Must-see Suzhou Classic Gardens

Suzhou, a cultural and historical city in east China's Jiangsu Province, is celebrated around the world for its elegant gardens which make great contribution to the China tourism.
The history of Suzhou's gardens can be traced as far back as the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC). Distinctive gardens continued to appear throughout the subsequent dynasties, but it was during the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) that the garden art of Suzhou was at its zenith. The prospering city and its outskirts were dotted with exquisite private gardens. Dozens of them, such as Zhuozheng (Humble Administrator's) Garden, Liuyuan (Lingering) Garden, Wangshi (Master of Nets) Garden and Huanxiu (Embracing Beauty) Mountain Villa, are still well preserved today.

Imperial gardens and private gardens each developed their own distinctive features over many years. The imperial gardens of Beijing are considered the finest examples of that style. They are noted for their expansive size, grandeur and stateliness. The gardens of Suzhou are the epitome of landscaping art for the private garden, with their delicacy, intimacy, and simplicity. The designers of private gardens, not bound by the rigid conventions of the imperial court, had greater freedom of expression in their art.
The ancient gardens of Suzhou were designed to be lived in as much as were the houses to which they were attached. Paths invited residents and their guests to wander, offering a new view at every bend; pavilions, gazebos or simple seats offered comfortable spots in which to relax, chat, and perhaps to take some refreshments or pen a poem. This type of landscaping was often used in the densely populated cities, where residents recalled the countryside with nostalgia and yearned to commune with nature.

Zhuozheng (Humble Administrator's) Garden, Liuyuan (Lingering) Garden, Wangshi (Master of Nets) Garden and Huanxiu (Embracing Beauty) Mountain Villa of Suzhou are representative of the Ming- and Qing-dynasty landscape architecture in areas south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River which attracts many tourists cruising on Yangtze River. In fact, it was the perfection of the designs and workmanship of these gardens that influenced landscaping throughout the region.
Horizontal inscribed boards, hanging scrolls, sculptures and hall decorations, as well as the trees, stones and ponds in the gardens are not only delightful treats for the senses. They also provide a wealth of information as to the history, society, values and aesthetics of the eras in which they were built. They are storehouses of the artifacts of their times: calligraphy, carvings and paintings. But they are also treasure troves of classical thought. Wandering through the gardens even today, people can enjoy reflecting on the philosophic concepts and ideologies of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism; they can still sense the romance of the ancient poetry and prose that influenced the gardens' creators.

In recent years, the influence of the Suzhou gardens' designs has even traveled across oceans. Ming Hall Garden, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is a copy of a section of the Master of Nets Garden. The design of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden in Vancouver, Canada, was based on the Ming Dynasty Suzhou garden style.
In 1997, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added to its prestigious list of world cultural heritage sites Suzhou's Zhuozheng (Humble Administrator's) Garden, Wangshi (Master of Nets) Garden, Liuyuan (Lingering) Garden, Canglang (Surging Waves) Pavilion, Yipu Garden (Garden of Cultivation), Huanxiu (Embracing Beauty) Mountain Villa, Ouyuan (Couple's Garden Retreat) Garden, Shizilin (Lion Forest) Garden and Tuisiyuan (Retreat and Reflection) Garden. Suzhou classic gardens become must-see for many tourists of private China tours.

Something about Lion Dance

If you happen to have China tours of festivals, you may be lucky to see te lion dance.
Lion Dance, which originated from China, are traditional Chinese folk activities and folk dance forms.
Lion Dance, also known as Playing Lion, is a traditional sport activity and a folk art that imitates the movements of lions. In China, people believe that the lion is an auspicious animal and that Lion Dance would bring them good luck. Therefore, Lion Dance will be performed accompanied with sounds of firecrackers and Gongs and drums at the Spring Festival and other ceremonies. Lion Dance has two types, i.e. South Lion and North Lion. The North Lion type is popular in north China, while the South type is popular in south China, especially in Guangdong Province.

According to textual research, lions in China were originally introduced from West Asia through the “Silk Road”. In Buddhist culture, lion is the animal ridden by Bodhisattva Manjusri that was introduced to China along with Buddhism, together with the real lion dance performed by the animal. Since sending lions to China was no easy job accompanied by hardships, very few lions finally arrived at the destination. Therefore, the real breathtaking lion dance was only limited to the imperial palace and wealthy families, and common people never had the chance to watch it. Therefore, the folk artists created idealized works of lions through imagination according to records or legends, and highlighted the broad forehead, upturned nose and open mouth with traditional divine and auspicious decorations, presenting the mighty force and liveliness of lions. In the lion dance, people perform the role of lions.
But there is no special Lion Dance Performance which is included in your itinerary of China vacation packages.

Things about Yangshao Culture

When you have a China travel in Henan, you can learn some history and culture there.
Yangshao Culture, distributed mainly in the Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, southern Hebei and eastern Gansu Provinces, is a culture belonging to the late Neolithic Age (2900 BC to 2100 BC). Extant from 5,000 BC to 3,000 BC, its name is derived from the first-known Yangshao Culture site - Yangshao Village in Yinchi County, Henan Province.
The famous three-layered cultural sites were discovered at Hougang, Gaolouzhuang, in Anyang, Henan Province. The Yangshao Culture site was unearthed at the bottom layer, the Longshan site in the middle and the Xiaotun site (belonging to the Shang civilization era) at the top, allowing archeologists to determine the date of Yangshao Culture and its relationship with Longshan Culture.

Nearly a thousand sites representing Yangshao Culture have been discovered over the Central Shaanxi Plain, mostly in Henan Province, the south of Shanxi Province, the north of Hebei Province, and up to Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and the Great Bend of the Yellow River. As Shanxi possesses the most Yangshao Culture sites, such as the Banpo Site in Xi’an which is hot tourist destination included in China vacation packages and Jiangzhai at Lintong County, it is regarded as the center of this culture.
Yangshao Culture gives priority to agriculture. The sites show that crops cultivated during the Yangshao Culture period were dry crops, mainly millet and broomcorn millet, hence the name “Millet Culture.” Livestock included pigs, dogs, chickens and oxen. Refined stone shovels (to turn over earth), legged sickles (to harvest crops), stone hammers, stone adzes, fishing lances, fishing hooks, net hanging objects, bows and arrows and stone balls were also in use at this time. The stone shovels and legged sickles of the late period were thin and polished all over. Arrowheads were made of bones, stones and horns and one type of arrowhead had inverted spikes, which made for a very effective killing tool.
Yangshao Culture also saw the introduction of primitive spinning and weaving, with mat patterns and cloth patterns used to decorate pottery artefacts. Bone awls, bone needles, spinning tools and weaving tools have also been discovered. Most of the spinning wheels are made of pottery, and the rest are made of stone.

