Make sure you get to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Army, which is a fabulous collection of hand-carved terracotta soldiers (some 6,000) still being excavated from a Qin dynasty site. The soldiers are rumored to not have two faces alike, and their horses are exquisite. This is a sight not to be missed, and while you’re in Xian, make sure you see the Shaanxi History Museum, Xi’an City Wall, and Huaqing Hot Springs. If you have the time to spend a few days in Xi’an, you’ll be amazed at the beauty and history.

Make sure you get to Shanghai, where you can see Nanjing Road, The Old Town, Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, the Shanghai Bund, and the Shanghai Wildlife Zoo. Shanghai is one of the most western-like cities in China, and well worth the visit.

Of course you’re going to spend a few days in Beijing. In addition to the Great Wall and Forbidden City, don’t miss the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and the Ming Tombs, the burial site of 13 of the 17 Ming Dynasty emperors, in all their splendor.

You will probably also want to spend some time in and around Gullin, which is extremely beautiful and has amazing scenery. You can cruise the Li River, see Elephant Trunk Hill and the Longji Terraced Field, and spend time admiring the beautiful landscapes. You might also want to visit Kknming, where you can see the Stone Forest and other breathtaking sights.

Another important place to visit, of course is the Silk Road, which is one of the most famous areas in China. You might, in fact, believe your voyage to China was not all it could be without seeing the famous Silk Road.

There is so much to see in China that it is impossible to see it all in one week, or even two; you could spend months traveling China and not see everything that you would find interesting, beautiful or even mind-boggling, as in the Terracotta Army.

When you arrange your China vacation, pick out a few things that you most want to see, and make sure that your package tour or personal tour guide includes these major sights in your itinerary. While you may find other things to see, and you may miss a few of the things you kind of want to see, you should be able to see the sights that are most valuable to you in your visit to China. And you may well find that you want to travel to China repeatedly to see all of the sights you miss the first, and second, and third times.

China Travel: Places To See is a post from: Gubeikou Great Wall of China

First, of course, as soon as you realize you’re going to China, apply for or update your passport if necessary, and apply for your China travel visa. You won’t be able to go without these two documents, of course, so make sure you have plenty of time and won’t be worrying, close to trip time, about whether you will be able to go. Get this task out of the way and spend your time preparing for your trip.

If you’re planning a vacation, you might consider doing some searching online for discount or “cheap” China travel and group tours to China. This is probably the easiest, and certainly the most affordable, way to travel in China. You can find a variety of group tours, including tours suitable for families, and you may want to consider this when you’re planning your trip. Having a guide/interpreter will make your trip more enjoyable.

And of course if you’re taking any electric appliances (like a hairdryer) or electronics (from a laptop to a smart phone) you’ll need to get an adaptor so you can plug your items into the wall. Make sure you get an adaptor that works in China, and you might want to consider getting two just in case one dies on your trip.

Check out train travel opportunities before you leave, as traveling China by train is one of the best ways to see the breathtaking countryside. Train travel is inexpensive in China, and a great way to get around the country. However, the trains don’t generally offer Western food choices, and if you need snacks, you’ll need to take them on board with you, because they don’t have vending machines on the trains. As long as you’re prepared for this, you’ll be able to enjoy riding the rails in China.

Make a plan for what you want to see. Of course you’ll want to visit the Great Wall and Forbidden City. You probably also want to schedule a trip to Xian to see the terracotta soldiers, and possibly Leaping Tiger Gorge, which is in Lijang. When you talk with your travel agent about your trip to China, make a point of mentioning any specific places you want to visit, and explain what you like the most and most want to see while you’re in China.

Taking the time to plan your trip to China and make sure you’re prepared for traveling in Asia, including documents and electrical adaptors, will help you insure that you have a great vacation or business trip and that you don’t miss any of the beautiful sites of China.

China Travel: Tips For Planning Your Trip is a post from: Gubeikou Great Wall of China

One of the first things we think of when we talk about “luxury travel” is first class air travel, and this is certainly a part of your luxurious China vacation, along with luxury hotel accommodations and having personal guides and escorts rather than taking group tours with other vacationers.

While you’re in China, you will want to take in some of the regular tourist sights, and you may want to be able to get the “special access” to some sights that is restricted for VIPs and special visitors. Talk with your luxury tour operator about these tours and what you would like to see; there are often special arrangements your operator can make to help you have an even more special experience.

Room service is a luxury many people enjoy, of course, and in China, in your five-star hotel, the room service will be spectacular, and you will be amazed how wonderful the local food is when you’re experiencing the cooking skills of some of the best chefs in the country.

General luxury travel is very popular, and you can find many tour operators offering first-class travel in China. You can go to the mainland and visit all of the wonderful historic and cultural sites in luxury, and you can also visit Hong Kong, which is considered truly luxurious in its own right. Simply by looking for a tour operator who does “regular” travel in first-class style, you can find a wonderful vacation package.

