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China On A Shoestring

China is not only the largest country in the world with 20% of the world’s people, it is also the world’s oldest continuing culture. Its more popular tourist attractions include the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, and the Forbidden City in or near Beijing, and the ancient cities of Xi’an, Nanjing, and Kaifeng. Natural attractions include the Yellow River, the Long River, the Himalayas, and the unique natural beauty of Guilin. A China tour can be quite affordable if you use a discount tour company.

China tour companies and travel agencies offer group and individual tours. Deep discounts are often available for hotels, rent-a-car, air tickets, and more – discounts can reach 50-70% of normal price. Even during the peak tourist season, hotel rates offered by many China tour operators can be quite affordable for Westerners used to the sky-high costs charged in Europe. Some of the most popular China-related travel agencies include China Comfort Travel, China International Travel Service, and several companies on the web.

Because of China’s large size (about the size of the United States), individual travel over a short time can be a logistical nightmare. Accordingly, China tour companies offer comprehensive tour packages that will allow you to see a lot of China as possible during a short tour. The China Tour Service offers several theme-oriented tours including a Tibetan adventure tour, a Silk Road tour, and a cruise on the Yangtze River Cruise. China Custom Tours offers a few special interest tours to remote or unique locations rarely seem by most tourists. This is only the tip of the iceberg. If you so desire, you can take a martial arts tour of China tour or go trekking in the Himalayas.

Foreigners visiting China should to register with their embassy in Beijing in case of loss of passport, accident, kidnap by a Yeti, or other unexpected difficulties.

About the Author - The Discount World Travel blog offers comprehensive information about discount travel to various international destinations.

There's No One Right Way To Travel To China

A traveler might wonder where to begin in a foreign country that is slightly smaller than the size of the United States with over 5,000 years of recorded history. The wonderful advantage to traveling China is that there is no right or wrong place to start. China's fascinating past is written all over its 23 provinces,* 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities. The Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau are also part of China's government under a "one country, two systems" law.

Greater Than the Great Wall: Travel to China's Many Wonders

China is a mecca for human-made and natural wonders. The southern Tibetan border is home to the world's tallest peak, Mt. Everest. Take in the inspiring Himalayan view then head north and travel through the majestic Three Gorges, a 120-mile stretch of plummeting cliffs along the Yangtze River. Stand in the middle of the largest plaza in the world, Tiananmen Square, at the heart of the capital city, Beijing. While in Beijing, visit the Imperial Palace and find out why it is known as the Forbidden City. Then, venture south to discover a true artistic Qin Dynasty treasure in Xian, where over six thousand Terracotta Warriors are arranged in battle formation on 14,000 square meters of land.

Hong Kong and Macau: Another Way to Experience China

These two regions are governed with a significant degree of political and commercial autonomy and are China's most prominent examples of the fusion of cultures brought about by colonialism. While travel to these provinces provides a very different experience from the rest of China, they are by no means lacking in worldly wonders or the authentic Chinese lifestyle.

Hong Kong came under British rule in 1841 after centuries of British involvement in the silk and tea trade. The expansion and modernization of this global port city attracted commercial and cultural influences from all corners of the world. China regained sovereignty over the British colony in 1997 but agreed to leave the democratic government structure intact. What has resulted is an unparalleled bastion of progressive ideas, pioneering technology and architectural phenomena like the world's three longest bridges.

Thirty-five miles west of Hong Kong across the Pear River delta, the enclave of Macau is perched on a peninsula surrounded by small islands. Portugal had established sovereignty over Macau in 1887 after a history of heavy trade and navigation in the region. The Portuguese finally ceded all authority back to China in 1999. The sophisticated blend of Chinese and Portuguese art, architecture and cuisine define Macau's truly enchanting character. In Macau it is commonplace to enjoy an espresso and pastry for lunch and Dim Sum for dinner, accompanied by a fine Portuguese wine.

Be sure to set aside ample time to explore Hong Kong and Macau as part of your itinerary to travel China!

