China Traveling

Chongwen, has a population of about 500,000. With so much activity, you can be sure that when visiting this southeastern district will you will be afforded a multitude of amusement opportunities. Chongwen is home to some of China’s most beloved sites and tourist areas; history, culture, and fun can be found in the streets of Chongwen district.

The district happens to be one of the smaller districts, at only sixteen and a half square kilometers. In that space, there are a wide variety of activities and amusements that will allow a visitor to experience the realness that China has to offer. While in Chongwen, visiting these sites will offer you a glimpse of China you can only see in the Chongwen district. One such site is the Beijing Museum of Natural History, which traces the history and evolution processes of the last 400 million years. For one-of-a-kind historical sites, Beijing is number one.

One of the more interesting aspects of visiting China is the plethora of ancient temples in the city and beautiful gardens. One notable temple in Chongwen is the Temple of Heaven. This temple is in the Taoist tradition; construction began in 1406 and lasted until 1420. This was the site where Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors came to pray to Heaven for a good harvest. This gorgeous temple is a must-see while you visit the Chongwen district of Beijing.

Visiting the metropolis that is Beijing enables visitors to witness some spectacular sights. One can see thousand-year-old temples and grand, ancient palaces; along with these sites, visitors can see historic locations that have a more modern significance. One place that is a must-see on any Beijing itinerary is Tiananmen Square, located in the center of the bustling city.

The square covers an area that is over 100 acres; it is this size that makes it the biggest urban square on the planet. This site has both ancient and modern significance; the gate was built in the 1400s during the Ming Dynasty. The original beginning of the square was in the mid-1600s. Finally, it was modernized and cemented in the late 1950s.

Tiananmen Square holds modern historic significance because of several events that occurred in the 20th Century. The allied army held a victory march after occupying Beijing at the start of the 20th century, while other notable events include the May Fourth Movement and the December 9th Movement. Mao Zedong announced the formation of the People’s Republic of China here in October of 1949. Another event, a massacre of protesters occurred in the square in 1989, which received world-wide attention.

Today, if one visits, you can see the National Museum of China, which sits along the east side of the square. A monument to the People’s Heroes can be seen as well; one other notable feature today is the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. For world history like no other, visit Beijing and see Tiananmen Square.

One of the main attractions for visitors to China is the Great Wall. Many people ask how long is the great wall of China? It stretches over a vast 6,700 kilometer/4,163 mile distance. The terrain this wall traverses covers a wide variety of topographical and climatic features. As far as tourist attractions go, this one is a wonder; the scenery, which encompasses desert, grassland, and mountainous vistas are enough to attract most people. The history is just another facet that helps draw over a million tourists each and every year.

It was during the Warring States Period, around the 5th century B.C. to 221 B.C., states, including Qi, Yan, and Zhao built massive fortifications to protect their borders; these were mostly made of compressed earth. In 221 B.C., Qin Shi Huang conquered all the states and destroyed the barriers that separated his lands. He also ordered new walls to be built to connect to the remaining fortifications to protect against outside invaders. Since builder used mostly local materials, many areas contained earth while others contained stones from surrounding mountains. Most of the original wall eroded over time; very few sections are still standing today.

Later, during the Mind Dynasty, more walls were added, this time, made of brick, to keep nomadic attackers out. The Ming Dynasty expended a lot to keep the walls fortified; they also repaired and restored older sections of the original walls. This was also done when Mongols were raiding; they took particular care to guard the capital of Beijing. The construction on the Great Wall ended when the Manchus took over and formed the Qing Dynasty, which also included Mongolia.

Depending on what attracts you, you may be drawn to different sections of the Great Wall. If your interest includes seeing a relatively non-commercialized part of the Great Wall, you should visit Simiatai. This area is about 110 km or about seventy miles from Beijing; here the Wall remains in its original state mostly due to its more remote location.

