Travel To China

James Dunn asked:


As with many forms of martial arts, the origins can be attributed for an early need for self-defense, military needs as well as hunting. Of course, martial arts became an integrated part of the Chinese culture over time and as such, the term “Kung Fu” became a universal name for Chinese martial arts all together. As a result, the origins of Kung Fu can be considered the origins of Chinese martial arts themselves.

Many people believe that during the year 2698 B.C., the Yellow Emperor (a man known by the name of Huangdi) introduced martial arts for the first time in China, he wrote many treatises on several topics, including early forms. The earliest forms of Chinese fighting included moves such as grappling, kicks, punches and throws as well as joint-locks and the utilization of pressure points to one’s advantage to defeat an opponent.

As the development of Chinese martial arts continued, the incorporation of several philosophies and even more techniques soon followed. Yin and Yang play an important part in the creation of Kung Fu, this philosophy embodies both “soft” and “hard” techniques that balance each other and when put into effect can create a balanced martial art.

In congruence with the Yin and Yang philosophies, the Taoist people play their part in the creation of Kung Fu by adding softer elements from the martial art known as Tai Chi. Tai Chi places a great deal of importance on the health and wellness of the body, spirit and mind and it is these elements that have also been incorporated into Kung Fu.

Kung Fu began to gain in popularity around the year 1912 (during the Republican Period and the dissolution of the Qing Dynasty) when martial arts masters were encouraged to spread their knowledge and help teach their art form to the general public and basically to anyone willing to learn it.

It was in Berlin during the year 1936 that Chinese masters first performed Kung Fu for a large, multi-cultural audience during the Olympics that year. This too helped spread interest in Chinese martial arts for the first time.

Many masters, however, began to migrate to other cities and countries to evade the Communist rule that dominated China during that time and with them, of course, went their knowledge and teachings of martial arts. Of course, this solidified the spread of Chinese martial arts across the globe and this is when it truly molded into the “Kung Fu” as we know it today, no longer were these amazing combinations of martial arts bound by ethnicity or anything else.

Masters were free to teach the art and students were free to learn it. Westerners became particularly interested in Kung Fu due to the fact that many movies during that time were created and featured many techniques that came directly from Kung Fu or were derived from it. In spite of its murky origins, however, it remains one of the most popular martial arts in the modern world.



Jasmine

Bhavna sharma asked:


China is a large country at a size of 9,596,960 sq km. China was only partially open to the world from 1980 onwards and has been a communist country for many decades. Although there is much progress in the travel industry and infrastructure of China, there remain areas that need to be improved before it can match the level that most tourist would require.

However, much of the fun remain that it is different from the rest of the world. China will be the host nation for the Olympics in Year 2008. Travel facilities and infrastructure will be improving quickly as we approach Year 2008.

China is rich in culture and history. Visit the Great Wall of China in Beijing, sip Chinese tea in Xiamen, dance with ethnic tribes in Yunnan, check out 19th Century European buildings in Qingdao - there are just so much to do and see in China!

Below are some travel tips to make your travel in China easier:

Entry Visa

China require entry visa from most countries. Apply at the Chinese consulate or through your travel agent before travelling to China.

Climate

Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north. Be prepared with the right seasonal clothing.

Foreign Exchange

The unit of currency is known as Renmembi(RMB) or Yuan. Get some Chinese Yuan in your local country before travelling. When in China, exchange foreign currency for local currency in the banks or at the hotel. Banks tend to give slightly better rates than hotels. Take note that some banks close for a noon siesta between 12-2pm.

Payment facilities

Most better class hotels and shopping centers take Credit Card or Travellers cherubs. Smaller hotels and shops take cash only. Once out of the bigger cities, credit card and ATM cards tend to be almost impossible to utilize. Cash is still king in Chinese business and trade.

Counterfeit notes are common in China. Check carefully before accepting change, especially if it consists mostly 100RMB notes. You can feel a texture difference where counterfeit notes is concerned.

Understanding of English

Most civil servants, custom officials, police, hotel staff and men in the street do not speak English or at best a smattering of English.

Most signboards and notices will carry both English and Chinese. However, be aware that some translations can be so notorious that one can hardly understand what was its original Chinese intention.

Do not expect hotels or shops to understand English. Only the very big hotels will have staff that will understand English.

Most young people can understand basic English if you speak slowly.

Social Security

China is generally a safe country. However, hang on tight to your wallet especially in crowded, popular tourist sites in tourist cities such as Beijing and Xian.

These tourist cities also has a lot of touts in the streets touting tourist from currency exchange to jewelleries to female companionships. Avoid at all cost!

Domestic Travel

Bus, train, ferries and domestic flights are quite well developed. Avoid the crowd at the stations and book your tickets through the hotel tour desk or the nearest tour agent. Prices are likely to be competitive and tickets will be delivered to your hotel room. Again, avoid ticket touts who approach you in the streets.