However, if you’re particularly interested in Chinese cuisine, you may wish to find a gastronomy tour that takes you to some of the most exciting and exotic dining experiences in China and gives you the opportunity to learn more about Chinese cuisine and sample things you would never be able to try at home.

Or, if golf is your passion, there are many deluxe golfing packages that let you tee off in the countryside of China, some of the most beautiful land in the world. If your are a keen golfer and want to either concentrate on golf while in China or make it a large part of your visit, you can work with a golf tour operator to make that experience a reality for you.

Whatever your goals for first-class travel in China, you can find a luxury tour operator simply by searching on the Internet for luxury travel in China and talking with operators who offer the kinds of tour you are interested in . You may be surprised, not only at how lush some of the packages are and how much they offer, but that first-class travel in China, true luxury living on the mainland and in Hong Kong, is much less expensive than the same class of travel in Europe or the United States.

China Travel In Luxury is a post from: Gubeikou Great Wall of China

If you’re planning to travel to China, especially if you have never been to “the mainland” before, there is no substitute for working with a travel agency to make sure that you see all of the remarkable sights this country has to offer. You know about the Great Wall and the Yangtze River, of course, but there are amazing things that you may not know about, and using a travel agency will make planning your trip much easier.

Travel agents know about all of the amazing things available to do and see in China. They can ask you some questions, get a feel for what you want and who you are, and help you plan a trip that will encompass all of the wonders of China that you would not want to miss, including the Silk Road, Yangtze River cruises, and some of the more remote, or less known, sights that are simply unforgettable. And if you have a desire to see a lot of the Chinese countryside, your travel agent can help arrange that.

Whether you want to go on a bicycle tour, spend most of your vacation traveling China by train, or go with a guided tour to some of the more traditional destinations in China, your travel agent will be able to make the perfect arrangements and get you exactly the vacation you want, within your budget.

The budget part is important to you, of course, and it’s also one of the great things about working with a travel agent. Travel agents are paid by the companies they book arrangements with, and because they often get better rates than travelers can access, you can quite often work with a travel agent and still pay less than you would pay if you booked your arrangements directly.

Whether you work with a local travel agency, get a referral from your own agency to an agency that specializes in China travel, or simply spend some time online and find a travel agency that you want to work with, the very fact that you’re working with a travel agent means that you will almost certainly get better arrangements than you could get on your own, and pay less for your trip.

It sometimes seems like travel agencies are obsolete now that we can book our own travel, but the expertise a professional travel agency brings to your travel arrangements is hard to overestimate. You will almost certainly be glad you worked with an agent familiar with China travel.

China Travel: Travel Agencies is a post from: Gubeikou Great Wall of China

Your bicycle tour can encompass the Great Wall, or rather part of it, as well as the beautiful countryside, historic areas of China (of which there are many) and the temples of Beijing.

You can do your bicycle tour of China alone, but if you’re not a native speaker and unfamiliar with the customs, you probably want to go on a guided tour, either alone or with a group. Even if you’re not a regular bicycle rider, a group bicycle tour will proceed at a moderate pace, and your guide will make sure you understand how to ride your bike properly to pace yourself and enjoy the tour. You’ll also learn about the local culture, what to do and not do, and how to interact, how to stay safe, and how to find the best hotels and shopping opportunities.

You can rent a mountain bike for your tour for a moderate fee, but if you don’t want to pedal all the time, you can actually rent an electric bicycle, something like a moped but in bicycle form.

When you arrange a tour, keep your budget in mind. You can get a lower price on your tour depending on the length of the tour, the number of people and whether you’ll also be using other transportation, like trains, automobiles or airplanes. You can expect a guide, lodging, meals (in a group), other transportation and entry fees to destination sites to cost somewhere between $100 and $200 per day.

If you’re not traveling to China as part of a group tour, you can sign up with a guide service that puts together groups of travelers, and keep your tour costs down. You will also probably find that you really enjoy traveling in a group, and that you have a more enjoyable vacation when you share it with others.

Most people think of “vacation” and “guided tours” as a chance to sit in an air-conditioned bus and be driven from one destination to another, but you may find that getting a little exercise, being closer to the ground, the people and the sites, and traveling like many Chinese do will give you a better feeling for your host country and the people and sites you encounter.

However you decide to spend your time in China, it is well worth taking a long bike ride through the countryside even if you decide that you do not want to go on a full-scale bicycle tour of China. There is no better way to see the great sites of China than on a bicycle, traveling ancient countryside.

China Travel By Bicycle is a post from: Gubeikou Great Wall of China

You could just take off, travel around and see some incredible sites, but you might miss some things you would really enjoy. It makes sense to plan what you’re going to do and how you’re going to travel through China, so you can see the best of everything and not miss anything truly outstanding.

