Travel around China

Golden Week Escape to Tonglu, in Zhejiang Province

The week of the Chinese national holiday is called 黄金周, or Golden Week: in China, on the first of October they celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Chinese People’s Republic of China, which is followed by an entire vacation week where schools and offices close and only restaurants and hotels work hard during …

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Traveling to Hubei, Province of the Three Gorges Dam

Lesser Three Gorges Boat Trip032 by Paul B Doherty Traveling to Hubei – Index Why visit Hubei Province? When to visit Hubei? Wuhan – what’s there to see? The city of Jingzhou and Mount Wudang Shennong Jia National Park The city of Yichang Frequently asked questions The capital of Hubei Province (湖北) is Wuhan (武汉). …

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Traveling to Guangdong, the Province of Guangzhou and Shenzhen

Guangdong is the region that best represents Chinese history in recent centuries: it took on the role of a protagonist during the arrival of Europeans in China, it was the base in 1911 where the revolutionary party of Sun Yatsen saw the disintegration of the longest empire in history, was the headquarters of both the …

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Travel to Lanzhou – The Capital on the Shores of the Yellow River

Lanzhou, the capital of the Chinese province of Gansu, as opposed to what many guide books say, is actually a city that is worth visiting. Lanzhou is a modern, clean, and peaceful city filled with history. In addition, even what many reputed websites and guides say (like Wikipedia), Lanzhou is no longer the industrial city …

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Travel to Nanjing – What to do and see in the ex capital of China

Ming Xiaoling, the main entrance Thanks to a three year stay in this city of about eight million inhabitants, and my incurable curiosity on Sunday afternoons, I am ready to share my best recommendations on how to “invest” your time while staying in Nanjing (or Nanchino, in Italian); or, how to also let yourself be …

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Traveling to Shanxi, the Province West of the mountains

The following guide contains a few suggestions on how to plan your trip to the province of Shanxi (literally 山西, where 山 means mountain, and 西 west: west of the mountains). The capital of Shanxi is Taiyuan, a city that’s only two and a half hours away by fast train from the Chinese capital, Beijing. …

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The night market of Wushan Square in Hangzhou (Photo Essays)

It’s funny, here at SDC we published 139 articles so far and none of them talks about Hangzhou. Why I think it’s funny? Because Hangzhou is the city where I spent more time in China, is the city where I’ve learned to speak Chinese (well… cha bu duo), is the city where I took more …

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Borders: From Zhuhai to Macau (Photo Essays)

Despite not being as well known as the one between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, even less-famous Zhuhai has its border checkpoint, Gonbei Port, from which it’s possible to get to Macau (or enter China from Macau). Actually, between Zhuhai e Macau there’s also a second checkpoint, Hengqin, which is mainly just used for the transport of goods. In recent years, travel …

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Tours to Sichuan Tibetan Kham – Our Complete Guide

Tours to Sichuan Tibetan Kham – Index Where is Sichuan Tibetan Kham? Top things to see and do in Sichuan Tibetan Kham Recommended Sichuan Tibetan Kham tours and itineraries Best time to travel to Sichuan Tibetan Kham How to reach the Western Sichuan Kham region Lodging and food in Sichuan Tibetan Kham Travel regulations to …

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4 Reasons Shanghai’s Metro is the Best

Shanghai is home to one of the best metro systems in the world, fulfilling the needs of the city dwellers facing rapid urbanization. Modeled after Hong Kong’s stellar MTR system, Shanghai’s metro network keeps expanding and improving. In the ramp up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, massive infrastructure expansions were seen along China’s coastal …

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Surviving in Laos, useful information for a safe trip

Are you looking for a tour in Laos or Southeast Asia? Click here to find out more about the tours we recommend Laos is universally known as a safe country – even international standards such as the Peace Index list this country among the safest places in Southeast Asia. The population is hospitable and relaxed, …

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From China to Laos, the entrance to Southeast Asia

Are you looking for a tour in Laos or Southeast Asia? Click here to find out more about the tours we recommend Combining a trip to China and Laos on the same visit may seem strange, however it can be a very interesting thematic tour. The Chinese region of Yunnan for climate and environment could easily be …

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Forbidden City

Visiting the Forbidden City – The complete guide

The Forbidden City as seen from Coal to the south. Introduction The residences of kings, sovereigns or emperors that we’re used to seeing in Western countries, though being rich and opulent, are the size of a large palace or at most, especially from pre-Renaissance times, a castle. In China, starting in the late Medieval period, …

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Travel to Heilongjiang, China’s Most Northern and Coldest Province

China’s very own winter-wonderland Heilongjiang, literally meaning “Black Dragon River,” boasts some of my favorite scenery in all of China. If you’re a fan of the cold and appreciate the beauty that snow adds to a landscape, then Heilongjiang is the place for you. In this guide you will find information about: How to reach …

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Non-Panda Related Things to Do in Chengdu

Photos by Kristen Ng Chéngdū (成都), the provincial capital of Sichuan, where the clattering of mahjong blocks fills the air from morning till night. and the evening hours see a ritual emergence of clothed dogs, twist dancers, tai chi troupes, spinning top whippers and China’s ubiquitous herds of dancing ayis. Chengdu is a proud and …

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Huanghua: Tips for Visiting the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the most recommendable places to visit and is without a doubt the must-see tourist attraction when you travel to China. However, the question that many people ask is which part of the Wall should they visit? The Badalin, Mutianyu and Juyongguan sections are the most well-known sections, …

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Kashgar old town – A glance at the Silk Road (Photo Essay)

Kashgar, which was one of the most important oasis along the Silk Road, is situated at the extreme West of Xinjiang Province, between the Taklamakan Desert and the border with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Even if today has about 400,000 people and its newest neighborhoods are similar to many other Chinese cities, Kashgar features one the …

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The Karakorum Highway (Photo Essay)

The Karakoram Highway follows the old Silk Road route between China’s Xinjiang Province and Pakistan’s Gilgit–Baltistan region across the Karakorum. It’s the highest paved international road in the world as the Khunjerab Pass reaches an altitude of 4,693 meters. In September we rented a taxi in Kashgar (I was there with my girl and we …

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