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Mt.Huashan Pictures – Mount Huashan Photo Gallery

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

 

Plan your Xian tour? One day side trip from Xian to Mt.Huashan is worth your time at your convenience. Mount Hua is one of the five holy mountains in China, which is well known for its precipitousness and treacherousness. Mt.Huashan is also a treasure trove of Taoism with plentiful Taoist temples that are under control of the Daoist Quanzhen School.
 
Its enthralling landscape and legendary religious culture have enticed numerous travelers to visit Mount Hua each year. Apart from Xian, you may go to Mount Hua from Luoyang and Beijing by high-speed trains. If you would like to stay the night in Mount Hua, there are many hotels and inns at the foot of Mt.Huanshan. If you prefer to stay up on the mountain, there are simple inns with basic facilities for you to choose.  
 
Hiking Mt.Huanshan used to be very dangerous years ago. Now Mt.Huashan is a five-A National-level scenic area that has great safety measures taken to protect tourists. But if you decide to hike Mt.Huashan, you should be still vigilant on your hiking steps and stick to the rule – Hiking without viewing and viewing without hiking.
 
For more how to visit Mt.Huashan, please visit Mt.Huashan Travel Tips.
 
Well, follow me to have a photo tour of Mount Hua!
 
Yuntai Mountain Villa at the junction of the way from the Cable car and the ancient hiking rail. The villa-type hotel has over 100 rooms.  
Yuntai Mountain Villa at the junction of the way from the Cable car and the ancient hiking rail

Yuntai Mountain Villa at the junction of the way from the Cable car and the ancient hiking rail

 
The cliff is called the Ear Touching Cliff, only wide for two persons to pass by
The cliff is called The Ear Touching Cliff

The cliff is called The Ear Touching Cliff

 
The Canglong Ridge (Green Dragon Ridge), a narrow ridge with 530 steps, one of three most dangerous trails in Mt.Huashan.
The Canglong Ridge (Green Dragon Ridge), a narrow ridge with 530 steps

The Canglong Ridge (Green Dragon Ridge), a narrow ridge with 530 steps

 
Thousands of love locks, colourfully festooned with flowing red ribbons.
housands of love locks, colourfully festooned with flowing red ribbons.

housands of love locks, colourfully festooned with flowing red ribbons.

 
Clamber up
Clamber up

Clamber up

 
You don’t have to be a profession climber, ordinary hikers like these female tourists are brave enough to conquer Mt.Huashan.
You don't have to be a profession climber

You don’t have to be a profession climber

 
The huge rock is named “Lonely Light of Cloud and Rain”
The huge rock is named Lonely Light of Cloud and Rain

The huge rock is named Lonely Light of Cloud and Rain

 
Hiking through the Rock of Lonely Light of Cloud and Rain
Hiking through the Rock of Lonely Light of Cloud and Rain

Hiking through the Rock of Lonely Light of Cloud and Rain

 
For many tourists, Mt.Huashan hiking is more like a holiday vacation, a sport and physical activity.
Mt.Huashan hiking is more like a holiday vacation, a sport and physical activity

Mt.Huashan hiking is more like a holiday vacation, a sport and physical activity

 
Have to use your hands and feet to ascend almost vertical rock faces with rock steps 
Have to use your hands and feet to ascend almost vertical rock faces with rock steps

Have to use your hands and feet to ascend almost vertical rock faces with rock steps

 
Not easy to hike down the steep slope
Not easy to hike down the steep slope

Not easy to hike down the steep slope

 
Traffic Jam at some bottlenecks on Mt.Huashan
Traffic Jam at some bottlenecks on Mt.Huanshan

Traffic Jam at some bottlenecks on Mt.Huanshan

 
The mountain litter collector salute the donators.
The mountain litter collector salute the donators.

The mountain litter collector salute the donators.

 
People on their mobiles to broadcast their actvities.
People on their mobiles to broadcast their actvities.

People on their mobiles to broadcast their actvities.

 
Mt.Huashan Style?
Mt.Huashan Style

Mt.Huashan Style

 
Any questions, just drop a line.

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Posted in Shaanxi Travel, Xian Attractions & Tips | No Comments »

Train from Beijing to Xian

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

 

Plan your Beijing Xian tour by train?  Visiting Xian from Beijing by train is a fun and interesting travel experience. But travel China by train is more complicated than by flight mainly due to the less internet connectivity pertaining China’s train schedules, train types, train fares and etc. My post today may be a little helful for planning your train travel from Beijing to Xian.
 
Which railway station in Beijing for the trains from Beijjing to Xian?
At the time of my writing, all the trains from Beijing to Xian start from Beijing West Railway Station. There are mainly four railway stations in Beijing, namely Beijing Railway Station ( the oldest one), Beijing South Railway Station ( mainly for bullet trains), Beijing West Railway Station and Beijing North Railway Station ( for Badaling Great Wall).  So make sure you are on the right train station – Beijing West Train Station: from Beijing to Xian.  
 
Beijing Xian train schedule
In the process of planning your Beijing Xian train travel, you’d better first check Beijing Xian train schedule. There are a few online China train timetables including the Beijing Xian Train Schedule provided by tour-beijing.com.
  
