Monthly Archives: March 2013

Posted in Travel Tips

Checklist Before Leaving for China

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If you are traveling to China for the first time then you must be worried about the items that you should carry. Here are the few things that will help you when you are going to china.

Home Checklist

  • Arrange for plants and pet care
  • Stop  all kinds of routine deliveries
  • You should make sure that your home seem lived-in when you are away by
    putting lights and a radio on timers
  • You should turn down thermostat
  • You should leave keys, a copy travel itinerary as well as your
    contact information to friends or family
  • Lock door, windows and garage.

Before Leaving

  • Take Guide books and maps with you
  • Passport and visa(s)
  • Foreign currency of the destination country
  • Credit cards
  • Travelers checks or ATM card
  • Insurance: Trip Cancellation/Medical
  • Personal Identification documents
  • Photocopies of documentation
  • Birth Certificate (if needed)
  • Marriage License (if needed)
Travel Guide

Travel Guide

Basic Essentials

  • Appropriate Luggage having appropriate commodities
  • Luggage Locks & ID Tags (Locks are needed for checking baggage when flying to china)
  • Appropriate Clothing
  • Footwear
  • Rain Gear
  • Camera with batteries and chargers
  • Small Binoculars
  • Small Flashlight
  • Sun Protection (Hats and Sunglasses)
  • Reading Materials if you love reading
  • PSP or Media player
  • Ziplock Plastic Bags
  • Contact List with information of your tour guide, travel advisor, embassy, as well as your family and friends.

Toiletries

  • Toothbrush/Paste
  • Comb/Brush
  • Dental Floss
  • Blow Dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Deodorant
  • Lotions/Creams
  • Lipbalm
  • Towel/Washcloth
  • Shaver and Shaving Cream

Medication

  • First Aid Kit
  • Aspirin/Pain Reliever
  •  Medicine for diarrohea
  • Insect Repellent
  • Contact Lens
  • Antibiotic Ointment
  • Alcohol Wipes
  • Medicine for Motion Sickness
  • Items for Personal Hygiene
  • Personal Prescriptions
  • Medical Record
  • Contact Information of Doctor or Medical Advisor
Posted in Suzhou Attractions

Humble Administrator’s Garden

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Humble Administrator's Garden

Humble Administrator’s Garden

Humble Administrator’s Garden, the representative of te gardens in the Jiangnan area in China, is the classical landscape garden with biggest area among the gardens in Suzhou. Covering an administrated area of about 83 hectares and opening area of about 73 hectares, the Humble Administrator‘s Garden has been listed as the national key relics protected units and Cultural World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1997. Being an AAAAA level attraction spot, the Humble Administrator‘s Garden the classically private and luxury garden in China.

Humble Administrator's Garden

Humble Administrator’s Garden

Enjoying the reputation of “ the Model of the Whole Gardens”, the Humble Administrator’s Garden is as famous as Chengde Summer Resort, Lingering Garden and the Summer Palace in Beijing, and it possess 4 honors as follows: the head of the four big famous gardens in China, the national key relics protected unit, one of the national special tour stops and World Cultural Heritage. Architectures of the Humble Administrator’s Garden are mostly built in Xianfeng Empire in Qing Dynasty, whose layout contains the fun of mountain island, bamboo dock, matsuoka and winding river.

Humble Administrator's Garden

Humble Administrator’s Garden

There are composed of 3 sections: the middle small garden, the east small garden and the west small garden, among which the middle section is the main attraction of the Humble Administrator’s Garden whose area covers 18.5 hectare. Traveling here, you will find the scenery is so captivating as this middle garden set the water pool as its center and pavilions are built by the water, some are straight out of the water, which shows the feature of the Jiangnan water country—so beautiful.

Travel information: 1) Opening time:7:30a.m.-17:30p.m. 2) Ticket price: 50 RMB/adult in the slack season from 31st October to 15th April and 70 RMB/adult in the peak season from 16th April to 30th October; Ways to go there: take the city buses line , 2, 5, 202, 313, 923, 529, 40, 78 to the Humble Administrator‘s Garden stop and walk at east for about 100 meters. 4) Duration: 2 to 3 hours. 5) Best time to visit: each season will be fine as it features differently beautiful scenery in different seasons. 6) Azalea festival in every year’s spring in about middle March to late May, when you can appreciate hundreds types of precious rhododendron.

