China`s Top 50

China’s Top 50
1
2
3
49
4~7
36
48
37
38
50
39~42
34
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1. Wudalianchi (Heilongjiang)
2. Heaven Lake & Mt Changbai (Jilin)
3. Hunlunbeier Grasslands (Inner Mongolia)
4. The Great Wall (Beijing)
5. The Forbidden City (Beijing)
6. Peking Duck (Beijing)
7. The Temple of Heaven (Beijing)
8. The Chengde Mountain Resort (Hebei)
9. Pingyao Ancient Town (Shanxi)
10. Yungang Grottoes (Shanxi)
11. Confucian Temple (Shandong)
12. Mt Taishan (Shandong)
13. Suzhou Canals & Gardens (Jiangsu)
14. Zhouzhuang Ancient Town (Jiangsu)
15. Pudong & the Bund (Shanghai)
16. Mt Huangshan (Anhui)
17. Hongcun Ancient Village (Anhui)
18. Shaolin Temple & Kung Fu (Henan)
19. Shennongjia (Hubei)
20. Mt Wudang & Taoism (Hubei)
21. Fenghuang Ancient Town (Hunan)
22. Zhangjiajie (Hunan)
23. West Lake (Zhejiang)
24. Mt Wuyi (Fujian)
25. Taroko Gorge & Tribes (Taiwan)
26. Mt Lushan (Jiangxi)
27. Dim Sum (Guangdong & Hong Kong)
28. Kaiping Watchtowers (Guangdong)
9
10
18
35
19
33
20
11
12
13
16 14
17
15
23
21
26
22
24
32
43~47
8
31
27
28
25
29
30
29. Victoria Harbour & Star Ferry (Hong Kong)
30. Yalong & Sanya Bays (Hainan)
31.Yangshuo & the Li River (Guangxi)
32. Huangguoshu Waterfall (Guizhou)
33. Yangtze River Cruise (Chongqing)
34. The Terracotta Warriors (Shaanxi)
35. Mt Huashan (Shaanxi)
36. The Silk Road (Gansu & Xinjiang)
37. Labrang Monastery (Gansu)
38. Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang (Gansu)
39. Leshan Big Buddha (Sichuan)
40. Jiuzhaigou National Park (Sichuan)
41. Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Sichuan)
42. Hot Pot (Sichuan & Chongqing)
43. Yuanyang Rice Terraces (Yunnan)
44. Tiger Leaping Gorge (Yunnan)
45. Lugu Lake (Sichuan & Yunnan)
46. Kawa Karpo (Yunnan)
47. Yunnan’s Ethnic Minorities (Yunnan)
48. Qinghai-Tibet Railway (Qinghai & Tibet)
49. Kashgar (Xinjiang)
50. Potala Palace (Tibet)
5
The Forbidden City (Beijing) Not just for emperors and sniveling eunuchs anymore, the Forbidden
City was in its heyday a monstrous palace with a hamlet of servants and concubines. Today its beauty,
regality and sheer size, along with its mythological history and unyielding architectural magnificence,
continue to knock the socks off anyone who steps inside.
China’s Top 50
6
Peking Duck (Beijing) There are variations of it all over the world from New York to New Delhi,
but the original recipe started in Beijing. The first origins of this dish appeared in the emperor’s
kitchen during the Yuan Dynasty 800 years ago. It was so good that it was reserved only for the
emperor himself, but over time the secret was slowly released to the masses and Peking Duck eventually
rose to international fame. After you roll the succulent duck meat into a pancake and add a little sweet bean
sauce, scallions, cucumbers and sometimes sugar into the mix, take a bite and enjoy a mouthful of history.
0005
Table of Contents
China’s Top 50 ������������� 2
How to Use this Book
������������������������������������ 28
Overview��������������������� 34
Anhui������������������������ 111
Hefei���������������������� 114
Huang Shan����������� 120
Jiuhua Shan����������� 128
Ancient Huizhou
Villages������������������ 132
Beijng������������������������ 138
The Great Wall������� 192
Chongqing ��������������� 204
Fujian������������������������ 235
Fuzhou������������������� 239
Putian��������������������� 247
Quanzhou�������������� 249
Wuyi Shan������������� 254
Xiamen������������������� 260
Taining������������������� 271
Gansu����������������������� 274
Lanzhou����������������� 277
Xiahe���������������������� 282
Wuwei�������������������� 288
Jiayu Guan������������� 291
Dunhuang�������������� 294
Tianshui����������������� 298
Zhangye����������������� 300
Guangdong�������������� 302
Guangzhou������������ 308
Shenzhen��������������� 328
Foshan������������������� 336
Kaiping������������������� 341
Zhaoqing���������������� 344
Dongguan�������������� 348
Guangxi�������������������� 357
Guilin���������������������� 361
Kaifeng������������������� 517
Yangshuo��������������� 369
Anyang������������������� 522
Nanning����������������� 374 Hong kong���������������� 525
Beihai��������������������� 380
Hubei������������������������� 574
Chongzuo�������������� 384
Wuhan������������������� 578
Liuzhou������������������ 387
Jingzhou���������������� 592
Guizhou�������������������� 390
Yichang������������������ 596
Guiyang����������������� 394
Shennongjia����������� 601
Anshun������������������� 402
Wudang Shan�������� 604
Qiandongnan��������� 408
Enshi���������������������� 610
Zhenyuan��������������� 414
Hunan����������������������� 613
Qiannan����������������� 417
Changsha�������������� 616
Qianxinan��������������� 421
Shaoshan��������������� 622
Zunyi���������������������� 424
Heng Shan������������� 633
Hainan����������������������� 428
Zhangjiajie������������� 635
Haikou�������������������� 431
Fenghuang������������� 640
Wuzhi Shan����������� 436
Dehang������������������ 644
Sanya��������������������� 438
Inner Mongolia��������� 646
Bo'ao���������������������� 443
Hohhot������������������� 649
Hebei������������������������� 444
Baotou������������������� 655
Shijiazhuang���������� 447
Bayanhot���������������� 659
Zhengding�������������� 454
Hulunbuir��������������� 660
Chengde���������������� 458
Hailar �������������������� 661
Shanhai Guan�������� 465
Shiwei�������������������� 664
Jimingyi������������������ 469
Manzhouli�������������� 664
Beidaihe����������������� 472
Jiangsu��������������������� 666
Heilongjiang������������� 474
Nanjing������������������� 670
Harbin�������������������� 477
Suzhou������������������� 681
Mudanjiang������������ 489
Wuxi����������������������� 693
Wudalian Chi��������� 492
Yangzhou��������������� 700
Henan������������������������ 496
Zhenjiang��������������� 706
Zhengzhou������������� 499 Jiangxi���������������������� 710
Nanjie Cun������������� 504
Nanchang�������������� 713
Dengfeng��������������� 505
Jiujiang������������������� 720
Song Shan������������� 508
Lu Shan����������������� 724
Shaolin Si��������������� 510
Wuyuan������������������ 728
Luoyang����������������� 512
Ganzhou���������������� 732
Sanqing Shan�������� 736
Jingdezhen������������ 738
Jilin��������������������������� 741
Changchun������������ 744
Yanbian������������������ 749
Yanji����������������������� 750
Ji'an����������������������� 753
Changbai Shan������ 757
Liaoning�������������������� 761
Shenyang��������������� 764
Dalian��������������������� 776
Dandong���������������� 785
Xingcheng�������������� 790
Macau����������������������� 793
Ningxia���������������������� 809
Yinchuan���������������� 812
Zhongwei��������������� 817
Wuzhong���������������� 819
Qinghai��������������������� 821
