Well-Funded Tourism Infrastructure
High-speed TrainHigh-speed Train
China has put billions of yuan into convenient transportation. It is accessible by airplane, ships, and trains from all over the world.
The attractions in China also have better infrastructure. In China, attractions are divided into five levels, rated according to their quality, with the highest level being AAAAA (5A). At present, China has 259 attractions with the level of 5A. A 5A scenic spot must have excellent parking facilities and convenient access, clean and tidy tourist toilets (most have Western-style toilets), professional guides, and an orderly management system.
Favorable Visa Policies
As China is becoming increasingly popular as a travel destination, the entry and travel regulations are relaxing:
- 24, 72, and 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit
- Visa-Free Policies in Hong Kong, Macau, and Hainan
- Shanghai 15-Day Visa-Free Policy for Cruise Groups
Safe Environment
Generally speaking, China is a safe country to travel around and most people you meet are friendly, honest, and trustworthy. In major cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, many young people can have simple conversations in English.
The Chinese Festivals occur throughout the Lunar year. As our calendar year and the Lunar year is different, the festivals fall on different dates each year. Each festival is rich on tradition, excitement and participation. The fast pace of Hong Kong slows as the city celebrates in spectacular bright lights and decoration. Festivals are a very important part of Chinese tradition. The particular festivals discussed here are of special interest to the young and knowing a bit more about them will help you enjoy and to participate in these magic celebrations.
Date: The first day of a year in lunar calendar, usually between late Jan and early Feb
Activities: fireworks display, visiting and greeting, Yangke dancing, lion and dragon dancing, holding temple fairs and many other great folklore-inspection events.
Of all the traditional Chinese festivals, the new Year was perhaps the most elaborate, colourful, and important. This was a time for the Chinese to congratulate each other and themselves on having passed through another year, a time to finish out the old, and to welcome in the new year. Common expressions heard at this time are: Gongxifacai.
Date: 15th of the 8th lunar month
Activities: Dragon Boat racing, enjoying moonlight and eating moon cakes.
Probably the second most important festival in the Chinese calendar, Zhong qiu has ancient origins. Occurring on the 15th day of the 17th lunar month (usually sometime around the end of September/start of October) the Mid-autumn festival celebrates the moon. Traditionally a time for poets and lovers, in Chinese symbolism the moon symbolizes unity and wholeness and is a time for reunion of families. Abundant meals are eaten during the festival and moon cakes, round pastries filled with nuts, dried fruits, preserved flowers, sesame and/or marinated beef or bacon are eaten.
Date: 12th of the 3rd lunar month, usually around April 4th or 5th.
Activities: Cleaning ancestors’ graves and holding memorial ceremonies, spring outing, and flying kites
This is a time when ice and snow has gone and plants are beginning to grow again, and is a time for respect to ancestors. The graves of deceased relatives are swept and tended, the memory of the dead cherished and offering of food may be made. To assist ancestors in the afterlife ‘Bank of Hell’ money is burned, thereby transferring money to the ancestors to spend as they will. Qing Ming is often marked by an indulgence of the Chinese passion for kite flying.
Date: 7th day of the 7th lunar month lunar month
Activities: In the past, girls would conduct a ceremony to beg Zhinu for wisdom, dexterity and a satisfying marriage in the future.
The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It originated from the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.- 220 A.D.) Qi Xi is the Chinese equivalent of “Valentine’s Day”. Legend has it that long, long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted orphan named Niu Lang (Cowhand). He fell in love with Zhi Nu (Weaver Maid), a fairy, also the 7th daughter of the Emperor of Heaven. They got married in secret on earth. The Emperor found the sky not that beautiful as before without the 7th daughter weaving clouds and rainbows. He wanted his daughter’s grandmother to find the missing daughter and to bring her back. While the 7th princess was flying to Heaven with her grandmother, the cowboy wore the ox hide, took his children in two bamboo baskets with his wife’s old fairy clothes and chased after his wife in the sky. To stop him, the grandmother made a milky way in the sky with her hairpin, which kept them separated on the two ends of the milky way. Their loyalty and love touched magpies and many of them gathered and formed a bridge for the couple to meet in the evening of Qi Xi (the 7th day of the 7th lunar month), which is the day the Emperor allowed them to meet once a year. Sadly, this tradition in China is dying, as more youngsters are more aware of Valentine’s Day
Date: The 9th day of the 9th lunar month
Activities: Eat Double Ninth Gao, mountain/hill climbing
Traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival took place on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month. It usually falls in October in the western calendar. The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called the “Height Ascending Festival”. Early in the Western Han Dynasty, about 2,000 years ago, people used to climb a high platform outside the capital city of Chang’an on the occasion of the Chongyang Festival. For many, it was the last outing of the year before the onset of winter. The custom evolved into its present form, when people go climbing to get some exercise as well as enjoy the autumn scenery. The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little-known mountains on this day. On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope for progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower. In 1989, the Chinese government declared the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors’ Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and street communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day.
