This quarter’s Beijing Free Tour contest has just finished. The lucky winner, out of over one thousand candidates, can choose his company, and visit 798 ArtZone, Hutong, and DrumTower, along with the HouhaiLake. All expenses are borne by Chinatraveldepot. By convention, this tour shall berecorded by a professional photographer, appointed by China Travel Depot. We [...]
This quarter’s Beijing Free Tour contest has just finished. The lucky winner, out of over one thousand candidates, can choose his company, and visit 798 ArtZone, Hutong, and DrumTower, along with the HouhaiLake. All expenses are borne by Chinatraveldepot. By convention, this tour shall berecorded by a professional photographer, appointed by China Travel Depot. We would like to help them preserve this uncommon experience, and share it with others. On Nov. 31st, the contest was brought to a closure and we had our lucky guy, Fida 
Rehman. Mr. Rehman and his friend would benefit from this wonderful Beijing tour.
On the morning of January 12th, 2013, Rehman and his friend started the tour by visiting our first stop, 798ArtZone. 798ArtZone, located in the northeast of centralBeijing, is always compared with Greenwich Village and SOHO inNew York. History and reality, industry and the arts perfectly fit here. Also known as 798ArtDistrict, it is a new rising, avant-garde and trendy space that hosts high-level cultural, artistic and commercial activities. Rehman and his friend had a good time appreciating mottled red-brick wall, scattered orderly industrial plants, crisscross pipelines, slogans of different ages on the wall.
At noon they came to a hutong around Houhai. They were highly impressed by the traditional Chinese architecture and the pace of life in 
hutongs. People here are much more leisure than those onBeijing’s broad modern avenues, and the neighbourhood here is quiet and relaxing. The narrowness of the alleyways and of many courtyard homes discourages heavy traffic but encourages residents to live their lives on the street, fostering a strong sense of community. It is common to see the residents playing cards, Chinese chess, Mahjong, or simply chatting with each other. The hutongs are like village within the megalopolis. As wandering among, they were surprised as though stepped into the past. There they had their lunch, and were not disappointed by the Chinese cuisine.
Visitors who have interest may experience Rickshaw Drive through the zigzag Hutongs near Houh
ai Lake. Once in ancient China, people took rickshaws like taxis. Sitting on it you could have a rest, but still having a pleasant view of the beautiful scenery.
Before we called it a day, they also dropped by theDrumTower. It was built in 1420, on a 4-meter high base and is over 46-meter high. Not far from it, there standsBellTower. The twin towers together worked to tell people the time in the past days. Rehman said he was devastated by the size of the drum. No one could imagine how ancient people can make such a huge drum, and installed it. About 600 years passed, the drum is still safe and sound, telling time every single day.
In the end of the day, Rehman and his friend expressed their sincere gratitude to us. They had a wonderful day, getting a better understanding with Beijing local culture. We also hope more and more people can have a chance to join us on your China tours.Beijingwelcomes you!
On August 15th, 2012, Urumchi (the capital city of Xinjiang Province) witnessed a transnational wedding. The groom, Fares Abdullah comes from Switzerland, and the bride Li Miao comes from China. More and more people would choose to take China flihgts and have a wedding tour, which can be customised by the travel agency. Fares sent mails to [...]
On August 15th, 2012, Urumchi (the capital city of Xinjiang Province) witnessed a transnational wedding. The groom, Fares Abdullah comes from Switzerland, and the bride Li Miao comes from China.
More and more people would choose to take China flihgts and have a wedding tour, which can be customised by the travel agency. Fares sent mails to us expressing his wish to spend their honeymoon by a Silk Road tour, or along Kashgar, Turpan, Kanas and finally to Lhasa in Tibet. There, during this China tour, in Urumchi the couple wishes to have a special wedding. 25 guests were invited to join their romantic honeymoon travel. They were his family members or friends, from Switzerland, Germany, Palestine, US and UK.
Though the local government in Tibet strengthened the restriction on inbound tourists, we successfully helped them with all required documents. They had a wonderful time in China.
On August 5th, all the visitors took their flight to Urumqi on their own, and were picked up at the airport by the guide. After one-day rest in the hotel, we flew to Kashgar on August 6th. All people were impressed by the scenery in Dawakun desert, Kashgar. In the morning of the third day, we took the car for 3.5 hours (200 kilometers) to the Karakuri Lake, which is located 3,600 meters above sea level. Surrounded by snow mountains to the east of the Pamirs, this lake offers local herds with fertile grassland and
travelers with extraordinary charming scenery. Visitors could also see the yurts, camels and horses of the Tajik people inhabiting here.
