Come to Lhasa the capital city of this lovely land of Tibet, which is situated in the central part of Asia. Lying on the banks of the River Kyichu this is a great valley. Located at a height of around 3,658m the place is known as the Sunlight city. This is also the highest city in the whole world. With many Buddhist monuments this is the place where the Dalai Lama has his seat. Pilgrims come across the world to this city. Tourists come here to explore the area and there is a lot of exotic nature about this place.

Visit Shigatse which is also known as Xiagatse which means a fertile land. This is the second biggest Tibetan city. This lies at an altitude of 12, 600 feet and is the place where the famous Tashilhunpo Monastery lies. This is the Panchen Lama seat and is also regarded as the place where the reincarnation of the Buddha of Endless Enlightenment resided. Here you can see the Sakyamuni relics, the Maitreya Hall and a great collection of frescoes, statues and thankas. There is an interesting free market here which is where you get a good collection of handicrafts.  These handicrafts with a lot of turquoise and coral works are a good travel kitty collection and there are many more items like the Chinese pottery and the Tibetan daggers and the yak butter which are commonly purchased here.

Tsedang is the next place where you can go .This is the where the earliest inhabitation of Tibet took place and this is today a great centre of Shangnan prefecture. The River Yarlung Tsangbo flows along this place and the climate here is quite pleasant. The scenic beauty here is mesmerizing and the Samye Monastery has a lovely national scenic park. Then there is the Yumbhi Lhakang Palace here which is the main attraction. The monastery of the Tsampos and the Traduk are the sites of burial here. The mountains of the Nyanchen Tanggula loom in the background and they lie just next to the River Yalong Zangbu. The entire area could be around 800,000 square kilometers. The River Yalong and the Yalong Zangbu River have formed a great delta here.

Come to Mt. Kailash which is called the Jewels of Snow by the locals in Tibet. This is the most important and sacred mountain in the continent of Asia. It lies in Tibet and has four faces and it is the ultimate pilgrim spot for most of the devotees who come here. The followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jains and the other religions consider this as a great holy spot. The pre Buddhist animistic religion Bono also follow these sites. It is believed by the Hindus that anyone who comes here could get salvation for a lifetime. They come here and take a dip in the lake Manasarovar. It is believed by Hindus that Lord Shiva used to live here.

The Karakoram Highway was built about thirty years ago, and took close to twenty years to build. The Chinese and Pakistani road workers battled all sorts of hardships to complete the road. More than five hundred laborers from both Pakistan and China were killed while constructing.

It was in the year nineteen seventy eight that the Karakoram Highway was completed. It was inaugurated in the year nineteen eighty two but was made accessible to foreigners only in nineteen eighty six.

The highway is certainly one of the most scenic drives in the world. The majesty of the towering mountains and the simply spectacular panoramic views on offer makes it a heavenly experience to drive down.

The highway has points extremely close to great mountains more than twenty five thousand feet in height such as Rakaposhi and Nanga Parbat. There are rock carvings related to Buddhism along the whole length of the highway and principally around the Chilas area.

It is because of the spectacular views and the scenery that the Karakoram highway is now a popular destination with travelers and adventure lovers all over the world. It has been featured in many publications and TV shows as one of the best road trips ever.

Traveling by the highway is ny no means an easy task, and certainly not for the faint of heart. The huge number of avalanches, mountain slides, scree slides and other calamities are ever present, but even without them taking on the precarious hair pin turns and trying to keep your vehicle on the road will be tough even for an accomplished driver.

As you travel the road, you will see wrecks of cars, buses and trucks having fallen off the cliff sides. As there are no shoulders here, automobiles have to skirt within inches from the thousands of feet high drops.

Karakoram Highway has gotten a lot safer than it was earlier, when it was nothing more than a treacherous death trap. However, the monsoon season makes the ride the most hair raising.

The opposite hotel is part of the swire group’s first hotel and being that as it may, has paid an incredible amount of attention to details. The scenario here is quite hip and trendy. It is also quite noticeable. There are offset views when the doorman wears branded trainers and white shifts with a sleeveless jumper. The check in takes place on a sofa at the lobby. This is the place where there is a large central Atrium which allows you to appreciate the entire height of the hotel.  This is emphasized by the many swathed of mesh that hang from the ceiling.

