Two Days in Xiamen

Xiamen is a microcosm of the rest of China. There is rich Xiamen, and not so rich. There are old parts and new construction everywhere. There are quaint little alley restaurants and MacDonald's. They are rapidly developing while preserving remnants of their colonial past. In short, Xiamen is the embodiment of all the promise and contradictions facing modern Chinese cities.

Text / photos by David Harrison Horton Xiamen Xiamen is a microcosm of the rest of China. There is rich Xiamen, and not so rich. There are old parts and new construction everywhere. There are quaint little alley restaurants and MacDonald's. They are rapidly developing while preserving remnants of their colonial past. In short, Xiamen is the embodiment of all the promise and contradictions facing modern Chinese cities. James Rong from China Daily tells me Xiamen reminds him of his hometown, Bei Hai in Guangxi. "The coastal cities in China are all well developed. You can tell the economy here is good." I see his point, but if I had to compare Xiamen to another Chinese city - which always seems a dangerous and somewhat useless exercise - I might say it reminds me of Haikou on Hainan Island. Shangguan Jun of the Xiamen Information Office says it is more like Shenzhen or Juhai, which are other "special economic zones" with special relationships with other "outside" areas of China. As Shenzhen is to Hong Kong, Xiamen is to Taiwan. The fact is omnipresent. Even at the beach, there's a huge lighted sign - think the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles - that simply states "One Country Two Systems One China," as if anyone around these parts would be likely to forget the Party line on this point. Gulangyu Island Ask any Chinese person about this island and they will immediately start talking about the many great Chinese musicians who have hailed from here. The island is one of the must-dos of any visit to Xiamen. It's a 3 yuan ferry to get to the island. The bottom deck was packed, hot and relatively viewless. The top deck had seats and tables but were filled almost instantly. It was a short jaunt, but just long enough to start a conversation with an island resident. According to her, the population of the island has been officially capped by the government at 20,000 as a measure to fend off overdevelopment. The first you'll notice when you step off the ferry is the army of tour groups. You will know them by their matching baseball caps and megaphone wielding leaders. The buildings are mostly from the colonial era, a remnant of the concession era in Xiamen. The oldest building I saw was built in 1896, with most being built in the 1920s and 30s. Some are nicely preserved, while others stand in various stages of disrepair. These are after all people's real homes and not a sanitized historical museum. Ficus microcarpa trees line the alley ways, giving the area an even older feel to it. Good signage points you towards points of interest. There's the former Japanese consulate, the legendary Xiamen music school . . . As you walk around, you'll find the island's concert hall. Its modern architecture looks like an old idea of what the future would look like and is at odds with its surroundings. The nearby building with a gold cross isn't a church but rather a nursing home for the elderly. Of course, tourist shops line the streets selling more or less the same fare you'd find in any other southern coastal city.

Classic China Tour (Beijing) - 4 Days Typical Beijing Tour A

In four days you will see many human wonders like the Great Wall-most famous image of China throughout the world. It is the only man made object visible from the moon. Visiting museums is the best way to better understand the place you are exploring, you may go to the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, etc.

Day 1: Arrive / Beijing (Arrive at Beijing. Be met & transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.)

Day 2: Beijing (Full day trip to the Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. Enjoy the Peking Opera Show in the evening.)

- The Tian'anmen Square: The largest city square in the world.

- The Forbidden City: The largest imperial palace in China during the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years.

- The Temple of Heaven: The place where the ancient emperors used to pray for the God's blessings on the whole nation.

Day 3: (Beijing Full day trip to the Great Wall, Ming Tomb and

Day 4: Beijing / Exit (Visit the Summer Palace. Take afternoon flight to the next destination. Service ends.)

