French Club Med to be taken over by Chinese owners and guests

The decline in European fortunes has kept the continent’s tourists pinching pennies. That’s made it hard for Club Méditerranée, a French resort company known originally for its cheap and cheerful beach vacations, to boost profits by turning its beach hut clusters into luxury resorts. To offset the fall in European spending,

Club Med has been courting upscale Chinese tourists. A takeover bid from AXA Private Equity and Fosun International Ltd (paywall), a massive Chinese conglomerate, looks like a vote of confidence in that strategy.

Club Med, which operates around 70 resorts around the world, said that current management would stay if the bid goes through. Its shift in strategy has seen it upgrade existing resorts and closing others, as well as opening luxury shops in its resort hubs. It has also opened more resorts in Asia.

That’s geared in part toward Chinese tourists, who spent $102 billion in 2012—much more than the nearly $84 billion each spent by Germany and the US, and an increase of 40% on the previous year, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. German and US spending increased only 6%. Southeast Asian countries are particularly popular with the Chinese, who are also avid and discerning shoppers.

Besides marking the rise of the Chinese tourist, the bid also signals the gathering momentum of Chinese private equity overseas. While much has been made of the “going out” strategies of China’s state-owned enterprises, sovereign wealth funds and, more recently, real-estate companies, Fosun—along with Hony Capital, CDH Investments and Citic Capital Partners—has been quietly at the vanguard of taking PE beyond China’s borders.

As it happens, the 7.1% stake in Club Med Fosun bought in 2010, which made it one of the resort company’s biggest strategic investors at the time, was its first big European play. At the time, Club Med announced that it would open five resorts in China within five years—with three now open, it’s on track to hit that target—as well as a ski resort in Heilongjiang province.

Since then, Fosun has also taken a 10% stake in Greek jewelry retailer Folli Follie, and bought Israeli laser maker Alma Lasers earlier this year.

The bid for Club Med hints that we should expect more aggressive, high-profile deals to come. Fosun is raising a $1 billion dollar-denominated fund—its second dollar fund—to invest overseas, particularly in
Europe. It will focus on companies like Club Med: struggling European businesses that want to expand in China.

Source: by Gwynn Guilford, Quartz

Chinese travelers to Canada up 15.5% in 2012

VANCOUVER - Canada's designation as an Approved Destination Status (ADS) nation is paying dividends for the country's travel sector as more than 273,000 Chinese tourists visited it in 2012, a 15.5-percent jump over the previous year.

According to new figures released recently by the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), the national tourism marketing arm, China has become Canada's fastest growing market for visitors since the country received the ADS designation in June 2010.

In 2011, the first full year of ADS, Canada received 236,700 Chinese visitors.

Last year, Chinese tourists, staying an average of 29.8 nights, collectively spent C$485.5 million ($466.7 million), up 19.2 percent year-on-year.

Apart from the neighboring United States, traditionally Canada's largest tourism market, the number of Chinese tourists to Canada stood at 4th after Britain (597,000 visitors), France (422,800) and Germany (276,600).

Greg Klassen, the CTC's senior vice-president, marketing strategy and communications, called the numbers encouraging with the significant increase in both the volume of travelers from China and the amount of money they were spending while abroad.

"We expect the same this year as well. We think that it will eventually slow down, but we do know that the Chinese interest in travel outbound will reach about 100 million travelers by the year 2020, and we want a piece of that," he said.

"It"s a pretty significant contribution they're making to Canada's tourism economy, which of course includes ad hoc shopping, hotels, restaurants and those kinds of things."

According to the World Tourism Organization, a UN agency, Chinese tourists abroad, about 83 million in total, spent a record 102 billion U.S. dollars last year, surpassing the Germans as the largest spenders in international tourism.

For many Chinese abroad buying high-end luxury goods that are often less expensive than at home, or perhaps unavailable, is the target of their purchases.

"And they are really following many other Asian cultures who have come to Canada," said Klassen, who noted the average Chinese visitor to the country in 2012 spent C$1,777, up 3.2 percent year-on-year.

"So the Chinese are no different from that and our understanding and research tell us that they do save up a fair bit of money so that when they do take that trip they have that luxury goods memento of that experience."

To make travel to Canada easier for Chinese travelers, Klassen said the CTC has been working closely with the Canadian embassy in Beijing to streamline the visa process to encourage more people to visit. In the past, the process has often been lengthy and difficult.

"I think the numbers can double. I think they'll slow down a little bit. You know the accelerated pace has been quite fast, but I think we'll be looking at minimum 10 percent growth over the next five years," he said.

"They could come close to doubling (in five years). Again, it is up to us to help ensure that we continue to create, develop and animate the experiences that the Chinese are looking for," he added.

While communication can be a barrier for Chinese traveling in a country where the official languages are French and English, Klassen felt Canada had a "competitive advantage" as the country has more than 1.4 million Canadians of Chinese descent.

With Cantonese largely spoken in the major centers of Toronto and Vancouver, Mandarin is quickly gaining ground with the wave of immigrants to the country from China's mainland over the past two decades.

"We have so many overseas Chinese, Mandarin-speaking Chinese here in Canada. We have the kinds of food that they (Chinese travelers) are looking for, and we have the kinds of support at both the hotel levels, the restaurant levels and the shopping levels where we can accommodate the Mandarin language," Klassen said.

"But again, more and more needs to be done. I understand that the Chinese (travelers) are looking for home-based television programs that they can watch, and I think as our industry learns more about how to accommodate the Chinese it just simply makes sense for us to do that."

Source: Xinhua | Photo: Huffington Post

It's your duty to be civilized, China tells its tourists

China's National Tourism Administration has released a new set of guidelines aimed at teaching the country's tourists how to be more "civilized" amid an online furor over a Chinese schoolboy who scrawled graffiti on an ancient Egyptian relic.