* It should be noted that China considers Taiwan to be its 23rd province; however Taiwan essentially functions as an independent nation and is not easily accessible from mainland China.

About the Author - Discount Airfare to China - For more information on traveling to China and other areas in Asia visit www.cfares.com

Beijing Major Tourist Attractions

Beijing is the capital of china and is one of the most visited cities in Asia. It offers tourists an almost limitless number of places to see and things to do. It is a very busy metropolis that mixes modern living with ancient history unlike any other city in the world.

The cities main attraction is the “Forbidden City”. It contains 800 buildings and was closed to the public for a very long time. Today it is one of the best preserved sections of ancient china. This was the imperial palace and it was constructed in 1406. It took 200,000 workers 14 years to complete and its buildings contain 8700 rooms and halls.

The second most popular site in Beijing is the Tiananmen Square. In contrast to the Forbidden City, it was built in the 20th century under the Mao dynasty. It is a large open area flanked by the Museum of Chinese history, the great hall of the people, and Mao’s mausoleum. This particular place became infamous when a young demonstrator was killed during a pro-democracy demonstration.

Another fascinating place to visit in Beijing is the national Museum of China. This museum was founded in 1926 and it has a collection of some 300,000 historical artifacts of witch about 5,500 are on display at any one time. The displays include painted pottery, bronze ware, and ceramics. Located in the same area as this museum, is the Museum of the Chinese Revolution which focuses on the history of the communist party in china.

One more site of great interest in the Sun Yatsen Park. It was originally the site of the temple and was named after Sun Yatsen, a leader of the 1911 revolution. The park includes a number of cypress trees, and a great marble arch.

Beijing has many things to see and do for tourists wishing to explore the city. The above list is just a small sampling of some of the places to see while in the Beijing area. For a more detailed list please consult your local travel agent.

About the Author - Criss manages Travel Asia and Angkor Wat.Criss is also the author of Asia Travel Guide.

Beijing's Lesser Known Tourist Attractions

When you visit Beijing as a tourist, the capital city of China, you will inevitably be taken sightseeing by your tour guides to view monumental and historical attractions like The Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City and The Ming Tombs amongst many others.

However, more and more of the residents of Beijing are saying that there are many less well known tourist attractions that you must visit and these lesser known places, on their own accord also have many charms and delights for tourists.

For example, Cui Jian, a famous Chinese rock star who performed on a Rolling Stones act in Shanghai in 2006 was known to have said, "I am not at all interested in all that historical kingdom culture, stuff that shows this was once the greatest kingdom or something like that".

Cui recommends that tourists when visiting Beijing should also soak up the atmosphere in the 798 art district in Beijing's eastern Dashanzi instead. This1950s period factory zone has been transformed into a bohemian community of art galleries, cafes and bistros, outdoor sculptures, colorful graffiti painted on factory walls among many other interesting features.

Another Beijing resident, Wu Jianxin, who is an owner of a private wine club, grew up near Houhai, which was once a quiet lakeside village, which is now being overrun by noisy bars and boat rentals for tourists. Wu likes to take leisurely strolls in Baiyun Guan or White Cloud Temple.

This Taoist temple ground has a certain mystical charm about it and without the tourist crush like those in the major attractions,is a wonderful place to just enjoy a leisurely paced sightseeing. A sight to behold when you are in the 800 year old Baiyun Guan are regular traditional ceremonies and rites being performed by Taoist monks. This ancient temple is also the headquarters of the Chinese Taoist Association.

Li Jing, who is a designer by profession, prefers to take his walks in the Nanluoguxiang area. This area has well preserved stretch of backstreets although situated in downtown Beijing, is almost unknown to many tourists. These backstreets are home to many local bars, hostels and boutiques. The area exudes the ambience of old Beijing when contrasted against the city's modern superstructures.

For tourists who like to bring home unconventional souvenirs should visit Jindian Consignment Shop. Here, you will not find the usual replica dragons or jade chopsticks which you can find in souvenir shops all over Beijing. Instead, you will discover unusual and remarkably quaint souvenirs to bring home, such as old bus passes, Chinese antique clocks and flying pigeon bicycles (whatever that is).

