What to know about traveling in China – Part 4

Travel in China is sometimes frustrating but the rewards are great! The first time I traveled to China was my first trip overseas. I hadn’t taken the precautions of removing my rings on the plane and one of my fingers swelled so bad that I couldn’t remove the ring. I wandered around the airport in Beijing, while waiting for my flight to Zhengzhou, looking for someone who could help. Alas, I found no one. I was surprised that many of the people didn’t speak English at all but found out later that some probably could but many just don’t feel comfortable enough.

The first, and most important, lesson that I learned on my trip was that my traveler’s checks were useless. Most banks did not want to cash them and the ones that did had strict regulations and were in the real large cities like Beijing. On subsequent trips I brought cash and my ATM card because ATMs were available in most cities.

I arrived in Zhengzhou, finger throbbing, after about twenty-three hours of being on the “road”. Some friends of mine were teaching English there so they picked me up at the airport and we went to find someone to cut my ring off. China doesn’t have jewelers like the United States so there was no help available from that standpoint. We ended up going to a hospital and a doctor cut the ring off with bandage scissors. Actually, he bent and twisted it until it broke. All in all, it was a very painful experience. He acted as though he didn’t speak English but after it was done we found out that he, indeed, did.

My friends had decided that we should go to Xian to see the Terra Cotta Warriors that night. So we went to eat some mutton stew-type of dish and then boarded the train. Zhengzhou is a major railway hub and you can get virtually anywhere from there on a train. We had a sleeper but it was not a first class sleeper, it was the sleeper cars that most of the Chinese take when they have a long trip. Each area has six bunks with three on each side and your ticket decides which bunk is yours. You may have people that you don’t know in your little room and the room has no door. The train ride was very interesting. One of the things that it is very important to know is to put on shoes before walking to the bathroom. I wore my socks instead of shoes and ended up with them very wet and nasty. They ended up in the trash! You see the toilet is a hole in the train floor and so people miss due to the jarring ride. Need I say more?

On trains in China, you

Flights London to Hong Kong

Just a little research time spent online, checking daily newspapers or your local travel agent will show you that finding flights from London to Hong Kong at a reasonable price is easy. China travel opportunities and cheap Flights are available from both the major London airports. Whether you want to fly from Gatwick or Heathrow, it is now easy to find flights from London to Hong Kong.

How and when you travel is largely reliant on your budget. If you want to go first-class during the month of August, or around Christmas time, then you need a high budget. However, there are flights from London or Hong Kong for even the tightest of budgets.

A direct flight from London to Hong Kong will take around 12 hours, flying direct. This is a long haul flight, and travellers should make sure that they take items with them that will make the journey as comfortable as possible. However, be sure to check the local hand luggage rules in force at the time that you intend to travel.

Once you arrive in Hong Kong, there are many things to see and do that will suit all tastes and purses. Hotels in Hong Kong range from expensive 5 star luxury in the heart of the city, to more moderate accommodation more suited to a smaller budget on the outskirts. At off peak times, many hotels offer substantial discounts, so check to see what is available at the time you book your flights from London to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is one of the cities that never sleep, but if you find that the noise and hustle and bustle proves too much for you, there are other alternatives. When you book your flights from London to Hong Kong, look for excursions to some of the smaller islands around the city. Here you will find a quieter pace of life with time to unwind and enjoy the scenery. Finding cheap flights to Hong Kong is a simple process and you’ll have little difficulty finding a great deal.

A boat trip to the island territory of Lantau will show you a different part of China than the cosmopolitan Hong Kong. On this island you can see the very last surviving fishing village, complete with its aluminium stilt houses. Lantau is also the home of the famous bronze Buddha.

If you fancy a walking China holiday, then try the Lantau Peak trek, which is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong city. If the trek seems too much for you, then take a boat trip and go pink dolphin spotting. Or take in some culture in the New Territories with the traditional walled villages.

