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The 2008 Beijing Olympic Summer Games mark
the first time China will host the world’s largest sporting spectacle. The
Chinese government has pledged to spend 20 billion U.S. dollars building sports
complexes and refurbishing the Beijing infrastructure. Tour operators are
already selling packages that cost $10,000 - $15,000 per person for a 5-night
stay. From the experience of other countries, we know that the rates will not go
down to pre-Games level after 2008. NOW is the time to visit this amazing
destination.
Hike the spine of the Great Wall of China,
one of the 10 Wonders of the World, examine artifacts from the old Silk Road,
pedal around town like a local, rise early and haggle at Beijing markets, sip
tea in a garden of orchids, wrap up a slice of succulent Peking duck, or float
through a limestone valley.
China isn't a country - it's a different
world. Unless you have a couple of years, you won't see it all - but our short
trip will give you the highlights. Experience the splendors of imperial Beijing
and the natural beauty of the Yangtze Gorges. This is a richly rewarding trip
that is sure to be a once in a lifetime experience.
Map of China
Location
History
Climate
Top
Attractions in China
About Visas
About Shopping
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The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, also
called Imperial Palace Museum, is located in the very heart of
Beijing. It remained the residence of the emperors for nearly
five hundred years, from the 15th century to the early 20th
century, and was the actual and symbolic seat of imperial power.
It was built in the Ming Dynasty between the 4th and the 18th
years of the Yongle period (1406 - 1420 AD). This magnificent,
palatial architectural complex covers an area of over 2,350,000
square feet and contains 9,999 rooms. The largest complex of its
kind in the world, it is surrounded by ten-foot-high walls that
are crowned by four observation towers and flanked by a deep
moat. The walls are pierced by four large gates, each with three
openings and a broad crowning pavilion. |
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The Great Wall
The Great Wall is a symbol of ancient Chinese civilization
and a world-renowinged defense work. Stretching 6,350
kilometers on the mountains in northern China, it has first
built in the 7th Century B.C.,completed during the reign of
the First Emperor of Qin, and extended during the Ming
Dynasty. Praised as a "wonder of the world", it has been
listed as a cultural heritage. The most famous section of
the Great Wall is st Badaling in Yanqing County in the
northwestern suburbs of Beijing, built more than 600 years
ago during the Ming Dynasty. In addition, the Jinshanling,
Motianyu and Simatai Section of the Great Wall are also
well-preserved and have been opened to the public.
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The Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
It measures 230 meters from east to west, 62 meters from
north to south, and five meters deep. There are 6,000
life-sized terra-cotta warriors and horses, 100 chariots,
and 30,000. With weapons in their hands, the warriors line
in a phalanx, solemn and awe-inspiring. It is reputed as the
World's Largest Military Museum and the Eighth Wonder, and
has been put on the world Cultural Heritage list.
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Li River
The poetic and picturesque Li River,
between Guilin and Yangshuo, traverses 84 kilometers like a
jade ribbon winding among thousands of the hills. Along the
river, the rolling peaks, steep cliffs, green hills and
clear water constitutes a fascinating hundred-mile pictures
gallery. Li River scenery is known to all not only for its
green hills, clear water, fantastic caves and spectacular
rocks but also for its wonderful deep pools, springs and
waterfalls. Moreover, people can enjoy the different
beauties of Li River scenery at different seasons and
weathers. In fine days, reflections of the hills in clear
and greenish water are specially pleasing to the eyes, butit
is more enchanting under rainy and misty weather. The hazy
view of the drizzling rain and lingering clouds give birth
to a wonderful fairyland for tourists.
