Sanya Food

Sanya is a tourist destination which is total different other place in north China such as Xijiang when you have Silk Road tours. The food in Sanya is characterized by seafood.

Since Sanya is a city having close to the sea, there is plenty of seafood. Both of the hotels and a number of roadside booths serve the freshest seafood. Abalone, sea cucumbers and sea urchins are three kinds of rare seafood in Sanya. Fresh is the most accurate word to describe the seafood of Sanya.
In addition to the seafood, the most famous four dishes of Hainan are worth tasting. Wenchang Chicken, which is famous for its tender meat and succulent bone marrow; Dongshan Lamb or muttonwhich is known for the tender meat and strong soup; Jiaji Duck featured by special ginger, soy, and pepper sauce; and festive crab characterized with best served, steamed to retain its fresh flavor. These four dishes with special flavors are favored by the tourists both domestic and overseas.

Sanya is a city with more than 20 nationalities and it is said that the original inhabitants are the Li people. The Bamboo Tube Food is a Li folk food favored by the westerners very much. Rice, small meat chunks, pea, coconut kernel and seasoning are stuffed into a piece of bamboo trunk and baked on charcoal. Once you try it, you will want to eat it again.
Another recommended unique food is Nanshan Vegetarian Food. It has a mix of all kinds of favors. Nanshan Vegetarian Food is regarded as a wonder of the world. Material selection is very strict and the process is very refined. This dish is not only rich in nutrition but also full of health value. If you eat this kind of vegetarian food frequently, you can maintain facial beauty and slow down the caducity.
The seafood is usually very expensive and many restaurants make a trip for tourists. But if you take a China tour packages, your tour guide will help you escape it.

rules for first-time China travelers

If you have no plan to join in China travel deals and want to travel alone, the following rules you should abide by for the first-time China travelers.

“First is language. People have to be prepared for the experience of not speaking their language. It can be a very humbling experience if you're in a place where no one around you speaks your language.

“Second, be open to trying new things. When you travel around China, there's an incredible culture in the cuisine, but it’s very foreign to most people.

“The third thing concerns shopping. People are convinced that coming to China, things are cheap. I say, 'It’s not cheap.' There are things you can find that are inexpensive and of good value, but it’s not so cheap.

“Fourth is to get a local contact. You can eat in a great local restaurant and get better quality for half the price of a tourist place if you know the right person.”

If you still have other questions you can contact China tour agents who will give you the information you need. But I think these four rules are most important.

Ancient Towns in Danger

Many foreign tourists are always lost in the Chinese ancient buildings when they travel to China and many ancient towns are best choice for top China tours, but ancient villages are in danger of losing their souls.

China is carrying out protection on its intangible cultural heritages in recent years. As an important part of traditional cultural resources, ancient villages are attracting wide attention. However, in the course of the integration of urban and rural areas, ancient villages are being impacted by urban culture, external culture and mainstream culture and their integrity and cultural elements are facing unprecedented challenges.

According to surveys and records by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China, the Chinese Folk Literature and Art Society and the Rural Architecture Research Office under the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University, China had about 5,000 ancient villages reflecting its farming culture, including villages of folk houses, folk cultures and intangible cultural heritages in 2005. By June 2012, the number had decreased to less than 3,000.

Currently, China's protection of ancient villages tends to emphasize tangible cultural heritages including the appearance, scenic spots and architecture. However, we should realize that an ancient village is an integrated entity with its external appearance, internal core and soul. Every ancient village is an inseparable combination of tangible and intangible cultural heritages depending on each other. If we protect only the material part and ignore the spiritual one, then we are just protecting specimens without souls and lives. We must fully realize the value of intangible cultural heritages of ancient villages.

Ancient villages present intangible cultural heritages in an integrated, systematic, comprehensive, practical, ecological and vivid manner. Feng Jicai, director of the Committee of Experts for Protecting Intangible Cultural Heritages, said, "The deepest root of the Chinese nation is in the villages and the brightness, diversity, originality and creativity of the Chinese culture are also there."

Ancient villages are museums of folk cultural ecosystems and a living cultural heritage that is still being passed down. However, many intangible cultural heritages are disappearing in these villages. Taking folk language as an example, in most ancient villages of minorities in remote regions, there was no written language in the past so its collective wisdom was spread through an oral culture. There is no written record of these oral cultures and as society develops, many young people have left their villages and their interests turn to popular culture. As inheritors of these folk cultures pass away successively, these cultures are facing extinction. Currently, epics from many remote regions are not inherited and sung by local youths but by tourism developers. Since these outsiders do not deeply cherish and understand these cultures, it is hard for them to showcase the essence and core of these cultures, leading to "fake cultures" and "fast food cultures" in some areas. Therefore, Feng believes that these folk cultures accumulated in the past hundreds or thousands of years are shaking and collapsing.

People living in the villages are consciously or unconsciously creating cultures that have characteristics of the times, leading to the diversity of local cultures. It is an impetus and source of ceaseless human development. The tangible and intangible cultural heritages of ancient villages both contain abundant and profound historical and cultural information and these diversified village cultures reflect the richness and profundity of Chinese culture. Therefore, we must realize that besides protecting a silk handicraft, a story or an artist, the diversity of human cultures should also be protected in the future. In the long run, it will lay a solid foundation for the scientific, healthy and sustainable development of Chinese culture.

The ancient town is cultural heritage from our ancestor. We should carefully protect them. In addition, they also help the local economical development because of China tourism.

