Sarina's wonderful tour to Mutianyu Great Wall

Sarina and Silvia, two travel specialists from EasyTourChina.com, had made study trips to Xi”an, Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhuo in mid-Noverber 2012.

The Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders in the world. The Great Wall was originally built for defense and plays a significant role in China’s history. Like a gigantic dragon, it winds up and down across mountains, grasslands, plateaus and deserts, stretching thousands of miles from east to west of China.
There is an old saying said well “Until you reach the Great Wall, you’re no hero”. A wonderful tour to the Great Wall is a must for your trip to China. The famous sections of the Great Wall include the Badaling, Huanghuacheng, Mutianyu, Jiankou, Gubeikou, Jinshanling and Simatai. In all of these, I prefer to visit Mutianyu Great Wall as it is less visited and more beautiful compared with other sections.


Mutianyu Great Wall in Autumn (Photographed by Sarina Wei in Middle November, 2012). 


Less visited and more beautiful (Mutianyu Great Wall)


The pride of every Chinese — Great Wall, China.


My Soul with the Great Wall.

Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival 2013

The 29th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on January 5, 2013. This year, it will last to February 28th. The annual event brings a sparkling winter wonderland to the city of Harbin; and millions of tourists from all over the world brave the chilly temperatures to experience it.

The event, as one of the world's four major ice and snow festivals, features a wide range of ice-related activities including ice sculpture competition, ice lantern, skiing, winter swimming competition, sledding, and much more. There are three main exhibition areas namely Harbin Ice and Snow World, Sun Island Scenic Area and Zhaolin Park.

Harbin Ice and Snow World
Harbin Ice and Snow World is the largest ice and snow park in the city, which is nicknamed "the Ice Disneyland". This year, it features majestic ice castles and sculptures of fairytale characters. While the white sculptures look spectacular during the day, they are even more magical at night thanks to the bright LED lights that are embedded inside. It presents a colorful and warm aura to the icy wonderland.


Sun Island Scenic Area
During the festival, the Sun island scenic area has been turned into a massive exhibition ground for snow sculptures in all shapes and sizes. These snow art works range from life-size human figures, animals, mythical creatures, to huge buildings of different types and styles.


Zhaolin Park
The international ice lantern festival held here offers visitors a chance to appreciate the best ice and snow artworks in the world. When the night falls, the park becomes a glittery world with beautiful ice lanterns resplendent with different colors. Modern techniques endow the lanterns with light, sound and action.

Silvia's tour journal: Savor the unique flavor of Beijing Douzhir

This tour journal was writen by Silvia, a travel specialist from EasyTourChina.com. In mid-Noverber, she had made study trips to Xi’an, Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhuo.

Before I went to Beijing, I have heard many times about one local drink – Douzhir (Fermented soybean milk). Local Beijingers like this drink very much and most of them drink it every day, but people from outside Beijing are not used to it and think it smelly and rancid. Because of this, drinking Douzhir becomes a mark of Beijingers. Anyway, no matter how terrible it is, I decided to have a taste.

Lao Ciqikou Douzhir Dian, Beijing restaurant

Our friend in Beijing recommended a snack shop to us which has a history of tens years – Lao Ciqikou Douzhir Dian. This shop locates at North exit of Temple of Heaven, so after the visit to Temple of Heaven, we went to this shop. It was easy to find it out as there were many people standing in line there. Finally we got our Douzhir and its mate Jiaoquan (fried flour ring), some pickled mustard tuber. Firstly, wow, it tasted really different with soybean milk. I still didn’t know why Beijingers like this. Secondly, I didn’t like to waste food, so drank it up slowly. At last, I said it might be not that bad. A lady who shared a table with us recognized that we were tourists from other province; we were told that she started to drink Douzhir when she was a little girl and now couldn’t leave it anymore. Also, she insisted that Douzhir was very good to health.

Douzhir, Beijing snack food

Douzhir, Beijing snack food

It was interesting to taste local food and we thought food was a very important part of our trip. Douzir, maybe one day I will be addicted to you.

Silvia's wonderful cycling tour on ancient city wall of Xian

This tour journal was writen by Silvia, a travel specialist from EasyTourChina.com. In mid-Noverber, she had made study trips to Xi’an, Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou.

When I arrange Xi’an tour for my clients, the attraction I would like to put in mostly isAncient City Wallbesides Terra Cotta Warriors, and usually clients like it.

Ancient City Wall, Xian

Ancient City Wall is the first landmark visitors will encounter in Xi’an, stretches round the old city. It’s very special among China there’s a completed and occlusive wall in city center. When I rode bicycle on the wall with very warm sunshine in Winter, I felt that it was really an enjoyment, leisure and free. Cycling on City Wall is amazing way to overlook Xi’an. On the way I saw people doing exercise in river bank parks, the railway station and Muslim quarters with ancient style house, even the Guangren Lama Temple. Most buildings inside the circle of city wall are ancient style or very short, but the outside building are very high and modern. I thought that’s like taking time boat.

Cycling on Ancient City Wall of Xian

Xian Ancient City Wall

The round trip cycling took around 2hrs, much less if you are not crazy interested in photos, surely we enjoy every minute.

Silvia's wonderful cycling tour on ancient city wall of Xian

This tour journal was writen by Silvia, a travel specialist from EasyTourChina.com. In mid-Noverber, she had made study trips to Xi’an, Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou.

When I arrange Xi’an tour for my clients, the attraction I would like to put in mostly isAncient City Wallbesides Terra Cotta Warriors, and usually clients like it.

Ancient City Wall, Xian

Ancient City Wall is the first landmark visitors will encounter in Xi’an, stretches round the old city. It’s very special among China there’s a completed and occlusive wall in city center. When I rode bicycle on the wall with very warm sunshine in Winter, I felt that it was really an enjoyment, leisure and free. Cycling on City Wall is amazing way to overlook Xi’an. On the way I saw people doing exercise in river bank parks, the railway station and Muslim quarters with ancient style house, even the Guangren Lama Temple. Most buildings inside the circle of city wall are ancient style or very short, but the outside building are very high and modern. I thought that’s like taking time boat.

Cycling on Ancient City Wall of Xian

Xian Ancient City Wall

The round trip cycling took around 2hrs, much less if you are not crazy interested in photos, surely we enjoy every minute.

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.