What a joy it is to have friends coming from afar!

- Confucius

- welcome to China

Travel in China

The hottest Destinations

Beijing - Capital of China with splendid historical sites, the first choice
for visit in China

Shanghai - The truly international metropolis showing the modern

achievements of China

Xian - The An ancient capital city famed for its terracotta warriors and
wide city walls

Lhasa - The Roof of the World possesses the profound Tibetan culture

Transportation of China
Option1: Airplane between the cities, e.g. Beijing-Shanghai-Xian around 2-hour flight,
flights at intervals of one-hour between the three cities

Option2: Multiple Unit Train and High Speed train ,e.g. the 12-hour journey by train
between the three cities normally, exceptionally, thanks to the quite new High-speed trains between some principal cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, it takes 5-hour shuttle You can book airplane tickets by the website: http://english.ctrip.com/ or http://www.ctrip.com/, click English version. This website is an easy way of booking hotels as well For taking train, it is the best way to ask your hotel reception to help you book the train ticket Within the cities, its the most convenient way is : Taxi or Subway ( be aware of no many taxi-drivers understand English in China , better to keep the address in Chinese with you to show them where you go)

City tours (1)

Top Beijing tours
Cultural heritages and places of interest
a). Tiananmen Square b). Forbidden City ( The Palace Museum) c). Summer Palace d). The magnificent Great Wall e). Temple of Heaven f). Old Hutong Neighborhood

Gastronomy, Entertainment and Shopping

a). Beijing Roast Duck ( the well-known restaurant Quanjude Peking Roast Duck ( Address:14 or 32)and King Duck Peking Roast Duck ( Address: 24) b). Beijing Opera ( http://www.chinaopera.net/english/ ) & Acrobatics show c). Beijing Houhai Bars & Night clubs ( d). Wangfujing Area () tourist do shopping

Not forget the scene of Beijing 2008 Olympics -

City tours (2)

Top Shanghai tours
The bund of Shanghai - A famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years, attractive by its various building of different architectural styles (The west bank of Huangpu River) (East Zhongshan 1st Road- Lujiazui Finance & Trade Zone -
Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Tower and the tallest skyscraper- Shanghai World Financial Center ( SWFC), there are elegant restaurants, bars and hotel rooms within those skyscrapers ( Subway station: Line2-Lujiazui)

Nanjing Road - A prime commercial area in Shanghai and a shopping paradise for visitors from all over the world. This premier shopping street has become a must-visit metropolitan destination for fashion-conscious shoppers
( Subway station: Line1 or Line 2- People Square)

City tours (3)

Top Shanghai tours
Shanghai Museum -
Well-known as the Museum of Ancient Chinese Art , location at South of the Peoples Plaza

Yuyuan Garden -
A distinguished classical garden in South China, built during the Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty with more than 400 years of history, floats, colorful lanterns and folk performances always attract parades of people, and remember tasting the delicious local snack food Steamed dumpling with crab meat

Shanghai XinTian Di -
An urban tourist attraction that holds the historical and cultural legacies of the city, a fashionable pedestrian street composed of Shikumen and modern architecture, its interior embodies a totally different world of international gallery, bars and cafes, boutiques or theme restaurants. At Xin Tian Di, you will get the taste both of Shanghai in the 1920's and the sonic modern lifestyle of urbanites of the 21st Century ( Located in the center of Shanghai city South of Huaihai zhong lu- )

City tours (4)

Top Shanghai tours Entertainments
a).

Shanghai Grand Theatre -

http://www.shgtheatre.com/en/ Address: 300 Ren min da dao (Subway station: People square)
b).

Shanghai Oriental Art Center -

An artistic platform for both the premiere of Chinese works in worldwide and the premiere of foreign works in China

http://en.shoac.com.cn/
Address: No.425, Dingxiang Road, Pudong ( Subway station: Line 2 - Shanghai Science and Technology Museum) c). Bars, Nightclubs & Restaurant ***The Bund No.18 Bar, ***Peace Hotel ( Classic Chinese restaurant) ( Address: No.20 Nanjing Est Road) http://www.peacehotel.com.cn/ ***100 Century Avenue Bar & Restaurant http://shanghai.park.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/restaurants/index.jsp#16825346

Top Xian Tours

City tours (5)

As a saying goes: "Go to Shanghai and you will find a 100-year-old China; go to Beijing and you will find a 1000-year-old China; go to Xian and then you will find a 3000-year-old China, Xian-, the cradle of China ! Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses - The great archeological excavation of Qin (221BC-206BC) Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses unfolded a strong army of altogether 7,000 life-size pottery soldiers, horses, chariots and weapons arranged in battle formations symbolically, guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang City Wall- Adorned with a moat and the circular park, the wall surrounds the square inner city of Xian. It is the most complete city wall to survive in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world, built first in the early Ming Dynasty (13681644) The Bell Tower- A stately traditional building, that marks the geographical center of the ancient capital, the important landmark extend East, South, West and North Streets, connecting the Tower to the East, South, West and North Gates of the city wall of the Ming Dynasty

City Tours (6)

Lhasa - The one of the most featured and dreamt-about cities
in the world, not only because of its high altitude at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) but also because of its over 1,000 years' cultural and spiritual history which leaves an impressive heritage that has helped to create the romantic and mysterious Tibetan Religion Three options for travel to Tibet: by Airplane (preferred one) , by Road and by Train Warning: Traveling in Lhasa is more challenging than another three cities above, with many difficulties yet to be overcome due to its unique location and geography

Travel tips in China

Exchange Rate 1 Euro 8.9 Yuan ( RMB) & 1USD 6.5 Yuan ( RMB) (Recommend to change at Bank of China or Take cash directly at ATM of Bank , instead of exchanging at Airports) Weather difference between cities on Oct.
Beijing - the golden autumn season, very pleasant visiting period Shanghai at the end of summer, it is hot one minute and cool the next Xian Similar to Beijing

Local snacks Beijing Roast Duck, Sugar-coated Berry, Beijing Zha Jiang Mian Xian Stewed-Mutton(), Rou Jia mo ( ), Chinese Dumpling ( Shanghai - Sheng jian Bao & Xie fei xiao long ( & Buying Silk & Cashmere ( in Shanghai) Keeping the notes in Chinese translation with you all the times while you going out ( in case to ask others for help) For visiting Beijing Great wall, its better to join the local group tours than individual travel, due to its location quite far away from Beijing City

Dear China Seminar Team, It will be the big pleasure for me to answer all of you any questions regarding visiting in China, especially give you more detailed information according to your own particular journey, please feel freely to contact with me anytime. Email: ping.casagrande@yahoo.com Tel: (33) 671344848

I wish you all have a very nice trip in China ! - Ping