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China Attractions

Forbidden City (The Palace Museum)

Imperial Concubines and Eunuchs As is famous in Chinese history, the emperor always had many concubines. Besides his wife, the highest ranks of concubines were: Guifei(second to the empress), and Bin(3rd to the empress). Not all the concubines had the chance to sleep with the emperor. Some even h...
Imperial Concubines and Eunuchs As is famous in Chinese history, the emperor always had many concubines. Besides his wife, the highest ranks of concubines were: Guifei(second to the empress), and Bin(3rd to the empress). Not all the concubines had the chance to sleep with the emperor. Some even had not one chance at all. But all of those women were not allowed to marry others. The emperor had so many concubines and maids, so he was afraid that some might have affairs woth the male servants. For this reason, the eunuch appeared to serve the emperor, the empress and the concubines.

Tiananmen Square

Forming the exact heart and center of the city, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) is usually a first port of call on any Beijing tourist’s itinerary.  Like the Forbidden City (紫禁城), the words T...
Forming the exact heart and center of the city, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) is usually a first port of call on any Beijing tourist’s itinerary.  Like the Forbidden City (紫禁城), the words Tiananmen Square are almost synonymous with Beijing.  It is worth a visit not just for its historical significance, but also for the sheer prominence of its size.  Said to be the largest public square in the world, this spotlessly clean, massive area of paved concrete can accommodate up to a million people.  It was here that Chairman Mao (毛主席) proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.   
 
 
 
You’ll probably find yourself visiting, or at least passing by, Tiananmen more than once due to its central location and close proximity to other tourist stops, namely the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of History and Revolution, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall (毛泽东纪念堂), and Tiananmen Gate(天安门), the main entrance to the Forbidden City.  Above Tiananmen Gate hangs a huge portrait of Chairman Mao, supposedly the only public place in which Mao’s portrait is still displayed.  
 
Bar the incessant hawkers, Tiananmen Square is the perfect spot to people watch and soak up the Beijing atmosphere; it is also great if you’re a keen kite watcher.  Try and catch a glimpse of Tiananmen in the evening as it is beautifully lit at night.  

 
 
 

Kunming Spring

The Bund

The Bund, a vision adorned on numerous postcards and fridge magnets, is a symbol of China’s prosperous future and Shanghai’s international past. The Bund is Shanghai’s waterfront. It lines the Huangpu River as it winds down from the mouth of the Yangtze towards the East China ...
The Bund, a vision adorned on numerous postcards and fridge magnets, is a symbol of China’s prosperous future and Shanghai’s international past. The Bund is Shanghai’s waterfront. It lines the Huangpu River as it winds down from the mouth of the Yangtze towards the East China Sea. The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into eastern and western districts otherwise known as Puxi and Pudong.
 
Walking the length of the Bund is a joy regardless of time of day. The one mile stroll affords many spectacular views. The Bund, with more than 50 individual architectural styles, is reminiscent of the time when Shanghai was the center of Chinese economy and culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Consulates, banks and businesses from yesteryear make an eclectic and artistic architectural statement. Shanghai, though definitely Chinese, has had an international past and though it is often an unspoken truth, the Bund reveals its secrets.
 
Shanghai - Bund - Puxi

From the Puxi side Pudong, and its thriving financial district, Lujiazui, are right in front of you. Oriental Pearl and Jin Mao Towers stand proudly as a testament to China’s growth and development.

Shanghai - Pudong
 
Naturally the best place to see the Bund is from the river, and there are countless river trips to choose from. Some tours take just one hour while others can choose to take an excursion up the river into central China. My personal favorite is the Sea Captain which offers one hour trips for 50RMB. Though other operators may offer the same excursion for a cheaper fare, the Sea Captain, decked out to look like an old wooden ship, offers a luxurious and fun ride around the Bund. Though there are more authentic boats, none are traditionally Chinese, so any trip you make will be pleasure oriented and designed for tourists.
 
The Bund is a beautiful sight and one of my favorite places in Shanghai. It is worth braving the crowds to visit at night, when the lights of Shanghai sparkle till 10pm and reveal a truly majestic city.

