where to travel to china

Travelling outside your home country is definitely a great, but somewhat troublesome experience.
Troubles come when you start to arrange all the necessary papers to obtain a visa.
This especially applies to a country with strict and to a certain extent unique regulations, like China.

However, things are not as bad as they might seem at first glance.
Nowadays, there is a good number of agencies and companies eager to offer you the service of facilitating in visa process, to provide you with all the necessary and most accurate information. One of such companies is Get in2 China. 

The name of this company speaks for itself. Beijing-based, service-oriented Get in2 China company offers a wide range of services for people who either want to come to China or already live in this country. 
Providing information, accommodation, internship placement, Chinese language courses, visa support, travel arrangements - these and many other services are available for people of different ages and from different countries.

Get in2 China company has developed and introduced various types of programs in China in accordance with the purpose of your visit.
If you simple want to see the world-famous sights of China, i.e. the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, etc., the Travelling and Sightseeing program is the right option.
The duration of this program is normally one or two weeks, which is just enough to visit around 1/3 of all China's must-sees!
A two-week program includes travelling to different cities of China, such as Xian, Guilin, Shanghai, etc.

For those wishing to pick up the basics of the Chinese language or improve the current level Get in2 China offers Chinese language programs.
Both General (10 hours per week), Intensive (20 hours per week) and private language courses are available. All the study materials are provided by the company's language school and are included in the program fee.

Get in2 China's Business Internship program is specifically recommended to recent graduates seeking to get some working experience before hitting the global labor market. Business Internship program includes internship placement, accommodation, visa support, language course and other concomitant services. 

Get in2 China carefully studies the resumes of its clients and finds the right Chinese or foreign Beijing-based company for internship placement. All internships provided are paid, the monthly stipend ranges from 150 to 500 euro. Business Internship program is a splendid opportunity to get a valuable experience of working in a dynamic environment of world's third largest economy.

Well, if you are just an expat living in China and facing troubles with your Chinese visa, Get in2 China company is here to give you a hand. Even the most complicated cases can be solved, and it is not always necessary to leave China and come back!

So, how to get to China? Easily! With Get in2 China company. 
More information about the company, its programs and services is available at

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Hotel Guide in China

When it comes to hotels within China, you just have to be a little careful. o Hotel Travel Guide China – International Brand hotels, 4 and 5 Star Mostly these types of 4 and 5 star hotels will be ok, generally they will be run by a western boss and have western heads of all the departments. Training, etc, of the staff, consistency of the level service from an international brand hotel is important, so most will have enough English speakers around to make your stay welcome and hassle free. The breakfast will be catered for both Chinese and Western appetites, with the hotel occupancy rate around 50 – 50 Chinese to Westerner. o Hotel Travel Guide China – Chinese hotels, 4 and 5 stars within the Major Cities Within the major cities, most will be as the International brands and the level of service just as good. Within the restaurants and shops, the English should be at a level that you would get most things without too much bother. If the clientele is Westerner and Chinese, the breakfast will be all the usual food that you will recognize. o Hotel Travel Guide China – Chinese hotels, 4 and 5 star, Rural location I lot of Chinese travel, for these hotels this is their major business, not westerners, the westerners are classed as an extra, which has come along over the last few years. Some have not learnt to deal with this extra business yet. These more out of the way Chinese 4 and 5 Star hotels are a little different; comparatively the fixtures and fitting will be the same standard as any 4 or 5 Star hotel, however sometimes the same care and attention in the maintenance and service to the customer will be different to what you will be used too. Not necessarily worst or bad, just different. Western and Chinese expectations in all areas of the China travel business are different, this is the why I set up Travel-the-Real-China .com. The level of English generally will not be as good, so just take your time, they will find someone, or you will work, just keep your cool. I have stayed at some great Chinese 4 and 5 star hotels, and been very happy, so do not be put off. All I have visited have been clean tidy and for an overall statement: a pleasant stay was had by all. The breakfast will be a Chinese breakfast and if it is a regular stop for Western travelers, some western food will be served. If it is an out of the way place, you may not get the type of breakfast you expect, the Chinese eat different things for breakfast, so to get a simple cup of tea or coffee and some toast just will not happen. There will be hot water, if you have to have your tea or coffee, bring your own. The breakfast will have lots of food, just not, what you will be expecting. o Hotel Travel Guide China – Chinese hotels, 3 star These 3 star Chinese hotels usually gets very high traffic and occupancy… mostly Chinese, and now the westerners, especially with the major cities For these hotels, maintenance is not high on there lists, so you may find a few things that will not work or have fallen of the wall. If it is dangerous, most of the time, something will be done, otherwise no one will care. Within the major cities most will be clean and tidy and offer some sort of western food for breakfast. Out in the remoter areas… not really. The breakfast will have lots of food, just not, what you will be expecting. Take some tea and coffee if you really need this there will always be hot water. The level of English within the major cities will be, just enough for you to check in, and out in the remoter areas, checking in can take come time. There is a high number of these hotels and it can be a great way to see the country, in Tibet the 3 star hotels are a little pricy, however within China most are good value and will be clean with showers in all the rooms. You just need to be a where; its good value, clean and some small things maybe a little frustrating with it, however that's China. Go with the flow, its part of the adventure of China. o Hotel Travel Guide China – Shanghai hotels – Special rates and location I know of a few small and very good value inner city hotels within Shanghai. These are Chinese hotels and will not be on anyone's list to book, as they are new and classed as Chinese business hotels. Please contact to author if you would like to know more details. I hope this Hotel Travel Guide China gives you a good overview if you would like more info please let me know.