Internet users in China have been up in arms after an embarrassed traveler uploaded photos of seven Chinese characters carved onto artwork inside the 3,500-year-old Luxor Temple in Egypt, which was later traced back to a 15-year-old visitor from Nanjing. The teen's parents have since apologized for the act of vandalism, though the incident has prompted many netizens to post photos of similar graffiti captured during their travels, including at the Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwestern China's Gansu province, which has been a depository for Buddhist art for around a millennium.

In an effort to stamp out similar offenses at home and abroad, the country's National Tourism Administration has formulated a convention outlining what is considered unacceptable conduct while traveling.

"Being a civilized tourist is the obligation of each citizen," the convention said, singling out the protection of cultural relics as a duty.

The convention discourages scribbling on or carving characters into ancient relics, as well as climbing or touching cultural artifacts, while photos may only be taken if site regulations permit.

Other principles promoted by the convention include maintaining a clean environment, complying with public order, protecting ecology, protecting public infrastructure and utilities, respecting other people's rights and showing courtesy to others. Actions such as spitting, littering, vandalizing, jaywalking and cutting in line are listed as inappropriate behavior.

The municipal government of Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei province, has also joined in to crack down on vandalism. New fines between 500 yuan and 5,000 yuan (US$82-$820) have been introduced for damaging flora or flowerbeds, carving on trees and hammering nails into public property. The fine can be upped to 20,000 yuan (US$3,265) for more serious offenses.

The Egyptian embassy in China has responded to the Luxor Temple vandalism incident, calling it "regrettable" and "unethical." Egyptian civilization does not only belong to Egypt but to the world, the embassy said in a statement released on May 28.

The Egyptian ambassador to China, Ahmed Rizk, said diplomatically that the outrage in China stemming from the Luxor Temple incident reflects the high respect Chinese people have for historical artifacts. The boy's act of vandalism is a reflection of his ignorance of the historical value of these cultural artifacts, he added.

These relics need to be preserved and protected so that they can be witnessed by future generations, the ambassador said.

Source: Want China Times

Xishuangbanna, Home to China's last wild elephants

Xishuangbanna, Home to China's last wild elephants, a vast expanse of rainforest and unique local culture, is a perfect escape into nature

Lying on the Mekong River in Yunnan province, Xishuangbanna is the only tropical rainforest nature reserve in China and home to the country's last wild elephants.

Often called Aerial Garden and previously known as Mengbanaxi, which means fantastic utopia, the region offers an escape into luxuriously tropical forest alive with animals and insects.

It is also home to 13 ethnic groups. The majority group is the Dai. Others include the Hani, Wa and Yao.

Before becoming a tourist draw for its elephants and nature, the area was famous for Water Sprinkling
Festival, which marks the Dai peoples' new year. Lasting three days, from April 13 to 15, on the first day cultural performances are held and there are dragon boat races. On day two people sprinkle water on each other as a way of expressing good wishes. And on the third day, people exchange gifts.

Although Water Sprinkling Festival has already passed this year, there are many other events to come, including dragon boat races, firing of indigenous missiles and flying Kongming Lamps.

For those traveling on from China, the 966-kilometer border with Myanmar and Laos is a main crossing point into southern parts of Asia.

Here are also some of the region's main attractions:

1. Wild Elephant Valley 

Among the Dai people, elephants are a sign of good luck and longevity so it is perhaps fate that the last wild elephants in China live in Xishuangbanna.

About 45 kilometers from Jinghong city, the region's capital, Wild Elephant Valley is equipped with viewing platforms.

Three hundred elephants live in the dense forest of Xishuangbanna, known locally as the "kingdom of elephants".

An elephant training school in the valley houses 16 tamed elephants that have been taught to perform tricks such as bowing, standing on their heads, dancing and kicking balls. Tourists can ride the elephants, have their photograph taken with them or enjoy an elephant massage.

2. Single Tree Forest

This 900-year-old Banyan tree in the town of Daluo is a favorite scenic spot for many. With more than 30 different strands of surfacing roots, the "forest" it creates spans 120 square meters beneath its towering 70-meter-tall trunk.

Aerial roots growing from the trunk twist and cross each other on their way to the ground, creating the feeling that there are many trees.

3. Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda

Situated on the top of a hill near Manfeilong village, 70 kilometers from Jinghong city, the Manfeilong Pagoda was built in 1024.

Because of its appearance it is also known by two other names, White Pagoda and Bamboo Shoot Pagoda. It is dedicated to Hinayana Buddhism, which is a small, conservative branch of Buddhism.

The Manfeilong Pagoda consists of nine towers. The main tower is 16.3 meters tall and surrounded by eight smaller towers, each 9.1 meters tall.

Made of bricks, with club-like bases topped by calabash-shaped bodies, each tower contains a niche in which sits a Buddhist statue.

To the south of the pagoda is a footprint in the rock, which according to legend was left by Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism.

The pagoda attracts Buddhists from Myanmar and Thailand, and during the Water Sprinkling Festival crowds of Dai people from Manfeilong village gather in front of the pagoda to celebrate the new year.

4. Olive Dam

Named for its shape, Olive Dam (Ganlanba) is the lowest and hottest place in Xishuangbanna and home to the Dai people, who live in wooden houses on stilts. The two main Dai villages are Mansongman (garden village) and Manting (fruit garden).

Located along Lancang River and known for its beauty, the region, which holds a bounty of tropical fruits, is also sometimes called Menghan, which means roll up.

The name comes from a legend that when the Buddhist preacher Sakyamuni came to the area his followers laid out a cotton cloth for him to walk on, which they later rolled up.

Source: China Daily

InterContinental Expands in China Despite Economic Slowdown

InterContinental Hotels Group Plc (IHG), the world’s largest provider of hotel accommodation, plans to almost double the number of hotels it manages in China even as the country’s economy slows.

The owner of the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands today opened its 200th hotel in Greater China, which takes in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. It has 170 hotels in the region, its second-biggest market, Richard Solomons, the company’s chief executive officer, said in a Bloomberg Television interview in Shanghai. The company plans to expand to 100 Chinese cities from 70 cities now in the next three to five years, he said.

