Great Wall Hiking, Beijing Tour, China Tour Blogs: Great Wall Adventure Club

Get a leg up on the competition with the iCarnegie Summer Program in Wuxi!

2011-01-26T09:50:00Z

Our iCarnegie Summer Camp is the perfect way for burgeoning students to a leg up on the competition in the technology field. The institute is a joint venture between Carnegie Melon University and the Chinese Government, and at the Wuxi Carnegie Institute you will receive instruction and guidance on all the latest trends and developments in China’s ever evolving high tech industry. The length of the trip is completely customizable and up to your discretion, as it can be designed to run for 10-14 days or for as long as 21 days. In addition, you will also be given interactive instruction and lessons on a wide range of vital Chinese subjects: Chinese language and characters, calligraphy, cooking, martial arts, recreational games, and more!

In addition to the knowledge you’ll gain at the institute, you’ll also get to venture out to China’s cultural and commercial capitals. You’ll first arrive in Beijing, where you’ll get to visit China’s political center in Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and you’ll then set out for Jiangsu province, the engine that is driving China’s dramatic growth. You’ll spend time in Nanjing and Suzhou, both of which have much to offer in the way of attractions, both ancient and modern. You’ll end your tour in Shanghai, China’s largest city and commercial capital.

Another valuable component of this program are the personal contacts and connections you’ll make. During your stay at the iCarnegie Institute you’ll collaborate and interact with your Chinese counterparts, granting you key insight into the Chinese educational system. Of course, you’ll also have the opportunity to make new friends as well as network with China’s technological elite.

For more information, please contact us at www.newchinatours.com

Wang Family Courtyard: A Chinese Castle

2011-01-16T04:50:00Z

Wang family courtyard is an example in handing down and inheriting the five thousand years' old Chinese civilization and a peak-usurping masterpiece of Chinese civil residence architecture of Qing Dynasty. It was built by the Wang family in Jingsheng, the posterities of Taiyuan Wang family, which in history had been one of the four large families in Lingshi county. It was successively built in the periods of Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong and Jiaqing in Qing Dynasty. The architecture has a magnificent scale with five alleys, five forts, and five ancestral temples. Besides, the courtyard layout of the five ancient forts were respectively compared to designs of five lucky animals of “dragon, phoenix, tortoise, kylin and tiger”.

The three architectural complexes of Gaojiaya, Red-gate Fort, and Chongningbao are all full closed fortress architectures on the Yellow High Land (loess high slope), which are closely connected with each other through bridges. They appear grand and harmonious with the surrounding environment and comply with the terrace in both the form and meaning. While in the inside, cave houses and tile built houses get connected artfully and excellently.

The two main courtyards of Gaojiaya architectural complex are 3-year Siheyuan (quadrangles), which have separate kitchen yard and home school yard with private tutor as well as common classics-learning academy, flower yard, long-term hired farm-laborer yard and enclosed yard (servant yard), in addition to the sacrificial ancestral hall at high place and the embroidering buildings on both sides.

The Wang's Museum set up in Red-gate Fort will be the study, exhibition, collection and development centre of Wang's culture and also the historical destination of the overall image of Wang's family. It is the only museum of Wang’s family culture at home and abroad. The overall layout of Chongningbao architectural complex is similar to that of Red-gate Fort.

For more information about the Wang family courtyard. head on over to www.newchinatours.com

Haikou: Capital of Hainan province

2011-01-16T03:21:00Z

Haikou, known also as the ‘Coconut City’, is the capital of Hainan Province , China’s second largest island. The city is the provincial administrative center of Hainan as well being the focus of the local economy, culture and transportation. Haikou stands at the northern end of Hainan Island, on the west bank of the Nandu River estuary. This river is the longest on the island and the city’s name appropriately means ‘Mouth of the Sea’.

With the sea on three sides Haikou enjoys a long coastline that features excellent bathing beaches and sea side resorts. Holiday Beach is the most popular of these, while Xixiu Beach is where the National sailing and windsurfing teams train and hold competitions.

The downtown area of the city has an excellent environment with streets lined with coconut palms. Here there are modern and convenient public transport facilities and all that is best in a tropical seaside city that is pollution free and that meets the needs of the tourist in a friendly and welcoming way.
Besides its natural resources, Haikou has a number of important sites of historical interest. The Wugong Temple (The Five Official’s Temple), the Tomb of Hai Rui and the Xiuying Emplacement each serve as reminders of the historical importance of Haikou.

No trip is complete without the opportunity to savor tempting local food and shopping opportunities. It goes without saying that for anyone coming to Haikou, seafood is definitely a must. However, the city is also famous for its other prized dishes. There are four to delight the gourmet and should not be missed. They are Wenchang Chicken, Dongshan Mutton, Jiaji Duck and Hele Crab. The climate means there is an abundance of fresh local fruits such as mangos, pineapples, jackfruits, coconuts and carambola, betelnuts, pawpaw, longan and lichee, loquat, naseberry and passion fruit. Maybe some of these will be new to you but we are sure that if you try them you will want to take come home!

As for transportation, don’t worry! Hainan Meilan Airport, railway station, ship and expressway links cities of China and the whole world.

