Forbidden City of china

What strikes one first in a bird's -eye view of Beijing proper is a vast tract of golden roofs flashing brilliantly in the sun with purple walls occasionally emerging amid them and a stretch of luxuriant tree leaves flanking on each side. That is the former Imperial Palace, popularly known as the Forbidden City, from which twenty-four emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled China for some 500 years——from1420 to 1911. The Ming Emperor Yong Le, who usurped the throne from his nephew and made Beijing the capital, ordered its construction, on which approximately 10,000 artists and a million workmen toiled for 14 years from 1406 to 1420. At present, the Palace is an elaborate museum that presents the largest and most complete ensemble of traditional architecture complex and more than 900,000 pieces of court treasures in all dynasties in China.

　Located in the center of Beijing, the entire palace area, rectangular in shape and 72 hectares in size, is surrounded by walls ten meters high and a moat 52 meters wide. At each corner of the wall stands a watchtower with a double-eave roof covered with yellow glazed tiles.

The main buildings, the six great halls, one following the other, are set facing south along the central north-south axis from the Meridian Gate, the south entrance, to Shenwumen, the great gate piercing in the north wall. On either side of the palace are many comparatively small buildings. Symmetrically in the northeastern section lie the six Eastern Palaces and in the northwestern section the six Western Palaces. The Palace area is divided into two parts: the Outer Court and the Inner Palace. The former consists of the first three main halls, where the emperor received his courtiers and conducted grand ceremonies, while the latter was the living quarters for the imperial residence. At the rear of the Inner Palace is the Imperial Garden where the emperor and his family sought recreation.

　　The main entrance to the Palace is the Meridian Gate(1), which was so named because the emperor considered himself the "Son of the Heaven" and the Palace the center of the universe, hence the north-south axis as the Meridian line going right through the Palace. The gate is crowned with five towers, commonly known as the Five-Phoenix Towers(2), which were installed with drums and bells. When the emperor went to the Temple of Heaven, bells were struck to mark this important occasion. When he went to the Ancestral Temple, it was the drums that were beaten to publicize the event.

Beyond the Meridian Gate unfolds a vast courtyard across which the Inner Golden Water River runs from east to west. The river is spanned by five bridges, which were supposed to be symbols of the five virtues preached by Confucius——benevolence, righteousness, rites, intelligence, and fidelity(3).

At the north end of the courtyard is a three-tiered white marble terrace, seven meters above the ground, on which, one after another, stand three majestic halls; the Hall of Supreme Harmony(4), the Hall of Complete Harmony(5), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony(6).

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, rectangular in shape, 27 meters in height, 2,300 square meters in area, is the grandest and most important hall in the Palace complex. It is also China's largest existing palace of wood structure and an outstanding example of brilliant color combinations. This hall used to be the throne hall for ceremonies which marked great occasions: the Winter Solstice, the Spring Festival, the emperor's birthday and enthronement, and the dispatch of generals to battles, etc. On such occasions there would be an imperial guard of honor standing in front of the Hall that extended all the way to the Meridian gate.

　On the north face of the hall in the center of four coiled-golden dragon columns is the "Golden Throne", which was carved out of sandalwood. The throne rests on a two-meter-high platform with a screen behind it. In front of it, to the left and right, stand ornamental cranes, incense burners and other ornaments. The dragon columns entwined with golden dragons measure one meter in diameter. The throne itself, the platform and the screen are all carved with dragon designs. High above the throne is a color-painted coffered ceiling which changes in shape from square to octagonal to circular as it ascends layer upon layer. The utmost central vault is carved with the gilded design of a dragon toying with pearls. when the Emperor mounted the throne, gold bells and jade chimes sounded from the gallery, and clouds of incense rose from the bronze cranes and tortoises and tripods outside the hall on the terrace. The aura of majesty created by the imposing architecture and solemn ritual were designed to keep the subjects of the "Son of the Heaven" in awe and reverence.

The Hall of Complete Harmony is smaller and square with windows on all sides. Here the emperor rehearsed for ceremonies. It is followed by the Hall of Preserving Harmony in which banquets and imperial examinations were held.

　Behind the Hall of Preserving Harmony lies a huge marble ramp with intertwining clouds and dragons carved in relief. The slab, about 6.5 meters long, 3 meters wide and 250 tons in weight, is placed between two flights of marble steps along which the emperor's sedan was carried up or down the terrace. It is the largest piece of stone carving in the Imperial Palace. Quarried in the mountains scores of kilometers southwest of Beijing, this gigantic stone was moved to the city by sliding it over a specially paved ice road in winter. To provide enough water to build the ice road, wells were sunk at very 500 meters along the way.

　The three halls of the Inner Palace are replicas of the three halls in the front, but smaller in size. They are the Palace of Heavenly Purity(7), the Hall of Union(8), and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility(9).

　The Palace of Heavenly Purity was once the residence of the Ming emperors and the first two of the Qing emperors. Then the Qing Emperor Yong Zheng moved his residence to the Palace of Mental Cultivation and turned it into an audience hall to receive foreign envoys and handled the state affairs. The promotion and demotion of officials were also decided in this hall. After the emperor's death his coffin was placed here for a 49-day period of mourning.

　The Palace of Union was the empress's throne room and the Hall of Earthly Tranquility, once a private living room for the empress, was partitioned. The west chamber served religious purposes and the east one was the bridal chamber where the newly married emperor and empress spent their first two nights after their wedding.