“We’ve seen the growth flatten out now, but you have to take a long-term view, which is what we do,” Solomons said, citing China’s urbanization rate and infrastructure development. “It’s going to be a very powerful market for hotels in the long term even if there’s some short-term slowdown.”

Investors soured on China’s outlook in a Bloomberg global poll this month, with the share of respondents who see the economy deteriorating doubling from January. The world’s second-biggest economy grew 7.7 percent in the first quarter, less than the 8 percent median forecast in a survey of 41 economists.

Data earlier this month on fixed-asset investment and factory production missed forecasts and gauges of manufacturing and service industries declined. The economy expanded 7.8 percent in 2012, the slowest pace in 13 years.

Solomons said the company is “well placed” in two key areas of the market in China, with its upscale Intercontinental and mainstream Holiday Inn brands even if there are a lot of new hotel entrants.

The Denham, England-based company that first entered China in 1984, expects the country, already accounting for more than 10 percent of its business, to have as many hotel rooms as in the U.S. by 2025. It will open its first hotel (2706) under a new brand designed to appeal to Chinese travelers next year and has already signed 16 deals, Solomons said.

Source: Bloomberg News

Chow down in China

Like the huge range of awe-inspiring landscapes that lies within its vast boundaries, China is also home to an incredible diversity of people. The Han are the dominant force here, but more than 50 ethnic groups call China home and the range of traditions, customs, languages and general way of life can leave visitors dewy-eyed.

But despite all their differences, there’s one thing that binds all Chinese people together more than anything else: their passion for food. In fact, meal times are so important here that when Chinese people greet each other they don’t say: ‘How are you?’ They say: ‘Have you eaten yet?’

For the traveller this means a trip across China is a journey through the most staggering assortment of lovingly prepared culinary delights imaginable; a taste sensation never to be forgotten.

A dish fit for a king

Peking Duck is the king of all China’s dishes. Invented inside the palace walls of Beijing’s Forbidden City, it was a dish initially served only to royalty. In fact, it wasn’t until an emperor’s retired chef decided to open up a public restaurant that the secret recipe escaped, and ordinary folk were able to sample its regal delights. Peking Duck is similar to the crispy duck and pancakes you find on menus in the West, only more care is taken to keep the duck meat from turning dry, resulting in a far juicier and more flavoursome dish.

These days roast duck remains relatively exclusive thanks to its hefty price tag, but Beijing’s laobaixing (common people) needn’t worry; the capital’s streets have a wealth of affordable grub too.

Eat a bug!

Snack stalls and markets abound, and are perfect for grabbing a quick bite. And it’s at these pavement stalls where you can sample some of China’s weirdest culinary creations. Head down to Donghuamen Night Market near Wangfujing shopping street, for example, and you’ll be able to nibble on delicacies such as sheep-innards broth or barbecued scorpions. If you ask nicely enough, the guys that barbecue the scorpions will even let you eat them live!

Like it spicy?

If you like your food with a bit of a bite to it, head southwest from Beijing to arrive at the provinces of Sichuan and Chongqing, home to some of the spiciest dishes on the planet. Chillis are used in abundance here along with the unique Sichuan pepper, a mouth-numbing red peppercorn. The signature dish in these parts is hotpot, a super-spicy boiling broth into which fresh raw ingredients are dipped until they are cooked through; a fondue with fire!

Braise you

Just east from here is Hunan province, the birthplace of Mao Zedong and home to his favourite dish, hongshao rou (braised pork belly). If you thought the Peking Duck was succulent, wait til you try this one. Only the fattiest, juiciest pieces of pork belly are used and they’re marinated in caramelised sugar before being cooked very slowly, allowing time for the meat to suck up all the flavours. It’s too fatty for some western tastes but it’s a dish that is undeniably delicious.

Dog meat and beer fish

Further south is Guangxi province, famous not only for its stunning, otherworldly limestone peaks, but also for the dog-meat hotpot that’s still served in some of its restaurants. If that doesn’t sit too well with your morals then try beer fish, a mouth-watering speciality of the village of Yangshuo, but found all over the region.

From Russia with love

Southerners mock the northern Chinese for their unrefined dining tastes, but meat eaters will love a foray into Inner Mongolia or the Muslim-dominated northwestern province of Xinjiang, where lamb dominates menus. In fact, so tasty are the lamb kebabs from Xinjiang province that you’ll find them on pretty much every street corner of every city in China.

The north is also where you’ll find some Russian influence. Harbin, a city which freezes over in winter, and which holds the magical Ice-lantern Festival every January, is where quick-fried spices make way for slow-cooked stews and where it’s easy to find imported vodka with which to wash down spoonfuls of quality caviar.

Source: Lonely Planet by Daniel McCrohan

California’s shopping malls fuel Chinese tourism boom

Minutes after arriving by bus at an outlet mall in Cabazon, a dozen or so Chinese tourists hustled out to buy luggage that they planned to stuff with high-end clothes, shoes and bags.

But not Guoshing Cui, a Samsung supervisor from Guangzhou. He made a beeline for the Coach store, where he picked out three expensive handbags. He paid more than $800 from a wad of $100 bills.

The bags were gifts for family and friends in China, where Coach goods sell for two to three times the price in the U.S. “It’s a smart move,” he said of his purchases.

That kind of power shopping has made the Chinese tourist the highest-spending overseas visitor to the U.S. and one of the most valued customers for U.S. outlet malls, shopping centers and tour bus operators.

Chinese tourists spend an average of $2,932 per visit to California, compared with $1,883 for other overseas visitors, according to the latest statistics by the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. A big chunk of their spending — about 33% — goes for gifts and souvenirs.

“What we know about Chinese visitors is they don’t like to lay on the beaches,” said Ernest Wooden Jr., president of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. “What they do like is shopping.”

The outpouring of Chinese money helped set a record for spending by foreign visitors to the U.S. — $168.1 billion in 2012, according to federal officials. Los Angeles is getting its share of the Chinese spending: Nearly 1 in 3 Chinese travelers to the U.S. makes a stop in the City of Angels.