How many daily trains from Beijing Xian?
Going between Beijing and Xian, there are 10 daily high-speed trains and 10 overnight fast trains. 
Major Beijing to Xian Overnight Fast Train Timetable & Fares( Unit: RMB )
Train No. From Dep time To Arr Time Soft 4-bed Cabin Soft 2-bed Cabin
T7 Beijing West 17:12 Xian 07:03+1 440 /
Z19 Beijing West 20:43 Xian 07:58+1 415 765
T55 Beijing West 17:31 Xian 6:32 + 1 415 /
T43 Beijing West 19:50 Xian 08:34+1 442 814
Major Xian to Beijing Overnight Fast Train Timetable & Fares
Train No. From Dep time To Arr Time Soft 4-bed Cabin Soft 2-bed Cabin
T232 Xian 17:44 Beijing West 06:05+1 415 /
T42 Xian 18:18 Beijing West 09:08+1 442 /
T44 Xian 19:00 Beijing West 08:29+1 442 814
Z20 Xian 19:55 Beijing West 07:10+1 415 765
T56 Xian 21:14 Beijing West 10:10 +1 415 /
Major Beijing to Xian High-speed Daytime Train Timetable & Fares( Unit: RMB )
Train No. From Dep time To Arr Time First Class Second Class
G651 Beijing West 07:05 Xian North 12:48 824.5 515.5
G653 Beijing West 08:21 Xian North 14:11 824.5 515.5
G655 Beijing West 10:05 Xian North 15:43 824.5 515.5
G657 Beijing West 11:06 Xian North 16:47 824.5 515.5
G659 Beijing West 12:08 Xian North 17:35 824.5 515.5
G87 Beijing West 14:00 Xian North 18:40 824.5 515.5
G667 Beijing West 17:38 Xian North 23:05 824.5 515.5
Major Xian to Beijing High-speed Daytime Train Timetable & Fares
Train No. From Dep time To Arr Time First Class Second Class
G2508 Xian North 07:28 Beijing West 13:27 824.5 515.5
G652 Xian North 07:50 Beijing West 13:17 824.5 515.5
G654 Xian North 08:50 Beijing West 14:20 824.5 515.5
G656 Xian North 10:05 Beijing West 15:35 824.5 515.5
G658 Xian North 10:40 Beijing West 16:26 824.5 515.5
G660 Xian North 11:35 Beijing West 17:12 824.5 515.5
G662 Xian North 14:40 Beijing West 20:33 824.5 515.5
G664 Xian North 16:03 Beijing West 21:38 824.5 515.5
G668 Xian North 17:55 Beijing West 23:20 824.5 515.5
 
Which train station in Xian for the trains from Beijing?
All the 10 fast overnight trains from Beijing to Xian arrive at Xian Railway Station. The other 10 high-speed trains (G Trains)  from Beijing stops at Xian North Railway Station .
 
How long for the train from Beijing to Xian?
Of all the 10 fast overnight trains from Beijing to Xian, averagely it takes approx. 12 or 13 hours for the train trip from Beijing to Xian and vice versa. The fastest is the highspeed train taking 5 and half hours.
 
All the 10 fast overnight trains leave Beijing in the afternoon and arriving at Xian in the early morning. If you prefer to take an overnight train, you will benefit from saving one night accommodation on the train and more daytime for sightseeing either in Beijing and Xian; of course, taking a daytime highspeed trains offer you more time for daytime sightseeing along the train route from Beijing to Xian. Make sure which train you like for your train travel from Beijing to Xian.
 
Train fares, coach classes and train types from Beijing to Xian?
There are four kinds of trains from Beijing to Xian: G train (highspeed train), Z train (thorough express train), T train (Express Train) and K train (fast train). Basically there are two kinds of coaches on the train – hard speeper and soft sleeper. A hard spleeper coach has open cabins with 6 beds; a soft sleeper coach has cabins with 4 beds.
 
In addition to 4-beded cabins, three trains also have 2-bed cabins – Train T43 and Z19.
 
The Beijing Xian train tickets cost between CNY 400 and CNY472 which depend on the specific train you are going to take. The highspeed train is the most expensive – CNY824 (first class) and CNY515 (second class)
 
Please check China Train Ticket Classes for more information.
 
Tips for taking a train from Beijing to Xian
1) For taking the overnight trains, you should prepare some food, or snacks and drinks for dinner and breakfast.
2) Beijing Western Railway Station is very busy and crowded. Keep an eye on your ticket and belongings.
 
3) Check with a huge train schedule board with timely information on the trains in and out.
4) A clerk from the waiting lounge will check your train ticket before you go to your platform.
 
5) At the entrance to the train, passengers must give the tickets to the conductoress of the rail car to exchange for a boarding card. The card shows your berth number same with the ticket. Once you are on the train and the train is moving, the conductress will walk to you again to check your passport or ID card for security reason. When the train is about to arrive, the conductress will approach you to exchange the card back for the ticket.
 