The art of pottery is one of the achievements during this period. Red pottery ware including cooking vessels, bowls, cups, and jars were made by hand. Another characteristic of the pottery during this time is the painted patterns and animal lines. One of the pottery masterpieces is the famous basin with a human face and fish patterns at Banpo Village in Xian, Shaanxi Province.
The pottery of Yangshao Culture belongs to the primitive hand-made stage, with rather advanced texture, design, decoration and baking skills. The so-called painted pottery is the most famous, with the early artefacts featuring red clay and black paint. Some of the late painted pottery artefacts were dressed with a layer of clay, that is, a layer of light yellow, white and red clay on the surface before they were painted with color. Some of them already had double-color designs, including decorative patterns of fish, deer, frogs, birds, flowers and leaves, and were used for cooking, containing water, serving food and storage.
Villages were of different sizes. Comparatively large villages appeared during the Yangshao Culture period. Some large ones were of strict layouts such as Jiangzhai Village. The village is divided into dwelling places and grave area by dikes. Five architecture groups were scattered around a center square each of which had many houses.
Humans during this period belonged to different clans. They worked collectively and allotted treasures evenly. Women played a leading role both in manufacturing and in daily life.
If you want to know more info about Yangshao culture, you consult from China tour agents.

Things about Yangshao Culture

When you have a China travel in Henan, you can learn some history and culture there.
Yangshao Culture, distributed mainly in the Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, southern Hebei and eastern Gansu Provinces, is a culture belonging to the late Neolithic Age (2900 BC to 2100 BC). Extant from 5,000 BC to 3,000 BC, its name is derived from the first-known Yangshao Culture site - Yangshao Village in Yinchi County, Henan Province.
The famous three-layered cultural sites were discovered at Hougang, Gaolouzhuang, in Anyang, Henan Province. The Yangshao Culture site was unearthed at the bottom layer, the Longshan site in the middle and the Xiaotun site (belonging to the Shang civilization era) at the top, allowing archeologists to determine the date of Yangshao Culture and its relationship with Longshan Culture.

Nearly a thousand sites representing Yangshao Culture have been discovered over the Central Shaanxi Plain, mostly in Henan Province, the south of Shanxi Province, the north of Hebei Province, and up to Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and the Great Bend of the Yellow River. As Shanxi possesses the most Yangshao Culture sites, such as the Banpo Site in Xi’an which is hot tourist destination included in China vacation packages and Jiangzhai at Lintong County, it is regarded as the center of this culture.
Yangshao Culture gives priority to agriculture. The sites show that crops cultivated during the Yangshao Culture period were dry crops, mainly millet and broomcorn millet, hence the name “Millet Culture.” Livestock included pigs, dogs, chickens and oxen. Refined stone shovels (to turn over earth), legged sickles (to harvest crops), stone hammers, stone adzes, fishing lances, fishing hooks, net hanging objects, bows and arrows and stone balls were also in use at this time. The stone shovels and legged sickles of the late period were thin and polished all over. Arrowheads were made of bones, stones and horns and one type of arrowhead had inverted spikes, which made for a very effective killing tool.
Yangshao Culture also saw the introduction of primitive spinning and weaving, with mat patterns and cloth patterns used to decorate pottery artefacts. Bone awls, bone needles, spinning tools and weaving tools have also been discovered. Most of the spinning wheels are made of pottery, and the rest are made of stone.

The art of pottery is one of the achievements during this period. Red pottery ware including cooking vessels, bowls, cups, and jars were made by hand. Another characteristic of the pottery during this time is the painted patterns and animal lines. One of the pottery masterpieces is the famous basin with a human face and fish patterns at Banpo Village in Xian, Shaanxi Province.
The pottery of Yangshao Culture belongs to the primitive hand-made stage, with rather advanced texture, design, decoration and baking skills. The so-called painted pottery is the most famous, with the early artefacts featuring red clay and black paint. Some of the late painted pottery artefacts were dressed with a layer of clay, that is, a layer of light yellow, white and red clay on the surface before they were painted with color. Some of them already had double-color designs, including decorative patterns of fish, deer, frogs, birds, flowers and leaves, and were used for cooking, containing water, serving food and storage.
Villages were of different sizes. Comparatively large villages appeared during the Yangshao Culture period. Some large ones were of strict layouts such as Jiangzhai Village. The village is divided into dwelling places and grave area by dikes. Five architecture groups were scattered around a center square each of which had many houses.
Humans during this period belonged to different clans. They worked collectively and allotted treasures evenly. Women played a leading role both in manufacturing and in daily life.
If you want to know more info about Yangshao culture, you consult from China tour agents.

Learn something about Chinese Tea Culture

Learn something about tea for your educational China tours
China, the Homeland of Tea
Of the three major beverages of the world-- tea, coffee and cocoa-- tea is consumed by the largest number of people.
China is the homeland of tea. It is believed that China has tea-shrubs as early as five to six thousand years ago, and human cultivation of teaplants dates back two thousand years. Tea from China, along with her silk and porcelain, began to be known the world over more than a thousand years ago and has since always been an important Chinese export. At present more than forty countries in the world grow tea with Asian countries producing 90% of the world's total output. All tea trees in other countries have their origin directly or indirectly in China. The word for tea leaves or tea as a drink in many countries are derivatives from the Chinese character "cha." The Russians call it "cha'i", which sounds like "chaye" (tea leaves) as it is pronounced in northern China, and the English word "tea" sounds similar to the pronunciation of its counterpart in Xiamen (Amoy). The Japanese character for tea is written exactly the same as it is in Chinese, though pronounced with a slight difference. The habit of tea drinking spread to Japan in the 6th century, but it was not introduced to Europe and America till the 17th and 18th centuries. Now the number of tea drinkers in the world is legion and is still on the increase.
The Categories of Tea
Chinese tea may be classified into five categories according to the different methods by which it is processed.
1) Green tea: Green tea is the variety which keeps the original colour of the tea leaves without fermentation during processing. This category consists mainly of Longjing tea of Zhejiang Province, Maofeng of Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province (always contained in AFFORDABLE china tours) and Biluochun produced in Jiangsu.

2) Black tea: Black tea, known as "red tea" (hong cha) in China, is the category which is fermented before baking; it is a later variety developed on the basis of the green tea. The best brands of black tea are Qihong of Anhui, Dianhong of Yunnan, Suhong of Jiangsu, Chuanhong of Sichuan and Huhong of Hunan.

3) Wulong tea: This represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, being made after partial fermentation. It is a specialty from the provinces on China's southeast coast: Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan.

4) Compressed tea: This is the kind of tea which is compressed and hardened into a certain shape. It is good for transport and storage and is mainly supplied to the ethnic minorities living in the border areas of the country. As compressed tea is black in colour in its commercial form, so it is also known in China as "black tea". Most of the compressed tea is in the form of bricks; it is, therefore, generally called "brick tea", though it is sometimes also in the form of cakes and bowls. It is mainly produced in Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

5) Scented tea: This kind of tea is made by mixing fragrant flowers in the tea leaves in the course of processing. The flowers commonly used for this purpose are jasmine and magnolia among others. Jasmine tea is a well-known favourite with the northerners of China and with a growing number of foreigners.

