Tour Travel Hotel IndonesiaThe leading Indonesian Travel Agency. Get the best price domestic and International airfares starting from Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya, special offer hotel rates, tour packages, etc.P.T. Haryono Tour & Travel adalah agen tour dan agen travel terpercaya di Indonesia, melayani anda dengan cepat dan harga sangat terjangkau. Agen tour Indonesia yang berkembang pesat di Indonesia. Travel Agencies and Tour operators To assist you in your traveling needs, these courteous travel agencies are there for you. From reconfirming your return flights (if you do plan to return, which is not true for some who have visited) to booking cruise tickets to finding accommodations to suit your taste and needs to arranging for tourist guides, they are ready to help you. To assist you, you can request for a travel agent's assistance, through Bali Online. We will try to forward your request to reputable travel agencies in Denpasar. 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Tour and Travel We attract people who want to see Bali, and we bring them to one of the most beautiful parts of the island, where they can taste the culture in an adventure way. Tours and Travel Provides a diverse range of travel arrangements for individual or group, pleasure as well as business, hotel reservations and anything ... Bali Monkey (Monkey Forest Ubud) Blue Dive Plan your diving experience today! Bumbu Bali Bali’s first authentic Balinese restaurant was created following the principals used in designing a traditional Balinese home compound and offer .. Club Aqua We have a greet package called Seawalker. This package has been established in 7 countries since 1992 with 14 sites in the world. ... Garuda Wisnu Kencana Situated on a limestone escarpment overlooking the South Bali tourist region, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park shocases the art and culture ... 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M Tours With over 25 years of experience, M Tours can serve you the best of Bali and beyond. Check out the rates for half-day and full-day tours. N Bali Tour ga hanaseru untenshu Odiseus Spa Bali is truly one of the most unique destination in the world. Among Asia's most friendly people, first class services & great deals, as a guest, ... Prana Spa Prana Spa a decor inspired by the legendary Moguls of Rajistan ushers you into a world of divine opulence. As you enter our lofty courtyard, .. P Tours & Travel Established in 1972, P Tours & Travel, one of the leading inbound operators. P Tours and Travel Welcome to P Tours - Bali. sincerely proud to present various type of tour to discover the charming island of Bali. To complete your holidays .. Puri Tur Let us serve you with a memorable stay, meals, the taste of nature, dances,and religious atmosphere of Indonesia. Quicksilver and Submarine Discover the magnificent island of Nusa Penida with the prestigious Quicksilver cruise to enjoy the blue pristine waters ... Sail Sensations SailSensations is renowned for excellence in service, food, music, ambience and exclusivity. S Tour S tour would like to welcome you to the fascinating island of Bali. We are always pleased to assist you to have a perfect holiday in . Scoot Cruise It only takes 30 Minutes from Sanur Beach to Lembongan Island with our newest vessel. S Tours Seventeen years experience in bringing you all of Indonesia. S Tours offers you the-state-of-the-art tours packages. The Enjoy Bali We offer short and long period of tours all for your own convenience. Indeed Bali is having great culture and arts, however Bali also ... The Waka The Waka Fleet of vessels has been sailing to Lembongan Island and Candidasa since 1992. We have a history of excellence and .. The Lourdes of Java We invite you to experience an enlightening spiritual journey to a place of timeless mystery, to a land of timeless natural beauty: Java. T Tours & Travel Offering you Packaged Tours in Bali, rental cars, and hotel packages Waterbom Park and Spa Located in the heart of Kuta, with more then a half of its area covered by tropical gardens, the Waterbom Park and Spa has become an oasis in Kuta Tour Travel Hotel MalaysiaA reservation & info gateway for all visitors to Malaysia. Book online for these destinations: Langkawi, Pangkor, Redang, Perhentian Island, Malacca, etc. Malaysia is Truly Asia.Malaysia Kuala Lumpur The City Attractions in Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Street Atlas Penang The Island Georgetown Attractions Kedah The Island Attractions Perak The State Attractions in Perak Pahang The State Attractions in Pahang Selangor The State Attractions in Selangor Malacca The State Attractions in Malacca Johor The State Attractions in Malacca Sarawak The State Kuching Miri Mulu National Park Niah National Park Bako National Park River Safaris Full Table of contents Sabah The State The Kinabalu Park Other Attractions Malaysia....... The spirit of Malaysia as slogan says is Truly Asia and it is the fact that the people of Malaysia reflect. People of Asia - the Chinese, the Indians and Malay mingles and lives together as one. This spirit of Asia is also reflected in the cuisine, cloths and language. Travellers' Tips Local Etiquette Handshakes generally suffice for both men and women. However, some Muslim ladies may acknowledge an introduction to a gentleman with a nod of her head and smile. It is polite to call before visiting a home. Shoes must always be removed before entering a Malaysian home. Drinks generally offered to guests and it is polite to accept. Places to Visit Johor Bahru A bustling city along the lines of Singapore, Johor Bahru has somehow managed to retain the charm of a Malaysian kampoong of before.Night bazaars and streetside vendors are commonplace,and the city is a bargain hunter's dream/ Food is well starred, especially seafood of outstanding quality and good value. Kuala Lumpur The capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (KL), is the youngest of Southeast Asia's booming national hubs with a vibrance that is almost infectious. If