For more information about Haikou, as well as all of our Hainan programs, head on over to www.newchinatours.com

Jianfengling: China's tropical rain forest

2011-01-14T09:26:00Z

Ranked as "One of Top Ten Most Beautiful Forests in China", Jianfengling National Forest Park is the largest and best preserved primeval tropical forest in China. ith a diverse range of tropical vegetation and a beauty unspoiled by human intervention, this preserve is considered one of the rare ecological treasures of China. Comprised of mountains, river valleys, and lush tropical vegetation, the park is a place of undeveloped natural beauty. With over 2800 types of vascular plants and 4300 species of animals, Jianfengling National Forest Park is regarded by scientists as a natural genetic treasure-trove. Here you can find the reclusive cloud leopard and the black crowned gibbon and so on (the latter found only in Hainan ).

Like the Amazon tropical rain forests of South America, the tropical rain forests of the Congo River Valley, and the tropical rain forests of Indonesia and Malaysia, there are many natural wonders and mysteries to discover within Jianfengling National Forest Park.

For more about Jianfengling, as well as our other Hainan programs, check us out at www.newchinatours.com

See China in full bloom!

2011-01-13T11:23:00Z

Xian, ancient capital of 13 dynasties, will host the 2011 World Horticultural Expo. The World Horticultural Expo’s theme is “Tian-Ren Chang’an and Creative Nature—Harmony between Urbanity and Nature.”

“Tian”, which means “heaven” in Chinese, stands for Nature, while “Ren” means human. “Chang’an”, which has the meaning of long-lasting prosperity, is also the ancient name of Xi’an during the prosperous Han (202BC-220AD) and Tang dynasties(618-907AD). Therefore, “Tian-Ren Chang’an”reflects the traditional Chinese philosophy of harmony between human and nature as well as the modern concept of ecological balance. It embodies the historical significance and modern pursuit of the host city.

A special site for the expo was built in Chanba District, between the airport and downtown area. The design by Plasma Studio Architects based in London, UK, is called Flowing Gardens and takes ‘circulation’ as its key concept. The site will contain a lake as well as three main buildings – an entrance gate, an exhibition hall overlooking (and overlapping) the lake and a horseshoe-shaped greenhouse that plays with the whole idea of centre. By focusing on ecological civilization, the Exposition is intended to reveal the historical and cultural highlights of Xi’an and, in the meantime, demonstrate the novel concepts and creations based on the harmonious coexistence between man and nature as well as city and nature. The venue of the Exposition covers a land area of 418 hectare, including 188 hectares of water area, and will for sure become the largest one of its kind.

Being the starting point of the Silk Road and home to Terracotta warriors – Xi’an will again be the focus of the world’s attention. This is the third time- after Kunming in 1999 and Shenyang in 2006 that the World Horticultural Exposition has come to China!

From April 28 to Oct 22 2011, people will visit and appreciate the brilliant interpretations of a variety of gardening and landscaping techniques and designs, marvel at the vibrancy of Chinese history and culture, be awed by cutting-edge science and technology of advanced ecological environmental protection, and discover the modern wonders of Xi’an. The 2011 World Horticultural Expo will be a world-class event that manages to bring together the economic, cultural, scientific, and technological diversification that our planet needs in order to stay green!

For more information about the expo please head on over to http://newchinatours.com/

Qingdao: A little piece of Europe in China

2011-01-09T09:40:00Z

Qingdao is situated at the foot of Lao Shan Mountain and on the shore of the Yellow Sea. Its climate is pleasant and its scenic spots are very beautiful. Qingdao is a famous garden city in China and its coast has many lovely inlets. Qingdao's architecture presents a characteristic European style and is very harmonious on the whole. Red roof tiles, green trees, azure seas and blue skies mirror the beautiful manner of Qingdao. Its crimson reefs, gentle waves, colorful sailing boats and golden beaches help to make up the beautiful scenery.

Qingdao's history, religion, natural conditions, native customs and its festivals constitute the city's tourism culture. There are also some old buildings where famous figures in China's modern history once lived. The city's construction on the whole is a combination of European and traditional Chinese styles. Qingdao has two nicknames: "Oriental Switzerland" and "Asian Geneva". Qingdao, like a Shandong girl, is open and frank. The air is very clean in the city and the streets are very clean too. Houses along both sides of the street look bright against the background of the total clearness of the city. A person will feel very comfortable when leisurely walking along the streets of Qingdao.

For more about Qingdao, as well as our other China travel programs, check out our new homepage at www.newchinatours.com

Qufu: The hometown of Confucius

2011-01-09T02:48:00Z

With a history of more than five thousand years, Qufu is the legendary birthplace of many Chinese sages such as Confucius and Mencius. In order to memorize these great sages, temples and cemeteries were built by local people. Later, these temples and cemeteries were open to tourists as attractions. The most famous attractions are Temple of Confucius (Kong Miao), Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Lin) and Kong Family Mansion (Kong Fu) which now called the Three Kongs. And the Three Kongs were listed in the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1994 with a comment that said: "The Qufu complex of monuments has retained its outstanding artistic and historic character due to the devotion of successive Chinese emperors over more than 2,000 years." If you are interested in Chinese culture and history, or if you want to search the spirits and wisdoms of ancient oriental sages, Qufu is a must-visit city.

For more about Qufu, as well as our other China adventure tours and programs, check out our new homepage at www.newchinatours.com

Shangri-La: A little piece of heaven on Earth

2011-01-04T11:18:00Z

The extravagances of love and fear of the finality of death are the theme of Lost Horizon, a novel by the British author James Hilton. It is a tale of four travellers crash-landing in a beautiful mountain utopia, the harmonious Buddhist kingdom of ‘Shangri-La’ where man lives to twice the normal age. (The name Shangri-La probably comes from Shambhala, a mystic Buddhist paradise).

