China

Pros: Modern China is nothing like what we'd expected...
Cons: Incredibly hot, humid, and polluted

Once upon a time, about 20 years ago, the President of the US, the Premier of the Soviet Union, and the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party were at a secret meeting to which they had brought no one but a driver for the Chinese leader. On ...

Pros: breath-taking scenery,pollution-free waterway despite tourists' intrusion
Cons: have to push one's way through the crowd to board the ferry

Guilin is well-known for the breath-taking scenery on the banks of the Li River.But few realised that the beauty of the river itself lies in its non-polluted state with its crystal-clear water that shows the fish swimming and the moss-covered round...

Pros: Lots to see, Beautiful historical buildings
Cons: Run-down areas, Communism

Review Topic: China is a land of many contrasts, from the opulence of the old dynasties to the modern excess of Hong Kong, from the abject poverty of many of its people, to the Communist overtones.

I spent eleven days touring Guilin,...

Pros: Moonlight is really romantic, and moon cake tastes really good
Cons: none

This is the second part of the two-part introduction to the Chinese lunar calendar. In the first part, I gave a general introduction of the lunar calendar, and described in detail about the three lunar calendar holidays in the first half of the year....

Pros: A great look at North Korea from this bustling Chinese Border city.
Cons: People don't really speak English anywhere in this town.

Introduction,  The city of Dandong is a city with 600.000 inhabitants located in the North East of the People's Republic of China, a country in Asia. Dandong is a bustling border town connected by bridge to the Democratic ...

Pros: the real China is still there- see it while you can
Cons: none unless it is the some day sad disappearance of this China

I will do my best here to give you a taste of the China I have experienced in my seven months of living here as an American teaching English. I need a month of your time and the willingness to seek out the "real" China and you can see Beijing, Shanghai,...

Pros: FOOD, inexpensive everything
Cons: crossing the street, perhaps too much sightseeing, lower standard of living

The last summer before college seems to be the most popular time for many people my age to visit (perhaps for the 1st time) their home country. Being Chinese myself, my parents decided that it would be a good idea for me to experience The Motherland this...

Pros: Cheap food, generous people, laided back lifestyle
Cons: trust no one, theft is huge

I like many other people have always wanted to go to China. I don't know exactly why, but I have always like Chinese food and culture. Also like many people I found a way to go on someone else's dime, I'm here teaching English. Okay so like many ...

Pros: Good reason to take a day off
Cons: aren't we having enough holidays already?

Review Topic:  Events & Festivals

This is a long overdue finish of my introduction to the Chinese lunar calendar. I apologize if you have been waiting for this one for too long.

In the first two parts of my...

Pros: A very interesting part of Chinese culture
Cons: complicated

Tomorrow (September 12) is the Middle Autumn Festival in China. This is a traditional Chinese festival on the lunar calendar that still runs parallel in China to the solar calendar shared by most other places in the world.

Lunar calendar has...

Pros: Otherliness, cheap food everywhere, safety, adequate transit, bicycles, eye-opening realities
Cons: 1.3 Billion - a bit much! Languages, dirt, "mejo!", sexism - more of too much

China is a large, vibrant, ancient civilization about which tens of thousands of books have been written. You owe it to yourself, as a human, to see the people who comprise one-sixth of our planet. My journey there was a reluctant one, a chance byway...

Pros: Many, many, many.....
Cons: many, many, many.....

This is going to be the first of many reviews I will post here to talk about China. They will come one by one, not necessary on a regular basis, and each of them will focus on something about China that usually not mentioned by travel introduction of...

Pros: Lots of diverse culture, exciting human adventures
Cons: Extremely polluted, language barrier, lack of rules or laws

I was born in China and didn't leave until 15. While away, I missed the land, the people, and the food immensely. However, every time when I went back visiting friends and family, I was reminded of exactly why I left the country and never looked back....

Pros: This is my first review.hope you like it!
Cons: Jinsha museum hasn't been built.

