Xiangxi

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Steve

Population: 2,683,400

Area: 15,462 square kilometers (5,970 square miles)

Nationalities: Tujia, Miao, Han

Administrative Divisions: 7 counties (Luxi, Fenghuang, Huayuan, Baojing, Guzhang, Yongshun, Longshan); 1 county-level city (Jishou)

Seat of the Prefecture Government: 58, Renmin Bei Lu, Jishou City

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0743-8223683
Weather Forecast: 121

Bank of China Jishou Branch: Renmin Bei Lu, Jishou City

China Post Xiangxi Branch: 62, Renmin Bei Lu, Jishou City

Location: Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is located in the northwest of Hunan Province, neighboring Zhangjiajie to the east and Huaihua to the south. It is also bordered by Guizhou Province and the city of Chongqing to the west and Hubei Province to the north.

History: The history of Xiangxi can be traced back to the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), when it was dominated by the Chu State. In the following thousands of years, its administrative system has changed many times. It wasn’t until 1952 that Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established and changed to Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture five years later.

Physical Features: The prefecture lies in the convergent area on the northeast fringe of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Mountainous Region in western Hubei. Its terrain slopes downward from the northwest to the southeast. The Wuling Mountains zigzag through Xiangxi. There are well developed karst landforms distributed in the southwest and rivers crisscrossing among the hills in the western and eastern regions of the prefecture.

Climatic Features: Xiangxi bears a subtropical humid monsoon climate with an annual average temperature of 15.8-16.9℃ (60.4-62.4℉). The weather is moderate all the year round, and bursts of precipitation become much more common in spring and summer.

When to Go: Spring and autumn are the best periods to travel in Xiangxi.

Special Local Products: silver ornaments and brocade articles of the Miao, printed and dyed cotton fabric, kudzu vine root tea, pomelo, Chinese gooseberry of Fenghuang County, boletus mushroom of Jishou City

Local Highlights: Tujia and Miao ethnic minorities make up nearly eighty-five percent of the prefecture’s total population. The Miao people living in Jishou City still maintain their traditional folkways. Apart from the festivals common to the Han, they celebrate their own festivals and song fests. For example, young boys and girls will sing responsively to each other in the open air on the third day of the third lunar month. Furthermore, there are also some rituals held at set times to pray for blessings or make sacrifices to ancestors.

Going to a fair is called Gan Chang by locals. One may not really visit Xiangxi if one does not go to the local fairs in Miao towns. In the fairs, visitors can see the most distinctive aboriginal people of local ethnic minorities. Laershan, Heku and Shanjiang of Fenghuang County are well known Miao fairs in Xiangxi. Peddlers from other counties as well as Guizhou and Sichuan will come to these towns to sell or exchange goods. For visitors, they are a shopping paradise to buy their favorite folk handicrafts of good quality and at very reasonable prices.

Posted in China travel | Comments Off

Xiangtan

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Steve

Population: 2,820,000

Area: 5,015 square kilometers (1,936 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 2 districts (Yuetang, Yuhu); 1 county (Xiangtan); 2 county-level cities (Xiangxiang, Shaoshan)

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0732-58239321
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184
Bank of China: 0732-58222758

Location: Xiangtan is located in the central part of Hunan Province, the middle reach of the Xiang River. It is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Changsha and Zhuzhou. The three cities constitute the political, economic and cultural triangle of the province.

History: Establishing Xiangtan as a county began in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). From then on, its domain remains relatively stable in the following years. On the basis of the Xiangtan County, the government of the PRC established the Xiangtan City in 1950.

Physical Features: Compared with other parts, the terrain of the city is low and flat in the eastern and central regions. However, its relative relief is meek. The city is various in land type composition, including mountain area, hilly land, knolls, plain and water. Nearly eighty percent of the city land is below the altitude of 150 meters (492 feet).

Climatic Features: Enjoying a subtropical humid monsoon climate, Xiangtan has rich rainfall and abundant sunshine. The annual average temperature is about 17C (63F).