On August 8th, we had a Kashgar city tour. Firstly we visited the famous Id Kah Mosque located in the city center. On August 9th, we went to visit Turpan. Where we had our time in Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Well.
August 15th, 2012 was a wonderful day. The couple had their wedding ceremony. They were blessed by everyone. Many Occidental men found their true love in China, this mysterious Asian country. They choose to hold the wedding in China, and have a better understanding of this region. Their Chinese wives could also be a nice guide to introduce Chinese culture and tradition to them. It is a very romantic journey. For many Chinese girls, planning a honeymoon trip in China is a nice gift their foreign husband can give, showing their love and respect.
The next day after the wedding, all the visitors flew to Xining from Urumqi. They came to the Jokhang Temple, the splendid Potala Palace, Tibet Museum, Norbulingka Park, and many interesting places in Tibet.
On August 19th, all people were transferred to Lhasa airport and took the flight to Beijing. By then the happy couple had their unforgettable and romantic honeymoon travel. This is a happy beginning for the life of this lucky couple.
All guests who participate in this wedding trip feel incredible about beautiful scenery and holy religious atmosphere in Tibet. For some of them, this is the first time to go to China. We are also happy to help people all over the world to know better about China. In the end, we give our best wishes to this couple. We wish them good health, and happy forever!
According to Beijing municipal authorities, Beijing will start a 72-hour visa-free stay policy for citizens of 45 countries from January 1, 2013. International travelers enjoy 72 hours transit visa policy based on the requirements of the Ministry of Public Security, in arriving at the Beijing Capital Airport, shall comply with the following conditions: 1) in line [...]
According to Beijing municipal authorities, Beijing will start a 72-hour visa-free stay policy for citizens of 45 countries from January 1, 2013.
International travelers enjoy 72 hours transit visa policy based on the requirements of the Ministry of Public Security, in arriving at the Beijing Capital Airport, shall comply with the following conditions:
1) in line with the scope of the citizens of the country, including:
– European Schengen visa agreement countries (24), Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia , Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
– Other European countries (7) Russia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine
– American States (6) United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile
– Oceania countries (2), Australia, New Zealand
– Asian countries (6) South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar;
2) holding valid international travel documents to prove their nationality;
3) in line with the conditions of entry to the country or region;
4) held by the exit from the Beijing Capital International Airport way ticket to a third country or region, or prove within 72 hours to determine the date and seat;
5) equipped with the entry and exit of airlines reporting to the border authorities.
Beijing border audited in line with the transit visa-free conditions, will be handled in accordance with the provisions of the transit procedures.
____________________________
For more information on travel to Beijing with visa free, contact us at: info@chinatraveldepot.com, or visit http://www.chinatraveldepot.com/website/beijing-transit-tour/#?utm_source=CTD&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=72hours
During your Trip to Shanghai you will find that the city has a lot to offer, big buildings, museums, a lot of places to go shopping and a very distinctive gastronomy, but if you want to relax the best thing you can do is go to the Yu Yuan Garden, that is a stop you [...]
During your Trip to Shanghai you will find that the city has a lot to offer, big buildings, museums, a lot of places to go shopping and a very distinctive gastronomy, but if you want to relax the best thing you can do is go to the Yu Yuan Garden, that is a stop you have to do in your Shanghai Tour.
The Yu Yuan Garden is one of the most famous gardens in China. It is located in the north part of the city, near the Wall, and its situation made it perfect for the plants that live in it.
It was built during the Ming dynasty, between the 1559 and 1577, but it was not built by emperors or kings, it was built by an official, albeit it was made in similarity to the Imperial gardens and it was built for a very altruist reason.
The official’s parents were too old to travel to the capital, but they really wanted to see an Imperial Garden and that is also the reason why the gardens are called Yu Yuan (Yu means health and calm).
After the official’s death the family fell in bankrupt and the garden was forgotten, it 
was kept in a terrible state since 1760 when a group of buyers bought it and partially restored it, at the beginning of the XX century a part of the garden was transformed in a bazar.
It wasn’t until 1957 that the garden was completely restored (that also included a part of the neighborhood who was also built in the Ming dynasty) in 1982 the garden and the neighborhood were considered “national monument” and now is one of the most touristic places of the city.
