China Yuntai Mountain

Situated in Xiuwu county, Hennan province, Yuntai Mountain is among the first group of world geology park, and it is the only scenic spots combines many names together in Henan province, like national tourist attraction, national AAAA grade scenic spots, national geology park, national forest park, national water conservancy tourist attraction, national macaque protection zone, national first group natural heritage. Covering an are of 190sqm, the scenic spots is composed of many sightseeing places, such as Tanpu Gorge, Quanpu Gorge, Red Stone Gorge, Zifang Lake, Macaque Valley etc.
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Covered with luxuriant original forest, Yuntai Mountain has several deep valleys and ponds, myriad waterfalls and springs, picturesque perilous cliffs and peaks, which compose the unique scenery of Yuntai Mountain. Yuntai Mountain is famous for its grotesque hill, which extends as far as eyes can see. The main peak, Cornel Peak, is 1308m above the sea level. Standing on the chilly top, with Taihang Mountain to the north, Huaichuan Plain to the south, you can fully understand the lines,
Viewing from the skyscraping cliff, other mountains resemble to dwarf. Yuntai Mountain is famous for its water scenery, with a spring in every 3 steps, a waterfall in every 5 steps, a pond in every 10 steps. Yuntai Waterfall, the highest in the state with the drop in level of 314m, resembles to the skyscraping pillar. Tianmen Waterfall, White Dragon Waterfall, Yellow Dragon Waterfall, Y-shaped Waterfall form the unique scenery of the area. Duokong Spring, Pearl Spring, Yulie Spring, Bright Moon Spring are clean and sweet, making you reluctant to return. The Blue Dragon Gorge named as the first gorge of Central Plain is an ecology attraction for its unique phenomena, rich water resource and original forest.
Yuntai Mountain is the resort of poets. Wangwei, poet of Tang Dynasty, wrote the famous lines on the Cornel Peak,One misses relatives the most in the holiday. Bai Juyi(poet of Tang Dynasty), once wrote a few lines to eulogize the mountain, Moon is dim in cloudy weather, Taihang Mountain is really lofty and splendid.Long since have I heard its steep, only today can I experience it. Tablet inscriptions of famed poets are exhibited here and they add cultural meaning to the mountain.
Yuntai Mountain gains its name from history. Xiandi, Emperor of Han Dynasty, had left the resort terrace and the tomb base here. It had been the secluded place of seven Bamboo Forest Sages of the Wei and the Jin Period. Medicine King, Sun Simiao, once collected Chinese medicine here. Many historical stories are spreading in the area related to some fames once visited here.
Ticket Price:

Season (March 1 -11 30) 120 RMB / person

(December 1 -2 28) 60 yuan / person

Official Website:http://www.yuntaishan.net/waiwen/e04.htm

China Dunhuang

Dunhuang Introduction
Throughout Dunhuang's history over two thousand years, it has always served as a critical gateway to the west, because of its unique geographical location——at the juncture of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang. As a result, throughout the Chinese long history, several emperors have made improvements of these western fortifications. However, Dunhuang was also a regional cultural center. The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Dunhuang Grottoes or the "Thousand Buddha Grottoes", is located on the western cliffs of the Singing Sands Mountains. It is one of the most complete collections of Buddhist frescoes and sculpture from a period range over ten dynasties.
Local Features: Buddhist Grottoes of Dunhuang
The Buddhist Grottoes of Dunhuang at Mogao are a great treasure house of Buddhist art. The art forms of architectures, sculptures and paintings are combined organically into the great expressions of Buddha worship that have begun from the Han Dynasty and continued through the Tang, for more than 1,000 years. After the discovery of approximately 50,000 Buddhist writings and Holy Scriptures at Dunhuang around 1900, Dunhuang gained a great fame for its Buddhist art relics. It was only natural that the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization have listed Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes on its list of the world's cultural legacies worthy of special protection in December of 1987.The mural paintings of Dunhuang are especially famous and focus on presenting images of the Buddha and Buddhist legends, but also include examples of landscape paintings, historic architectures, portraits of the noble patrons, various auspicious animals, plants and other decorations. One of the main themes of the frescoes is the fiction; heavenly maidens painted into the frescoes act as frames on the murals or otherwise decorate the paintings.
Official Website:http://www.dunhuangtour.com/en/index.html