The Imperial Garden was laid out during the early Ming dynasty. Hundreds of pines and cypresses offer shade while various flowers give colors to the garden all year round and fill the air with their fragrance. In he center of the garden is the Hall of Imperial Peace, a Daoist temple, with a flat roof slightly sloping down to the four eaves. This type of roof was rare in ancient Chinese architecture. In he northeastern corner of the garden is a rock hill, known as the Hill of the Piled-up Wonders, which is topped with a pavilion. At the foot of the hill are two fountains which jet two columns of water high into the air. It is said that on the ninth night of the ninth month of the lunar calendar, the empress would mound the hill to enjoy the autumn scene. It is also believed that climbing to a high place on that day would keep people safe from contagious diseases.

　The six Western Palaces were residences for empresses and concubines. They are kept in their original way for show. The six Eastern Palaces were the residences for them too. But now they serve as special museums: the Museum of Bronze, the Museum of Porcelain and the Museum of Arts and Crafts of the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the northeastern-most section of the Inner Palace are the Museum of Traditional Chinese Paintings and the Museum of Jewelry and Treasures where rare pieces of imperial collections are on display.

　Now the Forbidden City is no longer forbidding, but inviting. A visit to the Palace Museum will enrich the visitors' knowledge of history, economy, politics, arts as well as architecture in ancient China.

　Notes:　1. the Meridian Gate 午门
2. the Five-Phoenix Towers 五凤楼
3. benevolence, righteousness, rites, intelligence, and fidelity 仁、义、礼、智、信
4. the Hall of Supreme Harmony 太和殿
　5. the Hall of Complete Harmony 中和
　6. the Hall of Preserving Harmony 保和殿
　7. the Palace of Heavenly Purity 乾清宫
　8. the Hall of Union 交泰殿
　9. the Palace of Earthly Tranquility 坤宁宫

Shangri-La

In the year 1893, James Hilton described an eternally peaceful and quiet place among mountains in the East—— "Shangri-La" in one of his novels for the first time. In the novel "Lost Horizon", an English diplomat Conway and his brother Gorge scattered the English citizens and helped them leave the dangerous region. On their way home, their plane was hijacked　and fell down into the mountain in the Tibetan region. Some lucky survivors were taken to Shangri-la where Conway found lots of fantastic things in such a state founded nearly 200 years ago, in which the local people lived up to more than one hundred years old and lived peacefully and harmoniously with the other people, animals and everything here. The place was called "Shangri-La" by the local folks.
　　James Hilton located "Shangri-La" in a mysterious valley which was surrounded by snowcapped mountains; near where there were snow-clad peaks, blue lakes, broad grassy marshlands, and lamaseries, Buddhist nunneries, mosques, Catholic Church, the human beings and the nature were in perfect harmony, several religions and varies of nationalities exited at the same time; the temples looked splendid in green and golden; though people contacted the outer world by caravan for a long time, many foreign experts and scholars had come here to investigate and remained much relics……

　　Obviously, that is not only a beautiful scenery, but also a kind of artistic conception.
　　With the novel and the film coming out, Shangri-La became very famous in western countries. Later, a Chinese named Guo Huonian used the name of this place and set up "Shangri-La" Hotel Group which has become one of the most successful hotel group in the world.
　　At the same time, people didn't give up looking for the legendary Shangri-La. Up to the end of this century, they finally have found——
　　After inspecting and proving on many aspects, people found that Diqing Prefecture, the only Tibetan region in Yunnan, China, has striking similarity with what's described in the tale regarding either on natural scenery or people's way of living. Therefore, the name of "Diqing Shangri-La" spreads worldwide.

Double Ninth Festival 重阳节

Double Ninth Festival
The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number "6" was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means "double." Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "Jiu Jiu," the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That‘s why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.
The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height Ascending Festival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.
On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.
The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.
In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors‘ Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day.

The Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance.


This day's important activity is watching lanterns. Throughout the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), Buddhism flourished in China. One emperor heard that Buddhist monks would watch sarira, or remains from the cremation of Buddha's body, and light lanterns to worship Buddha on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, so he ordered to light lanterns in the imperial palace and temples to show respect to Buddha on this day. Later, the Buddhist rite developed into a grand festival among common people and its influence expanded from the Central Plains to the whole of China.

Till today, the lantern festival is still held each year around the country. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets, attracting countless visitors. Children will hold self-made or bought lanterns to stroll with on the streets, extremely excited. "Guessing lantern riddles"is an essential part of the Festival.

Lantern owners write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns. If visitors have solutions to the riddles, they can pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answer. If they are right, they will get a little gift. The activity emerged during people's enjoyment of lanterns in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom, it has become popular among all social strata.

People will eat yuanxiao, or rice dumplings, on this day, so it is also called the "Yuanxiao Festival."Yuanxiao also has another name, tangyuan. It is small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour with rose petals, sesame, bean paste, jujube paste, walnut meat, dried fruit, sugar and edible oil as filling. Tangyuan can be boiled, fried or steamed. It tastes sweet and delicious. What’s more, tangyuan in Chinese has a similar pronunciation with "tuanyuan”, meaning reunion. So people eat them to denote union, harmony and happiness for the family.

In the daytime of the Festival, performances such as a dragon lantern dance, a lion dance, a land boat dance, a yangge dance, walking on stilts and beating drums while dancing will be staged. On the night, except for magnificent lanterns, fireworks form a beautiful scene. Most families spare some fireworks from the Spring Festival and let them off in the Lantern Festival. Some local governments will even organize a fireworks party. On the night when the first full moon enters the New Year, people become really intoxicated by the imposing fireworks and bright moon in the sky.

