Asia
China
China isn't a country - it's a different world. Unless you have a couple of years and unlimited patience, it's best to follow a loose itinerary here, such as following the Silk Road, sailing down the Yangzi River, or exploring the Dr Seuss landscape of Guangxi Province.
From shop-till-you-drop metropolises to the desert landscapes of Xinjiang, China is a land of cultural and geographic schisms. It's not that it has completely done away with its Maoist past - it's more that the yin of revolutionary zeal is being balanced by the yang of economic pragmatism.
Travel Warning: Olympic Games Security - Earthquake - Restricted Travel - Guidebooks Confiscated
Security procedures upon arrival in China have started to tighten in the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games, to be held from August 6-24. Travellers should be aware that the some visa issuing details and procedures are subject to change due the Games.
An earthquake measuring 7.9 in magnitude struck China's southwestern Sichuan province on 12 May, killing more than 67,000 people, injuring thousands more, leaving more than five million homeless, and causing massive damage to buildings, bridges and roads. Travellers are advised to avoid the affected area if at all possible, which continues to suffer strong aftershocks and serious mudslides.
Following violent pro-Tibet riots in Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Yunnan provinces in March, travellers are advised to check with their government advisory agency before visiting these areas, which may be closed to foreigners in the lead-up to the Olympic Games.
Travellers entering China by road or rail across the southeastern border, particularly the Vietnamese frontier, report that Lonely Planet China guidebooks have been confiscated by border officials. This is due to sensitivity regarding maps of China that do not include Taiwan. Travellers should consider putting a cover on the book to make it less recognisable and just to be safe, copy down any crucial details you might need while in the country.
When to Go
Spring (March-April) and autumn (September-October) are the best times to visit China, though the higher altitude areas of Tibet, Qinghai and Western Sichuan are best visited in high summer (June-September). Daytime temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C (68°F-86°F) in these seasons - but bear in mind that nights can still be bitterly cold and it can sometimes be wet and miserable. Major public holidays, in particular Chinese New Year, are best avoided as it's difficult to get around and/or find accommodation.
Weather
The climate for this Asian behemoth is understandably varied and ranges from bitterly cold to unbearably hot, and a whole lot in between. Your average winter day in the north might reach -8°C (17°F) if you're lucky and yet sit in the low thirties (high eighties) in summer around July. The central Yangzi River valley area also experiences extreme seasonal temperatures. In the far south, the hot and humid summer lasts from April to September and, as in north China, coincides with the wettest weather. Typhoons can hit the southeast coast between July and September. The northwest experiences dry, hot summers, with China's nominated hottest place - Turpan - receiving maximums of around 47°C (117°F). Winters here are as formidably cold as in the rest of northern China.
Events
Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival) starts on the first day of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in February. Although it officially lasts only three days, many people take a week off. Ear plugs are handy at this time to dull the firecracker assaults, and prices of hotel rooms tend to go through the roof. Try not to travel during Chinese New Year or the week-long May 1 or National Day holidays, when tens of millions of Chinese are on the move. The Lantern Festival isn't a public holiday, but it's big and it's colourful. It falls on the 15th day of the 1st moon (around mid-February to mid-March) and marks the end of the New Year celebrations. The famous lion dances occur throughout this period. Tomb Sweeping Day is in April, and sees Chinese families spend the day tending the graves of departed loved ones. Hong Kong hosts one of the liveliest annual Chinese celebrations - the Dragon Boat Festival. Usually held in June, the festival honours the poet Qu Yuan and features races between teams in long ornate canoes. Many Westerners take part in the races, but plenty of practice is needed to get all the paddles working as one.
Special prayers are held at Buddhist and Taoist temples on full-moon and sliver-moon days. Temple and moon-based festivities include Guanyin's Birthday (late March to late April), Mazu's Birthday (May or June), Water-Splashing Festival (mid-April), Ghost Month (late August to late September), Mid-Autumn Festival (September or October) and the Birthday of Confucius (28 September). China's minority regions host some of the best festivals, from the dramatic monastery dances of Tibet and Western Sichuan to the stunningly costumed festivities of the Miao (Hmong) people of Guizhou.
Currency Name:
Yuan Renminbi
Symbol:
Y
The Bank of China issues RMB bills in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 50 and 100 yuan. Counterfeit notes are a problem in China. Very few Chinese will accept a Y50 or Y100.00 note without first checking to see whether or not it's a fake. Notes that are old, tattered or torn are also sometimes hard to spend. You can exchange notes for new ones at the Bank of China - counterfeits, however, will be confiscated. Local Chinese have a variety of methods for checking notes, including checking the watermark, the drawn lines (more distinct in fake notes) and colour (more pronounced in counterfeit notes). The texture of a fake note also tends to be smoother than authentic notes. Examine large denomination notes if given to you as change by street vendors; they could well be dumping a forged banknote on you.
Coins come in denominations of one yuan, five mao, one mao and five fen. Paper versions of the coins remain in circulation.
Changing Your Money
Foreign currency and travellers cheques can be changed at the main branches of the Bank of China, the tourist hotels, Friendship Stores and some department stores. Hotels usually charge the official rate. You will need to keep your exchange receipts if you want to change any of your remaining RMB at the end of your trip. Travellers cheques are the best option because they are safer and the exchange rate is more favourable than that for cash; Thomas Cook, American Express and Visa are most commonly accepted. If you have to exchange cash, stay away from less reputable sources that may try and slip you counterfeit notes.
Money Tips
All four- and five-star hotels and some top-end restaurants add a tax or 'service charge' of 10% or 15%, which extends to the room and food; all other consumer taxes are included in the price tag.
