China Attractions
Slender West Lake
Slender West Lake is the premier attraction in Yangzhou. The park, lined with willow trees, picturesque pagodas, and loads of history has enough to keep a visitor busy for the entire day. During spring the park is an expansive wonderland of flowers and budding trees. There are few enclosed c...
Slender West Lake is the premier attraction in Yangzhou. The park, lined with willow trees, picturesque pagodas, and loads of history has enough to keep a visitor busy for the entire day. During spring the park is an expansive wonderland of flowers and budding trees. There are few enclosed city parks in China as impressive as this, making Slender West Lake a must visit.
Five Pavilion Bridge, the unofficial symbol of Yangzhou, is found here connecting the slender lake’s shores. The bridge was constructed nearly five hundred years ago. Always bustling with activity, the bridge offers excellent elevated views of the lake. It’s also a reliable place to catch a pleasant breeze to help visitors cool down a bit on a hot summer day.
Boat rides are also a fun way to explore the lake. They can be hired quite easily (around 10 yuan per person), or rented on your own for more freedom. Within the park there is a Buddhist nunnery and a large white, somewhat out of place, Tibetan Chorta. Countless side paths, bridges, pavilions, calligraphy halls, and the historic Gong He Chun Restaurant, specializing in dumplings, pot stickers, and noodles fill up the rest of the park grounds. Following the lake north leads all the way to Da Ming Temple and Guan Yin Monastery.
Just over the stone bridge from the park’s south gate is the Yangzhou Potted Plant (Bonsai) Garden, which is another beautiful place to wander. This park is on an island in Willow Lake and maintains hundreds of very old, and actually quite interesting potted plants. The ticket to Slender West Lake also includes admission to this park. The street opposite the entrance naturally has numerous souvenir stores and restaurants.
Combo Ticket: For 110 yuan you can get a combo ticket which includes the entrance fees to Slender West Lake, a small museum within the Slender West Lake scenic area, Ge Yuan and He Yuan. It also includes a twenty minute ferry ride down The Grand Canal. The ticket can be purchased at the south entrance (南门) but may not be available at other entrances.
Bus numbers 4, 5, 6, and 16 all go to Slender West Lake. Alternatively, you can take a pleasant walk northwest from the city center to reach the park. The park covers the entire NW part of Yangzhou. The south entrance is near the arched stone Hongqiao bridge.
Shanghai Sculpture Space
The Shanghai Sculpture Space (上海城市雕塑艺术中心) emerged on to the Shanghai art scene with its grand opening on November 11, 2005. Despite being hidden behind a mini restaurant strip mall on Huai Hai Road, the museum is anything but modest with an impressive history and remarkab...
The Shanghai Sculpture Space (上海城市雕塑艺术中心) emerged on to the Shanghai art scene with its grand opening on November 11, 2005. Despite being hidden behind a mini restaurant strip mall on Huai Hai Road, the museum is anything but modest with an impressive history and remarkable collection of Chinese modern sculptures.
The restoration and reuse of this historic building represents a relatively new concept in China, but the result is equally as appealing as the restoration efforts in the posh area of Xintiandi. Built in the early 20th century, the warehouse was originally a steelmaking factory that had long stood unused before developers recognized its potential.
The sculpture exhibited in the space is modern, completed by Chinese National artists within the past 100 years. The styles of sculpture are diverse, but even the novice art enthusiast will appreciate the fun and often straightforward themes that are conveyed. Be sure not to miss the second space behind the original warehouse which houses sculptures by new artists. I particularly enjoyed the sculptures of daily Chinese life, as well as several sculptures that represent the tragedy of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
For a quick fix of some culture in a city full of great food and shopping, this museum is definitely worth a visit! The museum is free, but as of December, 2005, provides no English translation on the sculpture descriptions. Ask for a translator and, if you are lucky, you will be provided with a tour guide who will give you some details in English.
Website: http://www.sss570.com/
Unfortunately no subway station near by, so hop in a cab and head away from the Bund on Huai Hai Road – unless you get stuck in traffic you’ll be there about 10 minutes after you pass XiangYang Market (襄阳市场).
China Articles
Splendid Chinese Costumes
Over the past several thousand years, silk garments were worn by emperors and the aristocracy as well as the common people....
Over the past several thousand years, silk garments were worn by emperors and the aristocracy as well as the common people. The traditional clothing and accessories of the northern nomads and the Han nationality created a “historic nation of clothing and accessories,” which became a symbol of the culture of the Chinese nation.
