Best Shanghai day trips

After touring Shanghai's downtown for a few days, everyone needs a break from the car horns, jackhammer drills and blasting TV screens on public transport.
With the upcoming Lunar New Year rush, retreating into nearby suburbs and lazy water towns become a convenient way to gain inner peace.
And here are five of the best Shanghai day trips for your China tour deals.
Shanghai day trip 1: Nanxiang
The home of xiaolongbao is just an hour away from downtown Shanghai.
According to legend, the owner of a cake shop decided to experiment with the popular steamed bread he sold in the nearby Guyi Gardens in 1871.

The result is what we know today as the delicate, pleated dumpling with the delectable soupy interior.
Start your tour with xiaolongbao's original home, the Guyi Garden Restaurant, where they still dish out steaming dumplings by the dozen.
If you’re still craving another soupy dumpling, wander around the corner to Gulong. At this 100-year-old shop, you can watch women crafting the dumplings by hand.
Afterward, work off all that dough with a stroll through the flower-filled Guyi Garden (entrance RMB 12).
How to get there: Take Metro Line 11 to Nanxiang Station. Just outside the metro station, take bus No. 2 to the first stop, which pulls over right outside the garden. Or, take a RMB-14 taxi ride from the metro station.
Shanghai day trip 2: Tongli
Tongli is like any other water town surrounding Shanghai with one big exception -- it’s the home of the Museum of Ancient Chinese Sex Culture (entrance RMB 20). It is also listed as one of watertowns of top 10 China tour packages.
The 7,000-square-meter museum displays the collection of Shanghainese professor and sociologist Liu Dalin and is set on the grounds of a former girls' school with manicured gardens -- a perfect place to showcase its outrageously phallic sculptures.

Inside the halls, captions in English and Chinese offer some historical context on more than 1,000 pieces of pottery, artwork and, uh, handheld devices.
The oldest exhibits date back 8,000 years.
Combine a visit to the museum with a stroll through the Old Town’s (entrance RMB 80) canal-laced streets where locals fish with cormorants and wash their clothes in the waterways.
How to get there: Tour buses leave daily at 8:30 a.m. from the Shanghai Tourist Distribution Center at Shanghai Stadium for RMB 130 round-trip. The trip takes 90 minutes each way and returns in the late afternoon. Alternatively, take a train to Suzhou and then a local bus into Tongli.
Shanghai day trip 3: Chongming Island
In Shanghai, a large number of taxi drivers hail from Chongming and they always say the air is cleaner in their nearby island home. We tend to agree with them.
At Dongtan National Nature Reserve, peruse the park from boardwalks suspended over the wetlands. Watch as locals try to catch the tiny crabs scurrying around the salt water marshes, and keep your eyes open for migrating birds.

Afterward, Dongping National Forest Park is a great place to rent a bike and cruise through the plentiful, flat paths that trace through the trees. Once you get out of the main walking areas, the crowds disappear. Bring a lunch and stop in one of the gazebos to refuel.
How to get there: Ferries depart daily from Baoyang Portin Baoshan District. Sightseeing buses run directly from Shanghai Tourist Distribution Center every Saturday and Sunday for RMB 120 round trip.
Or, take bus Shen Chong from Shanghai North Long Distance Bus Station and head directly to Chongming Island for RMB 12. From Nanmen town, you can navigate time-consuming local bus lines or hire a taxi to drive you around the island.
Shanghai day trip 4: Songjiang
Shanghai's southwestern suburb is home to the city’s oldest mosque as well as a Buddhist temple and pagoda which attracts so many Buddhism believer tourists joining popular China travel package.
Start your spiritual day trip with a visit to the 14th-century Songjiang Mosque.
Wander past gravestones inscribed in Arabic and Chinese and darkened prayer halls where you’ll find local Muslims quietly worshiping.
It’s nice to rest in the shade of a traditional landscape garden and savor the solitude.
Afterward, take a short walk up the street to the Xinlin pagoda and Buddhist temple, originally built 700 years ago.
If you’re feeling a little too Zen after those two visits, ramp up your energy with a trip to the nearby Shanghai Film Studios or Thames Town.
How to get there: Take the Metro Line 9 to Songjiang Xincheng Station. From there, find a forest green taxi to take you to the mosque and temple, just a quick ride away.
Shanghai day trip 5: Sheshan
A mountain can do wonders for escaping the city’s smog.
Start your day with a quiet moment in the grandiose Sheshan Basilica, a towering structure marking the top of the hill.
This granite church was completed in 1935, and serves as a pilgrimage destination for Catholics every May.

Afterward, check out Shanghai Sculpture Park, where dozens of artworks are scattered around a man-made lake.
Conclude your day on the mountain with a relaxing dinner at Le Méridien She Shan. During the summer months, you can enjoy a bonfire, barbecue, and thatched huts overlooking the lakes and parkland.
How to get there: Take Metro Line 9 to Sheshan Station, then walk 30 minutes to the mountain’s sites. Or take a RMB 14 cab ride directly from the metro station.
You can get details via China tour operator.

World's highest national park opens in Tibet

China has set another China tourism record by opening what it dubs "the world’s highest national park" last week in Tibet Autonomous Region, according to China Daily.
Standing on "the roof of the world," the Qomolangma National Park embraces five eight-thousander mountains, including 8,848-meter Mount Everest (known in China as Mount Qomolangma), 8,201-meter Mount Cho Oyo and 8,013-meter Shishapangma.
The sky-high attraction also contains 10 mountains rising between 7,000-8,000 meters, as well as glaciers, hot springs and alpine forests. High, huge and resourceful.

Occupying 78,000 square kilometers, the newly unveiled tourist spot is roughly the size of the Czech Republic and is situated in the Xigaze Prefecture in southern Tibet Autonomous Region, near China's border with Nepal.
"The national park will be focused on the protection of the ecology and biodiversity and prevention from illegal resource exploitation or land use," said Sun Yongping, deputy chief of the Tibetan Tourism Bureau, reported China Daily.
Admission to the park costs RMB 180 per person, RMB 400 for a "small vehicle" and RMB 600 for a "large vehicle."
No explanation has been given on how to define a "large" or "small" vehicle; and there's no word as yet about the park's official entry points.
The plateau reserve is the third national park in the far-flung autonomous region, after Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Park in southeastern Tibet which is popular and included in last minute China travel deals and Namtso National Park in mid-eastern Tibet.
The three national parks are considered by the Chinese government as a way to turn the plateau into "an important world destination."
Tibet is also set to become home to the world's highest airport, the 4,436-meter-high Nagqu Airport, which is scheduled to open in 2015.
Tibet travel must-knows: Foreign travelers to China must carry a Tibet Alien travel/PSB permit, on top of a China visa, to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region.
It take a specialist travel company at least 10 days to apply for the documents.
Trips need to be booked through a recognized company in China, such as Tibet Travel Expert. Travelers are required to stay with the tour throughout the journey.
Previous reports suggested that the Chinese authority delay releasing Tibet travel permits to foreign travelers from time to time. It’s advisable to consult a Chinese tour company before planning the your China tour packages.

