China Hotels

Every city in China has a little something different to offer travels. Beijing is home to the country's more significant historical buildings. Shanghai has its technological wonders and luxurious restaurants. Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province (which borders Vietnam and Burma), is home to natural beauty and a laid-back, relaxed vibe, as Lonely Planet tells it. The city has a few highlights that are must-sees for tourists.

Five thousand years ago, dynasties ruling China were as intent upon setting clothing trends as they were on warring with neighboring factions. Emperors mandated styles and color palettes as each generation's fashion taste fluctuated between bold and conservative. Wardrobe choices came to a halt after 1949, when the Communist Party required dour uniforms for both sexes as a sign of gender equality. China has come full circle and traditional fashion has returned to favor, according to University of California graduate student Yang Lu whose thesis topic appears on the Chinese American Museum at Los Angeles (CAMLA) website.

China allows each U.S. citizen entering the country on an employment, or type Z, visa to bring one cat or dog into the country if the animal meets Chinese entry requirements. Families, however, may only bring a total of two pets. Visitors heading to China for a short stay cannot bring pets with them into the country.

Shenzhen is in southern China near Hong Kong and the South China Sea. Surrounded by mountains, this coastal city provides a moderate climate year-round, and the Special Economic Zone attracts immigrants from other parts of China and Asia. Visitors will find a busy, modern city set amid natural beauty. Most of the city's attractions are accessible by public transportation.

Covering an area spanning 3.7 million square miles, and with a continuous culture that stretches back nearly 4,000 years, China has a rich and varied history. Stone castles built during the region's long period of dynastic rule continue to dominate the local landscape and stand as a testament to strategic planning and innovative construction.

The millions of bicycles that once traveled the streets of Beijing have largely been replaced by private cars, taxis and city buses. Skyscrapers and modern buildings now dominate the landscape, but tucked away throughout the city are sites that serve as reminders of Chinese imperial history, as well as destinations that point to the emergence of Communism and the transformation to modern China.

Hangzhou is one of China's seven ancient capitals; its history and spectacular scenery have long made it a popular tourist destination. The city, which is southwest of Shanghai, is on the Qiantang River and the shores of West Lake in the Yangtze River Delta. Historic architecture and modern buildings coexist with bustling commerce and carefully preserved traditions that appeal to visitors. Annual festivals celebrate Hangzhou's unique geographic features, its tea-growing history and its connection to the larger traditions of China.

Many visitors to Hong Kong often overlook the boom town of Shenzhen, lying directly north of the former British colony. That is a shame, because Shenzhen is very much the face of modern China. One of the original Special Economic Zones, Shenzhen, after 1980, quickly became one of the country's most vibrant cities, and was designated a UNESCO City of Design in 2009. For people more interested in where China is going than where its been, visiting Shenzhen is a must.

China is the fourth-largest country in the world and the one with the largest population. It would take months for a visitor to even make a dent in the many attractions found in China. If you can't afford such a long trip, try narrowing down your destinations by interest. Focus on history or culture or natural spaces. Or try a bit of each group for a more comprehensive look into one of the world's oldest cultures.

The People's Republic of China is the world's fourth largest nation; the climate over its vast area is varied. When distinguishing between the climates of eastern and western China, geography plays a large role. Western China, including the region of Tibet, is mountainous and includes vast plateaus, while eastern China--which is often considered China proper, including the capital Beijing--is hilly and subtropical. When planning travel, it's important to keep both geography and climate in mind.

The name of both a municipality and its capital city, Tianjing is located in eastern China. Both Tianjin city and the surrounding area have plenty of attractions to offer tourists, from cultural centers to museums to the Great Wall of China. Tinajing is the sixth largest urban center in China, but within an hour's drive visitors can escape to the quieter suburbs and surrounding countryside.

China is one of the oldest civilizations in the world and, as a result, has a number of distinct cultural etiquette rules. Although most foreigners are given a little room for mistakes, it's always courteous and respectful to make an effort.

According to the Archaeological Institute of America, the first humans were in China at least 250,000 years ago. An earlier example of Homo erectus found in China was dated to at least 300,000 years ago. While there are legends about the early history of the region, written accounts of China began primarily with the rise of the dynasties, which were long periods of family rule. While the region's history is extensive and intricate, a number of highlights are pertinent to contemporary history.

China contains one-fifth of the world's population and is the world's fastest-growing economy. A visitor to the country sees the meeting of an ancient culture that dates to roughly 2000 B.C. and a push toward modern progress. The Communist party enacts strict control over most aspects of the Chinese people's lives; however, it has made improvements in some areas, particularly for women.

Sprawling across 14 districts and home to more than 22 million people, China's capital can be an overwhelming destination for tourists. With a history spanning more than a millennium, nearly every corner of Beijing houses buildings that could be considered landmarks. Many of the most famous landmarks, however, are clustered together in the center of the city.

