Tag Archives: China

Chinese island Hengqin set to become tourist hotspot

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Helen Li| Leave a comment

Hengqin, an island located off the southern coast off China, is fast becoming a tourism hotspot.

The island is becoming China’s latest holiday destination resort, with a number of major companies such as Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide investing in the region, reports Reuters.

After China announced plans to turn the island into a tourist destination two years, a number of developments have been springing up in Hengqin.

Starwood Hotels has announced that it is planning to build Sheraton and St Regis properties in Hengqin, complete with luxury rooms and top quality amenities.

Within the next year, a number of recreational facilities are scheduled to open up, including a massive shark and whale aquarium, which, at 22,000 cubic metres, is reported to be the largest in the world.

The island will also be the site of the biggest aquatic theme park in Asia and an international business district spanning 5.8 square kilometres.

In addition, developers are working on a large-scale water and land transportation network that will include multiple highways. An undersea tunnel from Macau to Hengqin is expected to be unveiled in 2012.

Although no gambling will be allowed on the island, the destination is expected to be a major draw for foreign visitors planning tailor made holidays to China.

Neighbouring region Macau is expected to benefit from the development of Hengqin into a seaside tourist resort, as it strives to gain more revenue from mass market holidaymakers and reduce its reliance on business travellers.

Zhao Zhen Wu, a Chinese government official working on the development of Hengqin, told Reuters: “In the coming year there will be big changes.

“Hengqin’s investment philosophy is geared to the world, particularly Hong Kong and Macau. We welcome foreign investment, especially from Fortune 500 companies.”

Hengqin, which is a free trade zone, is expecting to attract some 200 billion yuan (£20 billion) in investment by 2015.

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China offers ‘untold amounts of adventure’

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Helen Li| Leave a comment

China has been hailed as an exciting and adventurous honeymoon location for couples who want to explore more than the traditional honeymoon beach resort.

Journalist Michael Greenwood said he and his new wife opted to embark on a holiday in China for their honeymoon because they wanted to explore the vast country and exploit the adventure it offers.

Writing in the Mirror newspaper, Mr Greenwood said his holiday began via the island of Hong Kong, where he and his wife stayed at the luxury InterContinental Hotel for three nights.

He explained that the hotel belied the sense of luxury within and hailed the “pampering palace” for its beautiful infinity pool located on the roof on the building.

The InterContinental Hotel offers a range of sumptuous rooms that afford stunning views of the surrounding cityscape. Couples on a honeymoon who call ahead can get an upgrade to a mini suite.

“With world-class shopping, spectacular bars and restaurants and even a horse racing track in the city, we could see why many people spend their whole honeymoon in Hong Kong,” Mr Greenwood said.

After an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong, Mr Greenwood and his new bride ventured on to mainland China, arriving at the capital city Beijing.

The couple marvelled at the beauty of the city and took in a range of traditional tourist sites and attractions, such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, while sampling the delicious and varied cuisine Beijing has to offer.

“You can’t go to Beijing, once known as Peking, without eating duck,” Mr Greenwood said. “We enjoyed the pricey but spectacular Da Dong restaurant.

“The highlight of Beijing is a visit to the Great Wall. Avoid the section nearest Beijing city – it’s packed with tourists. Instead, take a three-hour bus trip to Simatai, where the wall is crumbling in places.”

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The Great Wall of China remains a fundraising favourite

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Helen Li| Leave a comment

It’s long been a definitive Chinese icon and unmissable destination for visitors – no China tour would be complete without witnessing the Great Wall in the north of the country.

The Great Wall, built and developed in various incarnations since the fifth century BCE, is a site of tremendous cultural and historical importance for China, and continues to be a hugely popular choice for charity fundraisers, adventurers and the plain curious alike.

Insurance firm BGL, for example, will take on the Great Wall next year when a group of 30 employees attempts to raise £105,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care in an eight day trek beginning in capital Beijing, as reported in granthamjournal.co.uk.