The Dragon Boat Festival - race

Dragon Boat race


Traditions At the center of this festival are the dragon boat races. Competing teams drive their colorful dragon boats forward to the rhythm of beating drums. These exciting races were inspired by the villager's valiant attempts to rescue Chu Yuan from the Mi Lo river. This tradition has remained unbroken for centuries。


Tzung Tzu


A very popular dish during the Dragon Boat festival is tzung tzu. This tasty dish consists of rice dumplings with meat, peanut, egg yolk, or other fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves. The tradition of tzung tzu is meant to remind us of the village fishermen scattering rice across the water of the Mi Low river in order to appease the river dragons so that they would not devour Chu Yuan。


Ay Taso


The time of year of the Dragon Boat Festival, the fifth lunar moon, has more significance than just the story of Chu Yuan. Many Chinese consider this time of year an especially dangerous time when extra efforts must be made to protect their family from illness. Families will hang various herbs, called Ay Tsao, on their door for protection. The drinking of realgar wine is thought to remove poisons from the body. Hsiang Bao are also worn. These sachets contain various fragrant medicinal herbs thought to protect the wearer from illness。

The Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Double Fifth Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar. It is one of the most important Chinese festivals, the other two being the Autumn Moon Festival and Chinese New Year。


The origin of this summer festival centers around a scholarly government official named Chu Yuan. He was a good and respected man, but because of the misdeeds of jealous rivals he eventually fell into disfavor in the emperor's court。


Unable to regain the respect of the emperor, in his sorrow Chu Yuan threw himself into the Mi Low river. Because of their admiration for Chu Yuan, the local people living adjacent to the Mi Lo River rushed into their boats to search for him while throwing rice into the waters to appease the river dragons。


Although they were unable to find Chu Yuan, their efforts are still commemorated today during the Dragon Boat Festival。

Ching Ming Festival

Ching Ming Festival is one of the 24 segments in Chinese calendar. It normally falls on the 4th or 5th of April because it's depended on the Cold Food Day （105 days after previous year's winter solstice）. In the old days, Ching Ming was celebrated 3 days after the Cold Food Day but Cold Food Day was shorted to one day and then abandoned. So nowadays, Ching Ming and Cold Food Day fall on the same day although no one celebrate Cold Food Day any more. Ching Ming is also known as "Remembrance of Ancestors Day" or 'Grave Sweeping Day'.


On Ching Ming, the whole family will visit their ancestors or relatives' graves. I remember when I was little, we had to catch a diesel train to north New Territories to do grave sweeping. As a kid, I always find it scary when the train go through the dark tunnel of the hill. But there is no more diesel trains running in HK now. If you want to see one, you can find it in the Railway museum in Tai Po Market.


We have to carry incense sticks, joss sticks and paper offerings like paper money and paper clothes and any other paper accessories, depends how serious your family is with this thing. All paper offerings will be burnt for they believe that the relatives can receive the goods and even 'money' this way. As a kid, I am always asked to carry a bunch of flower. Chrysanthemum is normally chosen so don't give Chrysanthemum to Chinese people as gift coz it's a funeral/grave sweeping use flowers, although some households may find it to display home on normal days.


Food like roasted suckling pig, steamed chicken, fruit and wine are offered during the ceremony. Then we will eat it up after the worshipping.


There were children in scruffy looking t-shirts offering you a red piece of paper and a stone to put on top of the grave stone. My family never explains to me what it's for but I suppose red always implies luck so maybe it helps to bring good luck to the dead person? In return, you are supposed to give a few dollars to the children to buy this red paper.


There were also poor teenagers or adults carrying sickles and offer weeding services around the grave stones. As our family visits the graves twice a year （Ching Ming and Chung Yeung）, we can manage with a pair of scissors!


Some superstitious people even carry willow branches with them or hang it on the front door. It's believed that willows help to get rid of evil spirits, when Ching Ming is one of the days that ghosts and spirits wander about.

the Ancient Silk Road of China

This ancient trade route starts in the old capitals of Luoyang and Xian, and reaches the Yellow River at Lanzhou, follows along the "Gansu Corridor" and stretches along the edge of deserts and mountains. Before the discovery of the sea route to India, the Silk Road was the most important connection between the Orient and the West. The Silk Road experienced its last great era during the time of Mongols,when the entire route from China to the Mediterranean was part of one empire. At that time, Nicolo and Marco Polo traveled from Kashgar to the Far East along the southern route. The overland link quickly lost its importance as trade across the seas developed.Today it has been replaced in China with the railway line Lanzhou-Hami-Urumqi.The last part, to Alma-Ata in Kazatchstan was completed in 1992. The trade route was never known as the Silk Road historically. It was given the name by a German geographer Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen. Silk Road tours allow you to step back into the 13th century as you visit the cities of the legendary silk traders and monks. Travel through deserts where silk traders have traveled for thousands of years. You can discover the ancient mysteries of the Silk Road including bazaars where merchants haggle over camels and carpets,where you can meet the nomadic minorities of China, and attend music, dance and artistic performances. These tours are often combined with stops to Beijing, Xian, and Dunhuang to make your China travel adventure vacation complete.