The majority of people book their flights from London to Hong Kong with a view to experiencing the fast pace of Hong Kong itself. The shopping is second to none, and although there may not be the rock bottom bargains of the past available, but there are still bargains to be had. Many people buy silk to bring home with them, to be made into luxurious garments.

The variety of food available in Hong Kong is vast. The Chinese believe that all food should not only satisfy your hunger, but should bring joy to all the senses. The food in Hong Kong is no different.

When eating in Hong Kong, it is possible to find most of the cuisines of the world in a single street. From the street side vendors to five star restaurants, there is sure to be something for everyone. Remember that lunchtime is one of the busiest times with literally hundreds of workers looking for somewhere to eat, so it is best to avoid eating at this time.

Booking flights from London to Hong Kong can provide a gateway to experiencing the rest of China. A China holiday with the Olympics being held in Beijing 2008 is perfect for any vacation, and you may want to combine the trip with some travel throughout the country. Or you may decide to use your flight to Hong Kong as an opportunity to take in some of the many tourist attractions that China has to offer.

The most well-known tourist attraction in China must be the Great Wall of China. However there are many other things to see in the vast country and many travellers have been delighted with what they find when they venture off the beaten track a little. If you intend to do this, then it is wise to make sure you have the relevant maps and information.

All of China has a deep spiritual element, with a variety of religions being practised. In Hong Kong, it is possible to step from a busy street into a quiet temple that seems like another world. Many travellers have sought sanctuary in the peace and quiet of such places.

Booking your flights from London to Hong Kong provides any traveller with a gateway to another land that will surprise and enthral them. It is worth considering this destination as a full day stop over when travelling even further abroad. Whatever your intentions, booking flights from London to Hong Kong has never been easier.

Travel Tips For First Time Social Or Business Visitor To China

Travel and Tour Tips for China

China is a large country at a size of 9,596,960 sq km. China was only partially open to the world from 1980 onwards and has been a communist country for many decades. Although there is much progress in the travel industry and infrastructure of China, there remain areas that need to be improved before it can match the level that most tourist would require.

However, much of the fun remain that it is different from the rest of the world. China will be the host nation for the Olympics in Year 2008. Travel facilities and infrastructure will be improving quickly as we approach Year 2008.

China is rich in culture and history. Visit the Great Wall of China in Beijing, sip Chinese tea in Xiamen, dance with ethnic tribes in Yunnan, check out 19th Century European buildings in Qingdao – there are just so much to do and see in China!

Below are some travel tips to make your travel in China easier:

Entry Visa

China require entry visa from most countries. Apply at the Chinese consulate or through your travel agent before travelling to China.

Climate

Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north. Be prepared with the right seasonal clothing.

Foreign Exchange

The unit of currency is known as Renmembi(RMB) or Yuan. Get some Chinese Yuan in your local country before travelling. When in China, exchange foreign currency for local currency in the banks or at the hotel. Banks tend to give slightly better rates than hotels. Take note that some banks close for a noon siesta between 12-2pm.

Payment facilities

Most better class hotels and shopping centres take Credit Card or Travellers cheques. Smaller hotels and shops take cash only. Once out of the bigger cities, credit card and ATM cards tend to be almost impossible to utilize. Cash is still king in Chinese business and trade.

Counterfeit notes are common in China. Check carefully before accepting change, especially if it consists mostly 100RMB notes. You can feel a texture difference where counterfeit notes is concerned.

Understanding of English

Most civil servants, custom officials, police, hotel staff and men in the street do not speak English or at best a smattering of English.

Most signboards and notices will carry both English and Chinese. However, be aware that some translations can be so notorious that one can hardly understand what was it’s original Chinese intention.

Do not expect hotels or shops to understand English. Only the very big hotels will have staff that will understand English.

Most young people can understand basic English if you speak slowly.

Social Security

China is generally a safe country. However, hang on tight to your wallet especially in crowded, popular tourist sites in tourist cities such as Beijing and Xian.