Do you dare to taste bizarre foods at Beijing's night market

When I saw the words “night market” on the Beijing city map, my stomach rumbled at the thought of vendors with assorted dumplings and classic Chinese sweets which are tasted by many tourists for their affordable China tours.
But when I arrived at Donghuamen Night Market, a street food landmark in Beijing, the plates were heaped with bugs and unconventional animal parts.
The 200-meter-long food street has been around since 1984 and is a hot spot for daring foodies. Sure, there's the tame candied fruit, lamb kebabs and stuffed buns, but the other end of the spectrum is rather more challenging.
With a selection ranging from scorpions to sea horses, the market carries one of the world’s most bizarre food selections.
Here’s the six weirdest items.
1. Fried scorpions
According to the vendors, frying scorpions neutralizes their poison. The tail, ironically, is the most nutritious part.
TCM masterpiece "Compendium of Materia Medica" (written in the 16th century) promoted scorpion as a precious ingredient, with such medicinal values reducing pain and promoting the circulation.

Fried scorpions at the market come in both adult and baby varieties. The adult ones have a black glaze and the babies are smaller and more transparent.
Both taste a lot like greasy popcorn with a buttery aftertaste.
Some vendors top the delicacy with a bit of chili powder.
Price: RMB 15 (US$2.4) per stick
2. Silkworm cocoons
With a crispy dark brown outer shell, the silkworm cocoon is not the most palatable insect. It’s spongy on the inside with a bit of slime.
It has a nutty flavor similar to shrimp, but some people find its texture plain disgusting.

It’s hot inside and can burn your tongue if you’re not careful. You should taste it to color your China tour
Price: RMB 15 per stick
3. Centipedes
It’s hard to maneuver this long and leggy insect into mouth. They’re bitter, but taste better seasoned with salt and pepper.

Bring some dental floss -- their sharp legs will get stuck in your teeth.
Price: RMB 30 per stick
4. Locusts
Chewing on locusts is nothing new in Asia. Japanese and Thais are partial to them too.

Donghuamen vendors tout these six-legged insects as an environmentally friendly alternative to meat, and also for their high fiber content.
Loaded with protein, deep-fried locust tastes a bit like fried chicken. Although it is favored by Chinese, the foreign tourists who join China vacation packages may feel disgusted.
Price: RMB 18 per stick
5. Sea horses
Another valuable item for TCM, sea horses are said to possess medicinal qualities that boost your kidneys.
TCM buffs boil sea horses in soup, but in Donghuamen these marine delicacies are dipped in oil and fried on a stick.

It's one of the most expensive items on the street.
To me, they taste like dried fish with a hint of garlic. Others say it tastes like fishy bacon.
Price: RMB 50 per stick
If you plan to have popular China tours in Beijing, you should witness the weird food in this night market.

China's 5 most beautiful water towns

China's water towns prove there are still a few places left in China that retain dreamy, rustic charm -- a welcome sight in a country that often feels like a giant construction site.
Unlike Venice, which draws travelers seeking Bolognese with a side of heavy China tourism, the Chinese equivalents offer crowd-free trips back in time.
Hongcun Ancient Village, Anhui Province
There aren't many villages in the world built to resemble a giant ox. At the youthful age of 900, east China's Hongcun Village is one such destination.

With Mount Huangshan as head, the lake-filled town as body and ancient bridges as legs, this is one distinctive beast. Even the waterways crossing the village are included as the circulatory system.
The most significant structure in the thousand-person village is Chengzhi Hall, a country palace built in 1855 with exquisite wood carvings and gold gilding from the Qing dynasty.
Testament to its authenticity, 2000's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" shot several scenes in the village.
Admission: RMB 104 (US$16)
Getting there: Hongcun Village is roughly 70 kilometers northwest of Huangshan in Anhui Province. Major cities connected to Huangshan Airport by direct flights include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an.
Tai'erzhuang, Shandong Province
Thanks to a hefty US$743.54 million makeover by the local government in 2009, Tai’erzhuang in northeast China was able to restore its classic architecture to the condition of its Ming and Qing dynasty heyday.

The former trading hub was the site of the Tai'erzhuang battle between China and Japan in April 1938.
Despite the small size, Tai'erzhuang has a number of traditional temples, waterways and museums. Traditional shadow puppetry shows and bonfire parties take place on Friday and Saturday nights.
Located on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the two-square-kilometer town makes for a nice day trip from the Chinese capital.
Admission: Free (RMB 16/US$2.50 on holidays)
Getting there: Taierzhuang is located in Zaozhuang, Shandong Province, about 60 kilometers from Xuzhou Airport. The airport accommodates flights to 11 major cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Zhouzhuang, Jiangsu Province
Dubiously billing itself as the "oldest water town in China," this village, built in 1086, is crisscrossed with lantern-lined canals, a romantic reminder of China's past and must-see for tourists joining top 10 China tour packages.
Despite its population of 138,000 people -- tiny by Chinese standards -- the town's location near Shanghai and Suzhou makes it easily accessible for short visits.

Visitors pass through shops selling woven bamboo and local pearls on the way to the town's two main religious sites, the Buddhist Quanfu Temple and the Taoist Chengxu Temple.
A boat ride through town costs around RMB 100 (US$16) per vessel. Traditional Chinese folk tunes sung by gondoliers come free.
June is a popular time to visit, with the annual Dragon Boat Festival taking place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, when locals race dragon boats along the canals.
Admission: RMB 100 (US$16)
Getting there: Zhouzhuang is accessible by bus or car from Shanghai, 60 kilometers away, or Suzhou, 38 kilometers away.
Fenghuang, Hunan Province
With a name that directly translates to "phoenix," Fenghuang is as spectacular as its moniker suggests.
The integration of the town’s stilted architecture to surrounding mountains and the Tuojiang River make it a prime photo op.

"Phoenix town is my favorite water town in China," says Shanghai resident Josie-Dee Seagren, 21, who comes from Chicago. "There's a certain mysterious and simple charm preserved in the architecture and the people that has not been tainted by commercialism and tourism."
The stepping stones on Tuojiang form a unique experience because "you can adventure across the wide river and the town's ancient ruins of a fortification wall." Fenghuang is also contained in affordable China tours.
The southern portion of the Great Wall is only 10 kilometers away.
A comprehensive tour ticket for accessing both the Wall and sites in town costs RMB 168 (US$27).
Fenghuang is also home to rice terraces, ginger candy and traditional Miao and Tujia cultures.
Admission: RMB 148 (for Fenghuang town only)
Getting there: Fenghuang is 430 kilometers west of Changsha, provincial capital of Hunan.
Long-distance buses are available four times a day from West Changsha Bus Terminal to Fenghuang Bus Terminal for RMB 130 (US$21). The journey takes nearly four hours.
Huangyao Ancient Town, Guangxi
Praised for its natural feng shui, Huangyao Ancient Town lies in a river bend, supposedly preventing the locals' good fortune from flowing away.
While historically prosperous, the town's secluded location in southern China led to its unique development and preservation over a thousand-year history. Today, it's home to only 600 families.
Located in Guangxi Province which attracts many tourists for their popular China tours, which claims to have the best water in China, Huangyao covers 360,000 square meters surrounded by steep karst mountains, which have plenty of large caves open for exploration.

