Travel To China

Chris Chew asked:


When you said that you have been to China as a sight seeing tourist, invariably people will ask you whether you have you visited The Great Wall Of China.

Why are people so obsessed with this ancient fortress monument? Well, as someone who have taken a sightseeing tour of the Great Wall, I can sum it up in one word. The Great Wall of China is awesome!

I was awestruck by the spectacular scenery and its courageous history. This gigantic monument is considered by many people as one of the wonders of the world. Any tourist traveling to China must definitely make visit the Chinese tourist attraction.

The Great Wall of China is over 2,000 years old and it is a monument rich in history. It was first conceived and constructed by Qin Shi Huang or also known as Shi Huang Ti, who was the first emperor of China. The wall is called “Wan-Li Qang-Qeng” in Chinese when translated literally means 10,000 li long wall which is equivalent to about 5,000 km or 2,272 miles long.

The Great Wall Of China was constructed as a military fortification against intrusion by invading normadic ancient tribes. The Chinese people at that time called these tribes barbarians since the Chinese royalties were living in sprawling palaces and these tribes were living in tents.

After the emperor Qin unified China in 214 BC, he ordered the construction of the wall. It took more than a decade to construct and the great wall stretched from Lintao in the eastern part of Gansu province in the west to Liaodong in Jilin province in the east. The wall not only served as a defensive bastien against invaders in the northern parts of China, it is also a symbol of power for the proud emperor.

From the Qin Dynasty onwards, Xiongnu (translated from Chinese as fierce anger), which was an ancient tribe that roamed Northern China, frequently make incursions and plunder towns and villages along the northern border.

During the Han Dynasty in and around 121 BC, emperor Han Wu Di, ordered three military expeditions to repel and quash the Xiongnu tribe. The military expeditions successfully pushed the Xiongnu tribe into the far north of the Gobi desert, which is a tundra.

In order to secure the safety of the Hexi Corridor (now Gansu province), the emperor also ordered the construction of the extension of the Great Wall westward into the Hexi Corridor and Xinjiang region. The ruins of the tower beacons and debris of the Han Wall are still preserved in Dunhuang, Yumen and Yangguan districts and provinces. There is also a report that more ruins of the Han Wall have recently been discovered near Lopnur in Xinjiang province.

The present day Great Wall Of China in Beijing is mainly the remains from the Ming Dynasty era. During this golden era of Chinese culture, bricks and granite were used when the workers laid the foundation of the wall. Sophisticated designs and passes were also constructed in places of strategic military importance.

To further empower the military’s control of China’s northern frontiers, the Ming Dynasty government divided the Great Wall into nine zones and placed each zone under the command and control of a Zhen, which is a military garrison headquarter.

The Ming Wall begins at Yalujiang River in what is now in Heilongjiang province, through Liaoning, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia provinces, to Gansu reaching a length of about 12,700 li (about 5,200 km or 2,400 miles).

Although The Great Wall served succeeding dynasties very well for a few hundred years as a defence bastion against invading forces, the invaders from the north in the end were able to advance and conquer China in succeeding dynasties such as Mongolians (Yuan Dynasty, 1271-1368) and the Manchus (Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911) did.

With such splendidly rich history and panoramic views, is it any wonder why the Great Wall Of China is one of the most visited tourist attraction in the world?



Anastasia

Itay Lahad asked:


Is it true that the great wall of china was made to keep the mexicans out?

Calvin

Kieron Sellens asked:


Overseas adventure travel is all about seeing jaw dropping sights and having unforgettable experiences. It’s no wonder that more and more people are getting drawn into the exciting world. But if you’ve never done any adventure travel and want to know what you’re missing, this really is the crème de la crème: 7 Adventure holiday trips you need to take before you die…

The Antarctic Circle

Amongst the least travelled places on the planet, The Antarctic Circle is the perfect place to start your overseas adventure travel. For nature lovers, this is particularly brilliant with some beautiful and unique wildlife and some truly breathtaking sights. Penguins, seals, whales and albatrosses can all be spotted during your trip.

Galapagos Islands

The islands that inspired Darwin, unique wildlife found nowhere else on the planet makes the Galapagos Islands a must visit for the adventure travel enthusiast. Amongst the wildlife you can expect to see are giant tortoises, lava lizards, and land iguanas. The region has a fascinating history and some incredible sights and sounds - the essentials of any adventure holiday.