Having visited Beijing on a number of occasions myself, I have to disagree with the locals who only recommend the less well known tourist attractions. My recommendation is to see everything Beijing has to offer including the major tourist attractions many of which will leave you awestricken.

About the Author - Chris Chew loves to travel. Read his travel exploits at Beijing Imperial Palace and Singapore tourist information

Have You Been To China Yet?

China is such a large country that it is impossible to see even a fraction of it in one visit. It is advisable to specialize in just one area, and get a good guided tour. Ten-day guided tours are available starting at approximately $1100.

For instance, the ancient civilization of mystical Tibet has always fascinated travellers. Learn about the history of Tibetan Buddhism, and visit the Potala Palace. Pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet to the Heavenly Lake Namtso.

Another popular tour travels along the historic Silk Road, one of the world's most famous trade routes. This route features ancient Islamic and Buddhist civilizations, bustling markets, exotic folk customs and a faded but glorious history. This fascinating overland route was once used for transporting silk to Europe. It covers areas in central China not visited by many tourists and passes through archaeological treasures such as the cities of Xian and Dunhuang as it heads into Xinjiang.

Or hike along the Great Wall of China. Make sure to bring hiking shoes and warm clothing, as the Wall was built as a military fortification atop steep, exposed mountain ridges.

China has a population of 1.265 billion, the largest of any country on earth, and holds about 22 percent of the earth's total population. It is an extremely diverse nation consisting of 55 different ethnic groups. The Chinese speak eight major dialects: Putonghua (Mandarin), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Taiwanese), Gan, Xiang, and Hakka and many sub-dialects. In addition, ethnic groups such as the Mongolian, Naxi, Tibetan, Yi, Uygur, and other ethnic groups have their own native languages.

The language spoken in Beijing is often referred to as Mandarin or Putonghua. Putonghua, which means "common language" is the country's main language and is spoken by more than 70 percent of the population. Putonghua is also referred to as the "Han language" (Hanyu) or simply Chinese. Because of the increased economic migration across China during the past two decades years, the use of Mandarin has increased.

In recent years, as tourism to China has grown, the use of English has increased across the country. In major cities, staff in stores and hotels can speak fluent or at least basic English. However, it is best for English-speaking tourists to have a translator, as knowledge of English is by no means universal, especially in rural areas where approximately 2/3 of China's population lives.

China, officially called the People's Republic of China (PRC), is the third largest country on earth. Only Russia and Canada are larger. China has a land area of 9,600,000 square kilometers (3,700,000 square miles), and a widely varying climate. Before you leave, find out what seasonal climates to expect in the region you are going to visit, and pack accordingly. China has a marked continental monsoon climate with great variety in temperature and rainfall. The greatest part of China is in the northern temperate zone while the southern areas are in the tropical or subtropical zone and northern areas in the frigid zone.

In most of China there is a clear division between seasons. In winter, northerly winds from high latitude areas keep the northern region cold and dry, while in summer, monsoons from southern coastal areas bring warmth and humidity. In north China, such as Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, summer is dry and sweltering while winter is bitingly cold. Sandstorms often occur in spring in this area, especially in the Inner Mongolia and Beijing area. The red dust from these storms can be picked up by high-altitude winds are travel around the world. In Russia, pink snow was reported in the winter of 2006 as this far-flung red dust mixed with local precipitation.

On the Tibet-Qinghai plateau, which has an elevation of approximately 4,000 meters above sea level, winter is long and extremely cold while summer is short and moderately warm. There is little precipitation here and a great temperature fluctuation between day and night. Visitors to Tibet should bring warm clothing even in summer.

In central china, such as Yangtze River area, summer is long, hot and humid while winter is short and cold. In the areas south of the Yangtze River, temperature rarely falls below freezing. In the near-tropical far south, such as the area around Guangzhou, the summer is long, humid and hot while the winter is short and mild. The rainy season runs from May through August and typhoons frequently occur in the southeast coast between July and September.

