chun's head chefs.



I was surprised to discover the "plain noodles" - yangchunmian - are anything but They come without any other ingredients aside from seasonings - shrimp roe soy sauce, sesame oil, pork fat, white pepper, shallots and boiled water.



But yangchunmian offers just one case study of how, when it comes to noodles, Yangzhou's chefs make simple super.



I was astonished to discover the low-end Jiangjiaqiao Dumpling and Noodle Restaurant's stir-fried noodles, which cost a paltry 3.5 yuan (56 US cents), were among the most delicious I've ever tasted. And if you plan to join China tour packages to Yangzhou, you can conider to eat there.



After sunset, we head to Yangzhou's ancient Grand Canal, which is illuminated by a dazzling array of lights. The 1,700 km waterway was built about 2,400 years ago as one of the country's major trade routes, stretching from Hangzhou, capital of today's Zhejiang province, to Beijing.



Then we turn down Dongguan Street - a 1 km stretch of trendy shops, bars and restaurants in traditional buildings. It's a great place to swill sweet rice wine and nibble baked sesame cakes with turnip slices.



Many high-end eateries here are converted from old manors, such as Jienan Shuwu, which occupies a salt dealer's former residence, and Hu Zhonghan Hall, the ancient abode of a powerful bank owner.



We take the local gourmands' advice and head to another famous traditional eatery, Fuchun Chashe. Next, I hit up Luyang Hotel, which was a hub for ancient scholars and celebrities. From there, I stroll to Xiao Pan Gu - the former residence of Zhou Fu, a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) official that has been reincarnated as a luxurious hotel and club.



Yangzhou enjoyed prosperity during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the Republic of China (1912-49).



At its peak, it had more than 200 houses belonging to wealthy businesspeople - many of them salt dealers and court officials. About 30 of these luxurious dwellings still stand, Yangzhou tourism bureau deputy director Wang Minghong says.



Many ancient gardens have also survived the test of time, and many house top-end restaurants, clubs and hotels.



The grounds are typically laden with wooden structures, yards, ponds and rockeries arranged in designs that reflect Chinese reverence for harmony between humans and nature.



This is best seen in He Yuan. While its beautifully manicured terrain lures visitors, few realize its best-kept secret - an eatery proffering traditional Yangzhou cuisine tucked in a corner of the grounds.



If you plan gourmet China tours, Yangzhou should be included.


  1. 2013/03/01(金) 18:10:10|
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