For many years, Sichuan has engaged worldwide attention not only with its tantalizing food and incredible natural scenery but also its astonishing archeological discoveries now and again. In February 2001, this province in southwest China became the ...

Pros: Bargain price, a look at the real China with local Chinese
Cons: Lower standard of care

$999 for an all-expenses, 11 day trip including round-trip airfare from San Francisco to China, 4 star hotels (5 star in Beijing and Shanghai), 3 meals a day, admittance to the tourist areas that charge fees, plus transportation within China to 5 cities...

Pros: It's really different.
Cons: You WILL Get ripped off.

This is a really long one so I hope you have time to read this.
I went to China for the first time over two years ago and had the biggest case of culture shock in my life. Since I am ethnically Chinese, I expected the trip to be less stressful. Let...

Pros: Very quiet scenic views all over city, Eastern Venice
Cons: None

In Chinese, there is a famous sentence to describe the beauty of two cities in the southeastern part of China: Above there is heaven, down here there are Su and Hang. Su Zhou and Hang Zhou are two cities near Shanghai, one to the west about a hour on...

Pros: Great historic site, where the Great Wall begins
Cons: I don't think so

The city of "Qinghuadao" is probably not that well known to people outside China. Maybe more people know the place "Shan Hai Guan". Shan Hai Guan is where the Great Wall starts from the east, and it is just outside the city of...

Pros: Many
Cons: None

“Dragon’s tail gets bigger, better and best…”


Communist ruled countries do tend to get overboard with extensive rules and regulation but they give equal power to all the people. Though on some cases it does tends to become too much which...

Pros: Deserving of its reputation
Cons: You can get there - You can't get back because the village is relatively remote.

When I was working and living in China, my SO suggested for us to visit Hangzhou. Sure I said, let's go. She was the thrifty type and managed to find us a hotel that was right on the lake for around US$50.00 a night - a cramped but clean and...

Pros: Beautiful
Cons: None

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions

In China there is an old saying " You would not go to the five noted big mountains, if you have climed the Huangshan Mountain." Is there really fantastic? I would see it in my...

Pros: Unique, magical.
Cons: a little expensive

Nothing in Beijing compares to the Great Wall in my humble opinion. I spent 10 days in Beijing and saw just about everything major there is to see: Summer Palace, Suzhou Street, Tientan (Temple of Heaven) Tiannenman Square, Forbidden City, Embassy Row,...

Pros: Amazing scenic view, best place I ever went
Cons: tough hiking to see the views

The most beautiful place that I ever went in China, is Yellow Mountain. It is a group of mountains located in the southeast part of China in the province of "Anhui". One claims that it has 72 peaks, with many of them unexplored and not...

Pros: culture shock, difference, people, food, surroundings
Cons: see above, homesickness, putting up with other tourists

Going to China was a complete shock. I knew about it from a decade and a half of my uncle's storytelling. My friends, and teachers had given me advice. But the only way to experience something is first-hand. To make a long story short, or at least...

Pros: Glorious civilization and world class tourist attractions
Cons: Not very convenient and comfortable. A lot of challenges

Many of readers this article must be considering trip to China. I should say traveling China is still very rough and unpleasant compare to that of Europe and US. However, China has her own appeal, her great and magnificent glory of the past....

Pros: Immaculate structures, Wonderful people, Beautiful scenery, Historical wonders
Cons: Air quality, Water

I had the opportunity to travel to China 2 years ago through a study tour sponsored by the University of Wisconsin - Parkside. We had a great time visiting cities like Xian, Beijing, Guangzho, and Shanghai. This tour was run by the Chinese government,...

Pros: A wonderful way to visit a gorgeous section of China
Cons: It will disappear within the next few years

We flew in to the port city of Chongquing early November. My wife and I wanted to take advantage of the moderate Asian climate during the shoulder season. The trade off was an overcast week on the Yangtze with periodic mists making the trip even more...