Link: Ferry Tour on the Huangpu River

The Mutianyu Great Wall

The Mutianyu Great Wall is about 75 kilometers northeast of Beijing. It's the most famous section for foreigners .  Unlike Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu has a beautiful landscape all the year round, but less tourists there. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, served as a very important  a...

The Mutianyu Great Wall is about 75 kilometers northeast of Beijing. It's the most famous section for foreigners .  Unlike Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu has a beautiful landscape all the year round, but less tourists there. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, served as a very important  and  strategic pass in the old days.  There are two unique features of the Mutianyu Great Wall.  The other parts of the Great  Wall have battlements on the outer sider only. But  the surroundding wall of the Mutianyu section with merlons on both sides. So, you can image  how  important strategic place it was .Sometimes,  the enemy came from  either side.  Another feature of Mutianyu Great Wall is the branch walls. Which was built on the mountain ridge but connected with the main wall. There was the watch tower on the branch wall also. 

   It's accessible by cable cars from below, and use the toboggan to slide down.

Bus No. 926 to Huai rou Country , and take a Mini bus ( 10 RMB or 20 RMB ) to the Great Wall.

The Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is located on the northwest outskirts of Beijing, about 20 kilometers away from the center of the city. It is formed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake ,covering a total area of over 290 hectares while Kunming Lake occupies three quarters of the whole area. As the best pr...

The Summer Palace is located on the northwest outskirts of Beijing, about 20 kilometers away from the center of the city. It is formed mainly of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake ,covering a total area of over 290 hectares while Kunming Lake occupies three quarters of the whole area. As the best preserved imperial garden in the world and one of the largest of its kind still existing in China today, it was placed on the List of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1998.

According to the legend ,there were supposed to be 3 islands called Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang to the east of Bohai Bay, where people believed that the Gods lived. One of the island-Penglai Island was where a kind of Chinese herbal medicine grew which was supposed to prolong people’s lives. Emperor Qin Shihuang ,the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty and Emperor Wu Di in the Han Dynasty both sent lots of people to look for the herbal longevity medicine in Penglai Island but both of them failed . After the failure, Emperor Wu Di ordered people to dig a big pool at the back of his palace with 3 artificial hills representing the 3 Fairland Mountains of Penglai, Yingzhou and Fangzhang. Since Han Wu Di built a big pool with 3 artificial hills in his garden, this layout became a traditional legendary style of gardening followed by one dynasty after another. The Summer Palace was also built in this traditional style.

“Although it is artificial, it looks like the masterpiece from the hands of God.” This is a basic construction theory in our ancient Chinese Architecture . And the Summer Palace has been the most beautiful illustration of it.

East Gate of the Summer Palace (Dong-gong-men Stop):
Bus 330、331、332、346、394、712、718、726、732、737、801、808、817、826

North Gate of the Summer Palace (Bei-gong-men Stop):
Bus 303、330、331、346、375、384、393、634、716、718、737、801、808、817、834、Express 5

South Gate of the Summer Palace ( Xin-jian-gong-men Stop):
Bus 374、437、481、952、704、992

West Gate of the Summer Palace ( Xin-jian-gong-men Stop):
Bus 469

West Lake (Xi Hu)

In China there are 36 West Lake, but we people mentioned "West Lake" usually refers to the Hangzhou West Lake.

There are ten famous Scenes Spots of West Lake we call it "西湖十景", which are:

Rem...

In China there are 36 West Lake, but we people mentioned "West Lake" usually refers to the Hangzhou West Lake.

