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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travel tours to china

So you've decided to go on a tour to China, but now how can you choose a tour guide? China is a vast country with a huge number of tour companies and independent tour guides. It's important to pick somebody that's knowledgeable of their area, is trustworthy, and for most tourists, it's important to pick somebody affordable. Ask the tour guide how long they will work in a day. It isn't uncommon for the tourist to forget that the tour guide also has a life to live. If you expect them to be with you all day, you better be sure that they have agreed to that.

Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, is one of the largest and most prosperous cities in southern China. Situated between the Baiyun Hill in the north and the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Delta Plain in the south. The city is 125 kilometers northwest of Hong Kong on the Pearl River. As a tourist spot, China offers a limitless variety of spectacular scenery and historical wonders. Generally May, September and October are ideal for touring anywhere in the country. During June to August, travelers often visit central and northern China, as rainfall is likely to occur in southern China during this time. Moreover October is ideal to travel anywhere and any region in the country.

The terracotta army of Xian, Buddhist caves, temples of Tibet, Great Wall of China, the ancient places of Beijing and Shanghai are some of the most popular attractions in China. There are over 13000 travel agencies offering adventure tours in mountains and rivers in the different provinces of China. If you are looking for Chinese Kong fu excursions, Shaolin, the legendary name always comes into your mind first. Shaolin temple in Dengfeng, Henan province is considered as the origin of Chinese martial art, Kong fu and the Zen Buddhism movement. This article presents my unforgettable Chinese Kong fu tour. It's more than a tour.

Many travelers prefer to travel to China taking advantage of various tours special that can be found at any travel agency and on the Internet. But for those who know where they want to go and what they want to see, a customized tour is the way to go. Travel agencies can customize their tour packages according to your requirements and tastes. A good agency will offer you tailor-made programs taking you wherever you want to go and provide you with options to participate in activities of your choice. Travelers along this legendary route can also have opportunities to experience the unique local cultures. If your tour starts from Xian heading for Urumqi and Kashgar, you will see the gradual transition from Buddhist culture to Islamic culture. Urgur people are known for their hospitality and they are always quick to invite you into their home and serve you homemade food, and the fresh local fruits. Nearly every Urgur people can sing and dance. Dancing is an integral part of every Urgur people life. Urgur people sing and dance for nearly every event: weddings, funerals, gatherings, and just for fun.

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Beijing's best shopping areas