A stroll down the flagstone-paved streets lined with ancestral temples provides a light and local experience.
Travelers can borrow one of the free bamboo rafts and float on the Zhou Reservoir.
Admission: RMB 68 (US$10)
Getting there: Huangyao is 118 kilometers from Guilin in Guangxi Province. Visitors can take the bus from Guilin Bus Station to Huangyao, which runs twice a day at around 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
If you need to know more about these places, you can contact with China tour operator.

What is Acupuncture in China?

Many tourists who join affordable China tours may try Acupuncture if he or she has some healthy issue
Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It is based on the belief that living beings have a vital energy, called "qi", that circulates through twelve invisible energy lines known as meridians on the body. Each meridian is associated with a different organ system. An imbalance in the flow of qi throughout a meridian is how disease begins.

Acupuncturists insert needles into specified points along meridian lines to influence the restore balance to the flow of qi. There are over 1,000 acupuncture points on the body.
In 1997, acupuncture needles were reclassified from "experimental" to "medical device" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The National Institutes of Health released a consensus statment in the same year endorsing acupuncture for the treatment of a variety of conditions such as post-operative pain, tennis elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Acupuncture is one of the best known of the alternative therapies. The FDA estimates that people in the United States spend more than $500 million annually on acupuncture treatments. Many people have insurance coverage for acupuncture. You can try it after your tired China tour.
How Acupuncture Works
There are numerous theories about how acupuncture works. Some of them are:
acupuncture stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins
acupuncture influences the release of neurotransmitters, substances that transmit nerve impulses to the brain
acupuncture influences the autonomic nervous system
acupuncture stimulates circulation
acupuncture influences the electrical currents of the body
Conditions Treated By Acupuncture migraines and tension headaches, sinusitis, common cold, addictions, quit smoking, trigeminal neuralgia, Meniere's disease, tennis elbow, sciatica, arthritis , menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, low back pain, asthma, weight loss, infertility
What a Typical Acupuncture Treatment is Like Before the initial appointment, clients usually complete a health history questionnaire. The acupuncturist then interviews the client, asking about his or her primary health concern, lifestyle habits, diet, emotions, menstrual cycle, sleep, temperature, appetite, stress, and sensitivity to foods, temperature, and seasons. During the interview, the acupuncturist examines the client carefully, noting his or her face color, voice, and tongue colour and coating. There are also three pulse points at the wrist of each hand that the acupuncturist will assess to further determine the health of the 12 meridians.
After the interview, the acupuncturist gives a diagnosis and begins treatment. Typically, the acupuncturist will use 6-12 needles during the treatment. The number of needles used does not correspond with the intensity of the treatment, rather it is the precise placement of the needles that is important.
Upon insertion, the client may feel a slight sting or prick. Once the needle is inserted, there should be no pain. You should feel comfortable during the treatment. If you experience pain, numbness, or discomfort, notify the acupuncturist immediately.
Treatment length varies from seconds to longer than one hour. The typical length is about 20 to 30 minutes. The acupuncturist may use the following techniques during the treatment:
moxibustion - heating of acupuncture needles with dried herb sticks to activate and warm the acupuncture point. Also known as "moxa".
cupping - the application of glass cups to create a suction on the skin. This is to relieve stagnation of qi and blood, e.g. in sports injury.
herbal medicine - Chinese herbs may be given in the form of teas, pills, and capsules to supplement acupuncture treatment.
electrostimulation - provides electrical stimulation to two to four acupuncture needles. Can be used for pain relief and muscle pain. laser acupuncture - non-needle stimulation of needles
If you want to know more about it and where can get acupuncture, you can contact with China tour agents.

What is Acupuncture in China?

Many tourists who join affordable China tours may try Acupuncture if he or she has some healthy issue
Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine that originated in China over 5,000 years ago. It is based on the belief that living beings have a vital energy, called "qi", that circulates through twelve invisible energy lines known as meridians on the body. Each meridian is associated with a different organ system. An imbalance in the flow of qi throughout a meridian is how disease begins.

Acupuncturists insert needles into specified points along meridian lines to influence the restore balance to the flow of qi. There are over 1,000 acupuncture points on the body.
In 1997, acupuncture needles were reclassified from "experimental" to "medical device" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The National Institutes of Health released a consensus statment in the same year endorsing acupuncture for the treatment of a variety of conditions such as post-operative pain, tennis elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Acupuncture is one of the best known of the alternative therapies. The FDA estimates that people in the United States spend more than $500 million annually on acupuncture treatments. Many people have insurance coverage for acupuncture. You can try it after your tired China tour.
How Acupuncture Works
There are numerous theories about how acupuncture works. Some of them are:
acupuncture stimulates the release of pain-relieving endorphins
acupuncture influences the release of neurotransmitters, substances that transmit nerve impulses to the brain
acupuncture influences the autonomic nervous system
acupuncture stimulates circulation
acupuncture influences the electrical currents of the body
Conditions Treated By Acupuncture migraines and tension headaches, sinusitis, common cold, addictions, quit smoking, trigeminal neuralgia, Meniere's disease, tennis elbow, sciatica, arthritis , menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, low back pain, asthma, weight loss, infertility
What a Typical Acupuncture Treatment is Like Before the initial appointment, clients usually complete a health history questionnaire. The acupuncturist then interviews the client, asking about his or her primary health concern, lifestyle habits, diet, emotions, menstrual cycle, sleep, temperature, appetite, stress, and sensitivity to foods, temperature, and seasons. During the interview, the acupuncturist examines the client carefully, noting his or her face color, voice, and tongue colour and coating. There are also three pulse points at the wrist of each hand that the acupuncturist will assess to further determine the health of the 12 meridians.
After the interview, the acupuncturist gives a diagnosis and begins treatment. Typically, the acupuncturist will use 6-12 needles during the treatment. The number of needles used does not correspond with the intensity of the treatment, rather it is the precise placement of the needles that is important.
Upon insertion, the client may feel a slight sting or prick. Once the needle is inserted, there should be no pain. You should feel comfortable during the treatment. If you experience pain, numbness, or discomfort, notify the acupuncturist immediately.
Treatment length varies from seconds to longer than one hour. The typical length is about 20 to 30 minutes. The acupuncturist may use the following techniques during the treatment:
moxibustion - heating of acupuncture needles with dried herb sticks to activate and warm the acupuncture point. Also known as "moxa".
cupping - the application of glass cups to create a suction on the skin. This is to relieve stagnation of qi and blood, e.g. in sports injury.
herbal medicine - Chinese herbs may be given in the form of teas, pills, and capsules to supplement acupuncture treatment.
electrostimulation - provides electrical stimulation to two to four acupuncture needles. Can be used for pain relief and muscle pain. laser acupuncture - non-needle stimulation of needles
If you want to know more about it and where can get acupuncture, you can contact with China tour agents.