Tea Production
A new tea-plant must grow for five years before its leaves can be picked and, at 30 years of age, it will be too old to be productive. The trunk of the old plant must then be cut off to force new stems to grow out of the roots in the coming year. By repeated rehabilitation in this way, a plant may serve for about l00 years .
For the fertilization of tea gardens, soya-bean cakes or other varieties of organic manure are generally used, and seldom chemical fertilizers. When pests are discovered, the affected plants will be removed to prevent their spread, and also to avoid the use of pesticides.
The season of tea-picking depends on local climate and varies from area to area. On the shores of West Lake in Hangzhou, where the famous green tea Longjing (Dragon Well) comes from, picking starts from the end of March and lasts through October, altogether 20-30 times from the same plants at intervals of seven to ten days. With a longer interval, the quality of the tea will deteriorate.
A skilled woman picker can only gather 600 grams (a little over a pound) of green tea leaves in a day. The new leaves must be parched in tea cauldrons. This work , which used to be done manually, has been largely mechanized. Top-grade Dragon Well tea, however, still has to be stir-parched by hand, doing only 250 grams every half hour. The tea-cauldrons are heated electrically to a temperature of about 25oC or 74oF. It takes four pounds of fresh leaves to produce one pound of parched tea.
The best Dragon Well tea is gathered several days before Qingming (Pure Brightness, 5th solar term) when new twigs have just begun to grow and carry "one leaf and a bud." To make one kilogram (2.2 lbs) of finished tea, 60, 000 tender leaves have to be plucked. In the old days Dragon Well tea of this grade was meant solely for the imperial household; it was, therefore, known as "tribute tea".
For the processes of grinding, parching, rolling, shaping and drying other grades of tea various machines have been developed and built, turning out about 100 kilograms of finished tea an hour and relieving the workers from much of their drudgery.
China's Tea-Producing Areas
Tea is produced in vast areas of China from Hainan lsland down in the extreme south to Shandong Province in the north, from Tibet in the southwest to Taiwan across the Straits, totalling more than 20 provinces. These may be divided into four major areas:
1) The Jiangnan area: It lies south of the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River, and is the most prolific of China's tea-growing areas. Most of its output is the green variety; some black tea is also produced.
2) The Jiangbei area: This refers to a large area north of the same river, where the average temperature is 2-3 Centigrade degrees lower than in the Jiangnan area. Green tea is the principal variety turned out there, but Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, which are also parts of this area. produce compressed tea for supply to the minority areas in the Northwest.
3) The Southwest area: This embraces Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Tibet, producing black, green as well as compressed teas. Pu'er tea of Yunnan Province(where you can start your Shangri-La travel) enjoys a good sale in China and abroad.
4) The Lingnan area: This area , consisting of the southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and taiwan, produces Wulong tea, which is renowned both at home and abroad.
Advantages of Tea-Drinking
Tea has been one of the daily necessities in China since time immemorial. Countless numbers of people like to have their aftermeal cup of tea. In summer or warm climate, tea seems to dispel the heat and bring on instant cool together with a feeling of relaxation. For this reason, tea-houses abound in towns and market villages in South China and provide elderly retirees with the locales to meet and chat over a cup of tea.
Medically, the tea leaf contains a number of chemicals, of which 20-30% is tannic acid, known for its anti-inflammatory and germicidal properties. It also contains an alkaloid (5%, mainly caffeine), a stimulant for the nerve centre and the process of metabolism. Tea with the aromatics in it may help resolve meat and fat and thus promote digestion. It is, therefore, of special importance to people who live mainly on meat, like many of the ethnic minorities in China. A popular proverb among them says, "Rather go without salt for three days than without tea for a single day."
Tea is also rich in various vitamins and, for smokers, it helps to discharge nicotine out of the system. After wining, strong tea may prove to be a sobering pick-me-up.
The above, however, does not go to say that the stronger the tea, the more advantages it will yield. Too much tannic acid will affect the secretion of the gastric juice, irritate the membrane of the stomach and cause indigestion or constipation. Strong tea taken just before bedtime will give rise to occasional insomnia. Constant drinking of over-strong tea may induce heart and blood-pressure disorders in some people, reduce the milk of a breast-feeding mother, and put a brown colour on the teeth of young people. But it is not difficult to ward off these undesirable effects: just don't make your tea too strong.

Learn History of Chinese Cheongsam

Shanghai is a hot destination included in China vacation packages and must-see for many tourists to China. Cheongsam is the very famous souvenir in Shanghai to buy.
The cheongsam, or Qipao in Chinese, is evolved from a kind of ancient clothing of Manchu ethnic minority. In ancient times, it generally referred to long gowns worn by the people of Manchuria, Mongolia and the Eight-Banner.

In the early years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), long gowns featured collarless, narrow cuff in the shape of a horse's hoof, buttons down the left front, four slits and a fitting waist. Wearers usually coiled up their cuff, and put it down when hunting or battling to cover the back of hand. In winter, the cuff could serve to prevent cold. The gown had four slits, with one on the left, right, front and back, which reached the knees. It was fitted to the body and rather warm. Fastened with a waistband, the long gown could hold solid food and utensils when people went out hunting. Men's long gowns were mostly blue, gray or green; and women's, white.
Another feature of Manchu cheongsam was that people generally wore it plus a waistcoat that was either with buttons down the front, a twisted front, or a front in the shape of lute, etc.

When the early Manchu rulers came to China proper, they moved their capital to Beijing (always contained in student tour to China) and cheongsam began to spread in the Central Plains. The Qing Dynasty unified China, and unified the nationwide costume as well. At that time, men wore a long gown and a mandarin jacket over the gown, while women wore cheongsam. Although the 1911 Revolution toppled the rule of the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty, the female dress survived the political change and, with succeeding improvements, has become the traditional dress for Chinese women.
Till the 1930s, Manchu people, no matter male or female, all wore loose-fitting and straight-bottomed broad-sleeved long gowns with a wide front. The lower hem of women's cheongsam reached the calves with embroidered flower patterns on it, while that of men's cheongsam reached the ankles and had no decorative patterns.

From the 1930s, cheongsam almost became the uniform for women. Folk women, students, workers and highest-tone women all dressed themselves in cheongsam, which even became a formal suit for occasions of social intercourses or diplomatic activities. Later, cheongsam even spread to foreign countries and became the favorite of foreign females.
After the 1940s, influenced by new fashion home and abroad, Manchu men's cheongsam was phased out, while women's cheongsam became narrow-sleeved and fitted to the waist, had a relatively loose hip part, and its lower hem reached the ankles. Then there emerge various forms of cheongsams we see today that emphasize color decoration and set off the beauty of the female shape.
Why do Han people like to wear the cheongsam? The main reason is that it fits well the female Chinese figure, has simple lines and looks elegant. What's more, it is suitable for wearing in all seasons by old and young.