These tourist cities also has a lot of touts in the streets touting tourist from currency exchange to jewelleries to female companionships. Avoid at all cost!

Domestic Travel

Bus, train, ferries and domestic flights are quite well developed. Avoid the crowd at the stations and book your tickets through the hotel tour desk or the nearest tour agent. Prices are likely to be competitive and tickets will be delivered to your hotel room. Again, avoid ticket touts who approach you in the streets.

Local buses are cheap (US$0.10 or YS$0.20) and you may want to try out. Taxis are convenient and are available at all hours. Starting fares differ from each city and may be as cheap as US$0.70 in Weihai and US$1.50 in Shenzhen.

Avoid travel in China during peak holiday seasons or book tickets well ahead.

Local Hotels

There is a good choice of hotels in China ranging from one star to the most luxurious 6 stars. Most of the time, the rooms are safe and clean and in my opinion, cheap does not mean bad.

There are many websites selling China hotel rooms on the internet. You can also check out the travel counters which are available in most train, bus stations as well as airport.

Book ahead if travelling in peak seasons.

Peak Tourist Seasons

Chinese New Year: Date varies but generally late January or early February.

May Day: First two weeks of May

China National Day: Middle two weeks of October

Avoid travelling during these period. Book rooms and travel modes way early if need to travel. Believe me, the crowds during these period of time will be scary. What do you expect when the entire Chinese nation of 8 billion people are on holiday as well!

Chinese Food

Local food is absolutely fabulous. Try as much Chinese food as your wallet or stomach can afford. Restaurants are available everywhere and open to late hours. Most restaurants will have a menu that include photographs of the various dishes. Better yet, simply point at the food that your next door table is having, especially if it looks delicious!

However, avoid street side stalls and drinking directly from the taps if you have delicate stomach.

Telecommunications

Mobile phone coverage in China is good in most locations. Global auto-roaming within China is not a problem.

Internet

There are cyber-cafes everywhere in China, especially in tourist areas. Most are patronised by young people playing online games but you still can check your Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail. Access may be a bit slow for international websites.

You will need to show your passport as China has tight regulations at Internet Cyber Cafes.

Toilet facilities

One of the worst experience many has with China is the atrocious toilet facilities. Things has improved very much but it may still be a good idea to empty your stomach or bladder at every opportunity in a hotel, restaurant or departmental store. Public toilets and toilets in small shops can be a nose hazard!

* Useful China travel tips *

Try to get a English speaking tour guide at every opportunity you can. China has a rich and wonderful history and culture and without a guide, somehow, the flavour and significance of most tour sites can be lost.

*Sneaky tip: Hang around a group that has a English speaking guide if you cannot afford one!

Always ask for a receipt from a taxi driver so that you can complain if you have been cheated or for tracing purposes if you happen to leave your camera behind in the taxi.

Try to take the namecard for each hotel that you are staying at as these cards will have a Chinese address and the map of your hotel location. This is useful if you need to seek assistance to find your way back as the English version or pronounciation of a hotel or a street name may be quite different from the Chinese version.

After a tiring day, check out Chinese foot reflexology or Chinese TuiNa (Chinese massage). Wonderful for the body after a hard day and very cheap to boot. Simply look out for shop signs that shows two feet! They are everywhere.

Make friends with the Chinese whenever you can. They love to meet foreigners and will make good tour guides. Just buy a small present as a small token of appreciation.

Travel destinations in China – Part 2

A Silk Road Trip, or I Gobbed in the Gobi, China,1992

In August 1992, myself and my wife, Caroline, arranged a trip to post-Tiananmen China. It was in the days when the London China Travel office was on Cambridge Circus, opposite the Palace Theatre on Charing Cross Road. It took me at least twenty books, a late-night Japanese television series and several months to plan and arrange the trip from what was then our base in Balham, south London. In those days, you could arrange the visit via China Travel and then, as long as the itinerary was lodged in advance, you could travel absolutely independently. Everything was pre-paid, but on setting off, we had no tickets or confirmed reservations apart from our air tickets in and out of Beijing. As ever, I kept a journal of the trip, which ran to more than fifty pages. A few years later, I condensed the experience to two sides of A4, ignoring rules of grammar and syntax, and produced the following ramble, a perhaps poetic impression of nearly a month of travel.

