China Travel Guide

China (中国; Zhōngguó), officially known as the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国 Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó) is a huge country in Eastern Asia (about the same size as the United States of America) with the world's largest population. With coasts on the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, in total it borders 14 nations. It borders Afghanistan, Pakistan (through the disputed territory of Kashmir), India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam to the south; Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to the west; Russia and Mongolia to the north and North Korea to the east. This number of neighbouring states is equalled only by China's vast neighbour to the north, Russia.

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Posted in Shanghai Attractions

Shanghai Old Street

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Shanghai Old Street is known as Miaoqian Dajie historically and it is the old business street which is a combination of shops cultural exhibits, entertainments for tourist attractions. It is full of social attractions as well as having a commercial background where you can find the earliest banks, jeweler’s store, tea house, wine shop, gold shop and several other shops.

Shanghai Old Street

Shanghai Old Street


The layout and the architecture of the shops in this street, shows the development of the Ming Dynasty to the period when the European has influenced the Shanghai city making the impact on the culture. The west part of this Shanghai Old street stretches from South Henan Road to the Guanyi Street. The buildings in this place reflect the style of the Qing and Ming Dynasty. The architecture design is the elegant in its classic simpliciy. Pink walls, red poles and black roofs having upswept eaves are in the harmony with the buildings in the Yuyan Garden. The east side of the street has the length of 500 meters and ends at the Renmin road. The decoration has the remains of the residential characteristics of the Qing Dynasty.

It has the swing doors which reach to the ground and has lattice windows and graceful roofs with unswept eaves which are very much facinating. There are many european buildings, which have the same style of architecture as that of old shanghai. You can also find a good range of diversity in culture here. There are more than 200 stores eahc of them have been designed carefully according to their function. These shops are full of handicraft materials, calligraphies, paintings and jewelry. You can choose from wide range fo these materials. There are various shops on the eastern side like Tong Han Chun Pharmacy, Wu Liang Cai Glass shop, De Shun restaurant,etc which takes you back to shanghai about hundred years ago. You can also enjoy Yuan bao Tea at the Chun Feng De Yi Lou teahouse whaving two olives.

Shanghai Old Street

Shanghai Old Street

Shuzhou Ballads or Pingtan is performed here on weekends. Old Tea house owner display a collection of the fifty cheongsams, who are traditionally styled ladies dresses and dating from the year 1930. You can easily see the folk culture. Several embrodery houses, antique shops and fabric shops symbolizes the prosperity of the area commerially. You can also visit Yuyan garden which is next to Shanghai Old Street.

Posted in Shanghai Attractions

Shanghai Museum

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Shanghai Museum is located at People’s Square which is in the centre of Shanghai. It is very large museum having ancient Chinese art. Its presentation and style surround its visitors with the artifacts which demonstrate ancient philosophy and wisdom. Exterior design in this museum has round dome and a square base which symbolizes the ideas of the round heaven and the square land.

 

This museum has eleven galleries as well as three exhibition halls. The eleven galleries are made to cover almost all categories of the Chinese art which are Ancient Ceramic, Ancient Bronze, Ancient Sculpture, Calligraphy, Paintings, Ancient Jade, Ming, Coins, Qing and Ming Furniture, minority Nationalities and Seals.

 

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum

The bronze wares of Zhou and Shang dynasty have contributed to the understandings of the ancient civilizations. This covers over four hundred pieces of the exquisite bronze ware which covers the entire history of the ancient bronze art of China.

 

The ceramics collection is the special treasure of the Shanghai Museum. It contains more than 500 pieces of art work from different dynasties which includes gray and painted pottery of Neolithic age, Primitive celadon of Shang, Warring and Zhou States, celadon of East Han Dynasty and the tri-colored glazed pottery of Tang Dynasty, white black and blue glazed and painted porcelain of Song Liao and Jin and the works of Jiangxi and Jingdezhen center of the industry during Ming, Yuan and Qing dynasties.

 

Chinese calligraphy and painting have unique and traditional styles. There are several masterpieces from various periods and genre which are featured in the Shanghai Museum. The gallery of the Ancient Chinese Sculpture mainly focuses on the sculptures of the Buddhists.