Xining��������������������� 824
Repkong ��������������� 831
Guide��������������������� 835
Jyekundo �������������� 835
Shaanxi��������������������� 837
Xi'an����������������������� 841
Hua Shan��������������� 860
Hancheng�������������� 863
Yan'an�������������������� 865
Mizhi���������������������� 869
Weihai�������������������� 908
Kashgar �������������� 1127
Weifang������������������ 913
The Silk Road������ 1133
Zibo������������������������ 917 Yunnan�������������������� 1141
Shanghai������������������ 921
Kunming��������������� 1147
Dali����������������������� 1165
Shanxi����������������������� 969
Lijiang������������������ 1180
Taiyuan������������������ 972
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Pingyao������������������ 976
����������������������������� 1194
Qikou��������������������� 984
Shangri-La ���������� 1200
Wutai Shan������������ 985
Baoshan��������������� 1213
Datong������������������� 988
Tengchong����������� 1214
Sichuan��������������������� 992
Ruili���������������������� 1217
Chengdu���������������� 995
Xishuangbanna���� 1219
Emei Shan����������� 1011
Jinghong�������������� 1221
Leshan Big Buddha
Zhejiang������������������ 1227
����������������������������� 1014
Hangzhou������������ 1230
Langzhong����������� 1017
Shaoxing�������������� 1250
Jiuzhaigou������������ 1030
Wuzhen ��������������� 1252
Songpan�������������� 1034
Wuyi��������������������� 1255
Zigong������������������ 1036
Ningbo����������������� 1256
Yading������������������ 1038
Yiwu��������������������� 1262
Taiwan��������������������� 1040
Sample Itineraries�� 1264
Taipei ������������������ 1045
Hualien ���������������� 1057 Hot Topics��������������� 1284
Taitung ���������������� 1059 Mandarin Phrasebook
Kenting �������������� 1061 ������������������������������������������1324
Ali Shan��������������� 1064
Glossary����������������� 1333
Kaohsiung ���������� 1068
Tainan������������������ 1072 Travel Resources��� 1335
Taichung ������������� 1074 Index����������������������� 1342
Kinmen ���������������� 1079
Tour de Taiwan����� 1080
Shandong����������������� 870
Ji'nan��������������������� 875 Tianjin��������������������� 1084
Tai'an���������������������� 882
Tibet������������������������ 1097
Tai Shan����������������� 883
Qufu����������������������� 889 Xinjiang������������������� 1111
Ürümqi..................1115
Qingdao����������������� 893
Turpan������������������ 1122
Yantai��������������������� 903
Overview
The History of China
T
he popular shorthand for capturing
China’s epic scale is “a nation of one
billion people.” In reality, the population
currently stands near 1.4 billion. Though this
may seem like a pendantic distinction, it’s
important to remember that rounding down
to 1 billion ignores 400 million people, a
number larger than the entire US population.
China’s huge population is only matched by
its history, which is proudly proclaimed by
the locals to encompass over 5,000 years.
Some dispute this length, however, arguing
that the earliest archaeological evidence of
China’s first dynasty dates back 4,000 years.
While these discrepancies again my seem
minor, consider that this duration of 1,000
years is a period more than four times the
length of the entire hsitory of the United
States.
Despite certain historical disagreements,
Chinese civilization is undoubtedly one of the
oldest, and its written language, architecture,
and beliefs are some of the most enduring in
the world. Chinese characters have outlived
many of its ancient contemporaries, like
Egyptian hieroglyphics and Sanskrit, while
the ancient philosophies of Taoism and
Confucianism continue to hold sway with
many around the world today.
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0034
The Dynastic Cycle
W
hile we may recount the history
of China as if the country were a
continuous entity, it’s important to consider
that the story of China’s past is not one of a
consistent centralized state ruling over one
unified people. On the contrary, the story of
the territories that we now call “China” is
one of constant conflict and invasion, with
periods of harmony and growth punctuated
by bitter discord and dissolution.
To truly understand Chinese history, it’s vital
to tackle the concept of a dynasty. A dynasty
is a succession of kings or emperors from the
same family line, and it’s the fundamental
unit of most of Chinese history. Truth be told,
one of the most constant themes in historical
eras (inside China and outside) is that they
rise and fall in somewhat predictable cycles.
The cycle begins when a period of disorder
creates an opening for new leadership, and
a new dynasty is established by force. The
newly-installed and energetic rulers go on
to create a thriving, stable state that may
expand or simply hold its territory, and the
population often experiences strong growth.
When these golden years begin to wane,
Anhuī
安徽
Capital: Hefei
Divisions: 17 prefectures, 105 counties, 1,845 townships
Area: 139,600 sq km (53,900 sq mi)
Population: 59,500,510
Ethnic composition: Han – 99%; Hui – 0.6%; others – 0.4%
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Mount Huangshan (1990) (pg 120 )
Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun (2000) (pg 133)
Avg High
Avg Low
Avg Precipitation
°C / °F TEMP
RAINFALL mm / inch
37.8 / 100
254 / 10
32.2 / 90
228.6 / 9
26.7 / 80
203.2 / 8
21.1 / 70
177.8 / 7
15.6 / 60
152.4 / 6
127 / 5
4.4 / 40
101.6 / 4
-1.1 / 30
76.2 / 3
-6.7 / 20
50.8 / 2
-12.2 / 10
25.4 / 1
-17.8 / 0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Hefei Average Temperature & Precipitation
Oct
Nov
Dec
0
Anhui
10 / 50
0111
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0236
Getting In & Out
By Plane
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (Zhèngzhōu Xīnzhèng Guójì Jīchǎng; 郑州新郑
国际机场 ; IATA code: CGO) is located 37 km (23 mi) southeast of Zhengzhou. A taxi from the
railway station to the airport costs about ¥100 and takes 50 minutes.
Departure – Arrival
Frequency
Duration
Price
Beijing – Zhengzhou
4 flights daily
1 hr 30 min
¥760
Shanghai – Zhengzhou
13 flights daily
1 hr 50 min
¥800
Guangzhou – Zhengzhou
8 flights daily
2 hr 10 min
¥1,350
Chongqing – Zhengzhou
7 flights daily
1 hr 30 min
¥880
Chengdu – Zhengzhou
7 flights daily
1 hr 40 min
¥950
Hangzhou – Zhengzhou
7 flights daily
1 hr 40 min
¥840
Nanjing – Zhengzhou
1 flight daily
1 hr 10 min
¥690
Note: Prices listed above are full prices, but subject to an additional airport construction fee of ¥50 plus
a fuel tax of ¥120. However, you can get 10-50% discount if you book the ticket at least one day early.
By Train
Zhengzhou has two railway stations, Zhengzhou Railway Station (Zhèngzhōu Huǒchēzhàn; 郑
州火车站 ) and Zhengzhou East Railway Station (Zhèngzhōu Dōngzhàn; 郑州东站 ).