“The Chinese middle class is growing and their No. 1 destination is L.A.,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who has made two trips to China and will be in Beijing this week to promote trade and travel with L.A.

China’s relatively strong economy and its growing middle class means more Chinese citizens have money to travel and spend, according to tourism experts. The middle class in China numbered 247 million people in 2011, or 18% of the population, and is projected to grow to more than 600 million by 2020.

Visitors to California from China are typically professionals, executives or managers, with an average annual income of $66,900 — compared with an annual per capita income of about $5,000 for all Chinese residents, according to statistics from the U.S. and Chinese governments.

To draw in more Chinese spending, store owners, hotel managers and tour guides in Southern California are going out of their way to welcome Chinese tourists.

At the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, 20 of the 130 stores employ Mandarin-speaking salesclerks such as Jeffrey Hsu, who works at the mall’s Ugg Australia store.

“I think we understand their customs,” Hsu said. “When someone comes to a foreign country they want to bring back gifts for their family and friends.”

Spending by Chinese travelers has grown so fast in the last few years that it has surpassed the per capita outlays of other high-spending visitors, including travelers from Japan, Australia, Brazil and South Korea.

The customs and unique characteristics of the local economy shape how foreign visitors spend their time and money when visiting the U.S.

Australians, for example, share a similar culture with the U.S. and are more likely than other overseas travelers to visit museums, art galleries and historical sites.

“We are fascinated by peoples of different cultures,” said James McKay, an engineer from Melbourne, whose recent visit to the U.S. included tours of Alcatraz island in San Francisco, the Pearl Harbor memorial in Hawaii and ground zero in New York. He also took a historic tour of Disneyland with his wife, Karen.

Japanese tourists, according to travel surveys, spend heavily at restaurants because certain foods, particularly red meat, are much more expensive in the island nation.

That may explain why Morton’s steakhouse in Beverly Hills has become hugely popular among Japanese tourists.

“Don’t even put fish or chicken in front of them,” Joanna Sanchez, a spokeswoman for the restaurant, said of Japanese visitors. “They come for steak.”

But Chinese tourists tend not to shop for themselves. Most of their purchases — usually high-end clothes and accessories featured in American movies and magazines — are gifts for friends and family.

Chinese tourists in the U.S. target brands such as Coach, Ugg, Polo, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Neiman Marcus and L’Occitane. Steep Chinese taxes make such brands two to three times more expensive in China, said Helen Koo, president of America Asia tours in Monterey Park.

“Many tourists feel that the savings more than pay for the entire trip,” she said.

Many Chinese visitors also stock up on vitamins in the U.S. because they are suspicious of the quality of supplements sold in China.

To stretch their travel budgets, Chinese tourists prefer shopping at outlet malls.

“We see many visitors head to the luggage store, get a suitcase and then it’s, ‘OK, we are going to fill the bag,’” said Michele Rothstein, a senior vice president at Simon Property Group, one of the country’s largest operators of regional and outlet malls. “The Chinese are definitely seen as speed shoppers.”

During a recent visit to the U.S., Ding Sheng, a tourist from Guangzhou, China, said he took a tour to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and was planning to see the casinos of Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. But he said a shopping outing to the Cabazon outlet mall was the highlight of the trip.

“These are gifts for my friends,” he said as he shopped for Ugg shoes, priced at $149 a pair.

Although Chinese tourists spend heavily on gifts and souvenirs, the travelers typically skimp on food and lodging, tour guides say.

For example, the tour group that chartered a bus to the Desert Hills Premium Outlets stayed about 75 miles away at an economy hotel in the city of Industry and ate at Chinese buffet restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley.

“Even when they stay at a cheap hotel, they spend a lot on shopping,” said Nathan Xue, a tour guide for TPI America.

In fact, the Chinese travelers spent so much during the visit to the outlet mall that it took Xue an extra hour after his recent tour bus was scheduled to leave to pull the Chinese tourists away from the stores.

And when the shoppers finally returned to the bus, it took another 20 minutes for them to stuff their bulging bags of clothes, shoes and luggage into the bus’ cargo hold.

Source: by Los Angeles Times, Hugo Martin

Fantastic view of Dajiuhu Lake Wetland Park

A picture taken on May 14, 2012 shows the Dajiuhu Lake in the Dajiuhu Lake Wetland Park, Shennongjia Natural Conservation Region of Hubei province. Located in the southeast region of Shennongjia, Dajiuhu Lake is the largest and highest wetland in central China. It is surrounded by mountains and a total of nine different lakes are connected by a flowing stream. The nine lakes compose the Dajiuhu Lake, which means "nine big lakes" in Chinese. [Photo/Xinhua]

Amazing Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake, the only natural lake on the island of Taiwan, is praised as the heart of Taiwan, not only because its central geographic location, but also for its role as home to five major hydropower plants which provide electricity for the rest of the island, just like the blood sent from a person's heart to other parts of the body.The Sun Moon Lake scenic area is also a favorite weekend holiday destination for local people. There are many restaurants and hotels by the shores of the lake. (Source: Sohu.com)

Wuling Mountain in Beijing

Located in Miyun County some 150 kilometers east of Beijing, Wuling Mountain is a national-level forest reserve. What distinguishes the reserve from other similar mountain resorts in suburban Beijing is its many creeks, waterfalls and moisture-rich air. (Source:china.org.cn)

China to overtake U.S. as world's top business travel destination

Source: CNN Go By Frances Cha

Business travel spending in China is expected to rise to US$245 billion by 2013

China's travel business tycoons will be rubbing their hands in glee over the findings of a new industry report.

China will beat out the United States to top the business travel market as early as 2013, according to a report by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), a business travel and corporate meetings organization based out of the U.S. state of Virginia.

The organization predicts that business travel spending in China will increase by 17 percent this year and 21 percent in 2013, bringing spending to US$202 billion and US$245 billion respectively.

Business travel spending in the United States is expected to reach US$233 billion by 2013.

 

Significant growth  

"We forecast significant increases in business travel by Chinese citizens over the next two years with at least two-thirds of the growth being real increases in trips and spending as opposed to rising travel prices," said GBTA executive director Michael W. McCormick in a press statement.