Jade in ancient China was used for the decoration and known for the symbol of power and wealth. It was also personified for symbolizing the perfect morality. The elegance of the jade can be seen through the vivid patterns and crystal colors.

The gallery of the Shanghai museum depicts the garden like residence of the ancient China. The furniture from Qing and Ming witnessed the etiquette and culture of China.

 

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum

The Galleries of Chinese seals show the importance of seals in the history from the period of Western Zhou to the Qing dynasty. China was one of the countries which used the currency. You can find many coins in this museum which reflects the development of the Chinese currency.
You can also find the diversity in the Chinese culture and collaboration of many nationalities. You can see varieties of metal wares, textiles, sculptures, lacquer, pottery, bamboo wares which gives the picture of passion and creativity. This museum is well connected by all routes.

 

Posted in Shanghai Attractions

Jing’an Temple

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Located at the west of Nanjing Road, Jian Temple of Shanghai is one of the most famous temples of Shanghai. It is at the downtown flourishing area of Shanghai. In the year 1983, it was put on key national protection list.

 

This temple has more than 780 years of history. It was built in the period of Three Kingdoms and named as the Hudu Chongyan Temple. It was moved to its present location by the Southern Song Dynasty form the bank of the river Wusong. It has been crowded places untill the year 1908.d it was first built as the Jing’an Temple and later it was renamed to Jian’ng Temple in the year 1945. It was unfortunately burnt down in the year 1972 but soon reconstructed. In 1990, this temple was opened for the public.

Jing'an Temple

Jing’an Temple

 

There were total eight scenes in the former temple of Jing’an which was very much popular. Most of these have become extinct but the Young Quan or the Estavel in front of the temple was excavated in the year 2009. It is called boil well by the people as the spring water gushed all time. It is also considered as the sixth spring under the Heaven. This spring after its reconstruction has been relocated at the Huashan Road’s crossing and The West Nanjing Road has regained its charm.

There are about three main halls known as The Mahavira Hall, The Three Sage Hall and the Hall of the Heavenly Kings. The Hall of Mavavira has the biggest pure Jade portrait of Sakyamuni in the Mainland China. The height of the Jade Buddha is about 12 feets, width of about 9 feets and weighs more than eleven thousand kilograms. Due to its huge size the wall was torn and moves down to the hall. Having the tranquil facial expression the statue radiates auspiciousness and venerability.

You can escape from the bustle and hustle of the crowds in Jing’an Temple. You can also enjoy the marvelous calligraphy and painting by the yangzhou’s Eight Eccentric painter which is in the exhibition hall of the Buddhist Relics. You will also be fascinated by the bronze bell which is displayed in this temple made by the Ming Dynasty.

Jing'an Temple

You can enjoy Temple Fair which is held once in a year. The festival of Birthday of Buddha is also helped here and you can find several handcraft goods, sideline and agricultural products. It is nearby the airport and bus facility is easily available to airport.

 

 

Posted in Shanghai Attractions

Shanghai Xin Tian Di

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Xin Tian Di is located in the centre of the Shanghai City. It has the urban attraction as well as the cultural and historic legacies. This city has the fashionable pedestrian street which is full of shikumen and modern architectural style.

The uniqueness of Xin Tian di lies in its concept of construction. It has remains of the antique tiles, walls and exterior of the old Shanghai’s Shikumen housing. However its interior comprise of totally different world having bars, gallery, café, theme restaurants and boutiques. You can get the taste of both modern lifestyle of 21st century as well as the 1920’s shanghai.

3. Shanghai Xin Tian Di

Xin Tian Di

The main attraction is the Shikumen Building which is a mixture of architecture style of Chinese and western. In the early of 19th century, it was local citizen’s residence. This building depicts the modern history and culture of Shanghai. But, with the development of Shanghai, this building has become a historical building and it was rebuilt in the year 1997.

Metropolises and big cities of the world have representative building reflecting local culture and history and thus become faces tourist attractions. The establishment of Xian Tian Di was made keeping this phenomenon in mind. Therefore, the Shikumen building was given the new commercial value and changed its function of the residence and changing its old bloc to a new world which is full of life. With the Shikumen typical architecture, the block of a new commercial area was also developed.

