My tour to Suzhou

Lion Grove Garden

My visit to Suzhou is a quite relaxing experience and I really like the warm and beautiful city. Lion Grove Garden is my favorite attraction in Suzhou.

Located at the northeast of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, the Lion Grove Garden is famous for the Taihu rocks in various shapes which are said to resemble lions, especially the large and labyrinthine grotto of rocks at the garden's center. It is recognized with other classical Suzhou gardens as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with other three gardens, including Blue Wave Pavilion (Canglang Ting), Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan) and Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan), the Lion Grove Garden is one of the four most famous and representative gardens of ancient classical style in Suzhou city.

The ticket for Lion Grove Garden is 20 yuan and it opens from 9am to 5pm.

Humble Administration Garden and Suzhou Museum is quite near the Lion Grove Garden. I have visited these three attractions together. You could find lots of famous restaurants on the Guanqian Street such as Deyue Lou and Xiaoxiao Deyue Lou. I really like the food in Suzhou, a little bit sweet but also salt. We girls always like such kind of food!

I really like this city and would like to visit it if possible!

You could find more tours or information about Suzhou tours on China Suzhou Tours: Suzhou Garden - Zhouzhuang Bus Tour http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/shanghai-bus-tour-suzhou-garden.html, Shanghai Bus Tour to Suzhou http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/shanghai-bus-tour-suzhou.html, 4 days Shanghai+Suzhou Package http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/4-days-shanghai-tour-package.html, Suzhou:Watertown of Tongli andZhouzhuang http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/suzhou-daytrip-sz01.html

My tour to Yongding Tulou cluster

Yongding Toulou cluster

Yongding Tulou is one of the most attractive places for me in Fujian. Last month, I had a visit to the fantastic buildings with my family and it was really an impressive trip!

The moment I stepped out of the airport in Xiamen, the capital of Fujian province, I felt the passion and warmth of the southeast city. Beijing was still cold in those days but Xiamen was already in a hot days! I like the green trees, blue sky and clear sea! It gave me a great start of the pleasant journey.

The next day, we headed towards Yongding with our guide Tim Yang from Beijing Chinaholidays. During our trip, he gave us a quit detailed introduction of the mysterious building. Fujian Tulou is a type of Chinese rural dwellings of the Hakka is in the mountainous areas in southeastern Fujian, China. They were mostly built between the 12th and the 20th centuries. A total of 46 Fujian Tulou sites, including Chuxi tulou cluster, Tianluokeng tulou cluster, Hekeng tulou cluster, Gaobei tulou cluster, Dadi tulou cluster, Hongkeng tulou cluster, Yangxian lou, Huiyuan lou, Zhengfu lou and Hegui lou, have been inscribed in 2008 by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, as "exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization harmonious relationship with their environment".

Hakka Earth Building

When we got there, we found there were so many buildings ranging on the green trees and mountains of this area. We had a visit to the Zhengcheng Tulou and other buildings around it. You could not imagine they are such lofty buildings unless you see them by yourself!  It is a large, enclosed and fortified earth building, most commonly rectangular or circular in configuration, with very thick load-bearing rammed earth walls between three and five stories high and housing up to 80 families. Smaller interior buildings are often enclosed by these huge peripheral walls which can contain halls, storehouses, wells and living areas, the whole structure resembling a small fortified city.

When you came into the earth building, you will feel the strong ethnic atmosphere in it! Local people live there, cook in it and have the whole in the traditional buildings. The building has become a part of their life! We had a lunch in the building with local people, the food was delicious and unique, I did not taste such flavor in other places!

I really enjoy the trip to Yongding Tulou cluster and had learnt a lot about the mysterious building! Hope I could return and taste the typical food one day!

You could find more Fujian tours on Beijing Chinaholidays http://www.chinaholidays.com/. If you would like to have a visit to Yongding Tulou, you could try the tour I picked 4 days Xiamen Tour Package http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/xiamen-tour-package.html and Gulangyu Island Daytrip http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/xiamen-daytrip-gulangyu-island.html. 

Trees in blossom along Gubeikou Great Wall

Gubeikou Great Wall

This week, I had a visit to the Gubeikou Great Wall in Huairou District Beijing with my friend Sophia Yu. It is really amazing experience for me because I never expect the flower trees in Great Wall.

The great wall itself is fantastic, the walls, battlements and towers are lofty and superior. The guide Linda for chinaholidays introduced the history of Gubeikou to us which could be dated back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is firstly built for military defense and now has been protected as one of the most important attractions and UNESCO sites in Beijing. We had a good time on the great wall and enjoy the climbing, fresh air and blue sky in the suburb area. The pink cherry flower blooming along the both sides of great wall is a big surprise for me, as I never imagine such a gift! Obviously, I though the great wall area was bleak and desolated, but this time when I came to Huairou I found it was really a paradise! The pink flower is just like pink cloud or a romantic dream. All the girls on the great wall were so excited and kept taking photos!

I truly had a good time on the Gubeikou great wall!