China weather

Climate Features and Impacts in July of 2005

In July, the climate characteristics were showed as follows: monthly precipitation was less than normal in China as a whole. The precipitation was from 200-300mm in some regions of Shandong, Henan, Jiangshu, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan etc, and more than 300mm in south of Henan and north of Anhui. While the precipitation was less than 50 mm in some regions of Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Gansu etc. Temperature was higher than normal in China as a whole by 0.8℃. In some regions of Inner mongolia, Xinjiang, Xizang, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi etc, temperature was higher than normal by 1～2℃. In July, the main climate events include: Server flood, mud-rock flow and landslide disaster happened in Yangtze river basin, Sichuan etc, which caused 93 peopel dead and 23 people lost as well as 75.4 billion Yuan economical lost. Typhoon “HAITANG” landed on Taiwan on 18 July and Fujian on 19 July, which caused serious damages in Zhejiang and Anhui with 119.2 billion Yuan economical lost. Another typhoon “WASHI” landed on Hainan on 30 July. Heat wave raided in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Anhui etc, the highest temperature was higher than 40℃ in some regions of Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Hebei, Zhejiang, Shanxi etc. Summer Drought last or developed at west and middle of Inner Mongolia, north of Shanxi and Shaanxi, east of Guizhou and west of Hunan etc, shortage of water influenced agriculture, living water and supply of electric power. More than 20 Provinces hit by thunderstorm, hail and gale. 15 people were killed by gale and cyclone in Weiji town of Biling county of Anhui. Sand storm appeared in some regions of Inner Mongolia and Gansu from 16 to 17 July

Chinese Five Big City

Beijing 　　

If your visions of Beijing are centred around pods of Maoist revolutionaries in buttoned-down tunics performing t’ai chi in the Square, put them to rest: this city has embarked on a new-millennium roller-coaster and it’s taking the rest of China with it.　　The spinsterish Beijing of old is having a facelift and the cityscape is changing daily. Within the city, however, you’ll still find some of China’s most stunning sights: the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven Park, the Lama Temple and the Great Wall, to name just a few.　　

Hong Kong　　

Hong Kong has the big city specials like smog, odour, 14 million elbows and an insane love of clatter. But it’s also efficient, hushed and peaceful: the transport network is excellent, the shopping centres are sublime, and the temples and quiet corners of parks are contemplative oases.　　Hong Kong has enough towering urbanity, electric streetscapes, enigmatic temples, commercial fervour and cultural idiosyncrasies to utterly swamp the senses of a visitor, and enough spontaneous, unexpected possibilities to make a complete mockery of any attempt at a strictly organised itinerary.　　

Macau　　

Macau may be firmly back in China’s orbit, but the Portuguese patina on this Sino-Lusitanian Las Vegas makes it a most unusual Asian destination. It has always been overshadowed by its glitzy near-neighbour Hong Kong - which is precisely why it’s so attractive.　　Macau’s dual cultural heritage is a boon for travellers, who can take their pick from traditional Chinese temples, a spectacular ruined cathedral, pastel villas, old forts and islands that once harboured pirates. A slew of musuems will tell you how it all came about.　　

Shanghai　　

Although the lights have been out for quite some time, Shanghai once beguiled foreigners with its seductive mix of tradition and sophistication. Now Shanghai is reawakening and dusting off its party shoes for another silken tango with the wider world.　　In many ways, Shanghai is a Western invention. The Bund, its riverside area, and Frenchtown are the best places to see the remnants of its decadent colonial past. Move on to temples, gardens, bazaars and the striking architecture of the new Shanghai.　　

Xi’an　　

Xi’an was once a major crossroads on the trading routes from eastern China to central Asia, and vied with Rome and later Constantinople for the title of greatest city in the world. Today Xi’an is one of China’s major drawcards, largely because of the Army of Terracotta Warriors on the city’s eastern outskirts. Uncovered in 1974, over 10,000 figures have been sorted to date. Soldiers, archers (armed with real weapons) and chariots stand in battle formation in underground vaults looking as fierce and war-like as pottery can. Xi’an’s other attractions include the old city walls, the Muslim quarter and the Banpo Neolithic Village - a tacky re-creation of the Stone Age. By train, Xi’an is a 16 hour journey from Beijing. If you’ve got a bit of cash to spare, you can get a flight.

china

A country of eastern Asia. Its ancient civilization traditionally dates to c. 2700 b.c. . Beijing is the capital and Shanghai the largest city. Population, 1.295 billion.
Our term china for porcelain or ceramic ware is a shortening of chinaware and probably china dishes. Although the word china is identical in spelling to the name of the country, there are 16th- and 17th-century spellings like chiney, cheny, and cheney that reflect the borrowing into English of the Persian term for this porcelain, chºº.} The Persian word and the Sanskrit word cº³¡,} “Chinese people,” which gave us the English name for the country, go back to the Chinese word Qin, the name of the dynasty that ruled China from 221 to 206 b.c.

Hainan Travel Guide

Different from other provinces, Hainan is the second largest ocean island and the smallest land province in China. Although scenery in Hainan lacks the grandness of the Great Wall and the mystery of the Terror-Cotta Warriors, its natural beauty has gained a good reputation among the visitors and has been widely known around the world. People call it "the Oriental Hawaii".
　　Hainan is located at south end of China, and occupies an area of 35,000 square kilometers （13,510 square miles）. Its administrative regions are Hainan Island, Xisha archipelago, Zhongsha archipelago and Nansha archipelago. Its neighboring countries are Philippines towards the east, Malaysia and Brunei towards the south, Indonesia （Natuna Islands） towards the southwest, and Vietnam towards the west. The surrounding sea area totals 2,000,000 square kilometers （772,000 square miles）. Due to the mild climate and favorable environment, Hainan is regarded as a long life island. The young often travel to Hainan seeking a return to nature and the old would rather live there to enjoy their lives. Hainan now has a population of 7.11 million, among which about one million are ethnic minorities.
　　Ethnic Minority Groups
　　Hainan is a multinational region, and there the ethnic villages of Li and Miao are very typical. The hospitable villagers will treat you to traditional food as well as wonderful singing and dancing performances. So the Li and Miao Villages are well worth a visit in Hainan. Nowadays, Hainan cuisine is very popular all over the world, especially the fresh and delicious seafood. Furthermore, Hainan is famous for their beautiful handicrafts, like shell carvings.
　　The capital of Hainan is Haikou City. Located in northern part of the island, it is the political, economic, cultural and transportation center of the whole province. In Hainan, the cities Haikou and Sanya are where most tourists congregate.
　　When to go
　　Hainan is an ideal place for you to be away from the cold winter. In January and February, the average temperature is 16C to 24C, and 25C to 29C is in July and August. The rainy seasons are from May to October. The best time to visit Hainan is between November and March the next year. I suggest those who are fond of swimming had better come to Hainan. It's an excellent swimming and bathing place all the year around, and far away from the crowded cities, it is your best choice for relaxation and entertainment.
　　What to see
　　Sanya is famous for its tropical beach landscapes. Tianya Haijiao and Dadonghai are two well known beaches. Just imagine that you are lying on the soft beach under beautiful sunshine or that you are walking through the coconut plantation under the blue sky. How wonderful everything is! Historical heritages such as Hairui Tomb （Hairui （1514 - 1587） who was a compassionate and popular officer during the Ming Dynasty） and Wugong Temple （Fiver Officials' Temple） in Haikou are also worth a visit.