Great Wall of China

Walking along the Great Wall of China is an amazing experience - as man made structures go, it just constantly amazes with its sense of scale and grandeur. Adventure travellers will find visiting this most famous of Chinese icons an unforgettable experience.

The Trans-Siberian Railway

The Trans Siberian Railway may sound a less gruelling trip than some of the others because you’re not walking, but it still presents its own challenges. An epic railway trip that takes you all the way from Moscow to Siberia and on to Beijing, the real beauty here is that you get to take in sights that would normally be well off the tourist track. It’s an experience like no other, and one that anyone interested in overseas adventure travel should make sure they enjoy before they die.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Sure, this one is going to be exhausting and it only for experienced trekkers, but if you manage to reach the snow covered peak of Africa’s tallest mountain on an adventure holiday, you can actually see the curvature of the planet. That’s something that you never, ever forget.

The Grand Canyon

If you’re looking for adventure travel in America, you really cannot beat hiking along the Grand Canyon. The stunning landscapes mean that even after two day’s hiking, you’re unlikely to be bored of the sights. You may have seen pictures, but actually walking along it is the kind of unforgettable experience you will be recounting for years to come…

Machu Picchu

The lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu is one of the most beautiful ancient sites in the world. Clinging to the steep hillside, and surrounded by jungle covered mountains, it’s no wonder this site took quite so long to find. Suffice it to say that photos, website, travel brochures, and indeed, these words cannot do the site justice - you cannot fail to feel inspired when surrounded by the beautiful ruins.

Whichever of these adventure holidays you wish to take first will not disappoint. Just remember to take your camera so you can showcase the amazing sights you saw to your friends and family!



Roy

Andrew Gibson asked:


In recent years China has developed into a very popular tourist destination. It is now possible to rent holiday home accommodation in China and experience the true culture of this unique country.

China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations. This country has the highest population in the whole world and some amazing sights for tourists to see. It is famous for it electronic goods, travel and tourism.

A visit to China is like a visit to another world. It has different culture, different food and different people. China has several attractions to offer the tourists. It is like a treasure box that hides some of the best tourist places.

Beijing is the capital of the China. It is the most popular city of the country and famous for its cultural and historic places. Beijing has a number of temples, parks, museums and ancient houses. So, if you are willing to gather the information about the rich history and culture of China, Beijing is an ideal place for you. When staying in Beijing it is now possible to rent self catering holiday apartments.

If you are visiting China for the first time then you should explore The Great Wall Of China. It is one of the seven wonders of the world. It is China’s most important cultural and historic symbols. It starts from the Shanghaiguan in the east of China and ends in the Jiayuguan in the west of China. It covers a total distance of around 6,300 kilometers.

The Great Wall of China was first built as a defense line against the nomadic incursions. The construction of this wall was begun around seventh century BC. Every year millions of tourists visit the great wall and are amazed by its sheer scale. The Wall of China is also known as a paradise for photographers. So, if you have a passion for photography, take your camera and be sure to visit this amazing sight.

Another popular tourist destination of China is the Forbidden City. It is also known as the Palace Museum or Imperial Palace. It is located in the center of the Beijing. This place is ideal for those people who love to gather information about the history of the country. The Forbidden City is also one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

For all those people who love to spend their holidays near to nature, the Heavenly Lake is the best place for them. This lake is situated in the east of Tianshan Mountain range. The lake is surrounded by the snow covered mountains that make it one of the most beautiful lakes of the world. This lake has an average depth of 60 meters and you can witness ice bergs, ice mushrooms and ice fountains. If you are lucky enough you will be able to rent holiday home accommodation in this region.

China also offers several places for worshiping like the Temple of Heaven. This temple is the largest temple and altar complex in China. You can get the experience of a peaceful atmosphere and also enjoy walking through its beautiful park. You can also watch local people doing Tai Chi and other forms of exercise like dancing. You can also relax in this place in a peaceful atmosphere.

To experience the marine life of China, you can explore the Ocean Aquarium in China. This is one of the favorite tourist spots of the country. Ocean Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world. You can see several marine creatures here and it is well worth a visit.