For visitors, knowing where to go is an important part of seeing the Great Wall of China. If you plan on being near Beijing, there are many popular sections to visit. The most notable include: Badaling, which is often a tourist hotspot, Mutianyu, which is known for gorgeous vistas in the fall and winter, and Jinshanling, which is more remote, with less crowds, and is known for being undeveloped.

Beijing, the bustling metropolis that is also the capital of China, is a huge tourist draw as well. Though one would think Beijing is the largest city in China, it is not; the largest city by population in China is Shanghai. Despite not being the most populous city, Beijing is known for its importance in politics, education, tourism, food(beijing roast duck and chinese green tea), and cultural pursuits. When in the exotic eastern city of Beijing, there are literally a million things to do; knowing how to spend your time will allow you to see the best that Beijing has to offer.

There are so many very different types of attractions that limiting oneself can be extraordinarily difficult. Avoid this with early and thorough planning. The following is a list of the top ten must visit attractions in Beijing. Put them at the top of your to do list while in Beijing.

1. The Great Wall of China (????)- The Great Wall of China is the most famous attraction in all of China. Many different sections are located within and around the city of Beijing. Badaling is a more commercialized section of the wall, while Simiatai is known for being more remote and less developed. Another notable section to visit is Mutianyu, which is famous for amazing views in summertime and autumn. A Beijing vacation is not complete without a visit to the Great Wall.

2. The Forbidden City and Palace Museum (?? & ?????)- This palace was the home of the emperors of China from the Ming to the Qing Dynasties. It was built between 1416 and 1420; the complex contains nearly 1,000 buildings and over 8,700 rooms. The structure is huge, encompassing over seven million square feet. The Forbidden City is also a World Heritage Site. The museum houses imperial collections from both the Ming and Qing dynasties, which make it an unbelievable place to visit for Chinese history and culture.

3. The Temple of Heaven (??, Tiantan)- The Temple of Heaven was built in the 1400s; it covers over 270 acres of land. It is a revered religious site; it is actually the largest religion-based building in all of China. It has a connected park for recreation. Visitors remember it for its architecture and splendid use of color.

4. The Summer Palace (???, Yiheyuan)- Once the summer palace of the emperors of China, this 290-acre location houses ancient pavilions, mansions, and temples, it also features a picturesque lake. It features gardens and a bike trail. For peaceful historic tourism, there is no better or more beautiful.

5. Tiananmen Square (???)- This site, located in the center of Beijing, this square is where Mao Zedong announced the formation of the People’s Republic of China; this is the largest open-air square in the world. It was also the site of the tragic massacre of Chinese protesters in 1989. Today, it is the site of major parades, events and celebrations.

6. The Pearl Market (Hongqiao Market)- This famous market is known for the pearls for sale here, but there is a plethora of other merchandise available. If fancy pearls float your boat, such as Tahitians and South Sea pearls, you can find them here at amazing prices. Some other great jewels, such as coral and jade, are also found in the Pearl Market.

7. The Beijing Opera- The performances housed in the unique building that is the Beijing Opera are traditional court performances from the 18th century. These were part of royal tradition, which were originally only performed by males. Here you can witness performers of all types, including mimes, dancers, and acrobats.

8. The Beijing Zoo- The zoo is known worldwide for its panda population; it does offer more than the majestic panda for tourists’ amusement. The zoo is also home to flower gardens and more than 600 species of animal. Many of the residents of the zoo are rare specimens found only in China; these types of rare, native fauna make the Beijing Zoo a must visit attraction.

9. Hutongs (??)- For a glimpse at ancient Chinese city life, a visit to Hutongs, a neighborhood of winding, narrow streets is necessary. Popular activities include tours by pedicab, stops at Drum Tower, and visiting Prince Gong’s mansion.

10. Lama Temple (???, Yonghe Gong)- This temple was built in the late 1600s as an emperor’s home; later, it was turned into a lama temple. It is one of China’s most important monasteries; it is known for its magnificent architecture and structural adornment.