Classic China Tour (Guilin) - 3 Days Guilin Tour / To Hong Kong

Day 1: (Hong Kong / Guilin) Day 2: Guilin (Li River Cruise: Morning drive to Zhujiang Dock (varies in low water season) from hotel, cruise down stream to Yangshuo for about 4 to 5 hours (time varies in different season). Enjoy the cruise on the mirrored waters of the Li River striking you with its poetic scenery of misty pinnacles, gentle green riverbanks and quiet river activities, Lunch will be onboard. Disembark the ship upon arrival at Yangshuo. Walk through the local "hello" market.) Day 3: Guilin / Hong Kong (Visit farms, rice paddies by driving to the Ancient Banyan tree Park and Moon Hill, you may also client 890 steps up to the moon hill to see the beautiful country side scenery. Be transferred to Guilin's airport in the afternoon for your flight to Hong Kong. The tour ends.)

The Birth of Silk Road

As an interconnected series of routes, the Silk Road ( 丝绸之路 ) is through Southern Asia traversed by caravan and ocean vessel, and connecting Chang'an, China with Antioch, Syria, as well as other points. Its influence carries over on to Korea and terminates eventually in Japan .

The continental Silk Road diverges into North and South routes as it extends from the commercial centers of North China, the North route passing through the Bulgar-Kypchak zone to Eastern Europe and the Crimean peninsula, and from there across the Black Sea, Marmara Sea and the Balkans to Venice; the South Route passing through Turkestan-Khorasan, through Iran into Mesopotamia and Anatolia, and then through Antioch in Southern Anatolia into the Mediterranean Sea or through the Levant into Egypt and North Africa.

These exchanges were critical not only for the development and flowering of the great civilisations of Rome , China and India , but they laid the foundations of our modern world. While goods and religious ideas may have travelled the whole way, ancient trade was probably conducted over sections of the routes and it is probable that merchants and travellers very rarely, if ever, covered the whole distance between Europe, or the Middle East, and China , by land.

These route can be traced back to Han Dynasty, from 138 BC, Emperor Wu dispatched Zhang Qian ( 张骞 ) twice as his envoy to the Western Regions, and in the process pioneered the route known as the Silk Road from Chang'an, through Xinjiang and Central Asia, and on to the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Following Zhang Qian' embassy and report, commercial relations between China and Central as well as Western Asia flourished, as many Chinese missions were sent throughout the 1st century BC, initiating the development of the Silk Road.

In 97 AD the Chinese general Ban Chao ( 班超 ) went as far west as the Caspian Sea with 70,000 men and established direct military contacts with the Parthian Empire, also dispatching an envoy to Rome. Several Roman embassies to China soon followed from 166 AD. Good exchanges such as Chinese silk, African ivory, and Roman incense increase the contacts between the East and West. Contacts with the Kushan Empire led to the introduction of Buddhism to China from India in the first century.

The height of the importance of the Silk Road was during the Tang dynasty, with relative internal stability in China after the divisions of the earlier dynasties since the Han. In the seventh century, the Chinese traveler Xuan Zhuang ( 玄奘 ) crossed the region on his way to obtain Buddhist scriptures from India.

The art and civilization of the Silk Road achieved its highest point in the Tang Dynasty. Chang'an, as the starting point of the route, as well as the capital of the dynasty, developed into one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities of the time.

After the Tang, however, the traffic along the road subsided, along with the grotto building and art of the period. The Five Dynasties period did not maintain the internal stability of the Tang dynasty, and again neighbouring states started to plunder the caravans. China was partially unified again in the Song dynasty, but the Silk Road was not as important as it had been in the Tang.

From its birth before Christ, through the heights of the Tang dynasty, until its slow demise six to seven hundred years ago, the Silk Road has had a unique role in foreign trade and political relations, stretching far beyond the bounds of Asia itself. It has left its mark on the development of civilizations on both sides of the continent. However, the route has merely fallen into disuse; its story is far from over.

Chinese Green Tea

Low in caffeine, high rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, green tea which researchers believe may kill bacteria, cancer cells, and some viruses, plus preventing heart disease.