The sheer scale of the Great Wall is hard to communicate until you’ve witnessed it yourself, with China package tours offering one of the easiest ways to explore the longest man-made object on earth.

While the myth that the historic structure can be seen from the moon has now been debunked, NASA claims the wall can still be vaguely distinguished from low earth orbit, and photographs seem to back this up.

Suffice to say the Great Wall stretches a staggering 5,500 miles according to the first detailed official survey published in 2009.

To put that into perspective, it’s 500 miles further than the distance Bath native Paul Coyle recently travelled in order to propose to girlfriend, charity fundraiser Liza Harwood, as reported by thisisbath.co.uk.

The edifice reaches from Shanhaiguan in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu Province in the west, traversing a breathtaking array of deserts, plateaus, grassland and mountains, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

Along with Beijing’s Forbidden City and the world famous Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall of China undoubtedly deserves the attention of any visitors to the country.

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US-China Forum on the Arts and China launches in Beijing

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Helen Li| 1 Comment

The first US-China Forum on the Arts and Culture has been held in China in an effort to promote a greater level of artistic cross-cultural dialogue between the two countries.

The forum, which is went on for four days, began in Beijing on Thursday November 17th and saw artists and industry figures convene at the National Center for the Performing Arts to discuss a range of issues including bilateral relations, foreign policy and the arts.

A number of high-profile personalities were present at the event to engage in meaningful discussions with their Chinese counterparts.

The luminaries included best-selling author Amy Tan, who was born in the United States to Chinese parents, American cellist Ma Yo-Yo, who was born in France, and the renowned American film director Joel Coen, who is known for his popular films such as The Big Lebowski, Fargo and Raising Arizona.

Organisers were hoping that the event would encourage more people interested in arts and culture to embark on holidays to China and engage with the various new forms of artistic expression evolving in the country.

Speaking to the Voice of America, Mr Coen said: “It’s really by exposure to a multiplicity of ideas and people that is sort of a catalyst for a lot of innovation or imagination or whatever it is that you want to describe as sort of the bottom [foundation] of the creative process.”

Coen’s film True Grit was screened during the event. The director told reporters during a press conference that China’s artistic and cultural influence is being felt in filmmaking in the US, but maintained that he has no plans as yet to make a film in China.

Also speaking at the launch of the event, Amy Tan said she hopes the forum will enable artists from both countries to develop mutual types of creativity and imagination.

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China to launch new tourism zone

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Helen Li| Leave a comment

A new national tourism zone is set to be launched in north-west China in a bid to promote China tours among foreign visitors.

The Chinese government granted permission for the Dingjun Mountain National Tourism Vacation Zone to be created in the Dingjun mountain region of Mianxian County, Shaanxi Province, on Sunday November 20th, reports the City Channel of CRI Online.

The tourism region is the first of its kind in the north-west part of China and boasts a rich history. It is the site of a well-known battle during the Three Kingdoms period (220 to 280 AD).

Liu Bei, the founder of the Shu Kingdom, won a battle against Cao Cao, the founder of Wei Kingdom in the region, and rose to prominence thereafter.

It is hoped that the new tourism zone will attract the attention of foreign holidaymakers who are interested in improving their knowledge about China’s ancient cultural past.

As well as the historical aspect to the Dingjun Mountains, the region also includes the Moon River hot spring wellness area, which will appeal to those interested in improving their health and fitness in relaxing surroundings.

In addition to this, the area also features the Yanghe River sightseeing area and the Tiandang Buddhism cultural area.

The Dingjun Mountain National Tourism Vacation Zone has earned support from the National Tourism Administration and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Proposals for the Dingjun Mountain National Tourism Vacation Zone were put forward by Mianxian County in July 2010 and now permission has been granted, the zone is expected to help develop the local tourism industry.

China’s first national tourism vacation zones were set up in 1992 after permission was granted by the state council. In total, 12 vacation zones were initially set up, including Taihu Lake in Jiangsu Province and Yalong Bay in Sanya, in Hainan Province.