Posted in Suzhou Attractions

Zhouzhuang Water Town

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Zhouzhuang Water Town

Zhouzhuang Water Town

Zhouzhuang Water Town, located in 38 kilometers southeast of Jiangsu city center, 33 kilometers southwest of Kunshan city center and 70 kilometers away from Shanghai city with about 1.5-hours-drive, is a famous water town in Jiangnan area with 900 year. Featuring one thousand years vicissitudes of life and strongly gloomy Wu culture inoculation, the Zhouzhuang water town has been the treasure of the Asian culture for its delicately beautiful water landscape, unique human landscape and simple folk customs. Moreover, as an outstanding representative of the Chinese excellent traditional culture, the Zhouzhuang Water Town has also been the cradle of the Wu culture and the model of the Jiangnan water towns.

Zhouzhuang Water Town

Zhouzhuang Water Town

Being the No.1 water town in China, the Zhouzhuang has got various awards listed as follows: 1) It has been listed in the world cultural heritage ready list of the United Nations; 2) The Best practices award of the Dubai international of the United Nations to improve living environment; 3) Outstanding Achievement Award of the cultural heritage protection of the United Nations in the Asian-Pacific region; 4) The most Charming Water Town in the World; 5) One of the 50 places worthy the foreigners’ a visit in China; 6) One of the ten scenic spots in China preferred by the Europeans; 7) The first Chinese famous historical cultural town; 8) The famous town with beautiful environment in China; 9) China’s famous tourism brand; 10) National AAAAA level scenic spot.

Zhouzhuang Water Town

Zhouzhuang Water Town

Travel tips: 1) Opening time: 8:00 a.m.-21:00 p.m. 2) Ticket price: 100 Yuan during 7:00–16:00 and 80 Yuan during 16:00-21:00; 3) Duration: one day; 4) Best time to visit: every season will be suitable, but just avoid those holidays in china; 5) Ways to go there: type one: take a flight to Shanghai and then take bus through the 318 national highway and Shangzhou highway to Zhouzhuang; Type two: go through the Huning highway whose entrance at Kunshan and pass by the Kunzhou highway to Zhouzhuang; Type three: Go through the Huhang highway whose entrance is at Jiaxing and go by the 318 national highway and Shangzhou highway to your destination; Type four: take train to Shanghai, Suzhou or Kunshan and then take bus to Zhouzhuang. 6) DIY tour from Shanghai to Zhouzhuang: take the coach from Shanghai bus station in north district whose time are 6:50; 9:00; 12:00; 14:20; 16:50 with about 2 hours drive.

Posted in Travel Tips

Popular tourist Destinations and best time to visit there

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You can visit grassland in Tibet.  The weather of Tibet is featured with the big temperature changes and clear skies. Beijing and Xi’an are hot, dry in summer and cold in the winter. Shanghai and its nearby areas like Hangzhou, Suzhou and Yellow mountains, Guilin and Hong Kong experiences monsoon rains in the summer and spring. It also has hot summer and mild winters.

You can visit Harbin in winter to enjoy Ice festival and ski slopes. Tibet has big temperature differences and best avoided in the frigid winter. The Silk Road to the northwest is also having the warmer months. Visiting deserts and barren vistas can be a good idea.

Beautiful Places in China

Tropical Hainan is sunny escape for the holidaymakers at any time of the year. Chengdu is the overcast city which has hot summers and cold dreary winters. Kunming is also known as the Spring City and it has pleasant weather all round the year.

You can enjoy winter at Yabuli Ski Resort in the Northern China which is having the daytime temperature around -30°C. North-Central China has the climate similar to Kansas and Nebraska with less rain and snow during the winter. Hot and dry summer and cold winter and late winter and early spring bringing regular dust storms as well as haze can be seen.

Central and Southern China is comparable to the Gulf coast areas though the winter storms are not frequent.  Rainfall is also concentrated in the stormy monsoon months during late spring and throughout summer. It has relatively dry and settled autumn and winter. Summer is hot as well as humid whereas winter is cool, shorter and overcasted with drizzle. Weather of Northeast China in similar to that of Minnesota having dry and short warm summer and long and very cold winter. Crescent lake near the Dunhunag area in Western China is another place to visit which has annual precipitation around 23 mm.

Best place in china.

Posted in Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit China

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The best time to visit China depends on few factors which are as follows-

  • Where do you want to go in China?
  • What do you want to do?
  • Do you like it dry or wet, or are you not bothered?
  • Do you like cold or hot or moderate weather or are you not bothered?
  • Do you want to take advantage of low season discounts?
  • Do you want to see the festivals of China or seasonal attractions?
  • Do you want to avoid tourist crowds and crowded transportation?
Best Time to visit

Best Time to visit

You should avoid the major holidays of China if you do not like to participate in the celebrations. Because, the tourist areas as well as transports are full packed and the price of the hotels are doubled or even more than that. The major holidays of China are New Year, Labor Week day and national Week days apart from some small holidays.

