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Beijing Ancient City Wall

In ancient China, few cities existed without a city wall. The city wall and the city gate have a close relationship with the city's establishment. The city wall, surrounding the residential area, is the most basic constituent of a city. Beijing's city wall is a masterpiece owing to its grand verv...

In ancient China, few cities existed without a city wall. The city wall and the city gate have a close relationship with the city's establishment. The city wall, surrounding the residential area, is the most basic constituent of a city. Beijing's city wall is a masterpiece owing to its grand verve and spirit. It is not only the brick deposit for defense, but also a great ancient project embodying the beautiful physique of Beijing. It is a symbol of the time when humanity made a step towards civilization. The city wall of Beijing was a fortification built around 1435. It was 23.5 km long. The thickness at ground level was 20m and the top 12m. The wall was 15m high, and it had nine gates. This wall stood for nearly 530 years, but in 1965 it was removed to give way to 2nd Ring Road and the loop line subway of Beijing. Only in the southeast, just south of Beijing Railway Station, stands one part of the wall. Beijing was the capital city of the last three dynasties (the Yuan, Ming and Qing) as well as two northern dynasties (the Liao and Jin) in the history of China, as such, Beijing is often referred to as an "ancient capital of Five dynasties". It had an extensive fortification system, consisting of the Palace city, the Imperial city, the inner city and the outer city. Specifically including the many gate towers, gates, archways, watchtowers, barbicans, barbican towers, barbican gates, barbican archways, sluice gates, sluice gate towers, enemy sighting towers, corner guard towers and moat. It had the most extensive defense system in Imperial China. After the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Beijing's fortifications were dismantled one by one, the Palace city has remained largely intact, becoming the Palace Museum; the Imperial city's fortifications has Tian'anmen and several sections of imperial city wall remaining intact; the inner city with Zhengyangmen's gate tower and watchtower, Deshengmen's watchtower, the southeastern corner guard tower, and a section of the inner city wall near Chongwenmen remaining intact; and nothing of the outer city remaining intact, with Yongdingmen completely reconstructed in 2004. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the protection and renovation of the wall and moat systems of Beijing were extensive. No holes may be drilled, no arches made, and if any section has been damaged, even if missing just a single brick, were swiftly reported to the authorities and subsequently repaired. The Inner city walls of Beijing had the city walls of Yuan's Dadu as a foundation. In the first year of the Hongwu era, after the Ming troops entered Dadu, General Xu Da directed Hua Jilong to build an additional city wall of rammed earth south of the original Dadu's northern city walls. Later it was covered with stones and bricks, forming a second defense to the Dadu original. In the 4th year of the Hongwu era, Dadu's northern city walls were completely abandoned, dismantled and its materials used to reinforce (heighten and widen) the new northern wall a few kilometres south. Moreover, he ordered Zhang Huan to measure the original Yuan Dadu Imperial city's perimeter, which amounted to 1.206 zhang (approximately 4.020 metres); he also ordered Ye Guozhen to measure the southern city's perimeter which amounted to 5.328 zhang (approximately 17.760 metres), the southern city was the remnants from the Jin Dynasty's capital Zhongdu. The old Beijing's city gate and city wall, basically rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), was composed of four cities including the Forbidden City as the core, the palace wall in the periphery, the inner city and the outer city. The inner city has nine city gates (in turn from east to west: Dongbian Gate, Guangqu Gate, Zuo'an Gate, Yongding Gate, You'an Gate and Guang'an Gate), whereas the outer city has seven city gates (Xuanwu Gate, Fucheng Gate, Xizhi Gate, Desheng Gate, Anding Gate, Dongzhi Gate, Chaoyang Gate and Chongwen Gate). Each city gate has a different function. For instance, Chaoyangmen is used for grain to pass through, Chongwenmen is for wine, Xuanwumen is for the prisoner van, Fuchengmen is for coal and so on. The main function of the city wall is military defense, and it played an extremely vital role in guarding the stable city life and promoting city development. The city wall in the capital is not merely a fortification, but also a symbol of a dominant centre, dignity and heavenliness, a political, economical and cultural center and the link reuniting the regional culture. These all give the cultural connotation of the city wall and city gate in Beijing. Many city walls in Beijing have been torn down in the process of urban construction after the founding of the People's Republic of China. Only a few vestiges are available for people to visit so that they can recall their Chinese cultural heritage. Therefore, it is all the more significant to visit the city wall and city gate during a Beijing trip.