I just read that the government of the People’s Republic of China has essentially banned TV shows that feature time travel. I’m not making this up — here is the story.

I guess this is conclusive proof that time travel does not exist. Because if it did, some intrepid TV producers would certainly have traveled back through time and given themselves advice about how to avoid annoying the Chinese government.

On the other hand, maybe some rival TV producers who actually have time travel have managed to use it to go back through time and plant those seeds of suspicion about time-travel themed TV shows in the minds of government officials.

But then what happens when the people who make the time-travel TV shows get hold of that time machine, and figure out how to get the Chinese government to think that time-travel themed TV shows are the most patriotic thing imaginable.

Would we all end up getting caught in an endless time loop?

And more importantly, if we do, can we make a great Chinese TV show about it?

Nissan has been marketing the Leaf as the Green Car for everybody, so it has got to irritate the Nissan Company that the Chevy Volt won the award for the “World Car”. The Nissan Leaf did win the 2011 World Title, but the Chevy Volt won on the “Green” designation. This may cause Nissan to slightly alter their advertising since a reliable auto insurance company has decided to partner with them for affordable insurance rates.

Winning the “World Car” award as well as finishing second in for the “Green” award should bring more attention to the Nissan Leaf as well as the Chevy Volt. The more people that begin buying environmentally friendly cars will help to drive the price down, allowing more people to buy environmentally friendly cars. The more people driving cars like these will help the environment, so events such as the World Car Awards that help bring environmentally friendly cars to the forefront is a great thing for out world.

More importantly than the environmental awards, is simply showing that “green’ cars such the Nissan Leaf can also be fun cars. No longer are all hybrids and electric cars considered underpowered and not feasible in the real world. The Nissan Leaf earned the World Car Award, as well as potentially millions of dollars worth of free press over the event.

The Nissan Leaf was a great pick for the Car of the Year award, but it will be very interesting to see if they can retain the title next year or if another car such as the Chevy Volt is able to surpass the Nissan Leaf.

I’ve been traveling to China for, I’m shocked to admit, nearly 20 years. One of the first pictures I have of me in China was taken from the Bund in Shanghai, with my back to the Huangpu and, across the river, an expanse of rice paddies and run-down one-story buildings. I vaguely remember my friend telling me that the Shanghai government had just announced plans to develop a new economic zone in the area called Pudong. I was barely listening. In the aftermath of Tiananmen, a year and a half earlier, I more interested in politics than economics, and at any rate, on that dreary grey day, in that run-down city, I lacked the imagination to see what Shanghai would become.

I am further shocked to admit that I have been planning tours to China for nearly 16 years. This has enabled me to visit far-flung corners of the country, from Harbin in the far north to the border with Vietnam; from Qingdao on the Yellow Sea to Kashgar and the border with the Kyrgyz Republic. And yet, when people ask me where they should go when they visit China for the first (and quite possibly only) time, I always recommend Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, and, if time and money permit, one other place. That’s perhaps a little out of character, because I love to travel off the beaten path myself. However, some of my own most indelible impressions of China come from some of the “must-sees,” but doing them a little differently from most.

I never tire of going to the Great Wall. Even though I’ve seen it probably a dozen times, I still am blown away every time I trace its twisting path over and between the mountains north of Beijing. I of course avoid the Badaling section, preferring Mutianyu or, better yet, Jinshanling or Simatai, and I leave very early in the morning so I have the place mostly to myself.

These days it’s almost impossible to visit the Forbidden City and not share it with thousands of others, many of whom are wearing identical hats and are following a bullhorn. Fortunately, most of those thousands are only interested in the admittedly extremely impressive halls in the center of the City. I love to wander through the sections off to the sides, exploring the smaller rooms and hidden alleys. I’ve even been fortunate enough, through the amazing connections of my friends and partners at Hubei Overseas Travel Corporation, to visit, on occasion, sections not open to the public, where some of the most exquisite gems are hidden.

