Shanghai to Beijing by high-speed train: A video guide
Not Just Pandas – 36 Hours in Chengdu
Chengdu might look like a typically gray Chinese metropolis of skyscrapers and chaotic traffic, but beneath the concrete exterior is one of China’s most inviting, charming cities. Life moves just a little more slowly here. The teahouses fill up quickly on weekends with locals practicing calligraphy and cracking sunflower seeds, and at the Chengdu panda research center, the city’s most famous residents seem content lazing about in trees most of the time.
Recent Traveler Testimonial
One of our travelers recently sent the following cover letter with their trip evaluation. We are happy to share such a wonderful report.
I am pleased to return the evaluation for our recently completed trip. As with our previous experience with China Advocates, the trip has been a positive experience and well deserving of an “Excellent” rating.
The China Advocates trip design, planning and itinerary was frankly amazing. It was a true “Insider’s” view of the areas and communities we visited and far beyond what we could have planned using western guidebooks as a resource. In looking back at our experience and comparing our travel with the initial itinerary, our guides must have had a check list of what was promised. Other than the couple of situations beyond control, the trip was as promised if not more.
Special thanks must be given to our “local guides” for both their knowledge and for their personal attention to our comfort and care. Our local guides went far in expanding our understanding of modern China, it’s traditional ways and the peoples of China.
International Taiji and Yoga Festival
On June 21, 2015, China is hosting the first International taiji and yoga festival in the historic Dujiangyan, to celebrate international Yoga day. Located in the hills outside Chengdu, the natural beauty and serenity has attracted Buddhists and Taoists who built grand monasteries and simple hermitage for centuries. 2,000 years ago, Li Bin and his son created the ancient irrigation system, managing the flood flowing down from the mountains into Chengdu Plain. The result has not only controlled the flood damage, but turned Chengdu Plain into a Heavenly Paradise with constant water supply and abundance of food when the rest of the country was threatened by famine and wars. Dujiangyan Irrigation System is a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.