Old Sichuan

Old Sichuan serves spicy Sichuan cuisine in a rather upmarket setting. The food is good and the prices are reasonable for this type of re...

Old Sichuan serves spicy Sichuan cuisine in a rather upmarket setting. The food is good and the prices are reasonable for this type of restaurant. Non-Chinese speakers will be happy with the picture menu. The la ziji, chopped chicken pieces stir fried with chili peppers, is recommended. A meal for two will cost around RMB70 - 120.

How to get there

Old Sichuan is on the section of Dongmen South Rd between Shennan Rd. and Jiabin Rd. From Guo Mao metro station walk east along Jiabin Rd. When you get to Dongmen South Rd. cross to the other side and head north. You will see the sign almost immediately. Bus nos. 2, 5 and 17 stop here. 
 

   

Wangfujing Shopping Street

Beijing is not generally a pedestrian friendly city. However, the famous Wangfujing shopping street, just minutes from Tiananmen Square, is certainly the exception to the rule. The area has an eclectic mix of high end fashion boutiques and much more affordable shops. There a...
Beijing is not generally a pedestrian friendly city. However, the famous Wangfujing shopping street, just minutes from Tiananmen Square, is certainly the exception to the rule. The area has an eclectic mix of high end fashion boutiques and much more affordable shops. There are many restaurants in the area, but even if you’re not there to eat or shop, it is still a great place to people watch or just to wander and enjoy the crowds. Whilst all the action seems to be in the main steet, be sure to browse the interesting places tucked away in the side steets and alleys. 
 
On the south end of Wangfujing is the Oriental Plaza. The Plaza is a huge shopping mall that contains a movie theatre, plenty of restaurants, and countless clothing stores, including many designer outlets, which, judging by the prices, are the real deal. Shopping in the Oriental Plaza is a very different experience to trawling the markets of Beijing; if it’s bargains you are looking for you are in the wrong place. This is a glitzy and upmarket mall. 
 
Wangfujing is also a good place to go hunting for books, as the Foreign Languages Bookstore is a very good resource for English speaking travelers or expats in the city.
 
 

Travel in Chengjiang

Fuxian Lake, the cherry Valley project is located in Yuxi Fuxian Lake, Lake Road 7. Will be built in the area lofty health of world-class leisure and sports destination; build the global health regimen destination; most distinctive travel consumer destination style commercial street here; very Ch...

Fuxian Lake, the cherry Valley project is located in Yuxi Fuxian Lake, Lake Road 7. Will be built in the area lofty health of world-class leisure and sports destination; build the global health regimen destination; most distinctive travel consumer destination style commercial street here; very Chengdu. Platinum five-star front-line Lakeview Hotel and experience the unique landscape of the unprecedented. World-class international forums Center, to build a global high-end event with international influence. Fuxian Lake River cherry valley, creating 5A class cultural tourism experience theme park. 40000 cherry, including Dian cherry, winter cherry, weeping cherry

 

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Guide to Chengdu Eats

Chengdu is legendary throughout China for spicy food and superior eats. For visitors spending a short time in town don’t worry as much about eating at any specific restaurant, rather just be sure to try as many of these Chengdu specialties as you can.
 
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Chengdu is legendary throughout China for spicy food and superior eats. For visitors spending a short time in town don’t worry as much about eating at any specific restaurant, rather just be sure to try as many of these Chengdu specialties as you can.
 
