What is Chi Lin Nunnery in Hong Kong

One of the most beautiful and arrestingly built environments in Hong Kong (learn more it via Hong Kong city guide), this large Buddhist complex, originally dating from the 1930s, was rebuilt completely of wood (and not a single nail) in the style of the Tang dynasty in 1998. It is a serene place, with lotus ponds, immaculate bonsai tea plants and bougainvillea, and silent nuns delivering offerings of fruit and rice to Buddha and arhats (Buddhist disciples freed from the cycle of birth and death) or chanting behind intricately carved screens. The design (involving intricately interlocking sections of wood joined without a single nail) is intended to demonstrate the harmony of humans with nature. It’s pretty convincing – until you look up at the looming neighbourhood high-rises behind the complex.

You enter the complex through the Sam Mun, a series of ‘three gates’ representing the Buddhist precepts of compassion, wisdom and ‘skilful means’. The first courtyard, which contains the delightful Lotus Pond Garden where you can have a rest after Hong Kong tour, gives way to the Hall of Celestial Kings, with a large statue of the seated Buddha surrounded by the deities of the four cardinal points. Behind that is the main hall, containing a statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha flanked by two standing disciples and two seated bodhisattvas (Buddhist holy people). Below the complex is a cafe selling vegetarian snacks and dim sum for $14 to $25.
To reach the nunnery, take exit C2 of Diamond Hill MTR station, walk through the Hollywood Plaza shopping centre and turn east on to Fung Tak Rd. The nunnery is a five-minute walk away. After relax here, you can go on visiting next Hong Kong attractions.

Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Cake Festival) – world’s best festivals

Date: fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. 19 Sep 2013; 8 Sep 2014; 27 Sep 2015.
Level of participation: 2 – gaze at the woman in the moon
Also called the Moon Cake Festival, China’s harvest festival is an occasion to scoff these sweet treats. The cakes, made of a thin dough shell containing fillings such as jelly, dates and nuts or red bean paste, start appearing everywhere a month before the celebration. If they’re not sick of the snacks by the time of the event, celebrants eat them within view of the real star of the festival: the moon. Held on the September full moon, during the autumn equinox, the tradition is about observing the transition of the seasons. In Japan, one of the other Asian countries where faces turn to the night sky, people even climb onto rooftops to get closer to the moon.The festival is also in the high season of China tourism.

This is China’s most important shindig after its New Year celebrations, so it’s not all stargazing. Participants eat pomeloes (Chinese grapefruit) and drape the rinds on their heads, do fire-dragon dances, carry lanterns and hang them from towers. Incense is burnt for the lunar goddess Chang’e, who, they believe, lives on the moon with a jade rabbit. Sometimes called the Lantern Festival, the night should not be confused with the lantern festival at the end of Chinese New Year (more other festival in China via China guide).
Essentials: pack a hamper of moon cakes and plenty of paper lanterns.
Local attractions: a popular moon-watching spot is the city of Hangzhou, where three candlelit towers stand in West Lake (very famous attraction contained in top 10 China tour packages).

Is Hong Kong one of the world's best places to live? II

My favourite spots of Hong Kong sightseeing
Cococabana serves wonderful Mediterranean food on Deep Water Bay beach - ideal for a long, lazy and delicious lunch or dinner.
The cheapest and most impressive view of Hong Kong is from the Star Ferry which crosses the harbour from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island and costs approximately 20p a trip. The iconic Hong Kong skyline never fails to impress and shows off the constant development of this ever-changing city.
Lunch on the IFC Terrace, with views of The Peak and harbour. A perfect spot for sunbathing during lunch, whilst grabbing a sarnie or salad with friends.
Hiking across Dragon’s Back and down onto Shek O beach before downing cold beers and eating at the local alfresco Chinese and Thai Seafood restaurant.
Feather Boa is a super chilled bar with a great lounge atmosphere. I always recommend trying the strawberry daiquiri: only one though as they are so strong!
Happy Foot for a spot of reflexology after a long day. A cheap and cheerful traditional Chinese foot pampering parlour.
Taking a friend for a game of ping pong at Tazmanian Ballroom on Tuesdays – this plush and welcoming bar is perfect for early evening drinks on a colder evening.
Dragon-I for its all-you-can-eat HKD 150 dim sum lunches but also, more importantly, the nightclub in the evenings.
Favourite spots in Asia-Pacific
Macau. Go see House of Dancing Water included in your Hong Kong tour packages – a spectacular production by Franco Dragone featuring a dive pool for the stunts.
Beijing. Just jump on a plane, and explore the local hutongs. Stay at The Opposite House, a perfect weekend getaway where you can soak up some of the culture in the art district.
Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Rai, Thailand, which overlooks the bamboo forests of the Golden Triangle and the Mekong. You can watch the view while wallowing in the copper bathtubs, after a day of training the camp’s elephants.
Soaking up the rays on the private island of Amanpulo and swimming with the sea turtles in the Philippines. A slice of paradise.

For more others about Hong Kong, you can click Hong Kong travel guide.

Is Hong Kong one of the world's best places to live? I

My deep-rooted interest in Hong Kong stems from old ties with its colonial past. My pioneering great, great grandfather worked here as the chairman of HSBC from 1876 to 1902 and this subconscious affair of the heart finally took off when I travelled to Hong Kong for the first time last November.
On a stopover to Vietnam and Cambodia, I stayed with old travelling buddies and was astounded by the unique East-meets-West vibe of the so-called “Fragrant Harbour”: my first introduction to the city involved a trip out to the Po Toi islands on a local junk boat to gorge on seafood, followed by cocktails at the chic and sleek Café Grey overlooking the harbour. Within 24 hours I was planning my escape to Hong Kong.
A couple of weeks later, I was at an engagement party and talking to a former flatmate about Hong Kong. It turned out that I wasn't the only one thinking about it, as I found out that Quintessentially, the luxury lifestyle group, was planning to launch there later in the year. One meeting later, and my one-way ticket was booked.


On arrival at Hong Kong airport for Hong Kong tours, the efficiency never fails to amaze visitors or inhabitants alike: 25 minutes and you’re in the centre of the city. But finding my new home wasn’t so easy! My pregnant friend and I had to battle with my three bags and many flights of stairs in the old Chinese building which is now my home. I’ll never forget her look of horror at the tiny space - about a third of the size of my old London flat, which was by no means large! The obligatory transparent bathroom doors caused much amusement, until I broke my nose during one of my first weeks by walking into them.
Flats might be small comparative to the UK and you certainly pay the price for living on Hong Kong Island, but the mentality in Hong Kong is to work hard, play hard, so the reality is that you’re hardly in your flat but to sleep. I relish my precious time in the very contemporary and creative space - I love the fact it’s totally different to my old cluttered London style of living. Plus, the Sai Ying Pun area in Hong Kong is very up and coming. One particular acquaintance describes it as the Shoreditch of Hong Kong - I think this is an exaggeration but an amusing one that I certainly repeat when friends back in the UK ask about life here.
My new office is in the more happening spot of Sheung Wan, which is a short walk away - fine at this time of year but astoundingly draining in the middle of summer when there is 90 per cent humidity. Sometimes I’m tempted to ride the escalator that takes you up the hillside of Hong Kong Island (houses many Hong Kong tourist attractions) - and which runs alongside the stairs I climb as part of my commute - just for some relief from the elements.
The weather is ever changeable but usually beautifully warm, so I love that weekends involve a plethora of outdoor activities: from hiking on the sub-tropical trails, beach or boat action or perhaps a short flight to explore all that Asia-Pacific has to offer.
Weekend breaks so far have included the Philippines, Beijing (one of best destination for last minute China travel deals), Shanghai, Sanya, Singapore, Macau and Thailand as well as longer holidays to India and Europe (usually for weddings). And there's a trip to Japan in the pipeline too. There is also much to discover in and around Hong Kong and transport is so easy that last minute plans are the norm.
Getting involved with the expat community was a comfortable leap of faith as there are plenty of people to scoop you up and firm friends are quickly made in Hong Kong - they end up being part of your Asian family. Expats know what it’s like to arrive in this vibrant city, which makes for an immediate natural understanding.
What is unique about Hong Kong is the international influence: it’s a young city full of fascinating people. Due to its speedy development and entrepreneurial spirit, it attracts an eclectic mix of individuals and that’s what makes it exciting - here, anything and everything seems possible.