Train number
From – To
Henan
Departing –
Duration
Price
Arriving
G89
Beijing West – Zhengzhou East 13:30 – 16:00
02 hr 30 min
¥309
Note: There are 60 bullet trains from Beijing West to Zhengzhou (or Zhengzhou East) daily.
G531
Shijiazhuang – Zhengzhou East
09:15-11:12
01 hr 57 min
¥189.5
Note: There are 45 bullet trains from Shijiazhuang to Zhengzhou East daily.
D286/D287 Shanghai Hongqiao – Zhengzhou 07:25 – 14:29
07 hr 04 min
¥236.5
Note: There are 6 bullet and 12 regular trains from Shanghai (or Shanghai Hongqiao) to Zhengzhou daily.
D272/D273
Nanjing South – Zhengzhou
08:59 – 13:58
04 hr 59 min
¥204
Note: There are 5 bullet and 15 regular trains from Nanjing (or Nanjing South) to Zhengzhou daily.
D272/D273
Hangzhou East – Zhengzhou
07:25 – 13:58
06 hr 33 min
¥233.5
Note: There are 7 more regular trains from Hangzhou to Zhengzhou daily, taking 13-19 hours.
G518
Wuhan – Zhengzhou East
13:00 – 14:53
01 hr 53 min
¥244
Note: There are 65 bullet trains from Wuhan (or Hankou Wuhan) to Zhengzhou East daily.
G502
Changsha South – Zhengzhou
07:30 – 10:58
03 hr 28 min
¥393.5
East
Note: There are 50 bullet trains from Changsha South to Zhengzhou East daily.
G2002
Xi’an North– Zhengzhou
07:45 – 09:56
02 hr 11 min
¥229
Note: There are 50 bullet trains from Xi’an North to Zhengzhou (or Zhengzhou East) daily.
G94
Guangzhou South – Zhengzhou 08:00 – 13:28
05 hr 28 min
¥653
East
Note: There are 12 bullet and 20 regular trains from Guangzhou (or Guangzhou South) to Zhengzhou (or
Zhengzhou East) daily.
G74
Shenzhen North – Zhengzhou
08:45 – 15:57
07 hr 12 min
¥727.5
East
Note: There are 4 bullet and 3 regular trains from Shenzhen (or Shenzhen North) to Zhengzhou (or
Zhengzhou East) daily.
L7958
Luoyang – Zhengzhou
06:20 – 08:26
02 hr 06 min
¥17.5
Note: There are 62 regular trains from Luoyang (or Luoyang Longmen) to Zhengzhou daily.
0503
I
Luòyáng 洛阳
n its prime one of the greatest cities in the world, Luoyang once rivalled
the grandeur of ancient Rome. Starting with the Eastern Han (30 –
220 CE), the city was the capital of 13 dynasties and was at one point
embellished with more than 1,000 Buddhist temples along the glowing Luo
River. Truly an imperial citadel, the city boasted some of the mightiest city
walls in all of Chinese history, products of the Tang and Sui Dynasties, both
of which held capitals in old Luoyang.
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0512
It’s difficult to square the Luoyang of today – marked like any “average"
Chinese city by block apartment buildings, mass construction projects, smog
and shopping plazas – with that of the past. You may need to come here with a
fair scoop of imagination.
But there is enough of historic Luoyang left to warrant a few days here at
least. The star of this ancient past is the Longmen Grottoes, some of the most
incredible preserved Buddhist cave art in the world and a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Luoyang Old Town in the east holds its share of wonder as well,
and the annual Peony Festival (Mǔdān Jiē; 牡丹节 ) in April welcomes spring in
with style.
Attractions
Luoyang Museum
food stands around Old Town serving up
yummy snacks, and if you head down Xidajie
from the gate you can find a good antique
market (Wénbóchéng Gǔwán Zìhuà Jiāoliú
Zhōngxīn; 文博城古玩字画交流中心 ; 8 Xidajie)
on the left.
Chinese name: 洛阳博物馆 (Luòyáng Bówùguǎn)
Wangcheng Park
Admission: FREE
Chinese name: 王城公园 (Wángchéng Gōngyuán)
Hours: 9:00-17:00; closed Mon
Website: www.lymuseum.com (in Chinese)
Address: 298 Zhongzhou Zhonglu ( 中州中路 298 号 )
Transport: Bus – 77, get off at Luoyang Bowuguan Stop
Admission: ¥10
Hours: 8:00–20:30
Address: 312 Zhongzhou Zhonglu ( 中州中路 312 号 )
Transport: Bus – 9, 10, 11, 15, 19, 32/k32, 32, 40, 50, 59, 101, 102,
103 get off at Wangcheng Gongyuan Stop
For better or worse, one of the best places
in town to get that old Luoyang vibe is this
museum that stands proudly up to par with
Beijing’s best. Besides the oddly placed
tribute to Mao, the museum is stocked with
endless displays of some incredible pieces,
including exquisite sancai (three color)
porcelain from the Tang Dynasty, as well as
pottery, bronzeware and other relics from the
city’s millenium-long dynastic life.
This pleasant garden, centrally located in
downtown, is where the Peony Festival is
held every April.
Old Town (Lǎochéngqū; 老城区 )
Transport: Bus – 53, 60 or 81, get off at Longmen Shiku Stop
Chinese name: 龙门石窟 (Lóngmén Shíkū)
Admission: ¥120
Hours: 7:00-18:30 (Mar-Oct); 7:30-17:30 (Nov-Feb)
Website: www.longmenshiku.org (in Chinese)
Address: 13 Longmen Zhongjie ( 龙门中街 13 号 )
The astounding UNESCO World Heritage
Site of the Longmen Grottoes showcases
some of China’s precious few surviving
Buddhist caves and rock carvings. Chiseling
started sometime around the end of the 5th
century and continued over 200 years to
produce more than 100,000 Buddhas and other
religious figures along a 1 km (0.6 mi) stretch
of limestone cliffs on the Yi River. Sadly,
much of this utterly stunning masterpiece has
been crudely ravaged, a victim of shameless
collectors and Red Guards. Many sculptures
remain headless, their tops in museums around
the world. Ironically, the CCP, who is making 0513
quite the noise for their return, is the party
Henan
Right next to the Lijing Gate (Lìjīng Mén;
丽 景 门 ; ¥30) and nestled in between the
tributaries of the Luo River (Luòhé; 漯 河 )
in the eastern part of the city, Old Town is
a sedate place of graceful courtyards and
narrow alleys. You can enter the Drum
Tower (Gǔ Lóu; 鼓 楼 ) that was erected in
1614 for just a few RMB, and the unique
square-shaped, 700-year-old Wenfeng
Pagoda (Wénfēng Tǎ; 文 峰 塔 ) is also worth
a peek. There are numerous shops and street
Longmen Grottoes
Sleeping
Budget
Luoyang Yijia International Youth Hostel
(Luòyáng Yìjiā Guójì Qīngnián Lǚshè; 洛阳
易家国际青年旅舍 )
Clean and simple is the motto at this hostel.
There are five kinds of rooms available:
private twin rooms, double rooms, triple
rooms, family rooms, and dorms with a
shared bathroom. All the rooms have AC, and
private rooms have their own TV and private
bathrooms. Dorm ¥40, private twin ¥180.