 
Huo Guo (火锅) - Hotpot. If you can’t locate a hotpot restaurant within 100 meters of where you stand, then you had better check your map, because you aren’t in Chengdu. Hotpot is the definitive meal of Chengdu and is often equated with the personalities of the local Chengdu citizens. If you are afraid of spicy food, try to work up some courage for hotpot. Eat slowly, the spice isn’t as much overwhelming as it is delicious. Add some vinegar, soy sauce, or oyster sauce to your plate to deaden the spice if you are struggling. At the restaurant first inform the staff as to whether you want spicy or not spicy hotpot. They can actually put a divider into the pot to provide you with both options. Then put a mark next to all of the meats, vegetables, and tofu you want to try on a checklist/menu given to you by the staff. Sometimes there will be an English menu as well, so just ask. Once the raw foods are brought to your table, dump them into the pot and let them cook. A few minutes later you will understand the lives of Chengdu residents that much more.
 
Shao Kao (烧烤) – Chinese Barbecue. These charcoal grills get fired up after the sun sets. Pick up a tray or basket from the vendor and pile on any kind of meat, seafood, vegetable, or tofu you can find from their assortment. The items are all diced up and placed on wooden skewers. Generally meat and seafood skewers cost Y1-2, while tofu and vegetable skewers are 5 jiao/mao (half of one yuan). Don’t forget to instruct the vendor as to what amount of spicy ‘la jiao’ you want: ‘duo’ for a lot, ‘wei la’ for a little bit, and ‘bu yao la’ for none. Other ingredients you can control with the same measure words are salt – ‘yan’, garlic – ‘suan’, and oil – ‘you’.  
 
Tie Ban Shao (铁板烧) – Many smaller Shao Kao restaurants also offer this style of stir-fry. After you pick out the skewers you want to eat, they are first deep fried in oil for a minute or two. The food is then removed from the skewers and diced and stir-fried on a griddle. This is where they will add the ingredients as you instruct them. They can also add rice to the mix for an extra Y1-2. This method uses a lot of oil, but like everything else, is quite tasty.
 
Chuan Chuan Xiang (串串香) and Ma La Tang  (麻辣烫) – This is an excellent way to test your spicy food eating capacity. These restaurants have large bowls of spicy chili peppers and other spices floating in boiling water over a flame. You pick out as many skewers as you want for 1 jiao/mao each and then cook them in the pot yourself. Usually patrons will have a dish of sesame oil with the option of garlic to deaden the taste a bit. Oyster sauce is commonly added to the mix as well.
 
Zhong Shui Jiao Dumplings (钟水饺) – This is Chengdu’s special dumpling. They are dumplings filled with pork and vegetables served in a soy sauce mixed with sugar, diced garlic, sesame, and a bit of salt. The sauce might sound a little unusual, but hey, since you’ve already traveled half way around the globe to come to Chengdu, it makes sense to give it a try. They are aboslutely delicious.
 
Chao Shou (抄手) – This treat is similar to dumplings, but they are made differently. They have a thinner flour skin and different shape than typical dumplings. These cousins of dumplings are also stuffed with pork usually. This Chengdu specialty is served in a soup. You have the option of soup with or without spice, and they taste like two completely different dishes depending on youir choice.

Jian Dan Mian (剪蛋面) - These tasty and salty tomato and egg noodles are a favorite of late night diners in Yulin. A well known place is on Yulin Zhonglu (玉林中路) near the intersection with Yulin Dong/Xi Lu.