All indications are that the setting for this tale is in the mountains in the Eastern Tibet or Kham, where Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet meet. The book describes a beautiful fertile valley below the snow-capped peak of ‘Mt. Karakal’, where travellers reached by going “southwest from Peking for many months…where Chinese coolies from Yunnan transfer their loads of tea to the Tibetans”. For centuries the brick tea of Yunnan was transported through these mountains by coolies along the ancient trade route from Yunnan to Lhasa.

All that ‘Shangri-La’ has come to mean can be experienced here ---- the magnificence of snow capped peaks and towering mountain ranges plunging down to deep gorges, along with turquoise rivers tumbling out of the snows of Tibet. Here the vast high grasslands of the nomads are carpeted in flowers throughout the summer. Remote umber coloured monasteries are perched on hillsides, their golden roofs reflecting the sunshine in crystal clear air. Lamas counsel their people to respect all aspects of life. Considered to be holy, the mountains and rivers remain pristine, and the whole area has a rich variety of flora ranging from rare alpine plants to semi-tropical ones.

In spite of the extremes of temperature, a simple diet of tsampa (roasted barley flour) and salt-butter tea provides enough nutrition for the Khampa people who are tall with a strong physique. Harshness and simplicity are central to this traditional Tibetan way of life. Highland people live in villages of enormous fortress-like houses built of rammed earth whilst the nomads roaming the grasslands live in black yak-hair tents, tending their huge herds of yak, ponies and sheep. The Khampas are a proud and high-spirited people with a great sense of humor and a love of singing and dancing. Women adorn their heavily plaited hair with ornaments and precious stones while the handsome Khampa men have a red silk tassel wound into their braided hair, with their chubas worn carelessly over one shoulder, and a silver sword in their belt. Equestrian skills are learnt from an early age and are put to the test at the annual Horse Festivals when the Khampa horses are decorated with bells and colourful ribbons, whilst their owners parade in gorgeous costumes appropriate to their region.

Buddhism and its disciplines cannot be seen as merely a religion. They are the core of existence to these people who strive to live harmoniously, in tune with their surroundings, always reaching for purity in their lives and the blissful state of Nirvana.

To find out how you can travel to Shangri-La. along with our other exciting destinations, head on over to our new homepage at www.newchinatours.com

Travel to the "Rooftop of the World"!

2011-01-04T10:23:00Z

Tibet is a land where the sky, the mountains and the rivers, possess awe-inspiring power. Typically, Tibet has cloudless and bright azure skies. Its mountains are imposing in their magnitude, each rising over 4,000 meters above sea level. However, once on the Tibetan Plateau, these massive ranges are surprisingly approachable because they rise only a few hundred meters from the plains and valleys. These weather-beaten sandy mountains exhibit beauty in its unearthly nobility. The rivers of the plateau may be raging torrents when snow melts, or else, slow meandering currents with clear blue waters.

The people of Tibet are self-confident. This confidence is shown in their belief that they are the first on the earth to see sunrise and the last to see sunset. Such confidence is justified by the Tibetan comprehension of nature and life over many generations. They are courageous enough to give up this life for the next one in prolonged pursuance of nirvana. All over Tibet, pilgrims can be seen doing repetitive prostrations in worship along their pilgrimage routes in pursuance of this goal.

Tibetans believe all suffering in the world originates from man’s greed, hatred and ignorance, so they are committed to the purification of their minds and the elimination of these vices.

Tibetans wear their wealth as highly decorative adornments of gold, silver and precious stones. Many of these may also be donated to adorn the statues of temples and monasteries, and the stupas of the countryside. Here we can also see colorful prayer flags and “manis” stones with inscribed mantras fluttering their prayers to the wind.

To find out how you can to this mystical land, as well as our other China travel programs, check out our homepage at www.newchinatours.com

Hainan Daytrip Activities with China Advenutre Club!

2011-01-03T11:30:00Z

Different from other provinces, Hainan is the second largest ocean island and the smallest land province in China. Thanks to its natural beauty, Hainan has gained a glowing reputation among visitors. People call it "the Oriental Hawaii".

Hainan Island has a wide range of environments and opportunities that are just begging to be explored. We offer trips created to fit different age ranges, and different needs from half days packed with adventure to more culturally focused trips.

Biking through Binglang village (Easy)

This biking route combines a scenic interpretive guide through an enriched cultural area. The road ride is on flat ground and great for families or inexperienced riders. The day comprises of transportation to Binglang village and biking around the rural area stopping off to experience traditional Li minority clothes weaving and a short museum visit. Lunch is provided on route.

Depart From: Pick from Hotel/Resort (Sanya Area)

End At: Drop off to the Hotel/Resort (Sanya Area)

Pick up Time: 9:00 am

Finish Time: Depends on you - How fast do you ride? 3-4pm

Duration: All day

Departure Days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday

Biking Grade: Easy flat Roads

Transportation: 10minutes from Sanya

Meals: Fruit snack, additional water, lunch

Please let us know one day in advance if you have special dietary requirements

What to Bring: Hat, sunscreen, repellent, camera, comfortable closed toe shoes and water bottle

What is Included: Foreign & Chinese guide, first aid kit, meals, bike, Helmet

Not Included: Personal Insurance recomeneded

Sea kayaking and snorkeling (Easy/moderate difficulty level)

A fun excursion that tours the coastal aspect of Luhuitou Peninsula via sea kayaking. Travelers will be trained in the use of two man sea kayaks by an experienced guide, after which they will be led to a secluded cove for snorkeling. After this the group will proceed along the coast to Xiao Donghai town. This is a great trip for individuals interested in marine life with the chance to observe animals above and below the water.