Address: 329 Zhongzhou Donglu ( 廛 河 区 中 州
东路 329 号 )
Phone: (0379) 6351 2311
Email: [email protected]
Luoyang Jujia Hostel (Luòyáng Jūjiā
Lǚguǎn; 洛阳居家旅馆 )
More of a home-stay than a hostel, Luoyang
Jujia is located in a great local neighborhood,
and the rooms have a shared bathroom with
hot water. There’s also a kitchen, washing
machine and café onsite, and the owner and
his family are very personable and can pick
you up from the train station. Give them a
call to arrange your stay and pick up. Twin
rooms from ¥70.
Address: South end of Zhengzhou Lu, Jianxi
District ( 涧西区郑州路南头 )
Phone: (0379) 6286 1009; 158 3790 6577
Email: [email protected]
Mid-range
Luoyang Xiaolangdi Hotel (Luòyáng
Xiǎolàngdǐ Bīn’guǎn; 洛阳小浪底宾馆 )
This three star hotel has free internet, and
you’ll also find a business center, gift shop,
ticket office, gym and Chinese restaurant.
Doubles start at ¥380 but are often discounted
to ¥218. Breakfast runs for ¥15.
Address: 160 Nanchang Lu, Jianxi District ( 南
昌路 160 号 )
Phone: (0379) 6494 6178; 6494 6688
Enjoy the large rooms and free internet at
this three-star, and don’t forget that they have
a ping pong table, gym, massage parlor, and
Address: 168 Huangmei Lu, Xigong District ( 西
工区黄梅路 168 号 )
Phone: (0379) 6348 5088
Splurge
Lee Royal Hotel Mudu (Luòyáng Mùdū
Lìháo Guójì Fàndiàn; 洛阳钼都利豪国际饭店 )
The nicest accommodation option in all of
Luoyang at the time of research, this fivestar hotel with spacious rooms, free internet,
business center, work out facilities, tennis
courts and an indoor swimming pool is, as
you can see, extremely comfortable, but
only if you’re ready to splurge. They have
a Chinese and Western restaurant, and the
café and bar is a nice addition. Rooms start at
¥643.
Address: 239 Kaiyuan Dadao ( 洛龙区开元大道
239 号 )
Phone: (0379) 6597 9999
Email: [email protected]
Luoyang Dongshan Hotel (Luòyáng
Dōngshān Bīn’guǎn; 洛阳东山宾馆 )
Similar to the Lee Royal, this fancy hotel
has everything from free internet and a gym
to massages and a pool. They also serve up
Western and Chinese food and have real
coffee. Rooms start at ¥554.
Address: Dongshan, Luolong District ( 洛龙区东山 )
Phone: (0379) 6468 6000
Eating
The Luoyang Water Feast (Shuǐ Xí; 水 席 )
proclaims itself as the Top Banquet Under
Heaven and rivals the renowned Dumpling
Banquet (Jiǎozi Yàn; 饺 子 宴 ) in Xi’an. It
originates from the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907)
and has a long history of over 1,000 years.
The 24 dishes accompanied by different
soups consist of a combination of meat and
vegetables served according to a very strict
order that is designed to delight your taste
buds through a perfect harmony of flavors
(sour, sweet, salty and hot).
Henan
Luoyang Shendu Hotel (Luòyáng Shéndū
Dàshà; 洛阳神都大厦 )
tasty Chinese restaurant. Doubles start at ¥480
but are often discounted to ¥228, including
breakfast.
Old Town Snack Street (Lǎochéng
Xiǎochī Jiē; 老城小吃街 )
0515
Mid-range
Marvel Hotel (Shànghǎi Shāngyuè
Qīngniánhuì Dàjiǔdiàn; 上海商悦青年会大酒店 )
PANDA PICK
One of the more expensive, mid-range options
in Puxi, Marvel offers a historic yet classy
vibe, central location next to People’s Square,
a refurbished interior with modern appliances
and cozy bedding. In our humble opinion,
Marvel is the best bang for your buck around.
Rooms start at ¥498.
Address: 123 Xizang South Rd ( 西 藏 南 路 123
号)
Phone: (021) 3305 9999
Website: www.marvel-hotel.com
Pacific Hotel (Jīnmén Dàjiǔdiàn; 金门大酒店 )
Located inside a clock-tower building
that was originally built in 1926, Pacific’s
interior has been re-done with marble floors,
attractive paintings, burgundy carpets and
wooden furniture. Request a room facing
People’s Park; they have the best view and
are a little more spacious. Rooms start at
¥368.
Address: 108 Nanjing West Rd ( 南京西路 108 号 )
Phone: (021) 6327 6226; 5352 9898
Website: www.pacifichotelshanghai.cn
Splurge
The Peninsula (Shànghǎi Bàndǎo
Jiǔdiàn; 上海半岛酒店 )
www.pandaguides.com
This wonderful five-star luxury hotel is
on the northern side of the Bund. Many of
the rooms have an outstanding view of the
Huangpu River while others face the Bund
promenade. As with all other Peninsula
chains across the world, your room will be
fitted with fine luxuries along with astute
service and a classy vibe. The lobby bar is
also tremendous. Rooms start at ¥798.
Address: 32 Zhongshan East 1st Rd ( 中山东一
路 32 号 )
Phone: (021) 2327 2888
Waldorf Astoria (Huá’ěrdàofū Jiǔdiàn; 华
尔道夫酒店 )
On the Bund at the former Shanghai Club (est
1910) is where the renowned Waldorf Astoria
opened one of the city’s newest ultra-modern
hotels in 2010. The 20 premium suites are
0942 located in the original Shanghai Club and some
have an unprecedented view of Pudong, while
the remaining rooms are located behind in a
contemporary tower. All the rooms are equipped
with the latest technology, and the TVs in the
mirrors prove it. Rooms start at ¥1,510.
Address: 2 Zhongshan East 1st Rd ( 中山东一路
2号)
Phone: (021) 6322 9988
Website: www.waldorfastoriashanghai.com
(English available)
Jing’an District
& Nanjing Road
Budget
Le Tour Traveler’s Rest Youth Hostel (Lètú
Guójì Qīngnián Lǚshè; 乐途国际青年旅舍 )
10% OFF
You’ll find this Hostelling International
associate in the heart of Jing’an. The place is
bright and attracts a crowd of international
and local tourists. Lots of bars and
restaurants surround it, so you’ll never be
hungry or thirsty here, and its location deep
in a winding lane means you won’t hear too
much noise while you’re trying to sleep off
that hangover.
Address: 36, Lane 319, Jiaozhou Rd, near
Wuding Rd ( 胶州路 319 弄 36 号 )
Phone: (021) 6267 1912
Website: www.letourshanghai.com
Email: [email protected]
Mingtown Nanjing Road Youth Hostel
(Míngtáng Nánjīnglù Qīngnián Lǚshè; 明
堂南京路青年旅舍 )
Another hostel just a block north of the
Nanjing East Road pedestrian street and a
few blocks from the Bund, this one is set in a
bit of an industrial supply neighborhood but
is still very close to the metro and surrounded
by tons of good little restaurants.
Address: 258 Tianjin Rd, near Shanxi South Rd
( 天津路 258 号 )
Phone: (021) 6322 0939
Mid-range
Holiday Inn Downtown (Shànghǎi
Guǎngchǎng Chángchéng Jiàrì Jiǔdiàn
上海广场长城假日酒店 )
This four-star Holiday Inn is conveniently
menu but overcharges considering their lack of
atmosphere. If only Turkish will do, then check
it out. Otherwise head upstairs to 1001 Nights.