Ex-London while the Sun dissected Michael Jackson’s nose and praised Boardman’s hooterless gold-medal bicycle. Air China to Beijing, where taxis cost more than Lonely Planet predicts. A Chinese character itinerary from one Tim Han of China Travel whilst fellow workers drool over televised lithe Afro-American sprinters at the Olympics. Then to the no-longer Forbidden City. Piles of local tourists to negotiate.

Four hours of Xinjiang Airlines to Urumqi. Signs in Chinese and Russian plus Uigur written in Arab script (a recent innovation). Land lines across Inner Mongolia. Why and how so straight? Urumqi multiple-peaked. Piles of coal, scruffy high rise, snow-capped Bogda Shen at street-end. Pavement fortune tellers, traders. Food stalls. Women washing sheeps’ stomachs in a stream, tripe kebabs. Uigur town now Han Chinese, populated by Shanghai overspill, over 2000 miles from home’. The second long march.

Uigur breakfast. Hot sheep’s milk, Chinese tea, flat tomato bread, sugared tomato and cucumber, pickled cabbage, thin congee, sheep’s milk butter, two giant sugar lumps. Uigur market. Fruits amid a forest of hanging lamb. Chinese market. Live vegetables and meats. Tank over-spilling with energetic eels (unit price). Self-knotting spaghetti.

Woman losing her gold watch at an illegal ‘find the lady’. Policeman looking on. Tears when the loss hits home. Renmin Park for noodles and rocket-fuel chili sauce. Bag slashers with finger-ring knives on a

Making the best use of your China travel Vacation Package.

If you have planned your summer vacation for a trip to China, then its best you know how to best enjoy China within the thirteen days you will be visiting.
The most attractive travel packages to China include tours between Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin and Yunnan. These travel packages are well selected tours of the beautiful cities in China highlighting their different attractions and sightseeing.
The first step in planning your vacation to China is to seek the services of a Chinese tour operator who can arrange everything from your flight tickets, hotel bookings and tourist guides in order to make your trip a smooth free and relaxed holiday. The language barrier in China is one of the many issues which scare travelers from coming to China; however, it could be a great experience especially for the adventurous lover in you. This is one of the reasons why it is advisable to contact a tour operator to assist you in your china tour planning. There are a few cities of interest which must not be missed when you tour China. They include:
Beijing: Beijing is the capital of China and the seat of the greatest and biggest palace square in the world. Beijing is the focal center of China’s historical civilization where many historical monuments stand. Popular attractions to visit in Beijing include the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the world renowned Great Wall, The Summer Palace and other interesting sites. These monuments contributed to the development of China’s civilization.
Shanghai: Shanghai is the most cosmopolitan city in China. Almost similar to the New York lifestyle, the streets of Shanghai is a combination of old Ming styled buildings and 21st century skyscrapers. Shanghai is the home to the Oriental Pearl Tower and China’s financial district.
Yunnan: The province of Yunnan is spring city of China which has reserved and peaceful environment. Yunnan is the most desired place to visit in China because of its beautiful landscape and local minorities. It is in this province where you can find a rare variety of mixed Chinese culture due to the influence of the different minorities. Popular places to visit in Yunnan include the Shilin Stone Forest in Kunming, the Old Town in Lijiang and Dali as well as the Tiger Leaping Gorge and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It is often said that Yunnan province is the place for romance, adventure and discovery.
Guilin: Anytime Guilin is mentioned, Yangshuo is synonymously associated with it. Guilin and Yangshuo is situated in the South East of China. It is known for its special breathtaking landscapes and rich history over the past 1000 years. Guilin is known for its karsts and stone landscapes making it a great place for spelunking. The Reed Flute Cave is a major sightseeing to visit when you visit Guilin.
Xian is one of the most ancient cities in China which traces back the huge transformation of the Chinese nations from the ancient times. It has become an industrial and tourist spot with the grimy background that people have gotten used to. Xian is the site of the Terracotta Army Warriors considered to be the eighth wonder of the world. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is also a major attraction in Xian known to be a well preserved ancient and holy place for Buddhist monks.