Depart From: Pick from Hotel/Resort (Sanya Area)

End At: Drop off to the Hotel/Resort (Sanya Area)

Pick up Time: 9:00am, 12:00pm

Finish Time: 1:00pm, 4:00pm

Duration: 4-5hrs

Departure Days: Everyday

Kayaking Grade: Easy flat seas

Transportation: 10 minutes from Sanya

Meals: Fruit, snacks, additional water.

Please note one day in advance if you have special dietary requirements

What to Bring: Hat, sunscreen, repellent, camera, comfortable walking shoes and water bottle

What is Included: Foreign & Chinese guide, first aid kit, drinks and snacks, kayaking and snorkeling equipment

Not Included: Personal Insurance recommended

Hiking and tea plantation tour (Easy/Moderate)

At the foot of Wuzhishan mountain lies an idyllic green tea plantation, its tiered terraces decorating the gently rolling hills. Also nearby are several traditional villages, of which the Miao minority group makes up the main residents. This hike will take travelers through the rice paddies that fringe the tea plantation, eventually leading to the tea terraces. A guide will accompany the group and provide facts along the way. Lunch will be provided at a local village.

Depart From: Pick from Hotel/Resort (Sanya Area)

End At: Drop off to the Hotel/Resort (Sanya Area)

Pick up Time: 7:30 am

Finish Time: Depends on you. 3-4pm

Duration: All day

Departure Days: Mondays, Wednesday and Saturday

Hiking Grade: Easy hiking

Transportation: 2.5 hrs driving from Sanya

Meals: Fruit snack, additonal water, lunch

Please let us know one day in advance if you have special dietary requirements

What to Bring: Hat, sunscreen, repellent, camera, comfortable walking shoes and water bottle

What is Included: Foreign & Chinese guide, first aid kit, transportation, meal.

Not Included: Personal Insurance recommended

Learn to Surf (Easy/Moderate)

Hainan Island is an ideal location to learn to surf, offering gentle small waves to start you out right. Without proper instruction, learning on your own can appear to be impossible, not to mention very dangerous. China Adventure Club offers lessons on learning to surf as well as our dedicated kids surf camp. The day will comprise of transport out to the surf break, detailed lesson, catching waves, looking cool, meals and snacks.

Depart From: Pick from Hotel/Resort (Sanya Area)

End At: Drop off to the Hotel/Resort (Sanya Area)

Pick up Time: 9:00 am

Finish Time: 4:00 pm

Duration: All day

Departure Days: Everyday

Transportation: 45min driving from Sanya

Meals: Fruit snack, additional water, lunch

Please note one day in advance if you have special dietary requirements

What to Bring: Hat, sunscreen, repellent, camera, comfortable walking shoes and water bottle

What is Included: Foreign & Chinese guide, first aid kit, meal and surf equipment.

Not Included: Personal Insurance recommended

For more of our China adventure tour programs, head to our homepage at www.newchinatours.com

Sanya-China's beach wonderland

2010-12-29T09:15:00Z

Sanya is the second largest city in Hainan province (Hainan being the biggest special economic zone in the country), and is in the middle of the south part of Hainan island. It's a transport and communication center, and one of the most important foreign trade ports in the extreme south of the golden coastline, which opens up to the outside world in the southeast of China. In addition, it is often considered China's "southern gate", and justifies its reputation as a vibrant subtropical oceanfront tourist city, so new on the International scene that much of it is still under construction.

People from more than 20 nationalities, including Han, Li, Miao, and Hui, inhabit the city. There are altogether more than 463,700 people registered for permanent residence, among them 127,000 are permanent urban residents (as of 1998). Members of the Li nationality alone number 178,000 people living within the city.

The city is ringed by continuous and rugged mountains on three sides. These are the Baopo Mountains in the north, the Dahui, Hubao and Gao Mountains (or just Gou Mountain - altitude 393 meters) in the east, and Nanbian Mountain in the south. This expansive mountain topography divides Sanya into many parts, all surrounded by green hills and characterized by multi-featured landscapes of many different styles.

Seen from the sea, the mountains serve as a green protective screen which helps highlight the enchantment of Sanya city, as well as provide scenic overlooks out onto the vast sea, river, bay and city scenes. Facing the South Sea, there are a multitude of bays, each endowed with wonderful scenery. The Dadonghai, Xiaodonghai and Sanya bays in the urban area have the closest connection with the local citizens, while the Eastern and Western Islands serve as a gate facing the South Sea, and tend to add a sense of depth to this vast sea, and a veil of mystery when the sea fog cloaks the mountains. Strolling on the beach, one can often experience the Luhuitou through a light mist, as if the city were exhaling a long sinuous sigh.

Sanya city, backed by its famous mountains and facing the sea, is a garden city full of coconut palms and other verdant splendors. Within the city is the Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Tourism Zone, with its wonderful sculptures of zoological and Buddhist themes, and the Tianyahaijiao Tourism Zone featuring a sculpture cluster of historical figures. In addition, Luhuitou Park contains life-like sculptures in human form that evoke the moving love story of "Luhuitou". Finally, there is the modern garden plaza which honors the national architect Luban Price. It also features sculpture clusters which help transport the visitor back to more ancient times in their imagination. There really is almost too much in all of these marvelous scenic spots to take in.