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China Highlights

China is too big to summarize as a list of sites. Let's explore China Highlights as themes or principles – which is then a great basis for your visit. China Highlights: Chinese Food Chinese food is famous around the world and should be a highlight of any trip to China. Eating out is still relatively inexpensive, and great street snacks can be had for very little money, so enjoying this aspect need not break your budget. It pays to know the options available as the dishes known in the west are often not available and are certainly not the best to be had. Menus are rarely in English and very few travellers speak sufficiently good Mandarin to be able to order for themselves. Many phrasebooks have a reasonable section covering food but these, by nature, have to be very generalized. A little inventiveness goes a long way. Social customs are different so do not be afraid to ask for dishes that you see others eating. It is also acceptable, sometimes, to go to the kitchen and point at the ingredients that you would like combined. The chef will do the rest. Meals ordered like this take on a flavour of their own and add to the whole China experience. China Highlights: Chinese People Some 94% of the population of the People's Republic of China are registered as Han Chinese. Officially another 55 ethnic group or minorities are recognised. Putonghua (standard Mandarin Chinese) is the official language but there are very strong regional dialects even to the point where Guangdonghua (Cantonese) is widely considered a separate language. With such diversity, there are plenty of opportunities for anyone wanting to explore the costumes and customs of these various groups. Provinces like Yunnan and Guizhou make good destinations as these have many minorities living closely together. Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia are all predominantly one minority group and therefore allow another, more in-depth, exploration. Travelling within an area is one way to explore but does not always allow opportunities to meet the actual people. If you would like more interaction then it is worth seeking out homestays, and to have a guide that speaks the local dialect(s). China Highlights: Chinese Historic Sites China has a wealth of historic sites. If you enjoy visiting these then you will not be disappointed. Given that the number is so vast it probably pays to try and find a theme that will allow you to decide which sites become part of your itinerary and which to leave out. The following is one such sub-group that may be of interest. China Highlights: Chinese Temples and Other Religious Sites China is often said to have three religions: Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Confucianism is not really a religion and therefore there are few sites that can claim to be linked with any practices other than the estates around Qufu linked with his descendants – the beneficiaries of his posthumous glory. Temples and monasteries tend to be Daoist or Buddhist but are not always exclusively one or the other. Investigating the features associated with either type could be of interest but, more likely, visits could just be an excuse to get to the naturally beautiful locations chosen for these spiritual retreats. Buddhist Grottoes offer another highlight for those with an interest in both history and art. These grottoes abound in sculptures and frescoes related to the Buddhist canon and offer a very interesting window onto movements in the region 1500 – 2000 years ago. China Highlights: Modern China Not everyone is interested in the old stuff and there is a trend for visits to take in some of the ultra-modern structures and transport options that are appearing across China. With the Olmpics in 2008 and the World Expo in 2010, China has had plenty of good reason to show this modern side – and the pace of change does not look like slowing much in the near future. China Highlights: Chinese Wildlife Pretty much everyone knows that pandas come from China. Other Chinese wildlife rarely gets a mention. This is a pity as there are diverse habitats and therefore also species. Visitors wishing to see China's wildlife will need to do their research. There are few places especially set-up to view wildlife as this is not yet a local preoccupation. Those sites that have been established are often not what keen wildlife observers would want anyway. Bird-watchers face the same issues. There is plenty to see but little on offer in the way of facilities or even information.

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My Trip to Gansu Province Part One – Xiahe – Natural Blue Lakes and Green Grasslands

Travelling to the western part of China become one of my memorable things staying in China, the feeling was quite different from the common tour to other popular China tour cities. Xiahe is located in the south-west corner of Gansu province; this tiny prefecture with a population of only 77,000 people offers travellers the chance to enjoy a journey with the most amazing and unique landscapes and travel experiences in China. The region is home to a diverse group of ethnicities including Han Chinese, Mongolians and Tibetans, the Tibetan population accounts for around 78% of the total population giving the region a unique cultural flavour; it is truly the most amazing place that I have ever travelled to in China. Transportation is one of the most detracting reasons that prevent more tourists from visiting this little known paradise, the area is not connected by rail or air; the only means of reaching Xiahe is by long-distance bus, the journey from Lanzhou to Xiahe takes around 4-5 hours and travels through some truly remarkable countryside. Accommodation in Xiahe is sparse, there is virtually no premium accommodation, setting yourself up in a standard looking hotel in the centre of town is the best bet, accommodation is cheap ranging from Y250-400. There are an ample amount of destinations to check out in and around Xiahe for the few days I was there and I was fortunate to visit the vast majority of them: Sangke Grassland The most remarkable open grass field I have ever seen in my life, its sheer vastness boggles the mind and it is surrounded by eerie silent peaks and the sky is magnificently blue. This is what must be described as a typically Tibetan plateau and indeed a large community of Tibetan herders inhabit this grassland expanse, large herds of oxen placidly chew of gross and wandering around, the gentle bleats echo throughout surrounding mountains, being invited in a cup of Chinese tea is the perfect way to enjoy the atmosphere and soak up a few hours wandering around. The Sangke Grassland is 13 kilometres west of Xiahe and is easy to reach via bus. Dazong Lake Located 17 kilometres from the city of Xiahe this ancient lake is made of volcanic rock and includes an amazing basin and cliff terrain. The scenery surround the lake seems comparable with that of the Tiger-leaping Gorge in Yunnan spectacular not only because of its scale but also because of the amazing natural features that surround the lake, dense forest filled with over rare bird and animal life. Dazong Lake is known as the 'God Lake' as is a holy site for Buddhist pilgrims every June, making June the ideal time to visit this area when the clean crisp area is rich and heavy with the aroma of incense. Gangjia City Ruins This is a site for those with an interest in Tibetan Buddhism, this ancient township that was constructed over 2000 years ago during the Tang Dynasty was a stronghold of Buddhism in the area, this town now essentially reduced to rubble still contains some old thatched roofed huts, this village however is potentially not as worthwhile as many of the other destinations in Xiahe. White Stone Cliff Limestone Cave / Bai Shi Ya Cave The final destination that I visited in Xiahe located an hour north of the city with the amazing limestone cave structure was formed from an ancient volcano and now is a maze of tunnels, incredible rock formations, waterfalls, crevasses and mountains. The '100,000 Buddha pile' is the centrepiece, an amazing rock formation created through thousands of years of seepage of lava create a massive rock formation which has deep spiritual significant to the people of Xiahe.Xiahe is a little visited township but for those who want to both soak up Tibetan cultural but also enjoy the mystery of the silk road then Xiahe is a great place to start your journey, known as the 'Vatican of the East' is one of China's beautiful hidden secrets and it remote location is both one of Xiahe's great attractions but of the reasons it is so difficult to get to. I highly recommend travellers with an adventurous spirit to check out the deep spiritual culture and amazing natural scenery of Xiahe.

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China hot topic as important tourism market at ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Indonesia

More than 1,400 delegates descended on Manado, North Sulawesi on 10-15 January to participate in the 31st ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), which featured the ASEAN Tourism Conference (ATC), Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), 35th ASEAN National Tourism Organization (NTO) Meeting, and Ministerial Meeting. The annual ATF is a cooperative regional effort aimed at promoting member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as one tourist destination. The event involves all tourism industry sectors in the 10 ASEAN nations: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. ATF kicked off in earnest on 13 January with the ATC component under the theme "ASEAN Goes Green", during which industry leaders shared the latest information and insights on the region's ongoing efforts towards sustainable and eco-conscious tourism. The three-day ATF 2012 TRAVEX also opened on 13 January at the newly constructed Golden Kawanua Exhibition Hall, and featured B2B sessions between some 1,000 exhibitors and 390 buyers from 51 countries – including four new participants from Bulgaria, Egypt, Kuwait and New Zealand – to negotiate contracts to attract more tourists to ASEAN's destinations. Host country Indonesia and Thailand formed the largest national contingents with 112 and 92 exhibition booths respectively. Corporate exhibitors participated with around 65 exhibition booths. China, India, Russia, Japan, and South Korea also joined the forum, under the theme "Tourism for a Global Community of Nations". Asia Pacific accounted for 48 per cent of the buyers, while 37.6 per cent represented Europe. More than 100 media representatives from 36 countries, including first-time participants from Bahrain and Indonesia, were on hand for TRAVEX. All 10 ASEAN NTOs presented media briefings. All of the ten ASEAN countries recognize China as one of their key source markets. Huge increases in Chinese tourists have been noticed, and further increases are projected. China has already overtaken Japan as the biggest tourism source market in Asia, the UNWTO projects that China will have more than 100 million outbound tourist by 2020, and will be the largest tourism market in the world. Recognizing that according to the China Tourism Academy, part of CNTA, in 2011, there were 70 million outbound tourists, the UNWTO projection might even be achieved earlier. Currently, most of the Chinese tourists travel to ASEAN countries by joining traditional tour groups. These tour groups offer benefits, especially for first-time or older travelers, where price, convenience, and safety play a big role. However, more and more repeat travelers, or younger travelers (Chinese affluent consumers are 20 years younger compared to the US and Europe) prefer to be able to experience destinations their way, by staying in the hotels they chose instead of being in hotels that are chosen by the tour operator, many times based on prize and margin or other non-consumer centric factors, but won't fit their taste and newly aspired lifestyles. Also, being on sight-seeing bus tours, forced to take pictures, eat at restaurants, or buy souvenirs, dictated to them, does not fit into the ideas of the new Chinese tourist.