As far as season is concerned, it depends solely upon your choice and you can travel all the year round if you are prepared with the clothing. You can enjoy different scenery in different seasons. You can choose among flower blooming, autumn hues, hot sunshine and snow-scenes.

If you are looking for a cruise on the River Li from Guilin to Yangshuo then the best time is from April to July when the scenery at these places is at its best in the mountain mist or sun and river has plenty of water. The peak tourist months at the most popular destinations are May, September and October. The weather at these times is much comfortable. But the prices for everything are high and it is crowded everywhere.

Prices are bit low during the late March and April and from June to August. But, the low season arrives during late November and continues throughout winter when there is few crowd and price is lower. IF you want to see colors of china then you can arrive in the months of late October to early December as the parts of this country is saturated with fall hues.

Flower Blossoming in China

Flower Blossoming in China

Posted in Travel Tips

Weather in China

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China is a very huge country by area and it is almost the same size as Europe or USA and has the greatest range of climate and weather than any other country of the planet. If you are planning to travel to China, then you should check the weather condition which is suitable for you or not. Due to the vast area of China therefore there is huge difference of climate and other conditions from one region to another within China.

The climate ranges from the desert of Xinjiang to the Northwest to the Inner Mongolian grasslands, to the temperate and alpine forests and the farmlands to the rice paddies and from sub-tropical vegetation to the tropical rain forest to the sunny beaches. There are Tibet archipelagos and plateau of the tropical islands at very

Weather in China

Weather in China

high-altitudes.

 

With the difference between the latitude and altitude as well as the effect of the season, there is huge difference in the temperature. The lowest temperature recorded is as low as -40 degree Celsius in the north and as high as about 40 degrees Celsius in the south. The distance from the rains of monsoon of the tropics defines the amount of rainfall in China and along with the distance from the Pacific Ocean as well as the presence of mountains.

The rainy reason generally occurs between the month of March and April in the southern and eastern part of china like Guilin Hangzhou and Suzhou, from June to August in the western part i.e. in Tibet and Yunnan Province and from May to September for the areas near Yangtze River which is Yichang and Chongging. During these times, heavy rainstorm can also cause landslides in the remote areas of Tibet and Shangrila interrupting the essential services in those areas. Rural areas near the River Yangtse are also affected by floods. Eastern and southern coasts are often accompanied by the Typhoons during the wet season. You should monitor the weather conditions if you are going to travel in those affected areas. In case of natural disaster, you should consult the local authorities.

China Cold Weather

China Cold Weather

 

Posted in Suzhou Attractions

Tiger Hill

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tiger hill

tiger hill

Being a AAAAA level scenic spot, the Tiger Hill is located in the northwest city countryside with 5 kilometers always from the city center. Covering plenty of ancient tall trees, the Tiger Hill is decorated by various beautiful scenery. It totals about 36 meters high and covers an area of more than 300 hectares, moreover, it shows its best features: the spectacular rocks, magnificent and changeable prospect, Tiger Hill Tower with thousand years, and other fantastic views to all of its travelers. It has been a saying that it will be a regret without going to the Tiger Hill for you Suzhou tour. Yes, that is right, your tour to Suzhou won’t be perfect if you miss the Tiger Hill.

There are so many beautiful scenery for you to enjoy when traveling in Tiger Hill, among which the Tiger Hill Pagoda and Sword Pool are the most famous. The Tiger Hill Pagoda features more than 1,000 years and it is the second Leaning Tower in the world. Simple and unsophisticated, grand and peculiar, it has been the symbol of the ancient Suzhou. For the Sword Pool, secluded, strange and mysterious, it has the riddle with thousand years about the Wu emperor and the beautiful legend about the God and Goose, you will enjoy oneself so much as to forget to leave.

tiger hill

tiger hill

Enjoy the reputation of “ the No.1 Scenic Spot in Wuzhong Area”, the Tiger Hill is decorated by beautiful scenery and culture landscape with long history. The Wanjing mountain villa in the east foothill of the Tiger Hill collects the essence of the bonsai of the Su style. Decorated by the mountain light and the tower shadow, it shows a excellent view which is like a painting. It really worth your visit.

Travel information: 1)Opening time : 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 2) Ticket price: 40 Yuan/ adult in slack season from 31st October to 15th April and 60 Yuan/ adult in peak season from 6th April to 30th October. 3) Duration: 2-3 hours. 4) Best time to visit: Summer time as the  bamboo is so hair-chested as to protect you from the sun. 5) Ways to go there: Take the city buses line 1, 2, 3, 949, 146 and 316 to the south gate of the Tiger Hill; take the No. 32 and 36 to the north gate.