Chinese currency is called Renminbi (people's money), abbreviated as RMB, issued by The Bank of China. The unit of Renminbi is a yuan and with smaller denominations called jiao and fen. The conversion among the three is: 1 yuan equals 10 jiao which equals 100 fen. The safest way to bring currency to China is in travellers' checks. Be sure to keep your currency exchange receipts because you will need to show them when you change RMB back to your own currency when you leave China. Credit cards are often not accepted in remote areas, so be sure to carry sufficient RMB and travelers' checks to cover your requirements.

Begin In Beijing - Beijing Travel Information

The best way to kick off your Asian travels is in China’s progressive and even tragically hip capital city of Beijing. Traditional relics like the Tiananmen gate stand juxtaposed against the imposing modernist architecture of recent history, most notable in the Dashanzi Art District. The People’s Republic of China has its financial industries mainly in Shanghai and Hong Kong, but Beijing remains the nation’s true cultural and political center.

Orange County Meets Ming Dynasty in Beijing

When many travelers think of Beijing, they imagine the dictatorial atmosphere of Mao Zedong or television images of protesting citizens; however, Beijing has a tremendous history beginning as early as the 1st century BCE and has persevered through Kublai Kahn’s Mongols, Japanese invasion, and the Communist Civil War victory in 1949.

The Forbidden City is a fascinating journey through 500 years of Imperial secrecy. The head of state no longer resides here and the beautiful buildings and breathtaking gardens are open to the public year-round. The entrance to the Forbidden City is the infamous Tiananmen Square and gate, protected by four formidable marble lions. Nearby, the Temple of Heaven is another sublime representation of an era of dynasties and royal architecture. With airfare to Beijing, you also have the extra opportunity to see the Great Wall of China, which is only one and a half hours away by bus.

Although there are hundreds of historical sites in Beijing, the rapidly sprawling metropolis is also overflowing with contemporary wonders and luxuries. The National Zoo houses the largest inland aquarium in the world as well as China’s famous pandas. Next to the Imperial Palace, the Wan Fung Art Gallery provides insight into the artistic transition from regal and traditional to cutting edge contemporary. Most interestingly, the suburban sprawl has witnessed the creation of a $60 million American-inspired community called Orange County, complete with town homes and tract housing.

Chinese Cultural Centrifuge in Beijing

Experience two cultural traditions in one at the Laoshe Tea House where you will be both charmed by Chinese opera and soothed by a variety of traditional teas. For world-class shopping in Beijing, visit Wangfujing, or you can find your way into the many enchanting smaller districts for traditional Chinese shops and boutiques. Beijing is also home to several notable temples like the Miaoying, and even a mosque that was built in 996.
With such dynamic experiences to offer and the immaculate preservation of its past, Beijing is truly an international city and there’s no wonder the cosmopolis has been chosen for the Olympics. Get your airfare to Beijing now or wait for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

China - Beijing, Ancient City Of Hopes

Home to 15 million, Beijing has for centuries been one of the world's centers of culture. The land here has been occupied for over 3,000 years. As a result, visitors face the well-known traveler's dilemma - too much to see with too little time - amplified many times over.

Here are just some highlights...

One of the most famous attractions is not even in the city itself, but about 60-125km (35-75 mi) outside it - the Great Wall. (The distance varies depending on the desired viewing location.)

To see one of the best preserved sections, visit Mutianyu. Though the wall was under construction for over 2,000 years, this 6th-century section was used as the northern barrier to defend the capital.

Not as old, but just as impressive a man-made achievement is the Imperial Palace, often referred to as the Forbidden City. So named because for centuries the common people were not allowed to freely enter. And sometimes wished they hadn't gone when invited!

More than 9,000 rooms spread over 250 acres, it was first built in the 15th century and later renovated during the Qing dynasty in the 18th.

