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Most people who travel to China for pleasure go to a travel agency who offers packaged tours. When choosing a travel agency, it is wise to do some research to ensure that the agency you select has an excellent foreign travel reputation and offers first class package China tours. Check to see if they have an affiliation with China Professionals-Workers’ International Travel Service Head Office. CPITS is located in Beijing and runs a network of over (150 local and regional branch offices in major cities as well as the tourist regions in China.

Popular tours include the Yangtze River that is truly one of the world’s most amazing natural wonders. The gorges of this famous river climb thousands of feet on both sides, and it is truly breathtaking to witness. While cruising along the river, you will look at life in places like Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Suzhou and Chongqing. This tour offers shore excursions including ancient cliff coffins at Shennong Stream and exploring the historic temples of Shibaozhai. These quaint locations offer some of the best natural and historical sightseeing China has to offer. This is one of our most popular tours and no matter what agency you go with, departure dates fill up quickly every year. This tour makes it last stop in Beijing where you will see the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City of China.

Beijing is the last stop on your journey through China, where you explore Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall.

China Tours provides detailed information on China Bicycle Tours, China Great Wall Tours, China Guided Tours, China Tour Operators and more. China Tours is affiliated with China Travel Services.

Tags: China Bicycle Tours, China Great Wall Tours, China Guided Tours, China Tour Operators

I force myself to leave my computer and walk down for lunch. I have been writing all morning after my little jaunt down at the artificial-turfed playground for my run and exercise. It’s been a late start and breakfast, a simple meal consisting of wholewheat biscuits and a tetrapack of sweet strawberry flavoured milk, was delayed, too. To lunch or not to lunch is the question.

To lunch, I decide, is a better option… This evening I have to eat pizzas for dinner and though they’re a tasty enough repast, they’re not quite what my body thrives on. A university official has invested in a new pizza joint in downtown Huainan and I have been asked to ‘grace’ the opening ceremony along with the other two foreign teachers here. They’re Amercians, and, therefore, high-profile. I am Indian, therefore, tolerated. India’s rapid economic progress, of late, makes me less of a pariah than I might have been some years ago. A man is known by the country he ‘keeps’, to rephrase an old proverb, and a touch inappropriately at that. I, sometimes, lie and sometimes joke about where I come from. I don’t want to be identified with merely my origins. There’s more to me than where I was born and raised. In any case, I don’t see my lies as lies as I neither hope nor expect to gain from the lies in any way. It’s just a momentary thing.

I walk past my favourite eating place, Xiawu Fandian (Afternoon Restaurant). Of late, the fare served there has failed to tickle my palate or inspire my intestines. They have changed the oil they use in their cooking. It has an unpleasant flavour and leaves a strange aftertaste. I informed the laoban niang (boss’s wife) and pointed out my unfinished plate on a couple of occasions. She looked stoic and unmoved so I decided it was time for me to move, instead. Past the Afternoon Restaurant and then the Friendship Restaurant across the street, where I sometimes eat. They serve cabbage with pre-fried tofu (the Chinese pronunciation is doufu) in medium spicy, sweetish style that tickles my taste buds but leaves me bloated.

The sky is overcast but the temperature is comfortable at about ten above. I notice the open door of a neighbouring optician’s and decide to have a word with the boss as I ask for a little tinkering with my spectacles. I hand him my metal-rimmed, plastic-lens glasses and he notices the problem. We chat briefly as he tightens the screw on my spectacle arm. It’s done in seconds and he hands them back to me. I notice that the lens have the oily fogginess that fingers leave on glasses and ask for a spectacle cleaning cloth, demonstrating the act of cleaning to tell him what I want. He opens a drawer and hands me a shiny new cleaning cloth. I ask him how much. He motions, nothing. I feel a little little guilty accepting it for free but he refuses to accept payment. I thank him as I leave, wondering what makes the people in China so generous. I head slowly away from the dongmen (east gate) as the main gate of the university is commonly called.

I find myself at the door of Yi Da Pan (One Big Pan), the restaurant that kept me alive when all of Huainan and most of China had shut shop for the Spring Festival barely a month ago. All the little eateries near my school, including Xiawu Fandian and Friendship Restaurant had closed shop then, leaving those without culinary skills and the handicapped to survive on universal love and firecracker-affected not-so-fresh-air. Yi Da Pan was about the only restaurant then that opened its doors to welcome the hungry and homeless.

Laoban (boss) welcomes me with a warm smile. Laoban niang and xiao laoban (little boss), the wife and daughter are equally warm. ‘Ta baicai (cabbage)?’ the boss asks as he turns towards the kitchen. I nod as I return his smile.

The plate of stir-fried ta baicai, as it is spelt in Pinyin (Chinese written/spelt in the Roman script), arrives a short wait later. The Chinese language has thousands of characters and no one can tell for certain how many there really are. Pinyin is the script they use to work on computers or they would have needed a keyboard the size of a mini. Pinyin uses a phonetic system quite different from English or other Romance languages. The sounds used in the Chinese language are different from English and other European languages. Therefore, they needed to devise a system that included their phonemes. The ‘ta’ in ta baicai is pronounced with a soft ‘t’ and a long vowel sound while the ‘cai’ in baicai is an aspirated ‘chai’. The ‘ch’ sound is also different than the one used in English and has a little ’s’ ring to it. Enough of my linguistics!