Local buses are cheap (US$0.10 or YS$0.20) and you may want to try out. Taxis are convenient and are available at all hours. Starting fares differ from each city and may be as cheap as US$0.70 in Weimar and US$1.50 in Shenzhen.

Avoid travel in China during peak holiday seasons or book tickets well ahead.

Local Hotels

There is a good choice of hotels in China ranging from one star to the most luxurious 6 stars. Most of the time, the rooms are safe and clean and in my opinion, cheap does not mean bad.

There are many websites selling China hotel rooms on the internet. You can also check out the travel counters which are available in most train, bus stations as well as airport.

Book ahead if travelling in peak seasons.

Peak Tourist Seasons

Chinese New Year: Date varies but generally late January or early February.

May Day: First two weeks of May

China National Day: Middle two weeks of October

Avoid travelling during these period. Book rooms and travel modes way early if need to travel. Believe me, the crowds during these period of time will be scary. What do you expect when the entire Chinese nation of 8 billion people are on holiday as well!

Chinese Food

Local food is absolutely fabulous. Try as much Chinese food as your wallet or stomach can afford. Restaurants are available everywhere and open to late hours. Most restaurants will have a menu that include photographs of the various dishes. Better yet, simply point at the food that your next door table is having, especially if it looks delicious!

However, avoid street side stalls and drinking directly from the taps if you have delicate stomach.

Telecommunications

Mobile phone coverage in China is good in most locations. Global auto-roaming within China is not a problem.

Internet

There are cyber-cafes everywhere in China, especially in tourist areas. Most are patronized by young people playing online games but you still can check your Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail. Access may be a bit slow for international websites.

You will need to show your passport as China has tight regulations at Internet Cyber Cafes.

Toilet facilities

One of the worst experience many has with China is the atrocious toilet facilities. Things has improved very much but it may still be a good idea to empty your stomach or bladder at every opportunity in a hotel, restaurant or departmental store. Public toilets and toilets in small shops can be a nose hazard!

* Useful China travel tips *

Try to get a English speaking tour guide at every opportunity you can. China has a rich and wonderful history and culture and without a guide, somehow, the flavor and significance of most tour sites can be lost.

*Sneaky tip: Hang around a group that has a English speaking guide if you cannot afford one!

Always ask for a receipt from a taxi driver so that you can complain if you have been cheated or for tracing purposes if you happen to leave your camera behind in the taxi.

Try to take the name card for each hotel that you are staying at as these cards will have a Chinese address and the map of your hotel location. This is useful if you need to seek assistance to find your way back as the English version or pronunciation of a hotel or a street name may be quite different from the Chinese version.

After a tiring day, check out Chinese foot reflexology or Chinese TuiNa (Chinese massage). Wonderful for the body after a hard day and very cheap to boot. Simply look out for shop signs that shows two feet! They are everywhere.

Make friends with the Chinese whenever you can. They love to meet foreigners and will make good tour guides. Just buy a small present as a small token of appreciation.



Dante

Leo asked:


Chinese Tea was proved to be beneficial for human body, not just lose weight. Do you know the origin and history of Chinese tea? If you are interested in Chinese Tea history and want to find some secrets, please continue reading. In part 1 of Chinese tea history, you will find how was Chinese tea found in the history.

China is the homeland of tea, taking a leading position in the planting, producing and drinking of tea. The discovery and usage of tea has had a history of four or five thousand years in China. From the earliest fresh-boiled tea taken as a kind of soup to later dried and preserved tea, from the simple green tea to the blooming of six major Chinese tea, which started catching on in the Tang(618 - 906) and Song(906 - 1279) dynasties, has carried itself to the contemporary times. The flavor of Chinese tea, which is sometimes thin and sometimes thick, seemingly bitter but actually sweet. It has flown through the long history from ancient times up to now. What is more, with unique appeal, tea has broken the bound of fields and been brought to all parts of the world.