The garden is two and a half hectares and has the principal elements of the Chinese garden building.
They search the perfect combination between buildings and nature, and they do that by combining very precisely shaped halls, artificial ponds and rivers and a very varied vegetation, placing the threes and the different kinds of flowers in the perfect position to have a very astonishing visual effect.
The Yu Yuan gardens are a must see in your Shanghai Tour and it’s very convenient to go there and spend the day because in this area there are also lots of places to go shopping and lots of restaurants where you will be able to taste the typical food of Shanghai.
When we are talking about what are the main attractions for a Beijing Tour one of the Top 3 is, without a doubt, the Summer Palace. This palace is one of the most visited places of the city and it’s an obligatory stop in your Beijing Tour. The Summer Palace is 3 kilometers square and [...]
When we are talking about what are the main attractions for a Beijing Tour one of the Top 3 is, without a doubt, the Summer Palace. This palace is one of the most visited places of the city and it’s an obligatory stop in your Beijing Tour.
The Summer Palace is 3 kilometers square and more than three quarters of it are formed by a lake called the Kunming Lake.
A very important part of its land area is formed by a 60 meters tall hill called the Longevity Hill and there are a lot of buildings that are positioned in sequence.
The main number of buildings are in the side of the hill that is not in front of the lake. The part that is directly next to the lake was left without buildings for having a more “natural” environment.
The sequence of buildings in the other side of the hill is as follows; The Cloud-Dispelling Hall, the Temple of Buddhist Virtue, and the Sea of Wisdom Temple, these are the main buildings, but there are some more that surround them. In the top of the Temple of Buddhist Virtue temple there is a tower that is 41 meters high and it’s supported by 8 iron pillars.
The Kunming Lake is an artificial lake created in 1291, it has three large islands and it represents the traditional Chinese garden element of “the fairy hill within the sea”.
The three islands are named after three fairytale islands, Yingzhou, Penglai and Fangzhang where it’s believed that the eight immortals lived.
The majority of the other features in the lake are inspired by buildings who are in such distant places as the Yangtze river, for example the West Dike is a recreation of the Su Di Dike in Hangzhou, and like it’s original it is crossed by six bridges, each one in a different style.
The largest bridge in the lake is the 17 arch bridge. It connects the eastern shore with the Nanhu Island (the representation of Penglai) this island is supposed to be the place where the eight immortals had their meetings, in the Summer palace there is a temple dedicated to the King Dragon and you can go to the top of the artificial hill that is on the island and see a very clear view of the place.
The Summer Palace is one of the most beautiful places in Beijing and one of its main attractions so make sure you won’t miss it in your Beijing Tour or you will surely regret it!
Shanghai is one of the most visited cities of China and it has a lot of things to see, so if Shanghai is a stop in your China tour here there are 10 things you can’t miss in your Shanghai trip. 1) People’s square; situated in the center of the city it is nearly 150,000 [...]
Shanghai is one of the most visited cities of China and it has a lot of things to see, so if Shanghai is a stop in your China tour here there are 10 things you can’t miss in your Shanghai trip.
1) People’s square; situated in the center of the city it is nearly 150,000 square meters and it’s surrounded by buildings, there is a “smart musical fountain” in the middle so make sure you don’t miss that.
2) Shanghai museum; This museum has the shape of a bronze caudron and it covers more than 5,000 years in the Chinese history, there are a lot of different pieces, from calligraphy to ceramics or statues, it’s a bit difficult to cover it in one trip.
3) Eat Din Tai Fung; as popular as Beijing Duck, the Din Tai Fung is a kind of soup that is served with dumplings (normally pork) and broth, it’s a very popular taste in the city so make sure that, at least, you try it once.
4) Dongtai Road; if you want to buy souvenirs and you don’t know where to go its easy, Dongtai Road. This road is the best place to buy things to bring home, from teapots to statues, everything can be found there.
5) The Bund; situated near the river is one of the places where you can see the contrast of China, as there are a lot different buildings 
in a lot of different styles, you can find high skyscrapers and renaissance buildings, traditional Chinese…
6) Huangpu river; this is the center of the city, it’s hearth, this river holds 30% of the water exportation of China, it has also a lot of buildings in the Shanghai area so you can visit it by boat.
7) Longtangs; like the Hútòngs in Beijing the Longtang are the ancient streets of the city, you can see how the ancient inhabitants of Shanghai lived in the City and it’s a place worth visiting.
