Beijing to offer 72-hour visa-free stay for transit travellers

Beijing will start a 72-hour visa-free stay policy for citizens of 45 countries in 2013 to boost tourism, Beijing municipal government announced on December 5.

 the Forbidden City, Beijing, China

From Jan. 1, 2013, foreigners from 45 countries, landing in Beijing but destined for other countries, can hold third country visas and plane tickets to apply for a transit without visa (TWOV), at Beijing Capital International Airport. They will be able to stay in Beijing for 72 hours without a Chinese visa.

The 45 countries were listed in accordance with the numbers of inbound overnight visitors in Beijing from 2009 to 2011.

Austria	Hungary	Portugal	Cyprus	Chile
Belgium	Iceland	the Republic of Slovakia	Bulgaria	Australia
the Czech Republic	Italy	the Republic of Slovenia	Romania	New Zealand
Denmark	Latvia	Spain	Ukraine	the Republic of Korea
Estonia	the Republic of Lithuania	Sweden	the United States of America	Japan
Finland	Luxembourg	Swiss	Canada	Singapore
France	the Republic of Malta	Russia	Brazil	Brunei
Germany	the Netherlands	the United Kingdom of Britain	Mexico	the United Arab Emirates
Greece	Poland	the Republic of Ireland	Argentina	Qatar

Beijing Capital International Airport is the only entry-exit port applicable for the policy. And, the 72 hours will be calculated starting from the moment visitors get their transit stay permits.

Transit visitors have to carry identity documents with them while traveling during the 72 hours, and register at a police station with their documents within 24 hours of their arrival. Moreover, they will be not allowed to leave Beijing to other Chinese cities during the 72 hours, and have to depart from Beijing.

The visa-free policy is aimed at making Beijing more accessible to the world; and, more importantly, it is expected to attract more international travelers. Within a three-day stay, people are free to visit Beijing's well-known tourist spots, go shopping, and sample the local cuisine.

Qinghai Lake turns swan lake in winter

Every year, more than 1,000 swans would fly to a wetland beside the Qinghai Lake in northwest China’s Qinghai Province for wintering. This photo, taken on November 27, 2012 by Xinhuanet.com, shows that swans swim in the Qinghai Lake, making it a beautiful “swan lake”.

Swans swin in the Qinghai Lake. 

Qinghai Lake, covering an area of 4,402.5 square kilometres, is the largest inland saltwater lake in China. It is home to 189 species of birds, including bar-headed geese, brown-headed gulls, and swans. It is an excellent place for bird watching.

Swans fly over the Qinghai Lake 

Qinghai Lake is a wintering site for swans, while few other species of bird are present here in the harsh winter months. This year, it has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of swans thanks to government’s effective measures taken to protect the environment.

The New Year Water-Splashing Festival of Dai People in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

The Water-Splashing Festival is the New Year’s celebrations of the Dai ethnic minority in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. Annually, it is held on the 24th to 26th day of the sixth month of the Dai calendar. In Gregorian calendar, the festival always falls in the mid-April, and lasts at least three days. Jinghong, the capital of Xishuangbanna Prefecture, usually celebrates it from April 13 to 15.

Water-Splashing Festival, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

For Dai people, the annual Water-Splashing Festival is the most important holiday. The three-day celebrations are filled with various activities, including dragon-boat races, traditional Dai dances, the launching of rockets, parades and fairs; but water splashing is central to all.

Dragon-boat racing during the festival

About the origin of the festival, legend has it that once upon a time, there was a “demon of fire” who brought all the pains and sufferings to the local people. All the people hatred him, but his magic was too powerful for them to overcome. One day in the sixth month, his seventh wife, who had been kidnapped from the village, tricked him into revealing his weaknesses. As he slept, his wives killed the demon by strangling him with a single hair of his own. Unfortunately, wherever his cut-off head tumbled about, there were raging flames. However, once the head was carried in the arms of one of the girls, the fire would immediately go out. So the girls decided to hold the post in turn, each for one year. At the time of New Year when they switch shifts, local people would gather to splash water on the relieved girl to clean the bloodstains on her body and help her recover from the year-long fatigue.

People splash water and give their best regards to each other.

Ever since, the Dai people have been celebrating the new year by water-splashing to wash away the dirt, sorrow and demons of the old year and bring in the happiness of the new. In the Dai culture, water serves as a symbol of sanctity and brightness. On April 15, 2012, tens of thousands of people throughout the world gathered to celebrate the Water-splashing Festival in Jinghong City. Along the roadsides, in public parks or squares, local people and tourists wearing colorful clothes splashed water and give their best regards to each other. During the festival, everyone is ready for blessing and receiving wishes from others. Foreighers would get special attention so prepare to be drenched all day. Remember, the wetter you get, the more luck you’ll receive.

Miao People's Folk Valentine's Day Opened in SW China

The Sisters Festival, or Valentine’s Day for the Miao ethnic minority in Taijiang County, southwest China’s Guizhou province, kicked off to the sound of Lusheng, a reed-pipe wind instrument, and drumbeats on April 5, 2012.