Know something before visit Hong Kong

Local laws and etiquette
Forget those 1970s Cantonese martial-arts films: unless you intend getting into a fight in a Mongkok brothel, you’re not going to encounter triads. Hong Kong (learn more via Hong Kong city guide) is a law-abiding place which can feel unexpectedly quaint: this is a city where you see orderly bus queues, policemen on the beat, park attendants, signs about proper behaviour, and Ovaltine and Horlicks on the menus in local cafes. Public drunkenness, beyond the bar districts of Lan Kwai Fong and Wanchai, is rare. For all its street clamour and 21-century-pizzazz, it’s a conservative society where modest behaviour is expected, children are adored (blonde ones have their heads continually patted for good luck) and family life is still crucial.
Don’t be alarmed by ubiquitous face masks. Ever since Sars, in 2003, the city has become more hygiene conscious, and it is considered polite but not obligatory to wear one if you have a cold. Cough and cold etiquette hints are posted on some of the buses. Hand-sanitizers are available in the big shopping malls. In the flu season (February/March) it’s probably a good idea to use them.
Even if you’re not on business, there’s likely to be an occasion when someone will produce a name card. Receive it with both hands, read it and treat it respectfully. In the same way, when you’re handing over a credit card, it’s polite to use both hands.
Smoking is banned in all public places, including beaches and public parks.
Be aware of the concept of “face” – don’t persist, for example, in asking directions from someone who is clearly not at ease with English. And try not to ask questions (“Is this the way to the Star Ferry?”) which can be answered “Yes” or “No” – people, wishing to save your face, will say yes, whether or not that’s right.
Visas
After 1997, Hong Kong officially became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. British passport-holders can stay in the SAR for 90 days without a Chinese visa but are not allowed to work. If, however, you’re planning to cross the border into the rest of China (apart from Macau, the other SAR), you must have a visa. China has a visa office in Hong Kong but it currently requires tourists to apply for visas in their home countries (fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng) so allow enough time in advance for this.
Weather
Hong Kong’s typhoon season runs from May to October. The city has a typhoon-signal warning system: the number 1 standby signal goes up when a typhoon is 800km from Hong Kong; the number 3 when it’s moving closer to Hong Kong (Hong Kong tour is a must for your travel); the number 8 when the storm is expected to pass very near to Hong Kong. Once a number 8 is hoisted, everything shuts down. Local television and radio stations keep the public informed about the storm’s progress so that people can get home before the transport network closes. After the number 1 signal has been issued, you can chart the expected track of a typhoon on the Hong Kong Observatory’s website,hko.gov.hk
The Observatory also has a rain-warning system graded from amber (the lowest), through red to black (the highest). Heavy downpours in the summer months can cause serious flooding and landslips. If a black warning has been issued, you should stay where you are unless you think there’s immediate danger from a landslide.
Year round advice about clothing: No matter when you’re visiting subtropical Hong Kong, bring at least one warm layer. Don’t under-estimate how chilly it can become in winter. Visitors find it amusing when the Hong Kong Observatory issues its Cold Weather Warnings at 12 degrees but temperatures can drop from balmy to piercing very quickly. Buildings aren’t insulated, most places don’t have central heating and the air-conditioning keeps on working in buses, ferries, restaurants and shopping malls whether it’s needed or not. If you’re planning on hiking to see Hong Kong attractions, bring gloves and hats.
As for summer . . .despite pleas by Friends of the Earth, this is still an extravagantly air-conditioned city where cinemas have shawl-lending schemes to protect patrons from pneumonia in August. It may be 36 degrees with 95 per cent humidity in the world outside but you’ll be freezing, so bring a jumper or cardigan.
And if you’re visiting in the rainy season, pack your least-favourite shoes because they’ll probably be ruined.

Night Cruise Along The Pearl River

The third longest river (other two are Yellow River and Yangtze River on which you can have Yantze River tour), the Pearl River, measures 2,129 meters in length. The Guangzhou section of the river is where Guangzhou's most scenic spots are located. Many famous sights are clustered along the river and are the reasons for many people taking a trip to Guangzhou.

The Pearl River got its name from a huge rock island. When the thousand-metre long Pearl River cut through Guangzhou City (best destination for China tour deals) a large rock island in the centre of the river was scoured over. Over time this became smooth and bright like a pearl, hence the rock being named "Sea Pearl Rock" and the river "Pearl River". An interesting legend offers an alternative explanation of the rivers name. It was said that an Arabian merchant stole the valueless pearl of his country and came to sell it in Guangzhou. Since the pearl was the treasure of his nation, the Arabian State ordered his people to Guangzhou to bring the pearl back. However, on their ship home, the magical pearl suddenly flew up and fell into the river. Later the pearl changed into a huge shining rock. The river was later named as Pearl River.
The river has a long history and nourishes the civilization of south China. Today standing on the banks of the river are star-graded Hotels and commercial buildings, White Swan Hotel, Hotel Landmark Canton, Nanfang Mansion, Aiqun Hotel, Guangzhou Hotel, Gitic Riverside Hotel, all like sky-scrappers. In the evening, both banks are lit brightly joined occasionally by the bright moon hanging in the sky. Full of passengers, pleasure boats for the Pearl River cruise travel (which should not be missed for your China best tours) from the west to the east elegantly on the river, like playing happy melodies all together.
The evening cruise on the Pearl River is one of the tourist highlights in Guangzhou. The beauty of the Pearl River at night can be compared with that of Hong Kong 's Victoria Park. The cruise section from the White Goose Pool to Guangzhou Bridge is the highlight of the Pearl River cruise. Scenery along this part is so fascinating, with jade-coloured water, coloured lights on shore.
During your cruise you can enjoy beautiful scenery with such romantic names as "Night Moon over the Goose Pool", "Misty Rain over the Twin Bridge", "Red Heart of the Pearl River", "Autumn Moon over the Pearl River", "Clear Waves on the Pearl River" and many more. To help you understand what you are seeing there is a detailed introduction to the 30-odd historical and cultural sites given on board by speakers, thus enabling you to sample a brief taste of the colourful local culture (via China guide to obtain more).

5 Chinese eating habits explained

No doubt you once thought that as soon as your skills were honed, you’d become the chopstick-wielding version embarking on a masterful two-pronged exploration of China’s culinary culture for your China tour deals.
Well, not quite.
Chinese dining etiquette is built on tradition, not dexterity.
We asked Lawrence Lo, founder of LHY Etiquette Consultancy Limited, to explain the enigmatic cultural origins of some common table manners, just in time for your Chinese New Year banquet.
1. Do not rest chopsticks vertically in rice
While it may minimize the transition time between the voracious gobbling of food and intermittent sipping of a Tsingtao or cup of cha, stowing chopsticks in this way is neither prudent nor polite.
Meaning: It’s a harbinger of death.
Just as the number four, si (四), is considered inauspicious for its homophonous relation to the word si (死), meaning death, the sight of two upright chopsticks in a bowl is reminiscent of the incense sticks that the Chinese traditionally burn in veneration of deceased loved ones.
But you can easily avoid unwittingly displaying this dark omen.
“In restaurants there are always chopstick stands,” says Lo. “So it’s natural to put your chopsticks there.”
If in a tiny mom and pop establishment lacking the niceties, resting your chopsticks on the edge of your bowl instead will not incense those around you.?
2. Never turn over the fish
In Chinese restaurants, the standard is for a fish to be served whole.
After working your way through the tender top side, it may seem logical to simply flip the fish and continue. Unfortunately, doing so has an unforeseen consequence. You should know that when you want to eat fish after tired popular China tours.
Meaning: You’ve capsized the boat.
According to Lo, this is of more concern in regions that rely strongly on fishing or are located along the coast.
“The fish symbolizes the boat,” he explains. By turning it over, you’re casting the hapless fishermen into Davy Jones’ locker.
But you don’t have to resign yourself to picking and prodding.
Using your chopsticks, pick up the backbone at a point near the tail and gently pull upward until you’ve dislodged the bone from the meat beneath. Then simply slide the “boat” to the side of the plate, and continue eating.