The Tranquility of Southeast Guizhou

Guizhou province is not a economic developed place in China but its tranquility and the special of minority attract many tourists when travel to China. Southeast Guizhou is the most attractive place of this province. Their stone or wooden houses, drum towers and roofed-bridges contribute to its architecture forms. A major charm is the magnificence of the ethnic culture...
Kaili

Many tourists seldomly hear of Kaili ancient town compared with other famous ancient towns in China. Some famous films once were shot here. Kaili city is the capital of Miao and Dong minority autonomous region and the central tourist city in west east part.
Miao costumes and silver wears

The costume of Miao people is famous for its various styles and bright colours. Du Fu, one of the greatest poets in Tang Dynasty (618-907), wrote a famous poem to describe it: “Costumes of Wuxi people are as beautiful as colorful clouds in the sky.” There are more than one hundred styles of costumes for women, which is the most among Chinese ethnic groups. The traditional formal festival costume is typical in this aspect, for example, there are dozens of kinds of headdresses on their coiled hair.

Usually the women wear short coat with narrowed sleeves, wide collar and buttons on the middle line in front, and pleated skirt, which can be short that could not cover the knees or long that can reach the ankles. It is elegant and beautiful to wear them.
In casual occasions, women usually have a kerchief on the head, wear a wide button-line short coat and embroidery-laced long trousers, tie an embroidered apron, and dress up with a few delicate silver wears.

However, the men’s wear is relatively less complicated. They usually wear middle-line-buttoned short coat or right-buttoned long gown, and wrap the head with a cyan head kerchief.
The art of costume of Miao people lived in Leigongshan Area is the typical representative and essence of art of Miao costumes. Miao is an ancient ethnic group in China, and the Miao costume in Leigongshan Area has also formed and developed with the formation and development of their group.

The development of Miao costume has undergone a long history. In terms of cloth, tree leaves were used to cover the body at the beginning, and later animal skins were used. Then people learnt how to weave with some kinds of plant fibers. Gradually, they reared silkworms for silk, and grew cotton to weave cotton cloth. And now both cloth and silk are used to make clothes.
In terms of dyeing materials, earthy mineral dyeing materials were used at first, and then vegetative fat and animal grease dyeing materials were in widely use and gradually have occupied absolute predominance.

In terms of ornaments, shells, animal bones and feathers were used for adornment and hard animal skins for protection at the beginning, and later jade stones were used for adornment and metal armor for protection. And at last, they have developed into silver wears with festival costumes.
The special customs and lifestyle and its natural beauty will feast the visitors' eye. It is one of classic China tours for many foreign tourists.

Paradise on the Earth -- Tiantai Mountain

Tiantai Mountain is located in Qionglai ( Chengdu , Sichuan Province), which is one of the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries (world natural heritage site), as well as a national scenery spot of China tour with unique looking. The syncline hilly area landform of this spot is rarely seen in China. The whole area is mountainous, with wandering and clean river. The weather here is warm in winter and cool in summer, which makes it ever spring. You can see fantastic plants and rocks everywhere there. “Playing with water on high mountains” is the special tourism brand of Tiantai Mountain. The water goes as far as the height of the mountain, showing the romantic spirit of Tiantai Mountain. More than 10 tourist activities closely related to water in spots such as 18-li (9000-meter) Vanilla Valley, Small Jiuzhaigou and Mottled Stone Sea enable you to have a close contact with the wander river and springs on Tiantai Mountain in the hot summer, feeling cool.

The spots in Tiantai Mountain are abundant yet centralized. Tiantai Mountain faces Chengdu Plain and leans on the mountains of the southwest of Sichuan. On this mountain you can see the sea of clouds after rain, and in some scenery spots such as Moyun Rock you can witness the sky light. Yuxiao Peak the main peak is 1,812 meters above sea level, the shape of which is like a platform in the sky, and this gives Tiantai Mountain its name. In this painting-like area you can see the sunrise in the east and clouds in the west. There are 7 waterfalls in this mountain, with Xiangshuitan Waterfall being the greatest one. The 20-meter wide waterfall falls down from 40-meter high, making thunderous sound. There are more than 80 kinds of flowers such as camellias and rhododendrons. More than 360 kinds of tree cover the whole mountain, with over 50 kinds of wild animals living in it. There are also more than 270 precious kinds of butterflies including the monarch butterflies, as well as 17 kinds of fireflies. The butterfly and firefly-viewing activity in this scenery spot has become a popular program of ecological tourism. Here we have “10 miles of tree-line avenues” in summer and “forests on snowy land” in winter. In spring, flowers in the mountain blossom and leaves change the colors. Tiantai Mountain is famous for its unique rocks, clear water and deep forest.

The thick virgin forest take you to the peaceful nature from noisy daily life; the transgress mountains and unique rocks show you how wonderful and beautiful Tiantai Mountain is; the remains of 108 temples of the legend of Monk Court let you know great history of Tiantai.

Scenery Spots

Mottled Stone Sea

Mottled Stone Sea is one of the most beautiful Haizi (lake on the high mountain) in Tiantai Mountain. It is 60 meters wide, 650 meters long, with an average depth of 3 meters and 100 meters at the deepest. Around the lake there are many mottled stones. The water in the lake is as clean as the sky, as peaceful as the mirror, as clear as the crystal. There are many different colors in the water; stones with unique textures are everywhere to see. The reflection of trees on banks is clear to see in the river. When the tourists are having a rest, they can see “fishes traveling between clouds and birds resting on water plants”. You can also take a boat to enjoy “traveling in a painting”. Maybe this scenery spot can be described by editing a famous poem: You are watching the scenery on the raft, and people are watching you on the bridge; you are moved by what you see when you also become part of others’ dream.