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Ten Unwritten Rules for Travel In China

Rule No 10 - always fight to pay for the bill Rules such as double checking your China visa, having travel insurance and having a practical budget you can stick to are all pretty obvious.  There are other less formal and obvious but no less important rules that can make a big difference to your travel in China. These rules are the unwritten rules of travel in China passed on from one traveller to the next in hostel lounges, disreputable bars, hiking trails and the far ends of the Great Wall. I have listed below the 10 most important of these unwritten to help make your time in China more enjoyable. If you have travelled in China before and have picked up your own unwritten rules, feel free to add them at the end of this post. 1 – Don't brag and carry on about how good your country is One of the most annoying things a foreign tourist can do in China is brag about how everything is so much better in their own country.  Sure most of us come from beautiful countries which great infrastructure, legal systems and football grounds but so what?!? You travel to China experience, enjoy and celebrate the incredible diversity, uniqueness and beauty that China has. 2 – More expensive does not mean better I'm a bit of a budget traveller so I'm probably prejudiced but I can say with all honesty that some of the best meals, rooms and experiences you can get will be in small dingy restaurants, street vendors, out of the way hostels and chaotic local markets. Five star restaurants and hotels have superb service and luxurious environments but little or no character. You hardly know you are in China when you eat and sleep in them. Truly the best way to experience travel in China is to eat where the locals eat, focus on the content of tours/activities not their price, and stay at small hostels/hotels that tell you about China. A classic example being the small hutong hotels you can find in Beijing. 3 – Pack thongs / flip flops No matter where you plan to travel in China or for how long, you will find the humble flip flops indispensable. Great for beaches, showers, middle of the night toilet runs and squashing cockroaches. They also have the benefit of being cheap, take up very little room in your backpack and are virtually indestructible.  They can also make great trade goods and conversation starters. 4 – Take at least one decent set of clothes For most of your time in China you'll be wearing worn out, non descript jeans, shorts, shirts and so forth which are great for climbing the Great Wall, hiking Leaping Tiger Gorge or riding a smelly camel on the Silk Road.. They are not so hot for dinners with Chinese friends/hosts, a night on the town in Shanghai, visiting the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong or many other occasions where you need to look half reasonable. So stuff at least one set of semi decent and clean clothes in your pack for these special occasions where your normal ragged and smelly shorts, singlets and sandals will not do. 5 – Pack the minimum and buy what you need in China You can by anything and everything in China with the exception of safe infant formula.  So don't pack stacks of socks, t-shirts, under wear, tooth paste and other essentials that you are worried you can't find in China. Trust me, you can find everything you need and more. Many people come to China with empty backpacks and suit cases that they take home loaded just because you can buy everything here. If you don't believe me, take a quick tour around your home and see where most of your possessions are made. 6 – Keep your cool in the face of perceived rudeness Often in China you will find locals will bump into you with out saying sorry, push into queues ahead of you (or not even queue at all), give some what brusque service and irritate and annoy you in so many other ways. There may be a strong temptation to jump up and down, throw a righteous tantrum and chastise the offending party. No matter how real or imagined the offense is, keep you cool, force out a smile and move on. You are in China to enjoy yourself and cultural differences that cause real or imagined slights are part and parcel of travel and getting angry, as justified as you may be, will not help. 7 – ALWAYS carry tissues with you As you travel around China, you will find that most Chinese public toilets do not have toilet paper. If you don't carry tissues, you will end up in some very embarrassing situations. Carrying tissues is also a great way to make yourself popular with your fellow tourists who find themselves less prepared than you are. 8 – Cross the roads VERY carefully In most western countries, cars will stop and make way for pedestrians. In China pedestrians make way for cars even at pedestrian crossings with green lights. Many Chinese drivers are certifiably insane once they are behind the wheel and public bus drivers are the worst of them SO no matter what, be very VERY careful when crossing roads. One useful technique that many locals use is to cross roads in groups because stragglers maybe picked off but there is security in numbers. 9 – "No Thank you" does not mean no When Chinese communicate, they often place more emphasis on implied meanings than direct meanings. This is especially the case with refusals where no thank you does not mean no. It is customary for Chinese people to refuse your offer two to three times before accepting to be polite and to maintain face. If you are offering a Chinese friend, colleague or companion something they need or want such as a drink, help or payment and they say no, keep offering because they don't mean no and they will eventually accept. Be careful though because just to be confusing they will sometimes mean no. 10 – Always fight for the bill when some one else is paying Often in restaurants and bars you will see people happily enjoying themselves together then as they prepare to leave, start pushing each other, struggling and yelling. Don't worry, they are just fighting over who gets to pay the bill. It is considered good manners to be verbal and aggressively to fight for the bill even when you have no intention of paying for it. The fight should last for a few minutes then the host will be allowed to win and pay the bill. If a Chinese companion is taking you out, always fight for the bill at the end of the night to be polite, give them face and show respect. Don't' get too carried away through and actually win or your host will be mortified and incredibly embarrassed.