Henan Travel Guide （china)

Highlight of Henan Province,Songshan Mountain lies southwest of Zhengzhou and it is one of the most famous mountains in China because of the rugged beauty of its peaks and the Bonsai-like appearance of its beautiful old trees. Shaolin Temple, the most famous Buddhist temple in China and the largest of the Songshan range, is located on Shaoshi Mountain. Shaolin Temple and Shaolin Gongfu (martial arts) have long taken on a legendry color and are famous both in and outside China.
　　The name of the province Henan comes from its geographic location. Henan means"the south of the river",indicating that Henan lies south of China‘s Yellow River. The province covers an area of over 160,000 square kilometers (about 62,000 square miles). It is populated by Han, Hui, Manchu, Mongolian and other ethnic groups totaling 92,560,000 people.
　　When to go
　　Henan has a humid warm-temperate climate. Dry and windy in winter and spring,the province is hot and rainy in summer and bakes in strong sunlight during the autumn months. Rainfall averages about 600-1000 millimeters increasing from north to south, as does the annual temperature which increases from about 12.8C in the north to 15.5C in the south.
　　History
　　Henan province is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization due to its location on the Yellow River. This rich historic heritage has endowed Henan with numerous historic treasures, from primitive dwellings to earliest wheel thrown pottery. The remains of some of the earliest human settlements have been unearthed here, including the over 7000-year-old Peiligang Culture Site, the 6000-year-old Yangshao Culture Remains and the 5000-year-old Dahe Culture Remains. All these cultural remains have profound significance in the history of Chinese civilization.
　　Luoyang City has been the capital of nine dynasties since the time of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770BC-221BC).There are many historical sites to be viewed in Luoyang as well as the opportunity to purchase replicas of the famed Tang three-glaze horses. Luoyang‘s Longmen Grottoes, famous for its grand treasure trove of Chinese Buddhist statues, are located 12km (7 miles) south of Luoyang. First sculpted and chiseled around 493 AD when the capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) was moved from Datong City to Luoyang,the grottoes of Luoyang house an awe-inspiring collection of sculpted Buddha and other religious subjects.
　　Kaifeng,one of the ancient capitals,also boasts the following buildings worthy of a visit:Iron Pagoda(Tie Ta)of the Northern Song Dynasty(960-1127),Dragon Pavilion (Long Ting)- site of imperial palace of the Song and Jin dynasties - and the 1400-year-old Xiangguo Temple which is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China. Also on view in Kaifeng are ruins of the Shang Dynasty, an important part of human cultural and historic heritage. The Shang Dynasty Ruins, also known as the ‘Yin Ruins’, are famous because of the unique style of the large palace and its grand mausoleums, in which emperors of the Shang Dynasty are buried. The bronze vessels of the Shang Dynasty, which were both finely decorated and popularly used by the citizens of the Shang Dynasty, are well-known at home and abroad.

heilongjiang province of china

Are you a snow kind of person？If you like snow then you should visit Heilongjiang,a province,which brings you the wonderful scenery of northeast China. You will have chance to enjoy the national Ski Festival and Ice Festival held every year, and also the culture in the famous music town Harbin. Harbin, famous for its name 'Ice City', is the administrative center of the Heilongjiang Province.
　　Heilongjiang is located at north most of China and has an area of more than 460,000 square kilometers (177,607 square meters). It borders the provinces of Inner Mongolia to the west, Jilin to the south and Russia on the northeast. Historically it was one of the main gateways from China to Russian and Europe.
　　Ethnic Minority Groups
　　With a population of over 36.8 million, there are about 35 ethical groups living in Heilongjiang.Among them the most characteristic ethical groups are Hezhe fishermen, Ewenki Hunters and Daur ethnical group, who raises mainly cattles. Their life styles are very different from each others. So if you are interested, you might feel free to spend time with them.
　　When to go
　　In summer, if you go to Heilongjiang, you will feel cool and comfortable. Average temperature is around 18C to 23C in July. It's definitely a summer resort. In winter, you will experience harsh and extreme cold. Winter in Heilongjiang is long, cold and dry. In January, average temperature is about -31C to -15C, and the record low temperature was -52.3C. So wrap up before you go, or purchase the fine quality leather hats, overcoats and shoes there to keep you warm. Annual average rainfall is 250 to 700 millimeters (9.8 to 27.56 inches), so the crops grow well and the typical northeast foods are dumplings, bread and sausages.
　　What to see
　　Of course, there is more than just cold. You can visit the snow resort. Wu Da Lian Chi,the natural volcano garden of the world. In this unique land witness the volcanoes' ravage to the Heilongjiang Province. Jing Po Lake, the largest mountain lake in China, has a particular and wonderful Diao Shui Lou waterfall; In the arctic pole village Mohe, you may be fortunate to see aurora borealis.
　　Festivals
　　The national Ski Festival is a wonderful program for those who like skiing; and the national Ice Festival displays the exquisite art of ice carvings and its elegant masterpieces. Both festivals are held annually from December to January. During the famous Summer Concerts in Harbin you will hear the most beautiful music in the world, especially the Chinese classical music. All this is pleasing to all both your eyes and ears.
　　Every year, tourists from various countries gather here in the winter months just to get a glimpse of snow. For some visitors it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see snow.