For more information about China Travel, China Tour Vacations, visit Passport to China.

Cheap Flight To China

More people are becoming interested in travelling to the Orient, either in search of spiritualism, or just to get a taste of the unique culture that places like China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and others can offer.<br>

China travel is particularly interesting because of the variety of interesting places and cultural hot spots that can be found. Another very important factor is that a holiday to China is very easy on your budget. The accommodation facilities are cheap, yet comfortable and tasteful, and there are several places to visit which tourists can easily avail of either through a holiday tour guide, or simply by getting a map and a backpack and setting off in search of adventure.<br>

China is a country that has the largest population statistics, yet other than the cities, large portions of rural China are full of scenic beauty and tranquil settings and will give you the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday activities if that is what you are looking for.<br>

China holidays are becoming increasingly popular with student groups as well. The advent of globalisation has resulted in airfare prices being reduced, and as a result, there are several cheap flights to China, whether you are looking to take a flight from the UK to China between semesters and go on a sightseeing trip, or if you are interested in the Beijing Olympics of 2008. Accommodation is cheap and the food is inexpensive and available on every street corner from small eateries to roadside stalls to high-end restaurants.<br>

One of the must-see places in China is the Great Wall. This remarkable manmade structure can even be seen from the moon and has been listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Wall is said to be over 6000 kilometres long and was built to defend China from the Huns. It is certainly worth going to China just to see this one part of history, if not for anything else. Even if you take a flight to Beijing, the Great Wall is at good proximity to the city so you could easily pay a visit there.<br>

Another great place to visit in China is Shanghai. This is an ultra modern city full of skyscrapers and steel and glass buildings located near the Yangtze River delta. The Oriental Pearl TV tower will offer you a breathtaking view of the entire city and make for some wonderful photographs and memories. Shanghai is known as the Oriental Paris and makes for excellent shopping. The prices are affordable and almost everyone who visits China takes a flight to Shanghai, China because this is the countrys most important city, second to Hong Kong. Shanghai also draws tourists to places like Mt. Sheshan, Chongming Island, Dingshan Lake, and the shopping centers of Xujiahui, Yuyuan Shopping City, and Jiali Sleepless City. If you are on a China holiday to Shanghai, then make sure to take in the sights of the Donghai Bridge, which is the worlds longest bridge across the sea, the Jingan Temple, and the beautiful Xujiahui Cathedral.<br>

There are many cheap flights to China, if you are planning to go over and see the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. You can take a cheap flight to Beijing from London or any other place in the United Kingdom. Besides the Olympics, the Forbidden City is the greatest tourist destination in Beijing. Having been declared a world heritage site, the Forbidden City will give you an understanding of Chinas history, ancient culture, and traditions.<br>

Honk Kong has many cheap flights that shuttle to and fro straight from the UK as well as from other parts of the world, so making your way to this exquisite city will be fast and convenient, not to mention gentle on your budget. Hong Kong will offer you a chance to experience a blending of Chinese culture, as well as see firsthand the strong influences of the West, whether it is a traditional Catholic church or an English pub where ale is served. Victoria Peak draws several thousand tourists, being the highest mountain in Hong Kong and the best place for a panoramic view of the city. The view of Hong Kong at night from atop Victoria Peak is said to be one of the most incredible sights in China.<br>

Since China is such a large country, it is almost impossible to experience all that it has to offer on a single trip to the country. However, no matter which places you visit on your China travel holiday, you are guaranteed to come away enriched, especially if you include the Great Wall of China on your list and make a stop at Shanghai.<br>

It doesnt matter whether you are backpacking your way from one place to another, or are on a luxury sightseeing trip, China will give everyone who visits an unforgettable holiday.