8) Yu Yuan Garden; this garden was created in the Ming dynasty and it took more than 20 years to be built, it’s a nice place and not very crowded so if you want to relax for a while it’s the best place.
9) Old City; called Nanshi for the locals is a very good place to go and see temples, traditional shops and gardens, don’t miss the City Wall or the Bridge of Nine Turnings, they are a Must-see in the city.
10) French concession; it’s a very nice place to relax, it still has the buildings from 1900 and it’s like you’ve suddenly traveled to Europe and have a hint of the life of the city one hundred years ago.
Shanghai is a very nice city to visit in your Chinese Tour, and it is worth spending some days there! Don’t miss it!
One of the animals that have been linked with China, probably the most important one, is the panda. If you go on your China Tour and you don’t have time to see them in their natural environment you should go to a Zoo. And if you go to Beijing, the Beijing Zoo is an obligatory [...]
One of the animals that have been linked with China, probably the most important one, is the panda. If you go on your China Tour and you don’t have time to see them in their natural environment you should go to a Zoo. And if you go to Beijing, the Beijing Zoo is an obligatory stop in your Beijing tour. The Zoo is especially a very recommended place if you go with children.
The Beijing Zoo is not entirely like a Zoo in Europe, a part from the animals it is also a park where you can walk on the shore of a Lake, a river or a pond and it is actually a very nice place to spend a day (although is a bit full of people).
The main attraction, of course, are the pandas, they are set separately of the other animals in a big complex called “Panda house” where there are a dozen pandas that live there, it’s the nicest part of the Zoo and also the most crowded.
There are also a lot of other animals that live in the 89 hectares of the Zoo, they are divided by their species and normally they have a little complex for them, like the “Feline” complex where you can see panthers, cheetahs, bobcats or even a stranger Asian species that are not widely known like the Maruls.
But there are other animals that have their own status, either for their size (like the elephants or the giraffes) or for their importance (like the lions or the tigers), they are widely announced through the entire park.
Another important part of the zoo is the Aquarium, it’s the bigger aquarium in China and it offers also a very large range of aquatic animals, there are also a lot of shows that can be seen in the aquarium so if you are tired of walking why don’t you go inside and enjoy a dolphin show?
The Beijing Zoo, opened in 1903, has also other attractive places besides from the animals and the park, there are no less than four buildings that are considered monuments and can be visited from the outside.
So if you want to spend a day in a very nice environment, walk in a very nice park and, besides all that, see a lot of animals that you will not see in any other place, especially Asian fauna, don’t doubt it and make a visit to the Beijing Zoo during your Chinese Tour, it’ll be an experience that you won’t regret!
There are a lot of differences between China and the rest of the world, but we all agree that the most important meal of the day is Breakfast. During your China tour you will see that the things a Chinese person eats in the morning are different to what occidental people eat, so why not [...]
There are a lot of differences between China and the rest of the world, but we all agree that the most important meal of the day is Breakfast. During your China tour you will see that the things a Chinese person eats in the morning are different to what occidental people eat, so why not try to have a Chinese Breakfast on your China Tour?
The traditional and popular Chinese breakfast starts with a bowl of Congee, the Congee is a watery rice that can be seasoned just to give it more flavor, it can be sweet or salty or even (if you dare) it can be spicy and, sometimes, they even add vegetables, meat or mushrooms if they feel like it.
Another typical food that the Chinese people eat for breakfast is Crullers, they call them also the “deep-fried-devils” and they are basically twisted strips of dough that have been fried in oil, they are very popular in the street stands although each time less due to the difficulty to make them compared to the simple fried bread.
The Crullers are eaten with the Congee, but depending on the part of
China you are traveling to (normally in the north) you will see that they are served with soy milk and you can choose if you want it salty or sweet depending on your tastes.
But for breakfast there is a lot of variety too, for example Dumplings is a very good breakfast for Chinese people who are in a hurry (yes, even the meat ones) because they are easy to buy and easy to eat.
Salted pancakes with vegetables or meat are also a handy solution for the busy Chinese people, if you go by subway in the morning you’ll probably see a lot of people with a coffee in their hands and a plastic bag with something quick to eat.
Breakfast is a very good way to experience Chinese culture and their way of leaving, there is lots of places where you can have some typical Chinese breakfast and they are not expensive, normally they are fitted to please the average Chinese worker’s budget so don’t worry about the prize.