Green Tea plus Extract contains catechins, powerful polyphenol antioxidants that are 200 times stronger than vitamin E at neutralizing free radicals-molecules that attack lipids in the brain and other tissues. Green tea also possesses antimicrobial properties (immune system support and circulatory health ), helps normalize vascular blood clotting and total cholesterol, and supports healthy kidney function.

Green tea from the Camellia Leaves, is unfermented at its processing. The leaves are allowed to wither only slightly after picking, and then are rolled and dried before they can oxidize. These polyphenols antioxidants are more effective at de-arming potentially dangerous free radicals than other popular antioxidants such as Vitamin C.

The Chinese have used green tea for thousands of years. Recently it was introduced on the American natural health market.

Traditional Chinese medicine has long-recommended Green Tea for its wide-range of health-promoting properties especially to build up natural resistance.

In Asian countries where green tea plus extract is consumed more often than black tea (in North America, we tend to drink black tea), studies indicate that green tea drinkers have a lower mortality rate from cancer. Green tea is nontoxic and probably beneficial plus.

Drinking Green Tea or Taking green tea extract is reputed of Various Healthy

Tea culture

1. tale for the tea: a farmer went to a mountain to cut trees. While walking, he was caught by a kind of tree, whose leaves tastes very good. So he picked leaves and put them into a cup with water. It tastes better if cooked. George

2. it's a customs that host may serve the guset with tea. -Sunshine Smile

3. Many people study on the tea culture. Luyu wrote a book name "Cha King"(茶经)陆羽- Sunshine Smile

4. Tea plays an important role in health-keeping, thirst quenching also in refreshing and cosmetics.-Pudding Girls

5. The skill of making tea is particular and fancy. Tea may taste better if it goes with spring. Pudding Girls

6. While many westerns like drinking coffee, Chinese gte into the habit of drinking tea. Drinking tea is different from tasting tea. As for tasting, people care about its color, fragrance and so on.

7. When you treat your guests with tea, you'd better fill in four fifth of the teacup because a full one means you like the guest to leave. -DN Angel

8. Kuding Tea, a special kind of tea tastes bitter at the very beginning, but after a short while, it may leave the feeling of sweet in mouth.-east life

9. As taling with the guest, the host must take care how much water is remained in the cups and kettle to show his /her consideration. Snacks, sweets and cookies may be served at the same time to compliment the fragrance of the tea. -Cola

10. if one drink tea too much or too often, his teeth may be hard to keep white . Rainbow

11. there are many kinds of tea, say red tea, green tea, and so forth. Each tea has its own funtion. Take green tea for example, it may help us keep fit and lose weight. As for red tea, it can make us more dynamic. -Fly

12. In the past, tea is used to tell people's fortune(占卜)-God

Types of Chinese Tea

Chinese tea may be classified into3 types of teas according to the different methods by which it is processed.

1.Green tea

Green tea is the variety which keeps the original color of the tea leaves without fermentation during processing. This category consists mainly of Longjing tea of Zhejiang Province, Maofeng of Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province and Biluochun produced in Jiangsu.

2.Black tea

Black tea, known as "red tea" (hong cha) in China, is the category which is fermented before baking; it is a later variety developed on the basis of the green tea. The best brands of black tea are Qihong of Anhui , Dianhong of Yunnan, Suhong of Jiangsu, Chuanhong of Sichuan and Huhong of Hunan.

3.Wulong tea(wu long tea,oolong tea)

This represents a variety half way between the green and the black teas, being made after partial fermentation. It is a specialty from the provinces on China's southeast coast: Fujian, Guangdong and Taiwan.

Great Wall of China

The Great Wall, like the Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal(1) in India and the Hanging Garden of Babylon(2), is one of the great wonders of the world.

Starting out in the east on the banks of the Yalu River in Liaoning Province, the Wall stretches westwards for 12,700 kilometers to Jiayuguan in the Gobi desert, thus known as the Ten Thousand Li Wall in China. The Wall climbs up and down, twists and turns along the ridges of the Yanshan and Yinshan Mountain Chains through five provinces--Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu--and two autonomous regions--Ningxia and Inner Mongolia, binding the northern China together.