There are ten famous Scenes Spots of West Lake we call it "西湖十景", which are:

Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter (断桥残雪)

Dawn on the Su Causeway in Spring (苏堤春晓)

Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in Summer (曲院风荷)

Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset (雷峰夕照)

Moon over the Peaceful Lake in Autumn (平湖秋月)

Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds (双峰插云)

Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon (三潭印月)

Orioles Singing in the Willows (柳浪闻莺)

Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond (花港观鱼)

Evening Bell Ringing at the Nanping Hill (南屏晚钟)

 

 

 

The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)

The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) is one of Beijing’s most distinctive landmarks and often appears on the cover of city and tourist guides.  The most impressive building in the park is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The structure’s three-tiered roof and golden dome are...
The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan) is one of Beijing’s most distinctive landmarks and often appears on the cover of city and tourist guides.  The most impressive building in the park is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The structure’s three-tiered roof and golden dome are certainly among Beijing’s most recognizable symbols.        
 
This beautiful temple is situated in the middle of one of Beijing’s biggest and most-beloved parks. The park can be entered through a number of gates, but most visitors enter through the East Gate.  The park is very tranquil and is an ideal place to stroll and escape the bustle of the city just outside the temple walls.  If you are lucky you may get to hear some impromptu traditional Chinese music as many locals often gather to play traditional musical instruments and sing. Others come to the park to engage in other activities such as dancing, flying kites, practicing tai chi or playing cards and board games. 
 
The temple was built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty. It is said that on the day of the winter solstice the Emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties would go from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven to offer sacrifices such as jade, silk, porcelain and animals to the heavens as well as to pray for good harvests.  However, this system of sacrificial worship was abolished in 1912.  The northern part of the park is semi-circular and is said to represent the heavens. Conversely, the south part of the park is square and is said to represent the earth.
 
The Echo Wall and the Three Echo stones are known for their impressive acoustics. However, as hearing the echos requires silence, it is unlikely that you will actually hear your own echo as there are bound to be other visitors milling about at the same time as you.  The Echo Wall is under repair until November 30th, 2006.
 

Villages around Lijiang

There are 25 ethnic group people living in Lijiang,but most of them are living in the big mountain,and usually the higher of their villages,the poorer they are. Do pay a visit to the Minority people when travel to Lijiang.

1. Rent a car 2, use public transportation 3, house back riding ...

There are 25 ethnic group people living in Lijiang,but most of them are living in the big mountain,and usually the higher of their villages,the poorer they are. Do pay a visit to the Minority people when travel to Lijiang.

1. Rent a car 2, use public transportation 3, house back riding 4,Hiking

China Articles

Top China Tours

$53 Per Day

Pingyao Highlights Walking Tour

Pingyao Highlights Walking Day Tour

With our guide to know the Ancient Pingyao better!

Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 08:00 or 08:30, then show you the ticket office to get the ticket for the museums we will visit later.

First we will visit the 700 years old City wall, We will climb up from south gate and have a walk on the wall. We are not sure how many km we can walk, because of the renovating of the wall. Normally we will walk from south gate to the Yunlu Exit.

Then visit the Confucius temple, there is a old building named Dacheng Hall which is over 840 years old. From outside, we can see the big wood joints to lift the big roof around the building which is named Dougong. Due to this design, there are less columns inside the hall for giving the big space for the statues and the prayer. We have chance to see the Confucius statue and learn the philosophy of Confucius. If you like, you can pray for you and your children to get better study.

There is the Paper Cutting master named Wentao nearby the exit of Confucius temple. She is very smart and create the new style paper cutting with much more details and good wishes on it. Her products are made by hanks. It is worth to visit and buy as a souvenir from Pingyao. From the table standing and wall hangings. Please remember, take the red one because of red is the traditional and happy color. But the white one is the best. It is really difficult to choose, because of all of them are really nice.

Then you can have coffee break or tea break if you need at Chummy coffee, after this, visit the City god temple (ChenghuangMiao) which is most beautiful temple inside the wall. Because of the roof is covered by the colorful glazed tiles. There is not only city god and also the three money gods, Now you know why pingyao was the financial center.

Next we will visit the Ancient government building, to see the pingyao politics center in the ancient time. It is the complete building with officials bed room, kitchen and private garden. Follow the guide to look the official’s life from the 250km far away from the hometown.

Have a stroll in the alley to the Rishengchang exchange bank, which is the first bank all of china.You can not miss it.