China has made a real effort in the last few years to encourage tourists and has relaxed its regulations to accommodate them. In some parts of China it is now possible to rent holiday home accommodation. If you get the chance to rent a holiday home in China it will allow you to experience the real China and get a true feel of the culture of this unique country.



Sebastian

Stuart Cheese asked:


In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, I am often asked about the destinations I have been to and how it all began in the first place. 10 years ago I embarked on my second trip around the world and I suppose you could say that this is where it truly all began. Here is my first experience of China.

I thought that visiting the Seven Wonders of the world in eight days would be a fun and challenging thing to do. Having decided with my sponsors the airlines and a chain of leading world-wide hotels it was decided that the Seven Wonders of the World were the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Golden Gate Bridge, The Empire State Building, Sydney Opera House and the Pyramids of Egypt. This would notch up a staggering 42,000 miles in 8 just days. With very limited funds and a friends borrowed cash card, only to use in emergencies, I set off on my journey of a lifetime.

One of the sponsors had promised a sum of money to help with the expenses of the trip and the quickest that the money would be available was two days into the trip! The money was to be deposited into my bank account and as I was very short of cash I decided to see if my cash card would work in one of the machines at Beijing airport. It was unsuccessful as the machine kept rejecting the card. This would have meant the end of the trip had it not been for the credit card a friend had kindly loaned me. I had promised that I would only use it in an emergency. I felt like it was taking the p to take advantage of Brendan’s kindness. My main concern was whether or not the promised money would ever be on hand to cover anything that I might need to draw from my friends account and there was not a cast iron guarantee. Also if the money did not appear in my account I couldn’t justify taking the hundreds of pounds extra that I needed for the rest of the trip from him. I imagined myself telling him the predicament I now found myself in and could hear him saying that, “you should have used my card that is why I gave it to you!” I decided to take the gamble.



I drew some money with my friends card because I needed it to get a taxi and I also needed enough for a refundable deposit at the hotel. Once through customs a very persistent Chinese “taxi driver” pestered me to distraction. He was absolutely determined to take us wherever we needed to go! I was very assertive in dealing with him and demanded to see an official card. The Chinese boy took out a homemade ticket from his pocket. It was quite obvious from his manner that he was not the genuine article. I refused to go with him at first and opted to look outside for a proper taxi. It soon became clear that most of the taxi’s had been booked in advance and that this lad was looking to be our only hope. His charge was 300rbs to take me the twenty minutes to our hotel. I didn’t have a choice really. I felt a little uncomfortable having to put my trust in someone that I knew nothing about in a totally foreign environment. Just as I was loading my luggage into the back of his taxi, a young woman approached and enquired as to where I was going. She wasn’t having much luck with drivers either and offered to pay a third of the fare if she could share the cab. I resigned myself to the fact that we would be safer in numbers. Our Chinese escort sped through the town at 140 kilometres an hour.

I arrived at the Tianlun Dynasty Hotel and insisted that I was given my luggage before I handed over the fare. It was rather comical that neither side trusted the other.. I took my first look toward the entrance of the hotel and was astounded by its grandness. When I spotted the elegant doorman I felt like turning on my heels and taking off with the young lady that had shared the cab with me.



I approached the reception desk that was set neatly into the extremely large, extremely elaborate foyer of the hotel. The staff spoke limited English but it was soon established that I had in fact been listed as having a complimentary room. The comical part was to try and organise for a taxi to pick me up at 4am the next morning, to take me to the Great Wall and then return so that I could attend a press conference at 10am. I then had to catch a flight from Beijing to go to Sydney at 11.30am! With the limited communications it was very difficult to get across exactly what it was that we wanted. I managed to sort things out by actually drawing pictures of the hotel, Great Wall taxi etc. The staff were absolutely fantastic and looked after me very well indeed.

As I had spent most of the money I had drawn out on taxi fares, I also had to arrange to be taken to a bank on the way back from the Great Wall too. It was going to cost 1000rbs to hire a driver for the day. The staff bent over backwards to help me even though they knew that I had no money and no guarantee of getting any.

Somehow I managed to wake with a start at 3.05am.