Historical records trace the construction of the origin of the Wall to defensive fortification back to the year 656 B.C. during the reign of King Cheng of the States of Chu. Its construction continued throughout the Warring States period in the fifth Century B.C. when ducal states Yan, Zhao, Wei, and Qin were frequently plundered by the nomadic peoples living north of the Yinshan and Yanshan mountain ranges. Walls, then, were built separately by these ducal states to ward off such harassments. Later in 221 B.C., when Qin conquered the other states and unified China, Emperor Qinshihuang ordered the connection of these individual walls and further extensions to form the basis of the present great wall. As a matter of fact, a separate outer wall was constructed north of the Yinshan range in the Han Dynasty(206 BC--1644 BC.), which went to ruin through years of neglect. In the many intervening centuries, succeeding dynasties rebuilt parts of the Wall. The most extensive reinforcements and renovations were carried out in the Ming Dynasty (1368--1644) when altogether 18 lengthy stretches were reinforced with bricks and rocks. it is mostly the Ming Dynasty Wall that visitors see today.

The Great Wall is divided into two sections, the east and west, with Shanxi Province as the dividing line. The west part is a rammed earth construction, about 5.3 meters high on average. In the eastern part, the core of the Wall is rammed earth as well, but the outer shell is reinforced with bricks and rocks. The most imposing and best preserved sections of the Great Wall are at Badaling and Mutianyu, not far from Beijing and both are open to visitors.

The Wall of those sections is 7.8 meters high and 6.5 meters wide at its base, narrowing to 5.8 meters on the ramparts, wide enough for five horses to gallop abreast. There are ramparts, embrasures, peep-holes and apertures for archers on the top, besides gutters with gargoyles to drain rain-water off the parapet walk. Two-storied watch-towers are built at approximately 400-meters internals. The top stories of the watch-tower were designed for observing enemy movements, while the first was used for storing grain, fodder, military equipment and gunpowder as well as for quartering garrison soldiers. The highest watch-tower at Badaling standing on a hill-top, is reached only after a steep climb, like "climbing a ladder to heaven". The view from the top is rewarding, hoverer. The Wall follows the contour of mountains that rise one behind the other until they finally fade and merge with distant haze.

A signal system formerly existed that served to communicate military information to the dynastic capital. This consisted of beacon towers on the Wall itself and on mountain tops within sight of the Wall. At the approach of enemy troops, smoke signals gave the alarm from the beacon towers in the daytime and bonfire did this at night. Emergency signals could be relayed to the capital from distant places within a few hour long before the invention of anything like modern communications.

There stand 14 major passes (Guan, in Chinese) at places of strategic importance along the Great Wall, the most important being Shanghaiguan and Jiayuguan. Yet the most impressive one is Juyongguan, about 50 kilometers northwest of Beijing.

Known as "Tian Xia Di YI Guan" (The First Pass Under Heaven), Shanghaiguan Pass is situated between two sheer cliffs forming a neck connecting north China with the northeast. It had been, therefore, a key junction contested by all strategists and many famous battles were fought here. It was the gate of Shanghaiguan that the Ming general Wu Sangui opened to the Manchu army to suppress the peasant rebellion led by Li Zicheng and so surrendered the whole Ming empire to the Manchus, leading to the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. (1644-1911)

Jiayuguan Pass was not so much as the "Strategic pass Under the Heaven" as an important communication center in Chinese history. Cleft between the snow-capped Qilian Mountains and the rolling Mazong Mountains, it was on the ancient Silk Road. Zhang Qian, the first envoy of Emperor Wu Di of the Western Han dynasty (206 B.C-24 A.D), crossed it on his journey to the western regions. Later, silk flowed to the west through this pass too. The gate-tower of Jiayuguan is an attractive building of excellent workmanship. It has an inner city and an outer city, the former square in shape and surrounded by a wall 11.7 meters high and 730 meters in circumference. It has two gates, an eastern one and a western one. On each gate sits a tower facing each other. the four corners of the wall are occupied by four watch towers, one for each.