After lunch, walk to the Ming and Qing street, this is the shopping street full of the stores on the both side of street. You can find alot things here , from post card to lacquered boxes, and wall panels. One more place to see, it is the Armed escort agency also named security and transport service for the business man before the bank founded.

Inlcusions

1.private english speaking tour guide servcie

2.bottle water for the tour

 

$310 Per Day

3- Day Popular Tour In Zhangjiajie

Day 1    Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Full day trip to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park,take Bailong Elevator up Yuanjiajie,Bailong Elevator is the said to be the worlds tallest full-exposure outdoor lift,double-deck sightseeing elevator.Yuanjiajie is the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in AVATAR , Where you will also find the aptly named First Bridge under Heaven, Lover Peaks and so on.

Continuing to Tianzi Mountain, it takes you 40 minuts from Yuanjiajie to Tianzi Mountain by public bus, after arriving in Tianzi Mountain, you will have a bird’s-eye view of all the mountains and valleys of the Wuling Mountains. Visit Western Sea, Helong Park, Viewing Terrace etc.Take Tianzi cablecar down and check in hotel for a rest.
Accommodation: Wulingyuan Downtown

Day 2    Baofeng Lake & Glass Bridge

After breaking in the hotel, we head to Baofeng Lake where is the masterpiece of nature and human beings’wisdom. Baofeng Lake is pure just like a big crystal among Bao feng mountain Range.When you cruise, you can hear authentic song from Tujia minority people,you can fully understand the harmony and peace between human beings and nature.

Transfer to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, have a walking on the Glass Bridge, Glass Bridge is the highlight of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, located in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge is the highest and longest transparent glass bridge with a length 430 meters and a width 6 meters. It is 300 meters above the ground level and it can bear 800 persons standing on it at the same time. (need to book the tickets in advance)
Accommodation: Wulingyuan Downtown

Day 3    Tianmen Mountain

Full day to explore Tianmen Mountain,take the longest cablecar in the world up Tianmen Mountain,have a walk on the mountain plank road built along the face of cliffs. You will feel like walking in a fairy land when the mist is still heavy.The must-visit scenic spots are: Tianmen Cave, Glass Road, Tianme Temple.

See you off in the airport and looking forward to seeing you again in Zhangjiajie.

$200 Per Day

CHENGDU, A PANDA CITY, A GOURMET CITY, A TEA CITY, LOOKING FOWARD TO YOUR ARRIVAL

Chengdu, with an area of 12,400 square kilometers and a polulation of about 14,170,000 is not just the biggest provincial capital in west China, but also the only city in the history of China whose name has reminded the same for 3,000 years since its establishment. In Chinese, "Cheng" means "success or successful" and "Du" means "big city or capital". This "Successful City" boasts a long history. It is believed that everything about Chengdu has their origin from "Sanxingdui Ruins", from where you can deeply discover the history story of Chengdu.

Giant pandas definitely are the best calling card and trademark of Chengdu. Every year, million of people are attracted by giant pandas to spend their holidays here, go sightseeing here, make investment here and even settle here permanently. The reason is that for people around the world, the charm of giant pandas cannot be replaced by anything else. 

Various kinds of wonderful food shall be another reason attracting you to visit Chengdu. Of the four most famous schools of culinery art in China (Beijing cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine, Guangdong cuisine), Sichuan cuisine boasts tongue-numbing, hot, delicate and fresh taste and a variety of flavors, as "each dish has its unique taste and no two dishes have the same flavor." Such spcial flavors as fish-flavored, gongbao (with peanuts), and water-boiled are incomparable at home and abroad.

"The teahouses in Sichuan top the world, and those in Chengdu Top Sichuan." This widespread saying not only points out the status of Chengdu's teahouses but also the inseverable ties between Chengdu culture and tea. Like bars in Paris and cafes in Vienna, teahouse add a touch of refinement and leisureliness to Chengdu, an ancient yet modern metropolis. The practice of driking tea prevailed in Sichuan as earlt as prior to the Qin and Han Dynasties.

Wish you can have a nice trip in Chengdu. You will love it.