Hebei travel Guide

Hebei Province, with its beautiful Capital, Shijiazhuang,is located to the north of the Yellow River, and to the east of the Taihang Mountains. Hebei is somewhat overshadowed by its neighbors, Beijing and Tianjin, whose vastness covers an area of 190,000 square kilometers (about 73,363 square miles), and its vibrant population is estimated to be at 67,440,000. Hebei's long and proud history can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC), which dates from 770 BC to 476 BC. At that time it was called 'The Land of Yan and Zhao', because its northern area was dominated by the Kingdom of Yan, while its southern area was occupied by the Kingdom of Zhao. Today, that same area is home to more than 50 minority ethnic groups, such as Han, Hui, Manchu, Mongolian and Korean.
　　When to go
　　Hebei is also known for its moderate climate. The four seasons are felt and enjoyed. In spring it is arid and windy, hot and rainy in summer, balmy and fine in autumn and dry and cold in winter. The annual rainfall averages between 300 - 800 millimeters and its corresponding temperature ranges from 0C to 13C. So the best time to travel to Hebei is during autumn, when you can enjoy the clear and crisp climate.
　　What to see
　　The visitor to Hebei has the unequalled opportunity to view many relics that can be found in this beautiful province. The very famous Mountain Resort of Chengde used to be the largest royal summer resort of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Outside the surrounding wall of the Mountain Resort, the visitor will find a display of several brilliant and glistening temples. They are called 'Eight Outer Temples' and are the largest imperial temples in all of China. The Mulan Paddock in Hebei Province was used as the hunting place for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. At the present time, it is one of the few natural grassland resorts and a very popular destination for those visitors who are after a bit of fresh air and peaceful countryside. Shanhaiguan Pass, also called 'The First Pass Under Heaven', is the easternmost end of the Great Wall, which winds its way through the north of Hebei. All these beautiful highlights will make the tourist feel excited about the scenery, history and natural beauty which is in the Hebei Province.
　　In the tour to Hebei Province,tourists can not only have a long look at all the historical relics,but they also see all the beautiful natural landscapes that you can only dream of. In summer, tourists can enjoy the sunshine, beaches, and all the fresh air that blows in from the Bohai Gulf in the Beidaihe and Nandaihe Scenic Spots; In spring tourists can ride on the vast and magnificent grassland; In autumn, they can explore the fascinating Yesanpo Scenic Area in Baoding City. And in winter, another spectacular destination in Baoding City is the Baiyang Lake. The Baiyang Lake will be a very special attraction, because tourists can see very unique scenery of reeds and snows.
　　Hebei beckons and welcomes you.

Jingsu Travel Guide

Jiangsu, an eastern Chinese province, has over 1000-kilometer (620 miles） coastline along the Yellow Sea. There are two great rivers flowing through the whole province: Yangtze River from west to east and Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from north to south. With an area of 100,000 square kilometers (38,600 square miles）, Jiangsu is populated by Han, Hui, Manchu and other ethnic groups. Its population totals 73.54 millions. The neighboring areas of Jiangsu are Shandong Province in the north, Anhui Province in the west, Shanghai Municipality and Zhejiang Province in the south.
　　When to go
　　With an annual average temperature ranging from 13 C to 16 C, the climate in Jiangsu is semi-humid and subtropical. There are four distinct seasons with cold winters and hot summers. Besides, the annual average rainfall is 800 to 1,200 millimeters (31.5 to 47.2 inches）, with high precipitation in the southeast and low in the northwest, and 60 percent of the rain falls during the summer. So the best time for a visit should be in spring and autumn.
　　What to see
　　Nanjing, one of the six ancient capitals of China, is also the administrative center of Jiangsu Province. Situated at the south bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing has numerous tourist attractions for you to access. Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing is very famous and impressive. Opened on December 23, 1968, it is one of the greatest achievements of the Communist Party and a great source of pride to the Chinese. The Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the mausoleum of the great revolutionary forerunner, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, is a well-preserved tourist destination. Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum built for Zhu Yuan Zhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368~1644）, is one of the largest ancient imperial tombs in China. Other scenic spots in Nanjing like Qinhuai River, Yu Hua Tai and Qixia Scenic Spot are also well worth a trip if you want to trace back to the long history of Nanjing. As one of the four "furnace" cities in China, tourists are advised not to visit Nanjing during summer.
　　Suzhou is a well-known garden city in Jiangsu Province. It's a historic city in China and also the center of cotton, silk and wool. The Humble Administrator's Garden presents a traditional Chinese ink-and-wash painting before you, and walking in the garden, you would feel you are actually walking in the paintings! The Lingering Garden is one of the best gardens in Suzhou as well as being one of the four most famous gardens in China. Zhouzhuang, a small town near Suzhou, is the China's top water town. The layout of the town and the residential areas maintains the traditional style and the old river ways and boats are very popular among the visitors. Besides, Suzhou has its unique highlights such as Kunqu Opera, Suzhou Opera and Suzhou embroidery.
　　Wuxi, the famous tourist city in Jiangsu Province, is one of the 15 economic central cities in China called as "homeland of fish and rice". Taihu Lake, the third largest freshwater lake in China, has many islets which have now become the main tourist destinations for visitors. The Three Kingdoms City, built in 1993 to film the famous historical TV serial - the Romance of Three Kingdoms, which is one of the four most famous novels in China, was totally in Han Dynasty style. So when you enter the Three Kingdoms City and sometimes see lots of people wearing ancient costumes, don't be so surprised, it's only a scene for filming actually.
　　In possession of many cultural and historic cities like Nanjing, Suzhou and Wuxi, Jiangsu has abundant tourist resources. Far beyond your expectations, Jiangsu is really an ideal tourist resort.