To learn how you can experience this tropical paradise yourself, take a look at our Hainan tours page .

For our complete collection of China adventure travel programs, head to our homepage at www.newchinatours.com

Urumqi-The center of Muslim China

2010-12-27T13:25:00Z

Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, is the largest city in Western China and possibly the largest in Central Asia, with some excellent scenery in nearby Heavenly Lake and South Pasture. It also holds the record for the remotest major city in the world 2,500 km (1,400 mi) from the nearest sea.

It is a booming modern industrial city of approaching 3 million, its spectacular growth fueled by mining and oil revenues. Although located on the Silk Road, it has only really emerged in the last 200 years. However, Xinjiang is rich in history, and the greatest collection of its artifacts can be found in Xinjiang Museum.

The vast territory of Xinjiang (bigger than Alaska) is the eastern frontier of Central Asia, but only about 30 million people live in it. About a tenth of the people, about three million, live in Urumqi. Some of the best scenery, hiking, and ancient sites in China are in Xinjiang, and Urumqi is the ideal place to start a tour of the region. It has one of China’s big international airports and is Xinjiang's transportation hub.

Xinjiang has a tragic and interesting history, going through lots of changes of rule since the time of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). A Silk Road route went through the city. Xinjiang has large and very high mountain ranges, the Silk Road city of Kashgar which retains the atmosphere of its major trading post days, and arid Turpan, the lowest land in China, with its ancient ruins and irrigation system, and grape production.

Turpan is only about two hours from Urumqi. Turpan is a great travel site near an extremely arid and hot desert. Around Turpan you can see the vast Karez irrigation tunnels, the Flaming Mountains with the ruins of the ancient city of Gaochang and Jiaohe, big Buddhist grotto sites, lush grape farms, and some real Central Asian culture.

Urumqi is a base for touring the area, and the local highlights include the Uyghur Regional Museum with ancient Caucasian artifacts and mummies, the International Bazaar as an interesting place to shop, and the nearby Tianshan Mountains that have beautiful, forested mountains, lakes, and glaciers like the Alps.

If you can travel all over this great region, you can see ancient sites and natural beauty unlike the rest of China. The deserts are bigger, the basins are deeper, and the mountains are higher and emptier than anywhere except Tibet. The ancient remains left by Caucasian people are highly unusual. There has been a big mix of races, cultures and religions in the area, and all those tribes and empires left behind exotic remains. Since the region is so big and empty, hiking and camping there would offer a truly wild experience.

Urumqi itself is basically a Chinese city. About ten percent of the population are ethnic minority people, mostly Uyghur. The International Bazaar, also called the Big Bazaar (Da Baza 大巴扎 /dah bah-dzah/) or Erdaoqiao Market, is especially lively on summer evenings, and you can see a lot of local and regional products for sale. A lot of uniformed security guards and police are stationed around it. Next to the bazaar is Xinjiang Silk Road Museum at 160 Shengli Road. You can learn about the ancient Silk Road and about the region and its history. Bus 110 stops very close to it. The Urumqi Museum is located at 123 Nanhu South Road (南湖南路 123). The Xinjiang Uyghur Regional Musuem has Caucasian mummies that date from about 2,000 BC to 400 AD. They are thought be part of the biggest archeological discoveries of the past hundred years because they shed new light on the history of Eurasia.

To plan your own visit to Urumqi, check out our homepage at www.greatwalladventure.com

Dali-A Backpacker's Paradise

2010-12-26T08:40:00Z

The Dali Ancient City is widely acknowledged as "Backpackers' Paradise" in China. Foreign visitors like to stay in Dali ancient city. Some of them live there for months or even years, to observe and study the fascinating culture of Bai nationality. In the so - called " Yangren Street (foreigner's street) " in the heart of ancient city where is always full of foreign visitors, there are several dozens of cafes, western style restaurants, and clothes shops offering services to foreign guests. And it seems that every one of local Dali Bai people in the Yangren Street is a multi linguist.

The ancient city of Dali is one of Yunnan's most popular tourist destinations. When visiting the area you can see temples and architecture 1000 years old, buy beautiful souvenirs and objects of art, and learn about the history of the area and of the native peoples. The local customs and architecture is distinctive. A stroll through the ancient city with its stone paved streets, traditional style houses, and numerous gardens is an interesting excursion.

To plan your own visit to Dali check out our homepage at www.greatwalladventure.com

Songshan-One of China's five sacred mountains

2010-12-25T01:22:00Z

Songshan, one of China's five sacred mountains, is home to the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Kung Fu. The area of Songshan Mountain has some of China's biggest and most important temples and schools for Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. It is one of China's centers for martial arts and was where the Shaolin style of martial arts originated. The city was known as Yangcheng at one time. It was said to be the capital of the earliest dynasty in the area of China, the Xia Dynasty, though historians are not sure about whether their rule was truly dynastic. The city has been important as one of China's main centers for the development of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and martial arts.

Shaolin Kung Fu, only one of several types of kung fu wushu, or "hard-won achievement" (kung fu) "martial arts" (wushu), is, in turn, only one among many such martial arts that claim association with Shaolin Temple. The temple, which was founded in the 5th century CE, became famous in fact due to its association with the martial arts, in particular, with the strain of martial arts that was referred to as "external" (Shaolin) martial arts (as opposed to "internal" (wudang) martial arts. This is probably the most famous temple in China, not only because of its long history and its role in Chinese Buddhism, but also because of its martial arts or Wushu.

