【Discover the Hidden Charms of Southeastern Shanxi】

In the central Chinese province Shanxi, the more popular tourist spots like the ancient town of Pingyao and Mount Wutai are found near the north. However, in southeastern Shanxi awaits visitors with equally impressive natural landscapes, meticulously ornamented temples, ingenious fortresses, and eye-opening gastronomic wonders. Our editor Roger Wu scouts around southeastern Shanxi and digs out these hidden treasures

[Ningbo: History Meets Chic]

Those who know Zhejiang’s Ningbo today as ‘little Shanghai’ may not be familiar with the city’s long glorious past before Shanghai overshadowed it, with a history dating back as far as 7,000 years ago. Ningbo natives constitute a significant part of overseas Chinese communities. The coastal city has engendered many successful overseas Chinese entrepreneurs such as Tung Chao Yung and Sir Run Run Shaw. Though Ningbo’s prosperity has dwindled since the early 20th century, the city is looking to reclaim its former glory with stylishness and a new attitude

【Wandering in West Hunan】

Despite its limited size, the western part of Hunan has abundant tourism resources. From hiking, boating and making handicrafts to tasting local snacks and shopping for ethnic souvenirs; from imposing mountains and ethnic villages to serene townscape and intoxicating night view, West Hunan has something for everyone. We deconstruct a tour in West Hunan and show you ways to gain the most rewarding experiences out of it.

[Feature Story] Changsha: Carpe Diem!

Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan in southern China, is not just another modern-day Chinese city chasing the dime. Dubbed the ‘capital of entertainment’ in China, hedonism runs in the blood of this restless city. Our editor Season Zhang looks into the fun-comes-first lifestyle of Changsha people and examines why the ‘Carpe Diem’ mentality pervades the city.

Spring is a time for renewal, but the damp weather can certainly put a damper on your mood. We recommend six destinations across China for a spring tour to please all your senses and drive away the springtime sluggishness. Feast your eyes with glorious blossoms, gratify your appetite with tasty, creative flower delicacies, rejuvenate the body with hot spring baths and make your own essential oil and potted plants.

[Feature Story] Flower Power: Springtime in Kunming

Known as ‘Spring City’, Yunnan’s Kunming is one of the earliest places in China to witness the blooming of flowers. Starting from January and running into May, the first season of the year is a burst of beauteous blooms in Kunming. Apart from admiring the flowers, you can bring home cut flowers and flower products as souvenirs, savour tasty and healthy herbal cuisine and relieve fatigue with an aromatic flower spa

[Feature Story] The Gardens of Suzhou: A Jiangnan Serenade

Situated at the southern tip of Jiangsu in eastern China, water town Suzhou has for centuries attracted numerous scholars, tourists and even the emperor to it. Ancient gentry and scholars found it an ideal place to build gardens through which they expressed and amused themselves, and brought immense pleasure to generations of visitors. We take a stroll in four of the nine UNESCO World Heritage-listed gardens in Suzhou and find out what the garden owners wanted to express 

[Feature Story] Colours South of the Clouds
—Exotic Spring Festival in Yunnan

The borderland province Yunnan is home to numerous ethnic groups. During Chinese New Year, the biggest festival of the year for Chinese people, people of every ethnic group put on the best-looking costumes they have and gather for mass singing and dancing parties as well as banquets, sharing the joy of a fresh start and the expectation for a great year ahead. Visit the ethnic communities in Yunnan during Chinese New Year and you will be treated to what is truly a feast for the eyes.

[Feature Story] Harbin—A Russian Winter Fairy Tale

As the provincial capital of Heilongjiang, Harbin sets itself apart from other metropolises in China with its heavily exotic ambience owing to its close contact with Russia in the past two centuries. In the history of Harbin, Russian influence has become an inseparable part. From architectural style to cuisine variety, find out about the fusion culture of this wintry northern city.

[Feature Story] A Winter Vacation at Jilin’s Mount Changbai

Despite boasting some of the most untainted natural environs in China, Mount Changbai in Jilin, northeast China, is more than a place for touring and admiring. Recreational facilities have been developed lately to attract tourists looking for a vacation to relax and recharge. Mountain climbing, skiing and a hot spring bath can all be accomplished at Mount Changbai, a resort destination growing strong.

09／[From the Editor] Something A Little Different
20／[Culture] Chinaware—Story of the Thousand-Year-Old Art
28／[Feature Story] A Winter Vacation at Jilin’s Mount Changbai 
70／[Photography] Autumn’s Allure in Jiuzhaigou Valley
78／[Historical Echoes] A Visit to John Leighton Stuart’s Former Residence in Hangzhou 
81／[Excursions] Wetlands in Hong Kong
84／[Highlights] Nature Walks near the Imperial City
90／[Behind the Scenes] Dali Foreigner Street


 Feature Story: Yunnaan’s Xishuangbanna—The Secret Recipe for Happiness

Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture lies on the southwestern border of China, neighbouring Laos and Myanmar. In this remote Dai community, the living standard is not as advanced as the cities. The locals, however, lead a more contented life. Helen Kwok journeys to this border region, to look into the lives and culture their and answers the question: what does it take to be happy?

