The Silk Road is one of China’s most popular tourist destinations. There are already heaps of travel agents and tour companies offering tours in 2010. So where is it and why is it so popular?

Traditionally the Silk Road extends from Xian in central China to either the Middle East or Europe. In fact there are many routes, some to Moscow in the north and those into India and Pakistan in the south. Just like travellers in the time of Marco Polo – the thirteenth century – the ancient trade routes still exist although the type of goods sold and the method of transport have changed. The reason why the Silk Road starts/ends in Xian is that it was the ancient capital of China and internal trade routes, in many cases along the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, were already established to distribute goods within China.

Nowadays, many tourists start their Silk Road journey in Beijing. The Imperial City, the Great Wall of China the many places of historic interest will make a 3-5 day stay worthwhile. Add to it a little shopping and time to experience northern Chinese cuisine and you are ready for your Silk Road experience.

Getting there.
Most international airlines fly into Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. There is a lesser choice of flights to and from western China and most of these are based out of the capital of Xinjiang Province, Urumqi.

China has rail connections north to Mongolia, Hong Kong, Tibet and west to Moscow. For the more adventurous there are multiple rail links into Vietnam.

Coach access from/to Pakistan is available along the Karakorum Highway, apart from November though April, when it is closed. Delays and discomfort can be part of this route so be prepared. Travel in Pakistan needs serious consideration. We spent 12 wonderful days travelling there in late 2007 but with the rise of the Taliban the risk for westerners has increased dramatically.

Visas are required for all access points to China and I recommend that these be obtained well in advance.

Getting around
Train travel is popular in China although it does have an extensive coach network. Of course you could fly but that would really defeat the main purpose of visiting China – to meet the people. Train travel is reliable, fast and cheap. “Soft” sleeping compartments either for four or on some routes for two persons are available or if you want to join the locals try the “hard” class, but unless you are on a tight budget, it’s not recommended. You will need assistance buying the rail tickets as few station staff speak English. The timetables and options can be complex. Ask a travel agency with China experience to help.

Many companies offer tours along the Silk Road. Most of these use a combination of coach and rail travel. International companies include GAP, Peregrine, World Expeditions, Travel Indo-China. You can find these using Google. Some tours include a lour leader and guide. Standards of accommodation and comfort are reflected in the pricing.

Another option is to hire a guide through Chinese companies like Xinjiang Silk Road Adventures in Urumqi. Local guides can be provided on a per day basis or overall for a tour, at very reasonable prices. Tour guides are required to be licensed in China.

When to Go
China is a vast country covering eight time zones. Its climate varies considerably. Summers can be hot and sticky and the winters extremely cold so the best months are in Spring and Autumn. Consult a good guide book for the temperatures that you can experience at the time of your planned travel so that you can dress appropriately.

Silk Road Highlights
To get the most out of a Silk Road journey it should not be rushed. Allow a minimum of 14 days in addition to any stay in Beijing. If you are including Uzbekistan add another ten days:

The major attractions are:

• Xian the Terracotta Army and other historic sites
• The Labrang Monastery in Xiahe, in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous region
• The Fort and Great Wall of China Museum at Jiayuguan
• Dunhuang for riding the two humped Bactrian camels in the vast sand dunes. Nearby are the Buddhist Mogao Caves set into a desert backdrop of the Flaming mountains.
• Urumqi has an excellent Xinjiang Regional Museum. Two hours away is the spectacular lake district of China, the Heavenly Lake. Here you’ll find Kazakh people living in yurts and grazing their herds of horses, sheep and goats. If you have the time, stay overnight and experience the food and hospitality of the locals.
• Turpan is famous for its grapes, and nearby are the ancient cities of Gaochang and Jiaohe, the Bezeklik thousand Buddha Tombs and the underground water systems called karez that link Turpan to much needed snow melt from the distant Tian Shan mountains.
• Kashgar, a trade route city for thousands of years. Visit the old city before it’s demolished and attend the famous Sunday animal market which although dusty is a great spectacle.
• Those with extra time may find the southern Silk Road oasis towns of Yarkand and Khotan of interest. This area is less visited but does have some interesting side trips including camel safaris and treks into the Taklamakan desert. This predominantly Uyghur area has much of interest for those that are looking for something a little different.
• A short train journey or flight will take you across the western Chinese border and then on to Tashkent the capital of Uzbekistan. Here the real gems of the Silk Road are to be found in the ancient cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Coach travel in Uzbekistan is comfortable and affordable, although the rail line west offers an alternative.