The cheongsam can either be long or short, unlined or interlined, woolen or made of silk floss. Besides, with different materials, the cheongsam presents different styles. Cheongsams made of silk with patterns of flowerlet, plain lattices or thin lines demonstrate charm of femininity and staidness; those made of brocade are eye-catching and magnificent and suitable for occasions of greeting guests and attending banquets.
When Chinese cheongsams were exhibited for sales in countries like Japan and France, they received warm welcome from local women, who did not hesitate to buy Chinese cheongsams especially those top-notch ones made of black velour interlined with or carved with golden flowers. Cheongsam features strong national flavor and embodies beauty of Chinese traditional costume. It not only represents Chinese female costume but also becomes a symbol of the oriental traditional costume.
If you want to know more info about Chinese cheongsam, you can contact with China tour agents.

The famous Eight Cuisines in China

If you have private China tours, you should taste famous eight cuisines.
China is a big country of food culture, due to the impact of the geographical environment, climate, cultural traditions and national customs as well as other factors, different flavors of food have been formed. Among them, Shandong, Sichuan, Jiangsu cuisine and Cantonese cuisine enjoy the title “Eight Cuisines of China”. In this article, “Eight Cuisines of China” will be introduced.
The most famous cuisine among the eight is Shandong cuisine. The formation and development of Shandong cuisine have something to do with its cultural history, geographical environment, economic conditions and customs. The food production here ranks third in the whole nation. Shandong cuisine is famous for its deliciousness and salty crisp. Green onions are often used in the Shandong cuisine, whether it is frying, roasting, boiling, or cooking soup, the green onions are all used as seasonings.
Cantonese cuisine is made of Guangzhou cuisine, Chaozhou cuisine, Dongjiang cuisine. The materials of Cantonese are of great quantity and all of them are fresh and good. In summer and autumn the dishes are quite mild, and on the contrary in winter and spring, the flavor of the dish is quite strong. Cantonese cuisine is the representative of Chinese food in the foreign countries, its making process is a complex, sophisticated and time-consuming one. That’s the main reason why the Sichuan cuisine restaurants are quite more than the Cantonese cuisine.

Zhejiang cuisine which has a long history is the representative cuisine of Hangzhou (always contained in China travel packages), Ningbo and Shaoxing. The northern people open up the restaurants in the south China and use their cooking skills with the southern raw materials which have made a great success. The most famous dish among the Zhejiang cuisine is “西湖醋鱼”(fish cooked by vinegar.)

Jiangsu cuisine is made of Yangzhou cuisine, Nanjing cuisine, Changzhou cuisine, Suzhou cuisine and Zhenjiang cuisine. Its taste is fresh and slightly sweet, salty, and it pays much attention to its original flavor. Jiangsu cuisine enjoys great reputation at home and abroad. The most famous dishes are 水晶肴蹄(salted pork in jelly)、松鼠桂鱼(squirrel-shaped mandarin fish)、盐水鸭(salted duck) and 清炖甲鱼(braised turtle). Hui cuisine only refers to the Huizhou cuisine and cannot be regarded as Anhui cuisine. The main features of Hui cuisine are the stewing and steaming. The most famous dishes are "火腿炖甲鱼"(stewing turtle with ham)， "腌鲜鳜鱼"(salted mandarin fish),"黄山炖鸽"(stewing pigeon),etc.

The birthplace of Sichuan cuisine which has a long history is the ancient nations Ba and Shu. The cooking methods of Sichuan include cooking, fried, smoked, bubble, stew, and braise as many as thirty-eight kinds. The food is particular about the color, smell, taste, shape of both north and south of China. There has always been "seven flavors (sweet, sour, hemp, spicy, bitter, fragrant, salty), eight tastes (dry, sour, spicy, fish-flavored, dry stir, smell, pepper hemp oil, red oil) in Sichuan cuisine.
Hunan cuisine has been developed from the areas of Xiang River and Dongting Lake. Its making process is quite meticulous with the characteristics of much oil and tinted color. The materials of the Hunan cuisine are quite various and the dishes specialized in hot and sour with a rich flavor of township. As early as Han Dynasty, Hunan cuisine had formed a very high level.

The Fujian cuisine has the reputation for its delicate choice of materials, knife-skilled dishes, seasonings as well as level of degree of heating. There are several cooking skills in its making process, they are score, cut, slice, etc. For example, the salad dish “萝卜蜇”(radish with jellyfis), slice the jellyfis into 2 to 3 pieces, and then cut them into a threadlike thing, merge with the same thickness of radish and mix them with spices.

China is the heaven of foodies. And foodies can plan tasty China tours.

Facts of Chongqing

Chongqing, the starting city of Yangtze River cruise is essentially a mountainous city, surrounded on all sides by steep hills which keep the fog and mist in the basin. The Yangtze and Jialing Rivers embrace the downtown area here however, providing light relief from the industrial city views prevalent throughout most of the area. With 300 developed scenery spots, Chongqing altogether owns 1300 scenery spots, including 4 nationwide important spots, 6 national cultural relic protection units and 1100 municipal cultural relic protection units.

Chongqing is essentially a mountain city, surrounded on all sides by steep hills which keep the fog and mist in the basin. The Yangtze and Jialing Rivers embrace the downtown area here however, providing light relief from the industrial city views prevalent throughout much of the area.
Chongqing has a couple of names. Houses and apartment blocks built halt way up mountains from an undulating pattern, Chongqing is, therefore, called "The Mountain City". Standing at the confluence of the Jialing and Yangtze rivers, it is thus called "The River Town "as well. Surrounded by mountains. The city is subtropical, hot in summer. Hence it is sometimes called "The Furnace". The average annual precipitation is about l,000 millimeters and most of them concentrated on the nights from May to October. As a result, there emerged such a much quoted line: Night Raining on the Ba Mountains. Owing to the plenty of raining, the air humidity is often as high as over 80 percent, so the weather conditions are often cloudy and misty. In such a case, the place is also known as "a city of fog".

Ever since the move of the State Council being approved on March 14, 1997 by the fifth session of the Eighth National People's Congress, Chongqing has become the fourth municipality directly under the Central Government, together with Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin which are always included in the popular China tour package. As the largest city of China, Chongqing covers an area of 82,400 square kilometres with a population of 3002 million. Belonging originally to Sichuan Province, Wanxian municipality, Fuling Municipality and Qianjiang District are now under Chongqing's jurisdiction. A great part of the Three Gorges appear now in the territory of Chongqing. So, apart from many historical relics and tourist attractions, such as the Ghost City of Fengdu, Stone Treasure Block, The Zhang Fei Temple and White Emperor City, the 6,000 meter long dam area adds much lustre to Chongqing. Besides, there are many other invaluable relics, such as a fossil of caveman two million years old unearthed at Longping Village in Wushan County, a Palaeolithic site excavated recently at Yandengbo in Fengdu, a Warring- States-Period site located at Xiaotianxi in Zhecheng, a Han dynasty grave ground situated at Weinan in Fengdu County and a national-grade underwater forest of stone tablets situated in Baiheliang, provide valuable information for a study of the material life and social nature of this place during the ancient times.
With 300 developed scenery spots, Chongqing altogether owns 1300 scenery spots which make great contribution to China tourism, including 4 nationwide important spots, 6 national cultural relic protection units and 1100 municipal cultural relic protection units.