Address: 4-7 Hengshan Rd, near Wulumuqi Rd (
衡山路 4-7 号 , 近乌鲁木齐路 )
Phone: (021) 5465 0977
$$$ Bali Laguna (Bālí Dǎo; 巴厘岛 )
For Indonesian food in a beautiful environment,
Bali Laguna cannot be beat. Set in a wooden
mansion overlooking the lake in Jing’an Park,
the view from here is amazing both inside and
from the candlelit seats outside around the lake.
Address: 189 Huashan Rd, inside Jing’an Park,
near Yanan Rd ( 华山路 189 号 , 静安公园内 , 近
延安路 )
Phone: (021) 6248 6970
$$ Coconut Paradise (Yēxiāng Tiāntáng;
椰香天堂 )
An old candlelit mansion with a beautiful
garden patio that serves some of the best Thai
cuisine in the city, it’s perfect for a group
dinner or a romantic date.
Address: 38 Fumin Rd, near Yan’an Middle Rd
( 富民路 38 号 , 近延安中路 )
Phone: (021) 6248 1998
$ Ganesha (Kānǎixiāng; 咖乃芗 )
These guys might lack Vedas’s atmosphere,
but the food is tasty and a lot cheaper than
most Indian restaurants.
Address: 2/F, 458 Jiangsu Rd, near Xuanhua Rd
( 江苏路 458 号 2 楼 , 近宣化路 )
Phone: (021) 3250 6100
$$$ Gintei (Yíntíng; 银亭 )
¥10 OFF (buffet)
One of the better all-you-can-eat Teppanyaki
places in the city. With a big group you can
book a table around the grill; otherwise,
smaller tables are available.
www.pandaguides.com
0950
Address: 75 Nanhui Rd, near Beijing West Rd
( 南汇路 75 号 , 近北京西路 )
Phone: (021) 6218 1932
$$$ Sushi Abuse
This delicious (but expensive) sushi venue
only serves “sustainable sushi.” Sushi Abuse
has an open layout and a highly designed
atmosphere.
Address: 2/F, 98 Yanping Rd, near Xinzha Rd
( 延平路 98 号 2 楼 , 近新闸路 )
Phone: (021) 5175 9818
$$ Munchies
See anything significant about their phone
number? If you do, that should give you
an idea of the type of food here. It’s tasty,
especially when you really just want to stuff
your face.
Address: 974 Wuding Rd, near Jiaozhou Rd ( 武
定路 974 号 , 近胶州路 )
Phone: (021) 6218 4616; 400 800 8420
Website: www.munchies.cn
$$ New York Steak and Burger
A small two-story restaurant in Tianzifang,
where the steaks are pricey (but good) and
the burgers are some of the best in town.
(Note: don’t be surprised if you see an
extra charge on your bill for the Tianzifang
Restoration Fund.)
Address: 22, 155 Jian Guo Middle Rd, near
Ruijin Er Rd, Tianzifang ( 田 子 坊 建 国 中 路 155
弄 22 号 , 近瑞金二路 )
Phone: (021) 6473 6070
$$ Latina
10% OFF
For Brazilian churrasco with unlimited meats
served from a sword to your plate, Latina is a
classy choice, perhaps due in part to its location in
Xintiandi.
Address: Unit 101-102, Bldg 5, South Block
Plaza, Xintiandi, Lane 123, Xingye Rd, near
Madang Rd ( 新天地南里广场 5 号楼 101-102, 兴
业路 123 弄 , 近马当路 )
Phone: (021) 6320 3566
$ Sarnies
By far the city’s best deal on sandwiches,
Sarnies has three outlets that cover a wide
swathe of downtown. They’re less of a
restaurant than a service window; swing by and
pick up a menu for delivery.
Address: 123 Nanyang Rd, near Xikang Rd ( 南
阳路 123 号 , 近西康路 )
Phone: (021) 6289 2550; 6217 5223
$$ Pure & Whole
One FREE dessert (over ¥200 & dinner only)
This quiet vegetarian spot doesn’t go for the
fake-meat menu. Instead, they serve balanced
dishes with comprehensive nutritional data.
Great if you’re watching your figure…not as
great for watching your budget.
Address: Suite 104, Shanghai Centre, 1376
Nanjing West Rd, near Xikang Rd ( 南京西路 1376
stock. Another option is to do a home-stay
with local Tibetan and Qiang families. For
home-stays, contact the visitor’s center or ask
your hotel or hostel for more info.
Fees/Permits
The Jiuzhaigou Administration Center
contains the ticket office. Standard tickets
go for ¥220, but the disabled, seniors 60 to
70 years of age, and students get a discount
price of ¥170. Children under 1.3 m (4.2 ft)
and seniors over 70 get in free. For more
info, visit the website: www.jiuzhai.com/
language/english
Low season tickets are ¥80 (Nov 16 – Mar
31). Keep in mind that during the low season
many of the wooden trails and sections of the
park are closed, making it impossible to hike.
You can easily cover all the accessible areas
in less than one day during the low season
as most of the walking trails are closed, and
you will need to take the bus to get around.
During low season, the park ticket office
opens at 8:30 and closes at 16:00, and the
park itself closes at 18:00.
Inside the park
There are a lifetime’s worth of true natural
wonders to visit in this spectacular, worldrenowned park. Some of the most famous
sites include: Panda Lake (Xióngmāo Hǎi;
熊 猫 海 ), Tiger Lake (Lǎohǔ Hǎi; 老 虎 海 ),
Sparkling Lake (Huǒhuā Hǎi; 火花海 ), Long
Lake (Cháng Hǎi; 长海 ), Five-Flower Lake
(Wǔhuā Hǎi; 五 花 海 ), Five Colored Pool
(Wǔcǎi Chí; 五彩池 ), Bonsai Shoals (Pénjǐng
Tān; 盆景滩 ), Huanglong Valley (Huánglóng
Gǔ; 黄龙谷 ), Shuzheng Waterfall (Shùzhèng
Pùbù; 树 正 瀑 布 ), Pearl Shoals Waterfall
(Zhēnzhūtān Pùbù; 珍珠滩瀑布 ) and Nuorilang
Waterfall (Nuòrìlǎng Pùbù; 诺日朗瀑布 ). See
the map for more details.
No cars or bicycles are permitted within the
park, but with the bus pass you can go to all
of the sites within the area. A good plan is to
first take the bus to the head of Rize Valley
(Rìzé Gōu; 日 则 沟 ), then walk back towards
the entrance. It is best to combine walking
with taking the bus, as the park is quite large
and you won’t be able to cover enough ground
purely on foot.
Stay Safe
With heights above 3,100 m (10,170 ft),
altitude sickness is a real concern for many.
Also during the winter months, the park is
A variety of small Tibetan and Qiang ( 羌 )
minority villages also dot the valley, so
travelers can catch a bite of local life along
with stunning scenery. In fact, it’s these
villages that give Jiuzhaigou (which means
Nine Village Valley) its name.
Sichuan
Eco Tourism, which is quite rare in the Middle
Kingdom, is actually thriving in Jiuzhaigou.