If you are looking for a vacation with a difference and you are a little adventurous, then travelling the Silk Road should be on the top of your list. It is safe and affordable. And it is a hugely rewarding experience. Yes, it will have its challenges but what a story you can tell when you get home, not to mention your fantastic digital photographs of the highlights of this scenic journey.

You could, like Marco Polo, even write a book about your experiences. I did. It’s called Following Macro Polo’s Silk Road.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Lawrenson ]]> http://www.kmlycct.com/13/travelling-the-silk-road/feed 0 http://www.kmlycct.com/83/death-toll-rises-to-617-in-qinghai-earthquake http://www.kmlycct.com/83/death-toll-rises-to-617-in-qinghai-earthquake#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:57:30 +0000 The death toll from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in northwest China's Qinghai Province has risen to 617, rescuers said Thursday. The latest statistics show that 313 people were missing and 9,110 injured, 970 severely, said a spokesman with the rescue headquarters in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai. Almost 2,000 soldiers, police officers and fire-fighters were carrying out search and rescue operation in the Gyegu Town, the seat of the Yushu prefecture government, th...]]> The death toll from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in northwest China’s Qinghai Province has risen to 617, rescuers said Thursday.
The latest statistics show that 313 people were missing and 9,110 injured, 970 severely, said a spokesman with the rescue headquarters in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai.
Almost 2,000 soldiers, police officers and fire-fighters were carrying out search and rescue operation in the Gyegu Town, the seat of the Yushu prefecture government, th…

Edinburgh is a sleepless city. This statement is particularly true since the city has various activities that can be enjoyed by the visitors during the daytime and nighttime. The second largest capital city in Scotland is an attractive destination for vacation. Once you decide to visit Edinburg, you will agree that few days is not enough for exploring the huge tourism menus offered by this city. At no time do the visitors get out of ideas since the first time they step on Edinburg. There are some compulsory attractions and events that should not be missed once you visit Edinburgh.

The first is enjoying various ranges of festivals at any season. Edinburgh offers a seemingly endless range of festivals. They include Edinburgh’s festival, film festival, snowdrop festival, snowdrop festival, science festival, Beltane fire festival, and many more. edinburgh accomodation can be chosen based on destination place. Then, when you like visiting historical building with their own architectural distinctiveness, you can choose one of the famous hotels in the range of Edinburgh apartment accommodation along with their own thematic services. You can also find self-catering apartment and luxurious hotels around historical and amazing places like Union Canal, The Scottish Mining Museum and The Scottish Seabird Centre.

The next activities that could not be missed in Edinburgh are its creative cuisine, coffee, and cake fiend’s delight that can be enjoyed under the sounds of local music. Most popular restaurants like 21212, Centotre, Abstract, and other interesting cafes are worthy trying. More lists of activities at Edinburg and the choices of Edinburgh apartment accommodation, tourist attractions, historical places, and sightseeing places can be found at tourist information offices.

]]> http://www.kmlycct.com/127/what-shouldn%e2%80%99t-be-missed-when-visiting-edinburgh/feed 0 http://www.kmlycct.com/86/chinas-biggest-wine-museum-opens-in-qingdao http://www.kmlycct.com/86/chinas-biggest-wine-museum-opens-in-qingdao#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:55:47 +0000 chinatravel Dubbed the biggest wine museum so far in China, the 8,800-square-meter wine museum in Qingdao of east China's Shandong province has recently received its first batch of visitors. The construction of the museum was started in 2009 with investment from the government of the scenic coastal city. The museum introduces the origins and history of wine in the region, and informs visitors on wine culture and quality. And for wine lovers, the opportunity to taste wines from all over the world. Inside t...]]> Dubbed the biggest wine museum so far in China, the 8,800-square-meter wine museum in Qingdao of east China’s Shandong province has recently received its first batch of visitors.
The construction of the museum was started in 2009 with investment from the government of the scenic coastal city. The museum introduces the origins and history of wine in the region, and informs visitors on wine culture and quality. And for wine lovers, the opportunity to taste wines from all over the world.
Inside t…

As a young and healthy today is more important to many people. There are many reasons for this, but that affects so many diseases and guided by an unhealthy lifestyle and the demands and it seems best to the best positions in the modern world. The state of the environment is increasingly hostile and makes people fight for their health. There are many ways that people maintain a healthy, made as by carrying out some treatments that preserve their health and many harmful substances.