Since founding a namesake hat brand in 2007, Elisabeth Koch's designs have decorated the heads of A-listers and the pages of international fashion magazines. The Beijing-based Dutch designer is also an obsessive scourer of far-flung markets and back-street boutiques in China's capital. After calling on various Beijing shops and markets for four years, Koch, 33, shares six of her favorite shopping areas in the spread-out city. 1. Nali Patio (那里花园) "There's nowhere else quite like it in Beijing," raves Koch about this melting pot of design talent squeezed into a whitewashed arcade in Sanlitun. "I love Dim-Sum of All Things Asian (D-SATA) for sustainable handbags and stylish clutches, " says Koch, "and Paloma Sanchez for amazingly original handmade jewelry -- she gets her stones from all over the world." For high-end couture, Elisabeth recommends Elysee Yang. "She studied clothing design in Paris and her clothes are really top-notch, definitely worth a look if you have a party or wedding to go to." On the third floor, boutique Lu12.28 sells unique, chic clothing by Chinese born, New York-educated designer Liu Lu (刘璐). "Oh, and my hats are stocked there too." Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区三里屯路81号. Most shops open from noon to about 9 p.m. 2. Yashow Market (雅秀服装市场中心) Out-of-towners flock to this indoor market to cram cases with counterfeit couture -- but there's more to Yashow than cheap Chanel, insists Koch. "I shop mostly for children's clothes, bits and pieces for hats, party items like balloons, candles and paper plates, but they have everything -- watches, pearls, jewelry, cuff-links, tailors shops, belts, suitcases, toys, sports equipment, cameras, phones." Koch's a regular at the no-frills manicure and pedicure stalls, like Lily Nails on the fourth floor. "It's great for people watching; you sit in a row getting a face massage or your toenails clipped in view of other shoppers," adds Koch. "Lots of men go there too." Yashow Market, 58 Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区工体北路58号, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., www.yashowmarket.com 3. Gulou neighborhood (鼓楼) Best known for Nanluogu Xiang, a well-worn alley of boutiques, cafes, dive bars and souvenir shops, this historic corner of central Beijing is a hot-bed of hipster retail. From designer T-shirts to bespoke leather ware, there's much to discover; Elisabeth says the side streets throw up the most interesting finds. "When you're shopped-out, seek out Black Sesame Kitchen, a tiny cooking school and restaurant where they show you how to cook great home-style Chinese food." Gulou Dongdajie to the north is lined with retro fashion stores like Tiger Vintage (No. 62 Dongdajie) and Mega Mega Vintage (No. 241 Dongdajie), which also stocks bespoke Elisabeth Koch designs. Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District 东城区鼓楼东大街 4. Sanlitun Village (三里屯Village) The Village didn't exist when Koch first came to Beijing four years ago. "I used to cycle by the construction site every day, and when it finally opened -- bliss." The southern half of this Hong Kong-designed open-plan mall is the haunt of high street brands like Mango, Reiss, Lacoste, Nike, Starbucks and the Apple store, and some of Beijing's best Western dining. The newer, northern half is more high-end. "I love to roam shops like Alexander McQueen, Maison Martin Margiella and Balenciaga so I can stay on top of the latest collections." After a hard day's pavement pounding, Elisabeth is all about wellness, courtesy of The Village's Opposite House hotel. "Kocoon Spa is the perfect wind down, and they have really unique programs like reiki sharing and crystal workshops." Sanlitun Village, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区三里屯路19号, +86 10 6417 6110, 9 a.m.-11 p.m., www.sanlitunvillage.com 5. Lady Street Market (女人街) "I like this market because it's perfectly un-touristy," says Koch, who comes here mostly for its warehouse full of exotic flowers and plants, steamy warm even in winter. "Whenever I explore it's like I'm suddenly on a golf floor, and then a floor full of random things made out of porcelain." Koch admits she never quite knows what she's looking for until she sees it. "Recently I bought a giant butterfly made out of plastic and paper and turned it into a hat. And at one point, I found a taxidermist stall of stuffed birds -- I hoped this could help me with feathers for my hats, but when I returned a week later it had vanished." Lady Street Market, Tianze Lu, Liangmaqiao, Chaoyang District, 朝阳区亮马桥天泽路, +86 10 6462 3377, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 6. Muxiyuan Fabric Market (木樨园纺织品市场) "Don't wear your nice shoes" is Elisabeth's advice if you're thinking of braving this chaotic, rough-and-ready outdoor market by the city's south third ring road. But whilst most come to reupholster furniture or make curtains, Elisabeth scouts for design inspiration. "I've spent long day browsing endless stalls of tartan-row, cotton-area, sequins, zippers, wool, silks, leather, ribbons, elastics, labels, you name it, even a whole department just for buttons." Elisabeth regularly takes friends and other designers here to show them around. "My favorite stall sells just one item -- a top quality brand of ribbon I use to line the inside of my hats." Dahongmen Lu (south of Muxiyuan long-distance bus station), south of Muxiyuan Qiao on South Third Ring Road, Fengtai District 丰台区大红门路木樨园长途汽车站以南, 6 a.m.-5 p.m.

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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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a lot of activities to participate

For this experiment the national park to the beach, as you've never seen a family vacation in Colorado, do not let anything better than that. Visitors can glide, sled, roller or slide down the sand dunes. Need I say more? That children, adults or young goat, is not willing to play here? This is actually a playground for the whole family, however, this activity is the dunes, rivers, lakes, mountains, causing more adventurous. Do not forget your sunscreen and sandals sand Spyder jacket can be very hot. In both children take a great shade umbrella and plenty of cold water against the attack dehydration. Enjoy! Although there are many wonderful family vacation in Colorado, is to ensure that your child smile and happy to leave.

According to the time of year a lot of activities to participate. During the summer, outdoor concerts, and drama. Christmas, snow shoes, to offer a ride to the tray. September is the peak time for Highland Festival in Ireland. This is an event so that everyone can play, relax, and experience new Spyder ski. Everywhere, always, true, hammer throw Scottish music rides. Amazing, the food, potatoes, corn, fresh corn on the cob dipped in butter for beginners. Take your camera and rain jacket (rain, probably in this time of year) and taste the experience of others.