What to See in Shanghai

Shanghai is located in the eastern China, sitting on the mouth of Yangtze River. It is the largest, most prosperous and populous city in China and is indispensible for your China travel deals. Due to the rapid economical development, it becomes the center of economy, finance, trading and transportation of China. Short for Hu or Shen, Shanghai is one of four municipalities directly under the central government. Occupying an area of 6340.5 square kilo meters, it accounts for 0.06% of China territory. Chongming Island in Shanghai area is the third largest island in China after Taiwan and Hainan.
Shanghai is also a hot tourist destination renowned for its many historical landmarks and modern buildings such as The Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and its extensive growing Pudong skyline, etc. The beauty of Shanghai is centered on kinds of building of various styles. The old Chinese architectures make people immerse themselves in the world of 1930s. The towering skyscrapers make you feel amazing the modern technology. The Gothic arch, Baroque corridors and south gardens and residence of south China harmoniously display melding of the eastern and western culture.
City God Temple
City God Temple or Chenghuang Temple is a Taoist Temple located in Huangpu area near the Yuyuan Market. The original temple, constructed in Ming Dynasty, was destroyed and the present temple was rebuilt in 1926. After renovation, it was opened to the public in 1995.

The City God Temple not only refers to the temple complex but also the traditional commercial district around the temple. There are more than 100 shops in the area and most buildings of these shops are about 100 years old.
Jade Buddha Temple

Jade Buddha Temple is a Buddhist temple in Shanghai. It was founded in 1882 by Hui Gen, from an abbot from Mount Putuo. Hui Gen had a pilgrimage to Tibet (a hot tourist destination of best tours of China) via Mount Emei and Mount Wutai, two famous Buddhist mountains. Then, he arrived at Burma where he got five jade statues of Buddha donated by an oversea Chinese resident. Passing through Shanghai, Hui Gen left two jade statues and had a temple built for keeping them. In 1911, the temple was ruined in uprising. In 1918, the Temple was reconstructed at a new site. During 10 years of Culture Revolution, the temple was destroyed again. Fortunately, the two jade statues were well protected.
The Oriental Pearl Tower

The Oriental Pearl Tower is a TV tower which is located at the tip of Lujiazui of Pudong District, adjacent to Shanghai International Convention Center, opposite of the Bund. With the height of 468 meters, the Oriental Pearl Tower is the highest tower in Asia and the third highest in the world. The TV tower is composed of pedestal, three gigantic columns, upper sphere, middle sphere, lower sphere, five small spheres and a moving capsule, etc. The whole tower is supported by three huge columns that start from the underground. The lower sphere is 50 meters in diameter at a height of 60 meters above the ground. The middle sphere is 45 meters in diameter and the upper one is 14 meters in diameter at a height of 335 meters. For all tourists to Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl Tower is a must-see for their popular China tours in Shanghai.
Shanghai Museum

Located on the People's Square of Huangpu District, Shanghai Museum is a museum of ancient Chinese art. It was founded in 1952 on Nanjing Road. In 1959, it was moved into former Zhonghui Building at 16s, Henan Road. In 1992, Shanghai government allocated a piece of land on People's Square to build new museum and it became one of four famous museums in China. The new building has a round top and square base, which symbolize the ancient Chinese perception towards the world, that is, "the sky is round and the earth square". Overlooking from a distance, it looks like a Chinese ancient bronze ware. With an area of 2,800 square meters, the museum is arranged by theme rather than by dynasties. In Shanghai Museum, you can learn a lot about the past of Shanghai and China and these knowledge color your China tour in Shanghai.

Top 10 filming sites of Chinese movies II

6. Gyangtze
Gyangtze is a small town located in the Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet (a must-see for your China vacation deals) and it is where the film Red River Valley was shot. The film conveyed an inspiring and touching history of the strong and brave local residents fighting against the British troops' invasion in 1904.

Gyangtze is also famed for the Gyantse Kumbum, the largest ch?rten in Tibet. The white ch?rten, a magnificent tiered structure, contains a seemingly endless series of mural-filled chapels and offers outstanding views from its upper levels.
Travelling tips: Always ascend slowly and carefully to avoid altitude sickness.
Admission Fee: 15 yuan
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
7. Courtyard of Family Qiao
Located 37.3 miles south of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, the Courtyard of Family Qiao was built in the late 1700s by the then influential Qiao family and one destination of top 10 China tours. It is a featured site in many famous Chinese movies and TV series, including the well-known film Raise the Red Lantern. This internationally acclaimed film fully demonstrated the character of the house.

The entire courtyard house covers an area of 8,000 square meters and consists of six main courtyards and 19 smaller ones, with 313 rooms altogether. Looking from the pavilion on the southwest corner is a great way to have a bird's-eye view of the entire complex. Beyond the gate is a wall on which is carved Chinese characters, evoking the theme of longevity. There are various kinds of red lanterns hanged in courtyards, and the carving in roofs is very delicate. The whole compound features various kinds of elements of Chinese art and strong traditional cultural characteristics.
In 1985, the local government set up the Qixian County Folk Art Museum, which exhibited 5,000 objects of folk traditions on the Qiao grounds, including folk art, agricultural customs, clothing and food.
Travelling tips:
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (autumn and winter); 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (spring and summer)
Admission: 40 yuan
How to get to here: Taiyuan Travel Agency have direct bus to the The Qiao Family Courtyard House and it costs 80 yuan;
8. Xiahe County
Xiahe County is known as the "second Tibet" and "eastern Vatican." It is located in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, a destination for Silk Road travel. The popular film, A World without Thieves, was filmed here. People who saw that film were attracted by the mystery and spectacular scenery of the county.

Labrang Tibetan Buddhist monastery, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside of the Tibet, is located in Xiahe County.
The county is populated largely by Tibetans, as well as some Hui and Han ethnic group. Among its many scenic spots, the amazing Baishiya Karst Cave, glistening Darzong Lake and their unforgettable forests are not to miss.
9. Jiuzhaigou Valley
The northwestern Sichuan Plateau is noted for its natural beauty. One of its best scenic areas for your China travel is Jiuzhaigou or Jiuzhai Valley, located in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. The famous Chinese film, Hero, was shooted in the Arrow Bamboo Lake in here.