3. Birthday noodles
Chinese tradition calls for a birthday girl or boy to slurp a bowl of noodles as a celebration of the many years ahead. And as “Lady and the Tramp” so aptly demonstrated, that one long noodle can be a great thing.
Meaning: It symbolizes longevity.
In this case, that long strip of noodle is a metaphor for the long walk of life. Yet this tradition comes with an addendum: do not cut the noodles.
“That symbolizes cutting your life off,” says Lo. It's not a very positive message on the day of one’s birth.
Thankfully, cutting applies mainly to severing with a knife or with chopsticks. Biting is a practical and, Lo says, acceptable way of ensuring you don't look like a hamster with filled cheek pouches.
“You should slurp your noodles,” Lo adds. “That means it tastes good. It’s like swishing wine in your mouth so that it mixes with oxygen -- it’s the same idea.”
4. Tea tapping is a must
A tea cup should never be allowed to run dry.
Your host, or members of your dinner party, will regularly refill the cups of those around them, who tap the table in response. Go ahead and follow suit.
Meaning: It’s a show of thanks.
According to legend, there was once an emperor who regularly impersonated a commoner in order to get acquainted with his people.
One night, while at a teahouse, the emperor poured tea for his accompanying servant.
“Traditionally, the servant would have kneeled down to show respect, but that would have betrayed the emperor’s identity,” explains Lo. “So he tapped the table instead.”
Two fingers, two knees.
“There’s a stronger tea-drinking culture in southeast China,” says Lo, adding that the habit may be more prevalent in Guangzhou and Hong Kong (you can join Hong Kong tour packages). Regardless, saying “thank you” is just as permissible, so don’t fret if this custom isn’t second nature to you.
5. Always order an even number of dishes
When out with a sizable crowd, you want to ensure you order enough food. A rule of thumb is to order dishes equivalent to the number of people in your party, plus one. But if you’re an even-numbered crowd, this will put you at odds -- in numbers and in fortune.
Meaning: Odd number of dishes symbolizes death (again).
“For regular meals, you’d always order an even number of dishes, because an odd number is usually only ordered at a funeral meal,” says Lo.
This has nothing to do with homonyms, but rather with qi.
According to Chinese belief, odd numbers are associated with yin qi rather than yang. In the yin-yang equation of balance, yin is cold, yang is hot -- dark and light, death and life, respectively.
Lo adds a qualifier: “This applies more to banquets and formal events, and is mostly related to the first-round order. You can add dishes as you need them afterward.”
Thankfully, The above assures us that in informal settings among friends, no one’s likely to be counting.
For more others, you can check out China travel guide.

What is Green Lake Park in Kunming?

While it does have a certain charm, Green Lake Park isn’t a stunningly attractive place but should be considerded for your Kunming tour. Weeping willows,
bamboo groves, stone

bridges, well-maintained pavilions and an abundance of water make it a pleasant enough place for a stroll. But the main reason to visit is to see the people who come here. As the only major park in Kunming’s downtown area, Green Lake Park attracts all sorts: Tai Chi practitioners exercise here in the morning, while old folks come to play mahjong during the day. Musicians and performers abound in the pavilions in the center of the park. There are numerous teahouses and restaurants around the park and Wenlin Jie is also close by. In winter there is an added attraction: black-headed gulls from Siberia migrate to this park and Dianchi Lake (one of must-see Kunming sightseeing) for the coldest months of the year. Green Lake Park used to be connected to Dianchi Lake to the south-west as recently as the 1970s.
Admission: Free. Open: 7:00-22:00.
Directions: Green Lake Park is located north of the city center, at the western end of Yuantong Lu (directly west of Yuantong Temple).s
For more via Kunming travel guide.

Top 3 Landmarks in China

The Great Wall
It is the star attraction and considered as the wisdom of the Chinese people as well as symbol of china. It is one of the spectacular defensive structures which were built in order to keep intruders from entering into the mainland. The construction of this Great Wall begun in the 5th century BC and it continued for many centuries and different dynasties. And finally this Wall stretches from Jiayuguan Pass to the west to the Shanhiaguan Pass in east having a total length of about nine hundred kilometers transverse over nine provinces and municipalities.

It is also inscribed in the World Cultural Heritage Site by the organization UNESCO in the year 1987; the most famous sections within Beijing are Badaling, Simatai and Mutianyu. It is always contained in the affordable China travel packages.

Forbidden City, Beijing

Forbidden City also known as the Imperial Palace museum is a very magnificent building complex which is located in the heart of Beijing. It was build during the period of Yongle from the Ming dynasty. It is the largest as well as well preserved wooden building complex of the World. They were laid out very much precisely in accordance with the feudal code of architectural hierarchy which designated the specific features reflecting the status of emperor and paramount authority.
Forbidden City is the best example of traditional Chinese palatial architecture. It was listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of the preserved and ancient wooden structure in the world and became World heritage Site in the year 1987 and makes contribution to China tourism.

Qin Terracotta Army, Xian

The terracotta Army is a famous attraction of China because of its uniqueness and Historical significance. It is significant as the hundreds of models of detailed life-size representing the army that has triumphed over all the other Chinese army and who have been the decisive factor in the formation of united China.
The Terracotta Army Museum is situated at the two kilometer east of The Tomb of Qin Shihuang, who is known as the first Emperor unifying China about 2,200 years ago. Emperor Qin, from whom country China has got its name, ordered for the creation of this model army. UNESCO has selected the Tomb of the First Emperor including the Terracotta Army Vaults as the World Cultural Heritage Site. You should not miss it for your Silk Road tour.
The statue of the army of terracotta was made for burying with the first Emperor Qin Shihuang as show of his glory and to remember that army which has got triumphed over the other Warring states for uniting the china and also because it was believed that the objects like the statues can be animated in afterlife and Qin Shihuang required the after death army.