Generally, eastern China is much more expensive than the western part of the country. Visitors to eastern China could get by on around US$50.00 a day, but it would be a challenge. Budget travellers in western China should be able to keep costs down to US$25.00 per day. The main drain on savings tends to be long train journeys. Food is cheap throughout China, and if you're careful you won't have to spend much more than US$7.00 a day on meals. However, the bottom line is that you'll be charged the 'tourist price' a lot of the time.
Sample Price Guide
food court meal
Y 16
American hamburger
Y 12
sending postcard overseas
Y 4
internet cafe per hour
Y 2
pack of 20 cigarettes
Y 3
small bottle of beer from corner shop
Y 2
draught pint of local beer from a bar
Y 10
International Herald Tribune
Y 23
city bus ticket
Y 1
pirated dvd
Y 8
litre of petrol
Y 3
small bottle of water
Y 2
souvenir t-shirt
Y 25
Street snack - large lamb kebab
Y 2
Average Room Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe
US$25-35 US$35-100 US$100-300 US$300+
Average Meal Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe
US$1-5 US$5-10 US$10-25 US$25+
Tipping
Tipping is not really expected in mainland China.
Money & Costs
For most travellers plastic should do the job, with ATM locations growing surely but steadily in the more sizeable cities. Credit cards are also gaining ground in China, with Visa, MasterCard, American Express (branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen), JCB and Diners Club the most common. Cards can be used in most mid to top-range hotels, Friendship and department stores, but cannot be used to finance your transportation costs. If cards aren't an option then cash will never fail and exchanging currency is relatively easy. Out in the west and in the countryside bring a mixture of cash and travellers cheques. Counterfeit notes are a problem so make sure when using cash you examine large denomination notes when given to you as change from street vendors.
Getting There
Despite over 115 ports of entry and exit, most visitors to China travel via Hong Kong, Shanghai or Beijing. The national carrier is Air China, which also operates a company called Dragonair as a joint venture with the Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific (bookable through Cathay Pacific worldwide). If you are leaving China by air, there's a departure tax of Y90.00 , payable only in local currency, so be sure you have enough yuan to avoid a last-minute scramble at the airport moneychanging booth. However, there are plans to include this in the price of the air ticket so check before you fly.
You can travel to China and back from Europe or Asia without having to leave the ground. Exotic routes include Laos-China, the Trans-Siberian railway, Tibet-Nepal and Xinjiang-Kazakstan - but don't even think about bringing your own car, as foreigners are rarely allowed to drive in China. Other entry points include Zhuhai-Macau, Kashgar-Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan, via the Torugart or Irkeshtam passes), Beijing-Pyongyang (North Korea) and Pinxiang/Hekou-Dong Dang/Lao Cai (Vietnam). You can take a slow boat to China from Japan or South Korea. Popular places to sail to and from include Shanghai, Xiamen (opposite Taiwan), Tanggu (near Tianjin), Macau and - of course - Hong Kong.
Getting Around
Now that private carriers have been allowed to set up operations in China, the Civil Aviation Adminsitration of China CAAC) has assumed the role of 'umbrella organisation' over airlines including China Eastern, China Southern, China Northern, Great Wall, Yunnan Airlines and several others. Discounting is common. There is an airport tax of Y50.00 payable on all domestic flights.
Long-distance buses are one of the best means of getting around on the ground; they're frequent and cheap (which also translates as crowded and stuffy) but there are extensive services, passable roads and interesting towns and villages en route. An even better mode is the train, which reaches into every province (including Tibet from July 2006) along a 52,000km (32,311mi) network. It's cheap, relatively fast and a safer proposition than buses; the only dangers on the trains are getting your luggage pinched or dying from shock at the state of the toilets.
As land transport improves, the romantic days of domestic boat travel are fading. But there are still a number of popular boat trips to be had between Hong Kong and the mainland. The best known river trip is the three-day cruise along the Yangzi River from Chongqing to Wuhan.
Taxis cruise most city streets; while most cabs have meters, they usually only get switched on by accident. Motorcycle taxis, motor-tricycles and/or pedicabs hunt in packs around most major train and bus stations. They're a motley bunch, but they're cheap and useful if you don't mind sudden traffic-induced adrenalin rushes. But really, once you've settled in somewhere, the best way to get around is by renting a bike and joining the pedalling throng.
History
Pre-20th-Century History
The Chinese claim a history of 5000 years. The first dynasty, the Xia, is yet to be archaeologically verified but is accepted as lasting from 2200 to 1700 BC, and is described in legends as having been preceded by a succession of god-like sovereigns who bestowed the gifts of life, hunting and agricultural knowledge. The existence of ensuing dynasties is similarly hazy, but clarity increases with each era, revealing agricultural societies who practised ancestor worship.
The Zhou period (1100-221 BC) saw the emergence of Confucianism and the establishment of the 'mandate of heaven' whereby the right to rule was given to the just and denied to the evil and corrupt, leading to the later Taoist view that heaven's disapproval was expressed through natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and insect plagues.
The Chinese were united for the first time during the Qin dynasty (221-207 BC). The dynasty standardised the writing system and completed construction of the Great Wall. The ensuing Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) featured much military conflict and the creation of the Three Kingdoms. Curiously, these war-torn centuries also saw the flowering of Buddhism and the arts.
Unity arose out of the chaos under the Sui dynasty (581-618) and was consolidated under the Tang (618-907), commonly regarded as the most glorious period of Chinese history. Military conquests re-established Chinese control of the silk routes and society was 'internationalised' to an unprecedented degree. Buddhism flourished under the Tang, splitting into two distinct schools: the Chan (Zen) and Pure Land (Chinese Buddhist).
The Song dynasty (960-1279) was marked by a revival of Confucianism and urban and commercial revolutions - it was during the 13th century that Marco Polo commented on the grand scale of China's prosperous cities. Genghis's grandson Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty (1206-1368) established a capital at what is now Beijing and militarised the nation's administration. The novice Buddhist Hongwu established the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), with capitals at Beijing ('Northern Capital') and Nanjing ('Southern Capital') .