The western part of China features some impressive mountain ranges that make for a challenging, eventful mountaineering trip. Chan Siu Ling reports her climbing expeditions in western China and the touching and inspiring stories of her companions, local guides and expert mountaineers.

10／[From the Editor] Wandering in Nature
12／[Culture] Qinglou: Playground of the Chinese Literati
19／[Hotel Pciks] Back in Time to the Former German Concession
22／[Feature Story] To the Farthest Horizon - Trekking in the Mountains of Western China
68／[Discoveries] Idyllic Autumn Scenery through the Lens
86／[On The Way] A Floral Feast - Qingdao International Horticultural Exposition 2014

China's top resort destination Hainan Island has grown in notoriety as a rip-off hot spot. Helen Kwok finds out the best ways to avoid scams and discover hidden delights of the subtropical island.

09／[From the Editor] More than Meets the Eye
14／[Excursions]Geological Excursion in Penghu
16／[Discoveries] Kora around Tibet's Mount Kailash
24／[Feature Story] An Unconventional Trip to Hainan Island
65／[On The Way] Rendezvous with Beijing's Creative Scenes
86／[Excursions] A Novel Tour of the Three Gorges
90／[Behind the Scenes] Buddha in our Hearts


The final section of the Sino-Russian Tea Road was distinctly different from the previous section in China. As the Shanxi merchants set off from the Great Wall for the north, they left their familiar territory for stranger lands.

09／[From the Editor] Travelling through History
14／[Hotel Picks] Living History
16／[Highlights] A \'Cool\' Artistic Hangout in Changchun
24／[Feature Story] The Sino-Russian Tea Road - Beyond the Border
68／[Photography] A Touch of the Simple Life
72／[Historical Echoes] Elegy for a Forlorn Farce
80／[Excursions] A Tour of Two Cities - Wuxi and Ningbo
84／[Excursions] Danxia Wonder in the Desert
88／[Traveller\'s Corner] Scooting around in Shantou
90／[Behind the Scenes] Tacky Chinese Tourists

In this issue, we continue to follow the ancient Shanxi merchants as they braved the dangers carrying their prized commodities northwards.

12／[Excursions] An Eco Tour at OCT Harbour
16／[Photography] Summer in the Longji Rice 
22／[Feature Story] Into the Heart of the Sino-Russian Tea Road
62／[Hotel Picks] Slumbering in a Philipe Starck Design
63／[Photography] Wild Rocks under the Mobile Phone Lens
68／[On the Way] A Whirlwind Getaway on the High-Speed Railway
84／[Insights] The Battle for Happiness
88／[Behind the Scenes] On Less Trekked Routes

Besides the Ancient Tea Horse Road in the southwest China, there was once another ancient trade route in China, comparable to the famous Silk Road, through which merchants brought Chinese tea leaves to other parts of the world. That tea road between China and Russia, opened up by Chinese merchants from Shanxi Province during late Ming and early Qing dynasties (around 1644), went from Xiamen Village at Mount Wuyi, Fujian Province, passed through Siberia, and stretched all the way to St Petersberg, Russia.

The 30th Parallel North
Hangzhou has always been praised as paradise on Earth. That speaks not only of the enchanting scenery, but also the graceful and cultured ambience which for centuries have nurtured philosophers, poets and artists. We take you on a journey to the heart of Hangzhou: along the genteel West Lake, through the historic Southern Song Imperial Street, and also to the fashionable dining, lodging and shopping places.

[Feature Story]Riding into China’s Wilderness
When you have the high speed railway in China, travelling from Shenzhen to Beijing only takes 10 hours; travelling by plane at a speed of 800 km per hour only takes 50 hours around the world. Modern transportation shortened the distances between places in the world, but have reduced the excitement of adventure during your travels.
This time, we begin our journey under the leadership of eight travellers and experience the country by riding. What used to be a ‘process’ is now our ‘destination’, and the ‘method of transportation’ has become our ‘best travelling partner’. Let’s use other styles to understand what it is like to be a traveller again.

Guizhou A Festive Spring Journey

Located in the south-western corner of China, Guizhou Province has always been a settlement area of various ethnic minority groups in history. For centuries, they lived an isolated life within the mountains, away from the outside world, and preserved the most original folk customs, especially the traditional way of celebrating the New Year. Even those cultural traditions of the Han people, which have vanished elsewhere in China, are well preserved in Guizhou, including the Dixi opera of Tunpu, Painted-Face Dragon Dance of Longli, Spring Fair of Jiuxi, and Wanggong-Deity Parade of Jichang.

The shapes of rivers in China, whether large or small, have been affected by the various landforms in the country. As a result, each river possesses its own style and characteristics.

Steams of visitors worldwide are still journeying to Yangshuo, even so many years after Western landscape, Yangshuo has always been a paradise for rock climbers and cyclists.

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By presenting brilliant photographs and informative, vivid articles, China Tourism goes deep into covering the natural beauty, geographic wonders, local customs, historic relics and sites, diverse cultures and arts of China — just to name a few features. China Tourism has shaped itself into the exclusive Hong Kong travel magazine that focuses on China, and is well-appreciated by both tourists and photographers.

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China Tourism - July 2015

China Tourism - July 2015

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