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| Most Popular Provinces: Beijing - Changsha - Chengdu - Chongqing City - Guangzhou - Guilin - Hangzhou - HongKong - Kunming - Lhasa is occupied - Macau - Nanjing - Sanya - Shanghai - Suzhou - Xi'an |
LATEST NEWSBlonde In ChinaBig Apple to Chrysanthemum City I am a New Yorker who in 2007 had just one goal - not to spend another miserable and freezing winter in Manhattan. The very thought of trying to live through the raw, wet, windy, icy, cold and snowy horror that we call winter was more than I could handle. No, I wouldn't handle it. I am one of those people who can layer and layer, wear hats, scarves, fur boots and gloves and still be cold. Just thinking about the coming of winter drove me to depression. I'd been hearing about the plethora of teaching jobs available in China for native speakers of English so I went online and began to explore. There was something else that was driving me as well. I was approaching my 60th birthday and there appeared to be a fork in the road ahead. Sixty signals the onset of ol... Rapid English For Mandarin Chinese SpeakersNative Chinese speakers have reasons to believe that learning a foreign language can be very difficult. As a people that are tightly knit culturally, whether they are in mainland China or in any community elsewhere in the world, they usually talk in their native tongue when among themselves or even in the midst of foreigners. English, even if it were the most simple to learn, is worlds apart from their language that is why many still would not dare learning it. The Chinese, despite their rich culture and their advance in modernization, still consider foreign language learning as a great wall. There are two major strands of the Chinese language, Mandarin and Cantonese. Between the two, Mandarin Chinese speakers may have fewer reasons not to learn English easily. For one, it is the official ... Personal Finance When Teaching English in ChinaWith continued poor performance of the American economy and a desolate job market, many college graduates are going abroad to teach English in foreign countries. China has become a popular destination due to its high demand for native English speakers to teach children and businessman alike who value the opportunity that speaking English provides. Maintaining a hassle free supply of funds while living in China should not have to be a worry. Ideally the provided salary is enough to live on, but even so, access to proper financial assets is important. There are multiple options to alleviate this stress. One US dollar equates to a little over 6 yuan, permitting solid spending power. The rate of return of a dollar in China is better than that of European nations, where prices can be quite depr... Teaching English to Chinese StudentsIn my previous postings, I mentioned to teach English in Asia, introduce the characteristics and tips for teaching Japanese. Today I would like to follow this topic and talk about the ESL teaching in China which should be the fastest growing market for English teachers in the world. Of course, as the neighbor of Japan, the Chinese students may share some similarity with Japanese, such as the weakness in listening and speaking skills of English and the relatively conservative characteristics, therefore, while teaching, the ESL teachers should pay attention to the issues mentioned in my previous articles for teaching Japanese. For those who prepare to teach English online, they may not have much to worry about but those who are packing up their stuff and beginning a trip in China must be eag... Teach English in China - An IntroductionChina is the fastest growing market for English teachers in the world. It has recently become the second largest economy and its burgeoning middle class are hungry to learn English. Culturally and economically, China is the country to be in. Salaries are substantially lower than Japan, Korea and Taiwan, but with a lower cost of living you can still have a good lifestyle. Just don't expect to save very much money. One thing to remember is that most English teaching positions in China will typically have accommodations and return airfare back to your home country included. Those benefits are definitely not common in other countries anymore. There is an almost insatiable demand for English teachers in China, which means that even non-native English speakers will also likely find decent employ... | How To Learn Chinese Fast Using the Theory of Multiple IntelligencesThe Chinese language, with its complex characters and hard-to-pronounce tones, can be difficult to learn, which is why you need to ensure that you are studying it in the most efficient way possible. To understand the most efficient way for you personally to learn, you must understand the theory of multiple intelligences, as presented by Howard Gardner of