see Kuala Lumpur quite energetic in the day then you can also see how entertaining it is at night. Excursions from Kuala Lumpur Malacca Malacca bears witness rich heritage, courtesy of Portuguese, Dutch and English periods. Malacca is synonymous with Peranakan or Straits-born Chinese culture. Genting Highlands Situated 2,000 meters above sea level is Genting Highlands. The site of Malaysia's only casino, Genting Highlands also offers a theme park with games and high-tech adventure rides. Langkawi Stunning views of palm-fringed beaches, tranquil waters and offshore islands are just some of the many attractions of Pulau Langkawi. BE charmed by the traditional Kedah-styled houses featuring thatched roofs and stoilts to avoid floods and wildlife. Penang One of Malaysia's best-known tourist destination in Penang, renowned for its beach resorts and its vibrant capital. Penang is home to historic streetscrapers, bazaars and unique ciusine. Tour Travel Hotel SingaporeSingapore Tour & Travel PackagesSingapore is a dynamic city rich in contrast and colour, where one can find a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture. From exotic ethnic enclave to efficient business centre, from serene gardens to sleek skyscrapers, Singapore embodies the finest of both East and West. With its friendly and welcoming people, state-of-the-art infrastructure and something new happening everyday, Singapore is a holiday like no other. The following Singapore Tour Packages offers an opportunity to discover the real and 'unique' Singapore. * 3-NIGHTS / 4-DAYS HONEYMOON IN SINGAPORE * ROYAL EAST - SINGAPORE AND BANGKOK * JEWEL OF THE EAST - SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA * BEST OF ASIA - SINGAPORE,THAILAND,MALAYSIA * PURE SINGAPORE * SINGAPORE-BALI SPECIAL * SINGAPORE & HONGKONG WITH DISNEYLAND * SINGAPORE WITH STAR CRUISE * SINGAPORE WITH BINTAN * SINGAPORE WITH BATAM WTS Travel & Tours WTS Travel & Tours was incorporated in the year of 1989 with the license from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to operate as a Travel Agent, School Tour and Motor Coach Operator and we are also an active member of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS).We offer premier travel services in: * Planning of corporate incentive tour, seminars, cruises, Inbound and Outbound tours * Malaysia tours packages by our own coaches * Air-Ticketing * Worldwide Hotel reservations * Attractive tour packages around the globe. Five Stars Tours Established in 1991 as a travel & coach operator, Five Stars Tours Pte Ltd has been providing the best travel solution that meets the demands of a modern traveler. Combining years of expertise with a fresh approach to travel and unwavering commitment to service excellence, Five Stars Tours designs exciting and innovative tour packages for every taste and occasion. Whether it’s a family holiday or corporate retreat, a popular itinerary or customized program, you’ll be spoilt for choice with our vast array of options. Nam Ho Travel Service Services include ticketing, tour packages and hotels. Specialist in Asia and world wide. Air Sino-Euro Associates Travel Air Sino-Euro Associates Travel’s strength lies in its rich and extensive travel experience accumulated for more than 100 years. Many of its team members have been in the trade for over a decade, with its key management boasting of more than a quarter century of experience in worldwide travel. Like good old wine in a new bottle, it is a new-age agent in a brand new packaging yet full-bodied with good favour cultivated over the years. Transtar Travel Pte Transtar Travel is no new player in the market. We are a Singapore incorporated company specialising in coach travel and tours, and has been serving customers since 1994. Indeed, we have become one of the leading express coach companies in Singapore, plying routes from Singapore to major cities in Malaysia Skyway Travel And Tours Skyway Travel and Tours - provides air ticketing services, tours and free & easy packages to all part of Asia (China, Taiwan, Thailand, Nepal, Malaysia and etc), Australia and New Zealand. Luxury Tours & Travel LUXURY TOURS & TRAVEL PTE LTD is a full service travel agency and has been on the forefront of the travel industry since 1985. We provide a complete range of travel related services and are well recognized as a leading tour operator and destination management company in Singapore. Our strength established over the years has enabled us to reinforce our purchasing power and obtain very competitive rates with the suppliers. This coupled with our commitment towards providing personalized service reinforces our excellent market track record. We are well known for our professionalism in the handling of individual and group travel. With our friendly team of experienced and dedicated staff, we guarantee quality and professional service. Asia-Euro Holidays Asia~Euro Holidays is a well established travel agency conveniently located in the heart of Chinatown. We specialize in worldwide air ticketing and packages to meet your travelling needs.Worldwide air-ticketing, worldwide hotel reservations, leisure travel, packaged tours, interest group tours, meetings and conventions, incentive tours, customized packages. New Shan Travel Service New Shan Travel incorporated in 1972, has gained itself a strong foothold in the Singapore travel industry. From an initial setup of 8 staff providing ticketing services, its present staff network of 130 now provides a full range of travel related services. Amongst the services provided are world-wide ticketing, in-house and airline packaged tours, hotel bookings, visa arrangements, cruises, golf tours and tournaments, GSA representations and air freight forwarding. Besides its head office at Maxwell Road, New Shan Travel has five other offices in Singapore amongst which is New Shan Air, the GSA for Varig Brazilian Airlines & New Shan Travel (GSA), the GSA for Mexicana Airlines, Copa Airlines and Avensa Airlines.... Kent Holidays Established since 1986, as an IATA accredited and NATAS member travel agent, we