Posted in Xiangtan | Comments Off

Xishuangbanna

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Steve

Full Name: Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture
Chinese Name: 西双版纳傣族自治州 (xī shuāng bǎn nà dǎi zú zì zhì zhōu)
Population: 990,000
Area: 19,700 square kilometers (7,606 square miles)
Nationalities: Dai, Han
Administrative Division: 2 counties (Menghai, Mengla); 1 county-level cities (Jinghong)
Seat of the City Government: No.6, Jinghong Road (East), Jinghong City

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0691-96927, 2122323
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

Bank of China Xishuangbanna Branch: No.23, Minhang Road, Jinghong City
China Post Xishuangbanna Branch: No.2, Jinghong Road (West), Jinghong City

Location: Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture is located at the south end of Yunnan Province. It shares a boundary of 966 kilometers (619 miles) with Burma and Laos in the east, south and west, being a vital pass from China to indo-China Peninsular by land.

History: To the Dai people, Xishuangbanna was known as ‘Mengbanaxi’ in ancient times, a name that means a miraculous and nice utopia. It had been a settlement where 13 ethnic minorities have lived in tight-knit communities for generations. The Jino ethnic minority is peculiar to the prefecture.

Physical Features: Located in the south extension of the Hengduan Mountains, Xishuangbanna has over ninety-five percent of its territory occupied by mountainous and hilly areas. Most of the prefecture is below the altitude of 1,500 meters (4921 feet). Jinghong City is only 550 meters (1804 feet) above the sea level. The Lancang River runs through the prefecture and when it passes through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, it is known as the Mekong River.

Climate: The weather in this region is a combination of continental and oceanic climates with an annual average temperature of 18-22℃ (64.4-71.6℉). The coldest November is similar to the middle of summer in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River; thereby, Xishuangbanna is reputed as a happy land without winter. Generally, there are only two seasons. May to October is the rainy season and November to April is the dry season.

When to Go: Although it is an all-year-round tourist destination, the weather is most favourable from November to April. However since the roads conditions are excellent, Xishuangbanna is also a popular destination during the rainy season.

Special Local Products: tea, coffee, tropical fruit, herbs, Yunnan tobacco

Local Highlights: The Water-sprinkling Festival is New Year’s Day for the Dai, and is the most important and grandest festival of the year. It lasts three days from 13th to 15th, April (the sixth month of the Dai Calendar). Dai people dip branches into the river and sprinkle the water onto others as a way to express their best wishes. In addition, the festivals of the Hani, Jino and Yao ethnic minorities are also delightful part of Xishuangbanna’s ethnic customs.

As the only tropical rain forest nature reserve in China, the area has surprising biological diversity in the virgin forest, particularly because Xishuangbanna is so far away from central China and considered isolated.

In religion, it is greatly influenced by Hinayana Buddhism of Southeast Asia. The enticing white masonry structure, Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda, is the quintessence of Hinayana Buddhist architecture. The main pagoda is comprised of eight small pagodas, like a cluster of bamboo shoots.

Attractions:
Single-Tree Forest: A tree does not make a forest. But a nine hundred year old banyan in Daluo Town of Xishuangbanna is the exception. It covers an area of 120 square meters (143.6 square yards) with over thirty stand roots. This 70-meter-high (230-feet-tall) banyan is an attractive and marvelous forest in itself.

Wild Elephant Valley: Chinese wild elephants are only found in the virgin forest of the Wild Elephant Valley, located in the Mengyang Nature Reserve, 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Jinghong. There are hostels in the elephant park. Cabins in trees on riverbank are the most perfect localities to admire the elephants.

Manfeilong Buddhist Pagoda is a Hinayana Buddhist architecture complex consisted of nine masonry pagodas of all sizes. It is also known as the White Pagoda due to its pure white structure. During the Water-Sprinkling Festival, crowds of the Dai people in Manfeilong Village will gather in front of the pagoda to celebrate the New Year of the Dai Calendar.

