Beijing Xinhua International Tours Reviews

Glass Trail Path in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Offers a Thrilling Experience

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:18:02 +0000

Experience the ‘Glass Terror’ in China

There are many places to visit in China but none come close to the amazing trail in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. The forest has the cliffs of the Tianmen Mountains and these cliffs rise more than 1400 meters. The path that snakes around these cliffs is the one where tourists walk along the side of these cliffs. At the highest point of the path, clear transparent glass has been used for construction which converts this beautiful natural trail into one of the most exciting trails for a tourist. The trail capitalizes on the vertigo factor and has become one of the most popular attractions in the region.

Glass Trail at Tianmen Mountains of Zhangjiajie

The Fascinating Glass Trail Provides a Thrilling Journey like None Other

With its bustling economy, China has opened doors to the world. The nation that has proven its might in infrastructure development has also shown the world innovation is something that they try to incorporate in everything they do. For those who do not know, one of the biggest skateboarding and rollerblading rinks is now present in China. All those from the United States who are visiting Beijing on their study abroad programs or are on a China tour will find a place which would offer them a piece of home away from home where they can skate all they want.

Similarly, when the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province was to be prepared for tourist attraction, Chinese masterminds came up with the perfect idea to convert this beautiful site into an exciting and mind numbing trail. The national forest park encompasses the massive vertical cliffs of Tianmen Mountains which rise approximately 1450 meters over the forests. A trail has been created around these cliffs where visitors get to walk on a path constructed along the sides of this cliff.

Move over roller coasters, the new wild ride is here. The path along the cliff side of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park has been created using transparent glass. Therefore when you are walking high up along the side of the cliff, you see everything under your feet. It is almost like walking through air and provides one of the most thrilling experiences ever. This nature path adds so much more to nature and the thrill element converts an otherwise normal trail walk into something that is unforgettably thrilling.

For people who love a rush of the adrenaline, this is the right place to be. The excitement spike occurs especially because the path suddenly becomes transparent at a height of 1400 meters. Despite the glass being 2.5 inch thick along with a side rail to secure the path, it takes a lot of courage to walk on this clear seethrough surface at that height without getting intimidated. The 60 meters of “walking in air” can leave you clinging to the rails all the time. Hence it gets the name “The Glass Terror”. There are a lot of excitements in store when you opt for Chinese language programs or study abroad programs. China’s constant urge to turn the mundane into something exciting has provided students and tourists alike with a treasure trove of surprising things to discover.

Most of the people who are learning Mandarin in China can take time out of their schedule and visit this national forest. In fact many China travel itineraries incorporate this place for its obvious attraction.

Top 10 Old Towns in China

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:26:52 +0000

Plan your China tour? China’s 30-year urbanization drive has produced a great number of booming towns and super cities. Urbanization has been a necessary condition for achieving sustainable development. But many towns and cities in China have their own ambitious city planning and development programs. They sometimes compete each other for bigger, greater and stronger towns or cities. More and more towns and cities look alike in terms of shoppping malls, public parks, buildings and etc. After traveling around, you won’t have deep impression of the these towns and cities which closely resemble each other.

To curb the urban assimilation drive, in the past 30 years great efforts have been made by the local governments at different levels to have overall city contruction plans and protect traditional elements especially in old towns and cities, balancing development and protection.

These exotic and charming old towns in China have still kept their own tradtions and cultures, which have attracted more and more tourists home and abroad, greatly enhancing their understanding of a real China.

The top 10 old towns here are carefully hand-picked from the numerous old and historical towns in China. If you want to experience a real and genuine China, the top 10 list of the old towns in China will offer you the guidedance in planning your own China tour.

1. Pingyao (Time Tunnel) 平遥

Location: Pingyao is a small town, about 80km southwest of Taiyuan in central Shanxi Province. Pingyao has plenty of cultural relics. The city wall was first built during the Zhou Dynasty (256 B.C.) and was expanded in 1370, the third year of the reign of Ming Emperor Hongwu. In 1997, it was listed as a World Heritage Site.

Best Travel Time: Autumn

Sitting on the trade route between Beijing and Xi’an, Pingyao developed into a business center with the use of the nation’s earliest banks. These organizations were the first in China to use checks, and business came up in the 19th Century, when the city was the financial center of the Qing government. Pingyao is the best preserved ancient town in China.

See my Pingyao Trip Report

Pingyao

2. Lijiang Old Town (where you are disconnected with the outside world) 丽江

Location: Lijiang old town sits in the city of Lijiang City of Yunnan Province. Now it is a UNESCO Heritage Site. The old town has more than 800 years and was once a confluence for trade along the old tea horse road.

Best Travel Time: All the year around; for snow scene, come to Lijiang in winter season.

The Lijiang old town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges. The old town of Lijiang is quite defferent from other ancient Chinese towns in architecture, history and the culture of its traditional residents the Naxi people.

Lijiang

3. Dali Old Town (drink tea and see flowers) 大理

Location: Dali old town is located in the middle of Yunnan Province. The layout of Dali ancient town is like a chessboard orderly arranged and designed with streams passing by each household. The local Dali government has an urban planning which keeps its old town separated from the rest of the new area of Dalin City, so visitors coming to Dali for the first time often feel they have entered a time tunnel.

Best Travel Time: Spring time – March

Dali is the ancient capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao (the 8th and 9th centuries), and the Kingdom of Dali (937-1253). Dali is also well known for the many types of marble it produces, hence the name of “Dali” which is literally “Dali Stone”. Dali is now a famous tourist place, together with Lijiang, for both domestic and international tourists.

Dali Old Town

4.Yangshuo (Time Passing Here) 阳朔

Location: Yangshuo is located 65km the south of Guilin city in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south of China. The town has been 1400 years, famous for its picturesque mountains and rivers, a perfect place for holiday vacation where you forget time and experience the happiness of your vacation.

Best Travel Time: April – October

The area around Yanggshou is dotted with Karst peaks and the Li river meanders its way around them. Yangshuo is the final stop on any of the cruising on Li River. You may spend a few hours here or several days to explore its neighbouring areas.

