Monthly Archives: February 2012

Comfier trips to China now available

China is a big country, very big.

The importance of air travel in the nation cannot be underestimated.

Air China has announced a deal with Honeywell Aerospace that will see its new fleet of state-of-the-art Boeing 777-300ER carriers utilise the latest avionic suite, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable flight for those on the holiday of a lifetime.

Those who are embarking on trips to China will most likely be getting on more than the traditional outbound and return flights that many far more boring holidaymakers make do with, so this news will come as a little added bonus.

After all, who could arrive in Beijing and enjoy all the city has to offer such as Tiananmen Square, the Palace of Heaven and the Forbidden City without supplementing that with a few days stay in area like Macau or Hong Kong – as different to Beijing as apples and oranges, or sweet and sour if you prefer.

And that sort of trip can only be made by air.

Once a holidaymaker has touched down (after experiencing newly improved in-flight comfort) in Hong Kong they will not find themselves short of things to do.

The Peak is the island’s most popular attraction. It offers the most stunning views of the area’s harmonic balance between large-scale commercialisation and even larger-scale mountains and seascapes.

A short stay on the Peak Tram to get to the summit is exciting enough. The climb is so steep that as you dodge past Hong Kong’s numerous skyscrapers, they actually look as though they are leaning towards you.

The attraction is not all about the unique views and even those without a head for heights will find that the combination of the Peak Tower, Galleria and Sky Terrace will keep their eyes pealed.

Other highlights in Hong Kong include Victoria Harbour, the giant Buddha on Lantua Island and Global Geopark of China.

Tailor made tours of China could include Fuzhou

The Chinese tourist attractions of Fuzhou are proving to be popular with tourists so far this year.

Those on tailor made tours to the country often have a list of special sites they want to see, be it the Great Wall or the spectacular Hong Kong harbour, but the Fuzhou Province on the east coast of China has many must-see destinations.

Drum Hill is just a short trip for those who stay in the capital city and gives tourists the change to see a unique natural phenomenon. The mountain is shaped like the percussion instrument it takes its name from and curiously, it also manages to produce a sound.

The hill reverberates loudly whenever the weather conditions are right, covering the whole region with the sound of a drum.

Those who prefer their natural features less loud could check out Yu Hill. The attraction is located in the main city of Fuzhou just beneath a colossal statue of Mao Zedong and looked at from below the hill resembles a huge turtle.

Anyone after a bit of Chinese culture on their tailor made tour will want to see the White Pagoda. The temple is situated near the equally awe-inspiring Song Dynasty tomb and is one of the most famous Buddhist venues in the region.

These attractions may be the reason more than 1.77 million visitors swelled into the region over the past 12 months – an increase of 6.57 per cent when compared to 2010′s figures, according to the Information Statistics and Monitoring Center of Fuzhou Municipal Tourism Administration.

The recent Spring Festival was a particularly high point.

All the urban areas in the region put on special celebration for Chinese New Year and the festivals that are associated with it.

The parks in Fuzhou received 811,400 tourists in total, including 200,000 by West Lake Park, 328,000 by Zuohai Park, 52,800 by Minjiang Park and 33,000 by Fuzhou Zoo.

Lugu Lake could be part of a China tour

Those thinking about organising a bespoke China tour this year will need to think long and hard about their itinerary.

Perhaps more than any other country on the face of the earth, China has a plethora of must-see locations.

World-famous cultural attractions such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall will provide the focus of many trips to the country, but tourists may also want to see some of the natural wonders that China has to offer.

One such sight is Lugu Lake.

Found in a beautiful locale spread across both the Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, the lake is more than a body of water. The fertile lands surrounding the lake are the historic home of the Mosuo tribes who settled in the area during the Warring States period.

Now the region is invaded by tourists.

More than 20,000 sought the tranquil destination out during China’s recent spring Festival – a figure that was 60 per cent higher than 12 months earlier.

Holidaymakers may scarcely believe that they are in the same country as huge, bustling conurbations such as Hong Kong of Beijing, as they breathe in the crisp alpine air.

The deep blue waters are enchanting and vast – covering an area of 187 square kilometres.

Lugu Lake is surrounded by 17 beaches and several hot springs and numerous temples that pay homage to the area’s spiritual heritage.

People who decide that the Yunnan Province should be part of their China tour may also want to see the hot spring known as the Boiling Pot.

The naturally-occurring geyser generates temperatures of 97 degrees C and although that is far too hot for the human body, the locals have adapted the spring to boil their meals.

Tourists can see the wonder for themselves by travelling to the Rehai area of the province.