Harvard University. This article will give a brief summary of the seven distinct learning intelligences outlined by Mr. Gardner. Using this information, you can then develop a self-study strategy that will greatly increase the speed and quality of your Chinese language learning. Before we begin our look into the seven different learning intelligences, a word about the theory and its applications. The theory emerged out of contemporary cogn... | How to Learn Chinese Tones!For speakers studying Mandarin, learning the tones can be quite the challenge. Mandarin has 4 tones, and one neutral tone; This means that one word can have a variety of meanings based on the way you say it. The Mandarin word "ma" for example can mean mom, hemp, horse, scold or indicate a question depending on what tone is used! Being such a foreign concept, how can you learn tones without hours of meaningless repetition? The first answer is simple, you need to understand that even in English we use tones all the time! We may not realize it, but by putting a different intonation on the exact same word we can have a variety of meanings! Take the word "yeah" for example. Our tones on it are very similar to the Chinese tones! 1. A Mandarin first tone is a high level and neutral pitch. Try say... | How to Learn Chinese Language EasilyMany people feel that Chinese, as a language, is tough to learn. This is because the spoken language is easier to gather than the written version. What is important in most of the languages is to imbibe the culture of the language before learning the language itself. The different regions of China have different dialects such as Beijing or Singapore Chinese, or Mandarin or Cantonese. Some of the dialects are only spoken whereas they use the mainstream Chinese characters for writing purposes. Character Systems: Chinese as a language has two different character systems - the Traditional Chinese and the Simplified Chinese. The latter is easier to learn as it has less complicated characters. Learn Chinese Online Learning Chinese is a part of the curricula for a lot of people, whereas some may ... | How To Learn Chinese Fast Using Outcome-Based Learning ModelsPlanning to learn Chinese? Good for you. It's not only an interesting language, but also a very useful one. When adults learn Chinese, or any second language for that matter, they typically study in non-traditional ways. That is, they do not go back to high school or university and engage in traditional classroom study. Instead, they study on their own with books, use language learning software programs, take online courses, or, sometimes, hire a private tutor. With all of the above-mentioned scenarios, there is one thing in common, the lack of a certified teacher using proven teaching methods. This means that, as the learner, you bear 100% of the responsibility for your learning success. To help you achieve this learning success, I am going to explain to you what is called outcome-based e... | How to Learn Chinese Online EffectivelyAs the development of China, more and more people choose to learn Chinese, for visiting the old country, for future career development and so on. And many people choose to learn Chinese in Beijing, which is the best way to learn Zhong wen or Putonghua, for Beijing will provide putonghua learners best Mandarin learning environments than any other cities over the world. However, there are also many people want to learn Chinese online free, and there are various Chinese learning materials online, how to choose the best ones to learn Chinese effectively? So this page will guide Mandarin learners how to learn Mandarin online effectively. First of all, find a Chinese learning forum to learn from other Chinese learners, and share with them how to learn Mandarin; you can get real useful informatio... How to Trek the Whole Length of the Great Wall of ChinaThe Great Wall of China is one of the historical wonders of the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Originally built to keep out invaders, the wall spanned approximately 5,500 miles across China, from east to west, over various terrain. Many visitors to China believe the entire existing portion of the Great Wall is located in Beijing; this is not true. There are still about 4,000 miles of the Great Wall in existence. How fast you can do this depends on your fitness level and resources. It can take between three and six months to walk the wall. Decide at which end you want to begin. You can start at either the west section, located in Gansu province, or in the east, which is located in Tiger Mountain, near North Korea. Beginning in the west is the easiest, as Gansu is easier to get t... How to Bargain in ChinaLearn how to shop like a local in China. With the exception of some modern malls and stores, most shops in China don't have price tags on products so shopkeepers will come