majored in providing holiday packages and air travel for clients of any composition and clique. In order to fulfill this service of ours, we have 3 branches catering to different classification as well as location. Our main office is located in People’s Park Centre catering to mass public due to its location, sub-branch in Bukit Timah Plaza servicing to residential area and latest branch in Tanglin Mall catering to expatriate individuals. Due to increasing demands and overwhelming response from local crowds, we are indulging with involvement of expanding our offices locally as well as in other satellite town center. Prime Travel & Tour Prime Travel & Tour was established in 1979. Through innovation, quality services and the ability to constantly re-invent ourselves, we have grown into one of Singapore's largest Travel Management Company with network of offices strategically located around the region. Prime Travel has been constantly ranked among the top 10 agents for various airlines. Sunny Holidays Venture into the world of Sunny Holidays and you will discover the best travel packages in town. Whether scouring Europe for great bargains, exploring sacred temples in Nepal, riding cable cars in San Francisco, or living it up on fun-filled cruises, Sunny Holidays ensures that all your needs are taken care of professionally. After all, Sunny Holidays is a name that spells Quality. Quality in service. And quality in tour-packaging. Sunny Holidays' modest beginnings started in 1987, as a travel agency in Golden Mile complex, Beach Road, organising coach tours to Thailand. We have always made service and professionalism our top priority. So much so, that we became the first in Singapore to conceptualise and introduce the Super VIP sleeper-coach to Thailand. Reliance Travel Agencies Reliance Travel Agencies was incorporated in 1979. We are a member of Reliance Pacific Berhad (RPB), a public-listed company incorporated in Malaysia. RPB's roots go back to 1969 and since then, Reliance is indisputably a formidable force in the travel industry. We have a global network of 52 offices, 28 overseas offices in major cities of the world and 24 offices in Malaysia We provide a full range of Inbound and Outbound travel services, worldwide air ticketing, worldwide hotel reservations, surface transportation and other travel related services. Chan Brothers As a homegrown enterprise, our company boasts the strongest foothold and most established travel operations in Singapore. Building on a business model that comprises multiple dimensions and distribution channels, we continuously seek to achieve corporate growth and vitality both locally and overseas. Our company serves a broad spectrum of customers, from leisure to corporate. Leisure customers range from families looking for wholesome fun and quality experiences that promote togetherness, honeymooners or couples in search of romantic getaways, PMEBs wanting to break free from the stresses of life, adventurers seeking unforgettable escapades, to students on budget travels. Corporate customers include small and medium-sized enterprises and multinational corporations. Konsortium Express & Tours We are an established travel agency in Singapore, providing various tour packages as well as express and charter coach services. Under National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) and Express Bus Agencies Association (EBAA)'s umbrella, we are fully equipped and all geared up to provide our very best! Our daily scheduled coach services cover all major cities and towns in Peninsular Malaysia as well as Hatyai in Thailand. Air-con coach charters are also available to desired destinations. We specialize in organizing commercial and incentive tours customized to individual customer's needs at competitive rates. Fascinating Holidays Incorporated in Singapore on the 31st of July 1993 with only 3 staff, we have grown to the present strength of 15 dedicated staff serving out customers tirelessly aiming for nothing less than customer satisfaction. We have established a strong network of more than 100 travel agents and partners supporting more than 50 different travel packages to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia , Sri Lanka and regional destinations include other parts of Asia Pacific. Resort destinations has always been our best seller especially those in Bintan! We are proud to be the preferred agents of Banyan Tree Bintan, Angsana Resort & Spa, Nirwana Gardens, Mayang Sari Resort, Bintan Lagoon Resort as well as Mana Mana Beach Club. Giamso International Tours Established in 1979 in a small shop house at Maxwell Road with only 2 full-timed staff. Today, after dedicating more than 25 years of service to our loyal customers, Giamso has grown into an entity that proudly operates from its own premises located at People's Park Centre. You can be sure you are dealing with a veteran, whose primary objective is to provide you, the discerning traveler, with the services you want at the right price. Holiday Bagus Travel Holiday Bagus Travel is a Singapore registered and Singapore based fully licensed travel agency. Choice Travels & Tours Not too long ago, Choice Travels emerged as a rising star in the world of travel. Set up in January 2002, we aimed to provide the best fares in town with the best possible service. Today, just over a year later, we are proud to bring these very services to you. Our philosophy; a single minded goal: “Total customer satisfaction”. Jetabout With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Holiday Tours and Travel has gained a world of insight, expertise and knowledge - the advantages that have made us a market leader in Asia. Beginning as a ticketing agent in 1972, we have expanded significantly into other areas of the travel business. Today, the Holiday Tours Group has 17 operating entities in 11 countries and over 700 staff. Tour Travel Hotel ChinaChina Travel Related News and Information LinksS.Korea, China to Allow Visa-Free Travel Tourist industry lowering prices China yuan ends at 7.1081 to usd vs 7.1060 in OTC trade. Forbes