The origin of tea is lost among history and legends. What can be roughly confirmed is that tea originated in the southwest of China. In Yunnan and other places there still exist wild tea tree over 1,000 years old. It is said that the first man to discover what tea can do is Shen Nong - the father of agriculture and herbal medicine in Chinese legend. In time immemorial, people know very little about plants. In order to find out which plants could be eaten and which couldn’t, Shen Nong tasted various kinds of plants to find out their features as food or medicine. Fortunately, Shen Nong had a transparent stomach, which made it possible for him. One day, after walking for a long time, Shen Nong felt tired and thirsty, so he rested under a tree and started a fire to boil water. Suddenly, some tree leaves fell into the water hollowware on the fire. Shen Nong drank the water and found it not only sweet and tasteful, but freshening as well. He found his exhaust in all gone, so he finished all the water in the hollowware. Another tale is a little different from this one, but more amazing. It is said that Shen Nong tried 72 different kinds of poisonous plants in a day and he lay on the ground, barely alive. At this moment, he noticed several leaves dropping from the tree beside him, giving off gusts of fragrance. What with curiosity and with habit, Shen Nong put a leaves in his mouth and chewed them. After a little while, he felt well and energetic again. So he picked more leaves to eat and thus cleared all the poison in his body. Whatever way his stroy gones, Chinese tea interested Shen Nong and attracted him to do further research on its characteristics. The ancient Chinese medical book called Shen Nong Herbal, which is attributed to Shen Nong, says that “tea tastes bitter. Drinking it, one can think quicker, sleep less, move lighter and see clearer.” That is the earliest to put down the medical functions of the Chinese tea. From that time on, the real Chinese tea history began.

If you want to find more knowledge about Chinese Tea, please visit http://www.tea-sources.com/chinese-tea



Steve

Venugopal Naidu asked:


As the largest continent on earth, Asia offers travellers a huge variety of spots to visit, things to do &, cultures to view. Asia is a charming mix of historical locales and modern cities. Asia has something to suit the taste of everyone in the family, there are historical monuments as well as great malls, beautiful virgin forests to pristine beaches, exotic festivals to exotic food, Asia has it all.

The Top 10 Asian Holiday Spots

Indonesia

The name Indonesia has its roots in two Greek words: “Indos” meaning Indian and “Nesos” which means islands. It is an appropriate description of the archipelago as there are estimated to be a total of 17,508 islands, of which only about 6,000 are inhabited, stretching for 5,150 km between the Australian and Asian continental. The main islands are Sumatra Kalimantan), Sulawesi Irian Jaya), and last but not least Java. The nation’s capital, Jakarta, has a fascinating and significant history

Climate– Indonesia’s climate is definitely tropical. The main seasons are summer, winter and monsoon; it is devoid of autumn and spring.

Culture– Indonesia is rich in art and culture which are intertwined with religion and age-old traditions. The basic principles which guide life include the concepts of mutual assistance or “gotong royong”. Religious influences on the community are varied from island to island. Indonesia is rich with culture with 250 - 300 ethnic groups live here.

From graceful court and temple dances to charming folk dances and boisterous play, the performing arts of Indonesia offer an astounding range of types and styles, shadow puppeteer is famous.

Cuisine– Fish features prominently in the diet as fresh, salted, dried, smoked or a paste. Coconut is found everywhere. The staple food traditionally ranges from rice corn, sago, cassava to sweet potatoes.

Hot spots—Indonesia is a mix of beaches, forests and cities- Amlapura, Bali Barat National Park, Irian Jaya, , Java, , Jakarta, Baluran National Park, Karimunjawa Islands, Kalimantan (Borneo), Gili Islands, Gunung Rinjani (Mount Rinjani), Kuta, , Pulau Bunaken, Rantepao, Tanatoraja, , Sumatra, , Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (Great Bukit Barisan Forest Park), Harau Valley, Jangga Village, Kerinci-Seblat National Park, Lingga Village, Medan, Mentawai Islands, Ngalau Indah Caves, Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon), Padang, Pandaan Beach, Pandi Sikat, Parapat, Samosir Island, Siberut Island, Sipiso-piso Waterfall, Taman Hutan Raya Bung Hatta, and more.

Malaysia

The Malay Peninsula has thrived from its central position in the maritime trade routes between China, India and the Middle East. It is shown on early map with a label that translates as “Golden Chersonese”; the Straits of Malacca were referred to as “Sinus Sabaricus”. The two distinct parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both West and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to often densely forested hills and mountains. Putrajaya is the newly created administrative capital whereas the capital city is Kuala Lumpur. Georgetown, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Alor Star, Malacca Town, and Klang are the major cities.

Climate– It’s hot and humid year-round in Malaysia .

Culture– Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society, consisting of 52% Malays and other indigenous tribes. With Malays, Chinese and Indians living side by sideThe music, art, food, dance, architecture and general day to day living are influenced by all three to some degree, creating some of Asia’s most fascinating sounds, sights and tastes. Malaysian traditional music is heavily influenced by Chinese and Islamic forms, it is based largely around the gendang (drum), but includes other percussion instruments. The country has a strong tradition of dance and dance dramas, some of Thai, Indian and Portuguese origin. Other artistic forms include wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre), silat (a stylised martial art).

Cuisine– There is a great variety; spicy Malay Food, a seemingly endless variety of Chinese food, exotic cuisine from North and South India, as well as Nyonya and Portuguese Food.