The four largest airports in China -- Beijing, Shanghai-Pudong, Guangzhou and Shanghai-Hongqiao -- have doubled in size, and more than 100 new hotels are being planned.

International hotel groups are also brushing up strategies to woo Chinese business travelers. Both Accor and InterContinental Hotels Group have announced the launch of China-centric hotel brands to secure a foothold in the Chinese business market.

 

International impact 

The GBTA report underlines China's increasing influence in global travel and business.

COMAC, China's largest aircraft manufacturer, recently caused consternation at Heathrow airport when it decided to opt for Paris, and not London, as its new European headquarters.

"I've been flying on China's domestic flights for the past few years and I've found that the airline and airport services in China are much better than before," said Tammy Lee, director of a Seoul-based real estate development company who travels to China twice a month and to the United States once a year. 

"Food served on the airlines is much improved, and I think service on Chinese airlines is much better than those on American airlines," said Lee. "That also goes for hotels. It's getting harder to book hotels in Beijing and Shanghai."

A traveler's treasure trove

Source: By Craig Mcintosh (China Daily)

While poor in material wealth, Guizhou province is rich in culture, scenery and much else a visitor would desire. Craig McIntosh reports in Guizhou.

If you collected every article ever written about Guizhou province - news or travel - and used them to make a word cloud, it's a good bet that the two largest words would be "poverty" and "beauty". They certainly featured heavily in everything I read before heading out to this southwestern province. Going by people's incomes, Guizhou is certainly one of the poorest areas in China, largely because its rough, karst terrain has made it hard for industry to move in. It is also true that these same mountains, rivers and valleys causing the hardship are simply a delight to behold, while the area's temperate climate, and diverse and colorful ethnic population combine to create a priceless experience.

What I didn't read about is the mind-blowing food (in both senses of the word - glorious and spicy) and the copious amounts of baijiu (clear Chinese spirits) that I'd be expected to down at every meal.

For the vast majority of visitors, their introduction to the province is the airport or train station at Guiyang, the capital. The city has its fair share of attractions, such as the laidback Huaxi Park and the 400-year-old Jiaxue Tower. But like in other parts of Southwest China, the fun of Guizhou lies in the countryside.

Luckily, Guiyang is slap-bang in the center of the province, which makes it the perfect jumping-off point for anyone looking to explore rural China. Major highways lead north to the ethnic villages of Zunyi, west to the picturesque county of Kaili or southwest to the stunning Huangguoshu Waterfall and the Maling River beyond.

On this occasion, as it was mid-April, I plumped for the blooming forests of Bijie, a city about 165 km away in the northwest.

Be aware that no trains run to these parts, so taking a bus or car are the only options - and even relatively short journeys can take time. If, like me, you're adverse to tedious road trips, have no fear. It's a pleasure just sitting and staring through the window.

Winding cliff roads, steep valleys and a green-blue horizon that looks like a tree-covered radio wave - you won't want to blink. I almost filled my camera's memory card within the first couple of hours.

I stayed in Qianxi, a county in Bijie that's fairly developed compared to other parts of the province. Although rather generic in looks, its redeeming quality is the nearby Baili Azalea Belt.

Stretching for about 50 km, the belt has about 40 different kinds of azalea, which together form kaleidoscopic peaks of pinks, reds, purples and yellows. It even boasts the biggest azalea shrub in the world, the "King of Azaleas", which is estimated to be 1,000 years old.

The flowers bloom in March and April, so expect the usual ren shan ren hai (a reference to crowds as "mountains and seas of people"). Despite the inevitable crowds though, there's lots of room to wander and plenty of pavilions offering hilltop views of the forest.

Bijie has been a pilot zone for tourism development since the late 1980s, when the Party secretary of Guizhou was a certain Hu Jintao, now the country's president.

It has obviously benefited from the large injection of cash, which explains why some parts have a recently built look. Yet the cash has also had another effect: It has allowed many migrant workers from these parts to return home.

Qianxi is full of family-run guesthouses ready to host the expected influx of Chinese and foreign guests. That means you're unlikely to struggle in finding cheap accommodation, and it provides a better chance of getting in touch with the local culture than staying at a hostel and hotel, especially in areas with ethnic groups.

The locals are extremely friendly and more than happy to share a historical tale or two to anyone willing to listen, although even Mandarin speakers will find the local dialect hard to follow.

Like Yangshuo, a backpacker retreat in the neighboring Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region also famed for its grassroots hospitality, the Qianxi countryside caters to all, from the hyperactive to the downright lazy.

Whether you want to walk, run or cycle through the rolling hills and colorful villages, or you want to simply enjoy a book by a field of rapeseed flowers, you can.

As well as the Baili Azalea Belt, the area has Caohai Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake. It's blessed with a plethora of plants and rare wildlife, including the red-crowned crane, the white stork and the white-tailed sea eagle. Close by is also Jiudongtian, a famous collection of valleys and limestone caves.

Heading back toward the capital, I stopped in Dafang, a town that tourism authorities have been working hard to return to its former glory.

The main street of this county town has been revamped to appear like it did 100 or so years ago, with several attractions along the way, such as the former residence of a Yi ethnic queen that has been converted into a museum.

Further out, there is also a massive replica of an ancient palace, which holds scores of exhibits covering the area's rich and diverse history. It's often used as a film location for period TV dramas.

However, what the urban center lacks in authentic charm, the outlying rural areas more than make up for in culture. Dafang is surrounded by ethnic villages - Yi, Miao and Bouyi - and each has its own rituals, snacks, wines and festivals.

During my stay, I was treated to a Yi fire party, which basically involves singing, dancing and telling stories around a large fire. Oh, and drinking cup after cup of baijiu and mijiu, another kind of rice wine.

Thinking back, it probably wasn't the best idea to have a hangover the morning I headed to Bijie's most famous landmark, Zhijin Cave.

Roughly two hours by bus from Dafang, the massive karst cave was formed about 1.2 million years ago but was only discovered in the 1980s. I'm told that, up until then, it was just somewhere the local ethnic Miao children played.