In the ancient times, Luyou and Wentong came to visit this spot. Lu You made a famous poem and a postscript saying: Chongdao Temple governed by me is built below Yuxiao Peak. Wen Tong drew a painting showing “mountain surrounded by water and giant rocks are one the steep cliffs”

Butterfly Shoal

The stream bed is wide with “Danxia” and aqua color water. Both of the vanilla grasses of the small stream distribute round seductive smell. More grandly, clusteries of butterflies move with smelling the fragrance after the rain. White, black, red, yellow and purple and so on, multi-colored butterflies play and dance on the stream. According to the statistics, almost 320 kinds of butterflies embellish the beautiful Golden Dragon River more nimbus. Many butterfly fans come to this spot to take photos. Butterfly shoal is famous for butterflies. It’s as wonderful as Butterfly Spring in Yunnan , if not more wonderful.

Three Enchantments of Lissome Water

Three Enchantments of Lissom Water is one of the famous spots in Tiantai Mountain. It is located at the third-tier resort of Tiantai Mountain (containing Vanilla Cascade, Dragon Waterfall, and Moon Cave Water Screen), is famed for three landscapes of high altitude and water course, which are sometimes intermingled unvarying and lusty, sometimes ebullient and peppy, sometimes inert and vitalised, sometimes charismatic and zippy, and sometimes flamboyant and pristine. Cascade, water screen, and waterfall present you, from different perspectives, an alluring magic of Tiantai. The annual average temperature here is 10℃.

Mottled Stone Forest

Mottled Stone Forest, covering an area of 2 square kilometers, is also called Mottled Stone Labyrinth. Stone forest was formed by crustal movement 10 million years ago. Rocks weathered and eroded by water settled and piled up in the long history to form bibbley-rocks, and finally became the hoodoo rock seen today as washed and cracked by rainwater. If you do not observe carefully, you will probably take them the fake hills in the garden by mistake instead of the works by nature.

There are 2 differences between Mottled Stone Forest and Lunan Stone Forest in Yunnan: 1. It smaller with an area of about 2 kilometer square; 2. the components are more complicated (mainly bibbley-rocks, containing lime stones, sandstones, quartzite and few volcano stones.). Lunan Stone Forest consists mainly of pure lime stones.

Small Jiuzhaigou

Small Jiuzhaigou sits in the halfway of Tiantai Mountain. Jinlong River flows down to form a scenic waterway with three major curves and six minor curves, featuring charming scenery including springs, creeks, riffles, gullies, ponds and underground rivers. There are colorful fishes swimming in the water, sometimes you can even witness the precious giant salamanders. The river beds of Small Jiuzhaigou all consist of integrated red placer rocks, which is the representative of Danxia landform in Tiantai. The water that reaches your ankle flows on the flat red river bed, providing great place for water playing programs such as “running in the water from high mountains” and “tugging war in the water”. There are many plants along the river banks, forming a low bush forest area, in which so many different flowers fight to show their beauty, especially the camellias which duration of flowering is from November to March next year. The flowers become more clear and stunning on the snowy land in winter. To give the tourists more convenience to view the flowers in winter, this place is specially opened as “Camellia Corridor”. The largest scope of camellias in Tiantai is in Chuanxi (the west of Sichuan) area. It is regarded as one of the 8 city flowers in Chengdu.

Tiantai Mountain is an attractive spots for those who like China landscape tours. So don't miss it, if you visit Sichuan.

An Exotic Flower in Architectural Art History - Fujian Tulou

Have you ever visit Fujian Province when you travel to China ? The following will introduce the general information of Fujian Tulou.

Fujian Tulou refers to a type of Chinese rural dwelling of the Hakka and others in the mountainous area in southeastern Fujian Province.

Fujian Tulou refers to a type of Chinese rural dwellings of the Hakka and others in the mountainous area in southeast Fujian Province. The number of Tulou in Fujian reached over 3,000. They were mostly constructed between the 12th and the 20th centuries.

Fujian Tulou, with its long history, varieties, large-scale, curiousness in structure and complete-function, is praised as “oriental ancient castle”, “an exotic flower in the world construction art history”. A tulou is constructed with rammed earth with high walls between three and five stories. The tulou is usually large, enclosed and fortified, rectangle and circular in shape and shelter near 80 families.

One common feature of tulou is long construction period. An ordinary tulou needs two or three years to finish and a larger one takes decades which uses 300 to 500 cubic meter of wood. The fortified outer structures are formed by compacting earth, mixed with stone, bamboo, wood and other readily-available materials to form the wall up to 1.8 meters thick. Branches, strips of wood and bamboo chips are often laid in the wall for reinforcement. So the Tulou is well-lit, well-ventilated, windproof and earthquake-proof building that is warm in winter and cool in summer.

Tulous share one common character, i.e. defense function. All tulous only have one main gate with thick wall which make it an impregnable fortress. To guard against an enemy destroying the front doors with fire, some door are equipped with water tanks on top to quench fires set by the enemy. When an emergency occurs, dwellers can escape from secret tunnels.

The tulou was first constructed in Song dynasty and further developed in early Ming dynasty. The architectural skill became maturate step by step in Qing dynasty. Tulou follows the construction of “harmony between man and nature” of the Oriental philosophy and geomancy with the axis as the symmetry of the layout. In addition, the tulou building have nurtured local ways of production and lifestyle and fostered colorful intangible cultures.

Fujian tulou will make the tourist have a different traveling experiences which is different from that of Yangtze River Cruise.

How Much Do You Know about Dumpling?

The traditional food is the indispensable dish for many foreign tourists when they travel to China. Jiaozi or dumplings is one of must-eat food. But how much do you know Jiaozi

Dumpling is the very featured but ordinary food in north China. People usually eat dumplings on Spring Festival, Lantern Festival and winter solstice.
Dumpling is the very featured but ordinary food in north China. People usually eat dumpling on Spring Festival, Lantern Festival and winter solstice. Xi’an Dumpling Banquet is brought forth new ideas in its shape, color and taste; meanwhile, is added ancient culture. Thus the dumpling is not only one kind of simple flour food.