Starting in Beijing makes sense for a lot of reasons, including the fact that Beijing is one of the most important cities in terms of China’s historical development, and contains a number of major treasures. During your three days in Beijing, make sure that you see not only the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, but also the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, The Summer Palace, and The Ming Tombs, as well as the traditional Hutong. This sounds like a lot to take in during only three days, but by planning carefully, you can enjoy all of these sites while you’re in Beijing.

You’ll then spend two days in Xian, where you will explore the history of China. Your major priority in Xian will be the Terra Cotta Army, an army of, literally, clay soldiers. You will also see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Both the Army and the Pagoda were important in the Chinese Revolution, and should not be missed.

You can then fly to Gullin, a breathtaking city that will renew your spirit and give you time to rest and relax. From there, on to Yangshuo and two days cruising the Li River. Don’t miss the Reed Flute Caves and the Elephant Trunk Hills on your cruise.

Next, spend five or even six days in Yunan. Make sure you visit Kunming, a beautiful city and very friendly to tourists from other countries. The Yunan province includes the Shilin Stone Forest, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and Erhai Lake, all beautiful areas to see on your tour.

You’ll finish up your time in China by visiting Shanghai, one of China’s oldest cities and one of its most famous. You’ll visit the Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Bund and French Concession. Make sure you spend some time shopping in the malls and markets if that’s your kind of thing.

Twelve days is both a very short time and a very long time for a vacation trip to China, and you will have a wonderful time exploring the countryside as well as the cultural and historic areas of China. Take lots of pictures and have a wonderful time on your trip.

China Travel: Your 12 Day Vacation is a post from: Gubeikou Great Wall of China

If you’re traveling to China on business, of course the best thing you can do for your business opportunity is follow the local culture and avoid any major gaffes that are likely to hurt your image. Everyone understands that when you’re in a foreign land you make mistakes in etiquette, but a sincere effort will make your business engagements go much more smoothly.

Attire is one of the biggest areas where it is easy to make a mistake. A dark, conservative suit is customary in China; this is a good idea wherever you’re traveling, actually. It’s hard to go wrong with a sober black or gray suit, and conservative tie. And don’t forget your socks. In America, socks with patterns are very popular, but solid black is probably a better choice for overseas travel.

The other major problem area is how to address another person. When you are speaking with a Chinese business person, unless you are close friends, always use their business title (“Director” or “Chairman”) and their family name. A famous example of this is Chairman Mao. The family name comes first in expressing Chinese names; always keep that in mind. Don’t get too familiar with a Chinese person you don’t know well. Other countries, particularly Asian countries, are often quite formal. It’s always better to err on the side of formality. Because formality indicates respect, you can almost never be too formal in China.

In most of China, business hours are from eight to five, Monday through Saturday, though some larger cities have a five-day work week. Government offices are often closed on Friday afternoon, and most offices are closed on major holidays, which includes the Spring Festival (most people take a week off), Labor Day on May 1, and National Day, which is October 1.

As long as you show respect for the Chinese culture and the people you will meet, you will probably do just fine on your business travels and in your meetings and encounters with Chinese business people. It’s not that different from traveling to any other country; while China seems very different from us, it’s really just another place where people have their own culture and rituals. If you follow their basic rules and do your best to fit in, you will be forgiven most mistakes.

Just remember to show respect, act professionally, and enjoy your stay in the remarkable land of China. While you’re in the country, try to make an effort to see some of the beautiful landscape and amazing historical and cultural sites.

China Travel For Business is a post from: Gubeikou Great Wall of China

Chinese words have one syllable, made up of a beginning and ending sound or just an ending sound. Mandarin is a phonetic language, and easier to understand than you might expect. The most difficult part, which is not incredibly difficult actually, is the tones. There are four tones, and getting the tone right for each word is important, so that you say what you mean to be saying.

The accent symbols, in writing, are a macron (the long vowel symbol; a line over a letter), an acute accent (leans from left to right, like an apostrophe), grave accent (leans right to left, opposite an apostrophe) and the carot, which looks like an upside-down v. No accent mark indicates a light tone. When you visit sites that teach Mandarin, you’ll see these accent marks and a full explanation of them.

The easiest way to learn the phrases you need is to memorize the phrases in writing, without worrying about how they are pronounced, and then you can learn the proper pronunciations once you have a hang of the basic words and what they mean. Here are ten phrases you will find useful.

1. ni hao: regards: This is like saying hello.
2. ni hao ma: The equivalent of hello, how are you.
3. hen hao: I’m fine.
4. lao jia: thank you/please/excuse me.
5. zao shang hao: good morning.
6. xie xie: thank you; particularly when receiving a gift.
7. shi fu: a formal, respectful method for calling a cab or driver
8. duo shao qian: how much?
9. da zhe ma: do you offer a discount?
10. plan yi dian: I would like this item for less, please (when negotiating in a store)

China Travel: Learning Mandarin is a post from: Gubeikou Great Wall of China