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Chinese golf resort Mission Hills earns major award

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Helen Li| Leave a comment

Mission Hill, China’s new golf resort on Hainan Island, has been voted golf resort of the year by the International Association of Golf Tourism Operators (IAGTO).

Mission Hills Hainan scooped the title in the rest of the world category, beating off stiff competition from other top golf resorts from around the world.

More than 380 members of the IAGTO from 55 different countries submitted nominations for the best golf resort and were asked to rank establishments on criteria including customer satisfaction, value for money, quality of accommodation and golf courses, and level of service from management staff.

Mission Hills Hainan, which is located some 15 minutes from Haikou Meilan International Airport, was praised for its first-rate amenities, including a five-star hotel featuring 518 rooms, an outdoor water theme park, a top-quality club house and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.

Mission Hills Hainan also boasts a range of spa facilities with 61 different treatment suites, spa villas, 168 hot and cold volcanic mineral springs, themed residential towers and a shopping arcade that stocks designer goods from all over the world.

Peter Walton, chief executive of the IAGTO, said: “Mission Hills China’s success recognises the resort’s continued excellence in delivering a great golfing experience to the golf traveller which is, of course, the ultimate goal for all involved in golf tourism.

“Each year we recognise the performance of three of the world’s leading golf resorts, the flagships of our industry, and it is a pleasure to list Mission Hills as one of these again this year.”

The rising popularity of Mission Hills Hainan is likely to increase demand for China package tours among foreign visitors that want to incorporate sports activities into their holidays.

Tenniel Chu, vice-chairman of Mission Hills Golf Club, said China is rapidly becoming one of the world’s major destinations for golf tourists.

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Zhangping begins to gain attention as a tourist city

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Helen Li| 1 Comment

The small Chinese city Zhangping is beginning to receive more attention as a viable destination for tourists thinking about going on holidays to China.

Located in the south-western part of Fujian province in the south-east of China, Zhangping is increasingly becoming the focus of government investment as officials strive to showcase the region as an attractive tourist location.

According to the City Channel of CRI Online, the local government is embarking on efforts to improve the infrastructure in Zhangping’s industrial park and increase the level of high-quality services on offer in the region.

Zhangping already boasts a number of tourist attractions that could be of interest to potential holidaymakers.

These include the Tiantai National Forest Park, which is a vast expanse of natural land and Jiupengxi, a national four-A tourism site.

Zhanging is a national agricultural pilot area and a wide selection of flowers, vegetables, fruits, tea and bamboo grow in the area. The city is especially known for its delicious local teas, which include Taiwan Gaoshan tea, narcissus tea and Guantian Tieguan tea.

As well as the area’s outstanding natural beauty, it also benefits from excellent and convenient transport links, making it an ideal tourism spot.

The Chinese government is also embarking on a campaign to promote Zhangping as an area for corporate investment.

Officials are planning to launch an investment zone in the area and introduce key sectors such as electronics, manufacturing and solar panels.

Over the next five years, Zhangping plans to focus primarily on the mining, textile, building materials and machinery industries and improve its energy development, farming, forest products processing and chemicals industries.

As it improves its business environment, Zhangping also plans to pay particular attention to its ecological tourism and expand its cultural and creative industries in an effort to promote the region as a globally-friendly city.

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Luxury cruise ship makes maiden voyage in China

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Helen Li| Leave a comment

A luxury sightseeing cruise ship is scheduled to make its maiden voyage on Friday November 18th.

The Golden Imperial Court ship, which was made by the Chongqing Huidong Shipping Limited Company, will depart on its maiden voyage from Chongqing in the south-western region of China, reports CriEnglish.com.

Passengers enjoying holidays in China on the ship will be able to take in the beautiful surroundings around Chongqing and view the stunning landscapes along the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.

Hailed as one of China’s most luxurious ships, the Golden Imperial Court is 60 metres long, 16 metres tall and 16 metres wide, and has the capacity to hold around 600 passengers.

