Ancient Towns in China

This article is about ancient towns in China. The following is an introduction of a few famous ancient towns in China, such as Lijiang, Dali, Fenghuang, Pingyao, Zhenyuan and Langzhong.

Lijiang Ancient Town

With a history of over 800 years, Lijiang Ancient Town is perhaps the most well-known town in China. It is inscribed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in the year of 1997. Yulong Snow Mountain is not far from the town. There will be Impression Lijiang show in the evening.

Ticket: CNY80

Location: Lijiang City, Yunnan Province.

Dali Ancient Town

Dali Ancient Town is located in Yunnan Province, which is just 2 hours’ drive from Lijiang. It is situated at the foot of Cangshan Mountain and faces Erhai Lake on the east. There is no ticket of the town.

Location: Dali City, Yunnan Province.

Fenghuang

Fenghuang Ancient Town is a small town built during Kangxi’ reign in Qing Dynasty. The name Fenghuang literally means phoenix. For over 300 years, it still remains its original appearance. The old Diaojiao wooden houses, flow of Tuojiang River, old towers and rusty iron gate tell stories of this small town.

Ticket: CNY148 valid for 3 days

Zhenyuan Ancient Town

Zhenyuan is located in the east of Guizhou Province. It was built over 2000 years ago. It was known as one of the most beautiful ancient towns in China. Wuyang River runs across the town reflecting the buildings on both sides. There are trains available from Guiyang or Kaili to Zhenyuan. There is no entrance ticket of Zhenyuan if you just want to walk around in the town. It is advised to take a boat trip on Wuyang River. The night scene is stunning.

Location: Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province.

Pingyao Ancient Town

Pingyao Ancient Town is one of the best preserved ancient towns in China. It is inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. It is located in the center of Shanxi Province, which is 85 km away from the capital city Taiyuan. The history of the town dates back to 2800 years ago. This town is once the financial center of China in late Qing Dynasty. Tourists don’t need to buy a ticket if they just want to walk around the town. However, there are many attractions in the town which can only be visited by ticket. It is advised to buy one. The ticket is valid for 3 days and each of the attractions can only be visited once.

Ticket: CNY150

Location: Pingyao County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, China

Langzhong Ancient Town

Langzhong Ancient Town is located in the northeast of Sichuan Province. It may be not well-known by foreigners. However, it is one of the most important military towns in the history. It was built about 2000 years ago. Tourists will be impressd by its unqiue architectural style.

Ticket: CNY100

Location: Nanchong City, Sichuan Province.

Ancient Towns in China

The Most Beautiful Villages in China

If you would like to explore China in a new way, despite the big cities in China, small villages in China is something you cannot miss. The following is a few beautiful villages in China.

Xijiang Miao Village

Xijiang Miao Village is the biggest residence of Miao minority in China. It is 260km away from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province. For hundreds of years, it still remains its original apperence and local custom. In order to save the good field for farming, the local people built the houses on the hillside. The houses are called Diaojiao wooden houses. It is a typical residence in Southwest China. View tours.

Ticket price: CNY100

Location: Xijiang Miao Village, Leishan County, Guizhou Province.

Attractions nearby: Huangguoshu Waterfall, Zhenyuan Ancient Town

Hongcun Village

Hong Village or Hongcun Village is a small village near Huangshan Mountain. It is cow-shaped village. The residence of the village is the typical architectural style of Ancient Huizhou. These local-style dwellings are in picturesque disorder. Each house is built with black tiles and white walls. The layout of the residence is symmetrical of axis. There are exquisite carving on the wooden windows, pillars, tables and stones. The lake in the center of the village reflects the black and white houses around the lakeside, forming a beautiful picture. View Hongcun Village tours.

Ticket price: CNY100

Location: Hongcun Village, Yixian County, Anhui Province.

Wuyuan County

Wuyuan is said to be the most beautiful village in China. Actually, it is a county located in Jiangxi Province. When in spring, especially in April, there will be blossoming rape flowers everywhere. The land will be a sea of yellow flowers with black and white houses, green trees, clear waters, wooden bridges around it.

Ticket price: CNY180 (valid for 5 days)

Location: Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province.

Attractions nearby: Huangshan Mountain, Xidi Village, Shexian County

Lige Village

Lige is a small village located along the lakeside of Lugu Lake. Lugu Lake is known as the pearl of the plateau. Its local custom ” Walking Marriage” has attracted many tourists these years. Walking Marriage is a tradition of Mosuo people. When a man and a women are in a long-term relationship, it can be regarded that they are in a walking marriage. However, they do not live together or make up a new family as normal couples do. They still live with each one’s family. They usually meet each other at night. When they have children, the children will be raised by the mother’s family, not the father’s. The father will raise his sisters’ children. View Lugu Lake tours.