Pros: Plunge deep into Chinese culture
Cons: Polluted, hard to get around

Chongqing China has more than 30 million people living in the city. Admittedly, the city did re-draw the lines, but there is no question that it is an unbelievably populated place. Chongqing was formerly known as Chunking (yes, like the canned noodle...

Pros: It felt so good when the hurting stopped.
Cons: Pain level like you wouldn't believe

Getting sick is no fun. However, getting sick while in a foreign country can be very interesting. I only got sick once or twice the two-and-half years living and working in China.

I caught a nasty flu that forced me to stay in bed for...

Pros: Beautiful and clean city
Cons: Fast losing its charms due to rapid modernization

Back in 1994, I decided to learn Chinese as it was the most difficult thing I could think of to do (Don't ask why.) In the summer of 1996, I got my break. My company was going to set up a small factory in Qingdao and of course I volunteered to go. My...

Pros: Very dynamic country. A lot of history but a lot of change.
Cons: You need to be able to speak a little Mandarin if you want to get around on your own.

First of all, for those of you contemplating a first time visit to China - you'll enjoy yourself best if you do some research prior to coming. Invest in a Lonely Planet guide and after reading about the many places you can visit, determine what you think...

Pros: Lots to see for everyone
Cons: Tedious, expensive to travel around, discriminate pricing, large

Obviously, China is huge, and the extent of my travels are limited to the Eastern Half, in a "travel for as little as possible" mode. So, please understand that my opinions are limited to my own personal experiences, and yours may differ based...

Pros: We made it home.
Cons: Being zero-class citizens

October 1st is Chinese National Day (Guo qing jie). Millions of Chinese take this opportunity to travel to see relatives and loved ones - similar to the millions of Americans taking to planes, trains and automobiles around Thanksgiving. On one such...

Pros: Friendly people, genuine atmosphere
Cons: Waking up at 5am to get on the bus to leave

If you are interested in visiting Tibet, but don't have the money, patience, or time, consider a trip to Langmusi. Langmusi is in the north-west corner of Sichuan province and is at 3000 feet elevation. The population of then town is mostly ethnic...

Pros: a city to visit
Cons: just for fun

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions


In times gone by, sail-powered junks made their way slowly across the mouth of the Pearl River to Macau from Hong Kong, a journey that took a day or more. Contemporary visitors...

Pros: Great soup, good show, lots of movement, and cheap
Cons: You have to be patient because there is limited English

Kunming, in SW China, is famous for a soup called "across the bridge noodle soup". The "across the bridge noodle soup" restaurant of choice for my money is the Yunnan Flavour Restaurant but beware not the one in...

Pros: Modern City with all the benifits without being overly Western
Cons: Not many

When I was in China, I went to Chengdu three times and I must say it is a great place to spend a few days. Most people spend a little time in Chengdu if they are going to Tibet. So if you are in Chengdu for a few days here a few things I would suggest...

Pros: Surprisingly safer and more organised than imagined
Cons: Quirky travel agents make it difficult to buy in-country

Getting air tickets in (Southern)China is more difficult than I thought - although other travellers said that they had simply followed Lonely Planet's advice and gone to the appropriate airline ticket office. I had Chinese friends who ‘helped’ me but...

Pros: Historical and busy
Cons: Uncomfortable weather

When I visited Changsha in the spring, it was still very cold and wet. However, I found this city in Hunan province to be fascinating. We visited a museum that housed ancient mummies and tombs, as well as an embroidery museum. I have heard this city...

Pros: endless things to see, cheap cost of living, rich cultural history, safe, generally friendly population
Cons: significant pollution/smog in the industrialized regions, restrictive political/media climate, high petty crime, difficult language

I studied in China for a semester in the fall of 2007 and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I was lucky enough to stay in Hangzhou, a beautiful lakeside city about two hours from Shanghai. Other Chinese cities, like Beijing, are little on the gritty ...

