Guide to China Attractions

China Attractions

Wei Bao Shan

Wei Bao Shan is 90KM south of Dali Old Town. One of the important home for "Dao" religon. Temples are well maintained.

Yongding Tulou

The Earth Building - Tulou, is the world culture heritage.

Hua Zhen Vegetarian Private Kitchen

The kitchen runs by a young lady "little swallow". She is a vegetarian and she love cooking. She provides private cooking service to visitors. You have to call her to make an appointment. There is no menu to order. She will find the most seasonal fresh vegetables from the market to cook for you. Average charge per person is about RMB60 (US10)

Stone Boat Bar

Hu's Villa

Hu Xueyan's (1823-1885) Villa is situated on the Yuanbao Street, a narrow alley nearby the Hefang Street, a famous old commercial street of Hangzhou. It's a typical southeast-China-style complex with houses and gardens of distinct Anhui architecture features. Hu's Villa was built in 1875 at the zenith of his prosperity and was officially open to public since 2001 after the renovation.
The villa has roughly three sections: The middle section is for reception and consultations; the eastern section is for pleasure and relaxation; and the western section is for living. In the villa, gardens, pavilions, terraces, bridges, houses, rockeries, ponds and corridors are ingeniously designed and harmoniously landscaped. Some parts of the villa have western elements as Mr. Hu lived in a time when China was opened up to outside world for trade and cultural exchange.
Hu Xueyan was born in Anhui Province, started off as a counterjumper in a money shop in Hangzhou and eventually passed away in poverty and sorrow. Following the success of his business in running money shops and pawns, he expanded the field to salt, medicine, silk, tea, cloth and arms trade, etc. It's said that in the prime time his overall wealth was half as much as the national treasury of Qing government. Although he cracked up in latter years of his life as he fell victim of political game, Hu Xueyan, who also assumed high position in government as a result of his tremendous impact in business, has been widely recognized as the stereotype of "Red-Top Merchant" (high-ranking government officials wore hat with red top in Qing Dynasty when going to imperial court), a title people use to refer to merchants who are influential in politics as well.
What else noteworthy is the Huqing Yutang Traditional Chinese Medicine Store founded by Hu Xueyan also. It's located on the Hefang Street, some ten minutes walk from the Hu's Villa. A drop-in-on to it would add more content if you intend to visit Hu's Villa.

City Wall

It is the most complete, the best preserved and the ancient city wall in the world, about 14 km in length. A wide and deep moat encircles the wall and drawbridges which can be risen or lowered freely are set up against the city gates. Over 600 years old of the city wall, it provide...

Jade Water Village

Naxi is the major minority in Lijiang. The Jade Water Village can demonstrate their living. During the Naxi New Year, there is big celebration. The old DongBa carry out traditional celebration and the place is open&nb...

South Silk Road restaurant

This dining room's environment is very good, the dish is also very typical, It is very suitable for whom wants to pursue the environment and the affective tone.

Brief introduction of Leshan

Leshan, literally means happy mountain, is a prefecture-level city located in the middle of Sichuan Basin,and 120 km away south to Chengdu.
Leshan is listed as the National Historical and Cultural City. It’s one of the 4 places in China Buddhists must visit,due to its 2000 years old Buddhism Culture.
The world known Leshan Giant Buddha is by the west bank of the Dadu River, the 97 meters tall Buddha is considered as the Biggest sitting Buddha in the world. And was declared as the World Cultural and Natural Heritage by UNESCO in 1996.
25 km away east to Leshan City, lies the sacred Buddist Mountain Emei, which is also a World Cultural and Natural site by UNESCO. At the Golden Summit of the Emei with an altitude of 3099 meters, it’s amazing place to enjoy the sunrise from the clouds sea. The mountain is dotted with hunderds of Buddhism Monasteries all the way from the mountain base to the summit.
The food in Leshan is definitely something you should not miss, Tianpiya(sweet skin duck), Doufunao(sofe tofu drink), street barbecue,spicy hot pot can not be more delicious.

Shanghai Museum of Glass

Shanghai Museum of Glass was initiated and funded by Shanghai Glass Co. Ltd, which had witnessed the development of the glass industry in Shanghai and attentively preserved the inherited a century-old history and its product culture.

The design of the Museum integrates both new and existi...

The design of the Museum integrates both new and existing structures, which keeps and highlights the features of the old workshop, and also gives the architecture new functionality and iconic status.

The Museum covers a building area of about 5,000 square meters of which 3,750 sqms is the main hall. And it also has a reception hall, permanent and temporary exhibition halls, collection rooms, an office area, museum shops, a library, a café, a hot glass demonstration hall and DIY shop. The demonstration of hot glass making is at 14:30 daily.