Sichuan Dishes: Local restaurants serving generally stir fried dishes offer too many favorites to name, so we'll toss a few well known ones out here to get you started:

Hui Guo Rou 回国肉 - Twice or Double Cooked Pork, everyone's favorite
Tang Cu Li Ji 糖醋里脊 - Sweet and Sour Pork, usually more sweet than sour
Gong Bao Ji Ding 宫爆鸡丁 - Kung Pao Chicken, naturally quite spicy, but peanuts make it memorable
Ma Po Dou Fu 麻婆豆腐 - Grandma's Pock-Marked Tofu, Sichuan's most famous soft tofu dish
Yu Xiang Rou Si 鱼香肉丝 - Fish-flavored Shredded Pork and Veggies, better than the description may sound, I promise
Jia Chang Dou Fu 家常豆腐 - Home-style Tofu, a thicker, harder type of tofu, clearly I'm not tofu expert
Shui Zhu Rou Pian 水煮肉片 - Sliced pork in a very spicy broth served with bok choy or cabbage usually

Red Soil Dongchuan

dongchuan is the best place to go if you have a chance to be kunming.

Jiuzhaigou

If there is really a fairyland in the world,it's must be Jiuzhaigou Valley. It's located in the Northwest of Sichuan Basin,400 kilometers away from Chengdu. It is an integration of green lakes, multi-layered waterfalls,thick forests and snow-mountains as well as peaceful Tibetan villages. The val...

If there is really a fairyland in the world,it's must be Jiuzhaigou Valley. It's located in the Northwest of Sichuan Basin,400 kilometers away from Chengdu. It is an integration of green lakes, multi-layered waterfalls,thick forests and snow-mountains as well as peaceful Tibetan villages. The valley is home to a great variety of plants and rare animals, such as the giant panda, lesser panda, golden monkey, and antelope.
Jiuzhaigou was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

Tiger Hill (Hu Qiu)

Sights inside:

1. The Entrance Temple (头山门)

2. The Broken Beam Temple (断梁殿)

3. The Han Han Spring (憨憨泉)

4. The Sword-Testing Stone (试剑石)

5. The Tomb of Zhenniang (真娘墓)

6. The 1000 Men`s Rock (千人石)

7. The Sword Pool (剑池)

8. Th...

Sights inside:

1. The Entrance Temple (头山门)

2. The Broken Beam Temple (断梁殿)

3. The Han Han Spring (憨憨泉)

4. The Sword-Testing Stone (试剑石)

5. The Tomb of Zhenniang (真娘墓)

6. The 1000 Men`s Rock (千人石)

7. The Sword Pool (剑池)

8. The Twin Bridge Wells (双吊桶)

9. The Pagoda Yard (塔院)

10. The 1000 ha. of Clouds (千顷云)

11. The Mahavira Temple (大雄宝殿)

12. The 53 Steps of Stone (五十三参)

13. The Mountain Villa With 10000 Scenes (万景山庄)

Local bus routes: 1, 2, 8, 49, 949.

China Articles

Top China Tours

$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.

$238 Per Day

Private Hangzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train

Take in the highlights of beautiful Hangzhou on a private full-day tour from Shanghai. After hotel pickup and transfer by high-speed train to Hangzhou, your private guide takes you to see some city attractions, such as Faxi temple. Moreover, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Longjing village. There, learn about the process of farming and producing dragonwell tea, the region’s most famous product. Finally, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed West Lake before returning to Shanghai.

This is a private, full-day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou. After you are picked up in your hotel lobby in the early morning, you will take a bullet train to Hangzhou. This is the fastest way to Hangzhou and you can experience train speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. Your tour begins at one of Hangzhou's signature sites, the West Lake. Enjoy a lake cruise to see the top ten West Lake scenic views. You will then be taken to experience the wonderful cuisine of Hangzhou at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will visit Faxi temple, a well-known Temple dating back to the Jin Dynasty. See its famous wooden Buddha. Here, you will see fewer tourists and more locals. Finally, enjoy a cup of green tea when you visit the famous Longjing village to see wild fields of Longjing tea bushes where the locals produce the world famous green tea- Longjing Tea. In the village, all locals are tea farmers and you will see the entire procedure of making the famous tea and will get the chance to taste the best quality emperor tea. Afterwards, you will take the bullet train back to Shanghai and you will be returned to your hotel.