Yangshuo

5. Zhouzhuang Water Town (The best water town in China) 周庄

Location: Zhouzhuang Water Town is located at the middle between Shanghai and Suzhou. It is an ancient town of Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province. The village abounds with rivers and lakes. Zhouzhuang boasts many cultural and historical relics.

Best Travel Time: All seasons, but avoid public holidays

Regarded as “Venice of the East”, this town has the best water town preserved in China. The town has a history of over 900 years and most of houses in the town were constructed in Ming (1368-1644) or Qing Dynasties (1644-1911).The rivers and streams in Zhouzhuang passes the town and are connected by 14 stone-arch bridges constructed in Yuan (1271-1368), Ming, and Qing Dynasties.

Zhouzhuang

6. Tongli Water Town (Pearl of Taihu Lake) 同里

Location: Tongli Town sits by the Grand Canal and the Taihu Lake, about 18 Kilometer away from Suzhou, 80 kilometer from Shanghai. It has a history of over 1000 years with very convenient transportation.

Best Travel Time: All seasons, avoid public holidays

Tongli is typical of the water county of South China. There are totally 5 lakes circling Tongli from both outside and inside. The town is sectioned into 15 small islands by over 10 rivers. However, the islands are linked by over 40 stone bridges of various style which were constructed in successive dynasties. Tongli is noted for her small bridges, clear water.

Tongli Water Town

7. Wuzhen Water Town (Always Young) 乌镇

Locationa: Located 17 kilometres in the north of the city of Tongxiang, Wuzhen sit at the confluence of the four cities including Tongxian, Jiaxing, Huzhou and Wujiang, a typical water town in southern China. Various rivers circle streets; streest are linked by bridges.

Best Travel Time: All seasons, avoid public holidays.

Wuzhen is an old with its ancient stone bridges, stone pathways and delicate wood carvings. The town also has a rich cultural background with a history of over 1000 years.

Wuzhen Water Town

8.Fenghuang (Hills, Rivers and People) 凤凰古城

Location: Fenghuang literally means “Phoenix” in Chinese, a small and old city, 145 km south to Zhangjiajie City and 50 km south to Jishou City in Hunan Province, China. Fenghuang covers an area of 1700 km with a population of 370,000. There are the minority ethnic group, such as Miaos, Tujias. Fenghuang was described as“the most beautiful ancient city in China” by the famous writer Louis from New Zealand.

Best Travel Time: four seasons

Fenghuang has lots of relics and the sightseeing, the ancient city’s mountains and Tuo river, residents and establishment, temples and pavilions and so on. How to get to Fenghuang? You may first go to Zhangjiajie and connect buses to Fenghuang or you first go to Jishou and connect the buses to Fenghuang. Beijing West Station K267 12:58 / 14:53 next day.

Fenghuang

9. Huangyao (Nestled in the poetic mountains)黄姚古镇

Location: Huangyao Town is located in the notheast of Zhaoping County of Hezhou City of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south of China. “Huang” and “Yao” are the main surnamcs of the people who live here, hence the name of the town “Hangyao”.

Best Travel Time: September – Novemeber

The town originated in Song Dynasty with a history of over 900 years. Here you are back to a time tunnel, feeling its history and its past busy prosperity and a place to settle your heart peacefully here. The town is nestled in the mountains with picturesque view resembling a Chinese painting.

Huangyao

10. Chikan Old Town (Half Chinese and Half Western) 赤坎古镇

Location: Chikan old town is 12km away from the city center of Kaiping City, 160km southwest of Guangzhou City in Gongdong Province. The old town was firtt built in Qing Dynasty with a hisory of over 350 years. It still retains much of her charm as a flourished market town. The Tanjiang river passes by the town with fishing boats and the western style buildings made up picturesque view for this ancient town.

Best Travel Time: October – December

The Top 10 Most Beautiful Lakes in China

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:16:09 +0000

China is abundant with mesmerising places: rivers, lakes, forests, mountains, falls, gorges, wetland, glaciers, grassland, caves and deserts. The list can much longer and it is impossible that you could visit them within your life time. Here I list the top 10 most beautiful lakes in China, trying to give you a helpful direction as well as a dream travel list for your physically traveling the beautiful lakes in China or for a mental tour on a China map.

1. West Lake ( Where to spoil yourself) 杭州西湖

Location: West Lake is located on the west of the city center of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province. It is surrounded by the hills on three sides: north, west and south with its east side abutting the city center. West Lake is 3.3km long from north to south and 2.8km wide from east to west with a circumference of 15km. West Lake ws listed as world cultural heritage in June 2011.

Best Travel Time: May – October

I put West Lake in the first place is very subjective largely because I’m from Hangzhou. More specifically I was born and grew up with West Lake, which is always lingering in my mind and takes its root in my heart. For me, West Lake is the most beautiful lake in China. It is located within a modern city, easily accessible, close to people with more human nature like a delicate beauty, a gleaming pearl dropped from the heaven.

See my West Lake Trip Report

West Lake in Hangzhou

2. Qiandao Lake (Kingdom of Isles) 杭州千岛湖

Location: Qiandao Lake is located 129km in Chunan County in the southeast of Hangzhou and 140km to the northeast of Huangshan Mountain. It is a “backyard garden” both for Hangzhou and Shanghai. Qiandao Lake means “one thousand lakes” which characterize the 1078 isles in the lake itself.

Best Travel Time: September and October

Again Qiandao Lake is from my hometown Hangzhou and I naturally give more attention. But objectively Qiandao Lake is worth the praise and applause from travelers who have made trips to the lake. Qiandao Lake is well known for its clear, and drinkable water in some places where the renowned Nongfu Spring brand of mineral water is produced.. It also accounts for green forestation and exotic islands. Qiandao Lake’s population include Snake Island, Bird Island, Monkey Island, Lock Island , and more.