The Jiuzhai Valley is known as a world of magical fairytales, and for years has enchanted tourists with its mountains, forests, colorful lakes, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife.
The scenery covers an area of 170,000 m2, featuring its green and turquoise-colored lake. Unlike other lakes in Jiuzhai Valley, the Arrow Bamboo Lake won't freeze and it will keep its green and turquoise-colored water in the winter. The lakes vary in color according to their depths, residues, and surroundings. In addition, due to special environment many dead trees are calcified and own their own gorgeous color like coral, making the scenic spot looks more amazing.
Travelling tips:
Admission: 220 yuan (Apr 1 to Nov 15); 80 yuan (Nov 16 to Mar 30);
10. Imperial Ancestral Temple
Imperial Ancestral Temple, also known as the Working People's Cultural Palace, lies to the east of Tian'anmen Rostrum and opposite of the Zhongshan Park. It was built in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the temple covers an area of 200 mu (13.3 hectares) and was served as a place to hold memorial ceremony for their ancestors. The movie, Big Shot's Funeral, showed its unique architecture characteristics.

The central part consists of three magnificent halls, each with its own auxiliary hall. The front hall is the largest of the three. It has a double-eaved roof and sits on a three-layer stone base. The south of the temple has a spacious courtyard with long corridors enclosing it on each side. At the southern end of the courtyard is a compound with a pavilion and several exquisite stone bridges spanning the Golden River (Jinshuihe). A forest of ancient cypress trees surrounds these buildings with their strong yet simple style. The temple was listed as important heritage site under state-protection in 1988. Imperial Ancestral Temple should not be missed for your popular China tour package.
Travelling tips:
Hours: 8 am to 8 pm
Admission: 2 yuan
Traffic: Subway Line 1: Get down at Tian'anmen East; Bus No.s 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20, 52 and 57;
Get more please read: http://goo.gl/cNZCG

Top 10 filming sites of Chinese movies I

It is said that watching films is one of the best means of traveling considering various kinds of landscapes that can be seen in movies.
Countless audiences were attracted to the beautiful scenery portrayed in the movie Avatar. Many left the theater feeling depressed because the fascinating world of Pandora could never be reached and could only be seen on screen.
However, there is no need to become depressed, because there are a variety of excellent filming sites in China, and are easy to visit. The sites included are quaint houses, exotic architecture, precipitous slopes, and picturesque natural scenery. We picks out the top 10 most beautiful filming sites used in Chinese films for your affordable China travel packages. Go there and relive the movie scenes yourself!
1. Hoh Xil
Hol Xil is the filming location of the award-winning movie Mountain Patrol. The movie shows the struggle of Tibetan antelopes and the hard life of mountain patrollers who protect the rare animal on the mysterious and charming Hoh Xil.

Covering 83,000 square kilometers at an average elevation of 4,800 meters, Hol Xil is the largest and highest natural preservation region in China. It is also one of the most well-preserved primitive ecological environment areas in the world and more than 230 species of animals reside here and 20 of them are under state protection, including the yak, wild donkey, white-lip deer, brown bear, and the endangered Tibetan antelope. However, due to the demand of shahtoosh cappa in Europe and America, Tibetan antelope faced a fierce and bloody slaughter.
Despite its high elevation, Hol Xil is still attracting many extreme environment hikers for its stunning scenery.
2. The Hukou Waterfall
The Hukou Waterfall is the second largest waterfall in China. The movie, Lovers' Grief Over the Yellow River, impresses audience with the spectacle view of this waterfall.

The Hukou waterfall is located on the Yellow River, west of Jixian County, Shanxi (a hot tourist destination for popular China tour package), and it was formed when the river flowed to the Hukou Mountains on the Shanxi-Shaanxi border. The river's 250-meter-wide bed is sandwiched between the canyons on its banks and abruptly narrows into a trough. The trough is 50 meters wide, 30 meters deep and falls down into a big stone-strewn pool.
The section of the river where the Hukou Waterfall is located looks like the mouth of a water-flask. This is the reason for the name Hukou Waterfall because it means "Flask Mouth waterfall". The waterfall has a descent of 15-20 meters in the low-water season, but it is scarcely noticeable as a waterfall in the high-water season when the waters burst into rapid torrents. The waves stir up mist and the color of the mist will turn from yellow, to grey, and then turns to blue. The changing of the colors makes this waterfall stand out and look spectacular.
3. Aershan City
Aershan City in Inner Mongolia is the feature site of the famous movie, The Banquet. The movie takes audiences to the attractive scenery of Aershan, by its scenes of endless grassland, snowy mountains and hot springs. Every April, when most parts of China turn green, Aershan remain quiet in a world of ice and snow for its location on the western foot of the Daxinganling Mountain Range. So you can consider it for your China travel packages.

Once winter passes the color of Aershan City comes alive and is even more beautiful than in the spring. In summer, Aershan has excellent scenery, including its reputable grassland, blue sky and green forests.
4. Xinjiang
Although many movies have been filmed in Xinjiang (a destination for Silk Road tours) as their feature site, none of them have embraced all characteristics of Xinjiang with the exception of the movie Warriors of Heaven and Earth. As the largest Chinese administrative division it spans over 1.6 million kilometers. Xinjiang borders many countries, including Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

It is home to a variety of ethnic minorities including the Uyghur, Kazakh, Hui, Kyrgyz and Mongol. In the movie, we see the well preserved primitive animal group and plants, grand glacier, overlapping splendid mountains, spectacular waterfalls and rivers as well as interesting local customs and clothing. The picturesque scenery and unique local culture attracted millions of visitors to come to Xinjiang every year.
5. The Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea
If asked to choose the favorite scene in the award-winning movie Crouching Tiger，Hidden Dragon, most people will choose when Chow Yun fought with Zhang Ziyi in the bamboo forest.
The classic scene was filmed in the famous Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea, which is located near the border of Changning and Jiang'an and about 70km southeast of Yibin. The extraordinary Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea covers an area of 120 square km and has 8 main scenic spots.

The Bamboo Sea owns 58 kinds of bamboos with over 70,000 mu (4667 hectares) area, and the plant coverage rate accounts for 87 percent, which is a wonderful source of natural oxygen. It combines mountains, water, lakes, waterfalls and karst cave, which can meet demands of various kinds of visitors.
Travelling tips:
Admission: 90 yuan (high season); 75 yuan (low season); (students, aged citizens, disabled and soldiers can get discount);
How to get there: Take the bus from Wuguiqiao Bus Station to Yi Bin. The price is 86 yuan;
take bus from Zi Gong to Yi Bin, the price is 27 yuan and then take bus No.3 or 4 from Yi Bin to Nan'an Bus Station and then transfer bus to the Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea
If you want to know more about these places, you can contact with China travel agents.