Xian Tian Di has been divided into North block and south block which consist the modern architecture of Shikumen. The north bloc has the architecture style of old Shikumen which formed tin contrast to the new and modern south block.

South block has the complex of entertainment, shopping and leisure. It has area over 6.2 acres and was opened in the year 2003. The glass wall building has been built with modern atmosphere. You can find several restaurants, fashionable ornament shops, boutiques, cinemas, food courts and fitness centers for the entertainment as well as leisure.

North block is comprised of antique buildings of Shikumen having inner modern decoration, design and equipment. It also features upscale restaurants and stores with various cuisines from different countries like Brazil, France, Japan, America, Italy and Germany.

Shanghai Xin Tian Di

Shanghai Xin Tian Di

Xin Tian Di attracts the tourist from all over the world. It has famous restaurants and shops apart from the historical architecture and buildings. It is full of history as well as modern life of Shanghai.

 

Posted in Shanghai Attractions

Yuyan Garden- Shanghai

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Yayuan is very popular as well as classic garden which is located in Aren Jie in Shanghai. This garden was completed in the year 1577 by Pan Yunduan which was a government officer in the Ming Dynasty. Yu means satisfying and pleasing in china and this garden was made for enjoying the happy and tranquil time.

In nearly four hundred year of the existence of Yujuan Garden, it has undergone many types of changes. During the war of opium in 19th century, it was damaged and after that it was restored in the year 1956 and was opened for public in the year 1961.

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This garden is extended in area about twenty thousand square meter or about five acres. It has many unique characteristics like rockeries, halls, pavilions, ponds and clusters. You can enjoy main six scenic areas wanhua Chamber, Huijing Hall, Sansui Hall, Dianchun hall , Inner garden and Yahua Hall. Each of these areas is fulled with various scenic spots within their borders.

When you will enter this garden you will see a rockery which is also known as the Great Rockery. It has height about 50 feet and it is one of the oldest as well as largest rookeries in the Yangtze River’s Southern region. From the top of this rockery, you can get the bird eye view of this garden. At the foot of this rockery lies the Cuixiu Hall. This place is surrounded with beautiful flower and old trees. You can also find curio shops in Cuixiu Hall.

Sansui hall was built in the year 1760 and used for the entertainment of guests. Later one it was used to hold the ceremonies. It has height about 30 feets and have five halls. It is most commodious and largest structure in the garden.in the areas of Wanhua Chambers and Yule Pavilion you can find corridors, pavilions, courtyards, streams and other natural features. Chamber of Wnahua is dedicately chased building which is surrounded by the derious cloister. You can find the spring bamboos beside the cloisters. Yayuan garden

On the east of Wanhua chamber, lies the Dianchun Hall area. It also includes Relic Hall, Hexu hall, Acting and sing stage and ancient well pavilion. It also has the headquarters of Xiaodau Hi which was a revolt group and fought against the Qing Dynasty government.

 

 

Posted in Shanghai Attractions

Bund, Shanghai- A place for history and culture

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Shanghai has the one of the main attraction for the tourists in China and is full of history and culture. The Bund stretches for one mile from the bank of the river Huangpu and a well known waterfront esplanade. You can enjoy the fascinating view of Shanghai through the extensive walkway of the riverfront on the bank of this river especially at the night time. You can easily get boats which frequently depart from Shiliupu Pier to the south of the Bund and this journey takes approximate three hour’s time.

bund3

You can see the glistening waters of the river Huangpu and enjoy the incredible view of the historic architectures. You can also enjoy the modern sky scrapers and experience the local people’s life by doing Tai Chi or playing the game Chinese checker at the park. You can also look into the promenade which has an amazing architecture which has the styles ranging from Neo-Renaissance, Classic, French Baroque and Art Nouveau. The history of this place also backs to when the British established their trade and banks houses and also created a European style landscape in that area. During the War of Chinese Civil, financial investors had relocated and now days it has evolved as a Shanghai’s financial district and home for many companies related to finance in last two decades. Due to the major reconstruction of Bund by the Shanghai in the year 2008, it has become more tourists friendly and it has been made open for public in the year 2010.