Hunan Travel Guide

Located in the south central part of the Chinese mainland, Hunan has long been known for its natural beauty. Hunan is surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and south, and by the Yangtze River on the north. Hunan's mixture of mountains and water makes it among the most beautiful provinces in China. For thousands of years, Hunan has been a major center of Chinese agriculture, growing rice, tea, and oranges.
　　When to go
　　Hunan has a humid, subtropical climate. The monsoon rain falls mostly in April, May, and June. July and August are uncomfortably hot and humid. The best time to visit is in the fall, when temperatures are cooler and the rainfall lighter. For persons who live in cold northern climate, traveling to Hunan in the winter can be pleasant. After all, any place that grows oranges can't be all that cold. Low temperatures in winter are usually above freezing, with daily highs around 10C. Annual rainfall is around 1,250 - 1,750 millimeters (49.2 to 68.9 inches）. Northern Hunan has more climate extremes than southern Hunan. It can get colder in the winter and hotter in the summer.
　　What to see
　　The headspring of life, Dongting Lake, is frequently mist-covered in the early morning. It is the second largest lake in China. Yueyang City, located on the shore of Dongting Lake, is home to one of China's three famous towers. Yueyang Pavilion was originally built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907）. The present pavilion is of recent reconstruction, built in the style of the Song Dynasty (960-1279）.
　　In 1982, China established its first national forest park. Zhangjaijie National Forest Park was established in a particular scenic area in northwest Hunan. The park is especially known for its quartz-sandstone rock formations, bare stone sculpted by nature and set among green trees and frequent clouds.
　　The high and steep Mt. Hengshan is frequently snow-capped in the winter, contrasting with the subtropical fields that one sees below it. It is one of the five most famous mountains in China. Known for its precarious cliffs, it is a holy mountain for both Taoists and Buddhists.
　　The region along the Yuanjiang River is especially well known for its serene beauty. It takes its name, the Peach Blossom Fountainhead, from a work of Chinese literature from the Jin Dynasty (265-420）. Tao Yuanming wrote about an isolated Utopia-like paradise where generations of people had escaped from the difficulties that others had experienced. The Yuanjiang River region has been a travel destination since ancient times.
　　Historic Changsha, one of China's famous cultural centers, is the capital of Hunan Province. It is also a tourism center, offering its visitors many historical sites and other places of interest.
　　Highlights
　　Hunan's cuisine has its unique flavor. In Hunan, nearly every dish tastes hot, and delicious. The people of Hunan like eating peppery foods.
　　Hunan's products include Xiang embroidery, one of China's four famous embroideries. It has high artistic value. With 200 years of history behind them, the chrysanthemum stone carvings of Liuyang are vivid and exquisite. Liuyang City is known for its firecrackers, which are popular all over China.
　　Many great people have come from Hunan Province. In ancient times, Quyuan, a patriotic poet, committed suicide by throwing himself into the Miluo River. The story of his death and the search for his body started the tradition of Dragon Boat Festival. Chairman Mao, idol of the Chinese people, was born in Shaoshan. Zhu Rongji, one of the important leaders in the country, also comes from Hunan Province. Such famous people show that Hunan is a place that has cultivated talent as well as being a destination for tourists.
　　With abundant natural resources, Hunan covers 210,000 square kilometers (81,000 square miles）. It is adjacent to Jiangxi Province in the east, Chongqing Municipality and Guizhou Province in the west, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Autonomous Region in the south, and Hubei Province in the north. Hunan has a total population of 64,400,700. It is multiethnic, with Maio, Dong, and Yao being the most numerous minorities. Their unique cultures and ethnic customs attract numerous tourists.