Juyongguan, a gateway to ancient Beijing from Inner Mongolia, was built in a 15-kilometer long ravine flanked by mountains. The cavalrymen of Genghis Khan swept through it in the 13th century. At the center of the pass is a white marble platform named the Cloud terrace, which was called the Crossing-Street Dagoba, since its narrow arch spanned the main street of the pass and on the top of the terrace there used to be three stone dagobas, built in the Yuan Daynasty(1206-1368). At the bottom of the terrace is a half-octagonal arch gateway, interesting for its wealth of detail: it is decorated with splendid images of Buddha and four celestial guardians carved on the walls. The vividness of their expressions is matched by the exquisite workmanship. such grandiose relics works, with several stones pieced together, are rarely seen in ancient Chinese carving. The gate jambs bear a multi-lingual Buddhist sutra, carved some 600 years ago in Sanskrit(3), Tibetan, Mongolian, Uigur(4), Han Chinese and the language of Western Xia. Undoubtedly, they are valuable to the study of Buddhism and ancient languages.

As a cultural heritage, the Wall belongs not only to China but to the world. The Venice charter says: "Historical and cultural architecture not only includes the individual architectural works, but also the urban or rural environment that witnessed certain civilizations, significant social developments or historical events." The Great Wall is the largest of such historical and cultural architecture, and that is why it continues to be so attractive to people all over the world. In 1987, the Wall was listed by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site.

Shanghai Travel

Shanghai, with so many business people rushing in, is not only China's economic and cultural center, but also a "Grand View Garden" for dinners of all tastes. Different styles of cuisine meet and merge in Shanghai only to create the so-called Shanghai style cuisine, influenced by Beijing cuisine, Yangzhou cuisine, Guangdong cuisine and Sichuan cuisine, together with the foods of Suzhou, Wuxi, Ningbo and Hangzhou flavors, making Shanghai an ideal "gourmet kingdom".

If you have an opportunity to visit Shanghai, will strongly recommend some specially featured restaurants to you--

The Shanghai Old Restaurant and De Xing Restaurant are famous for their authentic Shanghai style cuisine; Yanyun Lou Restaurant and Beijing Restaurant offer well-known Beijing food; Our top recommendation for Yangzhou cuisine is the Yangzhou Restaurant; The most famous restaurants that provide typical Guangdong food are the Xin Ya Restaurant and the Xin Hua Lou Restaurant.

In addition, there are gourmet streets in the city that international tourists may never forget--
Yunnan Road Gourmet Street, Zhapu Road Gourmet Street and Old Town Bazaar which are famous
for local snacks, dishes and dim sum.

Foreign style restaurants and coffee shops are found all over the city, among them are French, Russian and German a la Carte restaurants, American fast food restaurants, Italian Pizza Huts, Japanese Sushi bars, Korean BBQ houses, as well restaurants of Indian, Vietnamese, Thai and Mexican flavors.
Shanghai restaurants will surely satisfy you with a great variety of nice food, and hopes you will be a gourmet expert on Chinese food culture in a short period of time.


Shanghai as one of the largest centers of economy in China has witnessed the development of the modern history of China. It is now on its way to become an international metropolis. Only having a good knowledge of these important features and backgrounds of the city, tourists can take a journey to Shanghai with an object in their mind.


Shanghai has made an effort to develop the city tourism mainly featuring "city scenery", "city culture", and "city commerce". The municipal government has gradually mapped out three tourism itineraries. The itinerary for city tours, business, and shopping is organized around the People's Square and both sides of the Huang Pu River. The itinerary for cultural tours around the city is organized in the public entertainment places and communities. The itinerary for recreation and holiday in the outer suburbs is organized around Mount She, Dian Shan Lake, the deepwater port and the Chong Ming Island.

The architecture of Shanghai has its own characters. The Bund, the Stone-gate buildings, the different kinds of Shanghai style constructions, the modern installations which make an assemblage of different styles of architecture, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign are worth visiting.

