|
| |
Travel to China, Secrets to Cheap
Tours to China, and China Visa FAQ
China Visa FAQ
This is our page that discusses Travel to China and Tours in China.
Chinese Tour Secrets: We were able to get a seven day trip for two with four to five star hotels in China for less than $1,900 with 3 meals a day included! Why such a great deal? The secret is that we signed up for these Chinese government subsidizes these Chinese Tours to increase cultural understanding and to promote specific Chinese exports such as silk, jade, leather, and pearls. The Chinese tours took us to the Great Wall, Imperial Palace, Shanghai's famed Nanjing Road for shopping, and even a small village, these tours have it all! You also get 3 threes a day that are very good, we especially loved breakfasts where you could choose eastern or western style food, buffett style. We had wonderful tour guides who were very knowledgable with culture, history, and entertainment. We were taken to massage parlors, tea houses, and treated to wonderful Chineses operas and acrobatics (the origins for cirque de soleil shows). The only drawback is you have to visit these government runned mega-stores for shopping at the major stops (for silk, tea, pearls, closinette, and jade) but for most travelers this is hardly a drawback! Get your China Visa and book your flight and Chinese tour today!
Click on any of our sponsors for information about these great tours.
Primer
The internet is the most popular destination for travel bookings by Americans for the past few years. 47 million Americans purchased travel packages online in 2005 up from 40 million Americans in 2004 according to PhoCusWright, a Connecticut based travel research firm. Travelers are estimated to spend over $79 billion online for lesiure and self booked business tavel. China will be the fourth most travelled destination by Americans behind Canada, Mexico and France.
China Visa
You will need a China Visa if you want to do business in China or go as a tourist. A China Visa is valid for 90 days from issuance and 30 days from the day you enter China. If you are going to do business in China you will want a China Business Visa which will be good for 6 months, but you will only have 30 days once you enter. You can apply for extensions while you are there. For more detailed description of how to get a China Visa go to our China Visa, China Visa Forms, and the Different Types of China Visas .
Passport
If you are planning to travel to China or to anywhere from the U.S. you will need to apply in person if:
-You are getting your first passport
-You no longer have your current expired passport
-Your expired passport was issued more than 15 years ago
-Your passport has been lost or stolen
-Your passport has been changed or damaged
For expedited service within two weeks make an appointment by calling the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778 or go to www.travel.state.gov and click on passports. You can also download applications or check the status of an application at that website.
Travel to China
China National Tourist Office - East Coast
350 Fifth Avenue
Suite 6413
Empire State Building
New York, NY 10118
Toll Free: (888) 760-8218
Fax: (212) 760-8809
Email: ny@cnto.org
China National Tourist Office - West Coast
550 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 910
Glendale, CA 91203
Toll Free: (888) 545-7507
Fax: (818) 545-7506
Email: la@cnto.org
| Top Cities Visited |
| City |
Main Attraction |
| Beijing |
Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall |
| Shanghai |
Television Tower, Ye Yuan Water Garden, Nanjing Road (largest shopping street in nation) |
| Xian |
Terracotta Warriors from First Emperor |
| Hong Kong |
Disneyland Asia, Women's Street (for shopping) |
| Chengdu |
Three Gorges Valley and Three Gorges Dam site (world's largest dam opening in 2009) |
| Guilin |
Surreal Landscape, stone pillar moutain tops with no comparison in the world |
| Hangzhou |
Birthplace of greentea. |
| Suzhou |
Silk |
| |
|
| Top Cultural Tourist Destinations |
| Destination |
City / Nearest City |
Description |
| The Great Wall of China |
Beijing |
Largest man made structure in the world strecthing over 10,000 kilometers at its height is still very impressive today. Started in 200 BC and last expanded in the 17th century, this is a must see! |
| The Forbidden Palace |
Beijing |
Palace of the last two dynasties (Ming and Qing) has exactly 9,999 rooms, 800 buildings and covers over 720,000 square meters. The palace is one of the popular attractions in the world and has been under recent renovation. Pick up a rental cassette tape with Roger Moore's voice on it to take your own walking tour. |
| The Terracotta Warriors |
Xian |
A collection of 8,099 life size figures of soldiers and horses located at the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of China was only recently discovered in 1974. |
| Three Gorges |
Chengde |
A very scenic region of 200 km (160 miles) along the Yangtze River. Take a boat cruise through this now as the current landscape willl be flooded in 2009 when the Three Gorges Dam is completed. |
| Temple of Heaven |
Beijing |
A taotist temple that places a huge cultural signficance in Chinese history as all emperors since 1420 when it was built has visited. |
| Top Fun Tourist Destinations |
| Destination |
City / Nearest City |
Description |
| The Great Wall of China |
Beijing |
Largest man made structure in the world strecthing over 10,000 kilometers at its height is still very impressive today. Started in 200 BC and last expanded in the 17th century, this is a must see! |
| The Forbidden Palace |
Beijing |
Palace of the last two dynasties (Ming and Qing) has exactly 9,999 rooms, 800 buildings and covers over 720,000 square meters. The palace is one of the popular attractions in the world and has been under recent renovation. Pick up a rental cassette tape with Roger Moore's voice on it to take your own walking tour. |
| The Terracotta Warriors |
Xian |
A collection of 8,099 life size figures of soldiers and horses located at the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of China was only recently discovered in 1974. |
| The Three Gorges |
Chengde |
A very scenic region of 200 km (160 miles) along the Yangtze River. Take a boat cruise through this now as the current landscape willl be flooded in 2009 when the Three Gorges Dam is completed. |
| Yellow Mountain |
Anhui |
Known as the "loveliest mountain in China" and has captured the attention of poets, painters and writers througout Chinese history. Also one of the approved UNESCO world heritage sites. |
| Guilin region |
Guilin |
As seen in the movie "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" this majestic area is world renound for its green pillared shaped mountains and hills who's peaks pierce the top. |
| West Lake |
Hangzhou |
The most famous lake in China where the moon festival originated. The three pagodas in the middle of the lake is the only cultural site pictured on the Chinese currency. The lake is so famous, that one of the Chinese emperors built an exact replica in Beijing where it is now the famous Ye He Yuan garden. If you can't move the lake, replicate it! |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Where to Buy The Best: |
|
| Destination |
City / Nearest City |
Description |
| Silk |
Suzhou |
Greatest volume of silk produced anywhere in the world. |
| Green Tea |
Hangzhou |
Famous for being the birthplace of Green Tea. |
| Pearls |
Beijing |
The waters off the coast nearby are perfect for Pearls. |
| Jade |
Beijing |
Lots of cave operations in the mountainous regions near the Gobi Desert makes this a capital for Jade as well. |
| Beer |
Tsingtao |
During the German occupation of this city (bet you didn't know that!) a lot of breweries were built. They have been refined and put to good use today. |
| Electronics |
Hong Kong |
Great electronic megapolis, you can find a lot of innovative products just walking the shopping districts. |
| Seafood |
Chu Chow |
Great seafood area with lots of food you will know and exotic items as well. |
|
|
|