Contact the ecotourism program (ecotourism@
jiuzhaigou.com; [email protected];
phone: 0837 773 7070) or go to the visitor’s
center in town for more info. At the visitor’s
center you can book camping tours with
guides and even borrow equipment from their
1031
Uighur Cuisine
Naan (náng; 馕 ).
Due to its unique geography, centered
between East and Central Asia, Uighur
cuisine has developed a special taste that’s
made its way into mainstream Chinese
restaurants across the country. Since most
Uighurs are Muslim, Uighur food follows
halal cooking preparation (no pork), and
sometimes it can be eaten with chopsticks,
your hands or with a fork and knife. Listed
below are some of Xinjiang’s most popular
treats.
Lamb (yángròu; 羊肉 )
For Chinese, the go-to staple is either a bowl
of rice (in the south) or noodles (north). For
Uighurs, it’s a hot, round loaf of seasoned
naan flat bread. It comes in all shapes, sizes
and flavors, but the most common variety
is plain. Others may have an onion zing, a
sweet seasoning or even a zesty punch.
Xinjiang Baked Cakes (kǎonáng; 烤馕 )
Lamb and mutton is without question the
number one favorite in Xinjiang. In the rest
of China, when a dish is said to contain meat
(in a general sense), it typically refers to pork.
In Xinjiang, “meat” refers to lamb or mutton.
However, the most famous preparation of
lamb comes in the form of shish kebabs ( 串
儿 ; chuàn’er) grilled to perfection right on
the street. These lamb skewers are usually
dashed with cumin and chili pepper and are
so tasty they are wildly popular across the
entire country.
Uncommon in China but very popular
throughout the Muslim world, baked
cakes, along with syrupy pastries and other
delicious sweets, are found in artisan shops
throughout the region. They’re much sweeter
than standard Chinese deserts, and believe us
when we say that they’re scrumptious!
Pilaf (shǒuzhuāfàn; 手抓饭 )
Baked Baozi (kǎobāozi; 烤包子 )
A Uighur meat pie similar to Chinese style
stuffed buns, local baked baozi have a
crispier, crunchier, outer bread crust and are
heartier than the ones you’ll find elsewhere
in the Mainland.
Goat Head Stew (qīngdùn yángtóu; 清炖羊头 )
Big Plate Chicken (dàpánjī; 大盘鸡 )
How big is the big plate chicken? Well, it’s
often an entire chicken sizzled in herbs and
spices and accompanied by a few potatoes
for good measure. Once the chicken has been
cooked and the juices are flowing, handpulled noodles are added to the pot to absorb
the succulent flavor. This one is a little spicier 1139
than other traditional Uighur dishes and one
Xinjiang
This delicacy really freaks many travelers
out, but it’s a classic that can be found at
night markets all over the province. Basically,
the severed head of a goat is dipped into
a thick, boiling, seasoned stew and slow
roasted for hours. It’s then served on a plate
with the meat of the cheek sliding right off
the bone and the eyeballs – the best part,
according to the locals – still intact.
An oily, fluffy, colorful rice spotted with
meat (usually mutton) and veggies, this
common Central Asian dish is extremely
popular throughout the Stans, especially in
Uzbekistan, and it’s literally finger-lickin’
good (pilaf is usually eaten with the hands).
Yunnan Minority Festivals
The minority groups of Yunnan have (as you may
have already imagined) have developed a joyous
collection of festivals that are usually characterized
by singing, dancing and blasting fireworks into
the air. Many of the festivals date back hundreds
of years, and if you have the opportunity you’d
better plan your trip to coincide with at least one
of them. Besides the glorious landscapes and food
of Yunnan, minority cultures are some of the best
pieces of the Yunnan pie, and festivals are without
question the best place to sample a slice. Check out
our list of festivals and their places and times to
make sure you get in on the action.
Third Moon Fair
Chinese name: 三月街 (Sānyuè Jiē)
When: 3rd lunar month, days 15 – 21 (late Mar or early Apr)
Where: Western slope of Dali.
Ethnic groups: Bai, Yi, Liso, Zang
of town and marches to the Sacred Fountainhead
Temple (Shèngyuán Sì; 圣源寺 ) in Xizhou ( 喜洲 ;
total distance 20 km or 12.5 mi). After dancing and
singing until the break of dawn, the celebration
moves to Jingui Temple (Jīnguī Sì; 金 圭 寺 ) and
then hits up Majiuyi Temple (Mǎjiǔyì Běnzhǔmiào
马久邑本主庙 ).
Torch Festival
Chinese name: 火把节 (Huǒbǎ Jié)
When: 6th lunar month, day 24 (2014: Jul 21)
Where: Most minority villages; Lijiang and Dali have strong
participation
Ethnic groups: Yi, Bai, Naxi, Lahu, Hani, Lisu, Primi, Blang, Jino
The Third Moon Festival is your best chance
to catch many of Dali’s different ethnic groups
assembled in one place and showcases markets
and traders touting a head-spinning cache of Dali
goods – including horses. Eating, drinking, dancing
and entertainment are all part of the fun, and you
can catch appearances by herb-trading Tibetans,
Yi horse-traders and (if you’re lucky) the rarelyseen Liso from the western mountains. The Bai
also come in great numbers and don their colorful
traditional costumes for dancing and trading
extravaganzas.
Surrounding Three Spirits/Three Temples
Pilgrimage
When: 4th lunar month, days 23 – 25 (usually May)
Where: Dali
Ethnic groups: Bai
The Three Temples Pilgrimage is not as solemn
as it sounds. The party starts from the South Gate
Water Splashing Festival
Yunnan
Chinese name: 绕三灵 (Ràosānlíng)
One of the most dangerously fun festivals in all of
China, the Torch Festival invites locals to put up
ten foot-tall torches around town, break out bags of
highly flammable pine resin powder, and then throw
handfuls of fire at each other. How does this work?
As the madness proceeds into the evening, the tall
torches crumble to smaller handheld pieces. Next,
locals pick them up to use them as personal flames,
over which they throw the pine resin. The result is
a thunderous burst of flame aimed at their target.
It’s all in good fun and usually no one gets hurt, but
it is amazing that they haven’t yet burned the town
down.
Chinese name: 泼水节 (Pōshuǐ Jié)
When: mid April
Ethnic groups: Dai
1145
Sample Itineraries
C
hina’s big... really big! In fact, this mammoth country is so huge
you may have no clue where to begin. If you can’t decide which
destinations you want to check out, take a look at our sample itineraries to
see if any are up your alley. Remember, these are merely samples, meaning
you don’t have to follow them to a tee. Feel free to mix and match and
wander off the trail whenever you fancy. You’re traveling, so zip through
China with a free-spirited attitude and enjoy the best this country has to
offer.
Beijing
北京
Xi’an
Kaifeng
西安
开封
Luoyang
洛阳
Nanjing
南京
Hangzhou
杭州
10-16 days
Imperial Tour
www.pandaguides.com
A
handful of ancient capitals await you on the Imperial Tour. In these
bustling cities and quaint towns, you’ll be swooned by a collection of
ancient palaces, mausoleums, temples and defensive walls, and you can
bet that there are even a few royal gardens thrown in for good measure.
The Imperial Tour fittingly throws in quite a
few heavy hitters. Each of these destinations
was a former dynastic capital, while four
1264 of them compose the Four Great Ancient
Capitals of China. All host audacious and
beautiful royal architecture, temples, gardens
and fantastic views of China through the ages
– the perfect choice for the history buff.