To get an excellent high view of the city itself, take a trip to Jingshan Park, built in 1179 AD. It looks out over the Forbidden City and features spectacular views of Beijing and the surroundings.

Constructed near the same time, in 1420 AD, the Temple of Heaven covers 270 acres and is the largest religious building in China. Today, thanks to the relaxing of religious repression, visitors can see this magnificent work of architecture and envision the train of emperors who have used it over the centuries.

Beijing has much more than religious temples, however, in which to find a peaceful atmosphere. The park at Yiheyuan is a 290-acre retreat, where visitors can wander through pavilions and over bridges near the enormous lake. Sit a while and sip tea at one of the many tea-houses there or stroll along one of the many tree-lined paths.

Most will want to visit the now-infamous Tiananmen Square, the largest open square in the world. It can easily accommodate over one million people, provided they don't have to share space with tanks.

Be sure to take at least half a day and visit the equally famous Beijing Zoo. Home to nearly 600 species, the pandas may be the most well known, but they're far from the most exotic. The over 6,000 animals housed there are drawn from all over the country and many parts of the world.

Spring or Fall is probably the best time to visit - Beijing can be quite cold in the winter and summers are often uncomfortably hot. But anytime of year you visit, there will be sites and sights galore worth seeing.

A Guide To Beijing China: 10 Things To Do In Beijing

You might be envisioning picture Beijing as the city under the rigid reign of Communist Party of China, but it's completely a changed city now. It's a metropolis that is all set to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. The Chinese capital certainly is a city worth visiting. You can do a myriad of things in Beijing; here are top 10 things that you can do in Beijing!

Certainly, the very first thing you can do in Beijing is to see the famous Tiananmen Square, which is one of the major attractions of Beijing. Located at the center of Beijing City, Tiananmen Square is a large square, originally constructed in 1417 in the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. - 1644 A.D.). Here, you can spectate Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, and the national flag raising ceremony.

Obviously, visiting the Forbidden City (Gu Gong in Chinese) is the second important thing to visit. Onetime the imperial palace of Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Forbidden City now houses the Palace Museum. Located in the center of Beijing, to the north of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City is rectangular in shape and covers 74 hectares of area. It has served as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. Its construction was started in 1407 in the 5th year of the Yongle reign of the third emperor of the Ming family. It was finished fourteen years later in 1420.

The Great Wall Of China in Beijing is a "must visit" site. One of the wonders of the world, the wall is the most illustrious tourist attractions of China. The wall runs zigzagging across deserts, grasslands, mountains, and plateaus, about 6,700 kms from east to west of China. The wall, construction of which began in the Warring States Period on 7th century B.C, has over 2,500 years old history.

After a tiring site seeing session, you can have a highly enjoyable and relaxing foot massage and/or pedicure etc. from any of the professionals offering the service in central Beijing. The service is available for a fraction of the price in the West. It is also available in most of Beijing hotels.

Next, you can visit Temple of Heaven, located south east of Qianmen and the Tiananmen Square. The temple was the site where the emperor used to pray every year for good harvests and fair weather. Surrounded by a huge public park, the temple is beautiful sight. You can enjoy strolling in this lovely green place, home to many ancient trees. Just a short stroll away from the historical sights, you can reach peaceful woods, amazingly, solitude, especially toward the West Gate.

Located the eastern side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, the National Museum of China is the place that you can visit. The museum features the marvelous collection of things of arts and olden times of China. It is a four-storied building with two proportioned wings, running over 300 meters north and south beside the eastern side of Tiananmen Square. The museum is maintained by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China.

You can also visit Yonghegong, also known as Lama Temple or Palace of Peace. Constructed by the Chinese emperors who harbored a deep fascination for the Tibetan (Tantric) version of Buddhism, the temple is famous for its 18m statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood. The temple has been the home to many Tibetan and Mongolian monks, who lived and taught here.