The rooms are light and airy and have large white walls. There are light wooden floors and furniture that includes a huge free standing wooden bathtub.

The bathroom happens to be an integral part of the bedroom. This is separated by a glass pane which is covered by a white curtain that is made out of muslin. The whole rooms are quite stylish, although it is quite hazardous if you wake up in the middle of the night and care to walk around in the dark. There are about ninety nine rooms which are all sized quite generously. So even if you don’t want to take one of the extra big rooms, and just are ok with the usual, then you still won’t really be making that much of a compromise.

This hotel has two restaurants, one is a Chinese restaurant which is called Bei and there is another one called Sureno which boasts a Mediterranean cuisine. Mesh seems like a very metropolitan bar which has an outdoor terrace with fabulous cocktails.  This place also sports a subterranean nightclub called punk.

The entire feel of this hotel is quite likeable. The first impression you may get is quite light and spacey. Although most restaurants and bars are quite dusky and intimate.  Although the entire setting in this place is well though of and compliments the mood of the place very well.

The bathrooms are quite chic and stylish as well. The bathrooms though aren’t really built for stern privacy. The Loo is separately placed and it is definitely not soundproof.

The best time to actually come and visit this place is spring or autumn. You could even organize a five day trip, and stay at the Opposite house, the Cote Cour and the Duge. These are based on two people sharing the bill, with economy flights and private guided trips and excursions.

Beijing is a frenzied and fast paced city, the mix of jet lag and the pace of the city could get quite overwhelming. You should allow yourself to get acclimatized by treating yourself to a couple of night’s t the Aman summer palace. This place is just outside the city center.  The summer palace was built to accommodate guest who await an audience with an empress. The peaceful enclave here echoes the good feeling that the palace gives you. There are about fifty one rooms and many restaurants. The library here is spread among different courtyards and pavilions. These are connected by corridors with painted ceilings which give off a very controlled reminiscent feeling. The palace has surprisingly long corridors that are quite talked about. The service in this place is just excellent. You are greeted with cold towels and a four wheel drive, waiting to take u to the hotel. The place has a lovely indoor pool and spa which you could just chill out in entirely and enjoy you while you are getting some major rest and recuperation.  What’s more is that there is a hidden door that takes you right into the grounds of the summer palace. This allows you to step right into the serenity of your own secret little garden and head straight back into the hustle and flow of one of the largest and most popular tourist attraction.

At the heart of Beijing’s historical center lies the Forbidden City. This is a huge palace with a compound that was actually built for emperors. The emperors specifically of the Ming and Qing dynasties were the ones who were invited into the Forbidden City the most.  The city hosts the famous palace Museum in which lies all the elaborate collection of Chinese art.  There are many gardens that surround the Forbidden City. Parks and scenic areas. The Behihai Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations here. It is also famous for its prominent historical importance. Zhongnanhai which is from the modern era has been one of the most politically active parts of the Chinese government. The upper government and the regimes is now the headquarters of the communist party in China. The great hall of the people, the National museum of china, the monument to the people’s heroes and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. The summer palace and the old summer palace is now a part of a UNESCO world heritage site. This place has a comprehensive collection of landscapes and imperial gardens around the places which actually worked out as simmer retreat for the emperors of the Qing dynasty.

The landscape in China is quite diverse.  It has rich forests and white sandy deserts. He Gobi desert and the Taklamakan desert are the two main desert regions in China. China is surrounded by Mongolia, Siberia, these lie around the north of China. Around the south; lies, Vietnam, Laos and Burma

The Wudang mountain range is also called Wu Tang Shan or just Wudang happens to be a small mountain range that lies in the northwestern part of the Hubei province in the Peoples Republic of China. This place lies to the south of the city of Shiyan. The name Wudang Shan is both the peaks that are locate in the Wudang Shan Jiedao and the entire mountain range which runs along the southern edge of the Hanshui river valley. The small groups of peaks are known as the Taoist center.

The terrain here is rugged and placed high on a high altitude. The Tian Shan mountain range along with the Himalayas gives China its borders with the whole of central Asia and India as well.