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The Yangtze River and the
three Gorges Dam
Yangtze River is the longest river in both China and Asia,
also the third longest river in the world, with a length of
6,300 kilometers. Its basin, extending for some 2,000 miles
from west to east and for more than 600 miles from north to
south, drains an area of 1,808,500 square
kilometers.Traveling by boat eastward from Chongqing, one
comes to the world-famous Three Gorges. The section from
Chongqing to Yichang features splendid landscape, many
places of historic interest, and strong local customs. It is
a national scenic are and a golden route for travelers. The
Three Gorges consists of the Qutang, Wuxia, and Xiling,
stretching 193 kilometers. The Qutang and Wuxia Gorges are
famous for beauty, while the Xiling Gorge danger, with one
of the world's largest canyon.
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ABOUT VISAS TO CHINA
A. Basic
Requirements
a. One completed application
Visa Form (requires Adobe Acrobat).
(please go to
Adobe to download the Acrobat Reader in order to view the
visa form).
b. One recently taken 2 inch half-length, bareheaded, full-faced
photo.
c. A valid passport with enough blank pages.
B. Pertinent Documents
The pertinent documents required for
applications for visas of different types are as follow (except
the applications on which the mutual agreement has been reached
between China and foreign countries):
Tourist, Business, Residence, Employment, Study,
Transit, Crew, Journalist or Diplomatic
You are applying for a Tourist
Visa
C. Other Requirements
a. For the first visa application of the
foreign-born children of Chinese descent, please provide their
birth certificates and one of their parents' foreign passport or
foreign permanent residence identity card (for example: the US
green card) in addition to the relevant documents required for
by the above regulations.
b. Applicants who were born in China, applying for the Chinese
visa for the first time must aslo provide their Chinese
passports or their previous foreign passports along with the
above mentioned documents/materials.
D. Pick-Up Visa and Visa Fee
Normally visa may be picked up on the fourth working day since
the date of the application. Only with the consent of the consul
could it sometimes be expedited by paying rush service fee. The
rush fees are: US$30 for the same-day pick-up (application must
be submitted before 12 noon), US$20 for the next-day and the
third-day pick-up. With your receipt, visa shall be picked up in
person or by someone entrusted.
The visa fees are: US$50 for
single-entry visa, US$75 for
double-entry visa, US$100 for
six-month multiple-entry visa, US$150
for one-year multiple-entry visa.
Please pay in cash or
Money Order (made payable to
Consulate General of P.R. China).
Personal check is unacceptable.
If applicants applying the China Visa for the first time, please
contact and visit the
local Consulate Office. The Chinese Embassy and
Consulates do not take visa applications sent by mail.
Applicants are required to come to the visa office for visa
application. If an applicant cannot come personally,
he/she may entrust a relative or friend or travel/visa agent to
come to the visa office for application process.
F.
Application for Visa / Entry Permit to Hong Kong / MACAO SAR of
China
a. US citizens to visit Hong Kong SAR for
short-time tour, business visit can stay in Hong Kong for 90
days without applying visas. But the following US citizens to
visit Hong Kong are required to apply visas in advance: US
citizens intend to stay in Hong Kong longer than 90 days; US
citizens intend to enter Hong Kong for employment, investment,
education, training or residence.
b. Currently there are 36 countries from which citizens can
visit Macao free of visa; citizens from other countries can
apply for the visa to enter Macao at the airport when they
arrive at Macao.
In accordance with the relevant Law of the People's Republic of
China and the international practices, the consul is entitled to
request other documents from the applicant, and the consul is
also entitled to reject the application.
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- About
Shopping: China is a fantastic shopping destination. From bamboo
chopsticks to Cultural Revolution memorabilia, whatever your interest,
you're bound to be able to buy it in China. As the world's factory, you can
find just about anything.
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- "Everything in China is negotiable." Shopping, buying and
selling, they're all games. The seller plays and the buyer plays. Iin the
tourist-trade, everyone's out to make a deal and you just have to learn the
rules.
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- Shopping on the Go is so much fun in China. Haggle! That
is as much the "sport" as the purchase.
At all the major sites - The Great Wall, Terra Cotta Warriors, Forbidden
City, Summer Palace, etc. there are "hawkers" -
the "Hello, Hello" or "One Dollar, One Dollar" People.
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