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Travel To Xinjiang – China

"He's from Pakistan." "No, no! He's Japanese." A lively group of Uyghurs orbiting around me at the Hotan marketplace in southern Xinjiang were vociferously debating the nationality of the 196cm foreigner standing before them. I am in fact a first-generation American of a hybrid Scandinavian-Mediterranean-Hispanic lineage, my dark brown features and unkempt travel whiskers often causing confusion amongst Asians who can't quite place my nationality. Ironically, Han Chinese often mistook me for a Weiwuerzu someone from Xinjiang. If there is one province unlike any other in the People's Republic, it would have to be Xinjiang. Categorically different from the rest of the country in every conceivable way, the Muslim-dominated Xinjian in the distant northwest is at once China's most intriguing and intimidating travel destination. Xinjiang Autonomous Region is China's largest, sharing international borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan and central Asian countries. This geographical proximity resultingly accounts for over half of China's 12 million Muslims, perhaps Xinjiang's most obvious characteristic Muslim followers of Islam, the second largest religion in the world, are a devout people who believe in the oneness of God, called Allah in Arabic, as opposed to the Christian doctrine of a holy trinity. Muslim adherents can be seen throughout Xinjiang carrying venerated copies of the Qur'an (Islamic holy scripture) and faithfully dashing off to he mosque five times a day for a congregational series of Mecca-facing prostrations and prayer. Xinjiang's predominant nationality is the Uygur, a vibrant and outgoing culture of Central Asian descent whom this writer affectionately likes to refer to as The Desert People. The Turkic-speaking Uyghurs traditionally attire themselves in simple, loose-fitting robes to accommodate the harsh climate, with the men wearing either plain white or brilliantly embroidered dopi skull caps and the women veiling themselves in a hijab headscarf. A shaved head and long beard further distinguishes the Uyghur men while the ladies take pride and pleasure in dyeing their hands red with henna. Geographically, Xinjiang offers starkly different topography and climate throughout the vast region, ranging from the cool alpine mountains of the northern Altay region to the arid southern sands of the Taklamakan, the second largest desert in the world. And while Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, is a gleaming northern metropolis of skyscrapers and department stores, the remote cities bordering the south-western Tarim Basin, including the famed Silk Road oasis of Kashgar, are known for their more traditional way of Muslim life. Attractions Situated directly on the borders of Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan, the spectacularly sapphire-blue Hanasi Hu Lake in the mountainous region of northern Xinjiang is a popular tour group destination. To the south, the massive Sunday markets in Kashgar and Hotan are not to be missed, though the latter is arguably more authentic. Transportation 1. From Beijing to Urumqi, 10 flights daily between 8am and 9pm (four hours, 2,410 yuan) 2. To Hanasi Hu, a group tour arranged by any Urumqi travel agency is often suggested for its feasibility, however a majority of time is spent in transit (four days, 500 yuan, including accommodations and entrance tickets) 3. To Kashgar, overnight trains leaving daily from Urumqi at 1pm and 5pm are the most convenient and comfortable way to travel (30 hours, 170 yuan). 4. From Kashgar to Hetian, busses depart from Renmin Donglu almost hourly between 7am and 6pm (eight hours, 50 yuan). Accommodations Xinjiang disappointingly offers very little as far as budget accommodations or youth hostels, and due to immigration from neighboring nations, smaller boardinghouses are strict to only allow Chinese nationals. In Kashgar, the Uyghur-run Noor Bish Hotel near the famous Id Kah Mosque is a backpacker's favorite (30 yuan for a dorm bed). Regional Cuisine If China is famous for its cuisine, then Xinjiang is responsible for half its success. Heavily seasoned lamb kebab (yangrou chuan), spicy lamian noodles topped with peppers, tomatoes and garlic, deep-fried fresh fish (how did they get fish in the desert?), goat's head soup, golden pilaf rice and fragrant peaches and watermelon, all washed down with refreshing cinnamon tea. There may not be as much bread (nang) in the whole of China as in Kashgar, with lightly seasoned loaves and sesame seed bagels being pulled hot out the oven by the minute.

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5 Tips to Follow When You Travel to Hong Kong

Whether you are travelling to Hong Kong on business or as a tourist, there are some things you should know regarding local customs and traditions. You will still stand out as an 'outsider' but when you show the local people that you respect their customs, you in turn will receive respect from them. They will appreciate your efforts and will treat you with admiration. Here are five things you need to know when you are visiting Hong Kong. 1) Tax and Tipping: There is no sales tax in HK; however, be aware that there is a 5% government tax rate on hotels. Tipping is not customary but is becoming an expected habit from Westerners. Typically, be prepared to pay $10 (HK dollars) for porters at the hotel and $2 for each bag when enlisting the help of a porter at the airport. 2) Currency: The currency in HK is known as the HK dollar (HK$). The government issues the currency in notes of HK$10, HK$20, HK$50, HK$100 and HK$1,000. It is best to check with your bank for the most up-to-date exchange rate, as it changes daily. As a general rule, it usually trades at approximately HK$7.8 to 1 U.S. dollar. 3) Tea Time: To fit in with the locals at a restaurant, you will want to tap two bent fingers on the table as an expression of thanks when you are served hot tea. 4) Restaurants: Most entertaining takes place in restaurants rather than private homes; it is customary to let your host decide what the meal will be; have a little bit of everything as it is considered rude to pass up on a dish. 5) Business Cards: These cards are given out as often as handshakes and you are expected to give one in return for every one that you get; Have plenty on hand. Hong Kong has two official languages: Cantonese and English, so if you speak one of these, you shouldn't have a problem getting around. There are also many places of worship so whether you are Christian, Jewish or Muslim you will be able to affirm your faith accordingly. Most hotels provide their guests with bottled water, although tap water is safe to drink. Check with your local customs laws before you leave so you know how much you are allowed to bring back. This usually depends on how long you've been away.

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Travel Cheap to Thailand

Thailand is for many people one of the favorite destinations. And the reasons are pretty much obvious. Even if tourism has really grown during the recent years, Thailand still offers some pretty much unspoiled territories, precious beaches and an amazing cultural shock that you will probably prefer to miss your plane back home rather than coming back to your everyday's life. But to travel cheap to Thailand you really need to find out the right places or you will be abused as most tourists are. Travel deals when it comes to flying there are many, as competence for Thailand is very high and in this case travel agencies are strongly fighting one with each other. This, in the end, lets us find some very good deals. The idea of the article is in a general way to encourage you to always look for this special offers in order to travel cheap to Thailand and to anywhere in the world, to never limit yourself to what you see on your first searches, but furthermore, and being aware that this is a limited time offer, I wanted to share with you for free one of my findings early this morning. This offer is specially good for all Europeans, as departures are from London, and as I never get tired to say, you can reach London for 20 Euros the round trip with everything included with Ryanair. From there, with flights included and 14 nights in hotels in Thailand, you will get it for the price of 585 UK Pounds (813 Euros) I could kill myself for promoting offers like this for free, as I have no relationship with any travel agency at all, but certainly I am convinced that everybody should have the goal to help people, so here we are. The way you can book in this case is not online, but online you will find a web-page that offers you the possibility to travel cheap to Thailand and a number in the UK that you can call to get more information. I haven't tried, but I imagine that you will be able to make the booking by telephone. Together the possibility to travel cheap to Thailand, this guys have other interesting things specially related with traveling to Asia, but also many other offers to other regions, as flights to Auckland for 934 Euros, which is by far the best offer I have ever seen in the market from Europe to New Zealand. Also you can find 21 days campervan plus the flights to Auckland for just 1152 Euros. Again, is the best offer I have ever seen to get to the region. All this offers are generally valid until the 15th of June 2008, but if you wait for the beginning of January, the new offers for the summer and the first September discounted vacations will begin to appear. They are also offering many possibilities to discover Africa, including some Safari packages, for relatively low prices. Africa is not my area of expertise, so I won't promise they have the cheapest option, but the numbers look pretty good compared to what I have seen up till now. In any case, just feel free to take a look at their page and you will find out which offer adapts best to your needs if you are planning to travel Asia, Africa or the South Pacific from Europe.