Xi’an Dumpling Banquet is created by a dumpling restaurant in Xi’an. In the earlier 1980s, the tourism in Xi’an boomed and many tourists from home and abroad came to Xi’an. An idea that the dumplings can be evolved into special local favorite came to mind of the staffs from dumpling restaurant. So the Dumpling Banquet came into being after a painstaking study and apprenticeship.
Now, there are 108 kinds of dumplings. People used to use pork, beef, mutton and vegetable as its stuffing. But now the stuffing includes chicken, duck, fish, egg, fruit, seafood, etc. Concerning with the taste, many tastes are added such as sour, sweet, peppery, etc. As for shape, the traditional crescent-like dumplings has been evolved into various shapes such as flower, animals, etc.
Xi’an Dumpling Banquet makes many visitors impressive so that eating Dumpling Banquet becomes a must for tourists coming to Xian. Dumpling Restaurant on Jiefang Road gain considerable fame for its high-quality and is awarded “Golden Tripod”.

Some folk sayings about dumplings as having one dumplings means that everything goes off smoothly, two fro double happiness coming at the same time. So when you taste the delicious dumpling, you can also enjoy the stories and receive a beautiful blessing.
As you eat the dumplings, the number of dumplings you eat has the different meaning and blessing. One dumpling means plain sailings; two is double happiness coming at the same time; three dumplings means going up three grades in a row; four dumplings means getting rich all year round; five dumplings mean an abundant harvest of all food crops; six dumplings means that everything will go well; seven dumplings mean good luck; eight dumplings means that the Eight Immortals crossing the sea (a folk legendary); nine dumplings means the highest above all and ten dumplings means be perfect in everything.
When you have a Xian tour, remember to eat the dumpling banquet, which is different from the food that you eat in any other attractions, or the food when you cruise on Yangtze River.

Travel Alone in China

The globe is flattening! People easily access huge amount of online travel information to guide their trips to any corners in this world without or with less help from a travel agency.
Things were a world of difference 20 years ago. During that non-online period, people traveling relied heavily on a traditional travel agency. A travel agency played a key role in lingking travelers and target places. Now things have totally changed with the advent of internet. We are all in a small and flattening village. Now people know how to travel on their own and no more need travel agencies or less depend on them as before.
So how to plan your independent travel to China particularly? Below are some useful independent travel tips for your references:
Where to go
China is so huge that it is necessary for you study meticulously to map out your travel itinerary before you go. The 4 cities – Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Guilin are usually among the top list.
Needless to say, Beijing is a must visit place. It is the political, cultural and commercial center in China. To learn about China’s history, you should go to Xian with over 2000-year history. Its highlight is Terra-cotta Army, the most outstanding archaeological findings in twentieth century.
Shanghai, the site 2010 World Expo, is the vanguard in the global battle against the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Shanghai leads China’s charge toward modernization. Guilin is the most mesmerizing city in China with beautiful Li River and water town – Yangshuo and some other destinations of China scenery tour.
Besides the 4 cities, you have a variety of choices – Lhasa Tibet, Chengdu (panda), Jiuzhaigou, Lijiang Yunnan, Hangzhou, Mt. Huangshan, Silk Road, Yangtze River Cruise, Zhangjiajie, and many more.
When to go
One of the views catching your eyes when you step on any of the cities in China is the amount of its people – “People Mountain, People Sea” as the Chinese Proverb goes. To avoid the crowds, you are strongly advised not to schedule your trip to China on the following public holidays in China:
New Year’Day ( 1st Jan, three-day holiday )
Chinese New Year ( later Jan and early Feb )
Tomb Sweeping Day ( Early April, 3-day holiday )
Mid-Autumn festival ( Aug-Sept, 3-day holiday )
May Day ( 1st May, three-day holiday)
National Day (1st Oct, week-long holiday
The best season to go
Later March, April, May, September, October and early November are the best time to visit China. The travel expenses during these periods are relatively higher. To get a better deal in traveling to China, you are advised to come to China in low season – Later November, December, January, and February.
Where to book your international flights for China
So you know where to go and when to go for your China trip, the next thing you should do is to book your international round trip flights for China. You may use your own travel agency at home or the online flight booking travel webs such as CheapTickets.com – Expedia.com – Hotwire.com – Kayak.com – Orbitz.com – Priceline.com – Travelocity.com.
Where to book your hotels, flights and trains in China
For China hotel booking, you may ask your travel agent to do it for you. Or you may check the hotels through the online hotel booking travel wesbsites such as hotels.english.ctrip.com – expedia.com – travelocity.com – booking.com – priceonline.com and many more. For the Beijing hotels booking, please visit www.beijingpage.com/hotels or www.beijinghotellist.com for more information.
As for the train ticket booking, you will have some difficulty since there is no official online train ticket online booking travel website at present. You are supposed to reserve your train tickets through the local travel agency. Booking and delivery fees will be charged. The tickets go on sale 10 days in advance of the departure. So you are requested to reserve your tickets at least 12 days in advance.
What to learn before you go
1. You need a passport and a tourist visa
2. Learn how to pack – carry the light, right clothes
3. Learn some basic knowledge about Chinese culture and history
4. Learn some Chinese simple sentences:
Are you going to visit Beijing China? Worried about your inability to speak Chinese ? Please find below the useful information for you:
a. It’s better to pick up some simple Chinese phrases before going. How to learn Chinese?
You may turn to the following page for help:
Learning Useful Chinese Phrases for Travellers
Note: Chinese is a phonic language , very often similar words have different meanings based on pronounciation and different words have similar pronounciation. No pain, no gain!
b. You may go to your local bookstore or library and getting some audio tapes for Chinese learning.
c. You also try to find a community college or school offering Chinese learning for beginners.
d. Each year a huge number of travellers with little knowledge of Chinese language visit or even work in China, actually you will have no big problem at all. You know more and more local Chinese are learning English. And they are pleased to practice with you. No worry! You can find assistance anywhere.
On the road
There ar some aspects you need to give consideration to when on the road and how to deal with them:
1.Staying healthy and avoiding Food Poisoning
Choose clean restaurants to dine and reduce the chances of diarrhoea during a long trip.
2.Trains
Be extra mindful of your things at night, as theft is rampant on popular routes – chain possessions up and keep them near.
In some bigh cities, there are two or more than two train stations. So you should be clear of which train station you are going to take.
3. Buses
To take public buses n Chna is an experience in itself. Buu they are often over-crowded, and sometimes getting a seat is impossible. So get ready to squeeze in or stand. The bus service is not very punctual, so make sure to have much patience for your bus trip. Usually on some busese there is a person whose main job is to sell tickets. However, many bus lines don’t have a person selling tickets – a kind of no-person selling tickt bus. It is written on bus windows. In these cases, you have to be ready for some exact changes or small money for the tickets.
4.Taxi
Black drivers are quite active in some cities. Official taxis have a taxi sign on the roof, and on the dashboard on the passenger side is a placard with the drivers registration number. If this placard is missing then avoid it. At your destination, you should requrst a fappiao (a receipt, which is generated by the meter). If the meter isn’t working, you can refuse to pay, and if the driver threatens to call the police, encourage him to do so. At this point he will write a hand-written fappiao, but make sure he (or you) writes down the car registration and the driver registration before paying your mo for the taxi.
5. Flights
For domestic flights, you will get better discount from local travel agency or flight booking agent than in your originating country or booked on the budget carriers website. In some big cities, there is more than one airport and each airport has more than one terminal. So make sure you get the right airport and right terminal.
6. Hotels
In some hotels, there exits sex service offered by clandestine sex workers. They have three ways to contact you for the servce: 1) Sneakily deliver small card under the door to your room. The card is printed with the hotline for sex service 2) Official message on your desk in your room regarding message information. Many of the message services including sex trade 3) At mid-night, very often you will receive a call from your the sex trade provider. If so, just avoid it!
7. Pick pocketing and casual theft
Quite frankly there is no reason to carry around anything near to a large sum of money or important documents in your pockets.
8. Dealing with hassle and beggars
In many cities in Chin, like else where in the world, you have to deal with the day-to-day hassle of touts, street vendors as well as beggars in the tourist areas. You also have to get used to the constant need to bargain.
Don’t give to beggars that are specifically targeting tourists and especially not to children.
In dealing with touts, salesmen, please be firm, polite and accompany your firm “no thank you” with a smile. After that don’t make eye contact, don’t keep repeatedly saying “no” or get angry. Try to deal with minor irritations with humour rather than being too assertive or worse, aggressive
9. Toilets
The majority of toilets at tourist sites are of the squat type. This is pretty much always the case where facilities are geared for locals such as at bus stations, restaurants and cheap hotels. But things are better in the luxury hotels and restaurants. For squat toilets, you have to get used to the pungent smell as well as to the squat method and hey. One lucky thing by using a squat type toilet is that at least you won’t catch anything off a toilet seat. There is often no supply of toilet paper at cheap places. So always make sure you have a small supply with you. Remembering not to throw your toilet paper in the toilet. The pipe systems are too narrow and will get clogged up.