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in China, anchoring off the coast in 1516. A trade mission was established in Macau by 1557, but it was not until 1760 that other powers gained secure access to Chinese markets via a base in Guangzhou. Trade flourished, but in China's favour, as British purchases of silk and tea far outweighed Chinese purchases of wool and spices. In 1773 the British decided to balance the books by encouraging the sale of opium. By 1840 the Opium Wars were on.
The resulting treaties signed in British favour led to the cession of Hong Kong and the signing of the humiliating Treaty of Nanking. A subsequent land-grabbing spree by Western powers saw China carved up into spheres of influence. The Chinese agreed to the US-proposed free-trade Open Door Policy and all of China's colonial possessions soon evaporated, with Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia falling to the French, Burma to the British, and Korea and Taiwan to Japan.
Modern History
The first half of the 20th century was a period of utter chaos. Intellectuals searched for a new philosophy to replace Confucianism, while warlords attempted to grab imperial power. Sun Yatsen's Kuomintang (KMT, or Nationalist Party) established a base in southern China and began training a National Revolutionary Army (NRA). Meanwhile, talks between the Soviet Comintern and prominent Chinese Marxists resulted in the formation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1921. Hopes of the CCP aligning with the KMT were dashed by Sun Yatsen's death and the rise from the KMT of Chiang Kaishek in Beijing, who favoured a capitalist state supported by a military dictatorship.
The communists were split between those who focused on urban revolt and those who believed victory lay in uniting the countryside. Mao Zedong established his forces in the mountains of Jinggang Shan, and by 1930 had marshalled a guerrilla army of 40,000. Chiang mounted four Communists extermination campaigns, each time resulting in communist victories. Chiang's fifth campaign was very nearly successful because the communists ill-advisedly met the KMT head-on in battle. Hemmed in, the communists retreated from Jiangxi north to Shaanxi - the Long March of 1934. En route the communists armed peasants and redistributed land, and Mao was recognised as the CCP's paramount leader.
In 1931 the Japanese took advantage of the chaos in China and invaded Manchuria. Chiang Kaishek did little to halt the Japanese, who by 1939 had overrun most of eastern China. After WWII, China was in the grip of civil war. On 1 October 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed the foundation of the People's Republic of China (PRC), while Chiang Kaishek fled to Taiwan. The USA continued to recognise Chiang as the legitimate ruler of China.
The PRC began its days as a bankrupt nation, but the 1950s ushered in an era of great confidence. The people were bonded by the Korean War, and by 1953 inflation had been halted, industrial production was restored to prewar levels, the redistribution of land had been carried out and the first Five Year Plan had been launched. The most tragic consequence of the Party's dominance was the 'liberation' of Tibet in 1959. Beijing oversaw the enforced exile of the Tibetan spiritual leader and initiated the genocide of a precious culture. To this day hundreds of monasteries still lie in ruins.
The next plan was the Great Leap Forward, aimed at jump-starting the economy into first-world standards. Despite oodles of revolutionary zeal, the plan was stalled by inefficient management coupled with floods, droughts and, in 1960, the withdrawal of all Soviet aid. The Cultural Revolution (1966-70) attempted to draw attention away from these disasters by increasing Mao's personal presence via his Little Red Book of quotations, purging opponents and launching the Red Guard. Universities were closed, intellectuals were killed, temples were ransacked and reminders of China's capitalist past were destroyed.
Beijing politics were divided between moderates Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping and radicals and Maoists led by Mao's wife, Jiang Qing. The radicals gained the upper hand when Zhou died in 1976. Hua Guofeng, Mao's chosen successor, became acting premier. Public anger at Jiang Qing and her clique culminated in a gathering of protesters in Tiananmen Square, and a brutal crackdown led to the disappearance of Deng, who was blamed for the 'counter-revolutionary' gathering. Deng returned to public life in 1977, eventually forming a six-member Standing Committee of the CCP.
With Deng at the helm, and the signing of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, China set a course towards economic reconstruction, although political reform was almost nil. General dissatisfaction with the Party, soaring inflation, corruption and increased demands for democracy led to widespread social unrest, typified by the demonstrations of 1989 that resulted in the bloody Tiananmen Square massacre.
Recent History
With the handover of Hong Kong and Macau, China's 'one country, two systems' plan shifted up a gear. Jiang Zemin's leadership charted a new course based on economic growth; overseeing the admission of China into the World Trade Organisation and guiding Beijing to success in the 2008 Olympics bid. His successor, Hu Jintao is set to follow the path of economic modernisation more aggressively still. Continued civil rights abuses, official corruption and the stagnant rural economy are the sharpest thorns in the country's side, but membership of the World Trade Organisation was a great leap forward - though probably not one Chairman Mao would have envisaged.
The biggest barrier to the 'One China' model is the tiny rogue island of Taiwan, which has agreed in principle to the model but paradoxically interprets it in its idiosyncratic, Taiwanese way. China has retorted with rhetoric about 'brothers and sisters' and, just to prove that all families have their problems, have backed it up with a show of military muscle. It's the equivalent of a Chinese burn administered by an older and stronger brother.
China's economy continues to expand at an astounding rate and with such growth comes the increased demand for energy (12% of the globe's and growing), pressure on the environment and widening gap between the flourishing south and east-coast provinces and the less developed inland areas. Beijing has attempted to deal with these issues; opening the massive Three Gorges Dam hydro-electric scheme in 2006 and launching a Develop the West campaign to lure investment into the hinterland. Rural China has seen an upsurge in protests and demonstrations, often targeted at corrupt officials. The government retains a tight grip on the nation's media, building the so-called 'Great Firewall of China' to filter the internet. As the Beijing Olympics approach, China's less than commendable human rights record, typified by its treatment of Falun Gong members and its pursuit of trade and political links with international pariahs such as Myanmar and North Korea are both coming under international scrutiny.
