China vacations involve more than just travel to Beijing – the country has opened up over the past few years, and many of China’s secrets are now open to the west, even those on a Chinese vacation.

Vacations to China are becoming increasingly popular and a growing number of travel operators are offering China vacations at cut prices to those wanting to find out the secrets of the Orient that have been hidden from western eyes for so long. However, cheap vacations come at a price, if not in hard cash.

First, it is a long flight to China, and can be very uncomfortable if you are packed into a chartered plane seated to pack as many people in as possible so as to keep the costs low. There is nothing wrong with that if it is what you want, and most people are able to withstand the discomfort of little room to stretch out on a long haul flight. For others, however, it is a problem. Then there is the transport once your vacation has started. If you are sharing your holiday with 49 others, the needs of the average are catered for, and these might not be your needs.

The same is true of hotels that are chosen because they can offer the number of rooms needed to meet the needs of a large party, and the menu for many of the meals will be set to be easily cooked for a large number of people at the lowest possible cost. If these arrangements don’t appeal to you, what are your alternatives?

Some people try to arrange and book their own China vacations, but find it too difficult, considering all the arrangements needed, airport taxes, hotel bookings, entrance fees, local travel and so on. The best way by far is to deal with a travel company that can offer you the luxury and personal attention that China vacations need if you are to enjoy your travel to Beijing and everywhere else in China you want to visit.

Your flights should at least be business class to allow you the leg room and cabin staff attentiveness that you need on a longer flight. Travel should be personal, and not as part of a crowd. You and your partner should have a car to yourselves, driven by your own guide, not share a 52 seater bus. Your hotels should be individually booked, and chosen for their excellence, not their cheap price, and you should be able to choose your own menus.

You might think that such travel companies are difficult to find, or if you did find one, your travel would be severely restricted to allow such a high level of personal service. If so, you would be wrong on both counts. However, for now, let’s consider what good China vacations should involve, apart from the personal service and luxury travel.

Travel to Beijing is a must, with a visit to the Forbidden City, the ancient seat of the Chinese emperors that sits right in front of the famous (or infamous) Tiananmen Square. Not as part of a large group, but privately, just you and your partner. With 9,999 buildings, it was forbidden for a non-aristocrat or royal to enter it prior to 1911. A visit to the Peking Opera is also a must, as is a delicious meal of Peking duck!

Many Chinese vacations stop at Beijing, or perhaps include a brief visit to the Wall, and if you want more you have to look around and make sure that the vacation you book involves more than just travel to Beijing and the Forbidden City that seems to satisfy many people. You must at least visit the Summer Palace with its marble boat built by the Empress Cixi with funds embezzled from the navy, and the Temple of Heaven, larger than the Forbidden City. You must also visit the Great Wall and enjoy a traditional Chinese banquet of several different course.

Everybody has heard of the terracotta warriors in Xian: thousands of them, life-size with horses and chariots, and you must also pay a visit to Chengdu to see a real live panda. Also, don’t forget that China is close to Tibet, and you could pay a visit to Lhasa and see Mount Everest and the palaces of the Dalai Lama. Visitors are allowed to visit the chambers and to look out on Lhasa from the seven storey White Palace. However, back to China.

All China vacations should allow you to spend some time on one o China’s many rivers and watch the cormorants that are trained to dive for fish: their necks are slightly constricted to prevent them from swallowing the fish. It might sound cruel, but it seems to do them no harm. A visit to Shanghai should also be included on your itinerary, along with a cruise down the Huangpu River. In fact there are many rivers in this part of China that you should visit by boat, but you have to get all this organized in advance.

The main problem with Chinese vacations is that if you want anything more than just to travel to Beijing, you can’t just head off anywhere you want when you feel like it. China is not France or the UK. Tourism is allowed, but only if organized in advance and all permissions are granted. That’s why it is so important to seek out the type of Chinese vacation you want prior to setting off. You can’t change midway.

Chinese vacations can be magnificent and awe-inspiring, and they can also be pretty boring if you have already visited Beijing. Which you get is your choice, but remember that you are generally stuck with what you book, although there might be some tours you can book when in Beijing. Generally, however, vacations to China are best organized in advance with a good travel company experienced in providing you with luxury travel and comprehensive travel to make sure that you visit as many places as possible in the time available to you.