Dreamlike destination - Detian in Guangxi

Waterfalls, rivers, mountains and history - Detian has it all. This picturesque village as the perfect place to rejuvenate is recommended for your private tour of China.
In recent years, local people have turned this border village in Daxin county, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, into a tourist destination.
The resort is built on stilts, the style of the Zhuang ethnic group's houses called diaojiaolou. Rising above ground, the design is meant to avoid insects and animals and features beautiful overhanging eaves.

But, the resort's interior is more fanciful than we expected. The rooms are decorated with cozy wooden floors and equipped with a low bed, and a small tea table. The other facilities are of a five-star hotel standard.
The road to Detian Falls is dubbed a "hundred-mile photo gallery", and not without reason. Many TV dramas have been shot there, we were told.
Besides beautiful scenery, Detian's lush tropical forests are an abundant source of Chinese medicinal herbs.
Detian is also known for its karst caves and landscapes.

Remnants of the war between China and Vietnam in 1979 are evident in some parts of the historical suburb, with small underground tunnels dug by Chinese soldiers to hide from artillery shelling.
The road to Detian Falls runs parallel along Guichun River, which borders China and Vietnam. Because of the proximity, one gets to see Vietnamese vendors who cross the river to sell their products at local weekend markets in Detian.
Winter is not the best season to visit the waterfalls, which have the lowest volume of water. But it is the best time to avoid the crowds if you plan China tours in Guangxi.
It is said that one third of Detian Falls belongs to Vietnam and two thirds to China. Just 50 meters to its left is a smaller waterfall called Ban Gioc Falls, which belongs to Vietnam.

Detian Falls is a three-level waterfall 200 meters wide and dropping 60 meters.
Visitors can ride a bamboo raft, which costs 30 yuan ($5), to see the waterfall up close. It doesn't look imposing from a distance, but when you are on the raft, you realize how small your raft is compared to the waterfall.
After the raft ride, you can climb the man-made stairs to the top of the waterfall.
A transnational market about 600 meters from the waterfall is a good place for souvenir shopping. A wide range of Vietnamese products are available, like coffee, rosewood bracelets and toys made of bullets and bombshells.
It is also a good spot to take a photo of the China-Vietnam border mark, which was erected in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Tourists first walk down 817 steps to the bottom of the canyon. The path is lined with lush tropical plants, such as huge gomuti palm trees and tree ferns, a rare species that have survived since the age of dinosaurs.
The walk is about 3 km, but because it is a winding path, it feels much longer.
At the end of the path, you will see Tongling Waterfall, which spreads 30 meters wide and drops 188 meters. Right below it is a stalactites cave with smaller waterfalls. You may experience water dripping from above in some parts of the cave, which feels a bit ghastly.
If you are stuck for the idea where to go after Guilin tours, you can consider Detian.

Top 8 February destinations in China II

Top 5: Changbai Mountain, Jilin
Changbai Mountain, in the southeast part of Jilin Province, sits on the border between China and North Korea. Considered the most famous mountain in Northeast China, Mount Changbai is well known for its snowy scenery, cool summer and an abundance of mineral springs. Changbai Mountain International Natural Skiing Park is renowned as the largest ski resort in Asia with natural snow. Tourists can have fun skiing, make snow sculptures, and have snowball fights in the park. After a busy day trip of China vacation packages, taking a bath in the hot spring around the foot of the mountain will relax your body and soul.

Travel tips:
Admission: 100 yuan for adults; 50 yuan for kids
Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Directions: Fly to Changbai Mountain Airport from Beijing, Changchun or Yanji, or take train to Chaoyang County or Songjianghe stations. Then, transfer to travel bus to Changbai Mountain.
Top 6: Fenghuang Ancient Town, Hunan

Fenghuang Ancient Town, also known as "Phoenix Town," lies on the western edge of Hunan next to Guizhou. With its 1,300 years of recorded history, the town features distinct residential buildings, elegant bridges and mysterious towers and pagodas. After thousands years, the buildings and harmonious atmosphere in the town never changed. In the early morning or after rain, the bridges and unique houses built on stilts over the water are covered by mists that display a peaceful view that is often portrayed in traditional Chinese paintings. To stroll along or boat on Tuo River through this picturesque scenery may be the most romantic trip when you travel in Fenghuang.
Travel tips:
Admission: 186 yuan
Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Directions: Take buses from Jishou Railway Station or Jishou South Bus Station to Fenghuang, the ticket price is 15 yuan per person.
Top 7: Hulunbuir Grassland, Inner Mongolia (呼伦贝尔草原)

Hulunbuir Grassland, located in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, is known as the "most unsullied grassland" in China. Named after the Hulun and Buir lakes, the grassland features the beautiful scenery of vast grassland, forests, rivers and lakes, as well as the unique custom of the Mongolian ethnic group. In the summer, the green grassland is dotted with colorful flowers, with cattle and sheep scattered among the fields. The winter provides a totally different view. White vast land, clean blue sky, breathtaking scenery and various interesting activities – all of these make the place a world of beauty and fun. Hulunbuir Grassland should be considered for your China vacation deals.
Travel tips:
Admission: free
Opening hours: all day
Directions: Take train to Hailar District of Hulun Buir City, and then transfer to travel bus to Hunlunbuir Grassland.
Top 8: Emei Mountain, Sichuan (峨眉山)
Emei Mountain, standing in Emeishan City in the southwest part of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, is renowned for its sacred Buddhist culture and amazing natural beauty. Different from other snowy mountains, Mount Emei has two distinct sceneries in the winter. Around foothills, flourishing leaves and gurgling creeks make it as green and beautiful as in the summer. While above the altitude of 2,000 meters, it is a world of snow and ice. The whole mountain is covered with white carpet, and the trees are decorated in rime. The area is in fine weather In February, making Mount Emei an ideal place to enjoy a quiet end of the winter.

Travel tips:
Admission: 90 yuan from February to November; 150 yuan from December to January.
Opening hours: 7 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. in winter and spring (Oct. 8 to Apr. 30); 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in summer and autumn (May 1 to Oct. 7)
Directions: Take the tourist bus from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (2 hours ride) or the long-distance bus from Xinnanmen Bus Station (about 3.5 hours ride) from downtown Chengdu.
But the above-mentioned destinations are not suitable for China business travel.