China Shopping Guide

If you are a shop-a-holic, then you'll find shopping in China has a lot to offer after your last minute China travel deals, if you go searching for it. You may need to ask the right questions to find the kind of venue or experience you are looking for. Be prepared to barter. Learn some Chinese or take someone Chinese along with you.
Tip: every place that you go to - ask for a business card. That way, the next time you want to go there, you can simply show the business card to the taxi driver. It makes life much easier and you gain a lot of personal independence. In China you can easily buy wallet size business card holders. I kept all my business cards in this, in my handbag, and was able to go anywhere I wanted to go without asking for help or someone to translate for me.
Shopping in China - Downtown
In China, everywhere is downtown. It is not like the west, where we separate the single-family dwellings from the business and shopping areas. In China, on the ground level, is store after store after store of small privately owned shops. Every neighbourhood has it is own market.
In most cities in China, and in Hong Kong (Hong Kong travel guide), products are usually found grouped together in districts. So if you wanted furniture, you would go to the furniture district. If you needed office supplies you would go to the office supply district. If you needed fabric, you would go to the fabric district.
Department Store Shopping in China
There is usually a specific downtown area where you will find at least one main department store and a market. In the department stores, you pay the price shown on the ticket. There is no bartering. Department stores are very generalized, carrying everything from shoes to appliances. They will have a lot of products – but maybe available in only one style or one color. When you make a purchase – it is generally not returnable. There is seldom a guarantee. There are no fitting rooms to try on clothes. Women go shopping with a tape measure and generally just know their size when they see it.
Bartering in the Market and Small Shops
Generally, you can barter down about 30% off the price quoted – however, if you are a foreigner – they may double the price quoted and try to make some money off you. So, for the first little while, when shopping in China, it is best to take someone Chinese with you, or know the going prices before you decide to barter. It is considered in bad taste to barter a good deal and then walk away without purchasing it. However, some of the best bartering happens when you decide that the price is just too high and you don’t want it that badly, you turn and walk away, and then the store owner comes running after you and concedes to the price you originally wanted. Best to learn a little Chinese - especially numbers, currency, and how to say "too expensive" (tai gui le)
Shopping in China for Fakes and Knock-offs
There is a lot of fake stuff for sale in China, so the Chinese tend to trust a department store just a little more than a local retailer – for purchases of value – like a cell phones, name brand watches, TVs or computers. However, even department stores can be selling fakes. I thought I was being safe by paying about $100 Canadian for a brand name watch in a big Chinese department store. However, about a year later, the casing for the watch was totally tarnished. I had better luck with $5.00 watches that could be bought on any street corner. My husband bought a very expensive cell phone from a large retailer, only to find out it was fake and that the battery only lasted one day at a time. Shopping in China has it's high moments when you find a bargain and low moments when you realize you've been cheated.
Downtown Shanghai has an export market that is full of knock-offs at fantastic prices. You can buy high end knock-offs and low-end look-a-likes. The high end knock-offs you pay much more for – but the quality is good and it is quite difficult to tell if it is real or not. I purchased Channel leather wallets and Tommy Bahama’s shirts at ridiculous prices and they were very good quality products.
Shopping in China's Shopping Centers and Walking Streets
In the large coastal cities like Shanghai, Beijing (must-see for your China vacation deals), Guangzhou and many others, you will find high-end malls with brand name retail stores. Hong Kong is full of these high-end glitzy malls. Most larger cities also have a walking street of shops – which is always a favourite place to spend several hours looking for a bargain.
Shopping in China - Export Markets
In Shanghai,Guangzhou and Shenzhen, there are several export markets, where you can find things produced for export, but not generally found in the Chinese shops. Here, things can be bought at wholesale prices. Fabric markets can be huge – some several acres in size – servicing the garment industry. It is not usually open to the general public and purchases made in the market are usually made by the bolt. However, if you go there and act like a foreign buyer, you can tell them you are making samples and need only a few yards. They will usually allow you to buy. My husband owned a garment factory – so I had a business card from his factory printed up for myself. When I showed my business card, they were always helpful. You can design your own business cards for just a few dollars in China – and voila – suddenly you are a fashion designer shopping in the world’s largest selection of fabrics! Then you take your fabric to a tailor to have it made into whatever you choose. The tailor needs only a picture – they require no pattern to work from. They simply take your measurements and can give you what you want during your popular China tours.
Shopping in China - Food Markets
For most of inland China – most of the grocery shopping is done at the local market as opposed to the supermarket. The local market is dirty, wet and full of stalls selling everything from fresh local vegetables, homemade tofu, and eggs, to live poultry and dogs ready for slaughter. There are also lots of dried medicinal type foods available.
You won’t find a nice sliced pork chop or a roast here. You might buy a whole chicken, and the stall owner will take his cleaver and chop it up into a hundred pieced for you so it is ready for you to cook in your wok – with head and feet in a bag on the side. Beef comes ready cooked as a small roast that sliced and added to noodles or stir-fry dishes.

Hankering after Hong Kong II

There are more branches of Hermes here than in Paris.
Every day, thousands of shoppers pour in from mainland China to return weighed down with designer carrier bags. Outside the main Chanel store, there is still a long queue at past 10pm.
One thing you won't see, though, however hard you look, is any trace of the People's Republic of China and the ideology that is so diametrically opposed to all this capitalism.
During our three-day visit of China tour deals, communism makes only one coy appearance.
After dark, the skyscrapers around Victoria Harbour put on a collective light show, underlining what regular guys these business people are.
The show is best seen from a luxurious junk named Aqualuna, in a rather non-Chinese way. Towards its end, the junk's piped disco track dies away and a solemn voice lists the creators of the spectacle: 'HSBC... Samsung... Hitachi... Canon... the Chinese People's Liberation Army...'
Next day, we travel, by Britishlooking double-decker bus, to the south of Hong Kong Island, where its best beaches are to be found for fantastic Hong Kong tour.
On the journey, we pass Repulse Bay, which commemorates a famous British naval victory against pirates in the early 19th century (nowadays, our mariners probably would just look on, wringing their hands and talking about risk-assessment).

Overlooking the bay, there used to be an old hotel, famous for its roast-beef-and-Yorkshire Sunday lunches. I once drank whisky sours there with legendary foreign correspondent Murray Sayle - he who once defined a journalist's most essential attribute as 'rat-like cunning'.
The end of the line is Stanley Market, a seemingly endless labyrinth of stalls selling such traditional Chinese goods as Def Leppard T-shirts and multicoloured backpacks.

Others display lingerie or tablecloths, with labels handwritten in English as they used to be in old-fashioned London stores: 'Very stylish'... 'Exceptionally popular'... 'Something a little different.'
Our hotel, the Mandarin Oriental in Connaught Street, is one of the island's strongest links with the past. Built in 1963, it was the first in today's worldwide chain of Mandarin Orientals - a brand that for me, in whatever country, always comes pretty near perfection.
When this one opened 50 years ago, as just the Mandarin, its 27 floors made it Hong Kong's tallest building. It was also the first hotel in Asia to offer en-suite baths with every room, prompting its bemused architect to ask: 'Is every guest going to be amphibious?'
The island now boasts two Mandarin Orientals within a short walk of each other, but only Connaught Street's has the wood-panelled Captain's Bar where far-from-home Brits can drink draught beer from their own engraved silver tankards just as they might in days gone by on Sunday mornings in Surrey's stockbroker belt.
In its Clipper Lounge - lined with black-and-white photographs of women from 1963 with beehive hair and men in mohair suits - Hong Kong's biggest deals are said to be done over English-style afternoon tea with scones and rose-petal jam.
The last time I visited Hong Kong for my best tours of China, my most memorable meal was fish-lip and crabs' egg soup on a ramshackle floating restaurant in Aberdeen Harbour. This time, it's a ten-course lunch in the Mandarin's exclusive Krug Room, prepared by German celebrity chef Uwe Opocensky and themed to the hotel's 50th anniversary.
Our dessert, recalling another notable construction from more than 50 years ago, is a chocolate model of the Berlin Wall. We feel thoroughly weird, demolishing this symbol of old-fashioned Western communism at the epicentre of the new-style Eastern kind.
Many Hong Kong Chinese feel nostalgia for the days of British rule, especially the older generation who sought refuge here from mainland China during the brutal Mao Zedong era.
I talk to Jimmy Lau, the Mandarin Oriental's immaculate 'concierge-ambassador', who arrived from Shanghai with his grandfather when he was a small boy and earned his first living as a child busker.

Before Jimmy joined the Mandarin group 42 years ago, he tells me, he worked as an inspector for Hong Kong's energy supplier, China Power and Light, with a beat that included the notorious Walled City of Kowloon.
This was an area in the centre of Kowloon that officially belonged to China, but which it could not administer and which Hong Kong's colonial government dared not. As a result, it was completely lawless, a centre of the opium trade and safe haven for the Triads, the Chinese mafia.
Coincidentally, my previous Hong Kong visit was to write a magazine article about the Walled City. I remember how its unregulated buildings stood so close together that the streets were permanently dark, and residents on the top floors could step from one block to another via their windows. Hong Kong recent years makes contribution to China tourism.
It was bulldozed flat years ago, Jimmy Lau tells me, and is now a public park. From the hotel in Connaught Road, a short walk leads to Hong Kong's very own Soho in the foothills of the Peak. Those who don't fancy a steep climb can take the world's longest outdoor escalator.
In Soho's hilly markets, bargaining for a jade necklace or a carved wooden box, you might think you'd finally escaped Britain's lingering embrace. But not so.
Among the sizzling food stalls, one seems vastly more popular than all others, and its permanent queue is entirely Chinese.

Hankering after Hong Kong I

Until this year, I'd visited Hong Kong for my China vacation deals only once, back in the 1970s when it was one of our last remaining colonies. British policemen in black caps and khaki shorts patrolled the streets and I met officials with Victorian titles such as District Commissioner.
During my week-long stay, I sampled everything for which 'Honkers' used to be famous.
I bought a cut-price cassette-recorder, had a green silk Chinese dressing-gown run up for me in 24 hours, visited the old colonial mansions on the Peak and was rowed by sampan out to one of the huge floating restaurants in Aberdeen Harbour.
There was already an end-of-empire feel about the place, although two decades more would pass before Britain's lease ran out and it was handed back to China.