Qiandao Lake

3. Kanas Lake (The Purest lake in the world ) 新疆喀纳斯湖

Location: Kanas Lake is located 855km northeast of Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang. Kanas Lake, or more exactly, Kanas Scenic Area, Kanas Geopark and Kanas Natural Reserve.

Best Travel Time: September and October

The Kanas Lake (Kanasi Hu) means “beautiful, rich and mysterious” in Mongolian. The lake is nestled in the deep forests and mountains of Altay. The lake is 1,374m above sea level and covers an area of 45sqkm (10 times bigger than Tianchi on Bogda Mountain) with the deepest point of 188m. The long bean-shaped lake reflects the surrounding snowcapped mountains. Legend has it that huge monsters live in the lake. They often has take away horses and camels drinking into the water by the lake and later swallow them, a similar story of “Nessie Monster” in Scotland.

See my Kanas Lake trip report

Kanas Lake

4. Sayram Lake (the last tear drop of Atlantic Ocean) 新疆赛里木湖

Location: Sayram Lake is located between the Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture and the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang. The lake takes an area of 457 square kilometers. The fault basin is at the sea-level of 2,073 meters. The lake has a depth of 86 meters.
Best Travel Time: March and April; July – September

The lake is an amazing natural water resource and is circled by green grasslands. Nestled in the mountains, it’s tucked away and misty occasionally. The mixed view of the surrounding snow-capped peaks and the dragon spruce plants on the mountains is very photographic.

In July and August local Mongolian and Kazak herdsmen gather on the lake side to do their traditional ethnic activities which include horse racing, wrestling and lifting sheep while galloping on horse-back.

See my Sayram Lake Trip Report

Sayram Lake

5. Qinghai Lake (Heart of land and Sea) 青海湖

Location: Qinghai Lake is located about 100 kilometres west of the provincial capital of Xining at 3,205m above sea level in a depression of the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau in the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo.
Best Travel Time: May – August

Qinghai Lake is a saline lake situated in the province of Qinghai, and is the largest lake in China. Twenty-three rivers and streams empty into Qinghai Lake, most of them seasonal. Five permanent streams provide 80% of total influx. The lake has fluctuated in size, shrinking over much of the 20th century, but increasing since 2004. Despite its salinity, it has an abundance of fish, such as the edible naked carp.

Qinghai Lake

6. Namtso Lake (where you whisper with God) 西藏纳木错

Location: Namtso lake is located 240km to the northeast of Lhasa. Namtso literally means “heavenly lake”. Namtso Lake is in the rectangle shape, 70km from east to west and 30km from north to south with an area of 1920 square km and 4718m at the sea-level.

Best Travel Time: June – September

The lake is composed of 5 islands with the largest island of 1.2 square kilometers. It is said by the Buddhists that they are the avatars of five Buddhas. The lake is rich in all kinds of fishes, snow lotus, caladium and the place for wide animals dwelling. The lake is clear, flickering blue light under the sunshine, which seems to wash your soul cleanly.

Namtso Lake

7. Yamdrok Lake (A Pearl from the sky) 西藏羊卓雍错湖

Location: Yamdrok Lake is located 105km to the southwest of Lhasa. Yamdrok-Tso Lake is 130km long from east to west and 70km wide from north to south with a total perimeter of 250km and the surface area of 638 square km, average depth of 20-40 meters. It is the largest lake at the north foot of the Himalayas.

Best Travel Time: June – September

Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is a kind of low salt lake formed by the snow melted water from the snow capped mountains nearby. The lake looks like a holy sapphire. Under the clear azure sky, the clean water of the lake is as smooth as the surface of fine blue jade. Yamdrok Lake is said to be be the female Guardian of Buddhism in Tibet. Every year, many local Tibetans and visitors from Lhasa and from other places would come here for pilgrimage or sightseeing.

My Yamdrok Lake Trip Report

Yamdrok Lake

8. Lugu Lake (A pure lake) 泸沽湖

Location: Lugu Lake is located 260km north of Lijiang City, a border lake between Yunnan Province and Guizhou Province. The lake has an area of over 50 square km with a sea level of 2690m, the highest lake in Yunnan Province.

Best Travel Time: May and June

Lugu Lake is woven with beautiful legends and teemed with poetic landscape. Lugu Lake is pure and azure without any pollution, 11 meters visible, which is very rare. The lake area is inhabited by many minority ethnic groups, such as the Mosuo, Norzu, Yi, Pumi and Tibetan. the Mosuo people (“Moso”), are said to be a sub clan of the Naxi People. The lake is also well-known as the region of “The Kingdom of Women” . where the Mosuo women have the the dominant role in their society.

Luhu Lake

9. Tianchi Lake ( Heavenly Lake in Mt. Changbai) 吉林长白山天池

Location; Heaven Lake is a crater lake on the border between China and North Korea. It lies within a caldera atop the volcanic Baekdu Mountain, a part of the Baekdudaegan mountain range and the Changbai mountain range. It is located between Ryanggang Province, North Korea and Jilin Province, northeastern China.

Best Travel Time: July August and September

Tianchi Lake has a surface elevation of 2,189m. The lake takes an area of 9.82 square km with a south-north length of 4.85 km and east-west length of 3.35 kilometres. The average depth of the lake is 213m and maximum depth of 384m

Tianchi Lake

10. Jingpo Lake 牡丹江镜泊湖

Location: Jingpo Lake is located southwest of Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province. The lake occupies an area of 1200 square meters. It is a famous scenic spot as well as an ideal summer resort of North China. The lake hs been called ”West Lake of North China”.

Best Travel Time: July August and September

The northern side of the river runs down the Diaoshuilou Falls, a 40 meter waterfall caused by the lake. Jingpo Lake is well known for its craggy limestone cliffs and its azure waters containing 40 types of fish and fresh water coral.

Jingpo Lake

The Most Beautiful Rivers in China

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:32:02 +0000

A Chinese saying goes that wise people find joy in water while benevolent people find joy in mountains. If you are a benevolent man, check my previous post “China’s Top most beautiful mountains“; if you are a wise man, then you may take some interest in my today’s post “The Most Beautiful Rivers in China” when you planning your China tour.