up with a price depending on the customer. Bargaining is expected so shoppers have to be prepared to first be given a price two to 10 times higher than what the seller will actually accept for the product. Learning some basic bargaining skills will help ensure you don't walk into a gauntlet of shops feeling overwhelmed and then walk away feeling ripped off. Find out where the Chinese are shopping. Shop owners will be used to selling things for less. Tourist areas are going be full of shop owners who know they can get more from their buyers. Learn some of the shopping lingo. The more experienced you appear, the more the s... How Do People Get Inside the Great Wall of China?The Great Wall of China is an important part of China's history, and it continues to be a popular tourist destination. The Great Wall of China is hundreds of miles long, spanning various mountain ranges, terrains and provinces. Accessibility Much of the Great Wall of China can be found in tourist designated areas. Tourists and visitors are welcome to see much of the Great Wall of China, but it should be remembered that it is an essential part of Chinese history and treat the area with respect. Camping The Great Wall of China is an extended connection of ancient fortifications. It originally was constructed with the intent of keeping out the northern nomadic armies out of the Chinese kingdom. Built for military purposes, the Great Wall of China has many watchtowers and embankments. Tourists... Things to Do in Kunming, ChinaYunnan in the considered to be the main agricultural center of China, the capital city of which is Kunming. Also known as 'the city of eternal spring,' Kunming has a pleasant climate year-round. Kunming boasts over 100 starred hotels and over 1,000 guest houses to suit all budgets. This combined with a wide variety of attractions makes Kunming one of the main tourist destinations in southeast China. Dynamic Yunnan The Yunnan province has the largest number of ethnic groups in all of China and the Dynamic Yunnan show is where they proudly show their traditional songs and dances. The show lasts for 120 minutes and is separated into seven different themes, including clouds, forrests, feather, sun, moon, fire and mountain. The show is on every evening between 8 and 10 pm. Beijing Road, Kunming... How to Plan a Short Visit to MacauWhen visiting Hong Kong, it is easy to take a day trip to sightsee, eat and gamble in one of the world's premier gaming hot spots, Macau. A unique blend of cultures, Macau has great food, amazing casinos and gorgeous European architecture, making this region of China a must-visit. Decide how you want to get to Macau. The most common way is by ferry, which takes about an hour. The adventurous also can opt to take a helicopter, which takes about 16 minutes. Go to the tourist tourist office and pick up the free brochure "Macau - Walking Tours by Day and Night." Begin your sightseeing in the downtown area, called Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, or San Ma Lo. Cantonese, Mandarin and Portuguese are widely spoken in Macau. English is spoken only in major tourist areas. Hail a cab and ask to go to San Ma... Eastern China Travel GuideEastern China region covers six provinces and one city, which includes the provinces Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi and Shandong, and the city Shanghai. These parts of China encompasses both rich and developing provinces, and both ancient towns and modern urban areas. Geography and Climate Eastern China covers almost 30 percent of China's landmass. Its main city Shanghai is about 621 miles southeast of Beijing and is in between the provinces Zhejiang and Jiangsu. The provinces Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian are located on the coast of East China Sea, resulting to a subtropical monsoon climate within the region. Going to Eastern China is best done during spring or autumn, as summer is usually very hot and wet, while winter is extremely cold, especially way up north. Trans... Finding Shanghai's Best Tourist SpotsShanghai is not only the largest city in China--it's one of the largest cities on the entire planet. Originally a fishing town, Shanghai has now grown to be one of the most fashionable and cosmopolitan cities on earth, attracting millions of tourists each year. Rich in history, culture, as well as all of the worldliness of a massive city, Shanghai makes an ideal tourist spot. If you're planning on visit Shanghai, here are some of the best tourist attractions. Go to Shanghai Museum (Bowuguan Shanghai). This is the best museum in China when it comes to classical art. Founded in 1922, visitors to the Shanghai Museum will be exposed to ceramics from prehistoric civilizations, ink drawings, calligraphy and rare coins and furnishings (see Resources below). Spend an afternoon at Yuyuan Garden. Th... How to