You can visit the Colonial era buildings which has former Hong Kong Bank, Former Shanghai Club which is now called as Waldorf Astoria hotel, Peach Hotel. It also has a Bund History Museum which has free admission during 9 am to 4:15 pm. You can also visit Huangpu Gong Yan which was built in the year 1868 and was previously known as the British Public Garden. Bund Sightseeing tunnel is another attraction for the tourists. Oriental Pearl Tower offers spectacular view, recreation and restaurants. Statue of Chen Yi is another thing to view in Bund.

Bund

Bund

International tourists can get the elegant and best lodging facility at Bund Shanghai. Broadway Mansion and Peace Hotels are facilitated with the massive swimming pools, high flying banks and several other facilities for making your stay a pleasant.

 

Posted in Beijing Attractions

Beijing Hutongs

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Beijing Hutongs

Beijing Hutongs

Hutong, called as Mongolianese, is a small city lane featuring the unique Beijing customs and old Beijing living way. As the there was strike rule for the city building in ancient times, so the Hutong sets in the straight style in complicated distribution with more than 7,000 lanes named not only with person’s name such as prime minister Hutong, but with market or shop’s name such as goldfish Hutong, and with something certain Beijing dialect such as stuffy pot Hutong etc. Among which the west-eastern Jiaomin lane is the longest one with a total length 6.5 kilometers; the shortest Hutong just 1 inch wide and 10 meters more long, and the narrowest one is undoubtedly the Money Market Hutong in the front of the fence area with the width only 0.7 meter, where person of certain fat can go through there only with the breath controlled. There are hundreds of thousandths Hutong lanes in Beijing surrounded around the Forbidden City, and most of them were built in the Yuan dynasty, Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty in China’s history. There are the unique cultural building of the Beijing in China or even in the world.

 

Beijing Hutongs

Beijing Hutongs

Hutong is not only the pulse of the Beijing city, but also the living sites of the Beijing common people. The Beijing citizens have special emotion to the Hutong as there are not the passage for the common people go out and in home, but one and one customers museums which leaves lots of the vestige of the society and life in Beijing. Therefore, it means a lot of to the Beijing citizens. The Hutong is normally near the downtown, where it is convenient for people living there to go shopping. There are not so much crowed in Hutong when compared with the city centers, but you can sense the kind and close neighbour relationship.  You will truly experience the Beijing old life in these friendly and well-preserved Hutong during your Beijing tour.

 

Beijing Hutongs

Beijing Hutongs

Hutong, ancient but unique in Beijing, has been the bridge of the Beijing culture showing and transferring its unique culture to the other area of Beijing and other countries in the world. The living phenomenon of the old Beijing is set and showed in the corner of these Hutong, within every brick and tile of these Siheyuan and the neighbour relationship among the Beijing citizens there. People who have never gone there cannot really experience the special meaning and feelings there.  Just have a visit there in person during your Beijing tour by hiring the rickshaw, and you’ll have a true taste of Beijing!

Posted in Beijing Attractions

Tian’anmen Square

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tian'anmen square

tian’anmen square

Tian’an Men Square, the heartland of the Beijing city, is the biggest city central plaza in the world. It covers an area of 44 hectares with its width from the west to east 500meters and its length from north to south 800 meters. Its ground surface is decorated with the light color granite stones which have been dealt with special workmanship technology. It is the most solemn ceremony when the national flag rises in the morning and drops down in sunset. You will raise endless infuriation and move when seeing the bright-color national flag of the People’s Republic of China shinning in the morning glow. It is the happening place for numerous important politic events and historical events, moreover, it has witnessed the up and down, the decay and development. It has been listed as one of the sixteen famous attractions in Beijing.

tiananmen square

tiananmen square

The Tian’an Men Square is a majestic and must-see attraction in Beijing, with whose north is to Tian’an Men Hall, south to Zhengyang Gate, north to Historical Museum and west to People’s Hall. It is a largest square with a capacity of 1 million holding functions here. The Monument of the People’s Heroes and the solemn Memorial Hall of the Chairman Mao are standing in the middle of the Square and both sides lies Working People’s Cultural Palace and Zhongshan Park. All of these architectures make the Tian’an Men Square grand, distribution symmetrical and magnificent to be a great and spectacular attraction in Beijing.

tiananmen square

tiananmen square

Having witness numerous times of the Chinese people fighting for democracy and freedom and fighting with reactionary rule and the foreign invasion, the Tian’an Men Square is an virtual and holy place for important celebrations, assemblies and welcoming guests of foreign fairs. It has been the symbol of the coagulative power and the prosperity of the People’s Republic of China. When you are walking around the Tian’anmen Square, viewing the magnificent distribution, feeling the majestic momentum, appreciating the vast and profound landscape, you will upsurge a burst passion and honor.