You didn't have to be an imperialist to feel sadness when our flag was lowered on an island that had played a key role in British maritime history for a century and a half.
Nor to fear for its future as truckloads of Chinese troops took over, each grim-faced soldier rather sinisterly clutching a party balloon.
But the expected meltdown to communism never came.
Instead, China's leaders have used Hong Kong - along with Shanghai (hot travel city for China best tours)- to symbolise their new love of Western capitalism, if not democracy. In that role, its growth has been phenomenal - voted the world's top economic centre by the World Economic Forum for the past two years.
It may seem an odd choice for a long weekend break such as I chose for my return visit, especially with the ten-hour BA night flight both ways. But there's a certain restfulness in going somewhere so utterly removed from Britain's current economic woes and our hang-ups about wealth and conspicuous consumption.
And although my primary purpose was a trip down journalistic memory lane with my wife Sue, Hong Kong seemed far more fascinating this time around.

The first great change, infinitely for the better, is touching down. The old Kai Tak Airport used to be in the centre of Kowloon, the colony's mainland settlement, with its runway jutting out into Victoria Harbour. Landing was a white-knuckle ride, with mountains looming on one side and overcrowded apartment blocks on the other, so close that you could see people through their windows.
Since the Chinese takeover, a highly efficient international airport has been built 18 miles away at Chek Lap Kok, which I wish I could pronounce without a stupid schoolboy-ish smirk.
One might have thought China's first priority would have been obliterating every last trace of colonial rule. But the island's street and place names still exude 19th century Britishness: Victoria Harbour, Connaught Road, Queen's Road Central, Repulse Bay, Stanley Market. For more about these place, you can check out Hong Kong travel guide.
The Star Ferry, plying between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, has its same Victorian termini with plank walkways like Margate Pier and iron turnstiles made in Lancashire.
Downtown Hong Kong, though, is a different storey (misspelling intentional). A brand-new city has taken shape, which glories in its glass and metal skyscrapers, and the riches they contain, just as New York used to do pre-9/11. Here, bankers aren't reviled, but looked up to in every sense. The showiest high-rises are the headquarters of international banks, none more so than Sir Norman Foster's creation for HSBC, which resembles a giant pink and grey jukebox.
Rather than the crusty old colonial Brits of yesteryear, there is now a huge international, and mostly young, expatriate population working in the ever-booming financial sector and enjoying one of the world's lowest tax rates.
Living space is at such a premium that even newish apartment buildings are routinely torn down and replaced by brand-new ones allowing even greater numbers of occupants to be crammed in.
'A flat will be advertised as being so many square feet,' one young British businessman told me. 'What you don't realise is that that includes your parking spot and your share of the communal pool.'
On the streets - with their smogmasked crowds, slimline trams and outsize public ashtrays - money doesn't just talk, it uses a loud-hailer. The old instant tailors and shirtmakers and cut-price electronics bazaars have given way to stores and malls selling every top European fashion label - Prada, Chanel, Armani, Max Mara - through innumerable outlets. You will have a fantastic popular China tours in Hong Kong.

Explore the ancient customs and culture in Fenghuang Ancient City

Feng Huang is Chinese for 'phoenix', the mythical bird which is a good omen and symbolizes longevity. When consumed by fire, Feng Huang will be reborn from the flames. Feng Huang Cheng gets its name from a legend that two of these fantastic birds flew over the town and found the town so beautiful that they hovered it, reluctant to leave. It is very famous ancient town and make contribution to China tourism.

Fenghuang Town is located on the western edge of Hunan Province and next to Guizhou. Claimed to be one of the two most beautiful towns in China, Feng Huang Cheng sets an example of what villages were like before the start of modernization. In the town dozens of lanes are paved with stones that run between the wooden houses built on stilts. Generations of local people have stepped on the lanes and worn them down bit by bit. Mist envelopes the town in the early morning or after a rain, creating a charming picturesque scene of Southwest China.

But Feng Huang Cheng's charm goes beyond the natural beauty which attracts tourists for China tour deals. This ancient town has a history of 1,300 years and it has a number of old gardens as well as distinctive residential buildings, elegant bridges and mysterious towers and pagodas. In Feng Huang Cheng, tourists can also have a glimpse of the Great Wall. This section of the Great Wall was built in the Ming Dynasty (1573-1620) to defend against the local Miao minority ethnic group, which defied the central government at that time.

But today the Miao people live with local Han people. Visitors will find a large array of handmade items in the local shops, including silver accessories, homemade textiles, and batik fabric. Food here also has local flavor and pickled red peppers are a local delicacy.

Highlights

The ethnic Miao people have a recorded history of at least 5,000 years.? Most of the Miao people live in highlands.? Legend goes that the ancestors of the Miao people originally lived in plains which were richer in resources.? Due to tribal conflicts, they retreated to these high hills and rebuilt their homes here. This ethnic group has been a war-stricken and pain-stricken people.? Their miserable history has helped shape the Miao characters of perseverance, cautiousness, and optimism. You can learn more about the minority in the old town via your popular China tours.

The Southern Great Wall, Huangsi Bridge, Shizhai—all these places have been stricken by wars in history.

During the Ming Dynasty, the ethnic Miao people living on the borders of Hunan and Guizhou provinces were classified into two groups. They frequently rebelled against the central government because they could hardly stand exorbitant taxes and levies and official oppressions on them. To appease the people living in these border areas and to suppress rebellions, the central government spent approximately 2,000 kilograms of silver (then used as money) to construct a great wall to separate the two groups of Miao people. Later the government of the Qing Dynasty further lengthened the great wall between the two Miao groups. This wall is now known as the Southern Great Wall.

Address: Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Xiangxi National Rating: AAAA

Traffic Route: Take a train to Jishou and then switch to a bus for Feng Huang Cheng. There are two shuttles buses that go to Feng Huang Cheng everyday, at 11 am and 3 pm respectively.

For more about the others, you can check out China travel guide.

Top street markets and stalls for your Hong Kong travel II

Keung Kee

There used to be hundreds of dai pai dong eateries on the streets of Hong Kong, but these days, only a handful of these distinctive green-painted food stalls are left. Most are in the gritty neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po, home to working-class locals and migrants from mainland China, south Asia and Africa. Keung Kee is one of the best, drawing both neighbourhood residents and people from across Hong Kong (more about it via Hong Kong travel guide), who come for fresh seafood (kept alive in tanks on the street) and the comforting roar of the wok. Join the crowd around fold-up tables and feast on Hainan chicken and stir-fried clams, washing it all down with ice-cold bottles of lager.






One-Eyed Man's Cooling Tea
Chinese medicine is very much concerned with chi, the body's internal balance, and when you've had too many greasy, beer-soaked dinners – which you will, if you're doing a proper job for your Hong Kong tours – you could very well become yit hei, or "heaty," which causes bad skin, heartburn and any number of other ailments. The cure is leung cha, or cooling tea, which you can find at One-Eyed Man's Cooling Tea, a stall on Temple Street named after the original owner, one of whose eyes was larger than the other. There are sweet teas and bitter teas; both are dark in colour, brewed from a mysterious combination of herbs and dispensed from a trophy-shaped silver vessel into small porcelain bowls.
Nepalese whisky bar 

Chungking Mansions is a hulking block of flats, guesthouses, curry houses and Bollywood DVD shops that is home to thousands of migrants and traders from south Asia and Africa. When its residents aren't busy making money, they relax at the Nepalese-run whisky stall out back, where you can buy a jigger of Seagram's whisky and Red Bull for 50p. The regulars are friendly.
Yen Chow Street hawker bazaar 
From afar, it looks like a park, with a few mighty trees looming over the corner of Yen Chow Street and Lai Chi Kok Road, a rare bit of greenery in otherwise denuded Sham Shui Po. Walk closer and you'll notice a cluster of shacks beneath the foliage. It's not a shantytown – it's a ramshackle market dedicated entirely to fabric and trims. Leopard print? Lace? Lumberjack flannel? You'll find it all here, wandering between mountains of fabric rolls reaching up to the sheet-metal and tarp ceiling. You'll also find tailors, too, if your sewing skills aren't up to snuff. You can stroll along the street after visiting Hong Kong tourist attractions.