In Xi’an, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the scale of the terra cotta army of the emperor Qin Shi Huang. These days, anyone can take pictures of the soldiers and horses, and for a fee, anyone can go down to the VIP level for a slightly closer look and slightly better angle. What trumps both, though, is actually getting down into the pits and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a 2200-year-old clay warrior. Again through the my friends at HOTC, I’ve had the opportunity to do that twice, and it remains one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in China.

In Shanghai, I love to visit the Shanghai Museum. In a city that is all about the future, the museum is a beautiful reminder of the thousands of years of exquisite artisanship that are otherwise obscured by the glass and steel and traffic and Maglev. And in the basement, closed off to the public, is a beautiful replica of a tea garden, with mood lighting that can be adjusted to simulate different times of day. It’s a peaceful place, in stark contrast to the hubbub above ground.

What I REALLY like about Shanghai, though, is the change. Shanghai is about growth, the future, transformation, possibility. Whenever I can, I go to the Bund and stand where I stood nearly 20 years ago and gaze over at the unimagined reality of what China has become.

We can’t always take a long and leisurely holiday but we all need a regular break and a cheap weekend getaway is the perfect pick-me-up at any time.

For a stress-free weekend getaway it’s best not to go too far from home. Aim to spend as little time as possible getting there and back and as much time as possible chilling out and recharging your batteries. Choose a popular destination that is likely to have great deals on cheap hotels, especially if you book at the last minute and take your break in the off-season. Popular destinations in your area could include beaches, mountain regions and wine regions.

Alternatively, if you live in the suburbs of a major city, why not have a weekend break in the heart of the action? Dine out in style, take in a show and browse galleries, boutiques and weekend markets with plenty of time out relaxing at great cafes. You’ll get home revived, revitalised and ready for action!

For a cheap weekend getaway the trick is to do your homework. Most hotels offer super hot last minute savings of up to 50 per cent off the usual room rate if you book less than 14 days ahead. You can also find the best accommodation deals outside of school holidays and other peak times so why not consider a quiet beach break in winter? Another option to keep in mind is that many hotels catering mainly to business travellers offer great weekend rates as this is when they have the most empty rooms they are keen to fill.

So there you have it. Even if you can’t presently afford a long holiday, there’s no excuse not to take a cheap weekend getaway to refresh your mind and body, keep romance alive, have a weekend of family fun or simply take a break from the daily grind.

For people taking a vacation or holiday of some sort, accommodation is always one of the biggest expenses. Most of the time people will spend planning their vacation looking for the best place for them to stay by keeping the budget and other things in the mind. If one can do enough research and save money on accommodation for the trip then you may save a lot of money on the holiday which could be used to buy some cool souvenirs from the place you are visiting.

It is always possible to find cheap accommodation wherever you are visiting. It is just a case of looking hard enough. If you do some online searches and visit some travel agency websites then you can probably get a listing of some of the last minute and cheap hotels that are available in your area. Once you have discovered a place that matches your needs, you must remember to double check the prices on the travel agents website with the ones that are actually on the hotel’s website, because these travel agents usually provide no guarantee that the information displayed on their website will remain accurate. It will also be the most distressing and embarrassing thing if you get to where you want to go and then find that the prices are out of your reach.

Getting a cheap hotel can also be made so much easier by making early booking. If you want last minute hotels, it can make things a little bit more expensive so you want to book early. Especially if it is the holiday season because prices can be astronomical at this time of the year. So there you have it, some sure fire ways to get some of the best accommodation at the best rates possible.

Emperor Tours are now taking bookings for Vietnam Holidays. Cambodia is a hidden gem in a country that is an undiscovered treasure chest for tourists. That is not to say however that is lacking in Western mod cons. In fact, its facilities are as good as any you will find in the East. Cambodia has a fantastic history and the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. A visit to Cambodia is a challenging experience but one you will savour for the rest of your days. Let Emperor Tours find you the perfect trip to Cambodia.