The Spa Places in Sanya

Sanya, a noted tourist resort with mountains, sea and beaches, is a great destination to truly relax and listed as one of top 10 China tours. It attracts large numbers of visitors from both home and abroad every year. But how do you make your Sanya holiday much more in style? The spas must not to be missed. China.org.cn picks five of the finest among a great number of spas in Sanya.
Banyan Tree Spa in Banyan Tree Sanya
A picturesque peninsula on the southern tip of Hainan Island juts out into the warm, azure waters of Luhuitou Bay. This is China's premier beach destination, where Banyan Tree Sanya with its spa is located. The spa is designed to fit into the tropical oceanic landscape, using indigenous materials to showcase Sanya's local culture and reflect the unique architectural style, the land and its flora. The tropical garden setting not only help guests recall the splendor and serenity of the natural world, but also awakens all their senses, making them more receptive to the healing sense of touch. Its professional and dedicated spa therapists have been trained to ensure high quality service standards.
Mandara Spa at the Sheraton Sanya Resort

Mandara Spa is located at the Sheraton Sanya Resort, in the center of the resort district of the beautiful Yalong Bay. As one of the largest and fastest growing luxury hotel and resort spa treatment in the world, Mandara Spa provides a relaxing and ultimately luxurious healing experience. Healing arts here deeply combines the Balinese and local cultural traditions with European techniques. The aromatherapy or deep tissue massage, traditional Thai massage, traditional Chinese massage and foot reflexology are offered here.
H-Spa at Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay
H-Spa is in the Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay, one of the China's largest seaside hotels. It features 11 therapy rooms, including two VIP rooms. Each room has a sauna, and VIP therapy rooms have an additional steam room. The outdoor footplate massage and traditional Chinese massage are offered here.
Spa at Pullman Sanya Yalong Bay
The Spa Lounge at Pullman Sanya Yalong Bay provides a healing experience that combines traditional Chinese and French culture. Based on traditional Chinese physical therapy and health care, Spa at Pullman also has the essence of French modern beauty treatment for the face and body beautification. The spa lounge is an area dedicated to beauty and well-being, which encourages relaxation and regeneration. The spacious and comfortable cubicles offer a range of targeted care, of varying durations, adapted to the needs of men and women. Yalong Bay is also a must-see place for your affordable China tours in Sanya.
Lanikai Spa at Horizon Resort and Spa


Lanikai means "heavenly ocean on Earth" in Hawaiian. The Lanikai Spa at Horizon Resort and Spa is a paradise of relaxation. It features one of the few Thalasso pools in China and primarily uses sea water and substances derived from the sea, which help improve health. The aroma of their exotic herbal tea is a unique reception for guests.
Address: Yalong Bay Resorts Zone where you can enjoy your best China tours.

If you are interested in these spa place, you can consider the China travel group perchase which save you more money.

Top 10 Chinese cities for tea lovers II

5. Beijing
Beijing, as the capital city of China and tourist destination for China vacation deals, has been the heart and soul of the whole country and has unparalleled cultural wealth which visitors could explore, including its tea culture.

Beijing has over five hundred tea houses, including some time-honored ones. Typical Beijingers don't care much about the tea ceremony but about the taste. However, nowadays, most teahouses in Beijing are expensive and become a symbol of luxury. Only a small band of people with dressy appearance like to hang out in a teahouse.
4. Chongqing
Chongqing attracts visitors from home and abroad for its hot Sichuan cuisine and world-famous hotpot dishes. Besides, this famous 'mountain city' are also famous for its teahouses. It is also the starting point for Yangtze River cruise.

According to a Chinese saying Chongqing has the best teahouses in China. Teahouses play a very important role in Chongqing's tea culture. People go to a teahouse not only because they are thirsty. They cluster in teahouses, drinking tea and chatting with old friends, which has become a lifestyle.
3. Nanjing
Lying on the south bank of the Yangtze River, Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, has brilliant cultural heritage. Teahouses in Nanjing portray latent romance-tinged elegance.
The sentimentality of old time is not easily found now, and what is left is elegance and grace. Like other views in Nanjing, teahouses tell the story of past and present of the city. Nanjing is also hot destination for your China tour.

2. Shanghai
Shanghai, an international metropolis, is drawing more and more attention from every corner of the globe. Shanghai's teahouses still keep nostalgic feelings. Many old-fashioned items like antique telephones and tables and chairs create an atmosphere of modern blended with the classic.
There are also some modern teahouses in Xin Tian Di, a fashionable pedestrian street composed of traditional and modern architecture style in Shanghai.
1. Chengdu

Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province with a history of more than 2,400 years, has profound historical background. Tasting famous Sichuan cuisine and having tea at a local teahouse will offer a deeper understanding of the city.
Drinking tea has become a lifestyle for Chengdu natives. Teahouses with local traits are easily found in famous scenic areas, street corners and alleys. It is a common thing for many locals to cozily spend the whole day in tea house, enjoying tea, reading a newspaper, chatting or playing mah-jongg. Chengdu is very destination to relax yourself for your popular China tours.

Top 10 Chinese cities for tea lovers I

China is the homeland of tea and because of this, tea drinking is popular in virtually every part of the country. We presents you the top 10 Chinese cities where tea drinking is part of a lifestyle and included in your top 10 China tour packages.
10. Wuhan
Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, is the most populous city in Central China. Beginning from the late seventeenth century, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722) of Qing Dynasty, Wuhan was the starting point of a tea trade road to Mongolian Plateau.

Having grown along with this commercial city, Wuhan's teahouses have a history of over 1,500 years and have an air of business. Teahouses are serving increasingly as an arena for commercial transaction and a resting place for businessmen and dock workers.
9. Hong Kong
Known as the Oriental Pearl, Hong Kong remains as one of the most traveled places in all of Asia and is one of destinations for affordable China tours, with its splendid natural beauty and man-made wonders. To get a break from your busy tours in the city, visit a local teahouse.

Most of Hong Kong's teahouses are not fashionably decorated and cannot produce a romantic atmosphere, but they are simple and unassuming, and provide cool and fresh tea, together with scrumptious snacks.
8. Taipei
Taipei is as exciting and attractive as any other major city in China, like Hong Kong or Shanghai. It is also full of a certain charm which makes it unique.
Teahouses in Taipai are said to be the most typical of Chinese teahouses. It is quite a comfortable thing to sit in a local teahouse and drink a cup of oolong tea or the Pearl Milk Tea like what locals do.
7. Guangzhou
Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is the capital city and also the largest city of Guangdong and included in China travel packages. Besides endless skyscrapers and shopping malls, this dynamic metropolis also has one of the best local cuisines in China.

Guangzhou people's daintiness about life can be reflected in the city's teahouse culture. In a local teahouse, you can not only enjoy a cup of tea that is exquisitely prepared and served but can also taste various refreshments, cakes and sweetmeats to go with the drink.
6. Hangzhou
Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang, is known as 'Heaven on Earth' with its enchanting natural beauty. The city produces one of China's best green tea – West Lake Dragon Well Tea.
Savoring tea in a teahouse is a lifestyle in Hangzhou which is also contained in popular China travel package. A famous local writer once remarked that Hangzhou is like a big teahouse and the water of the West Lake is like a pond of fragrant tea. The annual Drinking Tea Day has been held annually in Hangzhou since 2009.