Find Hong Kong's Best Tourist SpotsGlamorous and glitzy Hong Kong is not only one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Every year, thousands of tourists from the Chinese mainland as well as the rest of the world visit this tiny island metropolis. If you are looking to visit Hong Kong in the future, here are some of your best options for fascinating tourist spots. Go to the Hong Kong Museum of Art. This is a great place to see examples of Chinese art--Hong Kong style! The museums hosts a great collection of both local and international artworks. The sprawling museum with the leafy surroundings regularly changes up many of the exhibits inside. Visitors will be able to view paintings, calligraphy, and sculptures from Hong Kong, mainland China, Europe, and other parts of the world. Check out the Hong Kong Scie... China tests 500 km/h super high-speed trainBEIJING (Reuters) - China launched a super-rapid test train over the weekend which is capable of travelling 500 kilometers per hour, state media said on Monday, as the country moves ahead with its railway ambitions despite serious problems on its high-speed network. The train, made by a subsidiary of CSR Corp Ltd, China's largest train maker, is designed to resemble an ancient Chinese sword, the official Xinhua news agency reported. It "will provide useful reference for current high-speed railway operations," it quoted train expert Shen Zhiyun as saying. But future Chinese trains will not necessarily run at such high speeds, CSR chairman Zhao Xiaogang told the Beijing Morning News. "We aims to ensure the safety of trains operation," he said. China's railway industry has had a tough year, h... How to Dress for a Summer Trip to Southern ChinaIf you plan to travel to the southern part of China during the summer months, you may need to think carefully about what clothing to pack in your suitcase. Since most of southern China is classified as sub-tropical or tropical, the summer months often bring heat and humidity. From April to September, cities such as Guangzhou are often warm and wet. Typhoons do occur, so it is best to be prepared. Here's how to get started. Shop before your trip and purchase lightweight and dry-weave clothing. Dry-weave clothing is typically light and will wick moisture away from the body. Pack light colored clothing, as this will not absorb as much heat from the sun. Choose clothing that's loose on you. Bring several wide-rimmed hats to protect your face from the sun. Select shoes that are comfortable, but... How to Travel the Silk RoadThe Silk Road, a vast and ancient network of overland trade routes, spreads over Europe and Asia and passes through numerous presentday countries. Active trading along the route began sometime in the first millennium B.C.E., introduced the luxuries of the East to the Roman Empire and continued until the early Renaissance era. Travel this route today as part of a cultural and historical adventure. Collect Silk Road literature. Numerous academic and popular works cover this subject, including art histories, anthropological studies, economic investigations and historical novels. Study a map of the region, available online from the Silk Road Project (silkroadproject.org), and choose your route. Read up on the countries that you plan to pass through. Knowledge about the currency, culture, ancie... How to Get a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa to ChinaYou must get a multiple entry tourist visa to China from an embassy or consulate of the People's Republic of China. Its government makes this process fairly straightforward but insists that all the paperwork be in order. The Chinese government will not hesitate to deny a multiple entry tourist visa application if a single document is out of order. It is also important to allow adequate time for a multiple entry tourist visa to China to be processed. If you wait until the last minute, you may not get it before your depart on your trip to China. Check that you passport will be valid for at least six months after you plan to leave the People's Republic of China for the final time on your multiple entry tourist visa. China will not allow you to enter if you have less than six months validity l... How to Travel Eco-Friendly in ChinaChina is a vast country full of opportunities for green, Earth-friendly travel. Because of its large size (3,704,427 square miles), the People's Republic of China offers lots of open spaces, ranging from the impressive mountain ranges and alluvial plains to extensive desserts, rivers and farmlands. Traveling eco-friendly in China is mostly a personal journey, as there are few structures in place to cater to specialty tourists. Take the train as often as possible. Not only is this a good idea because of the large distances to cover, but it’s also the cleanest, greenest choice all around. The Chinese Railway