Swimming pool, natural hot springs, this is high on my list of family vacations in Colorado, you can reset and ready to return to their everyday pressures. The pool has three blocks of the city, like a water slide, big and small issues swimming pool, has been a higher temperature. If you plan to spend more than a day, you might want to stay here, because they offer accommodation in hotel hot springs wear rates of family ski Spyder budes another leisure swimming pool in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, which makes the holiday perfect family is its location between the mountains and caves and innovation. There is a tourist cave, and a hole in the steam can enjoy the natural spa.

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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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Forbidden City Gets New Face

BEIJING, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The Palace Museum, also well known as the Forbidden City, is taking major steps to repair its image after a series of scandals last year, said its new curator. One move will be to increase the amount of space open to the public from 46 percent to 76 percent, said Shan Jixiang at a news conference on Tuesday. "The Palace Museum is like an encyclopedia," said Shan, who was the former director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage prior to taking up his appointment as curator a month ago. "Managing it is a new challenge for my skills." Led by the former curator Zheng Xinmiao, the museum has made significant progress in many ways, such as architectural repairs and scientific research, Shan said. In the past seven years, a census of museum-owned relics and artifacts has been completed, of which up to 1.8 million items can now be cross-referenced with detailed documentation. In 2011, more than 14.2 million visited the museum, setting a world record. This was twice the amount of visitors in 2002 and is estimated to increase by 10 percent this year. "Catering to the demands of so many visitors is quite a challenge for the Palace Museum, especially when the visitation patterns vary so much in respect to time and place," Shan said. The daily number of visitors during the May Day holiday, National Day holiday and summer vacation period usually rises to 80,000 on average, twice the amount of other days. And most visitors tend to congregate around the c entral axis of the palace, putting pressure on this area. To improve the situation, more areas will be opened up to the public as repairs are completed. The distribution of exhibits and viewing access for streams of visitors will also be rearranged. Meanwhile, commercial stands and temporary exhibitions at the Duanmen Gate area have been removed and up to 28 ticket boxes will be set up to prevent crowded queues. Facilities for wheelchairs and baby carriages will also be introduced. Commenting on last year's scandals, Shan confirmed that the Jianfu Palace garden will not become a private club, but will be used for small-scale exhibitions, seminars and news conferences. The 13 research institutions that are based in the museum will also be relocated off site before 2016, he added. Places such as the Yuhua Pavilions and Juanqin House, which are in too fragile a state to be opened, are to feature photographic and technical p resentations online. Shan stressed that safety and security are the most important matters requiring attention. "Safety will always be the absolute priority," said the 58-year-old new curator. "The public has the right to know, to participate and to benefit, so we welcome criticism and supervision from the public," Shan said. Source: Xinhua By Zhang Zixuan

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The Ancient Town of Lijiang, Yunnan – A Forgotten Kingdom

Lijiang, a mystical and idyllic ancient city in the northwest of Yunnan Province, surrounded by the verdant mountains, woven by watercourses and crossed by more than 300 bridges. It is the gateway to northwest Yunnan region, and No.214 national highway traverses the city to Tibet in the north or to Dali City in the south, capital of the autonomous prefecture.

The Ancient City of Lijiang has been famous for its typical architectures with different racial features, peculiar flagstone roads, mystic religion, hieroglyph, scripture, dance and sweet ancient music since it was built during the late years of Southern Song Dynasty and the early years of Yuan Dynasty, In addition, it also has long been known world wide for its grandiose snow-covered mountains, the steep gorge, the elegant Mt. Laojun, the clean Lugu Lake, and the colorful and various customs of the minorities. The outside world is amazed at its ancient and simple sense of "identity of Heaven and Human" and surprised by the ancestors of the minorities who built a city without a wall on the beautiful paradise of Lijiang at this southwest borderland. In December of 1997, it was registered on World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO, and this "city forgotten by gods" was unveiled to the world with its oriental mystery and glamour like a bright diamond hidden in the mountains.

Traditions of Naxi Nationality

As one of the 56 nationalities in China, the Naxi nationality is very different from the others. First, in the tradition of Naxi people, man is considered the sky whereas woman is the land. The matriarchal clan society of ancient Naxi people has lasted for a long time, and the present women of this minority are still manage the affairs both inside and outside their home, thus the peculiar custom of this ancient city where women in charge of all while men are idle.