To find out how you can visit Songshan and the Shaolin Temple, head to our homepage at www.greatwalladventure.com

Bifeng Gorge Panda Center

2010-12-22T10:33:00Z

In the May 12th 2008 the Wenchuan Earthquake dealt the pandas a crushing blow and over fifty giant pandas living in captivity became completely homeless. In order to save these national treasures, the Wolong National Natural Reserve has, since May 15th, carried out an evacuation plan. Twenty-seven giant pandas were transferred in batches to Chengdu, Fuzhou and Beijng, and the rest were moved to Bifeng Gorge Base of China Panda Protection and Research Center, located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu .

The pandas are assured of healthy growth in their new home, and good news continually flows from Bifeng Gorge Base. In the morning on July 6th, 2008, the panda "Guo Guo" gave birth to the first twin cubs in the base. Guo Guo, the great panda mother, came to the base on June 24th when she was 119 days pregnant. She was really strong and brave to have these baby pandas after surviving the big earthquake, overcoming the difficulties of bumping and shaking on the long journey, and adjusting herself to the new environment. The center is divided into the giant panda breeding zone, baby giant panda care zone, research center, bamboo woods and office area.

To find out how you can plan your own visit to the Bifeng Gorge Panda Center, check out our homepage at www.greatwalladventure.com

Kaili

2010-12-21T04:45:00Z

Lying in the southeastern area of Guizhou Province, Kaili City is a living quarter of the Miao ethnic minority. So it is a nice place to learn about the culture and life of the Miao people. However, as a tourist destination, Kaili also boasts its natural landscapes, karst landform and the ancient architecture.

Located in the southeastern area of Kaili, the Langde Miao Ethnic Minority Village is a must place for visitors to savor the unique Miao ethnic culture. Here visitors will receive a special welcoming ceremony from the hospitable Miao people. During the ceremony, a series of ethnic customs such as Miao dancing and folk musical instruments performance will be presented whilst visitors are usually invited to dance and drink with the local people. In addition, the Miao style houses namely 'Diaojiaolou' represents the typical feature of Miao's architecture. Still, if you want to know more about the local ethnic minorities, the Kaili Ethnic Museum will be a good choice.

Natural landscapes around here also deserve your traveling. If you would like to view the mountain, you can go to the Leigongshan Nature Reserve in Leishan County, southeast to Kaili. On the mountain, you can admire the highest peak of southeastern Guizhou Province. Covering an area of nearly 17 square miles, the nature reserve is rich in species of animals and plants. If you like to appreciate the local waterscape, you will feel satisfaction at the Wuyang River Scenic Area. Spanning Huangping, Shibing and Zhenyuan counties, the Wuyang River (main waterway) is 21.7 miles long. Traveling in the river by boat and admiring the riverside scenery is really fantastic.

Since the karst landform here is another typical feature, you are suggested to have a view of the Yudong Karst Cave, only two hours by car from Kaili. Discovered in 1984, the cave is about five miles long. Now 1.2-mile long section has been explored and opened to the public. The stalactites, stalagmites and cave flowers inside the cave are rather amazing.

Traveling in Kaili City, you will find there are much ancient architecture built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, including the Dage Park, the Feiyun Cliff, the Zhenyuan Ancient Town and the Black Dragon Cave to the east of the town.

Finally, do not forget to pay a visit to the local Sunday Market. Opening on Sundays, it is a perfect place for visitors to browse the local ethnic people's living goods including special foods, herbal remedies and all sorts of decorations.

To find out about how you can plan your own visit to Kaili, head over to our homepage at
www.chinaadventureclub.com

Dong People's Village of Zhaoxing

2010-12-20T13:34:00Z

The Dong ethnic minority lives primarily in the border regions between Guizhou, Hunan and Hubei Provinces, and it was during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), that this minority separated from the mixed minority 'Bai Yue', naming themselves Dong. The Dong people work on agriculture, forestry and the industrial arts. The women are adept at spinning and embroidering and on the brocade. The staple food of the Dong ethnic minority is rice, millet, corn, wheat sorghum and glutinous rice. Oil tea is their favorite drink, which can also be their breakfast, whose ingredients include peanuts, sesame, soybean, tea leaves, and so on.

There are five sections which make up the village, namely ren (meaning benevolence), yi (meaning justice), li (meaning courtesy), zhi (meaning wisdom) and xin (meaning faith). One clan lives in every section, and every clan has built its own drum tower. A street runs from east to west in the village. The houses are typical Dong dwellings with stilts and roofs of black tiles. The features of the Dong architecture are also demonstrated in the five wooden drum towers, the four magnificent wooden roofed flower bridges and five performance stages.

To learn more about our tours of the ethnic minority villages of Guizhou, check out our homepage at www.chinaadventureclub.com

Yunnan Adventure Tours

2010-12-19T00:30:00Z

Yunnan takes pride in its rich natural and cultural resources. The most attractive of which is the folklore and culture of the area's 25 ethnic minority groups. It's rare to see so many different ethnic minority groups living harmoniously in one province. Majestic and colorful are the most frequently used words to describe the people's life in Yunnan. With ancient villages, majestic snow capped mountains, and amazing canyons, Yunnan is a treasure trove of discovery. The following is a description of just some of the fabulous destinations we present in our expeditions there.