Unique Vacation Ideas for your China Travel Holidays

China is one of the oldest countries which date back to ancient civilization. Because of this, it has retained a lot of its historical background and culture, many of which are still practiced today. To many people, China may still be regarded as a place that is located on the dark side of the moon, but it is not until you visit this unique and beautiful country, you can truly satisfy your curiosity about China.
Adventure travelers and globe trotters around the world have started discovering the natural hills and scenic spots in China, many of who return with interesting stories and beautiful pictures. If you have always wanted to visit this side of the world, then its time to pack up your bags and bask in the sun this summer as you discover many of China’s hidden beauties.
Let me start with beaches; not many are aware that China has a tropical side to it except the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong which proudly boasts of the famous Repulse Bay. Located in the Southern province of China, Hainan is a beautiful exotic island with a rich culture for beach lovers to enjoy. It is the largest ocean province and smallest land province in China. Sanya, the most popular destination on Hainan province is known for the beautiful Yalong bay and Dadonghai’s white sand beaches. If you want to partake in this tropical Chinese beach tour, you can consult the services of a Chinese travel & tour operator in China to assist you with your vacation plans.
Golfing is another travel and leisure sport which is becoming very popular in China. Even with its old uncivilized environment, China still boasts of high class luxurious green paradise for you to enjoy your holidays golfing in the orient. Whenever, you speak about golfing, the first thing that comes to your mind is the lush green golf courses and perfect weather to enjoy this sport. There are four beautiful golf courses in China which are all located in different provinces with the perfect weather to enjoy the sport. Engaging in a golf travel tour particularly one in China can be the greatest adventure travel of your lifetime. Apart from golfing on China’s wonderful golf courses, you are afforded the opportunity to visit some of China’s main tourist attractions in Beijing, Kunming, Hangzhou and Shanghai. These cities highlight some of the must sees in China which you must not miss during your holidays. Once again, the tour operators can assist you to design your tour itinerary with affordable lodging and transportation.
Gastronomy Tours are specially designed for the cultural lover in you. If you delight in enjoying special Chinese delicacies, then, this is the right tour package for you. Discover more about Chinese culture and traditional cooking methods as you savor the exotic wonders of China.
Travel Agencies and tour operators have specially arranged tour packages for gastronomy tours which allow you to cruise and enjoy fine dining in exotic oriental restaurants as you are guided through many provinces and their long historical culture.
Shopping is a time consuming activity which must not be missed in China. Almost every province has a small market where you can get different varieties of shoes, bags, clothes at very reasonable prices. To be able to enjoy shopping in Shanghai, you should be an expert in price negotiation as this could pose to be a fun activity for a whole day. Many tour operators allow personal and free time during a tour, so you have the choice to visit any markets around.
There are a number of activities to do during your China tour experience. These includes Karting, Chinese tea discovery, Calligraphy and painting courses, hot air ballooning trip, Martial Arts and a whole lot more. Visit Passport to China’s suggested things to do on a China holiday.

For more information about China Travel, China Tour Vacations, visit Passport to China.

China Travel – Part 1

China, with an area of 9.6 million sq km, is the third largest country in the world, next only to Russia and Canada. Located in eastern Asia, China is bordered by Russia and Mongolia to the north; Russia and North Korea to the east; Russia and Afghanistan to the west; and India, Pakistan, Nepal, Burma, Bhutan, Vietnam, and Laos to the south. The capital of China is Beijing. Shanghai is the largest city.

Traveling to China is a life time experience and an ideal way to understand the land of cultural and geographic schisms. China offers immense opportunities for its visitors to make their travel quite interesting. Whether you are interested in Chinese culture, Chinese history, or simply to enjoy Chinese scenery, a trip through the Chinese mainland has it all.

