China is more than a country. It's a different world, a land where the civilisation dates back more than 6,000 years, the source of inventions such as paper, gunpowder, the compass and printing, and home to such wonders as the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors, the Imperial Palace in Beijing and Mount Lushan.
It is also a country that is becoming the next great superpower almost by the minute. The rate of modernisation is breathtaking, with cities such as Beijing and Shanghai under a canopy of cranes, their shapes changing almost daily. The Chinese are building the world's longest transoceanic bridge, from Ningbo to Shanghai, the biggest dam, at the Three Gorges, and one of the world's tallest buildings, the Shanghai World Financial Centre.
This year's big event in Beijing, the Olympic Games, will showcase this extraordinary growth. The games will kick off at the auspicious (for the Chinese) time of 08:08:08pm on August 8. Keen to capitalise on China's emergence as a holiday and business destination, several airlines offer increasingly cheap flights to China (Beijing and Shanghai) from the UK.
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China’s weather ranges from frigid to subtropical. The southern regions have tropical and subtropical climates. In the far north and the Himalayas the climate is subarctic. Rainfall is heavy along the southern coast and lighter in the western regions. The monsoon season along the southern coasts is July through September. In the northeast the days are warm and dry and evenings cool, and the southern regions are less hot and humid.
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Peak Season:
The peak domestic travel seasons, when the Chinese travel, include Chinese New Year, Labour Day, and National Day. The New Year occurs in January / February. The Labour Day and National Day dates vary, but are around May 1 and October 1. Hong Kong’s high season is October through December. Despite the heat and humidity, summer is the peak season for Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
Off Season:
Hong Kong’s off seasons are summer and winter. Conventions and trade fairs, however, book the best hotels, particularly in March and April. Winter in Beijing and Shanghai is the off season, and hotels offer substantial discounts. The best time to search for cheap flights to China is autumn when the weather is gorgeous and there are few tourists.
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Flying is the best way to cover large distances in China. With more than 470 airports and international and regional carriers, China flights are frequent and reduced fares available. Buses are available and sometimes provide faster service than trains. Trains range in service from express with all the services to slower and no-frills.
Foreign visitors are allowed to drive only within the city limits of Beijing and Shanghai and in Hong Kong. But few visitors feel renting a car is worth the hassles and headaches of driving in Chinese traffic, not to mention trying to park.
Major cities have an abundance of taxis and public transport systems. Taxis tend to be inexpensive and popular with visitors. Hong Kong’s public transportation is excellent and includes ferries, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), Light Rail Transit, and double-decker buses. Shanghai’s and Beijing’s subways provide fast transport around town and are crowded during rush hour.
Bicycling is popular in Beijing and Shanghai, but watch out for traffic! In Hong Kong and Xi’an cycling is considered suicidal in the more heavily trafficked areas.
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- A capitalist enclave in Communist China, Hong Kong is an Asian financial centre and a mix of Western and Asian cultures. Hong Kong Island is action central for finance, luxury shopping, and nightlife, with beaches just a bus ride away. Kowloon has a whirlwind of shopping choices and most of the historic sights. The New Territories has lush parks, walks, and gardens.
- An intriguing mix of new and old, Beijing is a modern capital city. Here you can visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and sections of the Great Wall of China. The nightlife is diverse with offerings ranging from opera to acrobatics, clubs, and karaoke.
- The largest city in the world, Shanghai’s foremost attraction is commercial activity, but there’s lots to explore, starting with the Shanghai Museum, Bund (waterfront promenade), YuYuan Garden, and colonial neighbourhoods. A shopper’s and gourmet’s delight, Shanghai has shops everywhere and restaurants with all styles of Chinese food and international cuisines. The nightlife is alive again with performances, nightclubs, and bars.
- Once the only city foreigners were allowed to visit in China, Guangzhou is the economic centre of the Pearl River Delta. A modern city, Guangzhou has more than 150 historical sites including the Nanyue King Mausoleum, Chen family temple, Guangzhou Bowuguan, Six Banyan Temple, and Shamian Island. The city is also famous for embroidery, local opera, and food.
- An imperial capital for 2,000 years, Xi’an has a fascinating history, elements of which can be seen in the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, Banpo Site, Goose Pagodas, Bell and Drum towers, Ming city walls, Da Qingzhensi and ancient architecture. The experience of shopping the outdoor antiques market is also popular. A prosperous city with a large student population, Xi’an has a lively nightlife.
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Visa applications should be made at least one month prior to departure for China. Passports must be valid for at least six months for a single or double entry visa and at least nine months for a multiple entry visa. Visas are granted only for the points of entry indicated in the passport. All documents necessary for further travel and sufficient funds to cover intended period of stay are required. Period of validity is stated on visas, and care should be taken when reading dates on visas for China (People's Rep.) as they are written in year/month/day format.
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UK and Irish nationals require a passport and visa for entry to China.
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