Yanan

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This checkered past means that those who are interested in Chinese modern revolutionary history and the Yan’an Spirit which was exhibited in 1942, and is still evident today, or those who want to examine the colorful folk customs and culture of the Loess Plateau, should make sure that they visit Yan’an. The city has as many as 140 revolutionary sites, including Wangjiaping Site, Yangjialing Site, Date Garden, Pagoda Hill, Nanniwan, etc. It has also a number of historical sites such as Huangdi Mausoleum, Zhongshan Grottoes as well as natural scenic spots including Hukou Waterfalls of the Yellow River, Fenghuang Hill and Wanhua Hill. There truly is something for everyone to see.

Being of a temperate continental monsoon climate, Yan’an is an ideal place for you to visit all year round especially in summer. Yan’an used to be a poor city but, in recent years, it has seen great changes including economic advancement, especially the development of some tourism-related industries and infrastructure construction. As a result, transportation in Yan’an is convenient today. It is easily accessible by air, train or coach. As well, buses and taxies facilitate easy transportation within the city. The accommodation in Yan’an is generally considered to be inexpensive, convenient and comfortable.

Yichang

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Now, after thousands of years’ development, the city stands out with its various unique characteristics. Located in the middle of China, Yichang is the transportation center which connects the eastern and the western parts of China. Sanxia Airport is not far from the city center and there are more than ten domestic airlines with services to the major cities of China, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xian. In addition, Yichang Port, Yichang Railway Station and Yichang Bus Station offer visitors convenient ways of traveling to and from other parts of the country.

Yichang has abundant water resources and it is lauded as the largest hydroelectric base in the world, indeed it is a bright pearl shining on the Yangtze River. The river runs through the city center and the Gezhouba Water Conservancy Project and Three Gorges Dam Project are located there. Benefiting from these projects, Yichang has become the largest hydroelectric resource center in China. In Addition, the tourism centered on the Three Gorges has made the city more famous and more prosperous. Xiling Gorge which is located near Yichang is an important part of the ‘Three Gorges Gallery’. The Three Gorges Dam Project is one of the great wonders of modern human history and it has become a tourist hot spot of the world. Every year, millions of visitors gather here to witness this great man made project.

Apart from the Three Gorges, the abundant natural resources and historical sites of Yichang are also attractive. Mountains, waterfalls, caves, stone forests and pools form picturesque scenes. There are many natural reserves in or around the city, including Chaibuxi National Forest Park and Houhe Natural Reserve. As an ancient city, Yichang is the site of some important historical relics such as Qu Yuan Hometown, Zhaojun Residence and Ancient Battle Relics of Three Kingdom Period.

Besides the magnificent scenery, Yichang is famous for its local products: oranges, persimmons, Chinese gooseberries, tea, etc. They are sold in the streets and lanes and delight visitors with their excellent flavor. Buying some to take home for families and friends is a good choice for visitors. The regional cuisine of Yichang is similar to that of Chongqing; prickly ash, hot pepper and chilli powder play an important role in people’s diets. Formal restaurants, local cafes and even street stalls offer diners delicious local specialties. They are all waiting for you to enjoy.

Yushu

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Location: Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is situated in the southwest region of Qinghai Province, neighboring Sichuan in the southeast, Xinjiang in the northwest corner and Tibet in the south and southeast. Within Qinghai, it is bounded on the north by the Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and neighbors the Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the east.

History: Yushu was inhabited by the Qiang, an ancient tribe in northwest China. In its history, it was governed successively by several Tibetan regimes. Yushu Special District was established in 1949 and changed to Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Region two years later, then changed to an autonomous prefecture in 1955.

Physical Features: The prefecture is situated on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with most of the region 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) above the sea level. It is the fountainhead of the Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Lancang River. Ravines and valleys have been cut by the rivers in southeastern Yushu.

Climate: The prefecture enjoys a continental plateau climate with high altitude and cold climate as its most outstanding features. It has distinct warm and cold seasons, respectively lasting four to five and seven to eight months. The annual average temperature of this region is below zero (32℉).

When to Go: June to October is much warmer and more favorable to visit Yushu Prefecture.

Special Local Products: Tibetan medical herbs and ornaments

Xiangxi

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Location: Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, neighboring Zhangjiajie to the east and Huaihua to the south. It is also bordered by Guizhou Province and the city of Chongqing to the west and Hubei Province to the north.

History: The history of Xiangxi can be traced back to the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), when it was dominated by the Chu State. In the following thousands of years, its administrative system has changed many times. It wasn’t until 1952 that Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established and changed to Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture five years later.

