A Timely New Travel Guide for Seeing China on a Budget
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) May 19, 2009 -- The current state of the economy need not deter travelers from visiting China if they forgo the standard tours and follow the advice in an unusual travel guide which tells how to do it for under $25 a day. Although this guide is intended primarily for hikers, it is packed full of useful information on getting around without any prior knowledge of the Chinese language. There are chapters on finding lodging (in all price ranges but especially cheap ones), taking local transportation (including pedicabs and three-wheel taxis), and ordering in restaurants (with seven pages of Chinese/English menu listings augmented by detailed descriptions of unusual dishes not found in American Chinese restaurants). Dog, it turns out, is quite expensive so fears of it being surreptitiously substituted for beef are completely unfounded.
Hikers will enjoy the 19 listed hikes which lie far off the beaten track along an ancient flagstone road that for two thousand years was the only overland route between Xi'an and Chengdu. The hikes are both isolated and scenic as the only sections of the old road that were spared by new highway construction were those stretches in the steepest and most remote mountains. Most of the shorter hikes are close enough to towns for the hiker to find accommodations for the night in a comfortable double room with bath for under $20 or without bath for $5. More intrepid travelers might want to try some of the two- to three day hikes where lodgings are as cheap as $1 a night and the option of staying at a local farmhouse is available. Guides are strongly recommended for these longer hikes and the author lists six local farmers who will perform this service for about $5 a day. They speak no English, but Chinese/English phrases for arranging hikes are included in the book. For those who want to hike without a guide, there are detailed directions and maps in Chinese and English. For GPS enthusiasts, a CD with GPS waypoints can be ordered from the author's website.
Non-hikers will enjoy visiting the region for its scenery and attractions. This is an area that has thus far been ignored by most guidebooks and yet many of its towns retain traces of their past that are well worth a look, including cobbled streets, city walls, gates, and bell towers. In addition to listing the recommended lodgings, restaurants, attractions, and history of these towns, the author has included sidebars containing the impressions of 19th century Western travelers who traversed and wrote about the same route. Many aspects of traditional culture which they describe can still be seen today. To aid the traveler in accessing such remote areas, the English/Chinese phrase section of the book has dropped such staples as "Does this hotel have laundry service?" in favor of "How far to the next village" and "I want to hike for two days."
Despite being a guidebook, the many historical sidebars and the author's own observations go a long way toward making the book quite an enjoyable read. At one point, commenting on the bizarre juxtapositions that often result when the Chinese use English names on their shop signs, she writes: "If I ever need to visit a machine shop in Chengdu, 'Everhot' will definitely be my first choice; and if I'm pressed for time and have to chose between getting my brakes fixed and having a manicure, no problem. At the 'Tian Long Motor Repair and Beauty Shop' I can get them both done at once."
For more information or to order the book, visit the author's website at www.chinasgreatroads.com. The book can also be ordered from Amazon and other major online booksellers. This book is recommended for adventurous travelers of all ages and incomes.
# # #
This press release has been reprinted from PRWEB per the terms and conditions of the copyright notice.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Cheap Hong Kong Hotels With the Best Reviews
There are many cheap Hong Kong hotels you can choose from To ensure value for your money, choose cheap hotels in Hong Kong that have the best reviews
Marriott Hong Kong SkyCity Hotel Perfect Location for Vendors and Attendees of China Sourcing Fair at AsiaWorld Expo
Connected to the Expo Center, the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel is the most convenient of all the hotel choices near the Hong Kong Airport. Located just a one-minute walk away, the hotel features oversized guest rooms and suites, a selection of six restaurants and a full-service Quan Spa.
GuideMeHongKong.com's Survey Reveals Key Factors Driving the Growth in Hong Kong Company Formations
GuideMeHongKong.com has identified (a) ease of company formation, (b) low taxes and (c) access to China as the primary motives behind the growth in Hong Kong company incorporations by foreigners. The results are based on a survey conducted by the site and an analysis of its site traffic.