Hot spots– Malaysia’s love of Western-style is abundantly clear in its big cities, Kuala Lumpur, Penang etc. Malaysia boasts some of the most superb beaches, mountains and national parks in Asia. Cameron Highlands, Batu Caves, Lake Gardens ,Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Taman Negara National Park

Next

Japan

India

Singapore

China

Hong Kong



Tiana

Paul Hata asked:


Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a long history of over 4,000 years. For centuries, millions of people in China have relied on TCM for their health and treatments. It joins the power of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and energetic exercises to correct imbalances found in the body. This not only allows the body to heal itself but also helps to prevent other illness. TCM has been used to treat various ailments, from acne, cellulite, dandruff, gout, insomnia, menopause, weight loss and wrinkle to other more serious health conditions such as arthritis, cancer, cholesterol, depression, diabetes and heart diseases.

Ying and Yang

Chinese believe that the imbalances of organ energies (or Qi) may cause disease that affects the health. The TCM approach is fundamentally different from that of modern Western medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes. The goal of TCM treatment is to adjust and harmonize Yin and Yang - wet and dry, cold and heat, body and mind. This is accomplished by regulating the Qi, Moisture and Blood in the Organ networks. Weak organs are strengthened. Congested channels are opened to flow, heat is cooled, cold is warmed, tightness is softened, agitation is calmed and dryness is moistened.

Advantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Western medicine has approached health and a well being from a very different angle and viewpoint. It is reactive, rather than proactive. Science and symptoms is the main drivers. Western medicine examines and dissects to determine the conditions of the body and attempts to introduce external, often synthetic drugs to restore health. TCM on the other hand, focus on why the body is not functioning properly and attempts to use individualized organic herbal formula to rejuvenate and to restore the body to its natural state. Modern drugs may cause side effects in the long term and creating another disease while treating the other.

Disadvantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine

One of the shortcomings of TCM is the lack of research in the area of toxins and heavy metals. This is because TCM was established centuries ago when the world was not polluted by industrial waste or toxic chemicals. The lack of standardization in Chinese herbs and the possibility of toxicity present some of the major disadvantages in dealing with traditional Chinese herbs. Numerous cases of potentially toxic levels of arsenic and mercury in Chinese traditional medicines have been reported. It is advisable to purchase traditional Chinese medicine from reputable sources and those which has met FDA guidelines or strict local health certifications.



Brandon

Chris Chew asked:


Now if you have traveled to China for a vacation holiday or on a business trip, people will inevitably ask you whether you have visited The Great Wall of China? Why is this tourist attraction in China so attractive? It is because if you have not gone sightseeing at the Great Wall of China, then your China vacation is missing out a great deal. Here is why.

The Great Wall of China is an integral feature of the geography of Northern China and has captured the imaginations of people throughout its long and distinguished history or some people may wish to think of as its notorious history. The Chinese call this magnificent wall Wan Li Chang Cheng when literally translate means Wall of Ten Thousand Li. A Li is a Chinese measurement of distance such as a mile or kilometer.

The Great Wall of China saw its first piecemeal construction from the fifth century BC down to the 16th century AD as a strategic deterrence against raids, plunders and even invasions from northern nomadic tribes of which the Chinese at that time regarded as hostile barbarians.

When the Chinese were unified under Emperor Qin Shi Huang or Shi Huangdi in 221 BC, the first emperor of China started the construction of the Great Wall to protect China’s northern border towns and villages against the Huns, Xiong Nu tribesman. The words Xiong Nu when directly translated from Chinese literally means Fierce Fury. You can imagine how the Chinese was so fearful of this tribe by labeling it with such a name.

The Xiong Nus were finally driven to the far flung corners of the Gobi desert after 3 Chinese military search and destroy expeditions. Even then, the walls failed to curb the invasion of China by the Mongols (Yuan Dynasty) and the Manchurians (Ching Dynasty).

Historical records showed that as many as 300,000 men working for ten years on the first phase of the wall’s construction. Stories of hardship and thousands of tragic death suffered by the conscripted laborers are passed down to show that Shi Huangdi was a hated tyrant.

Constructed mostly with bricks and masonry, the wall was built by Chinese rulers of 10 dynasties and the length of the wall, meandering through mountains and valleys totaled an incredible 25,000 km or almost 16,000 miles long.

Since the 1950s, five parts of the wall have been restored and like most tourists, I visited the wall from the Badaling section one winter afternoon in Nankou Pass after a visit to the Ming Tombs. I was awestruck with the wall structure as well as the fantastically stunning winter scenery and landscape.

The second most popular access to the Great Wall is through Mutianyu, northeast of Beijing in Huairou County. The advantage of visiting the Great Wall of China from this point is that it is less crowded than the Badaling access. Is it any wonder then that tourists visiting China usually include a sightseeing trip to the majestic Great Wall of China?



Mia