Japan
When to Go
Spring (March to May), with its clear skies and cherry blossoms, is probably the most celebrated Japanese season, but the Golden Week period, which is 29 April to 7 May, is a holiday period for the Japanese and many of the more popular travel destinations tend to be flooded with domestic tourists. Autumn (September to November) is a great time to travel: the temperatures are pleasant, and the autumn colours in the countryside are fantastic. Mid-winter (December to February) can be very cold, while the sticky summer months (June to August) can turn even the briefest excursion out of the air conditioning into a soup bath; on the plus side, major tourist attractions will generally be quieter at these times of the year. It's also worth considering peak holiday seasons when you plan your trip. Moving around and finding accommodation during New Year, Golden Week and the midsummer O-Bon festival can be a real headache.
Weather
Affected by seasonal wind reversal from the southerly monsoon, Japan has a quite different climate to its Asian neighbours of the same latitude. You can expect the warmer temperatures of the south to cool as you move north so that the average July day is about 28°C (83°F) around the southern islands and only 23°C (73°F) near Hokkaido. Most of the year, the climate is moderate, but in winter it's cold throughout most of the country, with the exception of southern Kyūshū and Okinawa. Rainfall varies across the nation but is quite regular the year round and usually just a bit heavier during the June rainy season (which misses Hokkaidō).
Events
Expect a total sell-out for travel and lodging during Japan's biggest holidays, New Year (December 29 to January 3) and Golden Week (the lumping together of Green Day, Constitution Day and Children's Day, from April 29 to May 7). Other festivals include Coming-of-Age Day (second Monday in January), when ceremonies are held for boys and girls who have reached the age of 20. The Japanese celebrate the end of winter on February 3 or 4 by indulging in Setsubun (bean throwing) while chanting 'in with good fortune, out with the devils'. Hanami (Blossom Viewing) usually runs from March to April; the romantic Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival) is on July 7; and O Bon (Festival of the Dead), when lanterns are floated on rivers, lakes or the sea to signify the return of the departed to the underworld, takes place from July 13-16 and mid-August.
Kyoto's Gion Matsuri (July 17) is perhaps the most renowned of all Japanese festivals. The climax is a parade of massive man-dragged floats decked out in incredible finery, harking back to a 9th-century request to the gods to end a plague sweeping the city. In the cute and kooky department, Niramekko Obisha (January 20; Chiba) combines a staring contest with consumption of sake - the one with the straightest face wins. The Yah-Yah Matsuri (first Sunday to the following Saturday of February; Owase) is an argument contest: competitors scream Samurai chants and try to look fearsome. Afterwards, they take off all their clothes and jump in the ocean. White Day (March 14) is a bizarre follow up to Valentine's Day where men are supposed to reciprocate to their valentine with a gift of chocolate or marshmallow. For those into music, the Fuji Rock Festival is held over three days in late July at the Naeba Ski Resort in northwest Japan. This festival boasts an awesome lineup of local and international bands playing against a mountain backdrop.
Sights
Japan is such a kaleidoscopic jumble of ritual and history, neo-this and mega-that, full-colour countercultures, verdant islands and urban wastelands, past scars and future dreams, gardens, shrines and glittering cities that the only trouble will be fitting it all in. Back to the Top
Money & Costs
Cash is still king in Japan, although the use of credit cards is pretty widespread in major cities for purchases in department stores and hotels. The Japanese are used to a very low crime rate and often carry wads of cash for the almost sacred ritual of cash payment. Foreign travellers can safely copy the cash habit, but should still take the usual precautions.
Currency, Changing Your Money, Money Tips, Price Guide, Tipping
Currency
Name
Japanese yen
Symbol
¥
Banknotes come in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 yen (the 2000 yen notes are very rarely seen).
Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen. The ¥1 coin is an aluminium lightweight coin, the ¥5 and ¥50 coins have a punched hole in the middle (the former is coloured bronze and the latter silver). Note that some vending machines do not accept older ¥500 coins (a South Korean coin of much less value was often used in its place to rip off vending machines).
Changing Your Money
You can change cash or travellers cheques at an 'Authorised Foreign Exchange Bank' or at major post offices and some of the large hotels and stores but few other places. US dollars are preferred; trying to exchange Taiwanese or Korean currency is a fruitless task. The majority of ATMs do not accept foreign-issued bank cards, although post office ATMs are an exception. Look out for the Cirrus or Plus logos or check with your bank before departure.
Money Tips
Japan is one the most expensive countries in Asia, if not the world for travel, but there are ways of keeping the outlays to a just-about bearable level. A skeleton daily budget, assuming you stay in the cheapest hostels, eat modestly and travel short distances, would work out to US$60.00 . Add about US$10.00 for extras like snacks, drinks, admission fees and entertainment. Staying in business or deluxe hotels and eating in pricey restaurants can easily have the ticker tipping US$200.00 . Long-distance travel is a real budget buster in Japan - if you intend to travel around to different places, it's well worth investing in a Japan Rail Pass. At the other end of the spectrum, high rollers will have no problems off-loading their cash. Japan specialises in establishments catering to the ostentatious flattery of business accounts - the higher the bill, the greater the prestige of the guests.
Sample Price Guide
litre of milk
190
12 eggs
300
cheap bowl of noodles
400
average temple/museum admission
500
simple restaurant meal
1000
youth hostel accommodation
2800
internet per hour
500
developing a roll of 36 exposure film
600
Average Room Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe
¥2800-3850 ¥3850-7700 ¥7700-20000 ¥20000+
Average Meal Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe
¥550-880 ¥880-2700 ¥2700-5000 ¥5000+
Tipping
There is little tipping or bargaining in Japan. If you want to show your gratitude to someone, give them a gift rather than a tip. Back to the Top
Getting there & around
While most people fly via Tokyo, there are several other ways of getting to and from Japan. For a start, there are many other airports in Japan, some of which make better entry points than Tokyo's somewhat inconvenient new Tokyo international airport (commonly known as Narita international airport). It's also possible to arrive in Japan by sea from a number of nearby countries, particularly South Korea.