If you would like to find more on Beijing Great Wall tours, you could find more in Beijing Big Coach Tour http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/beijing.html , and more about China tour information on Beijing China Holidays http://www.chinaholidays.com/ 

Chilly of Paradise in Harbin



Harbin Ice and Snow Festival



My went to Harbin in early January 2012. Chinese New Year just around the corner, thousands of people was thronged around Beijing train station. Fortunately, the train is faster than ever before since D train put into used. The train Set off in the morning and arrive in this afternoon around 8 hours in whole journey.

Harbin's temperatures are minus twenty by day and minus thirty by night. None of us had experienced anything like that before so were a bit apprehensive about how bad it would be. We walked for a further forty minutes but still couldn't find any street signs or landmarks that corresponded to my map, so we finally had to admit defeat and wave down a taxi to take me to Modern hotel before we booked. They had a nice room for us so we took a shower then headed straight out for dinner. 

The reason I had come all the way to Harbin in the first place was to see the famous ice sculptures of the ice festival.  Frankly, those I had seen were not that impressive.  I mean, they were ok. The Ice Lantern Festival is very well worth visiting though a little tacky, the ice and snow sculptures scattered all around the city are pleasant, for the rest Harbin is a lively and enjoyable city in an exotic landscape of snow and ice very in my mind well worth visiting even outside the Festival period. But let me give you a few tips while I'm still here in this frozen artistic Mecca.

1. Work with a travel agent who knows Harbin. They will get all tickets to all the right events/shows and Hotel. The hotel is better close to Central Avenue. It is very convenient to go around.

2. You would go in this order for visiting: Ice & Snow World (must not miss, only open at night), Zhaolin Park (also a night experience and right in the middle of the city), and the Snow Sculpture Art Expo on Sun Island (it's only open during the day, it's not as photogenic or stunning in its colors). There's a huge fireworks display is held annually at the January 5 and in February.

Could you have enough courage to the chilly of paradise in Harbin?

If you would like to experience the wonderful dreamland in Harbin, you could fine more in Harbin Ice and Snow Festival by Oriental Express http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/harbin-ice-festival-train-travel.html , 9 days Harbin Ice Carnival and China Spring Festival Tour http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/8-days-harbin-ice-carnival.html , 3 days Harbin Snow and Ice Festival Tour http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/3-days-harbin-ice-festival.html . For more information on China Tours, you would find more in Beijing Chinaholidays http://www.chinaholidays.com

My Visit to Huangshan Mountain

Huangshan Mountain

Spring is my best season and I always love to go out in this lovely time and have a visit to the natural beauty all over the world. This Easter holiday, I went to Huangshan Mountain, China and had a really amazing time there!

The first day when I came to Shanghai, I was met by my guide Linda at Pudong Airport. Then we drove to Huangshan Mountain and Linda gave me a brief introduction of the famous mountain. It is especially known for its grotesque pine trees growing in the crevices of rocks and oddly-shaped rocks that emerge in the sea of clouds. And it is also one of the most famous five mountains in China.

Pine Tree on Huangshan Mountain

On arrival of Mt. Huangshan, we have a short rest and started our Huangshan tour. As we initially climbed the mountain, we came across stunted pine trees contorted into curious shapes. What's more amazing is that these gnarled trees sprout from rocks that are just as oddly shaped. Many artists such as painters and poets have composed lots of paintings and poems for this natural wonder. I was amazing to see the wonderful pine trees shaping like a people welcoming tourists come to visit Huangshan Mountain.

When we reached the top of Mt. Huangshan, we have luckily enjoyed the amazing sea of cloud. The white cloud appeared on the waist of the high mountain just like a white waistband and the ancient interesting and pine trees in the cloud was like living in a wonderland. It was gorgeous!

After a whole day climbing, we enjoyed the relaxing hot spring in the hotel. It was really relieving to have a good bath and rest. So the next day we could begin our tours in a good spirit!

I really enjoyed the whole day visit to Huangshan Mountain and had also visited the ancient village around like Hongcun Village and Xidi Village.

If you also would like to visit Huangshan Mountain, you could find what you want in 3 Days Huangshan Trip  http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/3-days-huangshan-trip.html , 5 Days In-depth Huangshan Trip  http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/huangshan-in-depth-tour.html , Shanghai Weekend Trip to Huanshan  http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/shanghai-trip-huangshan-sh10.html . For more information on Chinese Travel, please contact Beijing China Holidays http://www.chinaholidays.com/

Wonderful Shanghai Day Tour

Shanghai is a cosmopolitan city which is attractive to people all around the world. I was impressed by a day city tour in Shanghai, Yu Garden, Bazaar around the Garden, Nanjing Road and the Bund. Even 50% of the visitors there are foreigners.

Yu Garden, a very beautiful and quiet park in a busy place, was first built in 1559 and restored many times. It has a history over 400 years. The garden was the largest and most prestigious of its era in Shanghai. It is considered as “the crown of beauty in southeast China”. It follows the Suzhou garden design, with 30 pavilions linked by corridors, artificial hills, bridges over lotus pools, groves of bamboo and walls occupied by stone dragons. The surrounding bazaar is packed with traditional and modern shops, restaurants and temples, and the bazaar is a maze of old laneways and alleys where locals live.