If you are seeking Chinese vacations offering personal service and travel arrangements, then visit Ultitude.com where individual attention is combined with a comprehensive two week first class travel package to offer a Chinese vacation that will knock your socks off. Also be sure to visit Ultitude-Travel.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Winfrey
http://EzineArticles.com/?China-Vacations—Luxury-Travel-to-Beijing-and-Beyond&id=1977086

China is one of the most glorious countries to visit and this year you can see it all. China is a magical country full of old and historical sights and many wonders. There is no other country that has sights as fantastic as the Great Wall of China and all of the old places where the monks used to live thousands of years ago. Add to all of this beauty the supreme glory that is the scenery and you have a place that dreams are made of.

China is the type of place that you think only exists in real until you see it for yourself. When you step out onto one of the many mountain peaks and look down on the mist and the world below you will find that your breath is completely taken away. It is stunning and if you do not take cameras and camcorders and tons of extra batteries you are going to be sorry for it. You need to capture these sights on camera so that you can always remember and share those memories with those who were not lucky enough to come with you on this magnificent trip.

Here are some of the top places for you to visit when you go to China:

Hong Kong
This is of course a must see place. Everyone has herd of this great place but so many do not get the wonderful opportunity to see it for themselves. When you go to China you need to see Hong Kong for yourself. There you will get to spend some quality time soaking up the atmosphere. You can see the day life and the nightlife there, it is so different than it is in western countries. You will also find that Hong Kong has the best shopping world wide. No other city on earth can offer this kind of shopping and everyone will be able to find something that they can love and enjoy for years to come.

Guangzhou
This is a place that so many people have not thought to even travel to and oh how these people have missed out. This is one of the top destinations, or at least it should be. When you visit Guangzhou you need to start in one area and move from there. Checking out Guangzhou place by place is the most efficient way to do it. Make sure to not leave until you see Colonial Canton for yourself.

Dongguan
Dongguan is full of all the top museums that China has to offer. If you love to see museums and all that the history of this great country then this is the place to go to do it. In just a couple of days you can learn so much and experience even more.

China is a fabulous place to visit no matter how young or how old you happen to be. Both adults and children will be able to enjoy all of the wonders of China.

About the Author: John Rivers is editor of Air Travel
Center. Advice on cheap holidays and low cost air travel

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The New Year’s parade in Hong Kong is an event not to be missed! The city is dressed up with bright decorations and colorful lights for its biggest celebration of the year, and thousands pour into Hong Kong to take part in the festivities.

Winding along Hong Kong’s picturesque waterfront, the New Year’s parade is filled with colorful, lavishly decorated floats. Representatives from Hong Kong and countries all over the world sing, dance and play music. The songs of marching bands fill the air along the parade’s route as performers in bright costumes prance along the streets.

The forthcoming year (2006) is the Year of the Dog. No matter which zodiac animal is being celebrated for the coming year, there are always plenty of lions and dragons in the parade. Energetic dancers wearing giant lion heads leap in the air as long dragons held aloft by more than twenty people snake past the enthralled parade watchers.

The New Year’s parade is the biggest event of Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration. Close to 300,000 people attend the parade and millions more watch it on television. In recent years the parade has taken place in the evening, featuring vivid, dazzling light displays.

The Lunar New Year is one of Hong Kong’s most important and well-loved holidays. Each year one of twelve different animals is celebrated, according to the Chinese zodiac. Many of the city’s towering skyscrapers are decked out in glittering lights for the holiday. Throughout the three-day celebration, dancers in colorful costumes perform lion and dragon dances in the streets, malls and hotel lobbies. Traditionally, people exchange small, red envelopes filled with money as gifts. Flower markets show up all over the city during the holiday, selling plants and flowers with special significance, and stores and restaurants display flowers meant to bring immortality and good luck.

The New Year celebration usually begins anywhere from January 21 to February 19, depending on the year. While the holiday officially lasts fifteen days, in Hong Kong it is celebrated for three days, with the New Year’s parade taking place on the first day. January 29, 2006 is the first day of the forthcoming new year.

The day after the New Year’s parade a brilliant display of fireworks lights up Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour. The fireworks can be viewed from the waterfront or from boats cruising the harbour. On the third day of the celebration a large horse race takes place at the Sha Tin racetrack. This lively race is a favorite for gamblers and horseracing enthusiasts.