Flying is an efficient way to travel from the main islands to any of the small islands, and is often not much more expensive than going by rail. Check whether you qualify for discounts - there are some weird and wonderful ones (for example JAL offers discounts for three or more women travelling together, or for a husband and wife if their combined age totals 88 or more). Train is the way to travel in Japan. The trains are fast, frequent, clean, comfortable and often very expensive. Services range from small local lines to the shinkansen super-expresses, or 'bullet trains', which have become a symbol of modern Japan. Shinkansen reach speeds of up to 300km/h (186mi/h), are spookily efficient and can be travelled on with one of Japan's few travel bargains, the Japan Rail Pass. Japan Rail Passes must be pre-purchased overseas and are valid for almost all Japan Rail services. Intercity buses are generally slower than trains, but they are markedly cheaper. Also, unless you've got a sleeper, travelling overnight in a reclining bus seat can be preferable to sitting upright on the train. Check out the Japan Rail Pass if you are going to be a frequent rail user.
Driving in Japan is much more feasible than it's normally made out to be. You wouldn't want to get behind the wheel in Tokyo, but in other urban centres the roads are fairly well signposted in English, other drivers are mostly considerate and cautious, petrol, while expensive, is not prohibitively so, and parking is not as difficult to find as popular mythology suggests. Motorcycling can be a great way of getting around Japan; 50cc 'step-thrus' are often available for local sightseeing, and you don't need a motorbike licence to drive one. Traffic in Japan moves on the left.
Exploring Japan by bicycle is perfectly feasible. The secret of enjoyable touring is to get off the busy main highways and onto the minor routes. Ferries are an excellent way of seeing parts of Japan you might otherwise miss. The most dense network of ferry routes connects Kyūshū, Shikoku and the southern coast of western Honshū, across the waters of the Inland Sea. Ferries also connect the mainland islands with the many smaller islands off the coast and those dotted down to Okinawa and beyond to Taiwan.
Local transport is generally efficient. The largest cities have subway systems, which are the fastest and most convenient way to get around. Almost every Japanese city will have a bus service, but many foreigners find buses difficult to use. Trams, which operate in a number of cities, are easier to negotiate. Taxis are convenient but (what a surprise!) expensive.
History
Pre-20th-Century History
Japan's earliest settlers were fishers, hunters and gatherers who slogged over the land bridges from Korea to the west and Siberia to the north. It's also thought that seafaring migrants from Polynesia were part of the ethnic blend. By AD 300, the fierce Yamato kingdom had loosely unified the nation through conquest and alliance. Buddhism was introduced from China in the mid-6th century and soon became the state religion. Rivalry between Buddhism and Shintō, the traditional religion of Japan, was diffused by presenting Shintō deities as manifestations of Buddha.
With the empire more or less stable, particularly after the conquest of the indigenous Ainu in the 9th century, Japan's emperors began to devote more time to leisure and scholarly pursuits and less time to government. Important court posts were dominated by the influential Fujiwara family. Out in the provinces, a new power was on the rise: the samurai, or warrior class, readily turned to arms to defend its autonomy, and began to muscle in on the capital, Heian (modern-day Kyoto). The Taira clan briefly eclipsed the Fujiwara, and were ousted in turn by the Minamoto family in 1185. After assuming the rank of shōgun (military leader), Minamoto Yoritomo set up his HQ in Kamakura, while the emperor remained the nominal ruler in Kyoto. This was the beginning of a long period of feudal rule by successive military rulers which lingered until imperial power was restored in 1868.
The feudal centuries can be clunkily split into five main periods. The Kamakura Period (1185-1333) saw several invasion attempts by Kublai Khan's Mongol armies. Japan managed to stave them off, but a weakened leadership lost the support of the samurai. Emperor Go-Daigo presided over the beginning of the Muromachi Period (1333-1576), until a revolt masterminded by the disgruntled warrior Ashikaga Takauji saw him flee to the hills. Ashikaga and his descendants ruled with gradually diminishing efficiency and Japan slipped into civil war and chaos. The various factions were pacified and unified during the Momoyama Period (1576-1600) by Oda Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The quick spread of Christianity during the Christian Century (1543-1640) was tolerated at first, then ferociously quashed as the interloping religion came to be seen as a threat. During the Tokugawa Period (1600-1867), Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated Hideyoshi's young heir and set up his headquarters at Edo (now Tokyo). The emperor continued to exercise purely nominal authority in Kyoto while the Tokugawa family led Japan into a period of national seclusion. Japanese were forbidden to travel overseas or to trade abroad and foreigners were placed under strict supervision. The rigid emphasis of these times on submitting unquestioningly to rules of obedience and loyalty has lasted, some would say, to the present day.
Modern History
By the turn of the 19th century, the Tokugawa government was stagnant and corrupt. Foreign ships started to probe Japan's isolation with increasing insistence, and famine and poverty weakened support for the government. In 1868 the ruling shōgun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, resigned and Emperor Meiji resumed control of state affairs, seeing Japan through a crash course in Westernisation and industrialisation. In 1889 Japan created a Western-style constitution, the tenets of which seeped into national consciousness along with a swing back to traditional values. Japan's growing confidence was demonstrated by the ease with which it trounced China in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-5) and Russia in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-5). Under Meiji's son, Yoshihito, Japan sided with the Allies in WWI. Rather than become heavily involved in the conflict, however, Japan took the opportunity, through shipping and trade, to expand its economy at top speed. Emperor Hirohito ascended to the throne in 1926. A rising tide of nationalism was quickened by the world economic depression that began in 1930. Popular unrest led to a strong increase in the power of the militarists: Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and entered into full-scale hostilities against China in 1937.