Vintage cameras on Apliu Street

When Ng Wai was a Chinese border guard in the 1970s, his job was to keep people inside China. Then he decided he wanted a better life, so he snuck across the border himself to British-controlled Hong Kong. He now runs a camera stall on shambolic Apliu Street, where market stalls packed full of electronic components sidle up to hawkers selling secondhand home appliances. The soft-spoken Ng, whose eyes constantly scan the crowds, has quite a range of cameras packed into his tiny metal stall, from broken 35mm point-and-shooters – favoured by Africans who buy them in bulk, fix them and sell them on the streets of Lagos and Nairobi – to well-preserved rangefinders, the kind of camera used by street photographers like Walker Evans and Henri Cartier-Bresson. You can by economic products for your Hong Kong's China tour deals.

Top street markets and stalls for your Hong Kong travel I

Hong Kong is famous for its malls and shopping, but you might have more fun, get a feel for the place and perhaps grab a bargain at its quirky market stalls for your Hong Kong tour.

Found treasures at Upper Lascar Row
Tourists flock to the street market around Upper Lascar Row – more commonly known as Cat Street – for kitschy chinoiserie and mass-produced Chairman Mao memorabilia, but locals go there for another reason entirely: to hunt for found treasures. One stall, run by a man known as Uncle Szeto, spills out of the confines of its green wooden frame with boxes of vintage postcards, family photos, keepsakes and curios, not to mention an impressive collection of old Bruce Lee movie posters, which were acquired at a movie studio liquidation sale 10 years ago. Other objects are acquired at flea markets in Vancouver, home to many Hong Kong expats, and they're a glimpse into a vanished Hong Kong: pictures of women in cheongsam dresses, Roadmaster double-decker buses, the recently-demolished and much-lamented Star Ferry clock tower.





Kowloon City Market
Kowloon City is the epicentre of Hong Kong's Thai population, so not surprisingly it's also a great place to find fresh fruits from south-east Asia. In the Kowloon City Market, whose porthole windows give its exterior the appearance of a deconstructed cruise ship, you'll find vendors selling plump, juicy mangoes, tangy, chewy rambutan (which looks like lychees in need of a haircut), and earthy longan, whose name means "dragon's eye" – open one up and you'll see why. Come in mid-summer to meet the king of fruits: durian, notorious for its fearsome spikes and unique odour. Fresh durian is sweet, creamy and decadent, with flavours ranging from butterscotch to sweet onion.You can try them after tired Hong Kong travel.


Me & George
Here's a secret about old ladies in Asia: they're fashion pioneers. Blouses with old-fashioned cuts and bright retro patterns; tapered silk slacks with floral prints – it's the "eccentric auntie" style on sale at an H&M near you, only more authentic. The place favoured by such trailblazers is Me & George, also known as Mee & Gee, a no-frills shop in the Ladies' Market packed to the brim with surplus Japanese fashion and vintage dresses, shoes and bags sold for unbelievably low prices. You won't have to stay long under the harsh fluorescent lighting to find entire racks of clothes for just HK$5, around 40p. Some of them are a bit worse for wear, but a dedicated rummager is always likely to come away with a brilliant find that's so uncool it's cool again. You can visit there after visitning Hong Kong attractions.


Lam Kee
If you look past the white tile walls and unflattering fluorescent lights of Hong Kong's public markets, you'll find some of the best and least expensive places to eat in town. Case in point: Lam Kee, a market stall dim sum joint in the New Territories suburb of Tai Po. Take a peek at the giant, steaming stacks of bamboo boxes on the counter and you'll find fresh dim sum such as har gau , siu mai (both kinds of dumplings) and black bean spareribs, along with unusual concoctions like the "chicken and stuff" roll, which contains chicken, taro, baby corn and spam in a bean curd wrap. Take a seat on one of the food court-style fixed metal tables and soak in the boisterous, neighbourly atmosphere, as a motley assortment of Tai Po locals stop in for a tea, a chat and a snack.You should taste these snacks for your China vacation deals in Hong Kong.


Lee Ho Weights and Balances
There used to be a time when everyone needed the kind of handmade, bamboo-and-bone scales sold by Lee Ho, a small hawker stall in Shanghai Street's kitchenware shopping district. Herbalists, fishmongers, butchers, goldsmiths – there are scales designed specifically for each of these occupations. Today, they've mostly been replaced by digital scales, but Lee Ho presses on, buoyed by a few loyal customers, like Chinese doctors, who still prefer the traditional way of measuring their medicinal herbs. The closet-sized alleyway stall, which has been open since the 1930s, is now run by a petite woman named Mrs Ho, who has perfectly permed hair and a ready smile. She knows everything there is to know about the scales, which if nothing else make for an excellent kitchen conversation piece.

Top Tips for Helping Plan Your Silk Road Tour

Silk Road tour can seem a daunting prospect. Huge distances, high altitude and remoteness can put off many travellers. But we tend to find that those who do travel along the Silk Road are scratching an itch - they literally have to go. For me the obsession started with reading Peter Hopkirk's books "Foreign Devils on the Silk Road" and "The Great Game", both classics. I knew then, at the tender age of 15, that one day I would be heading out to Bukhara, Kashgar and the Tien Shan mountains.
So, how do you design the perfect trip? Here are some top tips to get you started.

1) Read around the subject. Peter Hopkirk, Colin Thubron and Robert Byron have all written classics about this region, and some of the memoirs are quite fascinating too - particularly Reginald Teague-Jones' The Spy Who Disappeared and FM Bailey's Mission To Tashkent. Reading these books helps you understand how all the historical and cultural strands come together in Central Asia, and the sights that are most relevant to your interests.
2) Pivot in Kashgar. Kashgar's market is an everyday market, but on Sundays it is bigger and more varied, and the livestock market - incredible for photography - really gets going. Everyone wants to see it usually, so use that as a fixed point around which to design the rest of the trip. Count backwards to tell you when you should start your trip in Beijing/Xian (the popular destination for affordable China travel packages), and forwards to see when you'll finish in Tashkent.
3) Don't forget the mountains. Many travellers along the Silk Route will try to spend more time in Samarkand, Bukhara, Kashgar, Turpan and Khiva than in the countryside. However the scenery is the crucial backdrop, and totally unmissable. The most common piece of feedback we receive is of regret that more time wasn't spent in Kyrgyzstan, for example. It is painful to watch a truly stunning country pass by the window of your car - stay longer and stretch your legs.
4) "The best things in life are free". They certainly are, and the Silk Route is no exception. Once you've got yourself to your yurt in the mountains, take some time to explore on foot, and enjoy the company of your hosts. In Samarkand try walking from the Registan to the Shah-i-Zindah and then through the old town, up the hill to the Russian district. In Bukhara go to Kalon Square at about 1630 to get the best light, and very few tourists, then walk from the square south and slightly to the east, through the old white-washed houses, to the Labi Hauz. When you drive from Samarkand to Tashkent try to stop in Urgut and get a free glimpse of what a real Central Asian market looks like.?
5) Eat local. Most hotels will do reasonable food, but restaurants can be very hit and miss in Central Asia. The best food is always served in private homes. In Kashgar it's easier to find great street food. The two best meals I have had in Central Asia were not in hotels or restaurants. The first was a fantastic shahlyk (barbecued lamb) with warm Uighur bread - simple, filling and very tasty. The second was lunch in a yurt in Kyrgyzstan. The jam and honey were simply unbelievable.You can check out more about Silk Road via China tour guide.

Silk Road attractions in China

The Silk Road was created around 130 BC when the Han government gave General Zhang Qian the mission of establishing trade relations with the nomadic tribes which populated western China. The famous route began in Xi’an, the capital of China at the time, eventually split into the Southern, Central and Northern Routes and found its way to such places as India, Pakistan and Rome.
Today, you too can enjoy traversing across sections of the Silk Road, visit some of the culturally rich cities which sprung up along it and behold many of the treasures which these ancient places contain for your Silk Road tours. Not only is the Silk Road rife with cultural discoveries, it also passes through some incredibly diverse and breathtaking natural scenery.
Enjoy some of these hotspots positioned along the intriguing Silk Road.