The maps that are available now have the highest peaks in the entire Wudang Shan range. These peaks reach up to one thousand six hundred and twelve meters.

The entire Wudang Shan ranger has elevation everywhere. It is also believed that the Wudang range is actually a branch of the Great Daba mountain Range. This is apparently a large mountain system that is part of Hubei, Shaanxi, and Chongquing and of course Sichuan.

This place is highly associated with Martial arts. According to legends, the founder of Wudangquan was very inspired by a fight that he witnessed between a pied magpie (white crane) and a viper. The Taijiquan from the twentieth century along with the Xingyiquan and the Baguazhang have been considered to be famous Wudang styles, these styles follow Sun Lutang.  This place comes under the Central Guoshu institute and has martial arts tournaments which have participants in two categories which are ‘shaolin’ and ‘Wudang’.

This was later incorporated into a festival which was called the Wushu festival which was held in the Wudang Mountains. The festivals started being held in the Wudang Mountains from the year two thousand and eight.

The mountains of Wudang have been known for its many Taoist Monasteries which were found here. These have come to be known as an academic center for the different kind of research that is conducted here. The teaching and practicing of disciplines like meditation and Chinese martial arts and even traditional Chinese medicine.

The emperor of this region was always intrigued by this place. And during the time of the Tang dynasty, the first site of worship was the five dragon temple. During the Cultural Revolution that took place between nineteen hundred and sixty six and nineteen hundred and seventy-six, a lot of these monasteries were damaged.

The Wudang Mountains have become very popular amongst the many tourists who come here. The tourists come here because of the many beautiful locations and sights here along with the many historical sites to visit here.

The palaces and temples that are located in Wudang have been organized into a complex during the reign of the great Ming Dynasty. There are Taoist buildings are here from as early as the seventh century. this brings to light the apparent high standards of Chinese are architecture that was wonderful considering that is was always from one thousand years ago. These monasteries and buildings have been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. The site got listen by the UNESCO in the year nineteen ninety four.

This place apparently represents the highest standards of Chinese art and Architecture. The temples that have been built in this extra ordinary manner are the golden Hall, the Nayan temple and the purple cloud temple.

The Yuzhengog palace which is located at the Wudang Mountains is about six hundred years old. This palace was accidentally burnt by one of the employees from the martial arts school here. The rooms which were about two hundred square meters, was all reduced to ashes.  Along with this many sculptures, paintings scrolls and cultural artifacts from the ancient cultures were also destroyed along with this.

There is also a gold plated statue of Zhanf Sanfeng which is located right here in Yuzhengog.  This large gold plated statue was moved to another building just before the fire could take place. And hence this large statue survived through the burning temple incident.

The temples here are the temples of Purity and Truth. This place had a synagogue that stood here once upon a time. A large group of travelers keep coming here to experience the rich heritage that this place has been enriched with.

There is a specific concentration of Jews here who are Chinese. The Chinese Jews are usually quite famous here although most of them are just stories in the history books.

There is a Mezuzu here which is attached to a door frame. This is apparently a copy of the Sh’ma. This is considered to be the most important Hebrew payer. This copy is decorated with many Chinese lettering. These are hung on the wall which lies to the west side of the temple.

A black and white Portrait of Mr. Zhao, who was the creator of the temple is displayed next to the Chinese styled alter. There are reportedly about fifty descendants of Kaifeng Jews.  These people embraced their legacy and began learning the Jewish ways again. Kaifeng used to be the capital of the Song dynasty that lies to the north. This place is now a cosmopolitan center which is also part of the famous silk route. Many Chinese imperial suitors and merchants from Persia came through here on their camels. There is also a community of Sephardic Jews who arrive mostly from Persia. The ones who arrive from Persia and India were usually the traders.

The scholars who studied about this had other theories like about seven hundred years ago, the Jews here was completely free from persecution. Also they were largely out of mind regarding the many Chinese empires that called them as the blue hated Hui. These people were essentially from the west.  The people from here started trading and during eleven hundred and sixty three they built a synagogue.

In the year sixteen hundred and five, an Italian Jesuit missionary called Matteo Ricci. This is one of the emissaries here in Beijing. The origins of this place have been traced back all the way to Europe.