Pros: shopping
Cons: people

I went to China early this year. Let's talk about Shenzhen. It is very close to Hong Kong. You can take a bus or train and it gets you to the border. At the border you can exchange your currency right there also. Or if you are coming from Hong Kong ...

Pros: Culturally rich, friendly people, beautiful locations
Cons: Toilets are holes, trash lines some streets, foreigners (especially Americans) charged more

It's no tranquil woodland retreat and kung fu fights aren't commonplace on city streets, but mainland China is everything that lovers of the Eastern Hemisphere might have dreamed.

After a five month stay, I had a chance to see many cities...

Pros: Breathtaking beauty, delicious food, relaxing
Cons: none to speak of

This is going to be a very long review, so please bear with me!

Sailing up the Yangtze river, several things make an almost immediate impression. The great role this river plays in commerce and transportation and the extensive area of land it...

Pros: Food, History, and the People
Cons: 12+ hour flight

Review Topic:  Sights & AttractionsReview Topic:  Sights & Attractions If you have any desire to visit China, DO IT! The food is wonderful, especially the noodles, the attractions are amazing and everything is very ...

Pros: better rates
Cons: possible rip-off

One of the best ways to make your money go farther in China is to exchange money on the black market where you will receive a rate 5-15% higher than what is offered by the state-controlled banks. Most guidebooks recommend staying away from the black...

Pros: Extremely interesting
Cons: Long trip

After living in China for 4 years (1.5 in Shanghai and 2.5 in Beijing), I realized how much culture China has. Not only the Summer Palace or the Great Wall, but actual modern culture. From the discos to the stalls on the side of the road, China packs...

Pros: Unique, lots of friendly people on vacation like you, religious
Cons: Language barrier takes time to overcome

November 1999 my wife and I spent five days on Putuoshan visiting one of the five sacred mountains of Buddhism. As far as we could tell, we were two of the five Westerners on the island during that period. The rest of the people were Chinese, Japanese,...

Pros: travel in china
Cons: yellow dragon

Within Pansong County on the border of vast expanses of grasslands, there is a fascinating place of exquisite beauty---Yellow Dragon.



Light-reflecting waterfall
Yellow Dragon is a mystical and colorful world. Along a canyon...

Pros: be careful
Cons: be careful

considering that China is still relatively poor and has an extreme range of climatic conditions, China is a remarkably healthy country. In general, travelers to China should have few health concerns if proper precautions are taken. Most large cities in...

Pros: travel in china
Cons: Ancient A'lu Cave

The Ancient A'lu Cave, reputed as " the first wonderful cave in Yunnan", is located in the southeast part of the province and is a group of Karst limestone caves in large scale. In the Song and Yuan Dynasty, one of thirty-seven old wild tribes...

Pros: Incredibly Scenic
Cons: Little known and off the beaten path

If you are one of those people who went to China with a picture in your mind, chances are, that picture is from a painting. And chances are, tha painting is painted of a scene in Sichuan Province. Furthermore, you will most likely be disappointed...

Pros: BeijingRens
Cons: BeijingRens

I have been living in Beijing (4 years) and
Shanghai(2 years). Comparing with
Shanghainese or JiangZheRens, most
BeijingRens have very low abilities
(except in speech), less-sharp mind,
though I think they are easy-going and...

Pros: Ya
Cons: no

In this article, I want to introduce another Famous Mount in China.It is Mount Tai.In China there are five famous mounts.Mount Tai is the first.It lies by Taian City in Shandong Province.It is beautiful and have a lot of historical famous handwriting. In...

Pros: a good place near kunming
Cons: good for viewing

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions


Tiger Leaping Gorge is probably the most frightening, most dangerous and most exhilarating torrent of rapids in the world.

The great Yangtze River winds it way over...

Pros: an old town
Cons: a trip with flowers

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions

Going to Dali old town, you can enjoy the old street and many other thing there!

Dali's Old Town, a labyrinth of streets within the old Ming Dynasty fortress walls, is not...