There are numberous rivers in China, to choose and tag some of them the most beautiful is not easy, which has more or less some subjective elements in the selection. My selection only gives you some clues leading to your own decision to choose the most beautiful rivers in your heart either on your physical or mental trip to China with your heart and soul along the dream.

1.Yangtze River 长江 (China’s Pulse)

Location: Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third in the world, originated from Geladong Snow Peak of Tanggula Mountains on the Tibetan-Qinghai Plateau with the length of 6397km, winding past Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, Tibet, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, entering the East Sea at Chongming County in Shanghai, dubbed as China’s Mother Rivers together with Yellow River.

Best Travel Time: May – October

Three Gorges & Dam Cruise is the highlight of the lifetime Yangtze River Cruise. Chongqing to Yichang route is by far the most travelled section of the Yangtze, winding through the Three Gorges and passing the namesake Dam.

See my Yangtze River Cruise Trip Report for the cruise information about the Three Gorges & Dam Cruise.

Yangtze River Crusie

2.Yellow River 黄河 (China’s Soul)

Location: Yellow River is the second longest river in Asia and the fourth in the world just after Yangtze river, with its headwater orignated from Bayangela Mountains in Qinghai Province with the length of 5464km, resembling a dragon zigzaging through Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, Gansu Province, Ningxia Province, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, Henan Province and giving itself into Bohai Sea at Shandong Province.

Best Travel Time: May – October

Yellow flows the Loess Plateau in its middle section and carrys large amount of sand on its way down to the lower reaches of the mighty river, making the river appearing yellow, hence the name of Yellow River, a river with the most amount of sand in the world.

Yellow River is the cradle of Chinese civilization and the spiritual home of the Chinese people. For thousands of years, the Yellow River has been admired by grreat poets, artists, as well as by ordinary people. The Yellow River is the symbol of the Chinese nation, the spirit of the Chinese people and more importantly, civilization itself.

See my Yellow River Trip Report.

Yellow River

3. Li River 漓江 (the Must Beautiful River in China)

Location: Li River is located in the southeast of Guilin City in the east of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a tributary of Zhujiang River. The length of Lijiang starts from

the city of Guilin to Yangshuo, about 83km of waterway. Lijiang River is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world.

Best Travel Time: May – October

The 80-km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo resembles an artists’s masterpiece, painted with rolling mountains, featuring cliffs, unique caves, comfortable boats. The 80-km water-way is flanked by the hills for about 40km. All the hills are lined with bamboo and green belt. Very often the cruise boats starts from Zhujiang Wharf. First you take about 40 minutes drive from Guilin city to the wharf. Then take 4 to 5 hours cruise to a beautiful and tranquil ancient city – Yangshuo.

See Guilin Trip Report

Li River

4. Qiantang River 钱塘江 (highest tidal bore in the world)

Location: The lower stream of the Qiantang River is located in the southeast of Hangzhou City, which originates in the borders of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces and runs through Hangzhou, before entering into the East China Sea through Hangzhou Bay. Qiantang River is most famous for its huge tidal bore.

Best Travel Time: May – October

Tidal bore of Qiantang River is naoted ad the world’s largest tidal bore, which is up to 10 metres high, and runs at up to 40 km per hour. The lower stream of Qiantang River is known as Fuchun River, 459 km long in Zhejiang Province. Qiantang River is an important commercial artery, it enters the East China Sea at Hangzhou.

See my Qiantang River and Liuhe Pagoda Trip Report

Qiantang River

China’s Top 10 Most Beautiful Mountains

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:47:41 +0000

Plan your China tour? As you know, China is huge, so where to start your trip and what to be covered in your China trip? It largely depends on your personal taste. If you are interested in popular places in China, you may check Top 10 Places in China for your reference.

If you like mountains, this post will be surely arouse your interest. Here you will be taken on the mental trip to the top 10 most beautiful mountains in China. Are you a benevolent man? In China we have a saying that “The wise find joy in water; the benevolent find joy in mountains.”.

1. Mt. Everest (the guardian of your heart and soul) 珠穆朗玛峰

Location: Mt.Everest is located in the Himalayan mountains between China’s Tibet and Nepal with its north side in China and South side in Nepal. In China Mt.Everest is called Zhumulangma or Qomolangma which derived from Tibet, the highest mountain in the world, 8844.43m.

Best Travel Time: September and October

On August 25, 2011, together with 24 group members on a 35-seat bus, aftere 5 hours’bumpy drive, we successfully reached the Mt.Everest Base Camp and (EBC) and saw the unparalleled beauty of the snow covered peak of Mt.Everest under a clear sky. I’ve made a trip report on our exciting trip, which may be helpful for those who have the same dream to view the highest mountain in the world at a shortest distance as a common tourist. See my Tingri to Mt.Everest Trip Report.

Mt. Everest

2. Mt.Kailash ( where you look up at the deities) 冈仁波齐峰

Location: Mt.Kailash is located in the north of Pulan county in Tibet. It is the second highest peak (6721m) in the Gangdisê Mountains which runs parallel to the Himalayan mountains. Mt.Kailash is considered to be the “Holy Mountain” for the four religions: Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and prayed by the pilgrims from the neighbouring countries like Tibet, Nepal, India.

Best Travel time; May – October

In the hearts of the pilgrims, Mt.Kailash is a holy place or the Buddha or God itself. Each year thousands of pilgrims made visits to the holy mountain and keep the tradition of walking around the mountain. It is said that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. The path around Mt.Kailash is about 52km. People in good shape take 15 hours to complete the 52 km trek.

Mt.Kailash also attracts the International Mountaineering. A number of mountaineers have prospected the mountain with a view to climbing. But up to now Mt.Kailash has not been climbed for various reasons. The main reason is that nobody wants to offend the holy peak.