It’s no wonder why so many travel to discover all that Hong Kong has to offer, with the vibrant fusion of ancient customs and modern day fun at one of the world’s biggest Chinese New Year celebrations.

About the Author: John Riggin is Executive Editor for http://www.SeeYouInAsia.com, the largest and most comprehensive US to Asia vacation travel website. Where you’ll discover the best deals on flights, tours, hotels, cruises and more to welcome in the Chinese New Year.

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Hong Kong features a diverse mixture of characters as a result of long British occupation and a great Chinese influence. As a state of China, Hong Kong provides a good introduction to who ever wants to know more about China without entering the mainland plus a venue for more attractions with western culture and Asian spirit.

1. Hong Kong Museum of Art – Located at 10 Salisbury Rd Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is open to anyone who wants to take a glimpse of Hong Kong’s culture and history through its large collection of over 14,000 items ranging from calligraphy, paintings, Hong Kong treasure, art objects, antiques, and lithographs. The museum is open from 10:00am-6:00pm daily except Thursday (public holidays not included).

2. Hong Kong Disneyland – The newly open and the first ever Disneyland in Asia offers total fun and excitement for the whole family. The park is divided into four major attractions: Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Main Street, USA.

3. Victoria Peak – Soaring 1810 feet above sea level, the Victoria Peak is premier destination for tourists who want to take a birds eye view of downtown Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbour. Go another step higher and take a 10-minute hike to the actual Victoria Peak.

4. Lantau Island – Travel Hong Kong and take a cruise around the waters of Lantau Island and watch pink dolphins that only live in this waters.

5. Ocean Park – Travel Hong Kong and visit Ocean Park. This is one Hong Kong attractions where you and your kids will have a great fun. The park is one big oceanarium containing Lowlands Gardens where pandas live, goldfish pagoda and butterfly house are located, Marine Land where atoll reef and shark aquariums are found, and Headlands amusement park where you can go and take a ride with cable cars and roller coasters.

6. Water World – Travel Hong Kong with kids would never be so much fun without taking a plunge on Water World. Enjoy wave pools, play area, and water slides.

7. Middle Kingdom – A miniature China that houses Chinese shrines, street scenes, temples, and palaces only at Middle Kingdom.

8. The Central district – If you travel to Hong Kong because you love to shop, you better go to the central Hong Kong district where big shopping malls and several Western designer and signature boutiques are located.

9. Lamma Island – If you want to see a different Hong Kong, try Lamma Island. It hosts several outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. And if you love to taste fresh Hong Kong seafood in great dining ambiance, Lamma Island is still the preferred place to go.

10. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Sha Tin) – Located at New Territories, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery features Buddha in different poses and colors.

11. Hong Kong Space Museum – See what’s in store for you in the future at Hong Kong Space Museum. The complex offers hundreds of displays ranging from telecommunications, robotics, energy, computers, and physics with hands on experience that will keep you interested.

12. Wet Market – In Hong Kong, everything is fresh. And when they say fresh, they mean it. If you happen to travel Hong Kong to visit a friend or someone you know, come along when they go to wet market where the freshest among freshest seafood are for sale.

About the Author: Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides hong kong travel resources on www.your-hong-kong-travel.info.

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By Clare Hudson

On Hong Kong Island, there are few beaches you can reach after a hike, rewarding your efforts with relaxing scenery, a cool swim and perhaps even some rolling surf. I’m going to suggest a fantastic and scenic route.

Starting from a bus stop at the beginning of Shek 0 Road is a great trail that leads up and over Dragon’s Back, perhaps the finest short hike in Hong Kong. If you have time to spare, first head down from the bus stop to the beach at To Tei Wan which, though not a fine swimming or sunbathing beach, has a quaint abandoned village and is home to the Hong Kong Hobie Club. You’ll see the members’ sailboats arrayed along the sand. From there, start climbing backs the Hong Kong Trail, which leads through trees and bamboo and up a scrubby hillside. Turn right at the top of a steep flight of steps, and you’ll come to a cluster of boulders, with great views across Tai Tam Bay to Stanley.

Retracing your steps from the boulders, continue along the meandering path, then take a right turn, uphill again. In minutes, you’ll be on the Dragon’s Back ridge, savouring brilliant views down to Shek 0 and across the sea to Tung Lung Island and the Clearwater Bay Peninsula.