consists of over half a million wagons and twenty eight major network lines that reach almost every single corner of the country. The Beijing-Tianjin high-speed rail, opened in August ... How to Visit Nanjing, ChinaNanjing, for all of its infamy in world history, is in modern times a significant Chinese metropolis. With 6 or 7 million people, it has also become a hub for foreign tourists and students who come to enjoy the friendly contrast to the coldness of nearby Shanghai. For the curious visitor, its attractions and pleasures are numerous. Book your passage. Although Nanjing does have a local airport--Nanjing Lukou International Airport--it will be cheaper in the end to take a train from nearby Shanghai. High-speed trains from Shanghai can cover the few hundred kilometers in as little as 2 hours, whereas local trains may take up to 6. High-speed trains are known as "D trains." Make your first stop at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, which commemorates the 1937 massacre of 300 thousand Chinese b... The Best Places to Travel in ChinaChina is located in Asia and is the third largest country in the world. China is one of the countries that can boast of an ancient history that has been traced back almost 5,000 years. According to TravelChinaGuide.com, China is an ancient and mysterious land that has always been appealing to foreign visitors. It's a country full of culture and history that brings in countless tourists each year. Shanghai Shanghai is a city located on the water front. It boasts various attractions that bring tourists to Shanghai each year. The ancient town Zhujiajiao, is known as Shanghai's Venice. The water town is one of four ancient towns in Shanghai and according to TravelChinaGuide.com, is the best preserved of the four. The ancient bridges in Zhujiajiao are from the Qing and Ming dynasties and used t... Things to Take When Traveling to ChinaA trip to China is a serious undertaking for which you must adequately prepare. If you are planning a trip to the Orient, put care into the packing process to ensure that you have all of the supplies you require to make your trip a comfortable one. If you fail to exercise caution, you may find yourself in a foreign land lacking the simple supplies you need to move through your daily life. Passport As with any international travel, you must pack your passport for your trip to China. If you do not currently have a passport, apply at least six months in advance of your planned trip to ensure sufficient processing time. Voltage Adapter While electrical appliances are designed for a 110-volt system, Chinese wall outlets deliver 220 volts of electricity. Purchase a voltage adapter for your trip ... What Is the Cost to Travel in China?In recent years, travel to China has become increasingly popular. With a history of over 4,000 years and many possible destinations, China offers many compelling reasons to travel. Passport If you don't have a passport, you will need one to leave the United States. The non-expedited passport fee for people over 16 years old is $100. The fee for people under 16 is $85. In addition, you will need a US standard passport photo, which will cost anywhere from $8 to $15. Visa The current cost for a visa for entry to China is $130. The type of visa issued will depend on the amount of time you will be in China and the number of trips you will make outside of China. Regardless of the type of visa, the fee for US passport holders is the same. Air Fare The exact cost of airfare will depend on the plac... Train Travel in ChinaChina now has the most extensive and well-traveled rail system in the world, with this mode of transportation still relevant to a huge number of passengers. Unlike in other countries, trains aren't focused on moving freight in China. Significance For travelers coming from the United States, China Railways offers a different service from Amtrak. Trains in mainland China are a utilitarian mode of transportation for a large portion of the population, similar to air travel in America. They offer a dependable solution that reaches at least as many destinations as planes at a lower per-mile price. Identification The China Railways network covers every province and region in mainland China, with routes also extending to Hong Kong. Joint routes offer access to Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam. Trains ... The Best Ways to Travel in ChinaDespite China's vast size and status as a third-world country, its travel network is comprehensive, affordable and surprisingly efficient, although some options are better than others. Long-distance travel is best provided by trains and airlines, whereas buses and taxes are the most common local travel method. Train All things considered, trains are probably the best way to travel long distances in China. Trains are neither as comfortable nor as quick as