Incomparable travel across China China offers more public cultural service Chinese police shoot tourist bus hijacker dead Tour operator tells of hijack shock Beijing opens massive airport terminal. LA Times Travel Macao's visitor arrivals up 16.3% in January. Xinhua An Olympian construction: Beijing's new departure in air travel. The Independent UK Trolley bells to sound again on Qianmen Street. Xinhua 08-02-24 Mt Qomolangma receives 40,000 tourists in 2007 Valentine's Day in Shanghai Shanghai Pudong Airport to open second terminal Millions on the move at start of post-Spring Festival travel peak. Xinhua Rail travel eases China's weather woes. USA Today Transport resumes in frozen south China Links to Major Tourist Cities Beijing Changchun Changsha Chengde Chengdu Chongqing Dalian Datong Dunhuang Fuzhou Guangzhou Guilin Guiyang Haikou Hangzhou Harbin Hefei Hohhot Hong Kong Jinan Jiuquan Kaifeng Kunming Lanzhou Lhasa Luoyang Macau (Macao) Nanchang Nanjing Nanning Pingyao Qingdao Qinhuangdao Sanya Shanghai Shaoxing Shenyang Shenzhen Shijiazhuang Suzhou Taiyuan Tianjin Urumqi Wuhan Wuxi Wuyuan Wuzhen Xiamen Xi'an Xining Yangzhou Zhengzhou China tourist attractions, tourist hot spots, china travel, china tour, china tourism, beijing travel information, shanghai travel information. Beijing As the capital of China, Beijing is one of the world's truly imposing cities, with a 3,000-year history and 15.3 million people (2005). Covering 16,808 square kilometers in area, it is the political, cultural and economic center of the People’s Republic. Situated in northeast China, Beijing adjoins the Inner Mongolian Highland to the northwest and the Great Northern Plain to the south. Five rivers run through the city, connecting it to the eastern Bohai Sea. Administratively, the Beijing municipality equals the status of a province, reporting directly to the central government. Rich in history, Beijing has been China’s primary capital for more than seven centuries. China’s imperial past and political present meet at Tiananmen square, where the Forbidden City palace of the emperors gives way to the Great Hall of the People congress building and the mausoleum of Chairman Mao Zedong. The old city walls have been replaced by ring roads, and many of the old residential districts of alleys and courtyard houses have been turned into high-rise hotels, office buildings, and department stores. Beijing, a dynamic city where the old and new intermingle, remains a magnet for visitors from inside and outside China. An Old Street in Downtown Beijing Beijing is a city of broad boulevards, now full of traffic and pulsating to the rhythms of commerce and entertainment. Museums and parks abound, including the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City and Beihai Park in the center of town. Nearby, the China Fine Arts Museum (Zhongguo meishuguan) exhibits the work of contemporary artists. China’s ancient past and recent history are on view at the Museum of Chinese History and Chinese Revolution at Tiananmen. Antiques, crafts, and books can be found at Liulichang, an old antique market district remodeled in the 1980’s to reflect the style of the old city. Some of the spirit of Old Beijing is also preserved at Qianmen, south of Tiananmen, with stores that date to the early 20th century and beyond, including the Tongrentang Traditional Medicine Shop, first established in 1669. Beijing Opera performances and acrobatic troupes keep those traditional entertainment forms vital, while contemporary music clubs and discos thrive in an era of liberalization and prosperity. Bird's View of Forbidden City, Beijing THE FORBIDDEN CITY (Imperial Palace, Gugong) At the city center is the imperial palace complex of 24 Ming and Qing dynasty emperors. In imperial times it was called as the Purple Forbidden City from the association of the emperors with the color of the Pole Star. Surrounded by 10 meter (32 feet) high walls and gates and a 50m (164 ft.) wide moat, it was inaccessible to ordinary people, but well populated by imperial family members, their servants and staffs, officials, and guards. The major ceremonial buildings of the palace are aligned on a north-south axis that extends beyond the walls toward the Temple of Heaven complex and Yongding Gate in the south. The main entrance to the palace complex is via the Meridian Gate (Wumen), from which the New Year was announced each year by the emperor, proclamations were read, and the fate of prisoners decided. Past five white marble bridges and the Gate of Supreme Harmony, a great courtyard could accommodate up to several thousand people for state ceremonies such as the imperial weddings. The three most important ceremonial buildings are on the north-south axis, raised on a high white marble terrace, and accessed by ramps carved with ornate dragons over which the emperor was carried in a palanquin. The three main halls and associated side buildings formed the outer courtyard of the Forbidden City, devoted primarily to official and ceremonial functions, but including imperial libraries and studies. The inner chambers at the rear of the Forbidden City included private living and sleeping quarters of the imperial family, divided into three palaces and twelve courtyards. The Western Palaces were the residences of empresses, concubines, and princes. The Eastern Palace halls are now used as museum exhibition spaces, devoted to ritual bronze vessels, ceramics, craft objects, antique clocks, and paintings, including objects from the imperial collections and archaeological finds. The back precincts include the Palace of Aging Peacefully (Ningshou Gong) where the Qianlong Emperor of the late 18th century spent his retirement years. Tian'anmen Square - the world largest TIANANMEN SQUARE Just south of the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square (The Gate of Heavenly Peace Square), the largest inner-city square in the world that can hold up to a million people. It was cleared in 1958 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, replacing an older open space