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A Tour of the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. The earliest sections of the Walls were built between 220-206 BC buy the very first Emperor of China. Most of what we see today though was built during the Ming Dynasty which lasted from 1368 to 1644. In total the wall stretches for a colossal 5,500.3 miles. It's not surprising then that the wall has become such a tourist attraction. For any holiday to China a trip to the Great Wall is a must. There are a number of different tours of the wall taking in different sections. One of the most popular is the tour from Beijing which allows you to walk along this historic landmark while also getting to enjoy the delights that the capital has to offer. While the wall exudes a timeless charm about it the surrounding scenery changes with the seasons. Visiting at different times of the year will give you a very different experience. In spring the Great Wall will be surrounded by the newly green trees and plants with the extra advantage of having far less tourist you see in the Summer and Autumn months. During the summer months flowers burst into bloom and leaves cover the mountains as the Great Wall meanderings its way through the lush undergrowth like a silver dragon. During the Autumn months the mountains become a patch work or oranges, gold's, browns and amber creating some stunning views. Another bonus is the weather as you can escape the heat of the summer while avoiding the cold of the winter. During the winter the mountains and even the wall itself becomes covered in snow making for a very pretty scene. On the downside the weather will be cold but you will have fewer people to share the wall with. With the Great Wall just a number of amazing sights to see in China a tour of the country will probably be your best option. This way you will be able to take in the awe inspiring sight of the wall as well as many of the other highlight this fascinating country has to offer.

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Tourists Attractions of China

If you have never been to China then you can count on being surprised by all the tourists attractions you can find in China. You should know that there are a lot of wonderful tourists attractions in China so we highly recommend you visiting China sometime in your life. Within this article we are going to tell you some information on the tourists attractions of China. If you are debating on going to China then this is the right article to read. If you are interested in History then you may want to go to China to see The Great Wall. When you get a chance to be up close to The Great Wall you will say it is like viewing a colossal dragon. The truth is that The Great Wall of China seems to be the most appealing attraction to many individuals. This is mainly because of its historical importance and how it is built. You will find The Great Wall of China north-east of Beijing in Simatai. You may not believe it but in the Forbidden City there is a Palace Museum that has 9999 buildings inside it. To many people throughout the world the Palace Museum is really amazing. When you go to China you will become spellbound by all of their tourist attractions. You will find a lot of neatly decorated rooms. A regal hall that can be found in a city called Kaifeng has a Dragon Pavilion and it is also a nice tourist attraction of China. They built this dragon on a pretty high marble terrace that was thirteen meters high. Also if you are interested in History you should consider visiting Beijing, China. Beijing just so happens to be the capital of China and it has a 3,000 year history. Five rivers are going through Beijing and many individuals like to look over these rivers because they are very peaceful. In Beijing you are going to find a lot of entertainment. If you like museums then you can count on running into some museums in Beijing. If you have a family and you want to go to a park then you can find a park in Beijing. It seems like Beijing has it all. In Beijing you are going to find stores that are up to date. You will also find a Traditional Medicine shop that first came about in the year 1669. If you like opera performances then you can even go to those in Beijing. If you take a eight hour train from Beijing you will come into Datong, China. In Datong you will find your fair share of Buddhist statues. If you are into Buddhist statues then in Datong you will be able to find them in all sizes and shapes. There are over 51,000 Buddhist statues in Datong all together. This is only a couple of places that are great to visit in China, there are many many more places that are great in China.

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Hong Kong Hotels – Where to Stay in Kowloon

Hong Kong hotels are some of the most expensive accommodations in Asia. But that doesn't mean you won't find any budget or affordable hotels at all. For the most hotel choices for a traveler on a budget or just anyone looking for a decent place to stay without breaking the bank, head for the Kowloon peninsula in Hong Kong. The Kowloon peninsula is Hong Kong island's gateway to mainland China. There is an efficient and affordable train system running up and down Kowloon with stations positioned throughout the popular districts in the area. You can easily travel back and forth to each other by Hong Kong's classic and iconic ferry boats across the Hong Kong Harbour or by train through a tunnel beneath the harbour. By staying in a hotel in Kowloon you will be in a strategic location for the best shopping, eating and nightlife with ways to easily explore all parts of Hong Kong. And by staying in Kowloon you'll have plenty of accommodation choices to choose from as well. But here's a warning in advance. Most hotel rooms in Hong Kong are small and most cases it doesn't matter whether you are staying at a 5 star hotel or a cheap place. The best place to stay in Kowloon is close to a major avenue called Nathan road which runs through several popular districts called Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), Mongkok, Jordan and Yau Ma Tei. Nathan road is also referred to as the "Golden Mile" that will dazzle you with it's sights, sounds and smells. Much like Broadway in New York City, Nathan road is the spine of Kowloon and when you find it you'll never get lost. One of the best budget to affordable hotel in Kowloon is the BP International Hotel located in shopper's paradise district of Tsim Sha Tsui. It is run by the Hong Kong Chapter of the Boy's Scouts association and offers guests clean rooms and good service. The BP is located right on the northern tip of Kowloon Park right next to Nathan road. Since the hotel is 25 floors high you can get a really good view of the city, park and hotel. A room at BP will set you back around HK$650 (low season room rate). The room rate does not include breakfast though, however there are many affordable places to eat nearby, even a McDonald's restaurant. Another budget hotel worth looking at is located a bit further up in Mongkok district. It's called the Largos Hotel. Just like the BP the rooms are small but comfortable and good for a night's rest. Rooms here cost around HK$600 (low season rate) and is a good option close to the Mongkok train station and the ever popular street markets stalls open every night nearby. Now if room space is a big concern and you have a serious case of claustrophobia yet can afford to spend just a bit more then the Prudential Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui district should be your first choice. The Prudential is one of those rare hotels with big rooms and bathrooms. A superior room can fit two twin beds, a large desk and a lounge couch. All for HK$900 per night. And it's also in a convenient location with a train station entrance below the hotel with plenty of places to eat and shop within walking distance. Even though hotels in Hong Kong are considered expensive they are still booked full most of the time, especially during the low season. And it's a good idea to not visit during October (the conventions in town) and February (Chinese New Year's). Room rates during those time can double and even triple in price.

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Workshop at ITB: The New Chinese Tourists. The Second Wave of China’s Outbound Tourism

ITB Convention, Workshops. Thursday, March 8, Room Regensburg. Only 45 seats available. Please register with info@china-outbound.com to secure a seat before March 5th, 2012 Workshop conducted in English Participation is free of charge, but participants need valid entry ticket for ITB Time: 14.15 – 16.00 The Second Wave of China's Outbound Tourism Best practice example and individual tips on how to tap into the vast Chinese tourism market presented by China tourism experts Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, Director, COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, Vice Dean, Faculty of Economics, West Coast University of Applied Science Mr. Thorsten Lind, Managing Director, Global Blue Germany Mr. Victor Xu Shengli, Owner, Travelcode Solutions, former head of GNTB China Jens Thraenhart, Co-Founder & President, DragonTrail.com & ChinaTravelTrends.com

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Top Ten China Travel Experiences