Ticket: CNY100

Location: Lige Village, Ninglang County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, China

Attractions nearby: Lijiang Ancient Town

Hemu Village

Located in the north of Xinjiang Province, Hemu Village is one of the three villages where Tuwa People live. It covers an area of 3040 square kilometers. All the houses here are built up with wood. The village is famous for its amazing scenery in autumn.The village is blazoned with autumnal color.

Ticket: CNY80

Location: Hemu Village, Bu’erjin County, Xinjiang Province, China.

Attractions nearby: Kanas Lake, Baihaba Village

The Most Beautiful Villages in China

Jenny

Jenny

Amazing Terraced Fields in China

A terraced field is a piece of sloped plane that has been cut into a series of successively receding flat surfaces or platforms, which resemble steps, for the purposes of more effective farming. It is a typical landscape in South China. Some of them have been developed as tourist sites. People whoever have visited the terrace are impressed by its unique and magnificent landscape.

When is the best time to photograph?

The terraced field takes on different looks at different time of the year. The best time to take a photograph is when the field is filled with water. Hani Terraced Field will be filled with water from December to April next year. Longji Terraced Field will be filled with water in May or June. Autumn is also a good season to take pictures in the field. In autumn, the rice will be ripe and the colour of the field will turn to golden yellow. Another season is summer when there is green everywhere in the field.

The most famous terraced fields in China are Longji Terrace in Guilin and Hani Terrace in Yuanyang.

Guilin Longji Terraced Field

Longji Terraced Field is perhaps the most famous terrace in China. It is located in Longsheng County, the north of Guilin. The name Longji literally means Dragon’s Backbone.

The main scenic area of Longji Terraced Field consists of 3 parts. They are Dazhai Jinkeng Terrace, Ping’an Terrace and Longji Village. Tourists usually choose one of the terraces. Dazhai Terrace is larger than Ping’an Terrace. It takes about 1 day to visit Ping’an Terrace from Guilin downtown. After the tour, tourists may return to the downtown in the afternoon. For the more magnificent Dazhai Terrace, it is advised to stay overnight in the scenic site. There are 3 scenic spots in Dazhai Terrace. The No.1 scenic spot is a place where tourists could watch a sunrise. The No.2 scenic spot is a perfect spot for photographing. No.3 scenic spot is on the top of a hill, which is a place for watching sunset and there is cable car available. In fact, once tourists enter the scenic site, there is beautiful terraced fields everywhere. Tourists could just walk along the stone pavement to enjoy this man-made masterpiece combined with nature. View a Guilin terrace tour.

Honghe Hani Terraced Field

Honghe Hani Terraced Field is located in Yuanyang County in Yunnan Province. It has been inscribed as a World Heritage of cultural landscape by UNESCO in the year of 2013. Whoever come here would be impressed by its spectacular landscape. The whole scenic area consists of several parts. The through ticket of all the attractions is CNY100 for 1 day, CNY180 for 10 days and CNY360 for a year. View a Hani Terrace tour.

There are also other amazing terraced fields in China, such as Jiabang Terrace in Guizhou, Jiangling Terrace in Jiangxi, Youxi Terrace in Fujian, Gaoyao Terrace in Guizhou and etc. Many of them have not been developed as a scenic site. Longji and Hani Terrace are best choice if you would like to visit terraced fields in China.

Amazing Terraced Fields in China

Welcome to Beijing China

I am a English speaking tour guide living in Beijing China. Welcome to visit China

The high-speed train from Lanzhou to Xinjiang has been available since December 26th, 2014. With a length of 1776km, it runs across three provinces, which are Gansu Province, Qinghai Province and Xinjiang Province. There are will be 16 pairs of the high-speed trains travelling along the new railway route in the early period. The train number start with a “D”.There are 21 stations along this railway line, including Lanzhou, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Turpan and Urumqi and etc. These cities are the most important destinations along the old Silk Road. It takes about 12 hours’ train travel from Lanzhou West Station to Urumqi South Station. Click here to book a train ticket.

The following are some detail information.

Lanzhou to Urumqi

Ticket price overivew

First Class Seat  CNY 658

Second Class Seat  CNY 548.5

Lanzhou to Jiayuguan

There are five high-speed trains available everyday.

