The Best Information for Preparing a Trip to China !

Since the time of Marco Polo, China has held a mystique that has fascinated travelers from around the world. Today, China is a world-class destination that offers several thousand years of history, brilliant cultural achievements, and spectacular historial sites, all within easy reach from your hotel via a modern infrastructure. A trip to China is unique also because of the experience it offers travelers to visit the home regions and villages of any of China's 56 ethnic minority groups, who are proud of their coloful cultural traditions.

Over the past few years, China has become a traveler-friendly country, wide open to anyone with a curious mind and the spirit of adventure. Today, a full-scale modern travel industry has developed throughout China. First-class hotels are available in all major cities. Most major Western and European hotel chains now have luxury hotels in China-all with familiar Western amenities. There is no need for you to worry about communication anymore, English is widely spoken in all tourist hotels, shops and restaurants.

Visitors are often surprised to find out how modern China really is. Since the early 90's China has been in the middle of a building boom and infrastructure upgrade that has brought its tourism industry up to Western standards almost overnight. The quality of tourist facilities and transportation in large cities compares to those of the United States. All major cities and tourism centers have undergone a total metamorphosis in visitor comfort and transportation facilities. Complaints of poor facilities, service or transportation are a thing of the past.

Today you can tour China with ease and safety, stay in comfortable 4&5-star hotels, try new Chinese delicacies, enjoy familiar Western cuisine, shop in modern designer boutiques, or explore centuries-old markets and shopping arcades. You can tour the countryside in modern motor coaches, relax in 1st class train compartments, or speed to the next destination by jet-all while exploring one of the oldest cultures of the world, and seeing some of the most extraodinary sights anywhere-and there is much to see in this vast country of 1.3 billion people.

Happen to be a travel agent, I took a group of Americans to China in November of 1998, this group was composed of 70 folks from Neberlska, very friendly people, most of them are retired farmers who were most facinated by a visit to the people's commune in the surburb of Shanghai. Our trip includes the city of Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing, Xian, Beijing and three gorges on the Yangtze River, the trip is 14 days including 5 days cruising upstream on the Yangtze River. I still remember a saying from somewhere:"There is no better way to understand a country than sailing on its rivers". All our American folks were facinated by the beautiful sceneries, and surprised by the living standards of the people, and the modern infrastructure built in the past 20 years. One member told me that if he suddenly wakes up in Shanghai, he would most probably think he is in New York. I was very shocked by the feelings they have towards China, and I can imagine what China was in their mind before they started this trip, one guy told me:"Shelley, seeing is believing, our media surely did not give us a true picture, and I can not figure out why they have prejidice towards such a friendly nation, the people are wonderful."

The trip was great, every time when I see all the pictures, it will help me to review the happy times I have spent with those Nebalask folks. The following are the pictures I have put in a album, hope you will enjoy them. I really hope someday I can take you guys there.

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