Beijing (2-3 days; pg 138): Get started in the
Provinces
Ānhuī 安徽
Běijīng 北京
Chóngqìng 重庆
Fújiàn 福建
Gānsù 甘肃
Guǎngdōng 广东
Guǎngxī 广西
Guìzhōu 贵州
Hǎinán 海南
Héběi 河北
Hēilóngjiāng 黑龙江
Hénán 河南
Hong Kong
Xiānggǎng 香港
Húběi 湖北
Húnán 湖南
Inner Mongolia
Nèiměnggǔ 内蒙古
Jiāngsū 江苏
Jiāngxī 江西
www.pandaguides.com
1332
Provinces and Cities
Cities
Héféi 合肥 ; Huángshān 黄山 ; Wúhú 芜湖
Fúzhōu 福州 ; Xiàmén 厦门 ; Pútián 莆田 ; Quánzhōu 泉州 ; Tàiníng 泰宁
Lánzhōu 兰州 ; Xiàhé 夏河 ; Wǔwēi 武威 ; Dūnhuáng 敦煌 ; Tiānshuǐ 天水 ;
Zhāngyè 张掖 ; Jiāyùguān 嘉峪关
Guǎngzhōu 广州 ; Dōngguǎn 东莞 ; Zhūhǎi 珠海 ; Shēnzhèn 深圳 ; Fóshān 佛山 ;
Kāipíng 开平 ; Zhàoqìng 肇庆
Nánníng 南 宁 ; Guìlín 桂 林 ; Běihǎi 北 海 ; Bǎisè 百 色 ; Yángshuò 阳 朔 ;
Chóngzuǒ 崇左 ; Liǔzhōu 柳州
Guìyáng 贵阳 ; Ānshùn 安顺 ; Zūnyì 遵义 ; Kǎilǐ 凯里
Hǎikǒu 海口 ; Sānyà 三亚 ;Bó'áo 博鳌
Shíjiāzhuāng 石家庄 ; Chéngdé 承德 ; Zhèngdìng 正定
Hā'ěrbīn 哈尔滨 ( Harbin); Mǔdānjiāng 牡丹江
Zhèngzhōu 郑州 ; Kāifēng 开封 ; Luòyáng 洛阳 ; Dēngfēng 登封 ; Ānyáng 安阳
Wǔhàn 武汉 ; Jīngzhōu 荆州 ; Yíchāng 宜昌 ; Shénnóngjià 神农架 ; Ēnshī 恩施
Chángshā 长 沙 ; Xiāngtán 湘 潭 ; Zhāngjiājiè 张 家 界 ; Sháoshān 韶 山 ;
Fènghuáng 凤凰
Hūhéhàotè 呼 和 浩 特 (Hohhot); Bāotóu 包 头 ; Hūlúnbèi'ěr 呼 伦 贝 尔
(Hulunbuir); È'ěrduōsī 鄂尔多斯 (Ordos); Hǎilā'ěr 海拉尔 (Hailar)
Nánjīng 南京 ; Sūzhōu 苏州 ; Wúxī 无锡 ; Chángzhōu 常州 ; Yángzhōu 扬州
Zhènjiāng 镇江
Nánchāng 南昌 ; Jǐngdézhèn 景德镇 ; Jiǔjiāng 九江 ; Lúshān 庐山 ; Gànzhōu
赣州
Jílín 吉林
Liáoníng 辽宁
Macau
Àomén 澳门
Níngxià 宁夏
Qīnghǎi 青海
Shaanxi
Shǎnxī 陕西
Chángchūn 长春 ; Yánbiān 延边 ; Jí'ān 集安
Shāndōng 山东
Jǐnán 济南 ; Qīngdǎo 青岛 ; Tài'ān 泰安 ; Qūfù 曲阜 ; Wéifāng 潍坊 ; Wēihǎi
威海 ; Yāntái 烟台 ; Zībó 淄博
Shànghǎi 上海
Shānxī 山西
Sìchuān 四川
Tàiyuán 太原 ; Píngyáo 平遥 ; Jìnchéng 晋城 ; Dàtóng 大同
Táiwān 台湾
Tiānjīn 天津
Tibet
Xīzàng 西藏
Xīnjiāng
新疆
Yúnnán 云南
Zhèjiāng 浙江
Shěnyáng 沈阳 ; Dàlián 大连 ; Xìngchéng 兴城
Yínchuān 银川 ; Zhōngwèi 中卫 ; Wúzhōng 吴忠
Xīníng 西宁
Xī'ān 西安 ; Yán'ān 延安 ; Mǐzhī 米脂
Chéngdū 成都 ; Lèshān 乐山 ; Zìgòng 自贡 ; Yíbīn 宜宾 ; Lángzhōng 阆中
Táiběi 台 北 (Taipei); Huālián 花 蓮 (Hualien); Táidōng 台 東 (Taitung);
Kěndīng 墾 丁 (Kenting); Gāoxióng 高 雄 (Kaohsiung); Táinán 台 南 ;
Táizhōng 台中 (Taichung)
Lāsà 拉萨 (Lhasa); Rìkāzé 日喀则 (Shigatse)
Wūlǔmùqí 乌 鲁 木 齐 (Urumqi); Tǔlǔfān 吐 鲁 番 (Turpan); Ākèsū 阿 克 苏
(Aksu); Hétián 和田 (Hotan); Kāshí 喀什 (Kashgar)
Kūnmíng 昆 明 ; Lìjiāng 丽 江 ; Dàlǐ 大 理 ; Xīshuāngbǎnnà 西 双 版 纳 ;
Xiānggélǐlā 香格里拉 (Shangri-La)
Hángzhōu 杭州 ; Níngbō 宁波 ; Shàoxīng 绍兴 ; Wēnzhōu 温州 ; Yìwū 义乌
The Authors
Robert Linnet
Born in Denver, CO, Robert received his B.A. in Linguistics from the nearby
University of Colorado. After growing up admiring ancient Taoist philosophies
and the furious fists of Bruce Lee and Gordon Liu, he came to China in 2009
for a summer stint at a martial arts school and a month of travel. Utterly
smitten with the country and the language, he hurried back in the summer of
2010 and has made it his home ever since. Robert has traveled to more than 15
cities throughout China (the list is ever growing), practices kettlebell and Baji
Chuan kung fu, loves watching the Broncos, and is obsessed with adding to the
thousands of Chinese characters he currently reads and writes. Though he resides in Beijing, he recently
made a trip to his girlfriend Chen Chen’s hometown of Xi’an to marry her. Robert speaks fluent
Mandarin and French and is working on adding Shaanxi Hua (the dialect of Chen Chen’s hometown,
Xi’an) to the list.
Trey Archer
Trey Archer is from Lake Charles, Louisiana and studied International Affairs
at the George Washington University. While backpacking Latin America in
2007, he declared while hitchhiking by boat from Colombia to Panama that he’d
pursue a career in travel writing after graduation instead of entering the world of
diplomacy. Since then he has traveled to more than 80 countries, speaks Spanish,
Portuguese and Mandarin fluently, and has lived in nine different nations. In his
free time he practices muay Thai, cycles and is still obsessed with traveling. Trey
has been in China for six years and has lived all over the country, but now he
resides in the hutongs of Beijing.