Posted in Top of China

Top 3 Nature Wonders in China

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Jilin Rime

Jilin City is situated at the bank of the river Songhua to the north of China. The temperature of Jilin decreases up to -30 degree Celsius in winter. Due to this low temperature and effect of south wind there is very high humidity. By the influence of weepage of the Fengman Hydropower Station, the temperature of the water is about 4℃ which makes water vapor to rise and attached to the cold objects and this forms the rime. This Rime also functions as the purification of air. So when you see the rimes you might also feel the fresh air.

The willows along the Songhua River bank blossom silver flower and pine blossom silver chrysanthemums when rime comes. It brings a picture of a wonderland. To this addition of beauty of rimes, you can also predict the weather as well as other information according to the character and period of rimes. These rimes are unique and beautiful at the same time.

Jilin Rime

Jilin Rime

 Stone Forest in Yunnan

Stone Forest is located in the Automous County of Shilin Yi in the city Kunming of Yunnan Province. It lies at the altitude of 1500 to 1900 m and have subtropics low altitude plateau mountain monsoon climate and having an annual temperature of nearly 16 degrees Celsius. Just at a distance of 78 kilometers from Kunming, the stone forest is the Karst scenic area of the sub tropic plateau. It has got reputation of the No. one wonder of the world and Stone Forest Museum.
About 200 million years ago, this place had a sea area with deposition of lot of big and thick lime stones. Later, due to the movement of geotectonic these huge lime stones exposed to the ground. About 2 million years ago, due to the dissolution, the lime stones get separated from each other and after several years of rain and wind erosion, this Stone Forest was formed.

The stones of Stone Forest are strange and odds and towering up from the ground. Some looks like the walls and some like the trees. The stone forest has attracted many tourists from domestic as well as abroad.

Stone Forest in Yunnan

Stone Forest in Yunnan

 The Yangtze Three Gorges

Three Gorges is a magnificent valley with splendid landscape in the Yangtze River and one of the most famous scenic sites of China. It is about 193 kilometer long covering the essence of scenery on the River Yangtze. Within this distance, they are arranged in a way that one valley is narrow and the other is wide by turn to the other gorges. Due to this, the momentum of the water is pent-up in the narrow valleys and released in abruptly manner in gorges.

In bottle necks, the water rushes down wildly and swiftly. If you travel in a cruise ship in this part of River Yangtze you can enjoy the grotesquely shaped rock and magnificent mountains which are alongside the river. It is having a variety of landscape displaying its charm for several years.

The Yangtze Three Gorges

The Yangtze Three Gorges

Posted in Top of China

Top 3 Palaces in China

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Imperial Palace
Imperial Palace is located in the heart of capital of China. Also known as the Forbidden City, it is the symbol of the imperial power in China. This palace was build during the period of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. This palace is the largest and well preserved building of the world. The architecture of the building is 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. It has also been renowned as the World heritage Site in the year 1987.

Forbidden City

Forbidden City

Potala Palace

Potala Palace was originally build in 17th century by the king Songtsen  Gampo. This inspiring palace perched high above much of the landmark of the city, Lhasa.

Potala Palace is built against the Red hill as has a spectacular castle like building complex of Lhasa. It was used to be the unification centre of religious and political of Tibet. It covers an area of more than 360,000 square meters and this palace is a blend of art with creative designing as well as gorgeous decoration. Due to its precious scriptures, conservative religious atmosphere, jewels, murals and antiques which are housed inside it has been placed in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

Potala Palace

Potala Palace

The Imperial Mountain Resort

The Imperial Mountain Resort is situated in the Chengde City which lies in the north eastern part of Hebei Province. It is one of the very popular summer resorts of the emperors of Qing Dynasty. It has an easy access to Beijing which is about 200 Km away from it and entitled as the backyard garden of Beijing.

The Imperial Mountain Resort has superb natural environment and it has served as the second political center of the Qing Imperial court. The emperors of early Qing Dynasty use to come here for spending their summer time, boating and hunting.

It is largest existing imperial garden of china and covering an area of 5.64 million square meters which is double as the Summer palace and eight times to that of Beihai Park, Beijing.

The Imperial Mountain Resort

The Imperial Mountain Resort

Posted in Top of China

Top 3 Landmarks in China

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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.

The Great Wall

The Great Wall

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.

Forbidden City, Beijing

Forbidden City, Beijing

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.

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.

Qin Terracotta Army

Qin Terracotta Army