6) Four people in one compartment – two upper berths and two lower berths. Most people prefer lower berth. So lower berth are harder to get than upper berths. The sheets, one pillow and quilt are very clean and tidy. High up there is a big luggage rack. Well, you will find some portable window seats.
 
7) There is always hot water available on the trains in flasks. If you have your own glass and tea, you can use the hot water to make the tea.
8)  Each sleeper is with a LCD TV. i.e. 4 LCD per compartme
9) The train is well equipped with some useful facilities on both ends of the car – a three-basin wanshing room, two clean toilets, one free hot water cooker. If you have your own glass and tea, you can use the hot water to make the tea.
 
10) All the compartments are non-smoking. But for heavy smokers, please don’t be dissappointed. On each linked area between two rail cars, you can smoke! One ashtray is hung on the wall of the linked area.
11) When the train is about to arrive, the conductress will approach you to exchange back the card back for your ticket.
 
Any questions, just drop a line.
 

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Where to Stay in Xian

Friday, April 27th, 2012

 

Plan your Xian tour? Xian is a very compact and walkable city, so no matter where you are going to stay you will easily get to the major attractions and shopping areas in Xian.
 
As an ancient capital in China, Xian now still keeps the fortifications built in Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. You may stay within the city wall or outside the city wall. But most traveler prefer to stay inside the city wall. The wall measures 14 km in circumference, 12m in height, and 15–18m in width at the base.
 
The city layout within Xian City Wall is based on a grid pattern centrally denoted by the grand Bell Tower (钟楼), which levels out four main avenues clockwise: East avenue (Dong Dajie 东大街), South Avenue ( Nan Dajie 南大街), West Avenue  (Xi Dajie 西大街) and North Aevenue (Bei Dajie 北大街). Xian Railway Station  is just located on the northeast corner of Xian city wall while Xian Airport is located 40km northwest of Xian. 
 
Bell Tower Area
Bell Tower Area is the most central part of Xian with four main streets merged here. Under the Bell Tower, a newly completed Subway line 02 takes you to Xian North Railway Station or the exhibition center in the south. The Xian airport shuttle has one stop here in front of Xian Melody Hotel where you may get off or get on the shuttle bus to start or finish your Xian trip.
 
To the northwest of Bell Tower, there is a Starbucks (Bell Tower Shop).  Walk westward from the Starbucks, you will see some local famous restaurants providing Xian dumplings and Yangrou Paomo (Bread and Mutton Soup). Further west, you come across Drum Tower. North of Drum Tower is the famous Muslim Quarters.
 
Suggested hotels around Bell Tower:
Melody Hotel Xian,
 Citadines Xi’an Central
Bell Tower Hotel Xian
Ibis Hotel Xi’an
Xi’an Century Landscape Hotel
 
East Avenue Area
The East Avenue used to the most commercial street in Xian. Now its popularity is fading with its position having graduated taken by South Avenue and West Avenue. Outside the east gate of Xian City Wall is Shaanxi Song & Dance Theatre which puts on Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show every day.
 
Suggested hotels around East Avenue: 
Grand Metro Park Xian 
Grand Metropark Hotel Xi’an
Grand Noble Hotel Xi’an
Canaan International Hotel
Super 8 Hotel Xi’an He Ping Gate
 
South Avenue Area.
The South Avenue is the shortest avenues of the four with its southern tip meets the South Gate of Xian City Wall. The South Avenue is lined with high end and upstart shopping malls. Its city wall south gate is often used as a tourist spot where people strart to work. Forest of Stone Tablets is also located to the east of the south gate.
 
Suggestes hotels around South Avenue:
Union Alliance Atravis Executive Hotel
Skytel Xi’an (Formerly Prince International Hotel)
 
West Avenue Area
The West Street is rebuilt in a Tang Dynasty architecture style. This is the most beautiful streat, especially sparkling in the evening.
 
Suggested hotels around West Avenue:
West Capital International Hotel
Rongmin International Hotel Xi’an
Meihua-Goldentang Internation Hotel
 
North Avenue Area
The North Avenue is the least commercial street of the four streets where Xian’s office buildings and government buidlings are dotted here and there around the North Avenue.
 
Suggested hotels around north avenue: 
Sofitel Xian on Renmin Square
Mercure on Renmin Square Xian
Huashan Mountain International Hotel
Aurum International Hotel
Xian colorful hotel apartment
Days Inn City Centre Xian
 
Xian Railway Station Area
Xian Railway Station is located on the northeast corner of the city wall. It is a very bustling and commecial area. On the east square of the train station, there are directly buses going to Terra-cotta Army and Huaqing Hotspring.
 
Suggested hotels around Xian Railway Station:
Grand Soluxe International Hotel Xi’An
Hilton Xi’an
Jinjiang Inn (Xi’an Jiefang Road)
 
South of Xian City Wall Area
The area outside the City Wall in the south is quite with some walkable attractions like Big Goose Pagoda and Shaanxi Museum.
 
Suggested hotels: Tangcheng Hotel Xian and Shangri-la Hotel Xian
 
Useful Xian Hotel Links
 
Any questions,  jus t drop a line.
 

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