Lijiang Old Town

The Old Town of Lijiang is a world famous destination. It is a well preserved ancient city filled with ethnic minorities, culture, and art. The Lijiang Old Town was originally founded in the late Song (960-1279) and Early Yuan (1279-1368) Dynasties. The Lijiang Old Town occupies an area of over 8 square kilometers. It is backed by the tree covered Lion Mountain in the west, Elephant and Golden Row Mountains in the north, and fertile fields in the Southeast. The unique geographical location, history, and ethnic minority residents make Lijiang's Old Town a most special one. The Old Town of Lijiang was put in the list of World's Relics by the World Cultural Heritage Commission of UNESCO.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Located near Lijiang City between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Mountain, the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge is the world's deepest river canyon. The 15 kilometer (9.3 miles) long gorge was formed by the Yangtze River crashing through the area, which has some of the roughest and most spectacular white water rapids in the world. Visitors looking into the gorge from the edge of the gorge can see the Yangtze River with its rapids over 299 meters (700 feet) below. The gorge got its name from a legend that says in Dynastic China, a tiger attempting to escape a hunter jumped across the gorge at the narrowest point, which is 25 meters wide. The stone the tiger used to leap across the gorge can still be seen.

Dali Ancient City

The ancient city of Dali is located 13 kilometers (about 8 miles) away from Dali City. The city’s history can be traced back to the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Dali was traditionally settled by the Bai and Yi ethnic minority groups and is the capital of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. The city is a beautiful example of an ancient Chinese city and has remained relatively untouched. Beautifully located on a fertile plateau nestled between the Cangshan Mountains to the west, and Erhai Lake to the east, the ancient city has been attracting visitors for centuries.

Songzanlin Monastery

The Songzanlin Monastery, often called Ganden Sumtseling Monastery or Guihua Monastery, is located at the foot of Foping Mountain near Shangri-La County in western Yunnan. Originally built in 1679, construction took two years. The monastery has been rebuilt and remodeled many times in its long history, but has always maintained it traditional Tibetan architecture style. The monastery is built on a hillside and looks like an ancient fort. There are two lamaseries in the Songzanlin Monastery, the Zhacang and the Jikang Lamaseries.

For more information please check out our homepage at www.chinaadventureclub.com

High School Educational Tours to China

2010-12-16T05:22:00Z

As the emerging superpower of the 21^st century, China is a superb destination for anyone looking to get a leg up on his or her peers, and we are proud to lead dynamic, experiential summer trips to China for high school students. Designed for those with a keen interest in the middle kingdom, participants learn about China through customized programs of site visits, language classes and travel. Together they explore China first-hand, guided by program leaders whose passion is matched by their deep local knowledge. Participants will learn about China across a diverse range of themes including the arts, business, entertainment, and the environment, and they will meet professional individuals shaping China in these areas. Through these interactions and daily life, participants will have opportunities to develop Mandarin language skills, among other areas.

We offer educational immersion programs covering all aspects of Chinese culture. You have the option of taking Chinese language lessons from native-speaking professionals, learning first-hand about the intricacies of Chinese cuisine from a first-rate chef, taking martial arts lessons at Shaolin Temple (the birthplace of Kung Fu), study the rich philosophical texts of Confucianism, and even learn to personally care for your own Giant Panda! In addition, you can also visit your high school counterpart here in China, where you will have the opportunity to see China’s educational system at work, making for a fascinating compare and contrast with back home. You’ll get to meet with Chinese high school students, where you can make connections and friendships that could last a lifetime.

For more about our high school programs, head to our homepage at www.chinaadvenutreclub.com

Confucius and Confucianism

2010-12-14T13:17:00Z

Confucius

Confucianism:

Confucianism is the cornerstone of traditional Chinese culture. It is a complete ideological system created by Confucius, based on the traditional culture of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties. Confucianism has dominated a feudal society that in essence has lasted 2000 years and for that reason its influence over the history, social structure and the people of China cannot be overlooked.

Life of Confucius:

Confucius has proved to be the greatest influence over the Chinese character. Besides being a great educationist, thinker and unsuccessful politician, he was first of all an intellect with a noble morality. He pursued truth, kindness and perfection throughout his life and his success and failure were largely due to his character, which had an everlasting impact on Chinese intellect.

Confucius was born in 551B.C in the State of Lu which is known today as Qufu in Shandong Province. In Chinese, his name was Kong Qiu. Kong was the family name while Qiu was his given name. This was because his parents had prayed for a son at Niqiu Hill and 'Qiu' was an appropriate token of their thanks and joy at having their prayers answered. Sadly, his father died when Confucius was very young but despite a hard life, he dedicated himself to study at the age of 15.

Patriotism was the driving force for the young Confucius and he set his sights on an official career as a means to apply his political ideals. He had gained some fame by the time he was 30 but it was not until he was 51 that his official life really assumed great importance. This eventful career was to last for only four years as he was forced to resign when he found it impossible to agree with the authorities. Such was the opposition to his ideas that he was obliged to leave his country and to travel around the states. During these 14 years, he was in danger on many occasions and even risked his life. At the age of 68 he was welcomed back to Lu but he was set up as a respected gentleman without any authority. He died of illness at the age of 73. A brilliant star fell into silence. His students treated him as father and wore the willow for three years. Zigong, one of the famous disciples, set up a cabinet near his tomb and stayed there for six years to mourn his beloved teacher. Confucius could never have dreamed that his lonely tomb would develop into the large Cemetery of Confucius (Kong Lin) and that his ideological system would become the norm for Chinese society.