China is a fantastic country to travel. There's quite simply a huge abundance of things to see and do during your China trip. With all its ancient history and Asian culture it's a travellers dream. Get you cameras at the ready as you won't take your finger of the trigger throughout your China travel experience. Now this list could go on forever but if I had to choose, here would be my top ten travel experiences in China. The Great Wall of China- This has to be number one really – an essential ingredient of any China trip. It's one of China's most iconic landmarks and it defiantly does not disappoint. One of my all-time best China travel moments was sitting on the edge of the Wall watching the sun set in to the mountains in the distance. Star gazing at Labrang Monastery in Xiahe – The skies in Xiahe are truly spectacular as you can see millions of stars. Looking out for a shooting star as the monks chant with wafts of insence in the air is altogether a great China travel experience. The Karst Mountains in Yangshuo- Scenery doesn't get much better than this. Towering limestone formations dominate the landscape and create one of China's most beautiful locations. This is something that you definitely don't want to miss out on during your China trip. Hong Kong's Skyline- One of the best that I've seen from my travel in China. The city even puts New York to shame with the amount if skyscraper's on offer. The view point at Victoria Peak is defiantly a must to really appreciate the beauty of the metropolis. Head up just before it gets dark and watch the city light up as the sun goes down – a magical China travel highlight. The Sera Monastery in Lhasa- Not necessarily the top attraction is Lhasa which is why it's one of the best. Nestled away from the normal tourist route the original structures of the Sera Monastery date back to 1419 with halls decorated by beautiful scriptures written in powdered gold. Be sure to arrive before 3pm to watch the afternoon debating session between the crowds of monks, a really quirky experience that you won't find anywhere else during your Tibet and China trip. Camping in the Ganya Grasslands - Camping in the surrounding areas of Xiahe was a brilliant experience and one that I would not normally think of to do during a China trip. Rolling green hills and blooming flowers all topped off with a few grazing Yak. Nature at its best. The "Impressions" Light Show in Yangshuo- "Impressions" was directed by Zhang Yimou who also created the Beijing opening ceremony. The show is set on the Li River itself with the Karst Mountains as the backdrop – a magical China travel experience. Expect spectacular music and a stunning light show. Wangfujing Snack Street in Beijing -If you're feeling hungry and a little adventurous take a walk down Wangfujing snack street and see what the Chinese like to tuck in to instead of a bag of peanuts. Scorpions, star fish, seahorses and giant beetles are all on offer with a side of chilli sauce! This is a China travel experience that you won't forget in a hurry! Hiking the Dragon's Bone rice terraces in Ping'an - Defiantly a place to get that postcard photograph. You'll climb and descend through marvellous scenic areas where the staggered terraces shatter off in to the distance. The best time to visit is from December to April as the terraces are filled with water which creates amazing reflections on a still morning. Shanghai and the Bund- China's biggest and most prosperous city oozes atmosphere with stunning colonial architecture and dusty ancient temples tucked between futuristic sky scrapers. It's a great place to begin or end your China trip.

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South Sea Pearl and Leizhou City in China

South sea pearls come from Leizhou City in China is famous far and near. Leizhou city is located at the middle of the Leizhou Peninsula. There is an abundance of the ocean resource, which has many different kind of fish, prawn, snail, and shell, clam shell and so on. Pearl is one of the ocean precious products. The development of Leizhou's pearl goes back to Han Dynasty. With the social development and the advance of technology Leizhou people began to culture pearls to instead of the traditional collection, including south sea pearl, freshwater pearl. Under the assistance of the scientists of South China Sea Institute, the success of the artificial incubation on pearls advanced the development of the pearl culture. After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the pearl culture got a fast development. Collective culture, union culture and personal culture come over popular. The culture site increased from 16 to more than 600 during 1985 to 1988. At the end of last century, it was surprise at the development of pearl culture in Leizhou city. In 1990 the cultured pearl was total 2550 kilogram, which was 65% in the nationwide output. In 1992 the culture site increased to around 3000, located everywhere in Leizhou city. The total output was also increased by 75.30%. In 1993 the total output of Leizhou city was nearly two thirds in nationwide output. The Pearl Village, Liusha, has around 2541 culture site and culture area over 2300 mu. Its total output can be half of the nationwide output, which also increases the income of the people there. The pearls from Liusha are high quality and well sold all over the world. Along the quick development of the culture pearl, the pearl craftwork industry also develope quickly. Now there is around 25 shell pearl factory and around 56 pearl jewelry factory on pearl necklace, pearl bracelet, pearl earrings and so on. Those products well sale to many countries and districts such as Hongkong, Japan, America, England, Egypt, Southeast of Asia and so on. Due to the best location of Leizhou Peninsula, rich ocean resource, definite instruction of Chinese Communist Party, Leizhou people adjust measures to location to collect pearls, culture pearls, process pearls, sale pearls, which finally makes the South sea pearl and Chinese pearl famous all over the world.