in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace, the main entrance to the imperial city, that had a longer history of political importance. On May 4, 1919, students demonstrated here against provisions of the Treaty of Versailles following World War I that were considered unfair to China. The May Fourth Movement spawned here was a widespread movement for political and literary modernization that impacted the rest of the century. After the founding of the People’s Republic, Tiananmen Square became symbolic of the socialist state through the construction in 1959 of the Great Hall of the People on its western side, and the Museums of Chinese History and the Chinese Revolution on its eastern edge. In the same period, a Monument to the People’s Heroes was erected in the center of the square. In addition, following Chairman Mao Zedong’s death in 1976, a Chairman Mao Mausoleum building was erected directly on the main north-south axis of the square. It contains the preserved body of Mao in a crystal sarcophagus, along with a standing marble statue of the Chairman. China’s imperial past, revolutionary history, and political present are all represented vividly in Tiananmen Square. TEMPLE OF HEAVEN Located in the southern part of the city, close to the main north-south axis leading to the Forbidden City, is the Temple of Heaven complex of ritual buildings. The halls and altars here are round, symbolic of heaven. A counterpart Earth Altar in the north of the city uses the square profile symbolic of earth; temples of the sun (in the east) and moon (west) complete a ceremonial surround for Beijing that made it not only a political capital but also a ritual center, shaped in the form of a cosmic diagram. The emperor, as Son of Heaven, performed priestly as well as ruling functions. Each year on the day of the winter solstice, following three days of fasting and meditation, the emperor would offer sacrifices and pray for a good harvest at the Altar of Heaven, a three-tiered round white marble structure, built in 1530 and reconstructed in 1740. The round altar sits on a square base, symbolic of the meeting of heaven and earth, a theme carried through in the shape of the complex as a whole, a semicircle atop a square. Just north of the Altar of Heaven is the octagonal Imperial Vault of Heaven building, which contained tablets of the imperial ancestors and astronomical plaques of the constellations and meteorological occurrences. The outer wall of the Vault of Heaven Hall is known as the Echo Wall, from its ability to transmit even whispered voices around its length. Farther north is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, originally built in 1420, remodeled in 1545, destroyed by lightning in 1889, and rebuilt in the following year, in part using Oregon fir wood for the supporting pillars. West of these buildings is the Altar of Farming, where each year in spring the emperor personally ploughed eight furrows to symbolically assure a good harvest. The Hall of the Year Gods (now housing the Museum of Chinese Architecture) was where the emperor sacrificed to the gods of the year and asked for a good harvest. Summer Palace SUMMER PALACE Fifteen kilometers (9 miles) to the northwest of Beijing is the Summer Palace. Now a large park of 716 acres, it was formerly the imperial garden retreat from the summer heat of Beijing. Surrounding hills shelter the site, and the Kunming Lake provides a cooling effect. The site was used as an imperial park as early as the mid-12th century, and continued as an imperial garden in the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1860 Anglo-French forces burned the site to the ground. It was reconstructed by the Empress Dowager Cixi in 1888, using funds that had been reserved for building a modern naval force. The large marble boat that sits immobile by the edge of the lake is an ironic reminder of the waste and mismanagement that led to the decline of the imperial state. THE GREAT WALL The Great Wall is perhaps China’s most famous and most mythologized site. Several sections are conveniently visited from Beijing, including at Badaling, the most popular site, about 70 km (43 mi.) northwest of Beijing and at Mutianyu, 90 km (56 mi.) northeast of Beijing. These impressive brick and earth structures date from the Ming dynasty, when the wall was fortified against Mongol forces to the north. The Ming wall is about 26 feet tall and 23 feet wide at the base, and could accommodate up to six horsemen riding abreast. Watch towers were built on high points every 200-300 meters or so with small garrison forces that could communicate with fire signals or fireworks. These stretches of the wall are part of a system that extends from the Shanhaiguan fortress on the Bohai Gulf in the east to the Jiayuguan fortress in the west, altogether some 6000 km (3700 mi). The Ming sections of the wall are only a late stage in a long history, much of which has little to do with the present structures. The wall is most often associated with the First Emperor of China (Qin Shi Huangdi, reigned 221-210 BC), who after unifying China by conquest undertook to link up previously existing sections of walls belonging to conquered states, but on a course far to the north of the present wall. The First Emperor mobilized massive conscripted labor forces, including convicts and prisoners, by some accounts up to a million strong, to conduct this building campaign. While the Great Wall in its various versions had real military defensive functions, it also served symbolic purposes. For long periods Chinese populations lived north of the wall and nomads or semi-nomads lived south of it. The wall served as a symbolic reminder of dynastic authority and also of cultural distinction between settled agrarian culture and cities on the Chinese side and pastoral horsemen on the other. It continues today to serve as a marker of cultural and national identity. Hong Kong 36 Hours in Hong Kong New York Times, April 8, 2007 - HONG KONG's newest tourist attraction, a 25-minute cable-car ride over the rugged green hills of Lantau Island, says a lot about this former British colony. Ngong Ping 360 (www.np360.com.hk) demonstrates Hong Kong's fascination with travel and technology; the skyrail's hilltop terminus, an ersatz Chinese village, plays to local passions for eating, shopping and taking pictures. From there, it is a short walk to the Po Lin monastery's 112-foot-tall bronze statue of Buddha seated on a lotus throne, an expression of Hong Kong's fundamental Chineseness. This crazy mix of commerce and culture — plus sublime modern architecture, great food, nonstop nightlife and amazing views — makes Hong Kong, 10 years after its transition from British to Chinese rule, still one of the world's biggest tourist draws. (Click for full coverage.) 