And what a playground!

Covering the length of more than 12 km (only half is open to visitors), it has more than 100 crystalline formations, each of which have been named according to its appearance. There's the "Pipa", the "Mushroom" and the "Drum", as well as the imposing "Silver Rain Tree", a stalactite that stands 17 meters high.

Sections are varied, with some wide and tall, others narrow and tight, while the lighting effects - green, red and purple - highlight the most important formations.

It's a must-see for visitors, but my advice would be to wear sensible shoes (that 6-km walk is the equivalent of walking down one hill and up another) and take a warm jacket.

Exhausted after my underground trek, I boarded a bus heading back to the capital.

All I wanted was to get some sleep, but that's the thing about Guizhou - close your eyes for a second and you could miss something amazing.

Kunming opens its first subway line

 A subway line opened on Monday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province.

The 22-km-long line — the first to be built in the area — will eventually act as an overlapping section for two planned subway lines, a manager from subway operator Kunming Subway said.

The subway's trains will run at an average speed of 39.3 km per hour, taking 34 minutes for each one-way trip, the manager said.

Construction on the line started in April 2010 and went into trial operation on April 9 this year.

Source: Want China Times

Leave the hordes behind: 5 China trips off the beaten track

Source: CNN Go By Adam Williams

Travel in China can feel like being shoved onto the world's longest assembly line, with huge tour groups, monster hotels, and prefab fun.

But cast your glance farther afield; the nation reveals a wealth of exotic and beautiful destinations where it's easy to leave the hordes behind and blaze your own trail.

1. Zhejiang to Anhui over Hui Hang Trail

Crossing the 1500-meter peak of Qingliangshan (清凉山) between Zhejiang and Anhui, Hui Hang Trail (徽杭古道) wends through wild forests and along the sparkling Xiaoyao River (逍遥河) which feeds the crops of tiny local villages.

Most sections of the trail are still paved with stones, affording welcome stability in the vertigo-inducing valley.

The zigzagging path was developed via the Huizhou merchant salt trade, which had flourished in the 13th century and peaked by the late 18th.

The 15-kilometer hike can be divided into two days by staying and eating with the Yang family, who keep a farm near the summit.

“The Yang family met us at Qingliang’s peak and cooked a fantastic dinner packed with bacon and chicken from their farm,” notes traveler and China-based food writer Chris St. Cavish.

Along with their rustic cooking, the Yangs maintain a four-room hostel near the peak. Room type ranges from two-bed to five bed. Nightly rate starts from RMB 60 per person, which include two farm-style meals. Booking-in-advanced required -- +86 563 849 0803.

Getting there: Enter Hui Hang Trail from Fuling (伏岭) in Anhui or Zhejitian village (浙基田村) in Zhejiang. Entry fee is RMB 20.

The best options for getting there include taking a train to Hangzhou (杭州), and then hiring a minibus to the Zhejiang-side trailhead; or train to Anhui’s Jixi (绩溪县), followed by a minibus to the Anhui-side trailhead.

Plenty of drivers are available and familiar with Hui Hang’s appeal to a limited number of intrepid hikers.

2. Kashgar’s livestock market, Xinjiang

One of the ancient and modern world’s greatest markets, Kashgar’s livestock market reputedly swells the city population by 100,000 every Sunday.

And that doesn’t include the massive numbers of sheep, goats, cattle, and fine horses marched into the dusty plaza for sale, trade, and slaughter.

Sharp-eyed visitors will savor the endless quantities of exotic foods and goods, while taking in the fine features and busy languages of the central Asian peoples, including Uyghurs, Tajiks, and Hui.

“The noise, energy and dust of the place were amazing, so I stood aside next to a giant tandoor-style oven, chewing on roasted lamb skewers and watching it all happen,” recalls U.S. traveler Michael Ferchak.

While a relatively easy flight connection from Urumqi, Kashgar retains an ancient feel that is unmatched in the region or elsewhere.

Getting there: The livestock market has moved several times, but is currently about five kilometers east of the city center. Much of the action takes place early, so try getting there just after the crack of dawn.

Hop on bus 28, or tell a taxi driver you’re heading to Ulagh Bazbiri.

3. The Great Wall on two humps, Inner Mongolia

Best known for its pivotal role in global cashmere production, China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region sees few visitors (despite periodically hosting sheep beauty pageants), with a sprawling expanse of grassland and desert.

Windswept and desolate, the region's Gobi and Kubuqi deserts contain almost one third of China’s Great Wall, and are accessible from both Hohhot (呼和浩特) and Baotou (包头).

The region has the widest variety of wall sections from different eras and dynasties, the oldest built by the Zhao Kingdom in the Warring States period, around 300 BC. Many sections are best visited atop a shaggy Bactrian camel.

Getting there: Hiring these two-humped beasts along with a guide is easy. Tour operators in Beijing and Hohhot organize small groups for treks through some of the biggest sky country in China.

Tours typically spend three to 15 days traversing the dunes and camping in distinctive felted Gers, Mongolians' preferred form of mobile housing.

Beijing Tours hosts inclusive small-group treks starting at around US$400 for five days.

4. Retreat to spiritual Sichuan

Although Jiuzhaigou’s colorful water and Hailuogou’s glacier bring hordes of visitors to China's middle province, the UNESCO site at Emeishan National Park (峨眉山国家公园) remains far less crowded.

With a 3,099-meter summit and numerous monasteries cradled in its sheer valleys, the holy mountain is home to vast tracts of wilderness, waterfalls, and plenty of cheeky monkeys. A thrilling variety of endemic flora and fauna also fill the 115 square-kilometer nature reserve.

The whole region has reliable bilingual signage and a network of trails -- perfect for leaving the crowds behind.

Both the Wannian (万年寺) and Xianfeng (先锋寺) monasteries provide austere accommodation and simple vegetarian food, along with the rare opportunity for quiet contemplation in an ancient Buddhist temple.