The marital custom of the Naxi people is peculiar. Men and women don't get married. When a girl is about to fall in love with a man, she will make sheep's eyes at the man when appropriate. Then the man is allowed to spend the nights with the girl, but he must take a straw hat, a knife and a rice ball with him when he starts. The rice ball is for distracting the dog from the girl's house, the knife is used to open the bolt of the girl's room, and the straw hat is hung on the door as a mark that the girl is falling in love and cohabiting with a man. Before day break, the man must leave the girl's room.

Usually, a Naxi man can cohabit with several women in his lifetime but cannot cohabite with several women at the same time. And in the Naxi tradition, the grandmother of a family has the last word and uncles are responsible for bringing up of his sisters' children.

Mystic Dongba Culture of Naxi Nationality

Dongba culture is fairy independent and mysterious as compared to those of other minorities in China. It remained unnoticed until some Dongba scriptures were took to Europe by a French missionary Pere Desgodins and two British in mid19thcentury. Especially, in1920s, botanist Joseph Rock, an Austro-American came to Lijiang and took a massive volume of Dongba manuscripts back home to sell to the museums. This turned Dongba culture a hot subject of study in the west. Nowadays an increasing number of western scholars or enthusiasts keep on coming to explore this mystic culture.

I. Dongba Religion

Dongba religion worshipped many gods and believed that everything was animate. In its development the religion was influenced by Tibetan Bon, Buddhism, and Taoism. It didn't have a unified organization of temples, but and ample stock of written scripture and complicated ceremonies, which exerted manifold effects on the life of Naxi people.

II.Dongba Scripture

The manuscripts of Dongba scriptures were written in Dongba hieroglyph. There are so many of them that the exact number is impossible to know. Their content ranges over linguistics, literature, religion, custom, history, art, philosophy, astronomy and calendar, actually an encyclopedia of ancient Naxi people. As part of the ancient civilization of China, Dongba scripture holds great value to study.

III.Dongba Hieroglyph

It was an amazing creation of Naxi ancestors, a hieroglyph born in the 11th century. In this language, the meaning is conveyed by one or more symbols as a sentence, reading from left to right and from the upper to the lower. As an exceptionally precious heritage, it is "the only living hieroglyph still in use in the present world". Now, Donba pictograph is easily seen everywhere in the ancient city, on the shop's trade mark or brand, in calligraphy or painting, on crafts or little commodities, even on table ares.

IV.Naxi Ancient Music

This is a classic music wildly popular in Naxi Nationality and extolled as a "living fossil of Chinese music" and the "sound from paradise", one of the oldest survivors in the world. It originated from the music of Taoism about 500-600 years ago. This music has been added the play techniques of Naxi people, featured in playing all the rarely heard works in Tang (618-907A.D) and Song (960-1279A.D) dynasties, the over-100-year old music instruments which cannot find in elsewhere, and the old players who are about 70-80 in age from all walks of life. Now this old, elegant, serious, and folk-rooted music has attracted thousands upon thousands of ears to listen to.

Captivating Attractions Nearby

The Ancient City of Lijiang is girdled by a host of attractive and wondrous attractions. After experiencing the city, you should not miss the rewarding explorations below because they offer you the mind-blowing landscapes found in the world.

I. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

This mountain is 15km north of Lijiang City, a modern oceanic glacier nearest to the equator in Northern Hemisphere, and a state-level tourist site in China. This mountain has 13 peaks extending for 35km from north to south, along side the deepest gorge in the world-the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is snowcapped all the year, with grandeur and sublime. Fan Steep, its main peak, is 5,596 meters height above sea-level straight piercing the sky. The mountain is precipitous, picturesque, and peculiar, charming with the scenery sites of Yunshan Spruce Meadow, River of White Water, Ganhaizi Lake, Serac Forest, and so forth, to make the mountain a tourists' resort for sight seeing, exploration, scientific survey, or just vacation enjoyment.

II.the First Bend of Yangtze River

This famous bend formed in Shigu (Stone Drum) Township of Lijiang City when the longest river in China, Yangtze River flows by and makes a sharp turn. Standing near this bend, you can see the green hills, high mountains, beautiful terraced rice field.

