Archive for hong kong
Travelling the Silk Road
Posted by: | CommentsThe 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.
Transportation in China
Posted by: | CommentsTraveling around China can be accomplished in a number of ways. With over 140 airports throughout China, air travel is easy. Rail travel is also easily accessible. Traveling by automobile, on the other hand, can be difficult, expensive, and downright dangerous!
There are twelve main airports in China, covering mainly the eastern and southeast regions of the country. In the north, Beijing Airport and its northern partner, Dailain Airport account for the most passengers in the northeast. Further down along the coast, Shanghai has two major airports – Honggiao and Pudong – for the many millions of passengers who come to the Shanghai region each year. Xiamen, Baiyun, Baoan, and Hong Kong Airport take up the most southeast traffic. Further inland, the major airports of Xianyang, Chengdu, Chongging and Guilin make travel throughout the western areas more accessible.
The most popular airlines within China are Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Dragon Air, and Hainan Airlines. There are many more airlines and it is wise to check prices before you leave home in order to ensure you have a cheap and efficient flight within China.
The first railway in China was built in 1874. Now, there are tens of thousands of miles of track linking virtually every town and city. There are four classes of train travel within China – hard seat, soft seat, hard sleeper, and soft sleeper. Like it sounds, hard seat is the most unpleasant but also the cheapest. It is similar to “coach” class. Soft seat is a first class ride for short distances. Hard sleeper is a semi-private sleeping car, soft sleeper is more private and bedding is provided.
Learn About China
Posted by: | CommentsChina is one of the most famous ancient civilizations, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. China is the most populated country with a large land mass and abundant resources. China opened up to the world in 1978, joined the world trade organization in 2001 (WTO), and hosting the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing. With a much more open market policy, there’s increasing number of oversea visitors gaining interest in China’s culture, history, scenery, and lifestyle.
There are 56 ethnic groups in China, with the main nationality being the Han composing of 91% of the population. The remaining 9% of the population is made up of the remaining 55 ethnic groups.
The main language is also the Han Language, spoken in all parts of china and in Asia. The Hui and Manchu ethnic groups also speak Han, while the other 53 ethnic groups use their own languages. The Han-Tibetan language is used by 29 ethnic groups, who live mainly in the southern regions of China.
Finding Places to Stay When Visiting Hong Kong
Posted by: | CommentsHong Kong is an eclectic mix of Chinese and British influences mixed with a massive amount of adrenaline. Fortunately, you can find places to stay when visiting Hong Kong without much problem.
Finding Places to Stay When Visiting Hong Kong
Hong Kong is both a modern and ancient city. First appearances reveal a modern metropolis teaming with commerce, crowds and traffic you would expect to find in any major city in the world. Walk down an alley, however, and you will find all kinds of oddities and a feel for the underlying currents of the city. Big business is done in Hong Kong, but so is a unique way of life. Whichever you pursue, you will need a good base to survive this hectic city.
Place to stay in Hong Kong come in all types of quality, shapes and prices. There are really cheap youth hostels with lots of “character” and five star luxury hotels that would make an emperor blush. Universally, the accommodations are smaller than you would expect in other parts of the world. You can expect rooms to be smaller than Thailand, but a bit bigger than what you find in Japan for corresponding prices.
Luxury lodgings are primarily located on Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong Island is the central area of Hong Kong, the location you see in pictures of the massive skyline. It is situated on an amazingly thin strip of land between the ocean and mountains. If you are doing business in Hong Kong, this is where you want to stay as most of the major commerce centers are on the island. There are a bevy of five star places offering accommodations. In truth, your choice is limited only by your budget.
