Travel Tips for Snow Village in Harbin

  For the second year running, the Snow Village, on a wintry ?le Sainte-Hélène, proposes incredible facilities made entirely of ice. With its breathtaking décor sculpted by none other than specialists from the city of Harbin (China), renowned for its annual International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, it promises to be spectacular.

 
Travel Tips:
Hotels with excellent facilities are available in China's Snow Town. Tourists can also choose the family hotels to have an overnight stay at their Kangtou (brick bed warmed by a fire underneath in Northern China).

In China's Snow Town (Xuexiang), we arrange our tourists hike through the villages and forest, or drive the snowmobiles or take the horse/dog pulled sleds to the beautiful Yangcaoshan Mountain to view the beautiful sunrise, take pics, visit the local families and ski there.
The northern Chinese cuisines are very delicious and special. Here tourists can enjoy the food at the local farmers' homes or hotels.

The history of the roast duck can be traced back to as early as the Yuan Dynasty

  The history of the roast duck can be traced back to as early as the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) when it was listed among the imperial dishes. During the Qianlong period (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty, roast duck was a favorite delicacy of the upper classes. Over a long period of development, a consummate and precise procedure for cooking Peking Roast Duck has been firmly established. Tourist like it in China Tours.

  Over a long period of development exceeding some 140 years, a consummate and precise procedure for cooking Beijing Roast Duck has been firmly established:
First, a suitable White Beijing Duck will be chosen for preparation. After the bird has been plucked, air is pumped between its skin and flesh. A small incision is made for the removal of the entrails.
Secondly, and once the bird has been thoroughly cleaned, a wooden skewer is inserted through it to facilitate its hanging and ultimate heating; the body cavity is filled with water and the incision that had been made is closed.
Thirdly, the skin of the duck is air dried and brushed with a layer of sugar.
Fourthly, the duck is then put into a large oven, using a smokeless hardwood fuel and heating to about 270 degrees Centigrade for 30 to 40 minutes. The duck is turned frequently during the roasting process to ensure even cooking.
Then the delicious roast duck is ready! It will be a shining date-red in color and unique in flavor; Beijing Roast Duck is characterized by its crispy skin and tender texture. Besides the traditional roast duck, many restaurants offer an All Duck Banquet - various dishes cooked with the offal and juices of the duck, surrounding the main dish. It will be sure to give you satisfaction and enjoyment when dining.

The biggest attraction on Lantern Festival is the sea of lanterns in every conceivable size and shape

  The Lantern Festival, also called Yuan Xiao Jie, was celebrated at the fifteen day of the first lunar month. It marks the end of New Year's celebrations, also the first time to see a full moon of that year in Lunar Calendar.

  Of course, for Lantern Festival, the displaying of lanterns is a major event at night. In the moonlight, lanterns with various colors, shapes, and sizes are hung in the streets. People walk at a leisurely pace, and appreciate the creativity of diverse lanterns. Children carry self-made or bought paper lanterns, and have fun with their family. “Guessing lantern riddles” is an essential part for lantern watching. The puzzles or riddles were written on a piece of paper and posted on the lanterns. If one can solve that puzzles, a little gift would be given.
  The biggest attraction on Lantern Festival is the sea of lanterns in every conceivable size and shape. Chinese started to celebrate the Lantern Festival since the Han Dynasty (206BC-221AD), and then it became popular during the Tang and Song dynasties. This is a festival for people to have fun. On the night, people go to streets with a variety of lanterns under the full moon, watching Lion or Dragon Dance, playing Chinese riddles and games, enjoying the typical food called Yuan Xiao and setting off firecrackers. There is really a lot of fun for the young and the old.

  Besides entertainment and beautiful lanterns, another important part of the Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Festival is eating small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour. We call these balls Yuan Xiao or Tang Yuan. Obviously, they get the name from the festival itself. Made of sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing and round in shape, it symbolizes family unity, completeness and happiness.

Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern Festival

Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern Festival, held on the full moon 15 days after the new year - a time when people hang glowing lanterns in the windows of their houses and dancers carry dragons made of paper, silk and bamboo through the streets collecting money.

  Traditions include an annual reunion dinner for families on new year's eve and the decorating of doors and windows with intricate red paper designs. People thoroughly clean their homes to sweep away any ill-fortunes and children are given money inside red paper envelopes. More information about Chinese New Year in China Tour chinatourguide.com.
  Maybe one has heard of the horrific Spring Festival Rush in China, referred to as the largest annual human migration in the world. During the period around Chinese New Year, everyone struggles to return to their respective hometowns to reunite with their families. It is a time when the whole country faces extremely high traffic load and terrible travel condition. There are also shortages of air, train and bus tickets. To some extent, the Spring Festival is not only a festival, but also a challenge for tourists coming to China.  It is thus best to avoid coming to China during this period.