Compared to his frustrated political career, Confucius' career as a teacher and philosopher was brilliant and full of achievements. Much of his approach to education was avant-garde as he promoted the ideas "to educate all despite their social status" and "to teach according to the students' characteristics". The first of these broke with tradition as only the aristocracy had the privilege of education. Confucius also proposed a complete set of principles concerning study. He said, "Studying without thinking leads to confusion; thinking without studying leads to laziness." Today's quality-education was nothing new to Confucius.

Imparting knowledge was only part of his teaching; he was a living example of the concepts he promoted and this had a deep and lasting influence upon his disciples. Confucius' private life was a model of his doctrines. The Analects of Confucius provide a vivid record of his teachings but although he wrote nothing personally, his words were collected and recorded for posterity by his disciples. The accumulated words of wisdom have come down to us as "The Analects", one of the most important of all the Chinese classics.

Confucius took great delight in studying and was modest enough to learn from anyone. He never tired of teaching his disciples while diligence, his unremitting pursuit of truth, ideas and perfect personality, his integrity, kindness, modesty and courteousness inspired his disciples and the intellects of subsequent generations. Uniquely, only he is qualified to be called "the teacher of ten thousand generations". It is said that among 3000 of Confucius' disciples, there were 72 who were brilliant and who succeeded in morality, literature, language, and especially politics. These politicians contributed much to the spreading, formation and development of Confucianism.

Confucius stuck to righteousness, saying, "Improper fortunes are just flowing clouds to me. For proper fortunes, I will do jobs such as a driver." He was quite easy with his ideas despite of poverty. He was virtuous, always ready to help others and treated others with tolerance and honesty. To him, a benevolent person is one who loves others. He said, "Do not give others what you do not want yourself", similar to the Bible teaching of "All those things which you would have men do to you, even so do you to them: because this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew7:12)

Influenced by Confucianism, in Chinese culture, an intellectual is not limited in study alone. He should be successful in being a human and in his bearing of himself. A key objective of an intellectual should be to make full use of his ability, personality and intelligence to do good for the state, society and the world at large. This idea is so precious that we cannot help asking why the products of today's education system are far from satisfactory! Why do not we pay attention to our ancestor's core values instead of wasting so much of our time and energy in word puzzles!

Confucius' marriage was ignored purposefully by his followers. All we know is he got married at 19 and divorced his wife at 23 and remained single for the rest of his life. As Confucianism laid down the social ethnics of the Chinese society, why Confucius divorced remained a puzzle. We cannot find out how he behaved as a husband or as a father. However, the records show that he loved his disciples as much as his own children. He was not a cold or dull old man; instead, he was affectionate, humorous and optimistic. It is something of an enigma that this humble and wise man should have been first apotheosized as a Saint then demonized only to be re-established as a Saint by succeeding generations. In Chinese, he was known as Kong Sheng Ren (Saint Kong). We hope our introduction goes some way to show Confucius as a truly human being.

Background of Confucianism:

Confucius lived in the Spring and Autumn Periods, a time when the established system could not meet the demand of development as the ruling classes of China experienced the transition from a slave to feudalist society. It was a time of "the collapse of etiquette and the deterioration of music", which implies the ethics and moralities of society were in decline. The intellectuals of the day were concerned about the future mode of society, hence the most brilliant contention of a hundred schools of thought, such as Legist, Taoist, thrived in a vibrant period in Chinese history. This is often regarded as the most exciting of times for Chinese intellectuals as no single doctrine dominated their lives.

Confucius' proposal was to discipline oneself and to revive the ethics of Zhou Dynasty. Therefore, he brought forward a series of norms, which step by step developed into Confucianism.

Developmental History of Confucianism:

Confucianism was further developed by Mencius (372B.C.-289B.C.) and Xun Zi. It was in the reign of Emperor Wu during the Han Dynasty that Confucianism was promoted to being the state ideology. Since then, Confucianism became the orthodox doctrine of Chinese society. And Confucius was glorified as a Saint instead of an ordinary man.

In the coming Wei and Jin Dynasties, Confucianism coexisted with Buddhism and Taoism. Up to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the struggle for dominance between the three became heated. The Song Dynasty witnessed a vital period of the development of Confucianism. Featuring Confucian school of idealist philosophy of the Song and Ming dynasties, Confucianism restored its orthodox role for the following 700 years.

Waving the banner of science and democracy, the New Cultural Movement from 1915 attacked the feudal system, including its core ideological system of Confucianism. During the Cultural Revolution, Confucianism was once again under violent attack.

In recent years people can look at Confucianism with a more rational state of mind, some even suggest returning to Confucianism for wisdom while opponents hold that Confucianism should be held responsible for the backwardness of China's development and for that reason its dominance should not be revived. In any event, that would not be possible. To our delight, many scholars devote themselves to the study of Confucianism and its application to modern society. Such study is important as the Chinese language has experienced considerable changes over the centuries and the lack of any punctuation in the ancient classics has made it difficult for us to fully comprehend Confucius' ideology.

Confucianism is succinct as well as intensive. Strictly speaking, it is not a religion but more a doctrine than belief, while the meaning behind the beautiful words renders wordy post-modernism pale and dull. Confucianism is part of world cultural heritage and an integral part of Chinese life.

For more about Confucius and our Confucius education tours, head on over to www.chinaadventureclub.com