Mt.Kailash

3. Mt.Namjagbarwa ( a beauty abutting the death ) 南迦巴瓦峰

Location: Mt.Namjabarwa is located in the southeast of Tibet, the 15th highest mountain in the world at the height of 7782m. It is the highest peak below 8000m in the world. ”Namjabarwa” literally means a boulder fallen from the sky.

Best Travel Time; February – April and October – November

Mt.Namjabarwa is famed as “the father of icebergs”. The foot of the peak is teemed with a number of hot springs and rich vegetation, which is an ideal place for both leisure and exploration.

Its colossal triangle body is capped with snow and mists all year around and people find it hard to see its true face. In 1992 that the Sino-Japan Mountain Climbing Team conquered Mt.Nanjiabawa. Today it has become a very popualar and challenging destination for leisure travelers and professional mountain climbers from both home and abroad.

Mt.Namjagbarwa

4. Mt.Tianshan (one of the longest and highest mountain belts in Central Asia) 天山山脉

Location: Tianshan Mountains are located in the middle of Xinjiang which divides Xinjiang into two parts – Northen Xinjiang and Southern Xinjiang; the Junggar Basin to its north and Tarim Basin to its south.

Best Travel Time: June – August

The colossal mountain ranges snake at the length of 2500km and the width of 250km – 300k with average sea-level 0f 5000m. The highest peak in Mt.Tianshan is Bogeda Peak (about 5445m). Here there are a plethoral of snow capped peaks; beautiful alpine meadows; numerous sheep and oxen and mesmerising lakes – Narat Grassland, Heavenly Lake, and Sayram lake.

Mt.Tianshan

5. Mt.Gongga (The wind stops your steps) 贡嘎山

Location: Mt. Gongga is also known as Mt.Konka and Mt. Minya Konka. It is located on the eastern edge of Tibetan – Qinghai Plateau among the border area of the four counties including Kanding, Luding, Shimian and Jiulong. It is 60km long from north to south and 30km wide from east to west with its main peak as high as 7556m, making it the highest mountain in Sichua Province.

Best Visit Time: May and June

“Gongga” in Tibetan means the highest snow mountain. There are over 10 alpine lakes and 45 snow capped peaks surrounding the main peak, which look gorgeous, up the mountains

capped in snow and down immersed in the green vegetation. Every year it attract a great number of leisure travers and professional mountaineers to challenge the extreme limits and pleasure.

Mt.Gongga

6. Changbai Mountains (Spring starts here) 长白山

Location: Mt.Changbai is a mountain range on the border between China and North Korea. Its highest peak is on the North Koreas’ side – Jiangjun Peak (2750m) and within China’s border the highest peak is Baiyun Peak(2691m).

Best Travel Time: July – September

Mt.Changbai is considered the “No.01 Mountaini in Northeast China” as well as the highest mountain. It boasts the thousand years’ snow mountains, gleaming lakes, gorgeous volcanos, snow pines, rare aninmals.

Mt.Changbai

7. Meri Snow Mountain (Cold Beauty far away) 梅里雪山

Location: Meri Snow Mountain is located on the main ridge of Nushan between Nujiang (Nu River) and Lanchangjiang (lanchang River). It is on the southern edge of Tibetan – Qinghai Plateau in the area between Yunnan and Tibet.

Best Travel Time: October – next May

Meri Snow Mountain is grandeous and brilliant with 13 high peaks over 6000m, which are nicknamed “13 Prince Peaks” with its highest peak Kawa Karpo Peak (6740m), the highest peak in Yunnan Province.

An American scholar – Mt.Rock praised it as “the most beautiful mountain in the world”. It beauty and sanctity attracts more and more travelers home and abroad trying to see its true face which is very often lost in snow and mist.

Meri Snow Mountain

8. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Half hidden and half visible) 玉龙雪山

Location: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is ten miles from Lijiang, piercing to the elevation of 5,596m and standing aloft on southwest plateau of Yunnan in the south of the Hengduan Mountains.

Best Travel Time: February – June

Its landscape includes one of the southernmost glaciers in the modern world. Shanzidou, the main peak of the mountain at 18,000 feet above sea level, looks like a gigantic dragon twist in white snow all year round. Access to the mountain is provided by a cable lift to Dragon Spruce Meadow, halfway to the glacier peak.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

9. Huangshan Mountain (Huangshan overshadows all other mountains) 黄山

Location: It is located 80km north of Huangshan City in the south of Anhui Province. The mountain range is 40km north south and 30km east west with its highest peak – Lotus Peak (1864m), famed as the No.01 Mountain under Heaven.

Huangshan Mountain is famed for its beautiful landscape – Staggering sunrise and sunset, fantastically shaped granite peaks, the gnarled forms of ubiquitous Huangshan pine trees, and the other-worldly sea of the clouds. The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO inscribed Mt.Huangshan on the list of Natural and Cultural Heritage on the World in 1990. The nearby villages of Hongcun and Xidi were also named part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. In 2002, Mount Huang was named the “sister mountain” of Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps. See my Huangshan Trip Report.

Huangshan

10. Mount Emei (the most delicate under the sky) 峨眉山

Location: Mount Emei is located southwest of Sichuan Basin, on the upper reaches of Yangtze River and stands between Dadu River and Qingyi River. Mt. Emei is one of China’s four sacred Buddhist Mountains and has been a popular place of pilgrimage for the past 1800 years. Emei literally means “Delicate Eyebrow Mountain”- it derives its name from two peaks which face each other and look like the delicate eyebrows of a Chinese classic beauty.

Best Travel Time: March – May and July – September.

Mt. Emei is famous for its enjoyable natural scenery, extensive Buddhist culture, abundant range of species and unique landform. Thus it gets such titles as “Kingdom of Plants”, “Geological Museum”, “Animals’ Paradise” and “Buddhist Celestial Mountain”. Continuous ranges of peaks and tall trees cover the mountain. Water flows swiftly as if it were flying. Birds are singing and pretty butterflies are dancing. Monkeys are the soul of Mt. Emei, they are lovely, naughty but friendly to people. See my Mt.Emei Trip Report.