The Bund stretches about one mile along the bank of the Huangpu River. Traditionally, the Bund begins at Yan'an Road in the south and ends at Waibaidu Bridge in the north, which crosses Suzhou Creek. The Chinese name for the Bund is unrelated in meaning: it means literally the "outer bank", referring to the Huangpu River, because this part of the riverfront was located further downstream than the "inner bank" area adjacent to the old walled city of Shanghai. Along the Bund, there are 52 buildings of various architectural styles, Asia Building, Shanghai Club and Union Building etc.

Nanjing Road is one of the most famous shopping places of the world. Nanjing Street not only has numerous famous shops, but also a long history. It is the earliest shopping street in Shanghai and also a must-see metropolitan destination attracting thousands of fashion-seeking shoppers from all over the world. It is a pedestrian street, starting at the Bund in the east and ending in the west at the junction of Jing'an Temple and Yan'an West Street.

If you also would like to have a visit of the wonder city Shanghai, you could find more in Beijing Shanghai Tour  http://www.beijing-explorer.com/beijing-shanghai-tour.html . For more tours in China, you could find more information in Beijing-explorer.com  http://www.beijing-explorer.com/

Beautiful Scenery along the Three Gorges

Tiger-Leaping Gorge

It is said that Yangtze River is the mother river of Chinese people just like the Thames for we English people. My families and I had a cruise along the Yangtze River last year and it is really an experience for all of us!

As Yangtze River runs across southern part of China from west to east, my guide Abby said it is one of the best ways to experience the different features of southern China and it is also a wonderful way to see the beautiful scenery along the Three Gorges.

From the journey we have known that three gorges forming Three Gorges Scenic Spot is the Qutang, Wuxia, and the Xiling gorges. The beautiful scenery of three gorges begins at Baidicheng, Chongqing and end at Nanjin Pass in Yichang. During the journey, Abby introduced lots of history and interesting stories about three gorges, many famous writers, poets and artists are inspired by the fantastic natural beauty. We are all attracted by the delicate architectures, cliffs and sculptures of Baidicheng. The mysterious atmosphere of Fengdu Ghost City is also amazing for us! We also like the food in Chengdu and Chongqing very much, they are hot and the little seeds in it made my tongue totally numb!

We had also seen panda in Chengdu and they are so adorable! I like seeing them eating bamboo and walking around, but most of them are so lazy to make a movement!

The most dangerous attraction along Three Gorges is Tiger-Leaping Gorge. It is located in Lijinag Naxi (we have a stop in Yunnan to have an extension). The mountain on each side of the gorges is over 3000m above the river and the drop of the soaring river is up to 200m. It is said that there was once a huge tiger that got over it in one leap, so this place is name after it as Tiger-Leaping Gorge.

If you also would like to have a tour in China like me, you could get useful information on chinaholidays.com http://www.chinaholidays.com/ . For more information on Yangtze River, you could click Yangtze Cruises http://www.chinaholidays.com/yangtze-cruises/  and 15 days Chinese Culture & Yangtze Cruise Combo http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/chinese-culture-yangtze-cruise-tour.html  and 10 days Guangzhou-Guilin-Yangtze Cruise-Shanghai http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/guangzhou-guilin-yangtze-shanghai.html

A Visit to Xijiang Miao Village

Xijiang Miao Village

Before I came to China, I have always been interested in the unique and colorful ethnic group culture. The travel consultant Victor recommended a tour of Miao village to me. After two months preparation, I have an amazing trip in XijiangMiao Village, Guizhou province, China!

Xijiang Miao Village is about 100 km away from Kaili. On my way to Xijiang, my guide Tim gave a brief introduction. Xijiang Miao Village is the biggest Miao Village in China, which has 12 natural villages, 1,200 families and 6,000 people in it. Therefore, it is also known as one-thousand-household Miao village.

When we came into the beautiful village, a small welcome performance was set at the entrance. Some young girls and boy performance the traditional sing and dance for us. A kind of music instrument call Lusheng was really interesting; it looks just like a huge pipe but the music it made was amazing!

The village is located by a valley and surrounded by overlapping mountains, with terraced fields rising along the slopes to the clouds and the Baishui (White Water) River flowing through and cutting the village into two. Miao hillside pile-dwellings stand tier upon tier along the two banks to the mountain. Thick bamboo groves are dotting in front of and behind the houses. Beautiful maple leaves cover the villages on the top and at the bottom of the mountain.

The village is also a center for grand Miao festivals and celebrations. Miao people from the nearby villages gather at Xijiang for festival celebrations. I heard that they would have about 100 festival in a year, such as the Sister’s Meal Festival and Lusheng Festival. I hope if I could come to this gorgeous village again, I would attend these festivals!

If you would to experience the wonderful ethnic festival in China, you would find more in Color Chinese Festival http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/chinese-festival-travel.html, Sister’s Meal Festival http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/sister-meal-festival-tour.html and Lusheng Festival http://www.chinaholidays.com/tours/lusheng-festival-tour.html. For more information on Chinese Tours, please click China Holidays http://www.chinaholidays.com/.