2011年4月10日星期日

China's National Museum Reopens to Visitors for Free

National Museum of China reopened to the public in Beijing after renovation and provided free admissions to visitors starting March 27th, 2011.
China National Museum Appearance    
                       The appearance of China's National Museum                             
The new-renovated interior of the museum
The new-renovated interior of the museum
Started in March 2007, the renovation work takes four yours in improving the equipment and decoration, during which the museum was partly closed. Now the national museum has been expanded to nearly 200 square meters and holds 49 exhibition rooms, reportedly making it the largest museum in the world.

Recent Essential Exhibitions

To celebrate the reopening, the National Museum had well-prepared seven exhibitions for visitors: Road to Renaissance, Ancient Bronze Artworks, Art of Ancient Chinese Buddha Statues, Chinese Porcelains, and other three exhibitions displaying elaborate paintings of reputable painters Pan Tianshou, Li Keran and Huang Zhou. Each exhibition was themed on a special topic, demonstrated with hundreds of precious cultural relics.
China Space Exploration, Road to Renaissance        
Road to Renaissance (China Space Exploration)                China National Museum Porcelain Exhibition
 An aged man gazing at a porcelain artiwork

China National Museum Buddha Statue        
An exquisite Buddha statue on display          
  China National Museum Bronze Wares
Students photoing Houmuwu Ding, the world's heavist bronze ware
China National Museum Porcelain Ship Exhibition
A young lady is appreaciating a refined porcelain articraft on show.

Museum Entrance Notice

Though it is free to visit the museum, visitors need to get free-admission tickets to enter the national museum. At the meantime, considering to protect these cultural relics, the operating committee of the museum has planned to limit the daily number of visitors to only 8,000. Thus it would be better for visitors to get to get a free-admissions in advance to ensure a smooth visiting. 

Museum Visiting Tips

The museum also suggests that visitors should arrange their visiting on weekdays, to aviod the predictable pushing crowds on weekends and public holidays such as Qingming Festival, Labor's Day and so on.

Background Knowledge of China's National Museum

Museum History

As a landmark of Beijing, National Museum of China lies at estern side of Tiananmen Square. It was first founded in July 1912 as a histroy museum, and then it was renamed National Museum of China in February 28th, 2003. With dozens of years' development, the museum has become the largest museum in China and in the world, with a fine collection of 1,000,000 pieces of relics and artistic works. No wonder it is called as a treasure house of Chinese arts and history.
The most known collected pieces include: Houmuwu Ding (also called Simuwu Ding, the earliest bronze ware discovered in China and the heaviest bronze ware in the world), Siyangfang Zun (a ancient quadrate bronze vessel decorated with four sheeps), Jin Lv Yu Yi (a suit of jade pieces tied together with gold wire) and Tangsancai pottery (tri-coloured glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty).

Open Time

8:30 - 16:30 (Last Entry at 15:00) for March 1 - June 30
8:00 - 18:00 (Last Entry at 17:00) for July 1 - August 31
8:30 - 16:30 (Last Entry at 15:00) for September 1 - October 31
9:00 - 16:00 (Last Entry at 15:00) for November 1 - February 29

Address

No. 16, East Chang'an Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

How to get National Museum of China

By Bus: you can take No. 1, 2, 10, 20, 37, 52, 54, 120, 728, 802 buses to Tian'anmen Square and then walk to the museum.
By Subway: you can the No.1 subway line to the Tian'anmen Square and the museum is at the east of the square.
By taxi: there are thousands of taxis in Beijing and they can take you to the museum from any corners of the capital.
Useful Links
Customize a Beijing Tour to enjoy the national treasures displayed at the China's National Museum.
(Pics source: People's Daily)

2011年4月1日星期五

Best China Spring Travel Destinations

Spring, a season that everything comes back to life again after the harsh winter, is the right time for you to see the thriving nature and enjoy outdoor activities. No idea about your spring travel in China? Here China Odyssey Tours recommends a list of best China spring travel destinations for you.

No.1 Guizhou

Why to recommend: seas of rape-seed flowers, diversified minority cultures.
Guizhou Spring Rape Seed Flower Tours
Beautiful sunset at the endless seas of rape seed flowers in Guizhou.
Guizhou Miao Minority People and Minority Culture
Colorful as their gorgeous costumes,  the romance of Guizhou's minority people is reputable.
Relatively unknown to foreign tourists, Guizhou is a hidden world with amazing natural beauty and diversified minority cultures. For its natural beauty, the famous Huanguoshu Waterfall, fabulous Dragon Palace Cave, the beautiful Malinghe Canyon, plus the endless seas of rape-seed flowers in spring, make more than just proving samples. Moreover, Guizhou offers you an ideal place to appreciate flavored minority cultures of China which have been kept unchanged and untouched for centuries. Take a spring tour to Guizhou, you can personally see their colorful clothes, try some culinary delights and take part in their traditional festivals (Sister's Meal Festival on April 17; Siyueba Festival on May 10), which makes a pleasant contrast to modern city life.
Suggested Guizhou spring tour: 5 Days Guizhou Highlights Tour

No. 2 Yangtze Cruise

Why to recommend: Cruise along China's mother river at a lower price with less crowds.
Spring Yangtze Cruise
Steep gorges, limpid waters and thriving groves and blooming flowers make the spring cruise a worthwhile.
Taiji Lesson during Yangtze Cruise
Taiji, the ancient Chinese martial art, provides you a nice & healthy activity onboard.
As commented by many, a China tour would not be complete without a Yangtze River Cruise. Spring is a relatively low season of the Yangtze Cruise, which means better prices and less tourist crowds. But the scenery is no means of lowering down of the landscapes.
Taking a cruise on the Yangtze, the world's third longest river, you will see intact countryside life and the amazing natural beauty of Three Gorges that have inspired Chinese poets and novelists for years; visit the mysterious Fengdu Ghost City, paddle through Lesser Three Gorges, explore the world-famous Three Gorges Dam in close.
Take a Yangtze Cruise now!