Pros: Most beautiful city in China
Cons: There isn't any

One of the most poetic city in China is Hangzhou. Endless number of poems, ancient literature were written about the city. It's a very scenic place to visit with a beautiful lake centrally located. The best hotel to stay in Hangzhou is the Shangri-La....

Pros: have a lot of fun
Cons: None

Itinerary D1 Arrival in Shanghai Arrive in Shanghai and transferred to hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. Hotel: Galaxy Hotel**** Meals: no D2 Shanghai In the morning your guide will join you for a visit to the Bond area where the ...

Pros: trip of a lifetime
Cons: the Chinese can be cruel

One thing I wish I had been prepared for when I traveled to China was the reaction of the people to my being overweight. While my weight is kind of average for the fat American and generates no attention here in the states, the Chinese were fascinated...

Pros: Fascinating people, history, and culture
Cons: Can be expensive, too much to see

I spent last year teaching in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. For starters, I would never recommend visiting Guangzhou. It is the least "touristy" of any of China's big cities and -- while fascinating to live there for a year -- it...

Pros: Beautiful scenery
Cons: Food and water problems

I'm 14 yrs old and went to China this past summer as an educational vacation. One of the things I quickly learned is that the food was not so hot. You may question my ability to say this...You probabally are saying well shes just a kid. That may be...

Pros: Great food!
Cons: Most places are kind of dirty and stink

It was about 2 years ago that I went to China with my family and friends. It was for my cousin's wedding. Anyway, we went during the winter and it was soo cold, and because I was from Hawaii, I wasn't used to the cold weather. Anyway, we got a tour of...

Pros: Fun to visit ancient history
Cons: Starting or bringing a company here is not a good idea

China: The greatest populated country in the world. I'll be blunt; the popular idea about China, concerning the amount of money to be made, is completely invalid.

I do see how most people think it would be a great place to start a business...

Pros: very lively
Cons: expensive,

Well I think the answer has to be yes. Since it has been returned to China there have been a number of things to change. For example the main language used was English, but on my last visit I noticed that Chinese is now much more used.
There used to...

Pros: Great bargains
Cons: check merchandise before paying

Review Topic:  Shopping

When going to Beijing, the best and often most missed side trips are to the outdoor markets. Many great buys can be had if you know how to bargain with the local merchants. On a recent trip to Beijing, I...

Pros: wonderful natural beauty, folk custom
Cons: yes

friends, if you never been Hainan province, China, I suggest you: go there, to see the beautiful scenery and to feel the warmth of local people. That's really a very beautiful place. Hainan is called: the tropics of China, it presents unique tropical...

Pros: Lots to do and see
Cons: HOT HOT HOT

Guangzhou is the main stop for all families adopting from China. It is here where we pick up our visas to bring the children into the US. It is also one of the closest Chinese cities to Hong Kong. Hence it is always filled with American families and...

Pros: long history,beautiful building
Cons: must spend time to feel

Review Topic:  Sights & Attractions

When I was a young boy,I often heard old tale about the BeiJing.But I could not get a chance to see it by myself.Beijing is my children's dream.
Now,my dream come true,I've lived...

Pros: Spectacluar views, inexpensive, excellent food and service
Cons: A little hard to find, crowds of river rafts in peak season

If you haven't been to Guilin yet, don't worry. You can give it a miss. We were planning to spend 4 days there but after the 2nd day we were so tired of the concrete parks, the congestion and bad food. We ran into another couple who had just done the Li River Cruise down to Yangshuo and said it was worth it. We did the cruise and fell in love with Yangshuo - the scenery is far better than Guilin and the food much better too. Most staff at the restaurants and shops speak English and were very helpful. The real gem of this trip was the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, which is run by an American and a handful of local staff from surrounding villages. It's out in the country a little so you'll have to ask a driver. It's not on any map or Lonely Planet, but it seems popular as a alternative Guilin destination. The staff were amazing - better than at any hotel we've stayed at in China.