Posted in Xishuangbanna | Comments Off

Xiamen

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Steve

Located at the southeast coast of China, Xiamen is a tourist city of Fujian Province famous for its attractive seascape. As one of the major seaports since ancient times, Xiamen boasts a wide gulf with deep water but without freezing and silting. The name of ‘Xiamen’ was consequently given, which means ‘a gate of China’. As one of the forerunners of the special economic zones of China, Xiamen mainly consisting of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Island, the north bank area of the Jiulong River and Tong’an County, is connected with the mainland by the Gaoji Seawall, Xiamen Bridge, etc. Xiamen has been called the Egret Island because of the hundreds of thousands of egrets inhabiting there. This is due to the beautiful natural scenery, the fresh air and the clean environment of the city.

Being of a subtropical monsoon climate with mild weather all year round expect the typhoon months, Xiamen is an ideal tourist destination for you. It is a typical littoral city with abundant tourist attractions such as islands, mountains, temples and parks, etc., providing you with a full sightseeing schedule. The well-known Gulangyu Island, Nanputuo Temple and other tourist areas like Jimei, Wanshiyan, etc. are highly recommended. A sea tourist line is also available for you to enjoy the amazing scenery of many beautiful small islands around.

Xiamen enjoys convenient transportation. You can go there by air, by train, by coach or by sea. The transportation within the city is also satisfying. Most tourists consider the accommodation in Xiamen, consisting of many star rated hotels, convenient. Meanwhile Xiamen has plenty of special local products to be added to your shopping list, including various kinds of tealeaves, fruits like sugarcanes, olives and longans as well as sea products such as fish, prawns, crabs, abalones and lancelets

Being the hometown of many overseas Chinese, Xiamen has actually benefited from the contribution of overseas Chinese and its economy has undertaken great advancement. To promote its tourism industry, it has established not only the corresponding infrastructures, but also a great variety of entertainment centers. The folk customs of the minorities, varied local festivals and especially the particular local dishes and snacks are also appealing to visitors. Xiamen, with distinct oriental culture and southern Fujian features, welcomes you from all over the world.

Posted in Xiamen | Comments Off

Xuancheng

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Steve

Bank of China Xuancheng Branch: No.22, Aofeng Dong Lu, Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City

China Post Xuancheng Branch: No.10, Huancheng Xi Lu, Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City

Location: Xuancheng City is situated in the southeastern region of Anhui Province, neighboring Huangshan to the south, Chizhou to the west and Wuhu to the north. To the east, it is bordered by Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.

History: As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD), Danyang Shire was established on this region with Wanling (presently Xuanzhou District) as its capital city. Since then, Xuanzhou has been the political, economic and cultural center of administration for two thousand years. However, the name of Xuzhou was changed during the Sui Dynasty (581-618).

Physical Features: The terrain of Xuancheng is varied and complicated, basically sloping downward from the south to the north. Its landform can be approximately divided into five types: Mountain, hill, valley and basin, hillock and plain. The south and southeast regions belong to ranges of Tianmu Mountain, while the southwest and west regions are respectively parts of ranges of Mt. Huangshan and Mt. Jiuhua.

Climate: The city enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate, enjoying four distinct seasons and abundant precipitation. Of the four seasons, summer is the longest. Its annual average temperature falls round 15.6C (60.1F). Most of the rainfall occurs in summer. The plum rain season lasts from mid-June to early July.

When to Go: Xuancheng is favorable for traveling all the year round, especially in May, July, August and October.

Special Local Products: Xuan Paper, Xuan Writing Brush, Hui Ink; bamboo shoot, Xuan pawpaw, Chinese gooseberry, hickory nut, chestnut, Shuidong honey jujube, tea; crab, whitebait and Chinese paddlefish of Nanyi Lake.

Attractions:
Jixi County: Jixi is a well-known cultural town famous for brick, stone and wood carving art in the Hui (short for Anhui) style of architecture, Hui Ink, Hui (Anhui) Cuisine, and old residential houses of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) style.

Scenic Spots in Jixi: Ancestral Temple of the Hu Family, Zhangshan Grand Canyon, Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve.

Posted in Xuancheng | Comments Off