4m Flyers Through HK Airport Shanghai Daily May 14, 2007 - Hong Kong International Airport, Asia's third-busiest airfield, handled four million passengers last month, a six percent increase from April 2006, the government-owned operator said yesterday.The airport set a record with more than 890 flight movements on April 5, as people traveled for the Easter holidays and the Tomb Sweeping Day, Airport Authority Hong Kong said.The airport handled 299,000 tons of cargo in April, up 1.4 percent from April 2006. Aircraft landings and take-offs increased 3.9 percent to 24,460 movements, Bloomberg News said. Visitors to HK Expected to Grow 4.6% in 2007 Xinhua News, Feb. 8, 2007 - The board's Chairwoman Selina Chow said the projection aligns with the World Tourism Organization's forecast that global tourism will grow by about 4 percent in 2007. As Hong Kong has already achieved a huge visitor base, we should not focus solely on the quantity, that is, arrival figures, but also the quality or yield of our investment, Chow said. To maximize the return, the board will adopt a three-pronged approach to promote Hong Kong. It will leverage the opportunities created by the Chinese mainland to attract more overseas arrivals; continue to concentrate on meeting, convention and exhibition business, and family visitors; and highlight Hong Kong's unique living culture. Traveler Arrivals Jump in Hong Kong Shanghai Daily May 30, 2006 - Hong Kong's tourist arrivals rose 9.5 percent in April from a year earlier to 2.1 million, helped by an increase in visitors from China, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said. The number of people from the Chinese mainland visiting the city climbed 12.4 percent to 1.1 million, the association said on Saturday. Tourists from the Philippines and Indonesia showed the strongest growth in numbers, surging 37 percent and 18 percent respectively. The tourism board forecasts a record 27 million visitors this year, with the number boosted by new attractions such as Hong Kong Disneyland. The average cost of a hotel room in Hong Kong increased 16 percent from a year earlier to HK$1,264 (US$163) a night. Hong Kong Still Top Shopping Center in Asia Chinanews.cn Aug. 27, 2005 - A recent survey conducted by Mastercard showed that Hong Kong kept its leading position in Asia to be the best shopping place due to its geographical locations and various top-branded products from Europe and the United States. By 2011, tourism revenue from shopping in Hong Kong is expected to reach 11 billion US dollars from the 6 billion US dollars in 2006. The survey revealed that Hong Kong was a favorite destination for mainland visitors. The second on the list is Bangkok. Shopping revenue in the city will be 2 billion US dollars in 2006 and will reach 3.5 billion US dollars six years later. Visitors like the city for the “unique experience in Thailand”. However, transportation remains an obstacle for visitors to the city. Seoul ranks third ahead of Singapore. The Korean capital attracts visitors for its ethnic feature and the Singapore boasts for its top-class retailers. Hong Kong Disneyland Embraced Its First Guests Chinanews.cn June 13, 2005 - According to Hong Kong's Oriental Daily, after six years of preparation and construction, the Hong Kong Disneyland has started the 100-day countdown to its opening. Yesterday the Hong Kong Disneyland spent 600,000 HKD and prepared a Thanksgiving Day to entertain for free 2,000 guests, which consisted of Disneyland's dream team of engineers and their family members. All the guests enjoyed themselves in the park for seven hours and were reluctant to leave until dusk. (click for full coverage) Green light for Macau, Hong Kong bridge CNN.com Mar. 8, 2005 - Promoters of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge have proposed an enormous structure stretching 29 km (18 miles). The newspaper said it would directly connect Hong Kong and Macau to booming ports in southern China's Pearl River Delta region. Private investment would be allowed to have a primary role in funding the 31.5 billion yuan ($3.8 billion) project. (full coverage) Shanghai The largest city in China, Shanghai contains the most striking blend of oriental and western cultures and of the past and present. In this city, European-style buildings can be seen standing alongside typical Chinese structures and ancient temples. Modern ocean-going vessels sail past junks. A flourishing commercial and industrial center, Shanghai has a population of over 16 million and a land area of 3,355 square miles. Although early records indicate that a settlement was founded during the Song Dynasty (960-1380 AD), at a time when invaders from the north were retreating to their own borders, it remained a small fishing village and did not become a town until the mid-13th century. Compared with other major cities in China it has had a relatively short history. During the Ming Dynasty, many walls were erected to enclose the town and protect it from Japanese pirates. The town prospered from foreign trade in the Qing Dynasty. Prior to the outbreak of the Opium War in 1840, Shanghai had grown into a port with 500,000 inhabitants. After the Opium War, Shanghai was forced by European powers to open as a treaty port. From that time on aggressors from many countries began to flock in and the city became known as a notorious paradise