Xi’an
The ancient capital city of Xi’an is where it all started. Not only did the Silk Road begin its almost 2,000 year history here, but the organized country of China also traces its origin to Xi’an when, Qin, the first emperor successfully united warring tribal factions in 221 BC.
Xi’an offers those on luxury China tours the magnificent display of life-size Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the massive city wall with its four impressive gateways and the looming Bell Tower which used to warn of pending attacks. Other sights of interest include the Great Mosque, the Gao Courtyard, the Shaanxi, Banpo and Forest of Stele Museums and the Huaging Hot Springs which are famous Xian tourist attractions.
Lanzhou
The next stop on the Silk Road falls at Lanzhou which is the capital of Gansu Province and a major transportation center due to its strategic placement on the Yellow River which runs through the city. Lanzhou was a key location on the Silk Route and remains a major point for exploring it today.
Lanzhou is a wonderful mix of the modern and old. Within the city, visit Five Spring Mountain Park and White Pagoda Park, take a walking tour through the Gansu Provincial Museum and relax at in the Waterwheel Garden. Journey outside of Lanzhou and enjoy the beauty of Sangke Prairie, Labrang Monastery, or the Maiji Caves.
Jiayuguan
Jiayuguan, or Jiayu Pass, was not only an important point along the Silk Road trading route, but it also served as a military garrison to guard China’s westernmost frontier. It is at this point that the Silk Road passes across the famed Great Wall, and the Jiayuguan section of the Wall is one of the best preserved.

Stroll through the pavilions and towers which retain their magnificent beauty and grandeur, reflecting classic Chinese architecture and behold commanding views of the Gobi Desert running towards the snowy peaks of the Qilian Mountains. A great deal of history can also be gleaned by visiting the Great Wall Museum for your last minute China travel deals.
Dunhuang
Dunhuang was the ancient staging post for those preparing to cross through the central and southern Silk Road routes around the Taklamakan Desert. Here travelers prepared for the long leg of their journey to Kashgar, or rested up before venturing on to Xi’an.
Dunhuang is one of the Silk Road’s top tourist destinations and offers a wealth of cultural distinctions and natural beauty like the Sand Dunes which you can climb to view the lake on the other side. Venture to the well known Mingshashan-Yueyaquan National Park or the Huyang Forest.

Head to the Mogao Caves some 25km from the town of Dunhuang and behold the beauty of Buddhist manuscripts and art. Close by is the White Horse Pagoda built in honor of a monk’s horse who gave its life to bring the monk to China. It is one of must-see for China best tours.
For the true adventure travelers, take a camel trek of 2 to 7 days into the Gobi desert and visit places like Mogao Cave and enjoy the sunsets, sunrises and clear night skies from your desert nomad camp.

Things to do on The Silk Road II

Ningxia
1. China Ningxia Great Desert and Yellow River International Tourism Festival
Time: July every year
Venue: Zhongwei City in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
Introduction: Jointly sponsored by the National China Tourism Administration and the People's Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Great Desert and Yellow River International Tourism Festival aims to launch exchanges and cooperation with domestic and foreign counterparts, strengthen friendship between the Chinese and foreign people, and promote the prosperity and development of Ningxia's tourism and economy through the display of the deserts in Ningxia, the ancient Yellow River culture, the customs and lifestyle of the Hui people, and the mysterious Western Xia Kingdom.

A series of special activities are held during the festival, such as a boat tour on the Yellow River, a tour of the ancient Great Wall, an exploration tour the deserts, an ecological tour of Shahu Lake, a tour of the land of the Hui people, a tour for tracing the Silk Road, a summer holiday tour in Liupan Mountain, a an exploration tour of Helan of the mysterious Western Xia Kingdom, drifting on the Yellow River by 1,000 people, walking through the Tengger Desert by 10,000people, a Carting car race, the week for the display of Western Xia Kingdom culture, the Taoyue "Yellow River Grassland Culture Tourism festival," and so on around Western Xia Tombs, Shahu Lake, Liupan Mountain, Helan Mountain and Tengger Desert.


Qinghai
1. Four Grand Summons Ceremonies at the Kunmbum Monastery
Time: From the 14th to 15th day of the first month, the 14th to the 15th day of the fourth month, the seventh to the eighth day of the sixth month, and the 22th to the 23rd day of the ninth month by the Tibetan calendar.
Venue: Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province

Introduction: Constructed to commemorate Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect, the Kumbum Monastery is a center for Buddhist activities in northwest China and one of the "holy lands" of the believers in Chinese Lamaism, known for the three consummate arts of butter sculpture flowers, murals and embroidered fabrics. The Grand Summons Ceremony is a Buddhist activity to Preach Buddhism and worship Buddha. The Kumbum Monastery holds four traditional summons ceremonies a year, with a magnificent scene and a solemn atmosphere, which are very attractive to tourists for China travel deals.

During the summons ceremony, the Tibetan, Tu and Mongolian people holds various Buddhist activities, such as the exhibition of butter sculpture Flowers, and displaying Buddhist images, From the 14th to the 15th day of the first month by the Tibetan calendar, Yamataka (Destroy of Death) Dance is performed and a large exhibition of butter sculpture flowers is held; from 14th to the 15th day of the fourth month by the Tibetan calendar, Buddhist believers do Yamataka Dance and display the images of Buddha under the sun; from the seventh to the eighth day of the sixth month by the Tibetan calendar, Buddhists perform Yamatak Dance and display the IMAGES OF Buddha under the sun; and from the 22nd to the 23rd day of the ninth month by the Tibetan Calendar, pilgrims perform Hayagriva (Horse-Head God) Dance, and Pay homage to Buddha and commemorate the death of Tsongkhaba. The activities are held around Kumbum Monastery, Dongguan Mosque, Qinghai Lake, Birds Island, etc.


Xinjiang
1. China Silk Road (Silk Road tour) Turpan Grape Festival
Time: August 25 too September 1 every year
Venue: Turpan city' the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
Introduction: Grape cultivation in the world-famous city of Turpan has a history of more than 2,000 years. Of the 100-odd grapes, known as "green pearls of China," are the most precious. The raisin and wine produced in Turpan are known for their lingering good tastes. Most of Turpan's grapes are grown in the renowned Grape Valley, also called “Pearl City” in the deserts. The Xinjiang Grape Festival was first launched in 1990 and has since become an annual event in Turpan. There are the Uygur wedding ceremony, mashlap (lively and humorous folk dance), Koco-style songs and dances, the Hami-melon competition, economic and trade talks, a tour of the Grape and Melon Street, camel caravans, and reappearance of the Silk Road more than 2,000 years ago, around Flaming Mountain, Grape Valley in Turpan Depression.
2. Festival of East Fast-Breaking
Time: the first day of the 10th month by the Islamic Calendar.
Venue: the areas inhabited by the Hui, Uygur and Kazak people.

Introduction: According to the Islamic scriptures, when Islam was founded, Ramadan (the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which no food or drink may be taken between sunrise and sunset). After that he put on clean clothes and led Moslems to the outskirts to hold religious services and distribute fast-breaking donations to atone for their sins. With time going by, this practice has been handed down and become one of the three major festivals of Islam.

In the early morning of the Festival of Fast-Breaking, adult Muslims would take a bath, put on their holiday best and go to the mosque. In addition, Muslims visit friends and relatives, exchange greetings and gifts, such as oil and sanzi (fried dough twists) to express congratulations with each other. The people who live a nomadic attend the horse race, sheep-grasping on horse-back and other activities, adding much joyous atmosphere to the festival.

3. Corban Festival
Time: The 10 th day of the 12th month by the Islamic Calendar
Venue: The areas inhabited by the Hui, Uygur and Kazak people
Introduction: An ancient Arabic legend goes that Father Abraham had faith and trust in Allah. One day in his dream, Allah ordered him to kill son to offer sacrifices. When Abraham was about to execute his son, Allah dispatched an angel to the site with a sheep, ordering Abraham to slaughter the sheep instead. After that, people would slaughter sheep to pray for safety on the day. Now the Corban Festival (meaning slaughtering animals) is celebrated every year.

What's On: At the festival, Muslims would go to the mosque where they attend the religious service and the ceremony for slaughtering animals. Then every family would start celebrations by slaughtering cattle, sheep and camels to entertain friends and relatives. During the feast, they taste various delicious foods and chat happily with each other. The ethnic minority people in Xinjiang sing song and perform dances to celebrate the festival, in addition to other activities, such as grasping sheep on horseback, horse races and "chasing after girls."
For more via travel China guide.