I got up and made my way down to the reception area, if the truth were known I was on automatic pilot! Scottie Lee, the man that had been so helpful when I had first arrived, was still manning the fort. I waited in the reception area and at about 3.50 the driver for the day arrived. When you consider that to drive me around for about seven hours was going to cost 1000rbs you realise just how much the first taxi driver that I had encountered at the Beijing airport had ripped me off!

I followed our driver to his car, a nice black Audi and as with most of the cars in Beijing the back windows were tinted black. The driver was dressed in black too and the whole thing put me in mind of a Bond movie. The driver spoke less English than the staff in the hotel, yet he proved to be to be very valuable in his willingness to help.

The actual journey was relatively boring. It was still very dark and what with the tinted windows, it was difficult to see much at all. I didn’t see any other traffic on the road because of the time I was travelling.

Scottie Lee had estimated that it would take at least 4 hours to get to the Great Wall so when I noticed a tunnel up ahead that announced in red and green lights, The Great Wall of China only 1 hour and forty minutes into the trip, I was very surprised. It wasn’t until the driver actually stopped and got out of the car, that I really believed I was there. It was a beautiful, crisp, dark morning and the stars were still clearly visible. The wall loomed above me and you could just about make out the top of it silhouetted against the starry backdrop. I was worried that the photos may not come out properly because my hands were so shaky! I took as many snaps as was comfortable and drove around to take a few more of the signs announcing the Badling Wall. I arrived back at the hotel at 7.30 much to the surprise of the staff.

With Wonder number two tucked firmly under my belt I decided that I ought to deal with the pressing no cash problem. I took to the streets of Beijing in search of an ATM machine. My excitement at finding one soon evaporated when my card was rejected for the second time. I decided against using my friends card again until I had been to the bank of China at 8.30am as had been arranged previously with the driver through Scottie. He took us through town to the bank and we discovered that it did not open until 9.30am.

I tried to use my card again in the hole in the wall outside the bank still to no avail! I knew that I had to pay the driver the 1000rbs and also the staff for our breakfast so I had no choice but to use my friends card for the second time. I realised that if when I got to Sydney and my card still did not work that I had no choice but to cancel the rest of the trip.

I put my friends card into the cash machine and drew out 350rbs to see if it would work. I still needed another 1000 so I put the card back in again. While I decideded how much more I might need to my utter horror the machine swallowed up the card. At this point I wasn’t too concerned because the bank was now open and I assumed that someone inside would have a key to it.

The driver and I entered the bank and tried to speak to the young lady behind the counter that only spoke limited English. “I send card to you!” she said helpfully. “But I need it today!” I explained. “You have in two days time!” she continued. I couldn’t believe it; apparently the keyholder was on leave and would be back in two days time! For the first time I could see the trip slip away from me. I had well and truly given up all hope of going another step forward and could not hide the disappointment in my heart. I explained that I had a plane to catch at 11.30am, it was roughly 9.40. I still had the press conference to do at 10am. “I send your card to you back home!” the young lady insisted. “But I need money!” I insisted too. I couldn’t blame her for the dilemma I was now facing.

She rang the lady with the key and told me that we would have to wait for an hour as the lady lived that far away from the bank!

The wait at the bank was the longest hour of my entire life. It was a cold, grey and uninviting place. I watched many people come and go whilst watching the big hands of the clock slowly knocking minutes off of the trip.

I watched a lady with a small child enter the bank and soon discovered that she was the lady that held the key to all of my problems, literally. She retrieved the card and gave it to the young lady behind the counter. “May I see passport?” she asked. I offered it to her discreetly hiding the initials under my thumb. She took it from me and compared the details. “This not your card!” she said. “I can’t give back!” she continued. At this point I gave up on ever completing the trip. I experienced the nauseating lurch in my stomach. “I no give!” she insisted. You have to give her credit she was doing her job very well. After a brief chat to the lady that had retrieved the card she gave it back to us.

I made sure that the lady with the key waited while I drew the money out of my friends account.

I was so relieved to be able to pay Lee his long overdue fee for his much-appreciated help. He whisked me off to the airport and we said our goodbyes.

I had achieved the second part of the trip with the very much appreciated and kind help of the Chinese people that I encountered.



Elijah