The vessel costs around 33 million yuan (£3.2 million) and is fully equipped with a lift. It is said to be the first of its kind in China.

Featuring an elaborate design of red and gold, the ship showcases an architectural design that is reminiscent of an ancient Chinese imperial court. It is adorned with two large phoenixes and dragons that are positioned at the front of the ship and emit either fire or water at night time.

Chen Jinbi, board chairman of the Chongqing Huidong Shipping Limited Company, said the Golden Imperial Court is designed to meet the exacting standards of a luxury five star hotel.

The interior of the ship exudes top quality luxury and features stunning polished marble floors, winding staircases, intricately designed balconies and sumptuous chandeliers.

It is hoped that the Golden Imperial Court ship will attract more tourists to the region and encourage more high net worth individuals interested in luxury tourism to travel to China.

There are currently seven sightseeing ships operating at the point where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet in Chongqing. The latest addition is expected to boost tourism to the region even further.

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DoubleTree by Hilton launches new hotel in China

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Helen Li| Leave a comment

DoubleTree by Hilton has announced the launch of a major new luxury hotel resort in China.

This latest addition to its collection of hotels features 284 rooms and is located in the central part of Chongqing GuanYinQiao.

The launch represents the seventh opening of a resort by the company as it moves to capitalise on affluent tourists embarking on luxury holidays to China.

The hotel is likely to be a popular choice with foreign holidaymakers because it is located next to the BeiChengTianJie commercial and recreational promenade and is connected to the luxury Starlight 68 shopping mall, which features a host of designer consumer goods.

It is also near the Sincere Centre Office Building and is a ten-minute drive to the Chongqing North Railway Station, which connects tourists to other parts of the country.

Guests at the new development will be able to take advantage of the brand’s signature services, such as the custom of presenting chocolate chip cookies to new arrivals upon check-in, first-rate amenities and the rewards of the Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme.

Rob Palleschi, global head of DoubeTree by Hilton, said: “With strong demand and an increasing affinity for international brands in China, the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Chongqing North is a proud moment as we continue to experience one of the most robust global development pipelines in our brand’s history.”

He added that the hotel will be a welcome new addition to resorts currently on offer across Chongqing and China at large.

Martin Rinck, president of Hilton Worldwide Asia Pacific, said the new development in Chongqing features “outstanding” hospitality, modern guest rooms and a convenient location and represents exactly the type of development it plans to establish in other cities beyond the eastern seaboard.

DoubleTree by Hilton currently operates hotels in Beijing, Huaqiao, Qingdao-Chengyang, Sanya-Haitang Bay, Wuxi and Wuxi-Lingshan.

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Wales looks to establish direct air route to China

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Helen Li| 1 Comment

Wales has embarked on a preliminary campaign to increase travel to China among local citizens.

The country’s first minster Carwyn Jones looking into whether it will be possible to establish a direct airline route from Wales to China in order to facilitate easier travel between the two countries, reports Wales Online.

As part of the campaign to foster easier travel between Wales and China, the Welsh government is looking to identify possible airlines that will be able to operate such a direct route.

The Welsh government has taken part in a series of discussions with a number of airlines to operate a direct route to China.

As part of any deal, the Welsh government may be called upon to provide a level of financial commitment to help protect a chosen airline from incurring any losses within the first few years of operation while it tries to build up a reliable consumer base.

Mr Jones said a direct air link between Wales and China would be instrumental in attracting more Chinese investment opportunities to Wales and allowing local businesses to explore various export options in China.

A direct air route would also help increase the popularity of China tours and make it easier for people based in Wales to travel to China on holiday.

“It is important we create trade opportunities through links between Wales and western China,” Mr Jones told Wales Online.

“However, it has got to be relatively easy to be able to travel between western China and Wales and making sure that happens is a key priority for us.

“There are currently no direct links at all between Chongqing and the UK. It is at an early stage, but we are moving forward on this.”

China’s biggest airline Air China recently announced that it has introduced a new in-flight Wi-Fi internet service for its passengers.

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