Inner Mongolia Travel Guide （china）

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, bordering to the north with both the Republic of Mongolia and Russia, is the widest province in China (by its latitude）. It is the third largest Chinese province (over 1.1 million square kilometers or 424,736 square miles） but not very populated. The province has about 24 million inhabitants. Many ethnic groups are living in this area including Mongolian, Daur, Oroqen, Ewenki, Hui, Han, Korea and Manchu. Hohhot is the capital of Inner Mongolia.
　　When to go
　　Climate in Inner Mongolia is very different during the year. Winter is cold and can be very long, with frequent blizzards. Usually summer is short and warm. The climate changes from arid to semi-humid from west to east, and to humid in the northeast. The annual rainfall is 80 - 450 millimeters, also increasing from west to east. The main feature of the climate here is that the different in temperature between days and nights is very big, so tourists should wear layer of clothes when traveling here.
　　What to see
　　Inner Mongolia has a peculiar natural scenery, long history and brilliant culture. There are many historic sites in this area. Some of the key historic sites are:
　　Wudangzhao Monastery in Baotou is a vast complex and used to be the residence of the highest ranking lama in Inner Mongolia and now it is the only intact Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Inner Mongolia.
　　Inner Mongolia is the hometown of Genghis Khan (1162-1227）, the great leader of Mongolians. His Mausoleum, located 185 kilometers (about 71 miles） south of Baotou, holds his clothing buried in his memory.
　　Dazhao Temple is one of the biggest and best-preserved temples in Hohhot. Xilituzhao Palace is the largest surviving Lama temple in Hohhot.
　　Zhaojun Tomb, six miles to the south of Hohhot, is located on one of the most beautiful scenes of ancient times. A legend says that each year, when it turned cold and grass became yellow, only this tomb remained green and so it got the name Green Tomb (Qing Zhong）.
　　Wanbu Huayanjin Pagoda, also called White Pagoda, used to be a place where nearly ten thousand volumes of Huayan Scripture were preserved. It is an exquisite and magnificent brick-wood structure about one hundred and fifty feet tall.
　　But what is most attractive about Inner Mongolia is its natural beauty. Vast grasslands, including the Xilamuren Grassland, Gegentala Grassland and Huitengxile Grassland are all good places for a grassland experience. The mushroom-like yurts, bright sky, fresh air, rolling grass and the flocks and herds moving like white clouds on the remote grassland, all contribute to make the scenery a very relaxing one. While visiting Inner Mongolia you may try different activities such as Mongolian wrestling, horse & camel riding, rodeo competitions, archery, visiting traditional families and enjoying the graceful Mongolian singing and dancing. The best time to visit the grassland is definitely during the traditional Mongolian Nadam Festival period when there is a better chance to both participate and feel the lively atmosphere of the grassland life.
　　You can also visit deserts in Inner Mongolia. The deserts are located in the western part of the province: the most famous and visited ones are the Badain Jaran Desert, Tengger Desert and Kubuqi Desert. Early autumn (from the middle of August to the end of September） is the best time to explore the desert as the temperatures are very temperate.

Hubei Travel Guide （province of China)

Hubei province is situated in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and to the north of Dongting Lake. It is surrounded by Henan Province to the north, Jiangxi and Hunan to the south, Anhui to the east, Sichuan to the west and Shaanxi to the northwest. Hubei covers an area of 180,000 square kilometers (about 69,500 square miles） with a large population of 60,280,000. Its capital, Wuhan, is located in the southeastern part of the province.
　　Hubei has been said to be one of the originating places of the Chinese people. Today many minority ethnic groups live in this area including: Miao, Tujia, Dong and some others.
　　When to go
　　Hubei has a subtropical monsoonal climate with a humid and hot summer, dry winter and strong sunlight in autumn. Annual rainfall averages 800-1600 millimeters and with average temperatures ranging from 15C-17C. Most places in Hubei enjoy four distinct seasons, with the best times to travel there being spring and autumn.
　　What to see
　　The long history and the brilliant Chu culture endow Hubei with numerous cultural relics. Ancient towers, grottoes, city remains, imperial mausoleums, temples and nobilities' native places can be found throughout the province.
　　As the heaviest musical instrument in the world, the set of bronze chime bells unearthed from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State can be found in the Hubei Provincial Museum. With a total weight of 2567 kilogram, the set of bells consists of 65 pieces. The biggest bell is 152.3cm (five feet） high and 203.6kg and the smallest 20.4cm (less than one foot） long and 2.4kg.
　　Wudang Mountain is a sacred Taoist mountain with hundreds of temples and palaces. East Lake, located on the eastern side of Wuchang City, is one of the major tourist attractions in Wuhan. It is the biggest lake within a city in China. Yellow Crane Tower, located on Snake Hill in Wuchang City, is one of the three famous towers south of the Yangtze River.
　　Hubei also boasts impressive natural scenery. The Three Gorges offers an unmatched painting of water and mountains. The World Famous Yangtze Three Gorges Dam Project is located in Hubei Province, just outside of Yichang City. It is not only the largest water conservation project in China, but also the largest water conservation project in the world.
　　The national reservation of Shennongjia is a dense wilderness in western Hubei province. It has always been a mysterious place, an enigma in Chinese geography. Since the discovery of traces of wild people there, it has aroused people's curiosity about it all the more.
　　Other attractions include Chibi (Red Cliff） where a famous ancient battle happened and Jingzhou, a historical city made famous by Three Kingdom battles are also worthy of sight.

Taiwan Travel Guide

Taiwan lies like a spindle in the southeast of Asia. It is a rare tropical mountain-island in the world, two thirds of which is covered with high mountain ranges. The most famous of the mountains, Ali Mountain, is the symbol of charming Taiwan.
　　Located in the subtropical ocean, Taiwan offers tourists comfortable weather and has no winter all the year round. With the pleasant climate, Taiwan can sustain vast biology resources. It is worth to visit Taiwan for its natural sights， such as the high and steep mountains and the dense atmosphere of seashore holidays. The island has another Portuguese name, Formosa, which means 'beautiful island'. In addition, Taiwan has many wonderful man-made tourist recourses， such as the famed Matsu Temple and Taipei National Palace Museum.
　　Overlooked from Fujian Province, Taiwan is neighbored by Japan in the north and Philippines in the south. Unsurprisingly, the island has become a hub for travel between places in Asia and is one of the tourist destinations with the most convenient transportation in the world.
　　Concurrently home to different groups mainly from the southern Fujian Province, Hakka and the local people， Taiwan also features various colorful human cultures. You will detect the harmonious and prosperous atmosphere in Taiwan's religions, architectures, languages and dining. Tourists should take special care not to miss the dainty dishes here - in fact, Taiwan is dubbed the 'Kingdom of Delicacies' by gourmets.
　　During the past decades, Taiwan's economy emerged as a miracle. As of today, it is the primary source of foreign capital for South-East Asian countries, thus allowing them to provide complete and high-quality tourist services and facilities.
　　If you have an opportunity to visit the southeast of Asia, make sure to include Formosa in your travel plan. The beautiful island will offer you an appealing trip that you will find it hard to tear yourself away from.