Mt Emei

Huangcheng Laoma Beijing

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:39:24 +0000

Are you searching for hotpot restaurants during your Beijing trip? Haungcheng Laoma is highly recommended. Huangcheng Laoma is the brand name of one of the best hotpot restaurants in China. Huangcheng Laomao literally means “Imperial City Old Mother” in Chinese. It was first founded by Mrs.Liao Huanying in Chengdu 1986. Her first hotpot restaurant was located in the former imperial city of Chengdu. Her frequent clients kindly called her “Huangcheng Laoma”, hence the brand name in the years followed.

In 1998, Huangcheng Laoma had its first chain restaurant in Beijing. Up to now there are 4 hotpot chain restaurants in the name of “Huangcheng Laoma” in Beijing. All the four Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot Restaurants are elegantly furnished with the taste of Sichuan style. They offer banquet rooms as well as private dining rooms.

Huangcheng Laoma offers Sichuan cuisine of hotpot with slight changes catered for the people in the north. Beside the traditional lamb and beef, it also offer a wide variety of hotpot ingredients like duck intestine, fresh tripe of cattle, goose intestine, beef throat, Chicken kidney, a beefsteak and vegetables.

Locations of the 4 Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot Restaurants in Beijing

Huangcheng Laoma (Shuangjing ) 皇城老妈双井店

Tel:(010)67798801

Add: F2 Building B, Lecheng Center, Zhonglu of Dongsanhuan, Chaoyang District

朝阳区东三环中路20号乐成中心B座2楼

Hungcheng Laoma (Xuanwu)皇城老妈火锅宣武店

Tel: (010)63173361

No.03, Changchujie, Xichang District, Beijing
北京市西城区长椿街3号

Huangcheng Laoma (Desheng)皇城老妈(德胜店)

Tel: 010-82068882 82068881

Yard 9, Jiaochangkou, Deshengmen, Xicheng District, Beijing

西城区德胜门教场口街9号院

Huangcheng laoma 皇城老妈(朝阳店)

Tel: (010)67798801,67798802

Qingfengjie 39, Nan Dabeiyao, Chaoyang District, Beijing

北京朝阳区大北窑南庆丰闸后街39号

A Table of Hotpot in Huangcheng Laoma (Shuangjin) for two people in a private room

A plate of Flower of Chiken’s kidneys

A plate of Flower of Chiken's kidneys

A plate of sliced beef throats

A plate of lamb rolls

A plate of pork steak

A plate of sliced tripes of cattle

A plate of vegetables

a kind of edible mushrooms that grows on the wet ground of a bamboo grove

A plate of bean noodles

A plate of slices potatos

principal food – Fried egg rice and noodles

principal food - Fried egg rice and noodles

A plate of fruits

A Plate of fruits

Carrefour Beijing, Beijing Carrefour Locations

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:35:20 +0000

Want to do some shopping in Beijing during your Beijing trip? Carrefour is highly recommended. The French hypermarket offers a wide selection of wine, cheese, coffee, canned goods, daily necessities and much more. Shopping in Carrefour keeps you from your worries about fake or poor quality products.

The first carrefour supermarket was set up in Beijing in 1995. Now there are over 10 carrefour hypermarkets in Beijing among over 60 carrefour markets all over China. Some of Carrefour branches offer free delivery with certain distance for purchses over certain amount of money. But the crowds are thick for most of carrefour branches in Beijing.

Ask your hotel people, or your taxi driver to locate a nearest carrefour in Beijing. Below are the addresses ( English and Chinese ) of the carrefour markets in Beijing for your reference. If necessary, you can ask the taxi driver to take you to the nearest Carrefour. In Chinese, it’s called Jia Le Fu 家乐福.

Carrefour Guangqumen (家乐福广渠门店)
Floor 3 Fuguiyuan shopping mall, Zone 3 Donghuashi Nanli, Dongcheng District, Beijing （010）6712 3750
北京市东城区东花市南里三区，富贵园购物中心3层

Carrefour Guangqumen (家乐福双井店)

No.31 Guangqu Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing （010）51909500

双井店北京市朝阳区广渠路31号

Carrefour Maliandao ( 家乐福连道店)
No. 11, Maliandao Street, Xicheng district,Beijing （010）63322155-92

北京市宣武区马连道11号

Carrefour Fangzhuang (家乐福方庄店)
No.15，Community no.2, Fangchengyuan, Fangzhuang, Dongcheng District, Beijing （010）67609911

北京市丰台区方庄芳城园二区15号

Carrefour Fangyuan (家乐福方圆店 )

Fangyuan Building, A56 Zhongguancun South Road, Haidian District, Beijing （010）88362729-8000

北京市中关村南大街甲56号方圆大厦

Carrefour Chuangyijia (家乐福创益佳店)

北京朝阳区北三环东路乙六号
No.6 Yi, East Beisanhuan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Carrefour Tiantongyuan (天家乐福.通苑店)

N0.186 Litang Road, Changping District, Beijing （010）8481 2903
北京昌平区立汤路186

Carrefour Tongzhou (家乐福通州店)
No.48 Jiu Keshu East Road, Tong Zhou District, Beijing (010) 5167 8911
北京通州区九棵树西路48号

Carrefour Liangxiang (家乐福良乡店)

Jinhua Commerce Plaza, Fangshang District Beijing

北京市房山区拱辰街道办事处二街村金花商业大厦地上2.3层

Carrefour Dinghui Qiao (家乐福.定慧桥店)

1 Basement Dinghuijiayuan, Haidian District, Beijing

北京市海淀区定慧北桥东南角定慧家园3号楼地下一层

Carrefour Dazhongsi (家乐福大钟寺店)

2 Basement zhongshen Plaza, Dazhongsi, Haidian District, Beijing

北京海淀区北三环西路大钟寺中坤广场地下二层

Carrefour Majiabao (家乐福马家堡店)

