Since AD 1000, Beijing, the city has served as a main or subsidiary residence for a series of dynasties. In Beijing see the Great Wall of China, the longest man-made object in the world. Tour the Forbidden City where emperors have lived for more than 500 years. Walk through Tian An Men Square, and then see the Ming Tomb burial grounds for the 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty……
Xi'an
In the provinces of Shaanxi and Henan is the cradle of Chinese civilization. Here, in the fertile valleys of the loess-covered landscape, the ancestors of the Chinese settled in the 3rd century BC. The fertile loess soil attracted the first human settlements, while irrigation difficulties forced people to work in close cooperation. As a result, the first and strongest states developed in this region. In Xian (pronounced She-ann) see the more than 6,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses recently excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. First discovered in 1974, each terra-cotta soldier and horse has its own unique body and facial features, and more are being uncovered every year
Guilin:
Guilin by the banks of the Li River in southern China is justifiably considered to be one of the most beautiful in China. Guilin literally means "Cassia Tree Forest". The landscape is characterized by terraced rice paddies, water buffalos, and bamboo groves, and peasants with turn up trousers and cone-shaped straw hats. Take a Li River day cruise to experience the magical beauty of the limestone rock formations and farmland commonly seen in Chinese landscape paintings. The Li River, Limestone caves, Elephant Hill, and the pure beauty of this area are all attraction of Guilin.
Shanghai:
Shanghai the metropolis lies by the river Huangpu, the 80km long artery of Shanghai of which 30km of its upriver flows into the Yangtze and thus guarantees access to the sea. The name Shanghai means "upriver to the sea". Shanghai harbor is the third largest in the world. This beautiful city offers lots of sightseeing. For example, you may view the harbor from Huangpu Park and then visit the Jade Buddha Temple featuring two huge Buddha statues carved out of a single piece of white Jade.
Yangtze River:
Yangtze River is the largest river in China, the lifeline of China, which flows through nine provinces, with its 700 tributaries, covers an area of 1.8 million sq. km, which is 19 percent of the total area of China. Dynasty after dynasty has marveled at the majesty of China's Three Gorges. There are many wonderful cruises available on the Yangtze River with its majestic cliffs and soaring peaks. These cruises not only take you to the wonderful cities along the greatest and most historic river of Asia, but are commonly combined with excursions to many of the classic Golden Cities of China discussed above. Visiting the "Golden Cities" of China and possibly combining with a Yangtze River Cruise is highly recommended for those visiting China for their first time.
Extraordinary Tibetan Adventures
Tibet, used to be the mysterious, legendary and unknown Roof of the World, hidden and almost unreachable behind the highest mountains in the world can be easily reached today from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province to Lhasa. This is the safest way for visitors to travel to Tibet. The Himalayas are the youngest folded mountains in the world. Before the south Indian land mass began to shift northwards about 40 million years ago, the Tethys Ocean, one of the largest oceans in the history of the earth occupied the area. Today, the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau is at an average altitude of 4,000 meters, the most elevated plateau on earth, covering 25 percent of the entire Chinese territory. The Tibetans have been nomads for centuries, crossing the highlands pastures in the south with their herbs of sheep, goats and yak. In contrast, the north is an uninhabited desert. Today, 2.2 million people live in the autonomous region of Tibet, of whom about 1.7 millions are Tibetans. Tibetans also live in Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Tibet Adventures allow you to experience the way of life, culture, history, and spectacular scenery unique to this part of China. It is said that visiting Tibet, the "Roof of the World", is as much a state of mind as a destination. Tours include cities such as Lhasa known as the "City of the Sun" and Xigaze (Shigatze) where you will see beautiful palaces and cliff top monasteries. Attend colorful bazaars and relax in the beautiful Himalayan Mountains of Tibetan China. Tibet tours can be combined with other China travel or booked as an excursion out of Hong Kong or other cities of the Orient to add a little pleasure with your business travel .
Travel the Ancient Silk Road of China
This ancient trade route starts in the old capitals of Luoyang and Xi'an, and reaches the Yellow River at Lanzhou, follows along the "Gansu Corridor" and stretches along the edge of deserts and mountains. Before the discovery of the sea route to India, the Silk Road was the most important connection between the Orient and the West. The Silk Road experienced its last great era during the time of Mongols, when the entire route from China to the Mediterranean was part of one empire. At that time, Nicolo and Marco Polo traveled from Kashgar to the Far East along the southern route. The overland link quickly lost its importance as trade across the seas developed. Today it has been replaced in China with the railway line Lanzhou-Hami-Urumqi. The last part, to Alma-Ata in Kazatchstan was completed in 1992. The trade route was never known as the Silk Road historically. It was given the name by a German geographer Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen. Silk Road tours allow you to step back into the 13th century as you visit the cities of the legendary silk traders and monks. Travel through deserts where silk traders have traveled for thousands of years. You can discover the ancient mysteries of the Silk Road including bazaars where merchants haggle over camels and carpets, where you can meet the nomadic minorities of China, and attend music, dance and artistic performances. These tours are often combined with stops to Beijing, Xi'an, and Dunhuang to make your China travel adventure vacation complete.