Girls dressed up at Miao Ethnic Sisters Festival

The three-day fest used to be a dating occasion for young Miao people to find their Mr. or Mrs. Right, but now it is celebrated by more than just hopeful singles.

Wu Li, 34, is a mother of two kids, but she is also very excited about the festival in Taijiang county and got up at 5 a.m. to put on make-up and get ready for the parade.

“Our ethnic costumes and the silver accessories on the head weigh over 5 kgs, but they look so beautiful and I have fun dancing in them,” Wu said.
Besides the parade, the Sisters Meal is a must during the festival. Young women make flower-shaped rice dumplings with keepsakes wrapped inside and serve them to the men they like, as the dumplings are shaped like flowers, so the festival is also known as the “Festival hidden in Flowers.”

Colorful Sister Meal - a must for the festival

Taijiang county is home to 159,000 people, of which the Miao account for 98 percent. For Miao people, the Sisters Festival is one of the most active festivals, and held annually from the 15th to 17th day of the third lunar month. In the festival, young lads and girls sing gentle love songs with soft emotion. It offers a good chance for them to meet and begin their courtship. Girls, who are the center of the festival, would invite their sweet hearts to eat Sister Rice. Also, there are other traditional activities, including canoeing contest, dragon dance, horse racing, and bullfighting.

Miao girls would serve Sister Meal to the men she likes.

(Source from Xinhua)

Qingming Festival Falls on April 4, 2012

Qingming, literally pure and brightness, is the fifth one of 24 solar terms in Chinese lunar calendar. The day represents a welcome transition from winter to spring. With the coming of spring, nature wakes up, dressing the world in green. All is new, clean and fresh. It always comes at April 4 or April 5 each year.

Moreover, it is a festival of remembrance. Chinese people sweep the tombs of their ancestors in a yearly mark of respect. This is why Qingming is also known as the Tomb-Sweeping Day. After slightly sweeping the tombs, people offer food, flowers and favorites of the dead, then burn incense and paper money and bow before the memorial tablet.

Qingming was frequently mentioned in ancient Chinese works, the most famous one is the poem by Du Mu.

清明时节雨纷纷，
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;
路上行人欲断魂。
the mourner’s heart is breaking on his way.
借问酒家何处有？
Where can a wine house are found to drown his sadness?
牧童遥指杏花村。
A cowherd points to  Xing Hua (Almond Flower) Village in the distance.

The Qingming Festival sees a combination of sadness and happiness. In contrast to the sadness of the tomb sweepers, people also enjoy hope of Spring on this day. It is a good time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime.

Qingming is also significant in Chinese Tea Culture since it is the specific day which divides the fresh green tea by their picking dates. A kind of green tea picked and dried before the Qingming Festival is called “Mingqian tea”. Mingqian tea is known for its tender buds and rich fragrant bouquet, and it’s valued for its quality.

For more infos about Qingming Festival, please follow this link:
http://www.easytourchina.com/fact-v355-the-tomb-sweeping-festival

Alice's Tour Journal: Enjoy Quietness in Scenic Baofeng Lake, Zhangjiajie

What impresses me most of this Zhangjiajie tour is Baofeng Lake. It is so tranquil that I felt my mind got totally relaxed. I forgot the busy working days and the disturbing city scenes, when I finally reached these water and mountains, and got into this beautiful landscape painting.

Baofeng Lake with graceful mountains and charming waterway

It is a lake hidden and surrounded by a succession of mountains. We climbed on the steep road, went through the narrow lane, and then saw it. We arrived there late in the afternoon, and there were very few people there, so that we could really enjoy the quietness.

Boating excursion on Baofeng Lake

We were sitting in a boat, imaging sailing for a fairy world. We listened to the Tujia minority girl and boy singing folk songs, watched mandarin ducks swimming in pairs. We also saw a beautiful stone statue, and were told a fairy tale. A girl waited for her boyfriend, who had collected medicinal herbs and disappeared in the mountains. Years and years, she turned into a stone statue.

Silvia’s Hiking along Golden Whip Stream, Zhangjiajie

Before I came to Zhangjiajie city, I have been told that by one of my prior clients Golden Whip Stream was her most favorite place in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Wondering what is the attraction to her.

Beautiful scenery along Golden Whip Stream

Actually it’s different with my imagination. What I expected was “hiking”, which means the road along a stream is bumpy like mountain road. When I came to there, I found that the road is built very well, not too wide but enough for pedestrians. There’s also something interesting on road to please tourists such as short piles, wood suspension bridge and little monkeys. Certainly the views on both sides are amazing.

High and straight trees along the road

Even if it took around 2.5hrs by walking, but we didn’t feel tired. It’s a kind of leisure.

I like those high and straight trees along the road very much. Our guide told us, Golden Whip Stream locates on valley so it’s not easy to meet sunshine. Trees need to grow harder and harder to be tall for more time to enjoy the sunshine each day. Wow, how motivational these trees are.