China Articles

Chinese Fans

Fans used to be a favorite item for women in China. You may have noticed that nearly all female figures in traditional Chinese paintings carry a silk fan. In the movies of the 1930s,and 1940s ,fans are a very visible article for Shanghai women on the bund. Usually the structure of the is made of sandalwood and the faces are made of silk or paper . Because the fans are always scented ,women who use them appear, even more attractive . Fans are probably one of the most appropriate expressions of female elegance. Men also use fans but ,these fans are ,usually are much bigger.Men's fans oftenuse valuable materials for their structure but the faces are always painted with plants , landscapes or calligraphy to express the owner's status and aspirations.

Talk the People Live Situation in Shanghai

First, let me give you some data. In Shanghai downtown average apartments price is ￥ 40,000 CNY per square meter. In French Concession, Xiujiahui and Jiangan Temple area, the price is above ￥60,000 CNY per square meter. In Pudong Lujiazui area, there are some super expensive apartments from ￥180,000 CNY to ￥300,000 CNY per square meter. And these apartments are very big, could be 500 or 300 square meters per apartment. That’s really too expensive.

Let's the 2012 world wide national average per person GDP: 1, Luxembourg $122,272 USD 2,Qatar $97,967 USD 3, Norway $96,591 USD ... 15, USA $48,147 USD ...87,CHINA $5,432 USD...

Here we have a question. These so expensive apartments who come to buy them since the personal GDP is such lower in China? Most the wealthy people are merchants. As we know Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces form an economy triangle. So, most of them come from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, did business quite well, gather much money. They don’t know what to do, just buy m0any apartments, fancy cars. They may have many apartments, but one family only needs one apartment, so rent out the rest and make money every month. That is also very good business in Shanghai.

What do the local people do? Local people usually do not as rich as the merchants. They can’t afford the expensive apartments as well. But they got good location, and good luck. If someday, government or real estate companies want to use their land, they become rich soon. So they have good apartment, good cars. That’s a great opportunity.
What do the common people do? Common people usually are young people, like the people who come to Shanghai alone, work here, look for good luck here. But life is hard for them. They most share apartments for years, after that, may be they get good luck and buy an apartment. If not they only rent apartment until the end or back to hometown.

What do the foreigners do? As we know there are 300,000foreigners live or work here. That’s a huge number. As I know foreigners don’t like to buy an apartment whatever. They come here just for work, look for money. One day, finally they will back to their own countries, and buy an apartment there. Just very little people can live for the whole lives. Some foreigners they belong to the common person, their lives also very hard. Some foreigners they become the merchants rank, their company did everything for them. They just come here to work or in another word to enjoy their lives. Finally companies can’t afford the expensive cost anymore, and send them back to their own countries. But there are also some foreign merchant, they may do the real estate investment, that’s different from living.

Anyway, let us go to fight, this is the big city where we live.
All the above words are only my personal views according my experience.

Public toilets in the Middle Kingdom

In recent years there has been a "great leap forward" to modernize the public WC's in China....

In recent years there has been a "great leap forward" to modernize the public WC's in China. In the capital Beijing, all public toilets are free of charge, while in touristic places like Dali & Lijiang (Yunnan province) they have 5 star public toilets where small TV's entertain you while you do your business. However, still in most places public toilets can be filthy squatters and there is little you can do but block your nostrils and go. Although filthy these public facilities are usually environmentally friendly as no water is used for flushing, and the manure could be used by the local community as fertilizer on the fields. In anyway using public toilet in China is an experience that probably sooner or later one has to engage in during their China travels.

Top China Tours

$150 Per Day

Guangzhou

Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou

Arrive in Guangzhou in the morning, you will be met and transferred to hotel, then visit Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. The Memorial Hall is a very famous historical scenic spot. It is in memory of Sun Yat-sen, the great revolutionary forerunner. After that proceed to visit the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. It is a unique site for offering up sacrifices to worship ancestors of 72 Chen families in Guangdong. This ancestral temple is also the largest, best preserved and best decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province.

Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou

Day 2 Guanzhou Tour

After breakfast, you will go to Yuexiu Park first, the largest and the most famous park in downtown Guangzhou. There are three artificial lakes and seven hills of Yuexiu Mountain. Then you will visit Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which is one of the four best Buddhist temples in Guangzhou and located on the Liurong Road (meaning the Six Banyan Trees Road). The Nanyue King Tomb Museum is a must-see Guangzhou attraction, which dates back to 2,000 years ago, is the earliest large scale painted stone chamber tomb ever found south of the Five Ridges. Buried with the tomb owner in a jade shroud are a gold seal and a lot of exquisite jade adornments. It has become a world famous museum. After the day tour you will be transferred to airport for your next destination.