The Republic of China is the most populous country in Asia and the world. China has had a huge impact on the history of the world, with achievements that range from the invention of paper and control of the Silk Route for centuries to one of the world's most famous political transformations--Mao Tse Tung's Cultural Revolution. Along with the famous Great Wall, visitors can find important places in China that represent both its ancient and modern life.

In travel to any other country, you may encounter everyday items, language and customs that are, frankly, foreign. In Japan and China, these differences seem more extreme than in many other cultures. Everything from the food and drink to the social customs may not conform to what you expect. In fact, some social behaviors are so markedly different that you may encounter behavior you would think shocking or illegal in America.

Adjusting to local customs is one of the most challenging aspects for Western tourists traveling to China or Japan. Potential travelers should make sure they do their research before departing for either country, in order to ease their assimilation into the local cultures. This is especially critical for business travelers unfamiliar with Chinese and/or Japanese customs, since a poor understanding of local customs could lead to offending the other party.

You would be hard pressed to find a culture that has experienced as much culture shock in 60 years as has China. Still resembling a feudal kingdom when Mao Tse Tung’s 1949 Communist Revolution assumed control, the nation has become a fascinating mix of old world tradition and new world sophistication. Navigating modern day China can be tricky. However, if you follow cultural cues and observe the behavior of hosts, you will be warmly welcomed into a society with some of the deepest roots on the planet.

Clothing has played an important role in Chinese culture for millennia. Archaeological remains of the Shantingtung culture, which existed around 18,000 years ago, include stone beads, bone sewing needles and shells with holes bored into them. From the time of the Yellow Emperor, Chinese clothing began developing a consistency that makes them so easily recognizable. Much of the clothing's ornamentation and inherent symbolism continues to prove influential to modern designers the world over.

If you wish to take your dog to China, do not wait to prepare your pet for travel. China, like most other countries, requires documentation and health screenings before granting foreign animals entry into the country. Additionally, animals arriving in China are placed in quarantine for 30 days and observed for signs of illness. Accordingly, begin making arrangements for your dog's journey at least a month in advance of your departure to make the process as seamless as possible.

Seven days in China is nowhere near enough time to see a 5,000-year-old civilization, especially one that is barreling into the 21st century at full speed. It is easily possible to spend more than seven days in Beijing alone and still not cover all of the available historical sites and points of interest. China is a huge country. Covering it in a mere seven days usually requires plane travel between cities.

A bike tour in China can take you on a ride atop the roof of the world, through the hidden alleys of Beijing or along the sandy beaches of a tropical island. If you want to experience the natural beauty and man-made wonders of this vast, ancient county and meet the people who inhabit the cities and remote villages, then get off the tour bus and get on a bike.

Millions of Chinese people ride bicycles, so you can go with the flow during a visit to the Middle Kingdom with an escorted cycling tour. Riding a bike offers a close-up look at the diverse geography of China. Tours typically offer a support vehicle to carry everything but your day bag, a tour leader and local guides.

Whether you're looking to explore a small part of China or you want to travel across the country, you can travel by train to get almost anywhere in China. The home of the third largest and longest rail system in the world, China has trains to connect all the major cities and towns throughout the vast country. Plus, if you're the frugal type, a train tour of China typically comes with a much smaller price tag than other trips through the area.

With China's lowering of its borders, tourists can now visit this amazingly diverse country. Millions of visitors come to China annually to take in the country's many wonders, such as the Great Wall and the Yangtze River. One of the more unique ways to explore China is on bicycle, with bike tours geared toward a variety of visitors' interests and skill levels.

China offers visitors a unique travel experience that can include both ancient civilization and modern-day metropolises. From the Forbidden City in Beijing to the natural wonders found in Paradise on Earth in Hangzhou, Eastern China offers something for every tourist to enjoy. One of the best ways to see this part of the world is through an organized tour.

Documented Chinese culture stretches back more than 10,000 years. Around 8,000 B.C., populations on the east coast and the central plains near the Yellow River shifted from a nomadic, hunting and gathering lifestyle to a more settled way of life that revolved around horticulture. Artifacts such as pottery, tools, building ruins, art and decorative objects reveal fascinating clues about life in ancient China. Explore the country's rich history -- and modern culture -- on an archaeological tour.

With a population of more than a billion people and a land area between those of Canada and the United States in size, China is a massive, varied country, one that's ideal -- albeit maddening at times -- for tourists. If you're considering taking a trip to China, one method you can use to ease the logistical headaches you might otherwise encounter is to build a tour. Whether you pre-book an all-inclusive package or simply arrange regional transportation, lodging or guides on an a la carte basis, planning your China tour in advance will leave you more time and energy to enjoy it while you're there.