Departure time at 7:46, 8:25, 10:49, 13:25, 18:26

Duration about 5 hours

Depart from Lanzhou West Train Station

Arrive at Jiayuguan South Train Station

Ticket fare overview

First Class Seat CNY258

Second Class Seat CNY215

Lanzhou to Zhangye

Depart from Lanzhou West Station

Arrive at Zhangye West Station

Departure time at 7:46, 8:25, 10:49, 18:24

Duration about 3 hours 30 minutes

Ticket fare

First Class Seat CNY179.5

Second Class Seat CNY149.5

Zhangye to Jiayuguan

Depart from Zhangye West Station

Arrive at Jiyuguan South Station

Departure time at 11:13, 11:57, 13:45, 14:16, 22:06

Duration about 1 hour 30 minutes

Ticket fare

First Class Seat CNY 78.5

Second Class Seat CNY 65.5

Lanzhou to Xining

There are 10 trains available from Lanzhou West Station to Xining Station everyday.

Departure time from 7:46 to 20:03

Duration about 1 hour 25 minutes

Ticket fare

First Class Seat CNY 69.5

Second Class Seat CNY58

Attractions along the old Silk Road

Lanzhou

White Pagoda Hill Park:It is located in the White Pagoda Hill at the northern bank of the Yellow River.It has its name after the white pagoda on top of it, which was originally erected in the Yuan Dynasty. Towering and lofty, the White Pagoda Hill connects the undulating mountains giving an imposing view of nestling the Jingcheng city.

Zhangye

Zhangye grand Buddha Temple: The Giant Buddha Temple is located in the southwest part of downtown of Zhangye, which is well known for the remains of China’s biggest indoor sculpture of Nirvana Buddha.

Jiayuguan

The Jiayuguan Pass: This Ming Dynasty fort guards the strategic Jiayuguan pass, at the western end of the Great Wall – this was the last section built by the Ming Dynasty. It was built in 1372, and subsequently enlarged and strengthened, and was known as “the strongest pass under heaven”.

Dunhuang

Mogao Grottoes: Constructed over a millennium, from the 4th to the 14th centuries, the caves hold the world’s richest treasure house of Buddhist sutras, murals and sculptures.Cameras are not permitted.

Echoing-Sand Mountain: Crescent Moon Spring is 6km south of Dunhuang in the Singing Sands Mountains and is quite literally an oasis in the desert. The spring’s name derives from the crescent moon shape taken by the small pool of spring water between two large sand dunes. Although the area is very dry, the pool doesn’t dry up as one might expect.

Turpan

The Flaming Mountain: The Flaming Mountain is located on the northern verge of Turpan Basin, more than 10 kilometers away from Turpan city.It is the cradle of the Turpan ancient civilization and oasis agriculture. Eighty percent of the total natural landscapes and human landscapes in Turpan are located here.

More about Silk Road and tours.

Do Not use Gmail when you travel in China

Do Not use Gmail for your email service when you travel in China, because Gmail and google were blocked by Chinese internet, we can Not access Gmail nor google when you arrive in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou. reported by ChinaTour.

Internet has been popularized in China for many years. Internet service is available in most hotels in China. The service may be free of charge or cost some money according to different hotels. If you have a cellphone or laptop using WiFi, it would be very easy to access the Internet. WiFi is available in some restaurants, public places in major cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai,Xian etc.

Because of some particular seasons in China, some websites are blocked in China, which means you cannot access these websites within the territory of China. The blocked websites includes some famous websites such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and etc. The easiest way to solve this problem is to use VPN. You can buy the service from an VPN provider.

The following is a few popular websites which are not available in China.

1. Facebook

2. Twitter

3. YouTube

4. Instagram

5. Flickr

6. Blogger

7. Dailymotion

8. Picasa

9. Hellotxt

10. Dropbox

11. Most of Google products including Google Search Engine, Gmail, Google Play etc. (Google map is available for now.)

Since Google is not available in China, people may use other search engines such as Bing, Yahoo etc.

The following is a few search engines available in China.

http://www.bing.com

http://www.yahoo.com

http://www.ask.com

http://www.search.com

http://www.hotbot.com

http://www.excite.com

http://www.lycos.com

WiFi service in public places in major cities:

Beijing

Free WiFi at Beijing Capital International Airport

Passengers can put the passport on the WiFi Self-service Machine. After the machine scanning the passport, the passenger will get a free WiFi account. If passengers have a Chinese cell phone number and is able to read Chinese, they can get a account through the airport main page.



Free WiFi service has been available on most public buses in Beijing since December 2nd. The name of the WiFi link is “16WiFi”. Passengers may have to download an app named “e路WiFi” and then register. Then you can begin to service the Internet.

Shanghai

Shanghai has been taking effort to build a free network in most public places including waiting area of the bus stops, commercial areas, parks, tourist attractions, waiting areas of hospitals, stadiums and etc. The name of the WiFi link is “i-Shanghai”.


Google NOT Available in China