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Shanghai's best museums

Shanghai sometimes gets dismissed as a shallow city, a vortex of shopping, snacking and spending, but rewarding cultural explorations do exist in China's commercial center. Here are six of Shanghai's best museums to add to your travel itinerary, from a comprehensive state-run establishment to a hidden-in-the-basement private institute. 1. Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆) Visitors might be tempted to avoid the Shanghai Museum, the city's most official temple to Chinese culture. For starters, it's ugly -- the 1990s construction on People's Square looks like a massive bathroom sink. Get over that first impression and you'll find treasures inside. One highlight is the ceramics collection and its Tang Dynasty (618-907) tomb guardians, including a ferocious beast that seems part dragon, tiger, horse and goat. The museum houses galleries for paintings, ancient bronzes, jade sculptures and calligraphy. Upstairs is an arresting parade of embroidered costumes crafted by the country's ethnic minorities, as well as painted Tibetan ceremonial masks covered with skulls and feathers. Admission is free, so you can hit only the galleries that interest you without feeling compelled to spend hours getting your money's worth. Shanghai Museum, 201 Renmin Da Dao, near Huangpi Bei Lu 人民大道201号, 近黄陂北路, +86 21 6372 3500, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., entry: free, www.shanghaimuseum.net 2. Shanghai Science & Technology Museum (上海科技馆) Children will adore the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum in Pudong, which features nifty robots, IMAX films and stuffed tigers pouncing on prey. The four-story complex also houses a faux rain forest and jungle gyms. What's not to love? The museum is designed to make science seem fun and welcoming. One exhibit features a robot that can solve Rubik's cube in less than a minute. Another robot challenges visitors to an archery contest, and still another paints visitors' portraits. For preschoolers, a gallery called Children's Rainbow Land offers slides, jungle gyms and crawling tunnels. It's not all that scientific, but it's a colorful space for kids to run around in on a rainy day. Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, 2000 Shiji Da Dao, near Jinxiu Lu 世纪大道2000号, 近锦绣路, +86 21 6862 2000, Tuesday-Sunday: 9a.m.-5:15 p.m., www.sstm.org.cn Entry: RMB 60 for adults. Children under 1.3 meters free, otherwise RMB 45. 3. Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre (上海宣传画艺术中心) For fans of Chinese history and underground culture, the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre fits the bill. The collection is housed in a basement in an apartment block, and the gallery ceilings are covered with cracks and spider webs. The tiny museum offers a glimpse into the kitschy Cultural Revolution aesthetic, which foreign visitors find fascinating but the forward-looking contemporary China prefers to brush off. The posters are filled with ruddy-faced peasants, joyful soldiers and chubby children. Naturally, Chairman Mao's apple-cheeked face gazes down from every wall. Some of the most fascinating posters decry U.S. involvement in the region during the Korean War. One 1951 print shows a Chinese soldier stepping on a green-faced, devilish-looking G.I. Exhibits do a good job of explaining the evolution of propaganda over time -- including the 1979 move to abolish and destroy the posters, which explains why originals are hard to find today. The gift shop sells original as well as duplicate souvenirs, including posters, maps and Cultural Revolution music records. Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre, Room BOC, 868 Huashan Lu, near Wukang Lu 华山路868号总统公寓BOC室, +86 21 6211 1845, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., entry: RMB 20, www.shanghaipropagandaart.com 4. Shanghai Municipal History Museum (上海城市历史发展陈列馆) The Shanghai Municipal History Museum is a maze of Old Shanghai scenes peopled with life-size wax dummies. It sounds dated and a bit creepy, and it is. But it's also surprisingly informative and evocative. The museum resurrects a lost world where newsboys and nuns roamed the streets, where silk-clad drug addicts lounged on opium beds and where old men trained crickets for fighting. The museum is housed in the basement of the Oriental Pearl Tower, the iconic skyscraper that looks like it swallowed a few giant golf balls. After touring the Shanghai of yore downstairs, visitors can take the elevator up the tower to see modern Shanghai's futuristic skyline. Oriental Pearl Tower, 1 Shiji Da Dao, near Fenghe Lu 世纪大道1号, 近丰和路, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., entry: RMB 35, www.opg.cn 5. Shanghai Museum of Glass (上海玻璃博物馆) Be forewarned -- the Shanghai Museum of Glass is in a run-down industrial neighborhood some way out of the center. But for architecture fans, it's worth the trip. The 6,250-square-meter museum, which opened last year in a former glass factory, is a maze of glittering windows, flashy LED screens and translucent floors. The downside is that the dazzling architecture and museography overshadow the collections themselves, with their antique glass bead necklaces and snuff bottles. Other exhibits focus on science and innovation, in prisms, fiberglass and bulletproof glass. Kids will enjoy the glass-blowing demonstrations in a warehouse behind the museum, and the museum's airy café is a trendy setting for sipping a coffee. The space is also a quiet respite from Shanghai's noise and crowds. Visitors are sometimes outnumbered by the cleaners busily wiping down all the shiny windows and display cases. The best way to reach the museum is to take Metro Line 1 to Tonghe Xincun (通河新村) or Metro Line 3 to Changjiang Nan Lu (长江南路) take a 10-minute taxi ride (around RMB 15). A taxi ride directly from the city center costs about RMB 60 and will take around 45 minutes. Shanghai Museum of Glass, 685 Changjiang Xi Lu, near Jiangyang Nan Lu 长江西路685号, 近江杨南路, +86 21 6618 1970, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., entry: RMB 20, en.shmog.org 6. Shikumen Open House Museum (屋里厢博物馆) The Shikumen Open House provides a nostalgic vision of historic Shanghai. A stop here is a respite from the skyscrapers that are relentlessly replacing Shanghai's shikumens, the historic brick family residences with stone gates. Located in Xintiandi, the three-story museum is the place to go if you're a fan of 1930s Shanghai decor. It recreates a traditional family home, with cozy displays of club chairs, worn leather suitcases, painted fans, enameled compacts of ladies' face powder, wicker baskets, retro film magazines and old wedding photos. Popping into the museum for half an hour will make you feel less guilty about whiling away an afternoon in an aseptic shopping district frequented by tourists, expats and wealthy locals. Shikumen Open House Museum, No. 25, Lane 181, Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu 太仓路181弄25号, 近马当路, +86 21 3307 0337, Sunday-Thursday: 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., entry: RMB 20 per adult, RMB 10 per child, www.xintiandi.com

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Doing Business in China – 10 Tips For Good Etiquette

It's easy enough to get a passport and a visa for a business trip to China (even a last-minute rush passport for an important business meeting). But how do you go about doing business when in the country? China has a very different business culture to the United States, and you don't want to ruin a business opportunity by making a gaff. Here are 10 tips for good business etiquette on a trip to China.

1. Dress Conservatively
How you dress is very important in China. For men that means dressing formally during meetings and also at less-formal events. For women it means avoiding anything that is too revealing, and steering clear of high heels. Conservative is the best option, and try not to wear anything too loud.

2. Choose Gifts Carefully
The giving of gifts is an important part of the business process in China. Make sure you take a gift to present to your host, but be careful what you give: some items, such as clocks and handkerchiefs, are associated with death. A good option is a gift that represents your home region.

3. Be Punctual
Punctuality is hugely important to the Chinese, and is seen as a sign of respect. Arrive on time or earlier if possible to any engagements.

4. Limit your Gestures
Do not use too many hand gestures during meetings as this is off-putting to the Chinese. Physical contact should essentially be avoided most of the time, especially between men and women.

5. Don't Finish your Meal
When you go for a meal with your business associates, make sure that you leave a bit on your plate at the end rather than trying to finish everything. If you finish your meal your host will think that you are still hungry.

6. Be Careful with Tipping
Although tipping is very common in the United States, it is sometimes considered an insult in China. Be very careful who you tip and always ask if you are in doubt.

7. Follow your Host when Shaking Hands
Handshaking is not the normal greeting in China, and often a simple nod is the preferred gesture. However, many Chinese will now offer their hands to Westerners. The best advice is to wait until your host offers their hand first.

8. Follow Business Card Procedure
Carry a case for business cards, and don't write on one or put it straight into your pocket. Upon receiving a business card, read it carefully as a sign of respect.

9. Address your Host Correctly
A Chinese host is normally called by their family name, which comes first when written down. The best thing to do is find out in advance how they like to be addressed and stick to that. Also, don't expect them to call you by your first name: formality is a sign of respect.

10. Keep your Cool
Above all, never let your emotions get the better of you. Try not to allow yourself to get angry or frustrated as it is seen as important to stay in control at all times.

Get a Passport and Chinese Visa for your Trip
Now you know a bit more about doing business in China, all you have to do is sort out your passport and chinese visa for your trip.

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tools to help you unleash your potential

If you want to develop new ideas that WPF components are what you need to make your dream a reality. The unlimited potential of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), architecture can help you see your visions come to life in countless applications. The interface is the backbone of Windows-based applications, giving you a platform that connects you to the world. Implementation graph can now be taken to a new level with seamless transitions in three dimensions, grids, menus and transformations. The world of data visualization is on the verge of revolution and WPF tools are the key to your future.

What you need is decent-based developer tools to help you unleash your potential. A wide variety of WPF controls are available for your needs. By making 3D effects to deliver vector graphics without losing the controls could help you trace your world. Now you can back up your claims with impressive styling tools table. Photos, videos and audios can all come to life with appropriate controls, making people live in your mind. If you create the right interface, you can give each application a breath of new life.

By focusing on WPF is not to add some high technical specifications to an existing system. It was created to help people move towards the future. You can shape your destiny with these virtual tools, which dictates the very things you see. As you go beyond the data links, panels and hyper text boxes, you are transported into a world of creations. It's a world where every user can modify, adapt and reproduce according to their choice.

People share their world through the web, forums and social networks. Now you can participate in a rich visual experience that would change the text alerts slice of life experiences. With development tools, you can create new opportunities to share special moments with animations, images and audio. These tools can help unite people in all stages of their life using a desktop integrated, portable and mobile computing.

The applications are endless to create magic with these tools and platforms to your fingertips. Most simple concept, share and connect can be transformed into a virtual community center. You can sleep in the other worlds, streamlining the user experience of real life. If you use components to create new Silverlight-based user interfaces, you can give programs a whole new identity. Every day could add new dimensions and elements of modern computers that users can customize the software to create virtual links. It would be like real life, only better.