The boss emerges from the kitchen a few moments later. He is the chef of his restaurant while his wife doubles as the cashier and waitress. The little boss, the daughter, has her own double role. She plays usher and waitress. The three of them run the restaurant without outside help. I suspect they hire help in peak season or when there is a sudden rush of diners. There are eight table-cloth’ed, glass-topped tables that seat four each on the ground floor and a couple of those hideaway, round-tabled, private dining rooms that all ‘respectable’ restaurants in China have, on the first floor. They would certainly need extra help when all those tables are occupied. A television is mounted atop a raised shelf and I turn my eyes in its direction. There’s a family drama being played there and I don’t understand too much. ‘My Chinese is too poor,’ I mimic some students’ ‘my English is too poor’ in my mind as I watch the drama unfold. A middle-aged woman scolds her husband who leaves her, apparently for good, while her pretty daughter alternates between scolding hers and giving the most beatific of smiles.

Today, I am the sole customer. Others have come and gone or will come and go. The boss comes over with a bottle of baijiu (white wine) and offers me a glass. I ask him to make it small, ‘yi tiantian’ (a little). The baijiu makes me drowsy and takes me away from my writing, as does the beer. My afternoon naps last longer than intended and I add an extra, unwanted layer to my ‘pijiu duzi’ (beer belly). The boss smiles as he pours me a drink. I thank him and begin to sip leisurely while the ta baicai waits. The boss has disappeared into the kitchen and arrives a little later, dish in hand, following his wife carrying another. They place their lunch on a table across from mine.

Chen Tai Cao, the boss, goes over to a stack of brightly coloured plastic beer crates and picks out a bottle of unrefrigerated beer. He opens one and looks at me. Picking up a plastic glass, he heads in my direction as I protest. He insists and pours me a glassful. Like so many of his countrymen, a ‘no’ to Chen means a ‘yes’. It’s polite to say no when one means yes and a no can rarely dissuade a determined host. He, then, sits down to lunch with his small family, pours himself a full glass of baijiu while the remaining beer in the bottle is aligned with the dishes.

Chen and his family are soon absorbed in their meal and pay no more attention to me. His sips of the fiery baijiu are large and soon his glass half-empty. They’re half-way into their meal and a pair of diners arrive. Chen leaves his seat without a moment’s hesitation, takes the order and disappears into the kitchen once again. The little boss also leaves the table to set the table for the new arrivals. Laoban niang continues with her meal. Her turn to leave will come later.

I watch the goings-on and eat quickly, having finished my baijiu and most of the beer.

Soon, I am done with my lunch and walk over the counter to pay for my lunch. Chen has come out and pushes my hand with the proffered money resolutely away.

‘Wo bu hui lai’ (I can’t come) I say in my inadequate Chinese, threatening him with never visiting his restaurant again. Chen pushes my hand away again. I pretend exasperation, repeating ‘wo bu…’ This time Chen looks uncertain and says something to his wife who takes the money and gives me the change. All she takes is san kuai qian (three yaun) for my lunch and that after much no-noing.

I walk out, feeling a sense of elation that one feels when one sees man display his finer qualities. I think about the optician and Chen and his family and marvel at how some people can be generous though they’re themselves relatively poor. I wonder what it is in China that endows some people with large hearts. I wonder why some people are so accepting and endearing. I wonder why the rich often want more while the poor are happy with the little they have. I wonder why more men cannot be like Chen and the optician. I wonder who is happier – the rich or the poor. I wonder why the rich scowl behind their dark sunshades while the poor smile in the sun.

I smile as I think of the name Chen has chosen for his restaurant. ‘Yi Da Pan’ can so safely be changed to ‘Yi Da Xin’ (One Big Heart – or three – or more, perhaps!)

Rajesh Kanoi (Jack) is a published writer, now living and working in China. Many of his short-stories, poems and articles have been published, including a book of short-stories, ‘From China With Love’ (Lipstick Publishing).

http://www.writingup.com/blog/oneinabillion

http://o3.indiatimes.com/kjack

Tags: China, chinese, Chinese food, dining, dinner, food, Huainan, lunch, restaurant, Yi Da Pan

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 centres take Credit Card or Travellers cheques. 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 it’s 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 Weihai 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 patronised 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 flavour 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 namecard 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 pronounciation 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.

Ken Cheong worked and live in Mainland China for 5 years. He has great admiration for the Chinese people who has suffered for many years from war and political unrest to become a up and coming economy today. He shares his experience in China with people interested in visiting or working in China in his chinese culture website. Please feel free to share or post this article as long as acknowledgement is made to: http://www.chinese-culture.net He also runs the popular http://www.quick-pain-relief.com website

Tags: China, chinese, chinese culture, chinese custom, great wall of china, tour china, work in china