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They offer a variety of services that have increased in quality due to the fact that tourism is an important source of income for many of those countries. For example, in many of those beach resorts, diving enthusiasts can practice their favorite sport in crystal waters teeming with colorful fish. It sounds like a description of heaven itself, but this isn’t far fetched at all.

But the impressive scenery doesn’t stop here. Golden soft beaches stretching for miles, the tropical touches, the proximity of mountains in many of those areas, are just a few glimpses of what Asian beach resorts can offer.

In short, Asia has become a hot destination. Another big advantage is the fact that everything is cheap, hotels, food, everything included here. Of course, there are a variety of services, and those who are more costly offer better services, like anywhere in the world actually. But as a general trait, it is indeed pretty cheap.

Also, as a note worth mentioning, remember to make the most out of your visit by enjoying each place’s cultural richness. You will not lack that anywhere you go in Asia, and you will also find out that people are especially hospitable. All you have to do is ask, and you will be answered in the most pleasant manner.

The fauna is also overwhelming in Asia. There is an entire array of colorful birds that will be the delight of bird-watchers. If you are not one, then you can just enjoy their presence and take a few photos. That will make a nice memory.

Cruising is another favorite activity of tourists when in Asia. The water is always very close, and be it a cruise on a big river or a cruise out on the open ocean, the choice is yours to take. In Bangkok, for example, if you are booked in a hotel that is near the Chao Phraya River, you can serve the dinner on a river cruise.

Marketplaces are another exotic attraction that make a whole afternoon go by in an instant. Cheap and exotic things make the shoppers’ delight. And there is anything you could possibly want in one of those places, and I do mean anything. Make sure you visit one of those places too, when in Asia.

The increase in the quality of services is obvious. When you get booked at a hotel, you can expect full services and quality. And hotels come with a variety of facilities, many of them offering private beaches, even golf terrains, elephant rides, etc. That also depends on the placement of the hotel, so that’s why you need to do a little bit of research.

As a final note, if you haven’t already tasted the amazing Asian cuisine, it’s about time you do. And while you are in Asia itself, why no profit from it and taste the original recipes that are so famous?

The conclusion is: you can never go wrong with Asia. The advantages I presented you are only a few and are general, the truth is that you will get a lot more surprises when you actually get there, depending on the place you chose for your holiday. So when in doubt about a holiday place, an Asian beach resort is your answer.

Marriage in China – Legal Cost of Hiring an Attorney

Many of our readers have been lured to advertisements for immigration attorneys for as little as $500 to $800. Our case studies prove that on average U.S. Citizens hiring an attorney for help bringing their spouse or fiancee to the United States from China will pay $2000 to $2500 to have an attorney fill out their forms and mail them to U.S. Citizens and Immigration Service (USCIS). In one case a gentleman from Wisconsin paid over $5000 dollars. The sad part is, in that case it took his Chinese spouse the longest time to arrive in the United States after his marriage in China, 2 years and 8 months because of mistakes in filing. On the other hand, we have discovered many U.S. Citizens who have filed their own paperwork and their Chinese spouses arrived in the United States in as little as 8 months after receiving a K3 Visa. If you do decide to hire an attorney you will need to talk price up-front. Its best to ask for a flat rate so you know the final cost. If you decide to do your own paperwork and save the money there are U.S. Citizens who have first-hand experience with bringing a spouse from China. You can connect with them on sites like US Visa Toolbox or in forums such as those offered by Travel China Guide.

In the next informative article from US Visa Toolbox we will break down the cost for filing documents and petitions for a marriage in China. We will also look at different ways many U.S. Citizens have saved a bundle of money on traveling to China.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_M_Marsh