When the northeast monsoon is blowing, Dragon’s Back is popular with paraglider pilots who climb up with their heavy packs, then launch themselves from grassy slopes, hang in the air, and eventually drift down to a beach at Shek O.

The trail heads north now, sometimes burrowing between bamboo and shrubs then climbing to a hilltop with more outstanding views. Big Wave Bay soon appears below you – a short stretch of sand in a narrow cove between rocky headlands. Then, the Hong Kong Trail drops, turns away from the ridge, and you’ve seen the last of Big Wave Bay for some time. Follow an easygoing woodland trail, crossing occasional small streams. The trail emerges close by a correctional services centre near Tat Tani Gap. The beach is closer now; just follow the signs pointing along a service road, then take a right, to drop down, and at last arrive at Big Wave Bay.

Big Wave Bay seems far removed from most of Hong Kong Island: walking to it, you pass through a small village, with houses amidst fields, the hillside stretching above. Though it’s small, there’s a good beach, with a lifeguard service in summer, and facilities including showers. It’s a fine place for unwinding and swimming after a hike. Big Wave Bay is a magnet for surfer dudes, who have only ripples to ride in calm weather, but arc drawn here when a typhoon roars close by and surf’s UP! You’ll be happy to stroll along the rocky shore to the left and path leads to an old rock carving – perhaps a bit boring to look at, though the location is good, with more views of this marvellous stretch of coastline.

About the Author: Clare Hudson contributes to Best Travel Guide, an online publication about travel advice, tips and destination.

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If you intend to visit Beijing to watch the Olympics and experience the gathering of nations firsthand, there is no shortage of quality hotels within this great Chinese city for you to select from. In fact, you’ll have numerous 5-star hotels to choose from that will allow you to enjoy a luxurious stay in Beijing as you enjoy the excitement that the Olympics brings.

There are so many quality hotels in Beijing that choosing the right one might seem like an overwhelming task. To help you decide, let’s look at some of the best 5-star hotels in Beijing, comparing their offerings and locations. Most are close to key destinations, tourist attractions and other famous sites. Therefore, you really can’t go wrong with any of these great choices. 1. St. Regis Beijing The St. Regis Beijing is an elegantly decorated hotel located in the city’s Diplomatic District at 21 Jian Guo Men Wai Avechao. It is known for its tremendous service and luxury. The hotel also has 273 rooms, all of which are fashioned with contemporary amenities. It also offers special rooms for business and social events.

The St. Regis Beijing is conveniently located near to Tian’anmen Square, Silk Market and the Forbidden City. Closer attractions include The Friendship Store, Temple of Heaven and Ritan Park. The hotel also features a Danieli’s Restaurant on the property, which offers Italian cuisine. Also, the Garden Court restaurant serves international cuisine. Other amenities include a gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts and a spa.

2. Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center

The Kempinksi Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center is situated in the Chao Yang District at 50 Liangmaqiao Road. This lovely hotel is known for having a tranquil ambience and offering a great deal of comfort to its guests. There are 526 guest rooms that either overlook the Liangma River or the city’s skyline, which means you can easily find a room with a great view when you stay here.

This hotel is also located near shopping areas, restaurants and local entertainment centers. In addition, its restaurant offers a wide choice of foods, including Chinese, German, Japanese, Italian, South American and Korean foods.

3. Xiyuan Hotel Beijing

The Xiyuan Hotel Beijing is located at 1 Sanlihe Road X’ Yuan in City Centre. It is close to the Ministries of Finance and Construction, Capital Exhibition Centre, the city’s Financial District and the I.T. Zone of Zhong Guan Cun. There are 900 rooms and suites that offer modern amenities within this hotel and its restaurant boasts an offering of Cantonese, Shandong, Western, Continental and Oriental foods.

4. Capital Hotel Beijing

Also located in Beijing’s City Centre is the Capital Hotel Beijing, which is well known for offering the best of hospitality and service. Being in the heart of Beijing, at 3 Qian Men East Street, the hotel is not far from most attractions and shopping destinations. It is close to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The rooms are large and contemporary. The hotel restaurant offers a variety of food options, ranging from Italian to Korean.