Warring States to Han Dynasty (475 BC-220 AD)
In light of the theory “Qian is heaven, Kun is earth”, in early times Chinese people wore “Yi as tops and Shang (skirts) below.” From the Warring States Period to the Han Dynasty, Shenyi (one-piece robes with the top and bottom sewn together) was worn by both men and women. Shenyi usually took two forms: Qufu, with a slanting opening, and Zhifu, with a straight vertical opening. The robe with an embroidered body, jin-silk trim and wide sleeves was popular among the aristocrats of the time.
Jin Dynasty and Tang Dynasty (265 AD-907 AD)
The Jin and Tang dynasties, when exotic fashions were absorbed through the Silk Road, are the most brilliant chapters in the history of ancient Chinese costume. Of great influence was Hufu, a style of dress characterized by narrow sleeves and long trousers, which before long replaced traditional Chinese robes. Chinese costume, especially women’s wear, attained an unprecedented elegance at the time.
Liao Dynasty (916-1125)
The “One country, Two systems” policy was adopted during the Liao Dynasty founded by the Khitans. On one hand, they kept their traditional nomadic features, and a typical Khitan costume consists of a long robe with left opening, narrow sleeves and central vent on the back, a pair of boots, a waistband on which a leather bag hung. On the other hand, some people were also allowed to wear traditional Han-style costumes.
Song and Yuan Dynasties (960-1368)
The Song and Yuan dynasties witnessed another integration of costumes among different nations. Traditional costume style of the Han people was fundamentally preserved in the Song Dynasty. Men usually wore gowns with round collars, while women wore skirts with matching jackets. Such style was partially changed in the Yuan Dynasty founded by the Mongols. People in the north wore shining gilded robe made of Nasiji and leather boots, while most people in the south still wore Han-Chinese garments.
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
After unifying China, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of Ming Dynasty, ordered the people to revert to Han Chinese style and established new rules for clothing and accessories in 1370. The characteristic garments of the Ming Dynasty were gowns with loose sleeves. In the early Ming, officials began to differentiate their ranks with mandarin squares. At meanwhile, ladies mainly wore jackets and skirts.
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
After the rulers of the Qing Dynasty forged their way through the Shanhai Pass, they enforced the costume style of the Manchus on the Han Chinese people. In 1761, Emperor Qianlong published a set of rules for Manchu costumes. However, men’s daily wear consisted mainly of robes and Magua, a mandarin jacket worn over a gown. Manchu women wore mandarin gowns long enough to cover their feet. Han women were not required to obey this system and could still were the typical top and skirt.
FAQ on Huangshan Winter Tour
Answers to the doubts about huangshan winter tour
Question: Will the access to Mt. Huangshan be closed during winter?
...Answers to the doubts about huangshan winter tour
Question: Will the access to Mt. Huangshan be closed during winter?
Answer: On the contrary, in recent years, winter season has become a tour rush for quite a number of tourists. Especially for the spring festival, the hotels on the top have been over-reserved A month in advance.
Question: What about the climate in winter?
Answer: The local climate is characterized to be sub-tropical. The average temperature on the top during January is around 6 degrees Centigrade. The annual snow fall duration lasts about 60 days. Besides, the hotels on the top are all equipped with electric heater.
Question: What about the path conditions on the top during snow season?
Answer: Mt. Huangshan enjoy a great reputation nationwide of being a safe mountain. After years of update, the step paths have become a pride of Mt. Huangshan. Whenever it snows, the snow fall will be promptly swept off the path to ensure the safety of the tourists.
Synotrip首届导游大赛获奖名单及春节放假通知！
Synotrip年度导游大赛颁奖
点到名的童鞋快来领分！
首先感谢各位导游积极的参与，在众多优秀导游中，小编真是难以抉择啊，当然，最终的评选结果还是以各位参赛者2011年综合表现与发布内容来决定，下面就为大家宣布Synotrip第一届导游大赛获奖名单！噔噔噔噔——
...