An unknown ancient town -- Huangyao old town of Hezhou

Huangyao Old Town is unfamiliar for many tourists when they have a China travel. It, unlike Pingyao Ancient Town, doesn't belong to one of top 10 China tours destinations.

It has been such describe the Huangyao: "Huangyao town as a millennium collection, have been forgotten in the library quiet on the shelves when people come inadvertently turned this beautiful chapter, Simple and elegant style to conquer the hearts of the people."

Huang Yao Autonomous County in wide, is a 900 years of history and culture of the Ming and Qing Dynasties town, or a 900 years of history, culture, an ancient town, known as the "dream home" is.

Huangyao ancient town, was like a circle to the place: Road through a stone arch, walking green stone road, you very quietly shuttle around some local people, not many local tourists. The bridge, running water, ponds, Yuan feeling ... that seems to be walking walking occasionally encountered a large banyan tree, or a small history of what old house.

Town full of Lingnan style, will not only see vegetable garden, you can see villagers laundry with a very local characteristics of the pool. Huangyao is such a quiet, compact, like a corner, will be inadvertently discovered by the handsome faces deeply attracted.

Learn Simple Chinese before Traveling to China

Do you want to learn some useful Chinese phrases before starting your China tour? Now you are on the right place of free learning of useful Chinese phrases for travelers.

Many tourists think:"I will join a China travel package, so I don't need to learn Chinese". Even though you decide to join a tour to China. Learning some simple Chinese will help you have a easy trip in China.

Chinese is a tonal language, a language with many homonyms ( words of different meaning but with similar pronunciation ). Mandarin has four tones:

First tone ( - ): the voice is pitched quite high,High and level;

Second tone ( / ): the voice rises rather like asking a question,rises to the top;

Third tone ( V ): the voice dips and then rises;

Fourth tone ( \ ): the voice starts at the top, then falls away.

Below is an example of how the tones change the meaning:

Pinyin ( spell & sound )

In 1958 the Chinese offically adopted a system known as pinyin as a method of writing their language using Roman alphabet. Pinyin is a romanization and not an anglicization; it makes use of Roman letters to represent sounds in Standard Mandarin. The way these letters represent sounds in Standard Mandarin will be different from other languages that make use of the Roman alphabet represent sound. Pinyin is quite useful in China, especially in majior cities, on shop fronts, street names and advertising etc. When Chinese people write their own names in Englsih, they use Pinyin.

English: Where are you from?