5. Shangri-La Hotel Beijing

Located in the Hai Dian District, the Shangri-La Hotel Beijing stands among landscaped gardens. It is near the financial district and Technology Park. It also is close to the State Guest House and Summer Palace. There are 670 rooms in this hotel, at 29 Zizhuyuan Road. They are described as elegant, private and luxurious. The hotel restaurant serves international foods, including Japanese and Chinese.

6. Shangri-La’s Kerry Centre Hotel Beijing

The hotel is located in the city’s Chao Yang District at 1 Guanghua Road, in the heart of the diplomatic, commercial and financial center. It has a contemporary style and features “Shangri-La hospitality.” The 487-room hotel is not far from main tourist attractions and historical sites. The Coffee Garden and Horizon Chinese Restaurant are among the hotel’s dining offerings.

7. Longxi Hotspring Hotel Beijing

The Longxi Hotspring Hotel Beijing is situated in the city’s Da Xing District at 8 Shunjing Road Panggezhuang, which is in the south of Beijing. This quiet and modern hotel offers four on-site restaurants. These restaurants offer Chinese and American foods, among other styles.

All five-star hotels in Beijing feature similar amenities, including business centers, parking, room service, air conditioning, cable or satellite television, Internet access and phones, among many others.

About the Author: Olympics Beijing Games

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By Peter R Stewart

Lhasa China isn’t everybody’s idea of a vacation destination although Lhasa remains one of the most apparently remote mysterious, and even romantic places on earth. Once completely inaccessible it still isn’t easy to get to, and then when you do, there is the question of where do you find a decent Lhasa Hotel.

The House of Shambhala could well be the perfect answer, and whilst it may not be the perfect example of a luxury boutique hotel it nevertheless by anyone’s standards it is a unique small boutique hotel only recently opened in Lhasa Tibet, now of course in China. It is certainly vastly preferable to the faceless Chinese hotels to be found in Lhasa. The House of Shambala is quite unlike anything that most people have ever seen in terms of it being an hotel. It is situated in the Barkhor area in the historic heart of old Lhasa, and it looks like nothing at all as you enter off the street. In fact you will wonder if your guide has brought you to the right place as you pass a row of prayer wheels, then suddenly you find yourself in a traditional Tibetan Lhasa House which has quite obviously been lovingly restored, and turned into a real funky boutique hotel The House of Shambalha is the kind of house where a nobleman would have lived, and is three storeyed, built around a courtyard, with prayer wheels and a shrine in the lobby.

There are 10 bedrooms and each is different from the other in size and design, painted in gold, saffron, crimson, or cinnamon, and filled with hand painted antiques, meditation chairs, yoga mats, furry white rugs, and exquisite Buddhist paintings. The whole thing has a real sort of Medieval feel to it, with the stone walls and wooden floors. The pillows and lampshades have the eyes of Buddha and all the nooks and crannies have yak butter lamps throwing shadows and emphasising the medieval feel to the place.

The beds are raised onto a Chinese style platform which just goes to emphasise the whole traditional feel of the place.

The ensuite bathrooms have stone walled showers, heat lamps which are needed and fragrant Tibetan soaps.

If you can, book an upper floor room because they get more of the sun, or alternatively if you want privacy there are two rooms which form their own courtyard, with their own separate staircase.

The view from the roof of the House of Shambhala, whilst sipping a local cocktail and watching some local dancers is absolutely breathtaking, and is just one of the things to make this a unique luxury boutique hotel. The second of course is the position astride a lane deep in old Lhasa Tibet.

Unexpectedly the rooms are warm even with snow on the ground, and there is unlimited hot water.

The restaurant has great food, a mixture of Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Oriental with absolutely stunning tikka. Surprisingly the yak meat is delicious and well worth trying.

The Spa next door has a wonderful soaking tub, and you can have a superb massage to round of a day spent wandering around Lhasa.

The staff are all friendly and very willing, although their understanding of English is less than perfect, but this is Lhasa after all!

If Lhasa Tibet China is somewhere you want to go, then the House of Shambhala is the best place to stay, very comfortable and ideally situated to see old Lhasa.

For more information on Far East Hotels go to http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Far-East-Hotels/

About the Author: Peter Stewart writes about in Kenya Safaris as well as authoring several articles about Worldwide Vacation Spots and he recommends Caribbean Vacation Spots

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