If you don’t have a couple of years for exploring the Chinese mainland, it is a good idea to follow a loose itinerary. Some good suggestions along these lines include a trip from the Chinese capital to Tibet through Xi’an’s terracotta warriors, following the traditional Silk route, sailing down the Yangtze River (which provides the most rarest and beautiful views of Mother Nature), or traveling around the Dr Seuss landscape of Guangxi Province.

Beijing has been crowned as the country’s capital for approximately 500 years. The city boasts some of the beautiful sights such as the off-limits palace of Ming and Qing emperors, the Forbidden City, their eunuch servants, princesses and harems. The Summer Palace, one of the major attractions, was constructed in the late Qing period. China’s renowned imperial legacy – the Great Wall – starts from Beijing. The wall can be viewed from numerous places, however, majority of the visitors approach it from Beijing.

The sacred mountains of China have always been major pilgrimage destinations for many centuries and all these mountains feature well marked trails to the summits. There are also stairways carved into rock faces, and sights en-route includes inscriptions and poems and several temples. The sunrise at the summit is inevitably one of the most noted attractions. Huangshan, Emeishan, and Taishan are the most popular mountains majority of the foreign tourists never miss in their China travel.

China also prides for being home to the largest Buddha statue in the world. The Grand Buddha at Leshan in Sichuan Province is 71 m high and carved into a cliff face which overlooks the meeting of the Dadu and Min rivers.

China’s well known collection of European architecture is lined up facing the sea on the Bund in Shanghai. Xiamen in Fujian Province features outstanding collections of colonial architecture, on Gulangyr Island.

Tourist attractions in China are too much information to cover. Hence it is better to contact a tourist operator first and get an idea about the possibility and cost of different tour programs before embarking on one.

China – Travel, Shopping and Living

Shopping in China is a unique experience. That is why if you want to have vacation and wants to escape from the real world for a few days, then a trip to China will surely do the trick. The country is rich in history and natural resources and these two reasons are the ones that can convince the traveler in you to consider China. When you decide to visit the country, don’t be surprised to see a number of visitors from different parts of the world. That’s because the country is known as the target vacation spots for most adventure-seeking and culturally-sensitive individuals who seek the well-documented and highly-appreciated Chinese culture.

The number of visitors that the country received and the appeal of most travel spots is validated by the fact that the tourism industry of the country is considered as the fastest-growing industry in China. For the year 2003 the number of tourists that visited the country numbered 91.66 million and the number of tourists who stayed overnight was 32.7 million. The numbers submitted by China helped propel the country into the listing of the world’s top 5 in 2003.

The surge of tourist arrivals surely made the industry ecstatic and alive In fact the tourist hotel industry in Beijing and Shanghai and the rest of the country are expanding. The places to check in the country are the more than 15,000 natural, cultural and other man-made tourist attractions. But of course visiting all these scenic spots in the country is next to impossible. What the visitor can do is to visit the top sites that match his fancy. If the visitor is into shopping, then a check of the many spots considered a shopping heaven is a must. And speaking of China shopping, the country was called the shopper’s paradise in the 19th century.

The country is known for many products but what captured the fancy and the imagination of shoppers and visitors are the silk products, tea and wine. The silk coming from the country is top rated and the teas from the country come in many varieties as well. Other than tea, wines and the well-regarded silk, the country is also known for their souvenir items and the antique items that date back hundreds of years ago.

Other noteworthy products to check out if the visitor may want to do some shopping include the porcelain from Jingdezhen, the embroidery products of Suzhou, Hunan and Sichhuan and the batik of Guizhou. If the visitor is the type of person who likes antiques, then nothing to worry though as a number of antique shops and stalls dot the cities. The key in order to get what you want and to get it at cheaper prices is to do some bargaining and show off your bargaining skills. A visit to the country will not be complete without checking the other cultural heritage and of course the cuisine. If the visitor happens to taste the cuisine, then the visitor got a taste of China living. There are a thousand things that can be done in China; travel and see for yourself.