Even if you are in a hurry Chinese breakfast is the perfect way to start the day with energy and ready to face all the sightseeing or travel of your Chinese Tour, don’t hesitate and try it!
The word “Shangri-la” comes from James Hilton’s 1933 novel “Lost Horizon” and describes a utopian lamasery in the middle of the Himalaya. But did you know that you can include Shangri-la in your Chinese Tour? Yes, since 2001 the Zhongdian County is called “Shangri-la” and it’s the closest place you can find in your China [...]
The word “Shangri-la” comes from James Hilton’s 1933 novel “Lost Horizon” and describes a utopian lamasery in the middle of the Himalaya. But did you know that you can include Shangri-la in your Chinese Tour? Yes, since 2001 the Zhongdian County is called “Shangri-la” and it’s the closest place you can find in your China trip for the description of Hilton’s Shangri-la.
Shangri-la (or the Zhongdian County) is situated in the Tibet, and the Tibetans still refer at this place as Gyalthang (Royal Plans), the climate is chilly but not severe (although at some winter nights it can reach -15ºC), most of its territory is occupied by a National park.
This National park, called Pudacuo, was the first one in China to achieve international standards and to be declared world heritage, it also incorporates another area of the region called “The three parallel rivers of Yunan” and its fauna is mostly Himalayan, with monkeys, leopards, deer…
The Shangri-la County includes a handful of cities and townships, being the most important and capital Jiantang, but there is also Hutiaxoia that is famous because it’s in the end of the famous “Tiger
Leaping Gorge” and it’s a stop for most buses going to Jiantang.
Another important city in the County is the Luoji Township, and it’s a very important place for Chinese energy because there will be a hydroelectric power plant that supplies with energy all the Yunnan region, this improvement will reduce a lot the contamination of the region and will be a huge improvement on the quality of the nearby Park.
Apart from all these attractive one of the most important advantages on visiting Shangri-la is that is not crowded, you just have to take a plane to the Diqing airport from Lhasa or Kunming (or a bus) and you will be able to have the Tibetan experience without all the fuss and stress that are implied in more popular places.
The gastronomy is also remarkable, and you can’t leave without a bit of incense or Tibetan medicinal Herbs, the region most famous souvenir, although they are also known for jewelry, pottery and yak tails.
Shangri-la (or the Zhongdian County for most of the population there) is a nice place to go on your China Trip if you want to go to a place off the beaten track and have a pleasant stay where you will be able to visit lots of different places, either natural or man-made.
During your China trip you will probably find lots of nice places, but there are places barely visited by tourists that are worth just for it’s pure beauty, as they are from quite isolated places it may be a bit difficult to include them in your Chinese Tour but nothing is impossible! This first photo [...]
During your China trip you will probably find lots of nice places, but there are places barely visited by tourists that are worth just for it’s pure beauty, as they are from quite isolated places it may be a bit difficult to include them in your Chinese Tour but nothing is impossible!
This first photo is from Zhenyuan, in the province of Guizhou, this city is the most beautiful in the province and it has more than 160 spots that you can visit; caves, palaces, temples, rivers… all with its own architecture. A place worth visit that also has the added bonus of the landscape pictured in the photo, every evening the lamps from the houses are lit, creating this nice view.
This photo is a very nice photo of a Ming dynasty bridge covered with grass but still strong like the first day. These bridges are found in some places where the dynasty was present, like the Guyue Bridge in Yiwu, some of them are more than 700 years old. Their amazing structure and the fact that they are still standing so many years later makes them very interesting. They are worth a visit!
These are the Yellow Mountains (Huangshan) in the south-east of Anhui province, they have more than 100 million years old and it has many peaks, most of them surpassing 1000 meters and depending on the high there are one or another kind of vegetation, from small bushes to very tall trees. If you go to the Anhui province a visit to the Yellow Mountains it’s considered mandatory. Some of the mountains are also great for growing tea and in some of them you can observe a curious light phenomenon when the sun rises, so that is the best time to visit them.
The last photo is from the Karst phenomena. It can be seen in the south of China, this forest made of rocks is found in the Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces and its UNESCO protected, this phenomenon is unique in the world, but if you want to find the most beautiful and diverse Karst you have to go to the Shilin part, instead, if you want to see caves and natural bridges the best part is in Wulong.
So, if you want to see things as beautiful as the photos above why don’t you find time of your China Tour to go to places off the beaten track that are free from tourists and full of wonders?