III.Tiger Leaping Gorge

The deepest gorge of the world formed for the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain are cut by Jinsha River. It is 18km north of Lijiang City, between peaks of over 3,000m above the river, which is 80m or more at the widest, or only about 30m at the narrowest, a most dangerous section of Yangtze River about 17km long. At the entrance right in the middle of the river has a lying huge rock, and the rushing water has to squeeze through a 13m passage at both sides. Legend says that tigers often leap to the other side of the river by this rock, thus the gorge earns this name. A more recently discovery is the ancient rock paintings on cliffs of the gorge, which add wonders to the grand gorge of the world.

IV.Mt. Laojun

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Ideal Places For Moderate Cycling Excursions in China

Cycling in China can be a fantastic experience. But since China is so big, you have to make sure to explore it by your own way. Come on with our guide, and take the bicycle for a ride to be able to find the best and safe cycling route in the most beautiful places of China, which are also the most suitable places for all ages to travel by bicycle.

Cycling Hutong in Beijing

Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts – an ancient capital with incredible historical sites, and a bustling modern metropolis. Cycling in "Hutong" is a very good opportunity for you to have a real understanding of the local people life.

"Hutong" is an area of narrow lanes and traditional homes typical of early Beijing-shuttling between the beautiful Rear Lake and traditional quadrangle. They all look same but full of life: children playing around, old men gather around playing cards, and the local bicyclists traveling through. It is now become an informal symbol of the city.

Cycling atop the Ancient City Wall in Xian

Cycling atop the Ancient City Wall in Xian is another unique experience in China. Ancient City Walls were built during the 14th century on Tang dynasty foundations and they date from the Ming dynasty. The walls are the largest and best-preserved ancient fortress in the world. Cycling on the commodious wall, you can get amazing views of the city and the city is all under your eyes.

Cycling Around Yangshuo

Yangshuo is one of the best towns for moderate cycling in China. Here you can experience an interesting and enjoyable cycling tour by taking the picturesque country road. Along the way, you can visit the big banyan tree which covers an area of 1000 square meters with a long history of 1,000 years and the Moon Hill with a hole in its peak in the shape of a half moon where you can look through the sky as well as the old villages. Beside these, you also can see the Yulong River, rice paddies, lush bamboo groves and people working in the fields.

Cycling to the Suhe Old Town outside Lijiang

Cycling to the Suhe Old Town outside Lijiang, you can explore the Naxi ethnic life by your own way.  

The Suhe Old Town is four kilometers (2 miles) away from the Lijiang Old Town. The Suhe old town is alive with the strong culture of primitive simplicity. It is a traditional Naxi village where you can enjoy your drinking and food at the bank of the river in the farmland. If you are tired by the hustle and bustle of city life, come here, the tranquility of country life will certainly relax and revive you. Along the way, you can visit the lion hill behind Lijiang Old Town. Standing on the top of the Lion Hill , you will have a wonderful panoramic view of Lijiang Old Town.

Cycling in Kashgar

As a China Muslim center, Kashgar is endowed by nature with desert, glacier and mountains. Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar Sunday Bazaar and Abakh Khoia Tomb are typical historic spots in Kashgar which are located well within 5km from the city centre. It is easy for you to take a bike tour to discover those historic sites.

Cycling to the renowned Sunday Bazaar and the less known but more amazing animal Bazaar, you will get to know this ancient Silk Road history better. In kashgar animal Bazaar, you can see sheep section, cow section, horse cart section, etc. Here, you can see dealers negotiate silently with hand gestures. Seeing how ease the local life style is, you feel like being back to the ancient time.

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Zhejiang Tavel Guide

English Name: Zhejiang
Chinese Name: 浙江(Zhè Jiāng)
Abbreviation: 浙 (Zhe)
Administration Type: Province
Capital: Hangzhou
Location: 27°12' to 31°31' N, 118 to 123° E
Climate: subtropical monsoon climate
Temperature: 15~18°C (annual average), 33~43°C (extreme maximum), -2.2~ -17.4°C (extreme minimum)
Annual Rainfall: 980~2,000 millimeters    
Area: 101,800 km² (39,305mi²)
Population (2010): 54,426,900
Provincial Tree: camphor tree
Provincial Flower: orchid

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Yunnan Travel Guide

English Name: Yunnan
Chinese Name: 云南 (yún nán)
Abbreviation: 滇 (Dian)
Administration Type: Province
Capital: Kunming
Location: 21°8' to 29°16' N,  97°31' to 106°11' E
Altitude: 6,562 feet (average); 22,113 feet (highest); 251 feet (lowest)
Climate: low latitude monsoon climate of mountain-plateau
Area: 394,000km² (152,124 mi²) 
Population (2010): 45,966,000