air travel, but they are far cheaper and offer the traveler a widow view of the Chinese countryside that air travel cannot compete with. China's "iron roosters" (a local nickname that the Chinese use to refer to their locomotives) may not offer the comforts of Amtrack or Eurrail, but the sleeper cars are comfortable and convenient, and the... How to Use Your Laptop in ChinaMany travel to China to experience a fascinating culture and ancient history, but being out of touch with the world back home can pose some stresses. Take along your laptop when you visit China, and you'll have peace of mind knowing that your responsibilities are just a click away. Using your laptop in China is easy when you follow the right procedures. Here's how. Purchase a short-term insurance policy for your laptop before you travel to China. If your laptop is stolen, this plan will recover your costs. See Resources below for more information. Prepare for differences in electricity. You will need an adapter plug to accommodate plug types "A," "I" and "G" in China. You may also need a transformer. Check the transformer block on your laptop to see what voltage capacity it handles. If it ... Useful Information on China NATIONALITIES: China is made up of 56 ethnic groups. The Han people make up 91.02 percent of the total population, and the other 55 national minorities 8.98 percent. They are Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan, Uygur, Miao, Yi, Zhuang, Bouyi, Korean, Manchu, Dong, Yao, Bai, Tujia, Hani, Kazak, Dai, Li, Lisu, Wa, She, Gaoshan, Lahu, Shui, Dongxiang, Naxi, Jingpo, Kirgiz, Tu, Daur, Mulam, Qiang, Blang, Salar, Maonan, Gelo, Xibe, Achang, Pumi, Tajik, Nu, Ozbek, Russian, Ewenki, Benglong, Bonan, Yugur, Jing, Tatar, Drung, Oroqen, Hezhen, Moinba, Lhoba and Gelo. All nationalities enjoy equal status according to the Constitution. The State protects their lawful rights and interests and promotes equality, unity and mutual help among all nationalities. China Airlines Conversion Rate RIVERS: China has 50,000 rivers that cover a catchment area of at least 100 square kilometers, and 1,500 of them cover a catchment area of more than 1,000 square kilometers. Most of the rivers flow from west to east to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The main rivers include the Yangzi (Changjiang), the Yellow River (Huanghe), Heilongjiang, the Pearl River, Liaohe, Haihe, Qiantangjiang and Lancang Rivers. At 6,300 kilometers long, the Yangzi is the longest river in China. The second longest is the Yellow River at 5,464 kilometers. The Grand Canal from Hangzhou to Beijing is a great water project in ancient China. 1,794 kilometers in length, it is the longest canal in the world. RELIGIONS: China is a multi-religious country. Buddhism, Taoism and Islam are the three major religions. Catholicism and Protestantism have smaller but substantial followers too. Different ethnic groups usually follow different religions. Islam is followed by the Hui, Uygur, Kazak, Kirgiz, Tatar, Dongxiang, Salar and Bonan peoples; Buddhism and Lamaism are followed by the Tibetan, Mongolian, Dai and Yugur nationalities; Christianity is followed by the Miao, Yao and Yi nationalities; Shamanism is followed by the Oroqen, Ewenki and Daur nationalities; and the majority Han nationality believes in Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity. TOPOGRAPHY: With a broad area, China has a very complex topography. The outline descends step by step from the west to the east. Mountains and hilly land take up 65 percent of the total area. There are five main mountain ranges. Seven mountain peaks are higher than 8,000 meters above sea level. The Bohai Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea and South China Sea embrace the east and southeast coast. MONEY: Chinese Money is called Renminbi (RMB) (means "People's Currency"). The popular unit of RMB is Yuan. The official exchange rate between U.S. Dollar and RMB Yuan currently is about 1 : 8.3 (1.00 Dollar = 8.30 Yuan). 1 Yuan equals 10 Jiao, and 1 Jiao equals 10 Fen. (There are parts of China the Yuan is also known as Kuai, and Jiao is known as Mao.) Chinese currency is issued in the following denominations: one, two, five, ten, fifty and a hundred Yuan; one, two and five Jiao; and one, two and five Fen. CIVIL ELECTRICAL POWER: AC 220 V, 50 Hz (bathrooms of many luxury and medium-grade hostels may have 110-volt sockets). TELEVISION SYSTEM: PAL (In addition to Chinese language TV broadcast, English and Japanese TV programs are available in many hostels via satellite relay. China Central Television Station (CCTV) and some local TV stations also provide English news and other programs in English.) TELEPHONE AREA CODE: Mainland China 86; Hong Kong 852; Taiwan 886. (Special Telephone Numbers: Police 110; Fire 119; Emergency 120.)
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