The many European missionaries who come here bought the seventeenth century torah which belonged to the Hebrews.  This place is now shown at the British museum based in London. Since the scrolls were in Kaifeng local language, no one could actually read it. And when the synagogue had been destroyed by regular flooding, it was never rebuilt again.

After about one hundred and fifty years later, the last rabbi here died.  Although this happens the spirit of the Jewish heritage still carried on. The Jewish people here in china, have baked unleavened cakes and rooster’s blood is dabbed on the doorsteps during the Passover.

Whenever there is a Jewish tour, somehow Kaifeng is never on the list. Since this place is a little away from the main cities, like Shangai, Harbin, Tianjin and Beijing. There are synagogues that are not used for prayers which are located in the main cities and this is where the tourists are usually directed. This place however gets a fair amount of back packing travelers who come here by word of mouth. There are reports of four rabbis and a Jewish scholar who come here on heritage trips every once in the year. A lot of visitors, who come here, have a good look and just leave immediately.

The place is less the architectural wonder and more of the magical presence that once lived here when the synagogues stood. Where the people would not eat pork and have unleavened bread.

China, although doesn’t not recognize Judaism as one of its approved religion.  Jews some how are not even considered to be one of the fifty five minorities here. If a foreigner comes here and wishes to practice Judaism; they are allowed to do so. Although; there are currently no officially active synagogues in China and the Chinese claim that; at this time, there are no Chinese Jews that exist here.

The local authorities here are quite tolerant the Jewish community and the visitors that it brings here. The Kaifeng Municipal museum here will offer you locked rooms that take you all the way into the Jewish presence here in Kaifeng.

Forbidden City

The splendid Forbidden City is known to be one of the biggest and the best-preserved majestic palace complexes in the world. The Forbidden City once had around 9,999 rooms, during its flourishing period.  The Chinese believed that number 10,000 symbolizes “the divine perfection”. Forbidden City had fallen short of only one room. This palace was surrounded by huge walls, which were 10 m high and 6 m deep. For around 500 years, this palace served as the center of country’s administration.

Tiananmen Square

The respectful and solemn Tiananmen Square is known as the largest central city square all around the world. This square is not only the symbol of Beijing, but also of the entire country of China. This square has a massive courtyard, where numerous historical events are organized. This square is surrounded by various other buildings such as the Great Hall of the People, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall.

Imperial Gardens & Mausoleums

Beijing has been the capital city of several empires over time. Apart from having numerous majestic palaces, this city also owns most lavish royal gardens. The summer palace in the city is very well-deserved. It encloses a total area of 727 acres and boasts the graceful Beihai Park. Various emperors have also constructed numerous mausoleums for themselves. According to me, the Ming Tombs of thirteen emperors is the most wonderful necropolis.

Natural Beauties

If you want to enjoy a peaceful stroll, visit the beautiful parks in Beijing. Jingshan Park is one of the excellent parks in the city and is located behind the renowned Forbidden City. In ancient times, the Jingshan Park was an imperial garden. Every year, in autumn, you will come across lovely red maple leaves in the Fragrant Hills Park. The renowned Taoranting Park is also a brilliant workmanship of the ancient and modern Chinese architectural skills.

Modern Beijing

Over-seas tourists have started visiting Beijing more often, especially after the 29th Summer Olympics. This hospitable and friendly city in China has various modern elements to it. Various outstanding buildings in modern Beijing include the National Aquatics Center and Beijing National Stadium.

When it comes to the tourist, Beijing is an extremely welcoming city. It offers an extensive variety of options to enjoy themselves while touring the city. Combining the inheritance of an ancient history with the enthusiasm of a speedily developing metropolitan area, Beijing has a little for each and every mood and interest. All fans of culture will be amazed at the performance of the prominent “classic Beijing Opera”, Beijing acrobatics, a Kung Fu show, or can spend an entire night at one of the many cinemas or theaters in the city. All those looking forward to enjoy Beijing nightlife, will be pleased to come across the large and constantly increasing list of restaurants and bars in Beijing.