16 Xilu, Nansanhuan, Fengtai District Beijing

北京丰台区南三环西路十六号

Carrefour Yaojiayuan (家乐福姚家园店)

Jia 1, Yaojiayuan Road, Chaoyang District Beijing

北京市朝阳区姚家园路甲一号

Carrefour Jianxiang Qiao 家乐福(健翔桥店)

Jianxiang F2-3, Changyao District, Beijing

北京市朝阳区祁家豁子8号健翔大厦2-3层

Carrefour Ciyunsi (家乐福慈云寺店)

B1 of Huaye International Center, Chaoyang District, Beijing

北京市朝阳区东四环中路39号华业国际中心底商一层

Carrefour Shijingshan (家乐福石景山鲁谷店)

B1, Building 4. Y18 Shijingshan Road, shijingshan District, Beijing

北京市石景山区石景山路乙18号4号楼地下一层

Carrefour Zhongguanzchun (中关村广场店)
Zhongguancun Plaza, Haidian District, Beijing （010）51721516
北京市海淀区中关村广场

Photos below taken from Carrefour Guangqumen:

The entrance to Guangqumen Carrefour in Beijing

Take an escalator up the third floor of Carrefour Guangqumen

The shop is packed with passengers due to the Chinese new year purchases.

People born in the year of dragon are selecting red socks, red shorts and more red thing to bring luck during the dragon year.

People born in the year of dragon are selecting red socks...

vegetables on display

Fruits on display

Chinese dessert

Bread

Hams, milk, sausage yogurt…

Hams, milk, sausage yogurt...

More dried beef, port and more

Take an escalator down to the first floor to pay the bill

Pay for what you buy

Photos below taken from Carrefour Guangqumen:

Carrefour Zhongguanzchun (中关村广场店)
Zhongguancun Plaza, Haidian District, Beijing （010）51721516
北京市海淀区中关村广场

2012 Longtan Temple Fair

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:22:29 +0000

Longtan Temple Fair has been my favorite. The reason for my affection is many-fold, including its short distance to my residential area, it spacious area since the temple fair is located in Longtan Lake Park and its richness in offering various festival activities.

Longtan Temple Fair has entered its 29th year since it was first held in 1983. From last year, it added Ice and Snow activities for the temple fair, which had its official name “The First Longtan Park Winter Carnival” . Part of the Longtan Lake was turned into an ice and snow playground just behind the north gate of Longtan Lake Park. This year the Second Longtan Park Winter Carnival is held together with Longtan Temple Fair.

The 2012 (29th ) Longtan Temple Fair has little change in comparison with the temple fair held in 2011. Its main activities include new year product shopping, games playing, eating local snacks and amusement for kids.

For many temple fair goers, each year any temple fair comes to them without little surprises and or freshness. So why come to a temple fair again year on year? It is the atmosphere, it is the huge hordes of people that attract people to come to a temple fair. Here, you feel the new year, here you touch the new year, here you expect some hope for future.

Now we buy online, we eat online, we talk online, we write each other online, we do business online and the list can be much longer. But we are human beings and we need real world network, not just virtual interaction. Under the background of internet era, we need something like a temple fair to remind us that we are human beings.

Follow me to the 29th Longtan Temple Fair to celebrate the new year 2012.

Follow the happy kid to the temple fair

The huge Chinese character “福” sign wishing everybody happy and healthy in the new year.

The huge Chinese character 福 sign wishing everybody happy and healthy

So many people and you have to move with the people flow

Kids like to enjoy a pirate ship

Balloon Dart game

balloon Dart game

Intoxicated

Have a cup of tea from a huge copper tea pot

Xinjiang Uyghur Kebabs

Do you dare to try? Fired Scorpions!

Fired Scorpions!

Have a bit

Sugar coasted haws and res lanterns

A foreigner with a dragon hat is lost in the sea of people

A foreigner with a dragon hat drops is lost in the sea of people

The Ice and Snow in Longtan Temple Fair

The best place for kids in Beijing

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:08:46 +0000

For many kids as well as some “big kids”, the best place to play in Beijing is to visit Beijing Happy Valley, topping the list of Top 10 Things for Kids to Do in Beijing. Beijing Happy Valley is dubbed “Disney in Beijing”, a Chinese theme park, one of the “Happy Valley” chains.

The first “Happy Valley” has been successfully operating for many years in Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province. At the same time, the group has built two more “Happy Valleys” in Shanghai and Chengdu beside this one in Beijing. Plan your Beijing kid tour? Beijing Happy Valley is highly recommended.

The Southern Entrance to Beijing Happy Valley

Beijing Happy Valley Location

Add: Xiaowuji Beilu, Dongsi Huan, Chaoyang District, Beijing (located on the south east end of the city)
Entrance Fee: RMB 150 for adult; Kids between 1.5m and 1.2m; RMB 100; Children under 1.2m: free
Opening Hours: 9:00-19:30 (weekday); 8:30-19:30 (weekend)

Telephone: 67383333, 67389898

Beijing Public Transport
Take bus 52 and get off at Jinsongqiao Dong Station , then take bus 41 and get off at Houfengqiao Nan Station, walking about 50 meters and get to the park;
Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Dawang Lu Station from Exit A, then connect bus 31 and get off at Houfengqiao Nan Station, walking 50 meters to the park.
Take Metro Line 10 and get off at Jinsong Station, then take bus 41 at Jinsong Qiao to Houfengqiao Nan Station.

Travel Tips for Beijing Happy Valley

Beijing Happy Valley is composed of seven subtheme parks, including Happy Time, Ant Kingdom, Shangri-La, Lost Maya, Aegean Sea, Wild Fjord, and Atlantis. Generally speaking, there are three basic routes of visiting Beijing Happy Valley – Family Route, Senior Route and Central Route. Why the best place for kids in Beijing. Well, please follow me into the best theme park in Beijing through its main gate – Southern Gate to Beijing Happy Valley.