China Earthly paradise Jiuzhaigou

More than just spectacular scenery, Jiuzhai Valley National Park is home to nine local Tibetan villages, over 140 bird species as well as a number of endangered plant and animal species, including the Giant Panda, Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey, the Sichuan Takin and various orchids and rhododendrons. Jiuzhai Valley is locally known as Jiuzhaigou (Chinese for “Nine Village Valley”). It is a national park located in the Min Shan mountain range, Northern Sichuan in South Western China. It is best known for its fabled blue and green lakes, spectacular waterfalls, narrow conic karst land forms and its unique wildlife. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992; the park joined the Man and Biosphere Conservation Network in 1997 and has also received IUCN, Green Globe and ISO 14,001 accreditations. It is China’s premier national park and is located at elevations ranging between 1,990m (6,529 feet) to 4,764m (15,630 feet) above sea level. Located on the edge of the Tibetan Himalayan Plateau in Northern Sichuan Province it is easily accessible from Chengdu International Airport. Jiuzhai Valley provides spectacular scenery throughout the year making it one of China’s premier tourist destinations

Official Website:http://www.jiuzhai.com/language/english/index.html

China Grand View Garden [Shanghai Qingpu]

Located at the lakeside Dianshan in Qingpu in Shanghai, Grand View Garden is a complex in typical architectural style of the Qing Dynasty (1616A.D. ~ 1911A.D.).
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The garden is modeled from the scenes described in "The Red Chamber Dream", one of the greatest Chinese novels. Because the landscapes in the garden and the stories depicted in the book shine mutually, the Grand View Garden quickly, become an attractive scenic spot in Shanghai area in recent years.
The beautiful scenery and sentimental love story depicted in "The Red Chamber Dream" have enchanted readers from generation to generation; people said this love story novel can be repeatedly read and not feel dull.
Visitors who want to walk in to the Grand View Garden in person and image the scenes described in the love story become reality are bound to come here. They can not only find a copy of Grand View Garden near the Dianshan Lake, but also experience the outstanding manner of imperial kinsmen's private gardens in the Qing Dynasty.
In the garden, you can walk the story's main characters homes, the Bamboo Lodge in the bamboo grove in which Lin Daiyu lives, Pleasant Red Court in which Jia Baoyu lives and Alpinia Park in which Xue Baochai lives. Exquisitely constructed pavilions, towers, caves, rocks scenes and pavements scattered through out the garden.
The perfume of osmanthus blossom and plum blossom floats everywhere. Located to the east of Dianshan Lake, the Grand View Garden occupies an area of more than 1300 mu with a total floor space of 8000 square meters. The construction began in 1986 and took 9 years to complete.
The garden has two sections - the East Scenic Spot and the West Scenic Spot. The major landscape in the east section consists of folk custom villa, the plums garden and the garden of sunflowers. The west part is famous for the architectural complex in classic style. Walking in the garden, you may have an illusion that you have returned to the past.
The "Plum Blossom Yard" is the best place in the garden for you to appreciate the plum blossoms. The "Cool Fragrance Pavilion" commands a full view of the junction of the Yangtze River, where the ten-thousand-li blue water is dotted with plentiful white sails.
In addition, you can enjoy the music and the banquet of "Red Chamber", which were made according to the descriptions in the story. You can also have the chance to play a role described in the novel "The Red Chamber Dream".

Accommodation: Grand View Garden adjacent to Shanghai, Shanghai Garden Resort Eun-joo - China Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Shanghai Branch staff training center, located in Qingpu Dianshan Lake River, and provide business services in Shanghai. Transport: bus station to the Western Qingpu; Beixinjing to Qingpu Bus Station; People's Square bus station to the Qingpu

China Shanghai Chenghuang Temple

Shanghai God's Temple, and Yuyuan Garden adjoining, also known as Old Town God's Temple, Shanghai Taoist Taoist temple is one of the main faction. Legend has it that Wing-lok years (15 in the early 1900s) Shanghai county magistrate, Hamamatsu-compliance will be on the Jinshan Temple (also known as Huo Guang Temple line) converted into today we see the Chenghuang Temple. 1926 reconstruction, Zhang Dian-high 4.8, 6.33 Zhang deep, reinforced concrete structure, and Cai Chuan painting-dong, Tsui watts Zhu canopies, the scale of increase. Anti-Japanese War, with the new Chenghuang Temple (site of the intersection of Nanking West Road Lianyun ) with distinction, it said the old Chenghuang Temple.With the back of the old Temple Yuyuan Garden is not only a tour of the attractions, but also a good place for shopping, here are native products and characteristics of commodity markets, and a large-scale variety of shopping malls and point snacks.