Putonghua ( Mandarin ): 你从哪里来?

Pinyin: Ni cong nai li lai?

Pronunciation

The main purpose of pinyin is to help people learn Standard Mandarin pronunciation. Pinyin vowels are pronounced quite similarly to the vowels in Romance languages, and most consonants are also similar to English. But there are some pitfalls: the strange pronunciation of x, q, c, zh, and z and the unvoiced pronunciation of d, b, g, and j. The pronunciation of Chinese is generally offered in terms of initials and finals that represent the segmental phonemic portion of the language. Initials are initial consonants and finals are all possible mixtures of medials, the nucleus vowel, final vowel or consonant.

Useful Chinese Phrases:

Useful Expressions between Chinese and Eglish

When you travel to China alone, how do you let the local people understand you and get what you want?
The following expressions will help you a lot. When you decide to some place of China, you can print these expressions and show them to the local Chinese.
Airport
Boarding（登机）：
Could you speak English? 你说英语吗？
Excuse me, where are the restrooms/toilets？请问，厕所在哪儿？
Could you take me there please? 您能带我去哪儿吗？

Where can I get my boarding pass and have my luggage weighed? 请问，在哪里换登机牌给行李称重？

Excuse me, could you tell me how to go to departure gate? 打扰一下，请问登机口怎么走
Do we need to re-check our luggage after loading? 行李还需要写下来重新再登机吗？
Do I need to show my ID card or passport documents? 需不需要出示我的身份证或护照有效证件？
Where to find my luggage please? 请问，在哪里领取我的行李。
Excuse me, where is the exit, please? 请问出口在哪里？
Where can I find the airport luggage cart, please? 在哪里能找到机场行李推车？
Could you tell me where the airport restaurant is? How to get there? 请问机场里的饭店在哪里？ 怎么走？
Where can I buy a telephone card for me to call someone in China? 在哪里能买到打到中国的电话卡？
How much is it? 多少钱？
How to use this phone card? Could you please give me a demo if it? 这张电话卡怎么用，能不能演示给我看
Is there a money changer at the airport? 请问，机场这里有没有兑换货币处？
Transfer (转机)：
Where is transfer counter? 请问，转机柜台在哪里？
Could you show me how to go to check-in entrance, please? 您能不能带我去登机入口处？
Where can I get shuttle bus please? 请问在哪里坐大巴？
Excuse me, where can I get taxi to…? 请问，去…的出租车在哪儿坐？

Pingyao Internation Photography Festival in Sept.

For the photography-lovers, the best time to travel China is in October when the China International Photo Festival will be held in Pingyao Ancient Town from Sept.19 to Sept.25.

During the festival, Pingyao's old town, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1997, becomes one large, indoor and open-air photo gallery, with photo exhibits from professional and amateur photographers from every continent, representing upwards of fifty countries on average, and including the works of many renowned Chinese and international photographers.

The festival is organized around a chosen central theme each year. Under the umbrella, as it were, of the chosen overarching theme, the exhibition is divided into a number of sub-themes, usually 4-5 such sub-themes. To facilitate these subdivisions, the exhibits – some of which may be large montages – are situated in each its physical area, though in some cases (if the subdivision is very large), a single subdivision may be divided into two or more physical areas, so as to create more space for the large crowds that attend this popular annual festival, which is China's preeminent photography exhibition. Within each subdivision, there are further subdivisions for works from China, works from Europe, North America, etc.

Photography-lovers shouldn't missed the festival and plan to deal with your China tours.

Places in China Suitable for adventure-lovers

1.Explore Silk Road

The Silk Road (from German: Seidenstraße) or Silk Route is a modern term referring to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa. Extending 4,000 miles (6,500 km), the Silk Road gets its name from the lucrative Chinese silk trade along it, which began during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). The central Asian sections of the trade routes were expanded around 114 BC by the Han dynasty, [not in citation given] largely through the missions and explorations of Zhang Qian, but earlier trade routes.

2. Shangri-la Discovery

Shangri-La is the "Eden in dream". Since it first appeared in British novelistJames Hilton's Lost Horizon in the 1939, it has been associated withthe mystique of a place which could not possibly exist here on Earth. In Tibetan,Shangri-La means the "sun and moon in heart", an ideal home only found in heaven.There the lofty and continuous snowy mountains, endless grasslands, steep andgrand gorges, azure lakes and the bucolic villages always leave a deep impressionon visitors. Located at point where Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan all meet, Shangri-La County is administered by Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. In the past, Shangri-La was called Zhongdian or "Jiantang" in Tibetan. In ancient times, it together with Batang (in Tibet) and Litang (in Sichuan) was the fiefdom of the three sons of a Tibetan King. In 2002, Zhongdian changed its name to Shangri-La.

3. Travel around Tibet

Tibet Autonomous Region is located in the southwest China, the main part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It borders on Sichuan and Yunnan provinces to the east, Qinghai and Xinjiang to the north. Famous for the "Roof of the World", the region has an average elevation of more than 4,000 meters with various complex landforms, such as: high and steep mountains, deep valleys, glaciers, bare rocks and Gobi deserts. It is bitterly hot in summer, with a distinct difference in temperature between day and night.

With the strong influence from the geography of the Himalayas, and the neighboring civilizations of India and China, Tibet is famous for its imposing scenery, culture and history, which firmly rooted in Tibetan religion. As soon as you step onto this mysterious land and follow the tracks of the pilgrims, you will not only be immediately attracted by the snow-clad peaks, the wonderful mountains and rivers, but also the brilliant Tibetan culture and the unique, mysterious customs of the highland.

Most Picturesque Natural Places in China

I am always conjured up with the image of the natural and beautiful natural scenery. I really very like the natural beauty. I usually climb mountain and visit the nearby picturesque suburbs on weekends. Even though I haven't visit all the beautiful and natural places in China, I want to introduce these places in my diary. Now let's begin our China natural scenery tours.