Suggested Tour Line for Seniors

Senior Route

Suggested Tour Line for Family

Family Route

Suggested Tour Line for young people

Centro Route

Seven sub-themes of Beijing Happy Valley

Happy Time Section

As its name suggests, Happy Time Section is one of the most happiest place in the theme park with such rides and attractions as Extrem Rusher, Angel’s Wing Festival of Speed, Happy Hot Wheel, X Extra Powe, Mini Trains, 4D Royal Cinima and Foadm Factory, Happy Stage, Happy Time Square and Parade of Inserts Carnival.

Happy Hot Wheel

X Extra Power

Ants Kingdom Section

This section is most favored by kids with so many funny things to do including Rush Hour, Jumping Frog, Bug’s Party, Harvet Time, Flying Ant Squad, Mini shuttle, Dandelion, Grand windmill, Turning Cup, Jump Around and Samba Balloon.

Ants Kingdom

Shangri-la Section

Shangri-la means a mysterious and peaceful place away from the bustle and hustle of the world. The word Shangri-la is derived from Tibetan “Shambala” which is the holy land aspired by visitors from all over the world. Its amazing rides and attractions include golden Wings in Snowland, Twin Tower Heroes, Haunted Grove, Drifting through fairland, Shambala Tower, camelback rescue, Lost Snowland, Forest Climbing and Good Luck Archery.

Totem signs for the ancestors of the people in Shangri-la

Shangri-la Bazzar

Shangri-la Bazaar

Lost Maya Section

Though the ancient Maya Civilization has been lost for centuries, people never stop seeking the traces of the splendid culture with wild imagination. Here you can enjoy the scenes of Central America with many activites which immerse you in the beautiful ancient world. Its rides and attractions include Apolo Wheel, Jungle Racing, Straw Hats, Treasure Troop, Voices from the Deep Cavity, Virgin Forest Stage, Mini Train, maya Catastrophe, Dr. Norman’s Digging, Mayan Gateway, Maya Shangri-la Bridge, Maya Pyramid, Phoenix Sculpture, Head Portraits of Sixteen Mayan Deities, Maya Pagoda, Maya Town, Margaret Beach, Ghost Monkey Forest and Mayan Lane.

Head Portraits of Sixteen Mayan Deities

Don’t listen, Don’t look and don’t say

Don't listen, Don't look and don't say

Aegean Sea Section

In the clear air and blue sea, the old Aegean stories are told among the flowers, sunshine and birds singing. Here, the true meaning of life is annotated and the Olympic Spirit is developed and expanded. This section’s rides and attractions include Trojan Horse, The Odyssey, Honeybee Boats, Happy Water Cannons, Downtown Heliene, Issaca, Olympia, Bridge Andromeda, Olympic Torch Sculpture, and Minotaur Palace.

Olympic Culture Square

Trojan Horse

Wild Fjord Section

The romantic and peaceful Northern European Civilization is the perfect combination of style and nature. You will have verdurous and vision feel while passing through Wild Fjord. Its rides and attractions include Golden Mask Dynasty Show, OCT Life Art Center, Happy Valley Square, Wild Fjord Square, Sightseeing cars, Electrical motorcycles, and X-game performance.

Mini Train

Atlantis Section

Atlantis is the central part of Beijing Happy Valley depicting an ancient culture produced by Atlantis people. Its rides and attractions include Energy Collector, Crystal Wing, Energy Storm, Water Gambol, Holy Crysatl Castle, Giant Derrick, Magic Theatre, and Funny Fancy Diving.

Energy Collector

Holy Crysatl Castle

Extrem Rusher with drums

Clown Parade

Panjiayuan Temple Fair

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:05:27 +0000

If you are an antique lover traveling Beijing during spring festival, then you should not miss Panjiayuan Temple Fair. Panjiayuan Temple Fair has its own official name called “Panjiayuan Spring Festival Fair”. This year 2012 is the 4th Panjiayuan Spring Festival Fair.

Panjiayuan Temple Fair is located in the west part of Panjianyuan Market ( Panjiayuan Flea, Antique or Dirt Market). Panjiayuan Market‘s east part is still open to vendors and shoppers.

Open hours for Panjiayuan Temple Fair

9:00am – 5:00pm

Jan 21 – 29, 2012

Open hours for Panjiayuan Market

Monday – Friday 08:30am – 6:00pm

Saterday – Sunday 4:30am – 6:00pm

The 4th Panjiayuan Spring Festival Fair

This year’s Panjiayuan Temple Fair is mainly composed of one performance stage, snacks stalls, antiques and handicrafts booths and amusement for kids. What makes this year fair special is that there is an Amber Exhibittion sponsored by Polish government during the fair.

The center of the fair is the stage on which trandtional Beijing cultural performances are on show. People are gathering around the stage enjoying the performance and feeling the festival of the new year.

People are gathering around the stage enjoying the performance

For many temple fair goers, tasting the local snacks is one of their highlights. One row of over a dozen of food stalls are orderly arranged in the special zone in the fair. Beef pies, Lamb kebabs, Stuffed Sausage, Steamed buns with fillings, Sugar Coated haws on a stick…

A beauty kebabs vendor

Making of beef pies

Kids will not be disappointed since there several amusement facilities in the fair.

Panjiayuan Temple Fair still keeps its characteristics of being a platform of trading for antiques and handicrafts. In the fair there are four rows of makeshift stalls selling various staffs – amber, jade, pearls, coral, turquoise

four rows of makeshift stalls

Panjiayuan Temple Fair still keeps its characteristics of being a platform of trading antiques and handicrafts.

Panjiayuan Flea Market

Of course, if you really want to hunt for the bargains you like, you should go to the east part of the market where hundreds of vendors are waiting for you, selling Jewelry such as amber, jade, pearls, coral, turquoise; Cultural Revolution-era items; Buddhist statuary; Porcelain & ceramics and Chinese paintings and calligraphy objects.

amber, jade, pearls, coral, turquoise

Buddhist statuary

calligraphy objects.

Chinese paintings

New Year Wishes

Panjiayuan Market is festively decorated

amber, jade, pearls, coral, turquoise

Precious Stones