No.3 Yunnan

Why to recommend: a land of flowers; a place of brilliant ethnic cultures.
Known as China's Spring City, Kunming, the capital of  Yunnan, has a comfortable temperature all year around which make it possible for its prosperity in flowers and other plants. Thus a stroll in the flower market will get you the splendor of Yunnan color.
Various appalling flowers are not the only that Yunnan people take great pride in. As home to 25 minority groups, Yunnan also boasts unrivaled sources for precious ethnic cultures. The minority people scatter here and there all over Yunnan: some dwelling remote near sacred mountains like Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and  great rivers gorges like Tiger Leaping Gorge; some living in ancient towns like Dali and Lijiang where their traditions have kept for hundreds of years. Differing from eath other, the ethnic cultures in Yunnan are really something not to be missed.
While spring might not be a good time to visit the reputed Shangri-la because the weather there is still rather cold. The other parts of Yunnan will definitely prepare you a nice spring travel.
Recommended Yunnan spring tour: 8 Days Yunnan Minority Culture Tour

No. 4 Huangshan

Why to recommend: the most beautiful mountain in China; enchanting countryside views
With the misty beauty and ethereal verve, Mt. Huangshan never ceases to bestow the inspiration on poets, painters and photographers. It is the model of Chinese ink paintings; the steep mountains, venerable pine trees, ocean-like layered clouds and multi-shaped rocks come alive right before your eyes.
Not far from Huangshan city, there survives two World Heritage listed ancient villages which are well preserved as they are centuries ago, along with the folk's custom and life styles. The village planning, courtyard design, decoration and furnishing make them the top level of housing and residential environment construction in China.
Recommended Huangshan spring tour: 3 Days Huangshan and Surrounding Area Tour

No.4 Guilin

Why to recommend: the finest scenery under Heaven; a paradise for outdoor activities
Guilin karst landscape on spring days
On sunny spring days, Guilin shows her extraordinary karst landscape with no reserve.  
Spring Li River Cruise in Guilin
While on rainy days, Li River cruise takes you traveling into a fairyland.
Spring might be the very season that Guilin shows her amazing karst landscape whole-heartedly. With drizzles floating in the fresh air, the picturesque Li River flows with elegance and soaring peaks & pinnacles on the riversides are entwined with thin mists, like a child hiding and propping out all at a sudden. Taking a Li River Cruise, with limpid waters, thriving groves, rustic views of rice paddies, water buffaloes and people farming or fishing, you feel like you are traveling in a Chinese painting. A fairyland could the exact words to describe the scene.
Besides, if weather permits, roaming the famous West Street, rafting along Yulong River, climbing up Elephant Trunk Hill, cycling along the peaceful countryside roads, flying kites on city plazas, and other outdoor fun will make your tour in Guilin a memorable and enjoyable one.
Recommended Guilin spring tour:4 Days Guilin Spring Tour

No.5 Suzhou and Hangzhou

Why to recommend: the so-called paradise on the earth; nice weather in spring.

Just as there is a paradise in Heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth. This is an old saying which describes the lasting charms of the two cities. The spring weather of the two cities is usually good and the temperature swings are rather small. So it is wise to visit the two in spring.
In Suzhou, you can take a leisurely walk along the winding corridors in a classical garden, unfetter your thoughts with the wonderful constructing wonders and changing views, listen to traditional music and find yourself a oasis from the hustle city; while touring Hangzhou, you could take a boat paddling on the picturesque West Lake, pay a visit to the ancient Lingyin Temple, sip some fragrant Chinese tea on a tea farm and enjoy the colorful nightlife of Hangzhou. You will surely be pleased with the leisurable atmosphere of the cities.
Recommended Suzhou and Hangzhou spring tour: 8 Days East China Water Tour
Of course, if you have other plans to travel China in spring, you can customize a China Tour that catering your every requirement.

2011年3月28日星期一

China Travel Tips - Necessary Travel Documents

  • A passport, valid for at least 6 month after your visit to China and the necessary visa or permits if you are traveling with our program. The visa should be approved prior to entering China and a permit for Tibet must be obtained 15 days before entering Tibet. If you only plan to travel and stay in Hong Kong you are exempt from applying for a China visa.
  • Most people only need to apply for a single –entry visa, which is usually valid for 3 months after the issuing date and will permit you to stay in China for a maximum of 30 days.
  • You need permits to go to Tibet. If you only go to Lhasa, a Tibet permit will be sufficient but, if you want to go further to the "unopened" areas, you also need an Alien's travel permit issued by the PSB of Tibet.
  • If you are to travel to Tibet, you are required to provide a doctor's certificate stating that you are fit to travel and your blood pressure and heart condition are normal in case that the very high altitude have the possible effects on you.
  • We suggest you take your medical record with you in case that you need it in the event of an emergency, and please also take with you your doctor's name, address and phone number, emergency contact name and phone number, and your insurance company's name, address and phone number.