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Transportation In China

Since the founding of the PRC in 1949, great efforts have been made by the Chinese government to establish a comprehensive transport system comprising civil aviation, railways, highways, and water transport. By the end of 1999, there were in total over 3.55 million km transportation lines throughout China.

Apart from the economic factors, traveling by air is the probably the first choice of most travelers.

During the reformation, China made great efforts to build and expand airports. By the end of the 1999, more than 140 airports had been opened to civil aircraft. Over 80 of these can accommodate large airplanes such as Boeing 777s, 767s, 757s, 747s and A340s. Over 750 domestic, 128 international and 21 regional air routes have been set up, which in total cover a distance of some 1.522 million km.

With Beijing as the hub, domestic airlines criss-cross the whole country linking 136 cities. The international airlines link 58 cities, including Bangkok, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Jakarta, Karachi, London, Los Angeles, Milan, Moscow, Nagoya, New York, Paris, Singapore, Tashkent, Tokyo and Vienna in 39 countries and regions.

China's civil aviation has justifiably won universal praise. The entire staff has been trained according to international standards. The majority of the aircraft fleet has been imported from the U.S., Britain and Russia. There is no language barrier aboard the planes since all staff can speak fluent English and flight announcements are made in English as well as Mandarin.

In major cities in China, plane ticket booking is available via a computer network or the Internet. Plane ticket booking is available at all civil aviation ticketing offices, travel agencies and hotels. Airport tax is required for domestic flights and international flights.

Interurban

Overland buses are the most important means of transport in many parts of China, especially where there is no railway line. By 1999, over 1.352 million km highway has been put into use. The overall length of expressways has reached 9,083 km. Now, all counties, towns and townships are easily accessible by road.

Bus is the cheapest means of transport, but also is correspondingly slow. Long distance buses can be divided into soft-seat and soft-sleeper buses. Some are equipped with TV, air conditioning and a toilet. Compared with the train, travel by bus is more flexible as there are regular breaks during the journeys.

Seats on the bus are numbered, so it is advisable to book a ticket and seat well in advance. The booking could be made through the travel agencies and hotels.

City Buses

All China's major cities have good transport networks. As well as public buses, there are the tour buses, mini buses, and taxis.

Buses in Chinese towns are always crowded. The fare depends on distance, and is payable to the conductor.

A taxi is often the most convenient means of travel in the city. They are available at airports, railway stations and hotels and can be flagged down in urban areas. The total fare depends on the starting meter price, which can range from 5 to 12 yuan, and the distance. Extra fees are charged for waiting and low speed driving during traffic jams. If you take a taxi after 23:00 pm, a 20 percent surcharge applies over and above the basic fare.

The minibus is a compromise between the relatively expensive taxis and crowded public transport. Charges are a little more than on the bus, about 2 yuan or more depending on distance, but it is very convenient for it can stop at any point you want along the route.

Tour buses are managed by travel agencies, hotels and airports and are provided for short tours. They are normally equipped with air conditioning and TV. A tour guide is usually present on such buses.

Trains

The rail network forms the backbone of the Chinese transport system and serves most of cities. Visitors can explore much of China by train and many find it an efficient and inexpensive means of travel. The cost is around 25 percent less than comparable air services.

There is now a total of 57,900 km of railway track in China. This makes Chinese rail rank first in Asia. Double track railways cover 20,935 km, while electrified lines cover some 13,629 km. The railway traverses the whole country. Beijing is the hub of the north-south lines while the west-east line centre is at Zhengzhou.

Chinese trains differ from those in other countries as the seating is not separated into first and second class areas. In China, the accommodation on the trains is divided into four categories, namely, soft-sleeper, soft-seat, hard-sleeper and hard-seat.

Hard Seats: Contrary to what the name implies, the seats are upholstered. These are the less expensive seats. These seats tend to be crowded and are not always very clean.

Soft Seats: These seats cost rather more but are very comfortable, with plenty of leg room. The carriages are less crowded than the hard-seat carriages.

Hard Sleeper: The hard-sleeper carriage is made up of door-less compartments. Each one contains six beds in three tiers. Sheets, pillows and blankets are provided and it somewhat resembles a budget hotel. Comparing with the soft-sleeper, hard-sleeper is less comfortable and accordingly, the price is lower than that of the soft-sleeper. Competition for hard-sleepers has become keen in recent years, so if you get one, you are very lucky.

Soft-sleeper: The soft-sleeper carriages are divided into separate compartments and each compartment has two lower and two upper berths. Sheets and blankets are provided and are generally of good standard. Western style washrooms and toilets are located at both ends of the compartment. Soft sleeper costs twice as much as hard sleeper and almost the same price as flying. Therefore, soft sleeper tickets are more easily available.

There are washrooms on the trains. The toilets, irrespective of class, are not usually very hygienic and it is a good idea to bring your own toilet paper! Boiled water is available on trains and dining cars on long distance routes only.

Reservations should be made in advance, especially during the holidays and travel season. Tickets may be purchased directly from rail stations or booked a few days in advance from your travel agencies, hotels, or ticket office.

Waterways

Another method of travel in China is via the waterways. Navigable inland waterways in China total 111,000 kilometers and there are some 5,000 berths in the harbors, of which over 1000 are 10,000 ton class berths. The major inland navigable rivers in China include the Yangtze River, the Pearl River, the Heilongjiang, the Huaihe, the Qiantang, the Minjiang and the Huangpu, as well as the Grand Canal.

The Yangtze River, known as the golden waterway of China's inland river transport, has 6,000 kilometers navigable throughout the year. The annual water transits of both freight and passengers account for over 70 percent of China's total capacity.

Ocean shipping in China is divided into two major navigation zones: the northern and the southern zones. Shanghai and Dalian are the main ports in the northern zone, and Guangzhou in the southern zone.

Today, there are more than twenty major coastal harbors in China. Shanghai Harbor ranks among the 10 largest in the world, with an annual capacity of over 100 million tons. Nanjing Harbor, with an annual capacity of 40 million tons, is China's largest river harbor.

The following inland waterway tourist attractions are highly recommended:

Yangtze River Cruise
Voyage on this route, mainly from Chongqing to Yichang and Yichang to Wuhan, provides a grand view of the Yangtze River. A special feature is the magnificent view of the Three Gorges.

Grand Canal Cruise
Suzhou and Hangzhou are connected by the Grand Canal, a voyage totaling 146.6 km. Feast your eyes on the enthralling waterside village scenery, typical of the areas south of the Yangtze River as you sail along this route. In Nanjing, Wuxi or Yangzhou, dragon boats and pleasure boats provide for cruises on the Grand Canal - Yangtze River - Taihu Lake Tour. These cruises impart in full the flavor of Chinese poetry and painting. Tourists have the opportunity to enjoy good food while appreciating the surrounding scenery.

Li River Cruise
Surrounded by rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves and groves of bamboo, the Li River, with its fleets of leisure boats, is the largest and most beautiful scenic area in China. The 83 km long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo - the spirit of Li River, is often called the hundred-mile gallery. Cruising along the Li River, one gets to enjoy both the stunning and unique scenery, and a galaxy of historical ports

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