Travel in China

Are the Beijing Olympics giving you the inspiration and desire to journey to the other side of the globe? If so, break out your Rosetta Stone and check out some must-see attractions to schedule for your future travel China.

Summer Palace
Admission: 35 RMB
Bus Routes 690, 808, 826
6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

These are the ruins of the palaces and the beautiful gardens of the Qing Emperors. They are extensive enough that if you want to get away from the crowds, leave the front area and you will find some seclusion (and beat the air pollution on a good day) in the caves and ruins of the rear hill and lake area.

The Hutongs
Free
2nd Ring Road Area, especially near Quianmen and Houhai

These are the narrow, winding street-alleyways that characterize medieval Beijing. They make for the same sort of charming strolling that the core of an old European town does, and the best part is that it’s free! The houses are mostly in the courtyard-based siheyuan style. Come see them soon, as these neighborhoods are being demolished to make space for modern, booming Beijing.

The Forbidden City
Admission: 60 RMB; Audio Guide Device for 40 RMB plus deposit
Subway Line 1; Bus Routes 1, 4, 52, 101,109, 728 and 810.
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Come early if you want to beat the crowds and enjoy some relative calm in Beijing’s premiere tourist attraction. This was the home of the Chinese Emperor during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and stands as the world’s largest palace complex. Only two-fifths of the sprawling compound is open to the public, but that is still enough to occupy hours; it isn’t called The Forbidden City for nothing.

Tiananmen Square
Free
Bus Routes: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; or walk from The Forbidden City
Open All Day

Built by Mao Zedong to impress the world, flanked by ubiquitous Communist-style buildings and the site of the infamous 1989 massacre, it is China’s monument to Mao and his brand of Communism. It is located near The Forbidden City, so the pair can be rolled into one day of sight-seeing. Entry into Mao’s Mausoleum is free, but expect long lines.

Panjiayuan, “The Dirt Market”
Free, except any purchases
West of East Third Ring Road, between PanjiayuanBridge and HuaweiBridge
Saturday and Sunday, 4:30am-5pm

This is the flea market of China, and is the best place to go looking for bargains in art, textiles, antiques, knick-knacks and just plain junk. Most of the stall operators are villagers hawking wares from their hometowns, so there are real gems to be found if you are willing to spend enough time hunting for them. Also, markets in general are the first place to go looking for an easily-accessible, authentic, local experience.

Submitted By: China Assistor

 
If you are planning a trip to China, and would like to really experience luxury travel and have a wonderful, deluxe vacation, you will be excited to know that there are tour operators who specialize in first class travel to China.

One of the first things we think of when we talk about “luxury travel” is first class air travel, and this is certainly a part of your luxurious China vacation, along with luxury hotel accommodations and having personal guides and escorts rather than taking group tours with other vacationers.

While you’re in China, you will want to take in some of the regular tourist sights, and you may want to be able to get the “special access” to some sights that is restricted for VIPs and special visitors. Talk with your luxury tour operator about these tours and what you would like to see; there are often special arrangements your operator can make to help you have an even more special experience.

Room service is a luxury many people enjoy, of course, and in China, in your five-star hotel, the room service will be spectacular, and you will be amazed how wonderful the local food is when you’re experiencing the cooking skills of some of the best chefs in the country.

General luxury travel is very popular, and you can find many tour operators offering first-class travel in China. You can go to the mainland and visit all of the wonderful historic and cultural sites in luxury, and you can also visit Hong Kong, which is considered truly luxurious in its own right. Simply by looking for a tour operator who does “regular” travel in first-class style, you can find a wonderful vacation package.

However, if you’re particularly interested in Chinese cuisine, you may wish to find a gastronomy tour that takes you to some of the most exciting and exotic dining experiences in China and gives you the opportunity to learn more about Chinese cuisine and sample things you would never be able to try at home.

Or, if golf is your passion, there are many deluxe golfing packages that let you tee off in the countryside of China, some of the most beautiful land in the world. If your are a keen golfer and want to either concentrate on golf while in China or make it a large part of your visit, you can work with a golf tour operator to make that experience a reality for you.

Whatever your goals for first-class travel in China, you can find a luxury tour operator simply by searching on the Internet for luxury travel in China and talking with operators who offer the kinds of tour you are interested in . You may  be surprised, not only at how lush some of the packages are and how much they offer, but that first-class travel in China, true luxury living on the mainland and in Hong Kong, is much less expensive than the same class of travel in Europe or the United States.

According to the American Express Business Travels second survey of corporate travel management service in China, the country will become the world's third-largest market for corporate travel within five years. The survey shows that the spending on international business travel by China approximates US$4.2 billion a year, which is 17 percent of the Asian market for business travel. This figure, in addition to the spending on the domestic business travel in China, adds up to almost US$20 billion.

The healthy growth of China's GDP is likely to secure a two-digit rise in China's business travel market in a few years. It is estimated that by the year 2020, the number of Chinese business travellers will be five times as many as that at present. International travel service providers and global giants such as American Express, Kar Shun Travel, and Rosenbluth have noticed the potential of China market for business travel and have made inroads into China.

Global business travellers are advised to adhere to local business etiquettes. In Chinese business culture, conservative suits are the norm. For business purposes, it is traditionally acceptable to call a Chinese person by the family name, together with a title, such as ""Director Li"". Avoid using someone's first name unless you know him or her closely. Formality is a sign of respect, and it is sensible to clarify how you will address someone early in a relationship.

Business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There is, however, a five-day workweek in larger cities. Avoid visiting government offices on Friday afternoon because this is sometimes reserved for political studying of the officials. Offices are typically closed on public holidays including the Spring Festival, during which most Chinese take five days off; other holidays during which offices close include Labor Day on May 1, and the National Day on October 1.

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