Top 8 February destinations in China I

If you plan to travel to China in Febbruary, you should read the following.
Top 1: Taipei, Taiwan
Located in the northern part of Taiwan Island in a basin between the Yangming Mountains and the Central Mountains, Taipei is the political, economic, and cultural center of Taiwan. Considered an international city, Taipei is connected with all parts of the island through regular and high speed railways, highways, airlines and convenient bus lines. Covering an area of 271.8 square kilometers, Taipei is a wonderful place for tourists. Travelers can enjoy beautiful natural scenery in Yangmingshan National Park and Taipei New Park; have fun in Taipei Zoo and Taipei World Financial Center; visit Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Taipei Palace Museum, and go shopping at Xinyi Store, Taipei 101 Mall and the Ximending area.

Travel tips:
Admission:
Yangmingshan National Park: free
Taipei New Park (228 Peace Memorial Park): free
Taipei Zoo: 13 yuan
Taipei World Financial Center (Taipei 101): 85 yuan
Taipei Palace Museum: 34 yuan
Top 2: Jiuzhai Valley, Sichuan
Jiuzhai Valley, situated on the northwestern Sichuan Plateau, is in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Renowned as a nature's magical fairyland, the valley enchants tourists with mountains, forests, lakes, waterfalls and teeming wildlife and always contained in private China tours. Lakes around the valley vary in color according to their depths and angles, striking a lively contrast with the blue sky and snow-wrapped peaks. When winter comes, the mountains and trees are covered with snow. The colorful water contrasts against snow-white surroundings, making the area looks even more amazing.

Travel tips:
Admission: 220 yuan (April 1 to Nov. 15); 80 yuan (Nov. 16 to March 30)
Directions: Take travel bus from Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport or from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station.
Top 3: Xitang Ancient Town, Zhejiang
Xitang Ancient Town, north of Zhejiang Province, is about 90 kilometers away from Shanghai and 110 kilometers from Hangzhou. Known as one of the six most popular ancient towns in Southeast China, the town features gentle weather, floating rills, ancient bridges and tranquil and slow-paced lifestyle. With a history of over 1,500 years, it currently has more than 10,000 local residents who go through their everyday routines just as their ancestors did thousands years ago. The town is at its best when nights fall and as mornings arrive. At those moments, strolling along the quiet ancient streets or rowing a boat down the waterway will make your heart calm down.

Travel tips:
Admission: 100 yuan
Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Directions: Take travel bus from Jiashan.
Top 4: Shika Snow Mountain, Yunnan
Shika Snow Mountain Scenic Area, southwest of Jiantang Town, locates about 7 kilometers from Shangri-La County in northern Yunnan Province. Covering about 65 square kilometers, the area connects Napa Lake Nature Reserve in the north, Qianhu Mountain Scenic Area in the south, Songzanlin Temple in the east, and Jinsha River in the west. Riding in the cable car toward the peak altitude of 4,449 meters, travelers can have a birds-eye view of the whole Shangri-La and look over the Yulong and Meili snow mountains when stand on the top of the mountain. After the climb, visitors could take a bath at Tianshang Bridge Hotspring, which will surely provide you with a wonderful and relaxing experience. It should not be missed for your Shangri-la tours.

Travel tips:
Admission: 160 yuan for adults; 80 yuan for kids
Opening hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Directions: Take travel bus from Diqing or Shangri-La County.

A Cure Method - Acupuncture in China

Acupuncture become world famous since 1970s when Nixon visited China and acupuncture cure his sick. Now if tourists visit China, some of them choose to visit musuem or Chinese medicine hospitals in China.
Acupuncture is an important part of Chinese medicine. It was initially invented as a medical treatment technique and gradually became a science.
The treatment of acupuncture, actually made up of acupuncture and moxibustion, is a unique Chinese therapy. It is a kind of treatment that cures inner diseases from outside, and is used to treat various illnesses based on the theories of channels (of the body) and vital points with applications of specific techniques.

Based on the diagnosis and therapy of traditional Chinese medicine, the doctor can find out the pathogeny of illnesses, distinguish the features of diseases, determine which channel and viscera the pathological change belongs to, and identify which type the illness belongs to (inner or outer; cold or heat; insufficiency or excessiveness), and finally make the diagnosis. Then, the doctor can prescribe the corresponding acupuncture to prevent and cure the diseases by dredging channels, regulating vigor and sap, balancing Yin and Yang, and harmonizing the functions of the viscera.
The acupuncture pathology was first described in the Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon of Medicine 2,000 years ago. It has prevailed in China and spread to other countries all over the world since then.
Ⅰ. History
Acupuncture treatment can be traced back to the Stone Age, when stone knives and other sharp-edged tools were invented to meet the needs of production. These instruments were also used to relieve pain and diseases, and were known as "bian" stone. Such tools appeared between 4,000 to 8,000 years ago, during the later part of the clan society, according to archeological excavation.
With the continuous development of production, the "bian" stones were replaced by bone or bamboo needles. In the Shang Dynasty (c.16th-11th century BC) bronze casting was developed and it became possible to make bronze needles.

In the Spring and Autumn Period (770-446BC), medicine shifted away from sorcery and some doctors appeared. It is recorded that a doctor used acupuncture to treat a member of the aristocracy of a disease.
From the Warring States Period to the Western Han Dynasty (475BC-24AD), there were more and more needles made of metal with the development of iron-smelting techniques.
The use of metal for needles is highly significant in the development of acupuncture treatment by acupuncture. The conduction produced while needling led in time to the discovery of the "jing luo" (channels of the body) system. Needles made of metal could reach the parts of the body which the needles made of stone could not, thus further improving acupuncture. Through long-term practice, acupuncture eventually became an important means for treating diseases.
In the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) and the Three Kingdoms Period (25-280), many doctors well versed in acupuncture appeared. 'Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing' was the first book to discuss acupuncture systematically.
More and more books on acupuncture were written in the Jin and the Northern and Southern dynasties (265-589), when acupuncture was introduced to Korea and Japan.
Ⅱ. The First Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion -- Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing
The science of acupuncture aims to record its technique, clinic regulation, and basic theory. Written by Huang Fumi (215-282), The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion consists of 12 volumes and 128 chapters and is the earliest classic on acupuncture and moxibustion (a form of heat therapy) in China. It summarizes information on the channels and collaterals (the channels' branches), acupuncture points, needle manipulation, and contraindication (effect). It lists the total number of the acupuncture points as 349, and discusses the therapeutic properties of each point.
This book has exerted great influence on acupuncture and moxibustion treatments all over the world. In the 5th century it spread to Japan and South Korea.
The Systematic Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion promoted the development of acupuncture and moxibustion, and became a model for later acupuncture and moxibustion works.
If you decide to visit China and cure your sick through acupuncture, you can contact with China travel agents.