Physical Features: The prefecture lies in the convergent area on the northeast fringe of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Mountainous Region in western Hubei. Its terrain slopes downward from the northwest to the southeast. The Wuling Mountains zigzag through Xiangxi. There are well developed karst landforms distributed in the southwest and rivers crisscrossing among the hills in the western and eastern regions of the prefecture.

Climatic Features: Xiangxi bears a subtropical humid monsoon climate with an annual average temperature of 15.8-16.9℃ (60.4-62.4℉). The weather is moderate all the year round, and bursts of precipitation become much more common in spring and summer.

When to Go: Spring and autumn are the best periods to travel in Xiangxi.

Special Local Products: silver ornaments and brocade articles of the Miao, printed and dyed cotton fabric, kudzu vine root tea, pomelo, Chinese gooseberry of Fenghuang County, boletus mushroom of Jishou City

Local Highlights: Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities make up nearly eighty-five percent of the prefecture’s total population. The Miao people living in Jishou City still maintain their traditional folkways. Apart from the festivals common to the Han, they celebrate their own festivals and song fests. For example, young boys and girls will sing responsively to each other in the open air on the third day of the third lunar month. Furthermore, there are also some rituals held at set times to pray for blessings or make sacrifices to ancestors.

Going to a fair is called Gan Chang by locals. One may not really visit Xiangxi if one does not go to the local fairs in Miao towns. In the fairs, visitors can see the most distinctive aboriginal people of local ethnic minorities. Laershan, Heku and Shanjiang of Fenghuang County are well known Miao fairs in Xiangxi. Peddlers from other counties as well as Guizhou and Sichuan will come to these towns to sell or exchange goods. For visitors, they are a shopping paradise to buy their favorite folk handicrafts of good quality and at very reasonable prices.

Xiangtan

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Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0732-58239321
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184
Bank of China: 0732-58222758

Location: Xiangtan is located in the central part of Hunan Province, the middle reach of the Xiang River. It is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Changsha and Zhuzhou. The three cities constitute the political, economic and cultural triangle of the province.

History: Establishing Xiangtan as a county began in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). From then on, its domain remains relatively stable in the following years. On the basis of the Xiangtan County, the government of the PRC established the Xiangtan City in 1950.

Physical Features: Compared with other parts, the terrain of the city is low and flat in the eastern and central regions. However, its relative relief is meek. The city is various in land type composition, including mountain area, hilly land, knolls, plain and water. Nearly eighty percent of the city land is below the altitude of 150 meters (492 feet).

Climatic Features: Enjoying a subtropical humid monsoon climate, Xiangtan has rich rainfall and abundant sunshine. The annual average temperature is about 17C (63F).

When to Go: The April azaleas in Shaoshan and the red autumnal leaves in Zhaoshan Mountain are both attractive scenery of Xiangtan City.

Special Local Products: betel-nut, Dengxin Gao (wick rice cake), lotus seed

Xishuangbanna

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Bank of China Xishuangbanna Branch: No.23, Minhang Road, Jinghong City
China Post Xishuangbanna Branch: No.2, Jinghong Road (West), Jinghong City

Location: Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture is located at the south end of Yunnan Province. It shares a boundary of 966 kilometers (619 miles) with Burma and Laos in the east, south and west, being a vital pass from China to indo-China Peninsular by land.

History: To the Dai people, Xishuangbanna was known as ‘Mengbanaxi’ in ancient times, a name that means a miraculous and nice utopia. It had been a settlement where 13 ethnic minorities have lived in tight-knit communities for generations. The Jino ethnic minority is peculiar to the prefecture.

Physical Features: Located in the south extension of the Hengduan Mountains, Xishuangbanna has over ninety-five percent of its territory occupied by mountainous and hilly areas. Most of the prefecture is below the altitude of 1,500 meters (4921 feet). Jinghong City is only 550 meters (1804 feet) above the sea level. The Lancang River runs through the prefecture and when it passes through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, it is known as the Mekong River.

Climate: The weather in this region is a combination of continental and oceanic climates with an annual average temperature of 18-22℃ (64.4-71.6℉). The coldest November is similar to the middle of summer in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River; thereby, Xishuangbanna is reputed as a happy land without winter. Generally, there are only two seasons. May to October is the rainy season and November to April is the dry season.

When to Go: Although it is an all-year-round tourist destination, the weather is most favourable from November to April. However since the roads conditions are excellent, Xishuangbanna is also a popular destination during the rainy season.