for adventurers. Carving out their own spheres of influence, they settled there by seizing their respective concessions, which were characteristic of this colonial period. The Chinese response to the foreign dominance took several decades to become strong. During the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937-1945), Shanghai was occupied by Japanese troops, and was reclaimed by the nationalist army after the surrender of Japan. The city was seized by the People's Liberation Army on May 38, 1949. Since then, Shanghai has changed from a consumer city of the past into a major modern industrial city. Cultural activities include theater groups, film studios, a symphony orchestra, the ballet, opera companies, acrobatics and even a circus. Due to many years of foreign influence, Shanghai, the first Chinese city to open a disco for foreign visitors, is perhaps China's most cosmopolitan city. It also offers the tourist art and history museums tracing China's growth through the ages, and magnificent examples of Chinese architecture in its temples and buildings. THE BUND The Bund (Wai Tan) waterfront area is a sweeping area along the Huangpu River that became the center of Shanghai’s foreign business establishment and the symbol of Shanghai’s identity as a modern city. The name “bund” is derived from an Anglo-Indian term meaning “muddy embankment,” but after the 1920’s the area became a showcase for foreign enterprises, with impressive Western-style banks, trading houses, hotels, consulates, and clubs filling the shore, with promenade along the river. British, French, American, German, Japanese, and Russian facilities were built here, in styles ranging from Neo-Classical to Art Deco, giving the area a pronounced European flavor. Foreign enterprises and facilities were forced out after the Communist victory in 1949, and many of the buildings were occupied by government offices and banks. More recently many of the stately old buildings have been renovated in recognition of their status as historical and tourist sites. NANJING ROAD Nanjing Road is Shanghai's busiest street. It starts at the Bund, south of the Peace Hotel, and runs west. It is the city's main shopping area with department stores, small shops, restaurants, theaters and cinemas lining up the street. To the south of Nanjing Road is the Renmin (People's) Park. To the west is the Municipal Library, which was built in 1849. YU YUAN The Mandarin's Garden, as it is translated, was originally designed in the 16th century by the provincial governor, Pan Yunduan, in honor of his father, Pan En, who was himself a government minister. Construction took over 30 years. It is ingeniously laid out to imitate the style of imperial gardens in Beijing, and to create the feeling of spaciousness within a small area. Yu Yuan is a garden within a garden. Divided into two parts, the outer garden contains pavilions, rock gardens and ponds, and leads to the inner garden, which is a smaller version of the outer one, consisting of many closely packed pavilions. It suffered extensive damage over the years, but was restored in 1956. GARDEN OF THE PURPLE CLOUDS OF AUTUMN This park lies directly at the back of the Temple to the Town Gods, and contains an ornamental pond with landscaped hills surrounding it. Because of location, it is commonly referred to as the Inner Garden. It was originally laid out during the Ming Dynasty, and later acquired by a rich merchant. Finally, the town itself took over the park in 1736 as an addition to the Temple. CHENG HUANG MIAO (Temple to the Town Gods) The temple, or Cheng Huang Miao, is only a short distance from Yu Yuan. Once every city and large town possessed a temple to the town gods, but few have survived. PUDONG NEW AREA Located east of the Huangpu River in an area that was devoted to farms and rice paddies little more than a decade ago, the Pudong Special Economic Zone occupies an area larger than old Shanghai itself. designed to be the Wall Street of Asia, Pudong is the finance and business center of Shanghai, and headquarters for most of the multinational corporations and international banks active in Shanghai. Linked to the older Puxi part of the city by two cable bridges, the Yangpu and Nanpu, supposedly the 2nd and 3rd longest in the world; a new pedestrian tunnel; and the city’s second metro line, Pudong houses dozens of new skyscrapers, though much of the district is still empty. The new Pudong International Airport opened in 1999. An eight-lane Century Boulevard provides a main ground transportation artery, and large expatriate housing developments are built or planned for outlying areas. Two Spots in Shanghai Listed in Top Scenic Sites Shanghai Daily May 25, 2007 - Shanghai's Oriental Pearl TV Tower and Wild Animal Park were crowned as two of China's top-grade scenic spot, according to a list today published on the official Website of the country's tourism watchdog. Among scores of China's tourist attractions, the two Shanghai spots are included in the first batch of five-A graded scenic spots. The winners on the list have advantages in 12 aspects, including traffic, security, sanitation, postal service, shopping, comprehensive administration and protection of resource and environment. The number of tourists is the key standard when evaluating a five-A grade scenic spot. Every five-A applicant must have received 600,000 visitors annually, including at least 50,000 from overseas visitors, in each of the past three years. The 468-meter high Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the world's third tallest TV and radio tower, and is located in the heart of the city' Lujiazui financial district in Pudong. Serving the Shanghai area with more than nine television channels and upwards of 10 FM radio channels, the tower has a science fantasy exhibition on the ground floor. A hotel with twenty-five elegant rooms and lounges occupies its five smaller spheres. Tourists may have their dinner at the top pearl of the tower where a rotating restaurant will bring them a panoramic sightseeing over the city. Shanghai Wild Animal