The last stop on the fabled Grand Canal - Hangzhou

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the jewel on the crown of the vast Grand Canal of China, and the well-preserved Hangzhou segment still operates today. Hangzhou is the southern terminus and now the hot tourist destination for China tourism.
The street is called Xiao He Zhi Jie, literally the Small River Straight Street, because the Small River runs through and divides it. In the northern part of Hangzhou City, the 1-kilometer-long street and the small two-story houses on either side create a nostalgic scene of water towns in Zhejiang Province.
The street is right at the junction where the Grand Canal of China, the Small River and the Yuhangtang River meet.
In old times, many ships were unloaded here.

Hangzhou is the last stop on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the best known and most significant component of the Grand Canal of China's bidding for UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site status.
The canal in Hangzhou was first built more than 2,200 years ago to connect Hangzhou and Jiangxi which is famous for porcelain in Jingdezhan, a famous tourists site of private tour of China. And it was expanded in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) to be further connected with Suzhou in Jiangsu Province.
In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), when the emperor and his court retreated and moved the capital to Hangzhou, the canal in this area suddenly got much busier and this part of the city also became a major traffic hub and distribution center.

In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) traveled six times along the canal to inspect the rich Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, and he also stayed in Hangzhou, a regional business and cultural center at the time.
Ships from all over the country came down the Grand Canal and business boomed along the street. All kinds of shops opened, selling food and snacks, tea, rice, alcohol, shipping supplies and other commodities.
Visitors can still get a suggestion of the bustle and prosperity of the old days; the street is still filled with many shops, quite a few in the old style of architecture.
Some houses on the river are around 100 years old and have been renovated.
Typical are the two-story wooden structures that were both for commercial and residential use; shops were on the first floor, bedrooms on the second floor. Many of the facades appear old. The interiors have been renovated with modern facilities and plumbing.
Behind these old houses stand new and larger structures that were built in the old style.
Today, ships are not allowed in the narrow Small River, but ships carrying coal, sand and construction materials constantly are moving south along the wider grand canal, just five minutes from the street.
The grayish wooden houses closest to the river are all similar, except for the Yao family house, which stands out because of the size and architecture. It's the largest house on the street and stands near where the canal and Small River meet.
If you want to know more info about Grand canal, you can get some information from China tour operator.

A world heritage site - Mount Huangshan

After your Yangtze River Cruise and disemark in Wuhan, Mount Huangshan should be not missed.
Located in southern Anhui Province, Mount Huangshan covers an area of 250 kilometers, of which 154 square kilometers are scenic attractions. Its landscape features “four wonders” of imposing peaks, spectacular rocks, odd-shaped pines, and a sea of clouds.

Huangshan is a granite massif consisting of 36 separate peaks, rising above 1,800 m. Famous throughout Chinese artistic history, Huangshan represents the typical mountain in Chinese paintings. Frequently shrouded in mist, the many peaks appear to float on clouds and have very fanciful names such as 18 Arhats Worshipping the South Sea, Lotus Flower Peak, Celestial Capital, Paint Brush, etc.
Mount Huangshan boasts 72 peaks, more than 1,000 meters above sea level, with three main peaks rising majestically. They are both fascinating and dangerously steep. Cliffs, stone forests, stone pillars, stone blocks and egg-shaped stones form the unique granite geomorphological scenery which become attractive for popular China tours.

The pines on the mountain are tall and have fascinating shapes. The famous Welcoming Guests (Yingke) Pine (1,500 years old) and See-Guest-Off Pine have become a symbol of being faithful, unyielding and hospitable. More than 200 days each year on Mount Huangshan are misty and cloudy. The vapors coagulate to form a sea of clouds. As the clouds cloak the mountain, they give a feeling of being in fairyland.
Mount Huangshan has more than 400 famous scenic attractions of which 140 have been developed and opened to tourists. As a hot destination, it should be included in your customized China tours.
In 1990, Mount Huangshan went on both the world cultural and natural heritage lists.

Facts of Wushu

After Bruce Li become a world famous film star, Chinese Wushu become very hot in the world. Many tourists come to have private China tours to witness the Kongfu.
Wushu, with its mysterious Oriental flavor, is regarded as the quintessence of physical culture. Often referred to as "arts of fighting with eighteen kinds of weapons," it is distinguished by three salient features: usefulness for combat, benefits to health, and fascinating movements.

Wushu dates back to primitive society where people used clubs and other primitive tools to fight wild animals. In the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods (770- 221 BC), wushu became more combative in nature as more weapons came into use. It also attracted more attention with its beneficial effects on health.
Wushu contests and performances were popular in the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-AD 220). The sword dances performed by Xiang Bo and Xiang Zhuang at "A Banquet at Hongmen Gate" as described by Sima Oian in his Historical Records were actually a show of attack and defence in swordplay.
The imperial examination system of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) for identifying martial arts talent stimulated the growth of wushu activities in society. By the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), many schools of wushu, each with its own distinctive features, had developed across the country. One of these was the Shaolin School, which owes its name to the world-famous Shaolin Temple which is hometown of Kungfu and hot destination included in AFFORDABLE China travel packages in Henan Province.

Roughly speaking, wushu may also be divided into barehanded exercises and exercises with weapons. There are a few dozen kinds of weapons employed in wushu exercises, mostly modeled on ancient types. Although the significance of their role in modern warfare has diminished since the invention of firearms, their value in wushu training remains to this day.
The reason why the time-honored art of wushu has taken deep root among the broad masses lies in its proven value in health-building. According to the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine, wushu exercises consist of both "external" and "internal" work, the former meaning movements of the body, the hands and the feet and expressions of the eyes, and the latter being related to "the spirit, willpower, vital energy and strength." The two aspects are combined as movements are guided by consciousness so as to achieve "a unity of body and mind." Thus, constant practice of wushu helps not only to strengthen muscles and bones, but also to regulate the central nervous system and improve the cardiovascular, digestive and respiratory functions.
As wushu exercises are highly varied in intensity as well as in form, they offer an abundant choice to people differing in age, interest and health condition. Besides, one needs only a small space and very simple equipment for their performance. So wushu can be easily promoted as a participation sport. In recent years, coaching centers have mushroomed in cities and towns all over the country. Numerous people in poor health are reported to have benefited from constant practice.
Going far beyond China's boundaries, wushu has become increasingly popular in many parts of the world. As the birthplace of wushu, China has in recent years sent her best masters on performance tours abroad and received group after group of foreign wushu enthusiasts coming on study missions. If you are a Wushu-lover, you should visit China, birthplace of Wushu.