$53 Per Day

Pingyao Highlights Walking Tour

Pingyao Highlights Walking Day Tour

With our guide to know the Ancient Pingyao better!

Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 08:00 or 08:30, then show you the ticket office to get the ticket for the museums we will visit later.

Pingyao Highlights Walking Day Tour

With our guide to know the Ancient Pingyao better!

Our guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 08:00 or 08:30, then show you the ticket office to get the ticket for the museums we will visit later.

First we will visit the 700 years old City wall, We will climb up from south gate and have a walk on the wall. We are not sure how many km we can walk, because of the renovating of the wall. Normally we will walk from south gate to the Yunlu Exit.

Then visit the Confucius temple, there is a old building named Dacheng Hall which is over 840 years old. From outside, we can see the big wood joints to lift the big roof around the building which is named Dougong. Due to this design, there are less columns inside the hall for giving the big space for the statues and the prayer. We have chance to see the Confucius statue and learn the philosophy of Confucius. If you like, you can pray for you and your children to get better study.

There is the Paper Cutting master named Wentao nearby the exit of Confucius temple. She is very smart and create the new style paper cutting with much more details and good wishes on it. Her products are made by hanks. It is worth to visit and buy as a souvenir from Pingyao. From the table standing and wall hangings. Please remember, take the red one because of red is the traditional and happy color. But the white one is the best. It is really difficult to choose, because of all of them are really nice.

Then you can have coffee break or tea break if you need at Chummy coffee, after this, visit the City god temple (ChenghuangMiao) which is most beautiful temple inside the wall. Because of the roof is covered by the colorful glazed tiles. There is not only city god and also the three money gods, Now you know why pingyao was the financial center.

Next we will visit the Ancient government building, to see the pingyao politics center in the ancient time. It is the complete building with officials bed room, kitchen and private garden. Follow the guide to look the official’s life from the 250km far away from the hometown.

Have a stroll in the alley to the Rishengchang exchange bank, which is the first bank all of china.You can not miss it.

After lunch, walk to the Ming and Qing street, this is the shopping street full of the stores on the both side of street. You can find alot things here , from post card to lacquered boxes, and wall panels. One more place to see, it is the Armed escort agency also named security and transport service for the business man before the bank founded.

Inlcusions

1.private english speaking tour guide servcie

2.bottle water for the tour

$310 Per Day

3- Day Popular Tour In Zhangjiajie

Day 1    Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Full day trip to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park,take Bailong Elevator up Yuanjiajie,Bailong Elevator is the said to be the worlds tallest full-exposure outdoor lift,double-deck sightseeing elevator.Yuanjiajie is the inspiration for Hallelujah Mountain in AVATAR , Where you will also find the aptly named First Bridge under Heaven, Lover Peaks and so on.

Continuing to Tianzi Mountain, it takes you 40 minuts from Yuanjiajie to Tianzi Mountain by public bus, after arriving in Tianzi Mountain, you will have a bird’s-eye view of all the mountains and valleys of the Wuling Mountains. Visit Western Sea, Helong Park, Viewing Terrace etc.Take Tianzi cablecar down and check in hotel for a rest.
Accommodation: Wulingyuan Downtown

Day 2    Baofeng Lake & Glass Bridge

After breaking in the hotel, we head to Baofeng Lake where is the masterpiece of nature and human beings’wisdom. Baofeng Lake is pure just like a big crystal among Bao feng mountain Range.When you cruise, you can hear authentic song from Tujia minority people,you can fully understand the harmony and peace between human beings and nature.

Transfer to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, have a walking on the Glass Bridge, Glass Bridge is the highlight of Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, located in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge is the highest and longest transparent glass bridge with a length 430 meters and a width 6 meters. It is 300 meters above the ground level and it can bear 800 persons standing on it at the same time. (need to book the tickets in advance)
Accommodation: Wulingyuan Downtown

Day 3    Tianmen Mountain

Full day to explore Tianmen Mountain,take the longest cablecar in the world up Tianmen Mountain,have a walk on the mountain plank road built along the face of cliffs. You will feel like walking in a fairy land when the mist is still heavy.The must-visit scenic spots are: Tianmen Cave, Glass Road, Tianme Temple.

See you off in the airport and looking forward to seeing you again in Zhangjiajie.

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