The General Intro of Eight Cuisine in China

Cuisine refers to a dish system possessing distinctive flavors and features in a certain region. China is a time-honored multi-ethnics nation with a vast territory and abundant resources, and every ethnic group has its unique abundant dishes. Regional cuisines have taken shape after long-history evolution under the influence of geographical environment, climate, products, cultural tradition, folk customs and other factors. The most influential and representative ones are Lu, Chuan, Yue, Min, Su, Zhe, Xiang and Hui Cuisines, which are commonly known as “Eight Major Cuisines” which become the must-try for tourists who travel to China.
Lu Cuisine refers to Shangdong dishes, featuring dense taste and favor of shallot and garlic, especially apt at the cooking of seafood, soup and a variety of bowels. Famous flavored dishes include Dezhou braised boneless chicken, braised intestines in brown sauce, and braised Yellow River carp with sweet and sour taste.

As one of the eight Chinese cuisines, Sichuan Cuisine has a long history. It is recorded in historical books that Sichuan Cuisine dates back to the State of Shu in ancient time. From Qin Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period, Chengdu developed into the political, economic and cultural center of Sichuan, which brought about the great development of Sichuan style dishes. After the establishment of Beijing as the capital of Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, many officials were assigned and dispatched to Sichuan which is always contained in the popular China travel package, and a large number of cooks from Beijing went to settle in Chengdu and specialize in food business. As a result, Sichuan dishes developed even further and evolved into one of the major cuisines with native flavors in China.
Sichuan cuisine is mainly characterized by its diversified flavor types. Its major seasonings include cayenne pepper, pepper, Bunge prickly ash, and broad bean sauce. "Each dish has its particular style". "A hundred dishes will show a hundred flavors'. Each and every style of the dish is unexceptionally delicious and popular.

Yue Cuisine is Guangdong-style cooking, featuring fry, deep fry, braise and pot-roast, etc., with special clear, light, crisp and fresh taste. Famous dishes include roast suckling pig, fried greasy-back shrimp, oyster sauce beef, and Guangdong-flavored moon cake. The authentic Yue cuisine can be eaten in Guangdong which is one of hot tourist desinations included in affordable China tours.
Min Cuisine refers to Fujian dishes, with choice seafood as main raw materials, featuring the combined flavor of sweetness, sourness and saltiness as well as beautiful color and fresh taste. The most famous flavored dishes include steamed abalone with shark’s fin and fish maw in broth, fish ball, Fuzhou thin noodles, and pad and fried oyster.
Huaiyang Cuisine is a style of cooking prevalent in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, famous for pot-roast, stew and simmer, featuring soup regulation and fumet preservation. Representative dishes include stir-fried eel, white gourd bowl, steamed bun stuffed with three sorts of diced meat, and steamed dumpling with meat fillings.

Zhe Cuisine is Zhejiang style of cooking, featuring freshness, tenderness, mellow fragrance, cleanness and non-oiliness. Famous dishes include Longjing stir-fried shrimp, West Lake water shield soup, Jiaxing steamed glutinous rice, Ningbo glutinous rice balls, and Huzhou multi-layer steamed bun. Zhe Cuisine become must-try when you travel to Zhejing, a destination of top 10 China tour packages.
Xiang Cuisine is Hunan style of cooking, featuring fragrant-peppery, hot-peppery, sour, spicy, burnt-hot, and fragrant-fresh taste, with sour-spicy taste as the most favorite flavor. Famous dishes include Dong’an chicken, Zu’an shark’s fin, and lotus seedpod with crystal sugar.
Hui Cuisine is Anhui style of cooking, featuring common usage of ham to diversify taste and crystal sugar to increase freshness, apt at roasting and pot-roast, with heat control being attached with importance. Famous flavored dishes include stewed hen with stone fungus, smoked pork, mung bean battercake and farfalle noodles.

Dishes in the “Eight Major Cuisines” in China are characterized by diversified cooking skills, with each having its strong points. These styles of cooking are once personated in the following way: Su and Zhe Cuisines are comely and plain beauties in the south regions of the Yangtze River; Lu and Hui Cuisines are guileless and sincere men in North China; Yue and Min Cuisines are dissolute and elegant childes; Chuan and Xiang Cuisine are personages with abundant cultivation and acqierement. Being prevalent across China, the “Eight Major Cuisines” have been adding rich flavors into people’s diet, which also reflect the important role of diet in the Chinese life.
Tasting the local cuisine is must-try for most tourists who join China vacation packages.

A Blast from the Past in China

The spacious visitor’s center looked like train stations I’ve seen in smaller Chinese cities. The generous air conditioning provided temporary refuge from the sweltering Zhejiang summer, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before we would be back outside with the brutal southeast China August afternoon sun beating down. And of course within minutes, we were back outside piling into tour trams and speeding down a neat concrete path clearly built for no other traffic. I knew we were meant to visit an ancient Chinese village with a 1,300-year history, but the trip was starting to feel like a visit to either the Universal Studios backlot or Jurassic Park. The latter would be a more appropriate comparison, because like the film about dinosaurs coming back to life, visiting stunning village of Wuzhen,a renowned ancient town for affordable China tours, is not unlike a theme park trip through a time machine.

After being unloaded from the trams, the tour guide welcomed us into another open-air tourist center, where a cross-section model of the town’s street depicted how power lines, cable TV, telephones, water, and sewage had each been separately buried underground. Again, my concept of what visiting an "ancient Chinese village," coupled with the demonstration of underground cable TV wiring left me a bit confused, but once I experienced the stone streets of Wuzhen, I started understanding better what this tourist attraction was about.
Many of the dilapidated ancient villages have disappeared with China’s recent progress, but Wuzhen was preserved and restored into a remarkable first-rate tourist resort. The town was built amidst a network of canals which make it somewhat like a quaint Chinese Venice. A boatman ferried us across what seemed like a moat before we could actually set foot in the actual town. When walking down the city’s central thoroughfare, the preserved authenticity of every shop is remarkable, but they’re all clearly redeveloped for China tourism purposes only. Just under the towering pagoda near the city’s gates, the stone exterior of a small bar hides the indoor neon lights and big screen TVs showing NBA highlights. An ancient bookstore sells scrolls of characters brushed on bamboo slats, not so much practical today, but a great souvenir. Most of the town’s original shops along the street were reopened, selling the same thing they did centuries ago.