Top China Travel Activity in 2013 (II)

Do you have new travel plan for your 2013? Have you ever been to the places you want to go? China, as a hot tourist destination, should be listed in your travel plan. The following recommended some China travel activities for your 2013.
1. Learn History and Culture through travel
If you are very interested in the ancient history and tradtional culture of China, you can visit some historical and cutlural cities and towns with long history, such as Beijing, Xian, Luoyang, Hangzhou. Through the travelling in these cities, you will get a general concept about China history and culture and learn why Chinese think in different way by comparison with western people.
2. Shangri-la Adventure
The town is split between Tibetan and ethnic Han residents, as well as a fair smattering of Naxi, Bai, Yi and Lisu, with the surrounding countryside entirely Tibetan. While the crass name change in 2001 was a sign of the desire for increasing mass tourism a la Lijiang, the town has got nowhere near Lijiang's crowds, and it's still possible to experience the area's Tibetan heritage and see gorgeous countryside in near isolation.

Zhongdian was renamed Shangrila for marketing reasons. Signs in bus stations still use Zhongdian. There is also a third name in Tibetan, Gyelthang. The original Shangrila, from James Hilton's novel The Lost Horizon, was a (fictional) hidden paradise whose inhabitants lived for centuries. Hilton (who never went to China) located his Shangri-La in the Kunlun mountains. However, elements of his story were apparently inspired by National Geographic articles about various places in eastern Tibet (including Zhongdian); hence China's rationale for claiming the name.
Local Khampa Tibetans claim that the name Shangri-la was most likely derived from their word for paradise "Shambala," by Hilton through exposure to Rock's writings on the region. Shangri-la tours will give you a different travel experience.
3. Mysterious Tibet

Tibet: the Land of Snows, the roof of the world. For centuries this mysterious Buddhist kingdom, locked away in its mountain fastness of the Himalaya, has exercised a unique hold on the imagination of the West. For explorers, imperialists and traders it was a forbidden land of treasure and riches. Dreamers on a spiritual quest have long whispered of a lost Shangri-la, steeped in magic and mystery. When the doors were finally flung open in the mid-1980s, Tibet lay in ruins. Between 1950 and 1970, the Chinese wrested control of the plateau, drove the Tibetans’ spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and some 100, 000 of Tibet’s finest into exile and systematically dismantled most of the Tibetan cultural and historical heritage, all in the name of revolution. For a while images of the Buddha were replaced by icons of Chairman Mao. Today, Tibetan pilgrims across the country are once again mumbling mantras and swinging their prayer wheels in temples that are heavy with the thick intoxicating aroma of juniper incense and yak butter. Monasteries have been restored across the country, along with limited religious freedoms. A walk around Lhasa’s lively Barkhor pilgrimage circuit is proof enough that the efforts of the communist Chinese to build a brave new (roof of the) world have foundered on the remarkable and inspiring faith of the Tibetan people. Tibet tour becomes a dream for many travel-lovers because of its high altitude. Many tourists have to give up the journey to Tibet for their poor healthy.

Top China Travel Activity in 2013 (I)

If you plan to have a China tour in 2013, you should consider the following.
1. Explore the Golden Triangle, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai.
Stop–start capital since the Mongol Yuan dynasty, Běijīng is one of China’s true ancient citadels. It is also an aspiring, confident and modern city that seems assured of its destiny to rule over China ad infinitum.

A vast and symmetrical metropolis, Běijīng is the orderly seat of the communist political power in China, so its architecture traces each and every mood swing from 1949 to the present, from felled hútòng (narrow alleys) to huge underground bomb shelters scooped out during the paranoid 1970s. One moment you are sizing up a blank Soviet-style monument, the next you spot a vast, shimmering tower rising up from the footprint of a vanished temple.
History may have been trampled in Běijīng over the past half century, but there’s still much more substance here than in China’s other dynastic capitals, bar Nánjīng or Kāifēng. You just need to do a bit of hunting and patient exploration to find the historical narrative. It’s also essential to sift the genuine from the fake: some of Běijīng’s once-illustrious past has been fitfully resurrected in the trompe-l’oeil of rebuilt monuments. Colossal flyovers and multilane boulevards heave with more than three million cars but ample pockets of historical charm survive. It’s the city’s epic imperial grandeur, however, that is truly awe-inspiring.
Frank and uncomplicated, Běijīng’s denizens chat in Běijīnghuà – the gold standard of Mandarin – and marvel at their good fortune for occupying the centre of the known world. And for all its diligence and gusto, Běijīng dispenses with the persistent pace of Shànghǎi or Hong Kong, and locals instead find time to sit out front, play chess and watch the world go by.
Xī’ān today sits in the fertile Wei River valley, one of the epicentres of early Chinese civilisation. The area was home to the capitals of several major dynasties (historians can count 11), stretching all the way back to the Zhou in the 11th century BC. The remnants of this ancient world are everywhere – from the First Emperor’s Terracotta Army to the Muslim influence that still characterises the city.

Understandably, Xī’ān is one of China’s major attractions, but the modern city is also one of the country’s great polarisers – you either love it or hate it. Most people only spend two or three days here, but history buffs could easily stay busy for a week. Topping the list of sights in and around the city are the Terracotta Warriors, the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi, the Muslim Quarter and the City Walls. With a little more time, throw in the pagodas, museums or any number of sites outside the city. Better still, arrange an overnight trip to nearby Huá Shān or Hánchéng.
Shanghai
Shanghai is much more Hong Kong than Běijīng; there are no dusty imperial palaces here. Instead, European-style cityscapes and tempting, tree-lined neighbourhoods rub shoulders with the sci-fi skyline of Pǔdōng. Shanghai was where China first met the West and it’s still a frontier town, obsessed with the latest fads, fashions and technology.

But tucked between the shopping malls and the eye-popping modern architecture is the old Shanghai, where temples nestle down alleys, along with street markets and classical Chinese gardens. Shanghai is a city of stunning contrasts, where visitors can go from sipping a cocktail in a designer bar overlooking the Bund, to eating dumplings at a street stall, or gazing at a 10th-century Buddhist monastery, in the space of a few hours. Summer is hot and humid, winter can get cold, but Shanghai never stops.
2. Yangtze River Cruise
The Yangzi is the historical divider between northern and southern China, providing a natural barrier against invaders and waterway for transport and commerce. During the Three Kingdoms Period (260-280 AD), the gorges played an important role in the course of China's history. During World War II, the gorges provide protection against the onslaught of the Japanese invasion. And in recent years, the Three Gorges have drawn international attention for both their majestic scenic beauty and for the controversial construction of the Three Gorges Dam - the largest dam project ever attempted. Begun in 1992 and completed in 2009, China's coming of age as a world power is heralded by this colossal feat of engineering, a Great Wall for the future.
3. Silk Road Adventure

The natural landscape along the road is peculiar and magnificent. Qinghai Lake, Bayanbulak Grassland – a paradise for swan, Heaven Lake on Heaven Mountain, Yadan landform in Lop Nur, the Mountain of Flames in Turpan and Ghost City in Karamay add infinite fascination to the Silk Road. The numerous minorities live along the Silk Road. They are friendly and skilled in dancing and singing. With different history of development, ethnic groups here have retained their own traditional culture, religious beliefs and characters. Silk Road travel will be enjoyed by the tourists who are interested in history.