Mitchell Blatt
Mitchell grew up in Cleveland, OH and graduated from Indiana University with
a B.A. in journalism. He has written about music, sports, travel and culture. Since
he began studying Chinese, he has become obsessed with Chinese culture and
travel. He has visited over 13 provinces and plans to visit more. In 2013, he moved
to Dali, Yunnan, and launched the travel guide DestinationDali.com. When he's
not writing, he enjoys singing karaoke, doing gan beis with friends and strangers,
attending punk concerts, and getting lost in the alleyways of ancient cities.
Arthur Tanny
Arthur was raised in the clean streets of Savannah Georgia. After graduating with a
Bachelors’ degree in English literature and Philosophy, Arthur found himself with
the ho-hum job of managing a hotel. Tired of watching the world move around him,
he decided to seize the sage advice given to him by an old Art History professor.
Experience is life’s greatest teacher, and what better way to do that then by traveling.
After 6 years in Asia, Arthur has managed to pick up a bit of Korean and reads
enough Chinese to muddle through a newspaper. Nowadays, Arthur stays on the
lookout for a good adventure motivated mostly by his desire to try as many of China’s
delicious dishes as possible.
Grant Dou
Grant was born in Jiangsu Province and spent the first 30 years of his life in China.
After receiving a PhD in Hydraulic Structural Engineering and teaching as a
college professor, he moved to Toronto in 2002 to become a successful writer and
publisher. Since then he has lived and traveled throughout North America, China
and other Asian cities, so much that he often thinks with a western mind and sees
through local eyes. Grant recently moved back to China and currently resides in
Beijing with his lovely wife; though he still experiences bits of reverse culture shock
every once in a while.
Triston Brewer
Born in Dallas, Texas, Triston moved to Europe over ten years ago, working as a
performance artist and writer in several countries. Fluent in German, Spanish, and
Dutch, he has lived in the cities of Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul to name a few. He
has been published in The Huffington Post, Trespass (London), Adaras Magazine
(Miami) as well as featured in publications such as the New York Times, Vogue
Italia, Turkish Huriyet and other on-line and print magazines in the U.S. and
internationally. He recently released his first novel on life abroad. Currently, he
resides in Hong Kong, and is working on his next novel.
Brendan P. O' Reilly
Brendan P. O' Reilly was born and raised in Seattle. He graduated with a bachelor
degree in the combined study of Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics from
Western Washington University in 2008, and then promptly began traveling the
world. After living for a year as a volunteer in Kolkata and a street musician in New
Zealand, Brendan decided to settle down into a career as an educator. He taught
English at Jiujiang University in China for three years.
Since 2012, Brendan has been working for the Hong Kong-based Asia Times.
China's domestic and foreign policy are the main topics of his reporting and
analysis. He has written over three dozen articles for Asia Times. Brendan is conversational and literate in
Mandarin. He lives with his wife and son in the coastal city Xiamen, China, where he continues to work as
a writer and educator.
Richard Trombly
Richard Trombly is an American writer from Western Massachusetts that has been living
in China since 2003 and dividing his time between Beijing and Shanghai. He graduated
from the University of Massachusetts and pursued a career as a journalist and editor and has
written for numerous publications and news sources. During his time in China, Trombly
has traveled to many destinations in China including bicycle touring in several provinces and
hiking trips to some of the remotest places in China. Trombly is also a film maker that has
produced some documentary films about China and other destinations in Asia.
Jefferson Mendoza
Jefferson was born in the Philippines but moved to Montréal, Canada when he was
five years old. He is fluent in English, French and Filipino. He studied broadcast
journalism at Concordia University. After university, he decided to move to Asia
to embark on a new adventure to discover the continent of his ancestors. He first
lived in South Korea, followed by a stint in Japan and now, he has been living in
Guangzhou, China ever since. Jefferson moved to Guangzhou more than two years
ago to discover China at its very best. Jefferson wears many hats: writer, teacher and
a video journalist, producing web videos focusing on the arts and culture through
a western’s perspective. During his free time, Jefferson is seen reading a book or having a coffee break with
his friends.
Natalie Manning
Natalie Manning is from the United Kingdom and has a Bachelors Degree in
French and Spanish. After graduating Natalie became a successful Marketing
and PR Director which inspired her love for creative writing. Natalie’s passion for
languages, travel and the arts has taken her to many European destinations and in
2008 she moved to Hangzhou, China, where for the last five years she has travelled
extensively visiting numerous countries in Asia. Now fluent in Mandarin and with
two young children, Natalie’s continued passion for writing has enabled her to start
a children’s book as well as set up her own communications company.
Emily Umhoefer
Emily Umhoefer is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native who arrived in Beijing two
years ago after a stint as a staffer on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. As a writer,
she’s worked on everything from nonfiction political bestsellers to poems and press
releases and now, this guide. Having worked as a wilderness trip leader in Tanzania,
Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Colorado, Emily loves the outdoors, and on a beautiful
summer day you’ll find her exploring Beijing by bike and joining the old men in
Speedos to take a dip in Houhai.
Ansel Klusmire
Ansel Klusmire grew up in Colorado, Montana and Bishop, California, went to
university in New York, rolled around a bit in Tucson, Arizona, and then moved
to China in a dubious bid to make something of the four years he spent learning
Mandarin in college. He’s lived in Shanghai for two years now and has spent his
time working for odd bosses at strange jobs while continuing to study Chinese
language and culture on his own and at a leisurely pace. He enjoys reading and
writing and would enjoy some time alone in the wilderness if he could find out
where it is.
PANDA GUIDES
The Panda
Ambassadors Program
Do you want an all-inclusive paid trip to China? Of course you do! By following the Panda,
you can win that dream China trip, so keep reading to learn about the incredible Panda
Ambassadors Program.
Once a year we will choose 20 lucky individuals to have the Chinese adventure of a lifetime.
The selection process is simple. All you have to do is buy any Panda Guides travel book
(Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong or China), go to our website to enter the six-digit code found
on the inside of the front cover, then wait to see if your number is selected. All winners will
be announced on our website and contacted through email in April. That’s it!
Each winner gets a free two-week trip to China – transportation, accommodation and meals
will be paid for by Panda Guides Publishing Inc. The only thing you have to do is purchase
your visa, a flight and any extra souvenirs you’ll want during your visit. The total value of
this amazing package is ¥15,000 (roughly US$2,500).
A certified Panda Guides tour guide will bring the selected winners on a journey through a
fascinating part of the country. It could be the ancient Silk Road along China’s great northwest,
a tropical retreat in the southern Canton region, or a river cruise through the Yangtze River. The
journey will change once a year to ensure the scenery stays fresh, but no matter where you end
it up, we guarantee it will be a wonderful trip!
Unfortunately, sometimes the real world gets in the way of our leisure time. But don’t worry,
all winners will have a three-year window to take their trip. If the winner still cannot take
their free trip during this time, they can give it to someone else.
www.pandaguides.com
1360
As you can see, through our Panda Ambassadors Program, Panda Guides is more than just a
guide, it’s an experience. In fact, we want you to enjoy your travel experience so much that
we’re willing to pay for it. So come along and let us welcome you to China, we hope to see you
here soon.
See our website www.pandaguides.com/pandaambassadors for more.
123456
This number only serves as an example. Please
see the inside of the front cover for the actual code.