Every few blocks, a quaint stone bridge crossed the city’s central canal, which was also perpetually filled with traditional boats full of tourists. The town’s nicest hotel was open for VIP business, and a sign in the window offered every service the most discerning traveler could imagine in both Chinese and English. I questioned the fact that the nicest hotel, and indeed the nicest buildings, were on the opposite side of the street from the water, sacrificing a stunning aquatic view. Our tour guide confirmed that in antiquity the richer people lived on that side, and asked me to guess why. “Mosquitos!” I blurted out, and she smiled in agreement, but added that also more manual labor was performed on the water side. Certainly if the water was dirty or smelly back then, the town has lost some authenticity since the water is pristine now.
I noticed a sign pointing towards a “foot-binding museum” down an alley off the main road, but our tour guide never mentioned anything about it, so I quietly broke off from the group. After a few hundred meters, I found a dark old building with a couple of wax statues depicting the ancient procedure once performed on Chinese women, but the display was clearly not ready for the public. We stayed only on the city’s central road during our visit and saw plenty, so who knows how much potential for future tourism development Wuzhen has. I would be surprised if someday animatronics robot people demonstrate ancient Chinese culture which attracts so many foreign tourists joining popular China tour package all over the town. There is an ongoing debate as to tourism’s effect on native regional cultures, and Wuzhen is a great model of how creating a modern tourist resort can provide plentiful funds to preserve the aroma of yesteryear even if the carbon-dating of every stone doesn’t satisfy historical purists.

As we neared the end of the mile, nearly everyone in our group was soaked in sweat from the summer sun, but nary could a frowny face be found. We stopped into a restaurant that thankfully had powerful air conditioning, and I rushed to a seat close to the life-saving machine. But I don’t think that was authentic. The beer was cold too, and I’m maybe 87 percent sure they couldn’t do that in the olden days. As we waited for the ferry to take us back, we peeked over the shoulders of an elementary school class who was brought to the water to practice drawing the dazzling water scenery. I was jealous. I never got to go on a field trip to a place like this when I was that age. Maybe autumn visitors can avoid becoming drenched in sweat.
Travel Tips for your China vacation packages
Admission
Regular admission for the east section (featured in this article) is 100 yuan and the west section is 120. Daily admission for both sections is 150 yuan.
How to Get There
Wuzhen lies within the triangle created by Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou (contained in top 10 China tour packages), and buses are available from any of those cities. By car it is less than a two-hour drive.
Where to Stay
Hotels within the actual ancient town can be affordable, but vary widely, with prices ranging from around 100 yuan a night to over 1,000. Local guesthouses often rent rooms for as low as 50 yuan.
What to Buy
A plethora of historical souvenirs are available along the ancient street.

Splendid Pictures in the Sand

With his 2002 film Hero, director Zhang Yimou made the then unknown Ejina Banner an instant star. Audiences throughout the world were mesmerized by the county’s golden leaves flying all over the sky. In the northwest corner of Inner Mongolia, Ejina Banner is 400 kilometers from Jiuquan, notable for its satellite launches, and borders both Gansu Province and the country of Mongolia.
Included in Ejina’s diverse terrain are vast expanses of the Gobi Desert along with gorgeous poplar forests. Considered a camel hub of Inner Mongolia, Ejina is also home to a lengthy history and fascinating nomadic customs, which make it a popular draw for photographers and destination of China tourism. #415g5

Desert Hero
Tall poplars and thick rose willows flourish in Ejina’s vast wilderness. Flocks of sheep roam down slopes of sand dunes and through the woods as the setting sun produces a glowing silhouette of passing camels. It’s no wonder such scenery attracts picture-takers from near and far.

Along with its plentiful camels, the area’s wealth of poplars have also caused it to be dubbed the poplar capital, and there is little doubt that it is an ideal place to shoot and study poplars in China. From October to November is the best time to enjoy poplars because the sudden temperature drop paints the forests golden. In only a few days, the woods completely transform from lush green to radiant shades of yellow. With the backdrop of blue skies and vast expanses of desert, the vistas can be stunning. As the temperature continues to drop, falling leaves become another big attraction for photographers and tourists. Recently, Ejina has been hosting an annual poplar festival in early October, during which the photography contest is a central event and attracts so many tourists to search for best tours of China.

Ejina’s poplars huddle around the cyclical Ejina River. The densest forests can be found around branches of the river, with Erdaoqiao, Sidaoqiao, and Badaoqiao being the most popular scenic spots. Each spot was named after one of eight bridges that span the river. East of Ejina’s Dalaihubu Town, a bridge provides dry crossing of the river every two or three kilometers, starting from Yidaoqiao (literally “first bridge”) to Badaoqiao, the eighth. All of them are smothered by dense poplars. Well-read visitors have even jokingly compared the place to The Bridges of Madison County, even though Ejina has one more bridge than the seven of the locale featured in the novel. And visitors always consider to include it in their China tour deals.
The Ghostly Quaint Forest
About 28 kilometers southwest of Ejina’s Dalaihubu Town is a formerly dense forest of now-dead poplars. The so-called Quaint Forest is the remains of a former poplar forest that was consumed by the desert when the river altered its course. The forest has now been desolate for centuries, and through passage of time and changes in dynasties, the dead wood hasn’t decayed.
The Quaint Forest was once a lush primeval woods. Hehei and Beida Rivers, both originating in the Qilian Mountains, converge in Ejina to form a fan-shaped forest belt across the desert. However, over time the waterways change, resulting in large areas of dead trees such as the peculiar Quaint Forest.

Dead poplars can be found in a variety of shapes. Some remain standing upright, some have fallen completely horizontal, and others can even resemble animal bones. The seemingly endless ghost forest presents a stark contrast with glowing golden woods nearby — the juxtaposition becoming a favorite subject for photographers. A photographer with the internet handle “Black Coffee” described his experience of shooting sunset at the Quaint Forest on his blog:"When the evening glow pervades the sky, the dead poplars cast shadows in various shapes, harkening to the magnificence and vastness of life." The best time to have a popular China tour here is in October when the poplars' leaves turn yellow.
Past and Present Juyan Lake
When Juyan Lake is mentioned, Ejina River is usually not far behind. In the lower reaches of the Hehei River System, Ejina River’s source is also in the snow of Qilian Mountains. Historically, Juyan once referred to three lakes combined, but today only two remain: West Juyan Lake and East.
In ancient times, Juyan was notably fertile. With an abundance of water resources, thick seas of emerald grassland flourished on the banks, and the river nourished one of the oldest agricultural areas in China, playing an important role in the development of Northwest China’s ethnic groups. Last century, Ejina River began shrinking, and consequently Juyan Lake began drying up. However, in recent years, improved ecological measures have helped Juyan Lake regain some of its glistening splendor.

Visitors to Ejina, especially photographers, should not miss catching the sunrise at Juyan Lake. Before the sun rises each day, scores of people will already be eagerly crowding the shore. Of course, most of the optimum viewing spots are usually occupied by tripods and lenses aimed at the place where the sun will reveal itself. To ensure the best view for your China tour packages, some visitors will even camp on the lake overnight. Remember that the morning breeze can be quite chilly, but for those shivering through the darkness, the arrival of each stunning ray of light will surely bring piercing warmth.