The Yueyaquan lake is a source of attraction for tourists from all over the world

  Located 6 km south of the Dunhuang city, the Yueyaquan lake is crescent shaped and is a source of attraction for tourists from all over the world. This beautiful lake is surrounded by a desert which is a treat to the eyes.

  Here you can enjoy not only the rare view where an oasis meets the desert, but also some fun sand adventures, such as riding camels, 'dune surfing' sand sliding. After climbing to the top of the dunes, from there you can't help but marvel at the dramatic view. You have discovered the wondrous sight of Crescent Spring!

  For thousands of years, Crescent Lake has remained clear and flowing. It is a real desert wonder. There are many beautiful legends about the formation of the lake but, in fact, the most important reason is the landscape. The land here is a little lower so the altitude is fit for storing water. In addition, research has revealed that in this special crescent landform, the falling sands from the surrounding dune would be sent back to the other side of the nearby Echoing-Sand Dune. Thus, the sands do not engulf the lake. This extraordinary earth movement keeps the sand dunes and lake eternally in a harmonious and almost paradoxical existence.

The Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997

  The Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 along with a number of other Suzhou gardens. It sits within the present-day property of the Embroidery Museum. The history of the site extends back to the eastern Jin dynasty, when Wang Min and his brother donated their residence to create the Jingde temple. After changing hands several times, the temple became the Xuedao Academy of Classical Literature during the Ming Dynasty, and then became a government office in charge of food supplies. In the early 16th century, during the reign of the Wanli Emperor, the site passed into the control of Sheng Shixing, an esteemed scholar. During the early Qing dynasty his descendant, Sheng Jikui, built the Qu Garden here.More information about China Tours in chinatourguide.com.

A number of buildings are arranged opposite to the mountain. There are two halls to the south of the mountain, facing each other over a stream. The front hall is called “In Company with a Ravine” and the rear hall “the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty”. On the top of the mountain is a pavilion called “Housing the Mountain with a Half-Filled Pool in Autumn”. At its foot are the Putting-a-Question-to-the-Spring Pavilion and the Make-Up Autumn Galley. To the west of the mountain is a unique side structure with a long walkway on the ground floor and rooms one floor upstairs. There are viewing places high above or down below, far away or quite near. The man-made mountain scenery is changing at every step,and gives great pleasure to the viewer from any direction.

  In the late 18th century the garden became the residence of Jiang Ji, a director of the Jurisdiction Department. He had the site excavated, and after digging to a depth of one meter, a spring emerged which was fashioned into a pond called "Flying Snow". He also built the "Qiuzi Tower" and created a rockery behind it. The garden subsequently was owned by by minister Bi Yuan and Sun Shiyi, a renowned scholar. Around 1810 Sun's descendents invited the rockery master Ge Yuliang to reconstruct the garden in the limited confines of the site. Working within an area of about 2,180 square meters, Ge fashioned a man-made mountain occupying about 500 square meters. He constructed a series of interconnected pavilions placed in a manner such that wherever one stood in the garden, other pavilions could be seen at varying heights and altitudes. The effect is intended to make the space appear larger, and the illusion is one of the chief charms of this small gem of a garden.

Beidaihe is very best recognized for its shellfish

  Beidaihe, a Chinese coastal summer resort, also known as a birding haven, is located within thearea of 70.14 square kilometers along with a population of 66,000. Its climate, coastline, seaside attractions and handy transportation all make it a well-liked location for travelers.

  With Bohai Sea on its south, Beidaihe has long and twisted coastal line. It is a all-natural seawater bathing location with gradual beach, soft sand and flat tide. Featuring beautiful scenery and peculiar hills and stones, Beidaihe is well-known for its 24 scenic spots which includes East Lianfeng Hill, Yingjiao Pavilion, Kwan-yin Temple, Jinshanzui, Tiger Rock, Lotus Stone and Statue of Wei Tuo. Other than all-natural scenery, Beidaihe seashore is supplied with a number of ancient stele pavilions that are in harmony using the landscape.
  Beidaihe is very best recognized for its shellfish, particularly crab, lobster, cuttlefish and scallops. As a coastal city, you are able to discover different kinds of seafood in guesthouses and restaurants. Also, you will find many nearby dishes that you can choose what you like.