China Travel

China has been a covered destination for thousands of years. Marco Polo introduced its riches to the West, and intrepid travellers have been following in his footsteps ever since. To visit this enigmatic nation is to immerse oneself in an exotic mix of antiquity and modernity. Come, join us on one of our journeys to experience real China, and continue yout tip to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos....

Travel to China is a life time experience and a better way to understand China. Only when you are there, you may start to appreciate and understand what a difference to live in a nation with a population of 1.2 billion.




China offers variety choices for visitorsIf you are interested in Chinese history, Chinese culture and Chinese scenery, your trip will be very fulfilled and very interesting. If you want to enjoy a peaceful sunshine beach holiday, there are plenty of tourist areas along the coastal line, which have unspoiled beaches and luxury hotels for visitors.




In Hainan Island, the beautiful Sangya beaches are opened whole year around and there is no winter in this island. If you want excitements and nightlife stay in big cities. There are many places every night for international gathering.




If you are adventurers, go to remote areas to watch wild life or visit minorities to see how they live in the hillsides or desert. If you are sporty, take a cycle trip along the countryside enjoy the rural life and meet with Chinese people along the route.




You may have heard or read a lot about China from books, newspapers, magazines and TV programs. Some of them are true but most of them are out of date, incorrect or even false. China is different from many of your previous experiences and may shock you in many ways. This is what China is!

This country is changing and progressing every day. Yet it is still a developing country. After the economic reform, most of the developments concentrate in major cities and remote areas are still very backward. China is a very populated nation and people have to cope with the crowded ( environment. Foreign visitors may not get use to the mentality of the people and sometimes become frustrated with the situation, which they never experienced before. Basically Chinese are reserve, peaceful and nice. They are very polite too but in their own way. When a foreigner is willing to take a more positive attitude to recognize the difference, the trip will become worthwhile or you may ruin your trip completely by unreasonable expectation and misjudgment of the people in general.

Yangtze River

Coursing over a distance of 6,380 kilometers, the mighty Yangtze is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Amazon in South America and the Nile in Africa. It is also a cradle of ancient Chinese civilization.
The most impressive section of the river is the three Yangtze River gorges: the Qutang Gorge, Wuxia Gorge and Xiling Gorge, collectively known as the Sanxia, or Three Gorges.

The source of the Yangtze (Changjiang ) River lies in the west of Geladandong Mountain, the principal peak of the Tanggula Mountain chain in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, southwest of China. It is here in the Tuotuo River that China's longest river, about 6,380 kilometers long, rises and flows on from west to east through provinces, cities and autonomous regions of Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, finally emptying into the East China Sea from Shanghai. The Yangtze River is the largest river in China, and the third longest in the world, next only to the Nile in northeast Africa and the Amazon in South America. It is also a cradle of ancient Chinese civilization.

Yellow Mountains (Huangshan)

Yellow Mountains (Huangshan) one of the most popular attractions in China.
by Li Bai

Thousands of feet high towers the Yellow Mountains
With its thirty-two magnificent peaks,
Blooming like golden lotus flowers
Amidst red crags and rock columns.
Once I was on its lofty summit,
Admiring Tianmu Pine below.
The place is still traceable where the immortal
Before ascending to heaven made elixir out of jade.
Now you embark on your journey there alone---
Another Wen Boxue* I happened to meet---
Who've been to Five Mountains for beauty of nature,
Leaving behind countless ranges of hills.
Homeward you go back to White Goose Ridge,
Back to drink from your Elixir Well.
If by chance I pay you a visit,
I expect to be met by your light carriage.
Eastwards from Lingyang you bend your steps,
And pick your way through fragrant bushes,
Many a stream and many a ford,
Peaks upon peaks shutting out the sky
That's where I'll call on you some other day
Across a bridge that spans cliffs like a rainbow.
*Wen Boxue, mentioned by Zhuang Zi as a wise scholar contemporary with Confucius.