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Xinjiang Travel Guide

English Name: Xinjiang
Chinese Name: 新疆( Xīn Jiāng )
Abbreviation: 新 (Xin)
Administration Type: Autonomous Region
Capital: Urumqi
Location: 34°25' to 48°10' N, 73°40' to 96°18' E
Climate: temperate continental arid/ semiarid climate
Average Annual Rainfall: 165.6 millimeter
Area: 1,664,900 km² (6,428,215 mi²) 
Population (2010): 21,813,334
Major Ethnic Group: Uygur

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Tibet Travel Guide

English Name: Tibet
Chinese Name: 西藏 (xī zàng)
Abbreviation: 藏 (Zang)
Admin. Type: Autonomous Region
Capital: Lhasa
Location: 26°50' to 36°53' N,  78°25' to 99°06' E
Area: 1,228,400 km²  (474,288 mi²)
Population (2010): 3,002,166

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Taiwan Travel Guide

Taiwan lies like a spindle in the southeast of Asia. Geographically separated from Mainland China, this precious island is known as Typhoon Island from whence its name. It is a rare tropical mountain-island in the world, two thirds of which is covered with high mountain ranges. The most famous of the mountains, Ali Mountain, is the symbol of charming Taiwan.

Located in the subtropical ocean, Taiwan offers tourists comfortable weather and has no winter all the year round. With the pleasant climate, Taiwan can sustain vast biology resources. It is worth to visit Taiwan for its natural sights, such as the high and steep mountains and the dense atmosphere of seashore holidays. The island has another Portuguese name, Formosa, which means 'beautiful island'. In addition, Taiwan has many wonderful man-made tourist recourses, such as the famed Matsu Temple and Taipei National Palace Museum.

Overlooked from Fujian Province, Taiwan is neighbored by Japan in the north and Philippines in the south. Unsurprisingly, the island has become a hub for travel between places in Asia and is one of the tourist destinations with the most convenient transportation in the world.

Concurrently home to different groups mainly from the southern Fujian Province, Hakka and the local people, Taiwan also features various colorful human cultures. You will detect the harmonious and prosperous atmosphere in Taiwan's religions, architectures, languages and dining. Tourists should take special care not to miss the dainty dishes here - in fact, Taiwan is dubbed the 'Kingdom of Delicacies' by gourmets.

During the past decades, Taiwan's economy emerged as a miracle. As of today, it is the primary source of foreign capital for South-East Asian countries, thus allowing them to provide complete and high-quality tourist services and facilities.

If you have an opportunity to visit the southeast of Asia, make sure to include Formosa in your travel plan. The beautiful island will offer you an appealing trip that you will find it hard to tear yourself away from.

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Sichuan Travel Guide

English Name: Sichuan
Chinese Name: 四川 ( Sì Chuān )
Abbreviation: 川 (Chuan)
Administration Type: Province
Capital: Chengdu
Location: 26°03' to 34°19' N, 97°21' to 108°31' E
Area: 485,000 km² (187,260 mi²)
Population (2010): 80,418,200

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Shanxi Travel Guide

Shanxi Province got its name due to its location to the west of Taihang Mountain. Shanxi neighbored on Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia & Autonomous Region. It is located to the east of the Yellow River, and is also known as Hedong. Shanxi belonged to Jin State in Spring and Autumn Period, so it is abbreviated in Jin. Shanxi occupies an area of 156,000 square kilometers (about 60,000 square miles) and has a population of over 32 million, including its minority ethnic population. Its capital is Taiyuan City.

 When to Go

Being at a high altitude, Shanxi Province has a cold and dry climate and has an annual rainfall of between 400-600 millimeters. The province is also frequently plagued by sandstorms, especially in the spring, so it is often useful to bring along both sunglasses and a hat when visiting. Generally speaking, the province's climate is the best between May and October.

 History
Shanxi is one of the birth places of Chinese civilizations with a long history and traditional culture. As early as one hundred million years ago, the ancestors of the Chinese lived and propagated in this region. Legend tells us that the Yellow Emperor, founder of the Chinese nation, once lived in Shanxi for a certain period. Today, many Neolithic sites from that period can still be seen dotted across the vast expanse of the province.

