Adventure Guide China (Adventure Guides Series) (Adventure Guides Series)

Travel to grow, expand your horizons beyond what you thought possible our Adventure Guides show you how. Experience the places you visit more directly, freshly, intensely than you would otherwise sometimes best done on foot, in a canoe, or through cultural adventures like art courses, cooking classes, learning the language, meeting the people, joining in the festivals and celebrations. This can make your trip life-changing, unforgettable. All of the detailed information you need is here about the hotels, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing. But we also lead you to new discoveries, turning corners you haven't turned before, helping you to interact with the world in new ways. That's what makes our Adventure Guides unique. The author has been an adventure tour leader in China for 10 years and has written for the Rough Guide to China, as well as various travel magazines. The focus is on areas likely to be most rewarding for tourists (all of China could not be seen in several lifetimes): Beijing & surroundings, Shanghai and Hong Kong, the Terracotta Warriors near Xi an, the Yangzi River s Three Gorges, the majestic rural scenery around Guilin, the Pearl River Delta, and the island of Macau Designed to enable you to gain the most from China during your trip. All the big sights in the destinations covered are described, but so are little dumpling houses, lively markets, walks through narrow old streets, places to study tai chi and the 2008 Olympics. The focus is on adventure in every sense of the word from kayaking and balloon trips to learning the ancient art of calligraphy or fengshui. There are new experiences waiting at every turn, all of which help you get closer to understanding what China is today and how it got here. For each region, activities range from Dragon Boat racing, Chinese cooking and language lessons, as well as the more usual golfing, hiking, boat and bike rides. All the accommodation and eating choices are detailed as well, followed by nightlife. Names for all places, attractions, hotels, and restaurants are shown in Chinese characters as well as in English. That way users can communicate well with taxi drivers and ask directions by showing the book page, which will have a picture of the attraction as well. Color photos & maps throughout. The only guide with color photos or maps on virtually every page, but that also gives you all the detailed practical information you need. No others take the Adventure Guide perspective that we do, immersing you in the local culture and in the active things to do. Annotation This guide focuses on areas that are most rewarding for tourists (all of China could not be seen in several lifetimes): Beijing & surroundings, Shanghai and Hong Kong, the Terracotta Warriors near Xi'an, the Yangzi River's Three Gorges, the majestic rural scenery around Guilin, the Pearl River Delta, and the island of Macau. For each region, activities range from Dragon Boat racing, Chinese cooking and language lessons, to golfing, hiking and bike rides. All the big sights are described, but so are little dumpling houses, lively markets, walks through narrow old streets. You discover the best places to study tai chi and where to stay if you're here for the 2008 Olympics. Names for all places, attractions, hotels, restaurants are shown in Chinese characters as well as in English, so the reader can communicate well with taxi drivers and get directions. The author has been an adventure tour leader in China for 10 years and has written for the Rough Guide to China, as well as various travel magazines Contents......Page 5 Introduction......Page 11 Travel & Living Information......Page 83 Beijing & Around......Page 147 Xi'an......Page 243 The Three Gorges......Page 271 Shanghai & Around......Page 295 Guilin & Around......Page 411 The Pearl River Delta......Page 455 Hong Kong & Macau......Page 497 Bibliography & Recommended Reading......Page 605 Glossary......Page 607 Language......Page 608 Basic Words & Phrases......Page 610