Japan signed a tripartite pact with Germany and Italy in 1940 and, when diplomatic attempts to gain US neutrality failed, the Japanese launched themselves into WWII with a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. At first Japan scored rapid successes, pushing its battle fronts across to India, down to the fringes of Australia and out into the mid-Pacific. The Battle of Midway opened the US counterattack, puncturing Japanese naval superiority and turning the tide of war against Japan. By August 1945, with Japan driven back on all fronts, a declaration of war by the Soviet Union and the release of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it was all over. Emperor Hirohito announced unconditional surrender. Japan was occupied until 1952 by US forces who aimed to demilitarise the country and dismantle the power of the emperor. A recovery programme enabled the economy to expand rapidly, and Japan became the world's most successful export economy, generating massive trade surpluses and dominating such fields as electronics, robotics, computing, car production and banking.
With the arrival of the 1990s, the old certainties seemed to vanish: Japan's legendary economic growth slowed to a virtual standstill; the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was swept out of power and then back in again the next year; a massive earthquake in 1995 brought Kobe to its knees (a disaster made worse by a government that was slow to react); and to top it off, a millennial cult with doomsday ambitions engineered a poison gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.
Recent History
Things began to look up with the appointment of Keizo Obuchi, who took over after Prime Minister Hashimoto was ousted by a voter backlash over the shrinking economy. Obuchi ushered in a few brief years of economic vitality, but the job took its toll and he died while still in office from a massive stroke. His successor, LDP stalwart Yoshiro Mori, held the dubious honour of possessing the lowest approval rating of any leader in recent Japanese history, until he announced his resignation in early April 2001. Mori's successor was the telegenic Junichiro Koizumi, who brought a beguiling mix of conservatism and reform to Japan's top job. Promising to end the culture of high-level nepotism that had in part led to the deflation, he distinguishes himself with his charisma and dashing haircut. His energies seem to be paying off: Japan's economy is ever-so-slowly climbing out of its deflationary hole in the ground.
Sports-mad eyes turned to Japan in 2002, when the country co-hosted the football World Cup with sometime rival Korea. Though perhaps labelling it a football-led recovery might be a little offside, the Japanese economy settled into a pattern of annual growth: Chinese demand rather than the beautiful game being the key driver.
The transition to a growing economy has not been stress-free however, as the country abandons many of its old ways of doing things - cradle-to-grave employment, age-based promotion, a strong social safety net, a preference for manufacturing over service industry - in favour of an economy based more closely on the American model. Now, rather than priding itself on being a country where everyone is a member of the middle class, there is talk of a nation composed of two distinct classes: the kachi-gumi (winners) and make-gumi (losers).
However strong the Japanese economy may be, the trade-weighted value of the yen is hovering at a 21-year low. While this means hard times for Japanese travellers abroad, it's a boon for foreign travellers to Japan. In 2006, the number of foreign visitors to Japan topped seven million for the first time, with the greatest growth seen in visitors from other Asian countries: visitors from South Korea, China and Singapore were all up by over 20% compared with 2005. Increasing numbers of Western travellers are also coming to Japan.
India
Wildlife in India
Your Boss and laptops, the endless honks and the incessant cell-phone bells – why don’t you give them all a break and come to India to rollick in the lap of Nature! India Tourist Spots invites you to a vacation in India’s 80 national parks and 425 sanctuaries.
India's 1,36,000 species of plants, and some of the world’s rarest animals on the verge of extinction promise undulating adventure. The animals tagged ‘Endangered’ and ‘Protected’ in India include the one-horned Rhino, Asian White-backed vulture, Great Indian Bustard, Kashmir Markhor, Snow leopard, Asiatic lion, Musk Deer to name a few. What more, you can stay right there in the jungles.....
Beaches in India
India is the fifth most visited tourist destination in the World says a 2005 survey. Some 3.92 million foreign tourists visited India in 2005, out of which a phenomenal bulk headed for the Goa and Kerala beaches. Top Reasons: Ayurveda Spa Resorts, economic holidays, laid-back and rustic vacations!
If trance parties, antiques, beachside antics, exotic seafood mean an ideal vacation – you have the Goan beaches! For physical, mental rejuvenation & Ayurveda Spas head straight for Kerala. And if you love combing off-the-beaten-track purlieus – surf Karnataka, Chennai and Orissa shores. Beach sports, fishing, Canoeing, Kayaking, Scuba diving and many adventure sports happen at Indian beaches! And anytime is good time...
Hill Stations in India
Cozy Honeymoons, sipping tea prepared from freshly plucked leaves, spice plantation safari with a local tribal, Trekking, Bungee Jumping, Para-gliding, Skiing, a quiet, undisturbed family vacations, holidaying with Nature in Hill Resorts --- if your interest matches any of these, you have landed on the right page and the right launchpad to set off your trip to the hill-stations of India.
Vacation in a land where some of the world’s mightiest mountains stand sentinels – the Himalayas and the Karakoram on the north, the Aravalli on the West, the Eastern and Western Ghats and the Nilgiris down south.
Luxury Trains in India
Welcome abroad a laid back train journey that takes you back in years, through the forgotten chapters of Indian history. Luxurious carpeted rooms with traditional furniture and all modern amenities, traditionally dressed attendants pampering you with delectable local and International Cuisine – you will think you are lounging at your Fivestar Hotel if not for the whistle.
Pilgrimage in India
India beckons travelers looking for spiritual and psychological rejuvenation. Indian Yoga, Meditation, Tantrism, Buddhism have traveled miles and believers come to India tracing the genesis. The bandwagon includes celebrities like Madonna, Beatles, Ricky Martin, Kate Winslet and the likes.
Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism, arrived in the first millennium making India a potpourri of diversities and a one-stop destination for pilgrimage tours. Let India Tourist Spots accompany you in your spiritual sojourn...
Honeymoon in India
Believe in ‘forever-n-ever’?
India hosts Earth’s most gorgeous monument, that a lover dedicated to his beloved (the Taj Mahal), is a honeymooning paradise, rated ‘Incredible’ by couples from across the world. Marriages will continue being made in heaven, but great honeymoons are plotted best in India. And considering the swelling tourist influx into India’s earmarked sites, the Tourism Industry has chiseled each of them to perfection with the best infrastructure, international standard amenities, accommodation facilities and so on.
Now, this one is going to be a dream-ride, are you ready?
Honeymooning Couple in India
India - a tale of love
India’s tale of love is as old as the nation itself. Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh) cradled the celestial romance between the iconic couples Radhika and Lord Krishna, worshiped in unison. Shiv-Shakti (Lord Shiva and His consort Parvati) form another cosmic couple and the insignia of the belief that man and woman are halves of one another and one is incomplete without the other. India’s ancient and world’s most famous literature on the art of love-making, is the 4th century scholar Vatsyayana’s Kama Sutra or the technical text on the Aphorisms of Love. Translated first into English in 1883 Sir Richard Francis Burton, and then to almost all languages in the world and with shelves of literature, volumes of movie dedicated to it, a copy of Kama Sutra is a must buy, to gift your beloved as a memento of your special trip. Interested??
Designer sites for Honeymooners
Nature, when She laid open Her variegated bounty, must be done with by the time She reached India. For whatever was left of each type She emptied it all here. This is to say, India’s diverse landscape - deserts, beaches, backwaters, hill stations - offer a whole legion of vacationing ideas for you and your beloved to pick from.
Beaches: Laze around in the palm-laced beaches at Kerala, just perfect if you can afford sometime to indulge in laxity building sand-castles and deciding which one would be which room. Quickies are those at Goa. Known for their feverish fun and rave parties, Goa is just the place for couples who love hip-shaking and salsa. Dance the nights away and sleep all day long.
Snuggling idea at beaches- How about gifting her a bronze-hued halter-neck jeweled with sea-shells? While you can surprise him with a Sabyasachi Mukherjee (famed Indian designer) fuchsia sarong.
Hill Stations: Shimla, Kullu-Manali, Nainital, Ooty, Darjeeling, Tawang, Dalhousie, Mussoorie, Patnitop are the best bets for that cozy honeymoon. Snowfall or no snowfall, you are bound to remain glued to one another. The resorts and their romantic saunas, skiing through the ice one after the other, swaying together to the waltz held in your honor, joining some jungle camps and spending the whole night counting the shooting stars, visiting one of the Indian temples or monasteries (you know what to pray) --- your honeymoon in India’s highlands has many enchantments waiting to be explored.
Snuggling idea at hillstations- If you are in South India, impress the chef of your resort to teach you to make filter coffee. The next morning you sneak out of bed early, make your own breakfast and return impromptu. The aroma of fresh coffee will wake your mate before you do!
Honeymooning Couple in India
Honeymooners pick
The backwaters at Kerala with the tree-top resorts and houseboats incubate the best honeymoons and romances. Something you should not miss is a resplendent Ayurdevic massage and a herbal sauna therapy. The Heritage Resorts , the camel safari in the Thar desert, a night in the rolling caravan or one of the ancient havelis, luncheon in an oasis restaurant, taking part in folk performances, all these and more await you at India’s desertland Rajasthan. The sculptures of Khajuraho, a World Heritage site, are undoubtedly the best expressions in stone inspired by Kama Sutra and a sheer visual delight. The adventurous one’s will find many a tip to make it one of their most exciting honeymooning experience ever. Kashmir is India’s apple-pie and a ride in the Shinkara boats amongst valleys of myriad flowers is an experience that cannot be equaled with diction. Once there (safe and secure for tourists), you will realize why India has so jealously held on to it.
Snuggling idea - Time you read out your old love-poetry (write one if you haven’t written any). Buy a pair of Rajanthani puppets and the easy to use-strings help you do that cameo puppet show while your mobile plays your recorded poem. What say? Interested??
Off-the-beaten track spots
Andaman and Nicober Islands, a fantasy archipelago of 572 emerald islands, of sapphire skies, white sands, coral reefs, in the Indian Ocean. One of India’s richest marine reserves, the islands are a haven for scuba divers, anthropologists, adventurers and honeymooners. For a rendezvous with pre-historic life and for that secluded honeymoon, with just ‘you-me and the world as god made it’, fly to Port Blair from Chennai and Calcutta, or still better, sail from Chennai (1190 km), Calcutta (1255 km) and Vishakapatnam. Daman and Diu is another cloistered piece of land, where the tourism flood-lights are yet to be turned. Arunachal Pradesh in the North East India is another quite, yet overtly romantic destination. The hill-station Tawang is simply out-of-the world.
‘Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder’ is passe, for with almost every tourist destination revamped so as to please the vision, and meet the basic requirements, every couple will find their share of paradise in India’s honeymooning destinations. Honeymoon is an affair of a lifetime (unless you are very sure of marrying again) and so is the vacation. Welcome to India and you will find more than one reason to recall it with pride in the years of togetherness that will follow.
Adventures in India
Skiing, mountaineering, rock climbing, trekking, para gliding, wildlife safaris, camping, river rafting - you name it, India scores best in all of them. The snow-clad Himalayan mountains lord over the nation and its neighbors when it comes to climbing and winter adventure sports. The Ganges and its turbulent tributaries form ideal aqua-adventure venue. For animal safaris and wildlife thrills, sanctuaries and reserve forests abound.