 What to See

Shanxi is endowed with an abundance of cultural sites from its long history. Most of the ancient structures were built before the Liao and Song Dynasties. So it is the reason why Shanxi is often called the 'Chinese Ancient Architecture Museum'. The more obvious of these include: the Buddhist wonder of the Yungang Grottoes in Datong City, the Ancient City of Pingyao which was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997, the oldest and tallest ancient wooden pagoda in China, the Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County and the remote Shuanglin Temple and Jinci Temple, which are well worth the long journeys for the visitors.

Of course, there are a number of natural magnificent and beautiful places that can also be seen in Shanxi. The most famous of them include Wutai Mountain with the longest and most prestigious history in the four most well-known Buddhist holy lands of China, the whistling rage of the Yellow River's Kettle Spout waterfalls (Hukou Waterfalls) and one of the Five Sacred Mountains in China - Mt. Hengshan.

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Shandong Travel Guide

Shandong Province is situated in the eastern part of China on the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It borders on the Bohai and Huanghai seas in the east, and overlooks the Korean Peninsula and the Japan Archipelago across a vast stretch of sea. The province has a total area of 156,000 square kilometers (about 60,235 square miles) and a total population of over 90 million.

 When to Go

Shandong Province is frequently affected by marine monsoons, especially during the summer time. The climate is characterized by rain during the summer and autumn and a dry winter. The annual average temperature is between 11 and 14 degrees Centigrade while the annual precipitation is mostly affected by the monsoon rain. Between 500
 History

Shandong, with a history of more than 5,000 years, is considered one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. Shandong has also been the home of a large number of historical figures, whose important influences are still evident in contemporary China. Confucianism, founded by Confucius, the great thinker, educator and statesman in China is the pillar of traditional Chinese culture and has exerted great influence in the world.

 What to See

Confucius Temple, Qufu, ShandongThe major historical sites in the Shandong Province are:
The inscriptions on clay pots unearthed at Dawenkou and Dinggongcun are believed to bear the earliest Chinese written language.

The ruins of ancient Longshan City which is considered the earliest city in China.

Portions of the Great Wall built during the Qi State period which is believed to be the most ancient great wall in the country.

The Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion and Confucius Cemetery in Qufu.

Shandong is also blessed with beautiful landscapes. The most famous scenic spots are Mount Taishan, Mt. Laoshan and the seaside of the Jiaodong peninsula. In 1987 and 1994, Mount Taishan, the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Confucius Mansion in Qufu were inscribed on the China World Cultural and Natural Heritage List by UNESCO.

Jinan, Shandong's provincial capital is one of China's most famous historical and cultural cities. It has numerous natural springs, hence its name 'Spring City'.

Shandong Province is also considered the birthplace of China's pottery, porcelain and silk. Throughout the province the tourist can find traditional items like the clocks and watches of Yantai, the porcelain of Zibo, the kites of Weifang, the shell-carving and beer of Qingdao.

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Shaanxi Travel Guide

English Name: Shaanxi
Chinese Name: 陕西 (Shǎn Xī)
Abbreviation: 陕 (Shaan), 秦(Qin)
Administration Type: Province
Capital: Xian
Location in China's Territory: hinderland of mainland China
Location: 31°42' to 39°35' N, 105°29' to 111°15' 
Climate: temperate subarid climate, temperate monsoon climate, subtropical monsoon climate from north to south
Average Annual Temperature: 7-16°C
Average Annual Rainfall: 340-1,240 millimetres 
Area: 205,800 km² (79,460mi²)
Population (2010): 37,327,378
Local Tourism Highlights: historical relics

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Qinghai Travel Guide

Named after Qinghai Lake, the largest inland salt - water lake in China, Qinghai Province is located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in western China. Qinghai covers an area of 720,000 square kilometers (about 278,000 square miles), which makes it the fourth largest province in China. Its total population is some 5 million, among which Han, Tibetan, Tu, Hui, Salar and Mongolian minority ethnic groups are represented. Visitors are not only fascinated by the traditional festivities of different minority ethnic groups, but also by their unique cultures and folk traditions. Xining is its capital.

 When to Go

Cole Field in Menyuan County, QinghaiQinghai's climate is characterized by short cool summers and long freezing winters. Due to drastic temperature fluctuations from day to night, summer may be the best time to visit Qinghai because this is when the road to Tibet, via Golmud is open and its climate is friendliest to its visitors.