Things to do on The Silk Road I

There are a list of top fun things such as traditional festivals & celebrations, tourist events & activities, entertainment & nightlife for travel choice.
Xian Shaanxi

1. Zhuge Liang Memorial Temple Fair during the Spring Festival;

2. Changan International Chinese Calligraphy Annual Conference, the last week in March yearly;

3. Xian Ancient Culture & Art Festval in September every year;

4. Xian City Wall International Marathon Friendly Match, the first sunday in November annually;

5. Yanan Yangko Dance Festival during Chinese Lantern Festival each year;

6. Yaowangshan Mountain Temple Fair from 2 to 21 in February each year;

7. Biking on the Xian City Wall (must-see Xian sightseeing);

8. Climbing the Huashan Mountain;

Gansu

1. Gannan Shambhala Tourism Art Festival

Time: Mid August every year

Venue: Dangzhou Grassland in Hezou City, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous prefecture, Gansu Province

Introduction: According to the Tibetan Buddhism and folk Legends, "Shambhala" means a pure land on earth. Legend has it that it is a peaceful and quiet land where people and nature coexist in perfect harmony; people's soul can be purified and sublimed; and people are bathed in happy sunshine for generations. The Shambhala Tourism Art Festival is the Crystal of the Tibetan people's pursuit for happiness and peace, and their goodwill wish for the unity and harmony of the people of all the ethnic groups. There are Sgor-bro Dance, the showcase of Tibetan costumes, the performance of a train of 1,000 horses, and so on around Sanke Grassland, Labrang Monastery, Milarepa Buddhism Tower. Tourists may go to Lanzhou of Gansu Province where part of it are must-see for Silk Road travel by air, and then change a train or a long-distance bus to Gannan.



2. Sharang Festival

Time: The sixth month by the Tibetan Calendar

Venue: Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province

Introduction: In the Tibetan language, the Sharang Festival means “cutting firewood,” and the festival refers to a picnic when people cut firewood in the mountains. In the past, the lamas of the Labrang monastery in Xiahe went out to cut firewood in hot summer every year. As the mountains were far away from the Monastery, the lamas who could not return to the Monastery on the same day had to camp at the foot of the mountains or by the rivers. More often than mot, they had to live in the open area several days running. As time went by , it has become a traditional festival loved by the farmers and herdsmen nearby.

In the sixth month by the Tibetan calendar, the Tibetan people living in the cities, towns and countryside go one after another to the mountaintops or Sangke grasslands to pitch tents, cool in the open, drink wine and enjoy themselves for several days in succession. Some villages organize various activities in the month, such as singing and dancing, horse race, running race, wrestling, tug of war, a game of chess and other cultural activities. At night, young men and women would leave the tents and gather at the expanse of grassland near a river or a lake to sing love songs, express affections and looks for their lovers.
3. The Grand Summons Ceremony at the Labrang Monastery

Time: From the 4th to 17th day of the first month; the 29th day of the sixth month to 15th day of the seventh month on the Tibetan calendar.

Venue: Labrang Monastery in Xiahe County, Gansu Province

Introduction: First constructed in the 48th year (1709) of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe (famous destination for China vacation deals) is the largest Tibetan Buddhist institution of higher learning beyond Tibet. Thanks to its large size, the monastery ranks first in the number of Tibetan Scriptures in all the Buddhist temples throughout the country. Every year, the Labrang Monastery holds seven largescale summins ceremonies, of which the Monlam Prayer Assembly in the first month and the Preaching Assembly in the seven month by the Tibetan calendar are the most magnificent. Buddhist believes from Gandu, Qinghai, Sichuan and Inner Mongolia gather here to celebrate the annual festivals.


Various kinds of Buddhist services are held, such as displaying the images of Buddha, Performing the Dharma dance, chanting scriptures, Praying, holding the butter sculpture flower fair, organizing the examinations for minks and debates on Buddhist scriptures, and celebrating the one-month Langsam Festival for the Tibetan people around Labrang Monstery，Lhamo Monastery, Bharkor City, Daligyacui Co, Daerzong Co, Dajutan Grassland, and so on.
4. Tianshui Fuxi Culture Festival

Time: The 13th day of the fifth lunar month

Venue: Tianshui City, Gansu Province

Introduction: According to ancient Chinese legends, Fuxi, the first ancestor of mankind, made outstanding contributions to the Chinese civilization. Fuxi was said be the first man who taught folks to weave nets for hunting and fishing, decided the marriage system, created the calendar, invented musical instruments, educated people to prepare and eat cooked food, and initiated the Eight Trigrams (eight combinations of three whole or broken lines formerly used in divinations), the symbolized sign of ancient Chinese culture (learn more about it via China guide). Along with the move of tribes, the ancient civilization created and advocated by Fuxi was introduced to other ethnic groups in the Yellow River valley, giving birth to the Chinese nation with Yandi and Huangdi tribes as the core, and Fuxi culture as the foundation. Legend has it that the 13th day of the fifth lunar month is the birthday of Fuxi. Tianshui is the hometown of Fuxi Culture Festival. During the festival, various kinds of folk performances are shown, of which Wushan Rotating Drum Dance and Qincheng Plywood Dance are the most attractive things go on around Western Xia Tombs, Shahu Lake, Liupan Mountain, Helan Mountain and Tengger Desert.

Delight Essence of Chongqing Tour

The attraction of Chongqing may not be as well know as some of the most famous in China but there are lots of fascinating places to see and unique culture to absorb. The Giant panda hall will be a highlight but the marvelous sites in Dazu are unforgettable and there is much more for your summer last minute China travel deals.

Day 1

In the morning, visit Dazu Grottoes which was inscribed in the World Heritages.

- Dazu Grottoes (Baodingshan): Dazu is a county under the jurisdiction of Chongqing Municipality. It is 83 kilometers to the west of the Chongqing metropolitan area and 256 kilometers to the east of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province. The Dazu Grottoes spread across more than 75 sites in the county, and contain over 50,000 stone sculptures carved from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). They are mainly located on Baoding (Treasure Peak) Mountain, Beishan (Northern) Mountain, Shimen (Stone Gate) Mountain, Nanshan (Southern) Mountain, and Shizhuan Mountain.

In the afternoon, transfer to the Ciqikou which is the best destination for China best tours, a famous ancient town in Sichuan.

- Ciqikou Old Town (1.5 hours): This lively old area has been partly restored, and remains an authentic and busy community. The old wooden houses and narrow streets furthest from the river are mostly unimproved, closer to the river there are craft and souvenir shops, teahouses and music, and lots of local food and snacks. The locals certainly love their food – this is a good chance to try some.

In the evening, after a full day trip, enjoy the delicious hotpot in Chongqing city.

The beautiful Lesser Three Gorges

Day 2

In the morning, visit the Three Gorges Museum.

- Three Gorges Museum: The best exhibits are those on the history of the Yangtze where you can do Yantze River tour and, of course, the Dam. It also houses some excellent stone and terracotta sculptures, art and interesting artifacts, items from the war years, and temporary exhibitions. The museum faces the impressive People's Hall, built to resemble the Temple of Heaven, across a lively square, itself a hub of activity.

In the afternoon, visit the Lesser Three Gorges and Mini Three Gorges, which is the National 5A scenic spot.

- The Lesser Three Gorges, considered by many as the true pearl of the Three Gorges area (an ancient Chinese saying claims that 'the Lesser Three Gorges of the Daning River are not as beautiful as the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, they are more beautiful'), are situated along a 50 kilometer stretch of the lower reaches of the Daning River, just beyond the point where the Daning River begins to swing southward enroute to its juncture with the west-east oriented Three Gorges stretch of the Yangtze River near the city of Wushan, Chongqing Municipality, which city also marks the western end of, or upstreams entrance to, Wu Gorge.

Mouth-watering Chongqing food

Day 3

Praised as the NO.1 gourment city in China, it is a must to spend one-day time to have a Chongqing gourment trip included in the popular China travel package.

In Chongqing city, Bayi Road Tasty Street

and Nanbin Food Street are two most famous food street in Chongqing. Almost all the typical Chongqing specialities and snacks can be found along the two street.