From the Great Wall to the Forbidden City, the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium to Tienanmen Square, there is a never-ending listing of things to see and things to do in and around the city of Beijing. Actually there are numerous things to see, which are quite easily accessed and will make tourists overwhelmed. Luckily, there are numerous opportunities for tourists to relax. Whether spend your entire afternoon or simply sit in one of the numerous temples or parks, over a cup of coffee or tea or pamper yourself in a well-known Beijing massage. There are numerous ways of doing nothing in Beijing and even then enjoying yourself.

Tourists looking for vibrant nightlife, fine cuisine, culture, history, or even leisure will all be able to find the right place for themself in Beijing. This is the city of tradition and change and is one of the most thrilling places all over the world. You will hardly find any reason to stop yourself from exploring this destination. The city of Beijing is ranked as a “must-visit” on tourist’s list while they are planning a tour to Asia.

Beijing is located in the northern region of China in the North China Plain. The city spreads over 17,000 sq kms and the total population is some where around 15 million. The city of Beijing is further divided in to 2 rural counties and in 16 urban districts.

Beijing is a contemporary 21st Century city and has made the world acknowledge its presence by organizing 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Shopping malls, Skyscrapers, and traffic contrast with the typical “Old Beijing” with Opera, teahouses, local markets and the exciting street life. The centre of the city is dominated by the Forbidden City the Tiananmen Square.

Nighttime has ample opportunities with Beijing Opera, restaurants, acrobatics, concerts, martial arts, bars and clubs.

Popular tourist attractions in Beijing include Tiananmen Square, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Beihai Park, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Fragrant Hill, Big Bell Temple, The Peking Man, Ming Tombs, Grand View Garden, and Lugou Bridge.

Jiuzhaigou Valley is positioned in Nanping County, almost at a distance of 450 km (around 280 miles) in the northern region of the Chengdu City. This valley has got its name owing to the subsistence of nine fortifications villages, which are of Tibetan beginning, as well as it is for all time regarded as a blessed mountain as well as watercourse through the people of Tibet.

Jiuzhaigou Valley is in fact a great magnum opus of nature that have dreamlike countryside as well as copious natural resources. It mingles blue lakes, verdant forests, waterfalls, snow-sheltered mountains, as well as the folk customs of the Qiang and Tibetan peoples.

This province swathes more than 600 sq km (almost 230 sq miles), as well as takes account of areas for instance Shuzheng Valley, Zechawa Valley, Rize Valley, and Zharu Valley, et cetera. The most important exquisiteness spots for instance calc-sinter groups of lake, waterfalls, as well as various other waterscapes, in addition to 12 summits that compose Jiuzhaigou Valley an astonishing appearance.

Rairy tale has it; that a very long ago the goddess of the mountain who was known as Dago had feelings for the divinity Semo, as well as he presented a mirror, which was been made up by means of wind as well as cloud to the divinity Semo. On the other hand, the devil came into view as well as made troubles to the divinity Semo.

By accident, Semo had broken that mirror into different 108 pieces, having various shapes and sizes, which fell downwards on to the earth as well as after that turned in to 108 multi-colored lakes. This lake is in addition identified as Haizi by the local people.

Jiuzhaigou Valley Opening hours:

1 April to November 15 – 7 am to 7 pm

16 November to 31 March – 8 am to 6 pm

Jiuzhaigou Valley Entrance fees:

1 April to November 15 – CNY 220

16 November to 31 March – CNY 80

Jiuzhaigou Valley transportation:

You can arrive at the Jiuzhaigou Valley by means of plane or else by means of bus.

The Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong Airport at a point of time was been used as a military airport that was in recent times improved as a tourist airport. The airport has several direct flights from the top cities in China, as well as is being stretched out with the intention of accommodating flights from various other regions of the world. This is in fact great news for the tourists, on the other hand at one fell swoop it connotes that this area will be all the more overcrowded.

The metropolis by means of the most direct flights to Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong Airport is the capital city of Sichuan Province, Chengdu. The flight as of this metropolis requires almost 45 minutes to arrive at Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong.