Park, a 153-hectare zoo in the city's Nanhui District, has over 200 rare species and over 10,000 animals from all over the world, such as giraffes, zebras, white rhinoceros and hunting leopards. The park is divided into two areas: one for walking, and the other is accessible via buses only. The walking area allows a close look at many animals on foot, while the buses take tourists among zebras, yaks, bears, deer, elephants, and even lions and tigers. China has 671 four-A tourism spots. Informaiton Links: Consulates in Shanghai More about Shanghai... Shanghai Issues Special 'Tourist Passport' Shanghai Daily Feb. 2, 2007 - Shanghai issued a batch of special tourist passports on Wednesday to provide discounts, ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent, on tickets to the city's tourist attractions.Shanghai tourism authority plans to issue more than 1.2 million of the passports to benefit tourists from foreign countries, neighboring provinces as well as local residents. People can get these passports for free at district tourism information centers. The authority will also hand them out during promotional activities. (Click for full report) Shopping in Shanghai 36 Hours in Shanghai (NY Times April 15, 2007) Maintain Shanghai's Historical Past (May 16, 2006) Top Ten Leisure Streets in Shanghai China, Shanghai in particular, are latest must-sees - Kay Cooper has been to Milan, Italy, and Tokyo, and as a Los Angeles entertainment lawyer he often hears about the travel spots with buzz. This year, he says, everyone's talking about Shanghai. 36 Hours in Shanghai New York Times, April 15, 2007 - On a cool autumn night, Shanghai is drenched in light. Billboards are flashing, highway lights are pulsing, and tall buildings seem to have been converted into giant television screens. China's showcase city appears to be showing off, decorating itself as though it's Asia's Las Vegas. This is China's financial capital, its fashion center and, clearly, its coolest metropolis. Be prepared for a city on steroids, and one banking on long-term hyper-growth. In a country increasingly populated by grimy, characterless cities, Shanghai is also far and away China's most attractive city, particularly after nightfall. (Click for full coverage.) More Shanghainese Favor Shopping in Nanjing Road Shanghai Daily, Aug. 4, 2006 - More than 60 percent of customers on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall are Shanghainese, a recent survey showed, overthrowing the old thought that most guests on the road are from other cities, Oriental Morning Post reported today. The survey, conducted by the Shanghai Commercial Economic Research Center, is based on the information collected from eight main shopping areas in Shanghai for a year. It concluded that an average of 680,000 customers visited Nanjing Road E. every day, topping the other seven centers. Among these customers, 39.62 percent are from other cities and countries.(Click for full report.) City Tours Available for Waiting Travelers Shanghai Daily Oct. 20, 2005 - Travelers with a long wait at the city's airports can now take a quick tour of Shanghai between flights. Both individual passengers and tour groups can ask for the free tours, which are currently open only to passengers taking flights on China Eastern Airlines. (Click for full story) Taxi Fares May Rise in Shanghai Shanghai Daily, April 18, 2006 - Shanghai's taxi riders may soon be feeling the pinch of higher fares for the first time in seven years. At a public hearing yesterday on the effects of rising gasoline prices on the city's taxi fleet, it became clear that some form of fuel-related fare adjustment is on the horizon to take the burden off cabbies suffering from an earnings squeeze. Taxi drivers may also get some relief in the form of lower payments for vehicle use. (Click for full report) Shanghai Historic Sites Open Free on Museum Day Shanghai Daily May 17, 2005 - Forty important historic sites in Shanghai will be opened to the public for free this weekend as part of weeklong activities to commemorate International Museum Day, which falls on Thursday. In order to prevent the sites from becoming overcrowded, as happened last year, the government will require managers of heritage buildings to strictly control the number of visitors allowed into any site at one time. Tour guides, some of whom can speak English, will escort visitors around the 40 free sites this weekend. Last year, the city opened 23 heritage buildings to the public for free, drawing 46,000 visitors - far more than most of the sites could handle. The city has more than 4,000 cultural sites, mostly historic buildings. The government will also put on a series of lectures at some of its 92 museums from tomorrow through May 25. One Day in Shanghai The Korea Times Dec. 29, 2004 - Culture shock is always to be anticipated when visiting a country polar opposite to ones own, even for someone weaned onto the Asian way of life by a lengthy stay in Korea. That’s where Shanghai pulls the rug right out from under you from the start because there is no culture shock. (full coverage) Another 24 Parks in Shanghai Open Free Shanghai Daily Jan. 10, 2005 - Another 24 local parks will open to the public free of charge this year, bringing the number of free parks in the city to 120, said the Shanghai Greenery Bureau. The bureau also announced that construction will begin on a botanic garden covering 210 hectares, equalling to 7 Yanzhong Greenlands, in Songjiang District this year. Meanwhile, the city will build 2,100 hectares of greenlands this year, and the per capita greenland will amount to 11 square meters, the bureau said. Shanghai Mulls Taxi Price Rise Shanghai Daily November 12, 2004 - Shanghai's traffic authority is considering a plan to raise prices for the taxi service following gasoline price hikes, a government official said at November 10 press conference. According to the plan, the service would keep the minimum charge of 10 yuan RMB (US$1.20) the same, but start charging more after two-and-a-half kilometers, he added. (full coverage) |