The east side of Emei is the resting place of Leshan Buddha, one of the world's largest stone-chiseled deities. The 71-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha took 90 years to carve and was completed in the ninth century.

Getting there: A shuttle bus leaves Chengdu New Southgate Bus Station for Emeishan every 20 minutes from 7:15 a.m.-6: 10 p.m. It takes around two hours and costs about RMB 40.

Three-day entry to Emei costs RMB150. Temples charge RMB 20-80 for a bed on arrival.

5. Two wheels in Yunnan

Although the southern province has become increasingly connected by a series of new highways, original roads remain in good condition and secluded for two-wheel travelers. 

Catch a bus (most drivers allow you to bring bikes aboard) to the small city of Jianshui (建水), about three hours south of Kunming, and load up on carbs at the historic 1915 restaurant.

Riding south out of Jianshui, road S214 climbs through massive stands of bamboo forest and high altitude scrub, peaking near a single restaurant (you can't miss it, one of its big dining rooms opens onto the street) with incredible views and simple food.

You’re next treated to a dizzying 20-kilometer plunge into a lush, tropical valley packed with rice terraces, ending at the rushing Honghe River.

From there, catch local transport up the hill to Yuanyang, home to the Hani ethnic minority and a vibrant public square full of traditionally dressed ladies.

Bikes can be rented from the Xiong Brothers bike shop at 51 Beimen Jie in Kunming’s university neighborhood (tel: +86 871 5191520). Run by a friendly gang of fearless bikers who keep their rental stable in excellent nick, Xiong Bros’ mountain bikes cost about RMB 40 per day.

Where Hong Kong’s Hipsters Hang Out

Source: Wall Street Journal- Scene Asia By Patrick Brzeski

Hong Kong doesn’t leave a visitor wanting for nights out on the town. Central has its members-only clubs, and Tsim Sha Tsui its skyscraper cigar lounges, while neighborhoods like Mongkok and Wan Chai teem with earthier entertainment.

But if you’re looking for an upscale, bohemian alternative to all of the above, where’s the left-of-center neighborhood where you can mingle with the city’s creative types? The answer, of late: Sheung Wan.
In the past few years, the district at the corner of Central and Mid-Levels has acquired a laidback vibe thanks to a host of independent restaurateurs, boutique owners and gallerists setting up shop. Pushed westward by Central’s skyrocketing rents, they have taken their place alongside the Chinese antique dealers and dried-fish vendors that Sheung Wan is known for, and in doing so they have begun to remake the district in their image.

“The area is changing fast, but we’re trying to respect its community feel,” says David Baudrie, a Frenchman who has opened two boutiques along Tai Ping Shan Street in the past year. The area isn’t for those looking for a wild night out, but, he says, “where you come to share a nice bottle of wine and hang out with friends.” Start your ramble where Central’s SoHo district ends and Sheung Wan begins, at the stairs from Hollywood Road to Mee Lun Street. The hidden gem you’re looking for is Visage One, a one-seat hair salon by day that transforms into a tiny lounge on Saturday nights. Stylist cum barkeep Benky Chan keeps the menu as simple as his cubbyhole’s gallery-white walls — beer, wine, whiskey or water — but some of the city’s best jazz musicians are known to drop in for impromptu sessions.

If it happens to be midweek, and you want to kick off your night with a bang, Volume, arguably Hong Kong’s hippest gay club, sits just across the street and offers free vodka shots every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. as part of its “New Arrivals” night, welcoming visitors and the freshly transplanted to the scene. The crowd skews stylishly gay, naturally, but all are welcome.

Farther down Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan’s main commercial stretch, you’ll find 208 Duecento Otto, unmistakable for its two-story, cast-iron façade. The stylish bar-lounge area of this New York Italian outfit offers 20 varieties of wine by the glass, and makes a mean classic cocktail. Try the 208 Bronx, a tart house signature mixed from gin, bianco, orange bitters, fresh orange and lemon. If you’re hungry, its thin-crust pizzas rank among Hong Kong’s best. A few doors down sits homey Heirloom Eatery, where you can grab a quirky vintage chair and wash down a Balinese fish taco or two with another vibrant house concoction known as the Suzy Wong (a mutation of the Mojito, made with vodka, Thai basil and ginger ale).

Back uphill toward Mid-Levels, Oolaa, a sprawling, 120-seat bar-restaurant, is a favorite for Sunday brunch but draws a stylish crowd for after-work wine by the glass. The establishment down the street — the one with a huddle of good-looking 30-somethings waiting outside — is the vexingly no-reservations Yardbird, one of Hong Kong’s hottest tables since it opened last summer.

The creation of Matt Abergel, formerly of Masa in New York and Hong Kong’s Zuma, Yardbird is a self-described Japanese gastropub and has won rave reviews for its nose-to-tail chicken yakitori. But it’s worth a visit for the drinks alone. Once you’ve downed a Bloody Kim Jong Il — a Bloody Mary spiked with kimchi — don’t be surprised if you find yourself calling out for a few of its celebrated skewers. Pushing on into Sheung Wan, make your way to Tai Ping Shan Street, where the gentrification of the district is happening fast. Every few weeks, a new, high-concept café or pop-up retailer seems to be opening its doors along this cozy, walkable strip. Mr. Baudrie’s latest lifestyle boutique, Kouch, doubles as a wine shop and one-room hangout, selling vintages from family-owned wineries in France and California that can’t be found anywhere else in Hong Kong. Let Mr. Baudrie, a former sommelier, assist you in your pick as you settle into Kouch’s low-slung sofas.

If you find yourself in Sheung Wan on the last Friday of any given month, check out Square Street, behind Man Mo Temple, where Swedish designers David Ericsson and Alexis Holm serve free beer from the storefront of Squarestreet, their watch, shoe and leather-goods workshop-showroom. The duo’s boozy neighborhood block parties, which begin around 8 p.m., invariably attract the police with noise complaints and have become a monthly meeting ground for the city’s young international set — expect no shortage of beards, skinny jeans and flamboyant neckwear.