The 38th Hong Kong Arts Festival 2010
An ensemble of the world's best performing arts and theater shows.
Great Wall Cool Products shining debut digital release - the Great Wall, a digital-IT industry
2009 11 Great Wall Digital Shine conference, the Great Wall of digital new dancers with fashion, extreme sports and other players as well as T-Taiwan model a variety of special performances budding. The perfect integration of product and performance, fully show the Great Wall of digital fashion, the concept of vitality, combined with scenes, characters given vivid life in the Great Wall of digital more.
HotelTravel.com’s Top Ten Reasons to Watch the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens
HotelTravel.com discovers a naughty little secret few women are willing to admit: they love the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. Read on to find out why and discover other top reasons why the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens is Asia’s best sporting event bar none.
Rising New Company Registrations Reaffirm Hong Kong's Regional Dominance
Recent statistics released by Hong Kong's Companies Registry show that the global financial crisis has had minimal impact on the pace of new company formation in SAR and it continues to be the preferred launching point for foreign firms entering the China market, reports .
Risk control into new business opportunities for Hong Kong retail appliances - retail appliances, Gome, Suning - HC network appliance industry-hc360
In the global Financial Under the impact of the crisis, re-export based economy has also been a huge impact will occur in 2009 its GDP decline of around 5% and may be beyond Shanghai, due to the reduction of its overseas passenger traffic also affected the retail industry, 2009 the beginning of Hong Kong's Tai Lin Electric old appliance chain declared bankruptcy liquidation.
Registering a Company in Hong Kong for a Foreign Entrepreneur
Hong Kong is ranked amongst the top 4 most entrepreneur friendly destinations in the world. Whether you are a locally residing individual who wants to start a company or someone from overseas trying to setup a Hong Kong company, the procedure is simple and streamlined. Any foreign entrepreneur or company can incorporate a business in Hong Kong and it allows 100 per cent foreign ownership in companies based in the city.
Macau.com Offers HKD88 Red Packet as Chinese New Year Earlybird Discount
Macau.com, Macau’s leading online destination marketing and travel company, is offering HKD88 Macau.com Red Packet to welcome the Year of the Tiger.
Guangzhou to build world-class automotive manufacturing base - CO2 Fractional Laser
With the rapid development of Guangzhou Honda and Nissan, Toyota settled in Guangzhou, the three major Japanese auto manufacturers have a world-class gathering in Guangzhou, with nearly one hundred have been settled in the auto parts enterprises in Guangzhou in the market, choosing the next form a large "car industry clusters", which rather point then assembled the Big Three U.S. automakers in Detroit, taste, and Guangzhou is also very likely to develop into a world car manufacturing base. And direct the director Guangzhou Automobile Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group is changing rapidly, in 2003 sales 123,000 cars, 476,000 motorcycles, over 310 billion yuan in business income, operating performance in the national automotive industry r ...
Macau.com Launches Hotel Of The Month To Welcome The Chinese New Year
Macau.com, the leading online destination marketing and travel company in Macau, launches Hong Kong hotel of the month to welcome the joyful Year of the Tiger.
Suning To Open Up Shop In Hong Kong Benefit Xintiandi Area Of Digital Sales
The saying goes, good things in pairs
Macau.com Launches Hong Kong Hotel Early Bird Special
MACAU.COM, Macau’s leading online destination marketing and travel company, launches Hong Kong Hotel Early Bird Special. From now on, visitors who book any of the featured Hong Kong hotels at least 7 days in advance will enjoy exclusive early bird rates.
Wonders of Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a major tourist destination with its blend of Chinese culture and western influences Historically, Hong Kong has had a turbulent past with British rule, the Japanese invasion during the Second World War and most recently, the handover of Hong Kong from the British to China in 1997 when the 99 year lease expired
|
 |
|