Accommodation:

Name: Oriental Hotel

Address: Huangpu District, Shandong Road on the 12th in the evening to enjoy the scenery of the Bund

Name: Wyatt Friends Hotel

Address: 431 Fuzhou Road, Huangpu District, may be the nearest to its Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

Name: Shanghai Yangtze Hotel

Address: No. 740 Hankou Road, close to Nanjing Road and the Bund

China Shanghai Food

Shanghai, being a relatively new city in China, does not really have a cuisine of its own, but successfully refines all the work of the surrounding provinces such as Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Through years of culinary practice and the assimilation of the art in other styles of cuisine, Shanghai chefs have also created a style of cuisine peculiar to the region. Shanghai dishes are usually characterized by the use of heavy and highly flavored sauce.

The use of sugar is another uniquness found in Shanghainese cuisine and, especially when used proportiaonally with soy sauce, the taste created is not so much sweet but rather savory. Household in Shanghai would consume as much soy source as sugar. Visitors are often surprised when the "secret ingredient" was revealed by local Shanghainese.

The following dishes are considered traditional dishes to Shanghai:

Da Zha Xie

Da Zha Xie is a special type of crab found in rivers, and is normally consumed in the winter. The crabs are tied with ropes or strings, placed in bamboo containers, steamed and served. There few other artificial ingredients added to the dish yet it tastes fantastically good. Da Zha Xie is usually consumed with vinegar. Locals are also quite fussy about when to consume male crabs and when to consume female crabs.

Smoked Fish Slices
An ideal menu for those who like highly spiced food. the Smoked Fish Slices (fresh fish marinated and spiced to taste like smoked fish) make a delicious, unusual hors doeuvre, while the strong-tasting Stewed Pork Flavoured with Dried Squid dish is offset by the vegetable rice to make a substantial meal.

Shanghai pepper duck
(half or whole) fresh duck steamed with szechwan peppers, ginger and scallions until tender, lightly fried and served with plum sauce and steamed bread 10.00/19.00

Beggars Chicken
Seasoned chicken wrapped in lotus leaves and baked in a dough pastry.

Red-Cooked Chicken
Red cooking is a popular cooking technique in eastern China.

Pi Dan (Preserved Eggs)
Deep flied duck, then coveredwith braised with the fresh Lotus leaf, together with some meat, shrimp, mushroom, preserved ham.

Xiao Long Bao (Little Dragon Bun)


Unlike the buns in northern China, these buns are very small and easy to swallow. The buns are usually steamed in containers made of banboo. The skin of the buns are very thin and the bun is very juicy. The dish has been popularized and consumed widely throughout China as a Dim Sum.

Chou Dou Fu (Smelly Tofu)


Ones 1st reaction is to hold their nose and eating it would be the last think to enter your mind. The smelly tofu is a popular local food mainly found on Shanghai streets. The tofu is fermented with many ingredients before being fried. Old ladies usually serve them on their little trolleys. Despite its odor, most foreigners love it after tasting it and its dirt cheap too!

Shanghai Featured Restaurants

1221 Restaurant

The décor is modern and stylish and the menu offers a mix of traditional and innovative Shanghainese cuisine that is very tasty. Try the 'la la ji ding' or spicy cold chicken noodles or any other of their fabulous cold appetizers. An unique dish is the stir fried beef with deep fried dough sticks, a mix of crispy and soft textures. Service is friendly and attentive.

Tips:
A. Opening Hours: 11：00-14：00，17：00-23：00
B. Add: 1221 Yanan Xi Road

Mei Long Zhen

Traditional Shanghai food in an authentic Shanghainese restaurant founded back in the 30s. Service with a scowl but very efficient. A good place to try lots of local specialities - shi zi tou (lionhead meatballs) and of course Shanghai dumplings (they even have crabmeat filling!). Prepare to be amazed by the guys who fill your teapot and sit back and enjoy a little old world Chinese style.

Tips:
A. Opening Hours: 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm
B. Add: Lane 1081　22 Nanjing Road

M on The Bund

One of Shanghai's very best. The large terrace offers unparalleled views of Pudong and the Bund. The food has been described as "eclectic European" and has strong Turkish, Lebanese, French and Italian influences. Great care is given to freshness, quality and presentation. There is an excellent selection of wines to complement your meal and the dessert, especially the pavlova is superb. If you can't get a table, enjoy the scene at the very cool bar. Conde Naste magazine considers it one of the best 100 restaurants in the world.

Tips:
A. Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 11.30am-2.30pm, 6.15pm-10.30pm
B. Add: 7/F 20 Guangdong Road

China Shanghai Jinmao Tower

This incredible tower is the tallest building on China's mainland (421m). Its design combines traditional Chinese and gothic architecture.

If you are not afraid of heights, going to the top of the Jinmao Tower is an interesting experience. Viewing from the dizzying heights of the 88th floor in the evening, you will have an illusion that Shanghai is a glittering light ball. On the 87th floor, a bar, the Cloud Nine, gives you the feeling of being in the clouds – sometimes there is no view at all because you're surrounded by them.