If you eat, sleep and dream adventure - Dare India for the best dose of adrenalin
India Tourist Spots is here to help you choose the best travel deal for an Indian Adventure Tour that will only whet your appetite for another...
Hong Kong
Hong Kong, the Oriental Pearl, is simply amazing!
It would be hard to find a more exciting city than Hong Kong. Set among beautiful natural surroundings it has all the benefits of a thriving and vibrant commercial center. Here you can find the delights of modern living alongside an abundance of reminders of its historic past. Whether you visit the better known highlights like the stunning Ocean Park, the fantastic viewpoint of Victoria Peak or the beautiful Repulse Bay , Hong Kong is certain to exceed your expectations.
Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of PRC, has grown from what was a simple fishing village into the world's fourth largest banking and financial center and eighth largest trading economy. Situated in the southeast corner of China, Hong Kong occupies an area of 1,104 square kilometers (about 426 square miles) Hong Kong Flagand is home to more than 6,970,000 people. Most people (about 97% of the population) are Chinese and speak Cantonese and English, although Mandarin is becoming more popular in Hong Kong now. Most tourism personnel and taxi drivers can communicate with tourists in English. The most common religions are Buddhism and Christianity.
Hong Kong is made up of four parts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and the Outlying Islands. Hong Kong Island is the center of economy, politics, entertainment and shopping. Northern Hong Kong Island is the main commercial, shopping and entertainment area; the residential area is located in Eastern Hong Kong Island; and Southern Hong Kong Island known for its sea shores and bays. Kowloon is another flourishing part of Hong Kong. Above all, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai , Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok are the most popular areas. These areas are busy day and night, and tourists can feel secure enjoying the lively nightlife, because Hong Kong is one of the most secure cities in the world. The New Territories and Outlying Islands are ideal places to experience a peaceful and natural Hong Kong.
Christmas celebrationsAn open city with a wonderful natural harbor, Hong Kong is the meeting place of various cultures that blend harmoniously with Chinese traditions and exotic influences. On one hand traces of British culture can be found everywhere as a result of former colonial rule. On the other hand, Hong Kong preserves traditional customs and the core values of Confucianism that have faded in Mainland China. This is reflected in its colorful festivals ranging from Spring Festival to Christmas. Nowhere else on earth do luxury restaurants, street side food-stalls known locally as dai pai dong, grand mansions and penthouses, tenements, office blocks, wooden boats and huge liners coupled with English in a variety of accents and multifarious Chinese dialects coexist peacefully.
It is the dynamic Hong Kong that provides the environment in which the richest Chinese listed in Forbes directory do business. The city also is the backdrop for modern movies and pop music that together enjoy worldwide recognition. Home of Kongfu heroes like the late Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Hong Kong continues to attract more and more ambitious would-be stars and entrepreneurs.
A place where various cultures blend harmoniouslyFrom Yum Cha (tea and dim sum) in the morning to a moon lit view from the top of Victoria Peak or stunning night time harbor cruise, mingling with shoppers in the numerous malls and markets around Tsim Sha Tsui , tasting delicacies at dai pai dong, taking a trip in a sampan or high speed ferry, Hong Kong will guarantee its visitors an unforgettable experience. There will always be something to enchant you and quite probably make you fall in love with this unique place, be it sightseeing, shopping, dining or simply exploring its many delights by day and night.
If there is no other reason why people from the world over are so interested in this island, the answer is likely to be 'because it is there!' Don't wait any longer. Join us and explore this wonderland for yourself!
Hong Kong in China
Hong Kong has developed from a small fishing village in the 1800s into a dynamic and thrilling 21st century cosmopolitan metropolis. The city is replete with impressive high rises, a busy harbor and it is an important financial and economic center.
With an area of 1,110sq.km, Hong Kong consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and a group of 260 outlying islands. Hong Kong has a population of 6,600,000 and 96% of them are Chinese.
4 Day Guilin & Yangshuo Memories Tour with Hong Kong only from $ 819 USD
While you are here why not visit other places that so called paradise for travellers? We book you Round Way Flights and provide private transfer in Hong Kong and there are still more than US $150 saved in your pocket. Hong Kong Tours
Hong Kong has good smell of modernization. Many industries are leaders in their field in the world, including economic, telecommunication, technology, transportation (Hong Kong Transportation) , lifestyle and entertainment. And the most famous one is the movie industry which has greatly influenced the world movie industry.
Hong Kong Travel, Hong Kong ChinaHong Kong is a fusion of many cultures. Remnants of its colonial past and the British culture and values, share space with the Chinese tradition. It's amazing to notice the gray Confucian temples edging against the western style churches. The traditional Chinese festivals such as the Spring Festival and Moon Festival are celebrated along with Christmas. Chinese opera and Canto-pop Music lead a peaceful coexistence. Hong Kong is a land of ferocious contrasts. Beneath the ornate exterior of impressive the skyline and lighting-paced lifestyle beats the heart of old Hong Kong. CEOs, entrepreneurs light joss sticks at home and worship in front of a Buddha in temples for good luck and wealth.
The fact that many visitors come to shopping in Hong Kong may surprise many people. But if you have experienced island's pleasurable shopping environment and mind-boggling shopping options, you will probably admire those discerning travelers. Hong Kong is a shopping paradise which assembles all the world famous brands. (Hong Kong Shopping) Shopping malls, department stores and boutiques filled with enthusiastic shoppers and visitors, cluster around the island.
Hong Kong travel, Hong Kong, ChinaIn addition to its impressive modernity, Hong Kong has many accessible beaches and natural sights for outdoor lovers. Lantua Island for example, provides a relaxing atmosphere for a holiday break.
Few visitors will have problem getting around Hong Kong. English is widely used throughout the islands and almost all the street signs are bilingual.