1. Li River

The Li River from Zhujiang Pier (Guilin city suburbs) to Yangshuo is like an artist's masterpiece. The landscape is decorated with startling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves and farming villages, and is lined with bamboo groves. In a Chinese poem it is written: "The river is a green silk ribbon, and the hills are jade hairpins".

2. Lake Namtso

Lake Namtso means "holy lake" in the Tibetan language. At an elevation of 4,718 meters, it is the highest-altitude salt lake in the world. The water in the lake for the most part arises from rains, melted ice and snow of Nyenchen Tonglha Mountains and the inflow of crooks and streams, hence the lake is very clear and limpid. With the lake surface assuming sky blue, the lake and the sky seem to be one and undivided, which may make visitors feel themselves in a fairy land if they have a stroll by the lake.

3. Yangtze River

The Yangtze is the third longest river in the World, but the longest river within a single country. The Yangtze River has a good case for being the most interesting and popular river in the world. It has the widest variety of outstanding tourist attractions, scenery and culture along its length, all contained within China, and holds several world records. Cruising on Yangtze River will feast your eyes.

4. Guizhou: Huangguoshu Waterfall

The highest waterfall in Asia, majestic Huangguoshu "Yellow Fruit Tree" Waterfall plunges a dramatic 77.8 meters across a 101-meter-wide span. It's one of a handful of mammoth waterfalls in the world that's accessible for viewing from almost any angle -- from above, below, front, back, left or right. The best visiting season is June to August, when the water reaches a peak flow of 700 cubic meters per second.

Admission fee: RMB 180 between March 1-October 31; RMB 160 between Novermber 1-February 28

Tips for a Successful China Tour

If you decided an independent China tour without a China travel agency, you have a lot to consider. Before you start your journey, consider the following author-tested tips for planning the perfect China tour.

When and Where to go

China is a vast country with various climates, so that you should choose the right time to visit different parts of China. Usually, it is very cold in winter and hot in summer in north China, while in the south China, the winter is mild and the summer is less hot than that of north China. So from April to November is the best time to visit the north China and you can go to south China all year round.

Clued-up visitors face an infinite choice of alternative settings and activities. There are many old towns such as Ancient Town of Lijiang in Yunnan Province, the ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi Province, etc. These places enable you to feel ancient Chinese culture and tradition. Wolong Natural Reserve showcases various rare animals such as giant pandas and lesser pandas. If you are lucky, you may come across wild men when visit Shengnongjia National Nature Reserve. Maybe Tibet tour is a favorite for many travel-lovers from home and abroad. But if you don’t best know Tibetan taboos, you easily offend a person. Remember never go to Tibet in winter.

How and what to book

The majority of midrange and upmarket travelers prefer to get all the hard work down by booking through travel agents or travel companies before arriving in China. But as for independent travelers or backpackers, this means you will cost more money. If you are going for the economic routes, it is often much cheaper to arrange everything after arriving with premise that you have consult enough information via internet. Most independent travelers or backpackers choose hostels which is cheap and clean and where you can make friends with other travelers worldwide.

How to bargain

Bargaining is an art in China. However it doesn’t mean you can haggle over price of a good in all shops. Usually you are not allowed to bargain in exclusive shops and supermarkets. If you pick a good, don’t hurry to buy. The same good may be found in other shops with different price. When bargain with shopkeepers, if the price you offer is not accepted, just leave. Shopkeepers often drop price if you start to leave. While the shopkeepers don’t drop the price, it proves that the price you offer is not reasonable and you can try in another shop with reasonable price.

Hidden Beautiful Landscapes in Yunnan Province

Yunnan is known as one of popular China tour destination. We have very familiar with attractions in Yannan such as Lijiang Ancient Town, Stone Forests and so on. And many China ethnic groups live here. Now let's begin China minority tours in Yunnan. I will introduce some picturesque places unknown by people.

Bamei

The famous Chinese litterateur Tao Yuanming who lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) once described of a Peach Blossom Valley isolated from the hustle and bustle of the ordinary world. People lived there in peaceful, serene isolation. The description of Tao Yuanming came true when Bamei Village was discovered.

Located 30km from Guangnan County in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, and situated in a 30sqkm fertile basin at an altitude of 700 metres, Bamei Village is sheltered by great amphitheatres of mountains. Reputed as one of the most isolated communities of Zhuang minority in Guangnan, Bamei is a village without roads. Even up to now, the Bamei River has been the only access in and out of the village.

Visitors have to travel by small boat through a long, dark limestone tunnel. When you emerge from the tunnel you will be amazed. In a hidden valley, among a grove of green bamboos and old trees, lies Bamei Village. A blue stream gently flows by, and hard-working farmers silently till the green fields. It's a picture of another lost Shangri-la.

Due to inconvenient location and hard transit, the village escaped attacks by outsiders and the influences of the modern world, staying as unadorned and as pure as they always were. A well-preserved environment and sub-tropical climate made the area a "Promised Land" for the inhabitants.

Babao

Guangnan Babao scenic spots in the 323 National Road and Guangfu dart Wen Wei Po, was in Yunnan Province to Guangxi's Beihai to the sea transport hub. Babao is a Shanmingshuixiu, stunning scenic areas, but also a fertile land, water sufficient Yumizhixiang. To Qifeng, Xiushui, Feibao, different holes, and other unique landscape and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous style famous in the province and beyond. 1988, the Provincial People's Government approval for the province's scenic spots Babao first provincial-level scenic spots.