The luxurious Grand Hyatt hotel, with 555 rooms, occupies the Jinmao Tower's 53rd to 87th floors. Offices on the lower 52 floors have a capacity for about 10,000 people.

Besides the Grand Hyatt and offices, luxury-brand shops, restaurants and relaxing coffee houses occupy the Jinmao Tower. This superb building represents the new Shanghai: young, vibrant, and inspirational.

Address: No. 88 Century Avenue near Dongtai Road
Tel: 8621-5047-5101 (Both Chinese and English services)
Hours: 8:30am - 9pm
Tickets: 50 yuan
To get there: Metro line 2
Website: http://www.jinmao88.com/en/profile/item/2004_02/772.shtml

China Shanghai Yu Garden

Yu Garden is one of the most famous gardens in China and is national heritage listed. It was built in 1559 and extended in 1577. Each section of the garden is separated by curved white walls crowned with the head and body of a dragon. It's named after the original owner.

Yu Garden is decorated with rocks. One of the rocks is said to have been the property of Emperor Hui Zong (AD1082--AD1135) in the Song Dynasty. Rock buildings, such as the Grand Rockery and the Hall of Mildness, are the sites you shouldn't miss. Beside Yu Garden the Bridge of Nine Turnings zigzagging across an ornamental lake leads to Shanghai's most famous tea house. Bill Clinton, Gerhard Schroeder and the Queen of Great Britain have been guests there.

The famous Nanxiang restaurant is near the entrance of Yu Garden, selling various types of delicious steamed dumplings. The tasty food attracts a swarm of locals and tourists. The Temple of the City God, Shanghai Old Street and Chenxiangge Nunnery are also near Yu Garden and all these sites represent typical Shanghai. Don't miss the shops lining the streets selling handicrafts, teas, silk clothes, calligraphy, jade decorations and china. Picking up one or two pieces as gifts for family, relatives and friends is definitely a good idea – even if at inflated prices.

Address: No. 218, Anren Road
Tel: 8621-6328-2465 (Only Chinese service)
Tickets: 30 yuan; 10 yuan for children under 140cm tall and elderly aged over 70.
Hours: 8am - 5:30pm
To get there: Bus No.11, 66, 126, 926

China Fujian_Tulou

Fujian Tulou is a unique Chinese rammed earth building of the Hakka and other people in the mountainous areas in China's southwestern Fujian province. They are mostly built between the 12th to the 20th centuries. Tulou is usually a large enclosed building, rectangular or circular in configuration, with a very thick weight supporting earth wall (up to 6 feet thick) and wooden skeletons, from three to five storey's high, housing up to 80 families. These earth buildings usually have only one main gate, guarded by 4-5 inch thick wooden doors reinforced with an outer shell of iron plate. The top level of these earth building have gun holes for defense against bandits.
Tianluokeng tulou cluster, which we paid a visit to, is one of the better known Fujian Tulou cluster. The cluster consists of a square earth building at the center of a quincunx, surrounded by four round earth buildings (or more exactly, 3 round earth buildings and one oval shape earth building), figuratively nicknamed "Si cai yi tang" (four dishes with a soup).

China Zhangjiajie

In central China, there is a fascinating scenic area called Zhangjiajie. In today's 'On the Road', our guide Ning Yan will take us there for a visit in China's first national forest park.
Zhangjiajie is located in the northwestern part of Hunan Province, about 265 kilometers to the northwest of Changsha, the provincial capital. Most scenic spots in the area are situated in the northern part of Zhangjiajie city. Spots such as Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, which includes Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzishan mountain range, Baofeng Lake, Suoxi Valley, and the newly opened Yangjiajie Scenic Area. The Tianmen Mountain range, which is just to the south of the city, is also a must-see.
Zhangjiajie is known for its beautiful forests, odd-shaped rock formations, exquisite canyons, limestone caves, and jaw-dropping panoramic views. The entire area is covered with towering cliffs of sandstone and quartz with dense unspoiled forests over limestone caves lying underneath. The hills present different views to visitors with the changes of seasons and the weather.
Tour guide Xiang Zhijun explains.
"Now follow my finger. There are two high Cliffs with a low one in between. It looks like a mother holding her child before her chest. This is the Mother and Child Cliff."
Mother and Child Cliff is a scenic spot in the Golden Wipe Stream area. Stretching some 8 kilometers, the Golden Wipe stream is surrounded by abrupt rare peaks and odd rocks on both sides. Views change as you go along the stream. One of the typical sandstone landscapes is the Golden Wipe Rock by the stream.