Posted in Travel Tips

How to Make Your First Trip to China Enjoyable and Comfortable?

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Maybe you have gone to China for one time or even several times, or maybe you have never been to China yet, no matter which type you are divided into, here I’d like to share some travel tips with you to make your trip to China much more enjoyable and wonderful next time or for your first time.

First of all, lock you destination for your China trip and avoid somewhere inconvenient and adventurous unless you are an adventurer. For those who have never been China before or just been China just one time, it’s best for you to decide your tour destinations so as to make your trip smoothly and familiar. You can make the famous and highlights destinations such as Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Shanghai , Hong Kong or somewhere your know about or at less your have hear about from your friends or those who have been China before. In that case, you won’t feel strange when you traveling there. Besides, those famous cities also have so many highlight attractions for you to enjoy experience and explore their beauty and fantasy. Moreover, most local citizens in these cities can speak English well, which will make your conversation and communications with them not so much difficult when necessary.

Next, do best preparation before starting your trip. You’d better to learn something basic about your destinations such as when is the best time to visit, what is the local delicious food of that destination, what should you pack for your trip and so on. Take Guilin as an example, the best time to visit is April when you will meet some drizzling days which make your Li River much more picturesque and poetic; and Guilin noodles will be a must-taste local food in Guilin; and you’d better take an umbrella and wear warm as it is still somehow cold in Guilin at that time. Learn more about the travel trips of your destinations as possible as you can.

Finally, take it easy when starting your tour.  As there are so much wonders and beauty for you to enjoy and experience in a new country, you will be exhausted with what you are going to see, listen and face such as new sights and sounds, new customs, ways of doing things, a new language, different food, and a different time zone and climate. Therefore, just make time available during your trip so that you can do something what you like to do or just relax yourself after your tour time. Do remember not to take the adventurous trip for you first time to China or anywhere else, just explore only the absolute best of easily-accessible China, only in that way your first trip to China will be much easier and more enjoyable.

Posted in Beijing Attractions

The Forbidden City

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forbidden city

forbidden city

The Forbidden City, also called the Imperial Palace or the Palace Museum, is located in the center of Beijing. Covering an area of 72 hectares, the Forbidden City is the best-preserved imperial palace in China, and also the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment and even the largest ancient palatial structure in the world. It is a great ancient architecture works where 24 emperors had been living here during the period of the Ming and Qing Dynasty and it has been listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987. It is a famous AAAAAA attraction in China without which any of your Beijing tour would be incomplete.

forbidden city

forbidden city

The Forbidden City is divided into two parts: the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation in the south and the Inner Court where he lived with his royal family in the north.  When you are walking inside the Forbidden City, you will find that its roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles; decorations in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow by a special process—Yes, you may guess it, this is because yellow is the symbol of the royal family in China. You will first reach its main entrance— Meridian Gate, then to the outer court where you can see three main buildings—the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, finally to the inner court to view the Palace of Heavenly Peace, the Palace of Union and Peace and the Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility. All of these majestic architectures will make shock you and make you unbelievable and unspeakable.

forbidden-city

forbidden-city

Tips: 1) Ticket price: 60 RMB/ adult (not include the Pearl Hall and the Hall of Clock and Watches) for the peak tourist season from 1st April to 31st October; 40 RMB/ adult (not include the Pearl Hall and the Hall of Clock and Watches) for the slack tourist season from 1st November to 31st March; 2) Open time: 8:30 a.m.to19 p.m. for the peak season and 8:30 a.m. to 15: 40 p.m. for the slack season. 3) Best time to visit: late April to early June and late August to the end of the November. Late April to early June will be the best time of the best when the colorful flowers are blossoming. 4) Ways to go there: Take the No. 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 20, 52, 22, 120, 728 and 802 city buses to Tiananmen Square west stop or Tiananmen Square east stop and then get off.