Babao is a scenic spot in the subtropical monsoon climate plateau, with an average temperature of 16.5 ℃, into mountains, water, forests, springs, for one hole, tourism and popular science, research and scientific exploration of the multi-functional scenic area. Area is divided into Babao, December 3, River also, Tupper, Tang satisfied that the five Area, 43 spots. Scenic Area to landscape scenery, National Customs as the main body, both unique landscape, heritage sites. Of special products, the flavor of food is also renowned for.

Puzhehei

Sometimes Puzhehei is referred to as Yunnan’s answer to Gulin. Which leads me to wonder what the question was. Located about 175 miles south of Kunming and 7 miles from Qiubei County in Wenshan Prefecture, Puzhehei is inhabited by Miao, Yao, Yi, Bai and Zhuang peoples. Lakes, mountains, karst caves and the generally unspoiled environment make Puzhehei a popular vacation spot for locals but less frequently visited by foreigners who are usually drawn to Lijiang and Dali. Colorful costumes, market villages and a real sense of continuity with the past mark this laid back area as a nice alternative to some of the more heavily trafficked tourist spots.

Popular sights include the 13-mile trip through Luoshuidong, Puzhehei and Xianren Lakes. Luoshuidong Lake is the deepest, it’s crystal clear water running 13 feet deep. Puzhehei Lake is surrounded by mountain peaks and has Yi villages along its shoreline. While rowing or being rowed in the small wooden boats that make excursions on to the lake you will see many fish and shrimp. You can actually swim in these lakes so make sure you bring a bating suit. Houpayan Gorge 60 miles east of Qiubei is also a popular spot for rock climbers. To get to the Immortal Cave from Puzhehei, you can take a taxi or minibus for the 2-mile ride to the Village of the Immortal Cave. In total the area claims 300 peaks, 56 lakes and 83 caves. In season, water lilies are bountiful and make for enjoyable viewing.

One of the real pleasures of being on the lake is being able to have fresh barbecued fish, corn, tofu and other delicacies cooked in a neighboring boat for you. Some of the local dishes available on these floating restaurants include; lotus seed porridge, chicken wrapped in lotus leaves and rice wrapped in lotus leaves.

If you are planing your tour and to jion a China travel service, these places shouldn't be missed. But I browse many China tour website, many classic China tours itineraries don't include these places. If you want to join a tour, you can suggest tour guide to take you these places.

Top Cities in China for foreign tourists I

There are many foreign to China every year. Which cities are the most worthwhile to start your China tours

Beijing

Beijing, Jing for short, is the nation's political, economic, cultural and educational center as well as China's most important center for international trade and communications. Together with Xian, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou, Beijing is one of the six ancient cities in China. It has been the heart and soul of politics and society throughout its long history and consequently there is an unparalleled wealth of discovery to delight and intrigue travelers as they explore Beijing's ancient past and enjoy its exciting modern development.Although now Beijing is a modern and fashionable city complete with full 21st century vitality, you can experience authentic Beijing life and become acquainted with “old Beijing” by exploring its many teahouses, temple fairs, Beijing's hutongs and siheyuans and enjoy the Peking Opera.

With the biggest central square in the world - Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City that is the largest and best-preserved imperial palace complex, a superbly preserved section of the Great Wall, as well as the largest sacrificial complex in the world - the Temple of Heaven, Beijing attracts both domestic and foreign visitors who all come to wonder at its century-old history and unique cultural relics.

Beijing tour should not be miss.

Xian

As for Xian tours, here will only introduce the world-famous terra-cotta army.The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum, Lintong County, Shaanxi Province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China. Upon ascending the throne at the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin Shi Huang, later the first Emperor of all China, had begun to work for his mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. It is speculated that many buried treasures and sacrificial objects had accompanied the emperor in his after life.A group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well nearby the royal tomb in 1974. It caught the attention of archeologists immediately. They came to Xian in droves to study and to extend the digs. They had established beyond doubt that these artifacts were associated with the Qin Dynasty (211-206 BC). The State Council authorized to build a museum on site in 1975. When completed, people from far and near came to visit. Xian and the Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses have become landmarks on all travelers' itinerary.

Shanghai

Shanghai tour should start with the Bund.The Bund is a symbol of Shanghai. The best attraction of the Bund lies in its blocks of antique and graceful buildings. They were not designed by the same architect nor built at the same times, yet they harmonize in architectural tone and the outlines were treated so co-coordinately that no matter you walk in front of them or look at them in a distance, they all present you an air dignity, elegance, magnificence and strength. The majority of the buildings belong to the style of “restoration to the ancients” and eclecticism, except the Sassoon House (now Peace Hotel) and the BroadwayMansions (now Shanghai Mansions), which belong to the early modernist school. When you take a walk along the embankment, you will see pointed Gothic roofs, arches of ancient Greece, Baroque columns, Spanish balconies, displaying before you the rich flavor of foreign lands, so unique and attractive. When night falls and lights are on, the buildings are immersed in a sea of brilliance, each glittering like a crystal palace. Watching form the other side of the river, you will see a dazzling picture like a scene in a magnificent epic. The Bund is worthy of its name as “a gallery of international architectures”.

Where to start travelling in Beijing alone

If you want your China tours beginning with Beijing alone, where to start travelling in Beijing?

Start from Jingshan Mountain.Climbing to the top of Jingshan Mountain (about half an hour), you will get a panoramic view of Forbidden City. Then enter ForbiddenCity from
Shen Wu Men (Gate of Godly Prowess). The journey will take you 3 to 4 hours.

 After visiting Forbidden city, walk toward the south to Tiananmen Square. If you like
museum, you can visit national museum beside the square.The Great Hall of People and Mao Zedong
 Memorial Hall are not far away from Tiananmen Square.

Another choice is: start from the square, then enter Forbidden city. After visiting
Forbidden City, climb the Jinshan Mountain from back gate of Forbidden City. Get into
Beihai Park from the east gate of Jiangshan Mountain.