Synotrip年度导游大赛颁奖
点到名的童鞋快来领分！
首先感谢各位导游积极的参与，在众多优秀导游中，小编真是难以抉择啊，当然，最终的评选结果还是以各位参赛者2011年综合表现与发布内容来决定，下面就为大家宣布Synotrip第一届导游大赛获奖名单！噔噔噔噔——
- 年度最佳导游——elephant_walker！在过去的一年中，上海导游elephant_walker在Synotrip表现积极，其发布原创内容质量高、阅读性强。2011年，elephant_walker还接受了Synotrip的采访（点击此处查看访问原文），为导游们提出了一系列关于如何高效使用Synotrip的建议，2011年最佳导游非elephant_walker莫属！奖励积分50分！
- 年度最佳摄影——Ebenezer是Synotrip全体工作人员心中当之无愧的最佳摄影获选人！每期的“编辑精选”中都会看到Ebenezer发布的作品，当然其本身的摄影生涯是作品优秀的先决条件之一，但从这些摄影作品中，我们总能感受到Ebenezer对云南深深的热爱（点击查看Ebenezer摄影作品）。奖励积分30分！
- 年度最佳内容——Richard Lee！加入Synotrip的一年多时间里，Richard给我们带来了大量桂林旅游相关的内容，他发布的内容，不管是listing或者tour，都时非常值得参考的宝贵信息。小编们也尤其喜欢Richard发布的少数民族相关的内容（点击查看Richard发布内容）。奖励积分30分！
- 年度最佳业务——不相伯仲的Vivi和Eena Luo！一个在客人数量上取胜，一个在成交天数上取胜，在难以取舍的情况下，小编宣布Vivi和Eena Luo共同问鼎年度最佳业务奖！Vivi和Eena Luo分别在北京和云南，虽然页面Review的数量并非最多（点击查Vivi和Eena Luo个人页面），但从Review我们不难看出，她们的获胜是有道理的——优质而友好的态度让客户们赞不绝口，口口相传！各奖励积分30分！
- 年度最Syno控——qinqin！qinqin在过去一年中，几乎每周都会给我们带来新的与上海旅游相关的内容，频繁的更新足以看出她对Synotrip的信赖与喜爱，感谢qinqin对Synotrip的支持（点击此处查看qinqin发表内容）！奖励积分20分！
- 年度最佳红娘——yennyshanghai！yenny并没有主动参赛，她是小编们讨论后挑选出来的本项获奖者，在过去一年里，yenny把Synotrip这个平台介绍给了更多的英语导游与她的朋友们，让更多人参与到了Synotrip的大家庭中来，非常感谢上海导游yenny对Synotrip的信任与支持（点击查看yennyshanghai页面）！奖励积分20分！
- 年度最佳互动——北京的老朋友Annie！不论是导游奖励活动还是给给Synotrip提建议，Annie都非常积极。除了邮件来往，她平时也会使用QQ与Synotrip联系，与她的沟通中，我们真切的感受到她对Synotrip的关心，我们期待Annie给Synotrip带来更多更好的意见与建议（点击查看Annie页面）。奖励积分20分！
- 奖导游请注意查看积分及邮件通知；
- 除获奖导游有奖励积分外，参加本次活动的未获奖导游都将获得5分奖励积分；
- 特别感谢nature_1984，Miki Shanghai Tour等资深导游的参与及支持！2012再接再厉！
Synotrip春节休假为2012-1-21至2012-1-28，29日恢复正常工作。
明天小编也要回家过年咯，有任何问题，你可以：
- 给我们的官方邮箱写信：[email protected]
- 通过QQ给我们留言：1015665647
- 又或在29号后拨打办公室电话直接咨询： 025-8655 1590（周一至周五，9:00-17:00）
Synotrip恭祝大家龙年大吉！新春好！
感谢使用Synotrip！
Top China Tours
$238 Per Day
Private Hangzhou Day Trip from Shanghai by Bullet Train
Take in the highlights of beautiful Hangzhou on a private full-day tour from Shanghai. After hotel pickup and transfer by high-speed train to Hangzhou, your private guide takes you to see some city attractions, such as Faxi temple. Moreover, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Longjing village. There, learn about the process of farming and producing dragonwell tea, the region’s most famous product. Finally, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed West Lake before returning to Shanghai.
...Read more
Take in the highlights of beautiful Hangzhou on a private full-day tour from Shanghai. After hotel pickup and transfer by high-speed train to Hangzhou, your private guide takes you to see some city attractions, such as Faxi temple. Moreover, enjoy a tasty lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Longjing village. There, learn about the process of farming and producing dragonwell tea, the region’s most famous product. Finally, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on UNESCO World Heritage-listed West Lake before returning to Shanghai.
This is a private, full-day trip from Shanghai to Hangzhou. After you are picked up in your hotel lobby in the early morning, you will take a bullet train to Hangzhou. This is the fastest way to Hangzhou and you can experience train speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour. Your tour begins at one of Hangzhou's signature sites, the West Lake. Enjoy a lake cruise to see the top ten West Lake scenic views. You will then be taken to experience the wonderful cuisine of Hangzhou at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will visit Faxi temple, a well-known Temple dating back to the Jin Dynasty. See its famous wooden Buddha. Here, you will see fewer tourists and more locals. Finally, enjoy a cup of green tea when you visit the famous Longjing village to see wild fields of Longjing tea bushes where the locals produce the world famous green tea- Longjing Tea. In the village, all locals are tea farmers and you will see the entire procedure of making the famous tea and will get the chance to taste the best quality emperor tea. Afterwards, you will take the bullet train back to Shanghai and you will be returned to your hotel.
$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.
...Read moreDay 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 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.
...Read morePingyao 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