Special Local Products: tea, coffee, tropical fruit, herbs, Yunnan tobacco

Local Highlights: The Water-sprinkling Festival is New Year’s Day for the Dai, and is the most important and grandest festival of the year. It lasts three days from 13th to 15th, April (the sixth month of the Dai Calendar). Dai people dip branches into the river and sprinkle the water onto others as a way to express their best wishes. In addition, the festivals of the Hani, Jino and Yao ethnic minorities are also delightful part of Xishuangbanna’s ethnic customs.

As the only tropical rain forest nature reserve in China, the area has surprising biological diversity in the virgin forest, particularly because Xishuangbanna is so far away from central China and considered isolated.

In religion, it is greatly influenced by Hinayana Buddhism of Southeast Asia. The enticing white masonry structure, Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda, is the quintessence of Hinayana Buddhist architecture. The main pagoda is comprised of eight small pagodas, like a cluster of bamboo shoots.

Xiamen

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Located at the southeast coast of China, Xiamen is a tourist city of Fujian Province famous for its attractive seascape. As one of the major seaports since ancient times, Xiamen boasts a wide gulf with deep water but without freezing and silting. The name of ‘Xiamen’ was consequently given, which means ‘a gate of China’. As one of the forerunners of the special economic zones of China, Xiamen mainly consisting of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Island, the north bank area of the Jiulong River and Tong’an County, is connected with the mainland by the Gaoji Seawall, Xiamen Bridge, etc. Xiamen has been called the Egret Island because of the hundreds of thousands of egrets inhabiting there. This is due to the beautiful natural scenery, the fresh air and the clean environment of the city.

Being of a subtropical monsoon climate with mild weather all year round expect the typhoon months, Xiamen is an ideal tourist destination for you. It is a typical littoral city with abundant tourist attractions such as islands, mountains, temples and parks, etc., providing you with a full sightseeing schedule. The well-known Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple and other tourist areas like Jimei, Wanshiyan, etc. are highly recommended. A sea tourist line is also available for you to enjoy the amazing scenery of many beautiful small islands around.

Being the hometown of many overseas Chinese, Xiamen has actually benefited from the contribution of overseas Chinese and its economy has undertaken great advancement. To promote its tourism industry, it has established not only the corresponding infrastructures, but also a great variety of entertainment centers. The folk customs of the minorities, varied local festivals and especially the particular local dishes and snacks are also appealing to visitors. Xiamen, with distinct oriental culture and southern Fujian features, welcomes you from all over the world.

Xuancheng

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Bank of China Xuancheng Branch: No.22, Aofeng Dong Lu, Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City

China Post Xuancheng Branch: No.10, Huancheng Xi Lu, Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City

Location: Xuancheng City is situated in the southeastern region of Anhui Province, neighboring Huangshan to the south, Chizhou to the west and Wuhu to the north. To the east, it is bordered by Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.

History: As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD), Danyang Shire was established on this region with Wanling (presently Xuanzhou District) as its capital city. Since then, Xuanzhou has been the political, economic and cultural center of administration for two thousand years. However, the name of Xuzhou was changed during the Sui Dynasty (581-618).

Physical Features: The terrain of Xuancheng is varied and complicated, basically sloping downward from the south to the north. Its landform can be approximately divided into five types: Mountain, hill, valley and basin, hillock and plain. The south and southeast regions belong to ranges of Tianmu Mountain, while the southwest and west regions are respectively parts of ranges of Mt. Huangshan and Mt. Jiuhua.

Climate: The city enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate, enjoying four distinct seasons and abundant precipitation. Of the four seasons, summer is the longest. Its annual average temperature falls round 15.6C (60.1F). Most of the rainfall occurs in summer. The plum rain season lasts from mid-June to early July.

When to Go: Xuancheng is favorable for traveling all the year round, especially in May, July, August and October.

Special Local Products: Xuan Paper, Xuan Writing Brush, Hui Ink; bamboo shoot, Xuan pawpaw, Chinese gooseberry, hickory nut, chestnut, Shuidong honey jujube, tea; crab, whitebait and Chinese paddlefish of Nanyi Lake.

Attractions:
Jixi County: Jixi is a well-known cultural town famous for brick, stone and wood carving art in the Hui (short for Anhui) style of architecture, Hui Ink, Hui (Anhui) Cuisine, and old residential houses of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) style.

Scenic Spots in Jixi: Ancestral Temple of the Hu Family, Zhangshan Grand Canyon, Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve.

Other Scenic Spots: Enlong World Wood House Village in Ningguo City, Jingting Mountain, Taiji Cave.