You can also visit the Beijing Zoo, situated to the west of the city. The zoo has great collection of animals, such as golden monkey, the giant pandas, polar bears, kangaroos and many others. The zoo covers up an area of over 50,000 sq mts and has more than 30 big hallways. The zoo is set in rich scenery of trees, hills and lakes, beside an inland waterway, which flows all the way to the Summer Palace. Additionally to its public education task, it is a well-known center of zoological research and conservation, inclosing several breeding programs.

Beijing certainly has plenty; you can visit lot more sites, such as Summer Palace, Beihai Park, Prince Gong's Mansion, Legation Quarter, Fragrant Hills, Beijing Botanical Gardens, Hutongs, Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution, China Aviation Museum, The Museum of History and the Museum of the Revolution, The Confucius Temple, St Joseph Church, etc.

So, if you are finished with your site seeing, you can enjoy Shooting Chinese Automatic Guns and other crazy military grade weapons at the International Shooting Range in the north of Beijing.

After a tiring day touring, a Beijing opera at the Laoshe Tea House near Qianmen station is good choice to relax in the evening. It's always good to book a seat in advance, since the place is always crowded. You can also have some relaxing time at Spa Complex. It has a huge sauna, 3 different kinds of spas to soak in, a steam room, and showers.

Your China Travel Guide: How to discover the wonders of China.

Planning a tour to China, the largest and oldest country in the world is truly a must for anyone who wants to experience a unique travel adventure. China is known to have an ancient civilization which dates back to some thousand years ago and this is one of the reasons why China has a rich and unique culture full of historical values.

As a popular tourist destination in the Far East, China has a lot of wonderful attractions, sightseeing and historical wonders for the enthusiastic travelers who want to discover the true beauty of China. The best times to visit China is usually during May and September as these periods offer good weather conditions for visiting.
In order to enjoy your travel plans in China, it is advisable to consult the services of a reputable China tour agency. They are responsible for planning your entire trip from the moment you arrive in the airport till the day you depart. They also provide the hotel accommodations and other transportation facilities throughout your stay in China. To make your stay a successful one, they assign a bilingual local tourist guide to assist and guide you through your tours around the country. A fascinating thing about the travel wonders of China is that for every sightseeing and attraction, there is a historical or cultural origin behind it.

Beijing, the country’s capital boasts of over 30 sightseeing and attractions out of which include the famous Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs and a variety of others.

Beijing is usually the first city tourists visit due to their excitement to see the great wall. In general, Beijing is known to be a historical city because of the many monuments and attractions which played a great role in China’s civilization and still remains as it was since over five hundred years.

Yunnan, the international tourist destination is a province in China favorable to many international tourists because of its pleasant climate. Apart from the climatic conditions, Yunnan boasts of a number of cities with scenic and beautiful landscapes which makes for a great place for nature lovers on a getaway from the bustling streets of city. From the spring city of Kunming, to the old town of Lijiang and Dali, Yunnan is the perfect getaway for tourists who want to appreciate the natural endowments of China’s sceneries and landscapes.

A tour to Tibet, the pilgrimage destination of Buddhists can also be included in your tour itinerary during your travel in China. Tibet is considered to be the rooftops of the world because of the high elevation of its geographical location. The tourism of this region has flourished in recent years due to the opening of the Tibet-Qinghai high speed rail which connects Beijing to Lhasa. Amateur fanatics of mythical train journeys can finally have their dreams come true as they speed on top of the world to experience some peace in the Tibetan Kingdom.

Guilin and Yangshuo is the backpacking capital of China. With its special breath taking sceneries and caves, this town has opened the opportunity to mountaineers and backpackers who want to discover the hidden wonders of China.

Shanghai is one of China’s cosmopolitan cities which showcase a blend of modernity and history. The first class skyscrapers and Ming styled architecture of Shanghai buildings is what attract visitors to this bustling city. Shanghai also known as the “Oriental Paris” is the best place to shop for all kinds of branded shoes, clothes, jewelries and gifts from first class to low quality in almost any type of store.
Harbin is the magical ice world of China. Located in the north of China, this region is synonymous for the annual celebration of the Harbin Ice Festival which attracts visitors from all over the world to participate in the magnificent showcase of legendary ice sculptures and carvings.