After arriving at the doorway, we simply got on one of the few little vehicles that were quite similar to the golf cart and were supposed to take us in the region of the outskirts of a few of the most important tourist attractions as we barely had some time as well as it is quite a huge locale to stroll around. We could after that, take a halt at any place were we wanted as well as walk in the region intended for a superior view. This place is quite peaceful, with merely the resonance of the exotic birds to sidetrack you whilst you are trying and finding the stones, which appear a little similar, not only to animals, but also the people as well as whatever else thing that your imagination can find out. I really enjoyed watching what was all growing in this region as well as was pleasurably surprised to make out bougainvillea, which was in bright fuchsia color. In addition the workers were present there all through the time and were clearing the vicinity of the lofty native plants the entire by means of their hand and no other equipment…I was actually amazed. The whole thing was arranged in nice and neat bundles, possibly to be meant for firewood?

There is a small number of stunning peaceful lakes as well as the reflections of the different stones in the lake water crafted it a beyond doubt, paranormal place that everyone would love to visit. I have no word to describe the place to you, standing in that area, which was been proved by the various researchers to be no less than 270 million yrs old, was somewhat an exceptional experience. I felt that every stone had numerous story to tell us not just about itself, on the other hand also about its neighborhood as well changes in the vicinity, moreover I guess that the people of China have countless stories to notify regarding the stones. In this forest there is one particular rock that has meticulous worth here as well as the rock is of Ashima. It bears a resemblance to a girl by means of a wrapping on her head in addition to a basket that is placed in her back. I am confident that on one occasion you take a trip to this forest, you will observe what her fairy-tale is, furthermore may even be staggered to be acquainted that a great deal has been written concerning her in addition to dances plus performances along with even various film. I will by no means spoil it in favor of you through telling you what the story is, so simply add the Yunnan Stone Forest in your next trip to China…

There are a small number of areas, which are been run through conservation organizations that are being opened generally up to limited tourists, one of the various of such is located within the murky, green Qinling Mountains. The Panda trackers do escort the hopeful tourists into these mountains, in addition to looking out for the tracks, droppings as well as panda sized concerned vegetation. This region is to some extend undamaged forests of bamboo so the tourists will require to be geared up to trek all the way through difficult as well as wooded terrain in addition to endure off a fast of packet noodles whilst staying quiet as well as at a halt and in the offing for the vague explode of black and white panda. On the other hand a number of tourists would think about the occasion well worth the trouble.

Panda watching – in danger of extinction species

The Giant Panda is an in danger of extinction animal by means of a predictable almost 2,000 pandas living with the wild as well as more than 180 are reported to be surviving within captivity in the mainland China. In addition there are almost twenty pandas surviving in the exterior of China. Thanks to a variety of conservation programs, reports have shown that the total numbers of the wild panda are these days on the mount. Giant pandas are an in danger of extinction species, which are been threatened by means of continuous habitat loss as well as by means of an exceptionally low birthrate, together within the wild as well as within captivity. The inhabitants boom that took place in China subsequent to the year 1949 fashioned pressure on the habitat of pandas as well as the succeeding famines showed a way to the enlarged hunting of the wildlife, which includes pandas. All the way through the Cultural Revolution, the entire of studies as well as conservation actions on the pandas were being stopped. On the other hand, within the contemporary times, China has accepted an additional progressive advance to the internal as well as the international development in addition to permits a little growth within ecotourism that includes the watching of Pandas within the wild.

Watching the wild Pandas within the regions of China

Waiting extremely in recent times, the territory of the Giant Panda was been closed down for the tourists as well as barely a few preferred scientists were provided with the chance as to look out for this intangible animal. Even though the greater part of these murky bamboo forests are even today strictly off the confines, Laoxiancheng Panda Reserve that is been located in the Qinling Mountains in the Shaanxi Province in China has time-honored a fledgling the eco-tourism venture as well as begun to receive a small groups of tourists.

In addition, Panda watching tours are well organized in the regions of China at Wuyipeng, at this juncture the tourists can stare at wild pandas within the Baiyan locale. Ever since the year 1978, various scientists from all across the world are coming to Wuyipeng Shed. In addition this region has been utilized as the general base camp in favor of researching panda, as well as watching pandas in addition to collecting data plus records as of their labeled radio research program. There are almost 14 -16 black-white wild pandas existing within the Wuyipeng area, as a result Wuyi Peng or else Wu Yipeng is been considered as the most excellent place to stare at or else mark out the wild giant pandas.