Xianyang

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Administrative Division: 2 districts (Qindu, Weicheng); 10 counties (Sanyuan, Jingyang, Qianxian, Liquan, Yongshou, Changwu, Xunyi, Chunhua, Wugong); 1 county-level city (Xingping)

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 029-33210445
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Location: Located in the central part of Shaanxi Province, Xianyang is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) northwest of Xian with the Weihe River immediately to the south.

History: Xianyang is an ancient capital. The first feudal dynasty in Chinese history, the Qin Dynasty, made it the capital city and planted the seeds of its impressive history. Historically, it once served as the capital for thirteen dynasties, leaving a legacy of twenty-seven tombs of emperors and hundreds of graves of imperial household members.

Physical Features: The northern part of Xianyang is situated on the Loess Plateau, while the south is a part of the Weihe Plain. In general, the terrain gradually falls away from the north to the south.

Climate: Xianyang has a warm temperate continental monsoon climate which features a chilly winter and torrid summer. Overcast and rainy days are most frequent in summer and autumn. Extreme heat may sear the city in summer causing high temperature in excess of 40℃ (104℉).

When to Go: Visitors can choose any time to visit Xianyang. However, avoiding the height of summer and the middle of winter is recommended.

Special Local Products: Xifeng Liquor, Huanggui Thick Wine (Huang Gui Chou Jiu), Amber Candy (Hu Po Tang), and embroidery.

Attractions:
Qian Mausoleum: The mausoleum contains the reposed Emperor Gao Zong of Tang Dynasty (618-907) and his Empress Wu Zetian, the only female monarch in Chinese history. The mausoleum is built against the backdrop of Liangshan Hill, and the tomb design replicates the ancient Chang’an city.

Great Buddha Temple (Da Fo Si): 10 kilometers west of Binxian County, this Buddhist site has stood for over 1,300 years. A total of 130 grottoes on the 400-meter-long rock surface store thousands of Buddha statues of all sizes. Within the temple, the 20-meter-tall Buddha is the most spectacular one.

Other Scenic Spots: Maoling Mausoleum, Zhaoling Mausoleum, Xianyang Museum, Tomb of Crown Prince Yide, Tomb of Crown Prince Zhanghuai, Tomb of Huo Qubing, Tomb of Princess Yongtai

Xi’an

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Were China a tree, Beijing would be the crown while Xian would be its deep roots. As a saying goes: “Go to Shanghai and you will find a 100-year-old China; go to Beijing and you will find a 1000-year-old China; go to Xian and then you will find a 3000-year-old China.” Xian, the cradle of China, is, by any means, on your China travel list.

Historically known as Chang’an, it was home to the ruling house of 13 dynasties, notably, the Qin (221 BC – 207 BC), Han (206 BC – 220 AD), Sui (581 AD – 618 AD) and Tang (618AD – 908AD) Dynasties. The Emperor Qin Shihuang united China for the first time and left Xi’an and the world one of the most extraordinary archeological finds in history – the Terracotta Warriors, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. The city reached its peak in the Tang dynasty, boasting 2 million taxable inhabitants and the largest, most cosmopolitan, settlement in the world during the reign of Xuanzong (712 AD – 756 AD).

Together with Athens, Cairo and Rome, Xian is among the four major ancient civilization capitals of the world. Xian is on the natural westward land route out of China into Central Asia, the starting point and terminus of the Silk Road, which brought the city material wealth as well as religious and cultural melting for over a thousand years.

Surviving monuments open a window to this ancient city. The short-lived totalitarian state of Qin Shihuang is mirrored in the awe-inspiring massed terra-cotta armies of the Terracotta Warriors. The influence of Buddhism is clear from the Wild Goose Pagoda, a chamber for the translation of the Buddhist scriptures by then widely renowned Master Xuan Zang, who returned to China in 645 after 15 years of travel across India and central Asia. Evidence of the flourishing trade along the Silk Routes may be found in the Shaanxi History Museum and Famen Temple. Another reminder of the enduring legacy of the Silk Road is the Great Mosque of Xi’an, presenting a strong Muslim minority, whose faith remains unchanged although their architecture is a mixture of Chinese design and western Islamic tradition.

Today, despite the searing summer heat and freezing winters, Xian is a joy to visit. The central city is pleasantly compact and its grid layout within the city wall makes it easy to navigate. The Bell Tower is the geographical center of Xian, from which four main business streets radiating, North Avenue, South Avenue, West Avenue and East Avenue. With many universities around, Xiao Zhai is popular with youth and students and thus is one of the busiest commercial areas. The ancient streets of Shuyuanmen and Luomashi commercial area are two must-visit places. Actually, sightseeing in and around Xian can keep even the most energetic visitors busy for a week or two.