 What to See
Snow-covered mountains, icy peaks, deserts, vast pastures and sparkling lakes mesmerize its visitors, while flocks of rare birds and animals dot this unique and colorful natural landscape. Two of Qinghai's biggest highlights, Ta'er Monastery (Kumbum Monastery), which is considered one of the six great monasteries of Gelugpa in  Tibetan Buddhism and vast Qinghai Lake, attract nature lovers who enjoy camping, hiking and bird-watching as well as people who have a fascination with Buddhism. The 'Small Imperial Palace in Qinghai'---Qutan Monastery, snow - capped A'Nyemaqen Mountain and the 'Highland Xishuangbanna' Mengda Nature Reserve are also well-known all over the world. Culturally speaking, 'Repkong Art' displays the creative talents of the Qinghai people through painting.

Boasting a remote, ancient and mysterious land, Qinghai - a paradise for adventurers, welcomes you!

On the early morning of April 14, 2010, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks have hit Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture located in the southwest of Qinghai Province. The epicenter is in Yushu County, where thousands of houses collapsed, schools and streets were damaged badly. So far on April 21, over 2,000 people were killed and about 12,000 people were injured. Response to the shocking earthquake in Qinghai, the country's rescue and medical teams have already left for the disaster area promptly. An appeal is also made to the public to donate money or materials for victims in the earthquake.

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Ningxia Travel Guide

'Ning' is the colloquial term for the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Find it on the map in northwest China and into the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. It is bordered by Gansu to the south, Shaanxi to the east, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north, and is one of the five ethnic minority autonomous regions in China. Ningxia covers a total area of 66,000 square kilometers (about 25,484 square miles) and has a population of 5.62 million; one third of who are Hui minority people. It has a temperate continental climate of long, cold winters and short, hot summers with the temperature being lowest in January, averaging from -10C to -7C and highest in July, averaging from 17C to 24C. Annual rainfall averages from 190 - 700 millimeters.

 History

Yinchuan City Center Ningxia, a region as culturally rich as the entire area south of the Yangtze River, continues to be admired for its resplendent cultural heritage garnered from the long river of history. During the time of the Tang and Han Dynasties (206 BC - 907 AD) Ningxia was the main place for trade and transportation between the eastern and western regions of ancient China. Ruins of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty can be found in east Ningxia.
 What to See

A unique landscape, unique local customs and habits, and ancient history, all add up to make Ningxia an interesting tourist area for those wishing to discover a rich and diverse region.

Yinchuan City (also called 'Phoenix City') is the capital of the region situated in the remote northwest of China. The 1000-year-old city is a famous cultural city beyond the Great Wall. The old sector of Yinchuan City to the west is green and peaceful, and contains all the places of interest. It includes the 1500-year-old Haibao Pagoda; the famous Buddhist architecture from the West Xia Kingdom Chengtiansi Pagoda; and the West Xia Imperial Tombs known as the 'Pyramids of China'. One can also find there the mystic Helan Mountain Cliff Painting, created by the ancient nomads who dwelled in the regions of the Helan Mountains in northwest Ningxia. They used a bold and descriptive chiseling and drawing technique, to which they added dazzling colors, to depict the history of a splendid Chinese civilization.

Camel riding in desert, Yinchuan
Liupan Mountain is located in south Ningxia. This is an area famous for its picturesque scenery and it certainly lives up to its reputation as the 'green islet'.

Sand Lake Scenic Resort is the national tourist trump card for those looking for a place with a lake, sand dunes, reeds, birds and fish. During the May-September period, the lake becomes a veritable paradise for a dozen or so varieties of precious bird species, such as swans, white and grey cranes, black storks, and wild geese.


Shapotou, Yinchuan
Shapotou on the southern rim of the Tengger Desert: There one will find the Desert Research Centre, established in 1956 to find ways of preventing the sands from encroaching onto the railways, and one of China's four singing sand dunes. Sliding down the sand dune gives one the ethereal feeling of descending from the sky. The peculiar geological structure of the place causes the sand to emit a resonance that reverberates like the tolling of a huge bell or the beating of a big drum. Limpid water flows gently in a knee-deep stream at the foot of the dune.

Ningxia is the home of Chinese Muslems. When you go, please be respectful of the unique local customs and habits of the Hui people.

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