Still going strong past midnight? XXX Gallery is your final port of call. One of the few venues in the city that can reasonably stake a claim to the label “underground,” this basement space in Sheung Wan’s commercial heart — established by Hong Kong-based DJ Enso, originally of San Francisco — doesn’t even have a liquor license, so you’ll have to pick up your own drinks at a convenience store en route. Proceed to dance on the sofas to the visiting DJ or indie band of the night, and don’t be surprised if the sun is already up when you finally stumble out into a new day.

Rhythms of an ancient life

Source: By Huo Yan and Huang Zhaohua (China Daily)

Huangyao town offers all the charms of Guilin but none of its tourist kitsch and clamor. Huo Yan and Huang Zhaohua report.

Huangyao, a 1,000-year-old town nestled in the mountains of southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is attracting increasing attention from travelers. They come to enjoy its well-preserved local culture, natural beauty and tranquil rustic life. But day-trippers to Huangyao may be disappointed. It does not take long to cover the 1.1 sq km town. And at first sight, it is very much like other parts of the region such as Yangshuo, in Guilin, already a must-see destination for international tourists.

Only if visitors stay for a night or two will they discover the charm of this ancient town. It looks even better on rainy days when the surrounding mountains are shrouded in mists.

Luckily enough, we arrived on a rainy day, and stayed for several days.

This landlocked place borders the most remote parts of Guangdong and Hunan provinces, and used to be a business hub in ancient times.

Located some 200 km from Guilin, Huangyao is in Zhaoping county, Hezhou.

The most impressive features of the town's rain-soaked landscape are the banyan trees. They are everywhere, their umbrella-like branches reaching into the numerous streets and narrow lanes.

The other attraction is the almost intact Ming and Qing-style architecture giving the town a poetic feel with its small bridges, canals and wooden houses.

A typical mountainous area of karst formations, Huangyao boasts more than 300 ancient complexes.

Unlike the water towns of East China, Huangyao is surrounded by hills, protecting it from a tourist onslaught.

Even today, people are up with the sun and retire at sundown, much like their ancestors did. There are no pubs and KTV bars blasting loud music.

At night, visitors will only hear the sound of rain and wind, and the occasional bark of a dog.

A walk in the morning is an intensely pleasant experience as you weave your way through age-old houses, temples, shops, theaters and archways. Moon-shaped bridges straddle crystal clear rivers, and the old streets are paved with beautiful blue flagstones, typically associated with 14th century European castles.

All along these flagstone paths we saw the locals, especially women in twos and threes, washing clothes by 3-meter deep wells fed by mountain springs, whose waters ran into nearby rivers.

Reflecting the wisdom of yore, the drinking water is kept separate from that meant for washing vegetables, which, in turn, is separate from the water for cleaning farm tools.

"Although every household has access to tap water, we prefer fresh spring water," says Pan Yuying, who has lived in Huangyao for 50 years.

Mountain spring water has all the minerals the body needs, she says.

She would know - she is 97.

Huangyao used to be a business hub in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. A number of shops from those times stand to this day.

Mo Xianjia, 53, runs a wine shop selling home-made products such as sweet wine and sealwort wine. Sealwort is a perennial herb with medicinal value.

A complex process is involved in the making of this wine, Mo says, adding that every family in this ancient town has its own secret recipe.

Twenty years ago, the price of sealwort was just 2 yuan per kg. Now, it fetches 100 yuan a kg.

For lunch one day, we tried another Huangyao specialty - fermented black beans.

Along with sealwort wine, Huangyao fermented black bean has been sold in places as far away as the

Southeast Asian countries for 60 years. We were told that some of the trademarks for these products are centuries old.

In a 10-square-meter workshop, we saw a huge 1-meter-high cask. A row of dustpans was piled high on its wooden frame.

"We still follow the traditional method that involves steaming the beans in the cask for hours and then soaking it for 20 minutes in spring water," the workshop owner says.

The beans are then laid out on the dustpans to be cooled before being returned to the workshop for fermentation.

Controlling the humidity and temperature in the workshop is not easy and is central to the whole process.

Today, the town's annual bean production stands at around 200,000 kg.
Huangyao has abundant tourist resources but like the local wine and tea, it takes time to appreciate the beauty of this ancient town.

Ctrip targets 50% share of China's luxury travel market

Source: Want China Times

Chinese travel agency Ctrip on April 28 announced a partnership with the Hong Kong-based Taimei Group to venture into the luxury travel market. Guo Min, former president and CEO of Taimei, reported that Ctrip will take control of Taimei via cash and other sources.

Ctrip will establish a company to tap the high-end travel market, of which it aims to control a 50% share within five years. The company believes the luxury travel market in China to be worth several tens of billions of yuan a year.

Fan Min, CEO of Ctrip, defines the high-end travel market as excursions which cost 50,000 yuan (US$7,900) per trip. Fan points to the huge potential of the sector, as there are 2.7 million people in China with personal assets in excess of 6 million yuan (US$950,000), 60% of whom have expressed their willingness to travel, and to do so in style.

At the end of last year, Ctrip joined up with Wing On Travel of Hong Kong and EzTravel of Taiwan in establishing HH Travel and invested in Taimei Travel in April this year for the management of the new venture, which aims to become the largest high-end travel service in China.

Just four years old, Taimei Travel has provided luxury travel services to 20,000 tourists from China. Yet while Taimei Travel has only around 2,000 members, Ctrip boasts tens of millions of members. Some 30,000 members of Ctrip are viewed as regular customers booking luxury travel services and are the target customers for the new venture.

An industry figure notes that Ctrip needs to demonstrate new areas of business with strong growth potential at a time when its two mainstays, flight bookings and hotel accommodation, are encountering strong competition.

In 2011, Ctrip made 1.1 billion yuan (US$174 million) in net profit on sales of 3.5 billion yuan (US$554 million). Should it be able to garner half of the luxury travel market as it hopes, its sales would triple. Market players suspect however that Ctrip appears to be overoptimistic about its prospects in this area, as high-end travel tends to be tailor-made to the traveler and limited in scale.