Xian is one of China’s ancient cities where civilization started. It has grown to become an industrial and tourist destination which proudly boasts of the site of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Terracotta Army and Warriors.

China is known to house twenty four heritage sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. These cultural treasures are a part of what contributes to China’s history.

Things to do on an unforgettable tour in China

If you have finally decided to partake in that China tour you have been planning, here is a list of 10 things to see and do on your China tour. • The Great Wall of China
One of the must sees on a tour to China, the Great Wall of China is an amazing man made wonder of the world. This wall is the one of the symbols of China which played a great role during the Chinese revolution. It was built for defense purposes to wade off invaders from the north. It extends to a length of about 5000km.
• The Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
Located in Xian, this is another amazing man made wonder of the world. This is the site which houses about 6000 life sized pottery warriors and horses of the dead emperor’s guards during the revolution. A major tourist destination in Xian, its amazing to see each pottery soldiers weigh over 300kg standing 1.86m row after row in a battle formation.
• The Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing
The Dazu Rock Carvings dates back to the years of the Tang dynasty which continued until the Ming and Qing dynasty. It now enjoys popularity alongside the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes. The Carvings refer to all the cliff side carvings in the Dazu region which is one of the largest and preserved cultural relic sites of China. This area has about 50,000 Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian rock carvings and 100,000 characters of inscriptions on all the carvings.
• The Li River Scenery.
Starting from the Mao’er Mountain northeast of Guilin, the Li river flows southeast about 437km passing through 5 different provinces Guilin, Yangshuo, Pingle, Zhaoping and finally meeting Xi river in Wulin. This area is the largest and beautiful river scenes in China which attracts millions of visitors all year round. The 83km waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is the most significant part of the Li River. This part is an area which makes you appreciate nature best due to its rolling hills, steep cliffs, artistically shaped caves – the perfect paradise worth discovering for an explorer.
• Acrobatic Shows.
Among all the cities in China, Shanghai boasts of the best Acrobatic Troupe. This troupe has performed around the globe and proves to be a wonderful night out as a visitor in Shanghai. The tightly choreographed and artistic shows are performed regularly at the Shanghai Center on Nanjing Xi Lu. Something indeed to add to your list of to dos on your next Shanghai tour.
• Ba Peoples Hanging Coffins.
This is an interesting sight to see in Bawu Gorge in Chongqing. It is a display of about 108 hanging coffins which is a representation of one of China’s ancient histories. It was believed in the past that the higher a dead man was buried, the more dutiful their descendants would be, and hence the ranking coffin represented the rank of the dead person.
• The Beijing Zoo
This is the largest zoo in China located in the North West part of Beijing. It used to be a private garden owned by a royal Qing aristocrat until it was converted to a zoo in 1901. The zoo contains some 6000 animals of different species from different parts of the country. Visiting the Beijing zoo and many of the temples and museums in Beijing can make your Beijing tour a remarkable one. There are a few places of interests in Beijing
• The Three Gorges on the Yangtze River
The Three gorges along the Yangtze River which is the Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge all on the upper reaches of the area. Extending from Sichuan province in the west to Wuchang in the east, the 189km long river is a popular water route for many tourists. The scenery along the Yangtze River cruise is something worth seeing for nature lovers. It has also become a regular water way trade route between the East and the West.
• Mountaineering.
With nine of the world’s 14 peaks above 8,000 meters in China, including the two highest, China is known to be the mountaineering capital of the world. With a lot of tourists from all over the world, most hikers team up and travel long distances discovering hills and saves in the mountainous regions in China.
• Martial Arts
Even if you do not know how to practice this sport, it makes for good entertaining purposes. It is practiced anywhere in China, so wherever you find yourself, you can always enjoy some martial arts.
Additional places to go are the historical squares and sacred temples in Beijing, the Old Town of Lijiang and meeting the local minorities in the Yunnan and Tibet province.