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It was on Mar. 29, 1974, when local farmers of Xiyang Village, Lingtong County last minute China travel deals, were drilling a series of wells in search of water, some pottery fragments and ancient bronze weapons were discovered accidentally. The head of the village reported the news to the local govement immediately. The news aroused much attention from both local govement and National Cultural Relics Bureau. With govement approval, and archaeological team from Shaanxi Province arrived at the site on July 17, 1974 and began their explorations and excavations. On Oct. 1st, 1979, Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Terra-cotta Museum was opened to the public. The village, which used to be never known by outside, usually quiet, became restless since then. The archaeological wonder discovered here came as a shock to the country as well as to the whole world.

Following the discovery of Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 were brought to light in April and May of 1976. Pit 3 was opened in 1989. Pit 2 started to be excavated in March 1994 and was opened in October the same year.

Now the Terra-cotta Museum Xian tour packages is wildly well-known as a huge mode on-site museum. Three main buildings of the museum, which were named Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3, were constructed on their original sites in different periods of time. The three pits were built in similar basic construction. They are five to seven meters beneath the present ground level with the terra-cotta figures placed in corridors. The corridors, divided by earth-rammed partition walls, are paved with pottery bricks on which the figures were placed. The earth walls sustained wood roof that was composed of huge and strong rafters, the roof was covered by layers of fiber mats, earth fill and tilled earth.

The three pits vary in size and shape. Located at the center of the Museum, Pit 1 is the largest one in rectangular shape, housing the main force of the army; Pit 2, located some 20 meters north of Pit 1, is a complex battle formation formed by charioteers, archers, cavalrymen and infantrymen. It is specially used for supporting the main force; Pit 3, located 25 meters to the north of Pit 1 and to the west of Pit 2, was evidently the headquarters. The total three pits are located to the east of Emperor’s Mausoleum, determining that the army was facing east, with its back to the tomb, serving as guardians to protect the entrance of the Emperor’s burial.

It has been revealed that three underground pits totally cover and area of 22,000 square meters, housing an estimated 8,000 pottery warriors and horses. The Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses were big in life-size and exquisitely made with high technology. The hardness of their bodies indicates that they might be fired at a temperature between 950 and 1,050 degrees centigrade. All of the soldiers and horses were made using local clay. The weight of the Terra-cotta Warriors varies from 110 kilos to 300 kilos. Their average height is 1.8 meters. Each individual has different facial features and expressions Xian sightseeing.

The multiple exhibition hall lies to the eat of Pit 2, providing a sries of exhibits such as two sets of bronze chariots and horses, the new findings from the Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum, the history of the Museum and all kinds of temporary exhibits. These displays systematically depict the history of the Qin Dynasty from 221BC—206BC and can help you have a better understanding on the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses.

On the south of Pit 1 is a circle vision hall. The movie inside last for 20minutes, telling the story of Emperor Qin and his Terra-cotta Army 2,200 years ago.

Now the three Pits are well-preserved in three mode constructions, each with a corrider along the side of the pit so that you can overlook the warriors, the horses and chariots in their original formations.

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Weihai, located in the easte tip of Shandong Peninsula affordable China travel packages, is a place that meets the sunshine every day at the earliest. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, Weihai boasts blue sky, fresh air and beautiful environment. It has been awarded the UN Habitat Prize in 2003. Being cold in spring, cool in summer, moderate in autumn and warm in winter, Weihai is a good place for summer vocation with its sea, islands, thermal springs and mountains.

Weihai is famous because of the sea. Its coastline stretches a distance of 1,000 kilometers, which accounts for one-third of the total of Shandong Peninsula, and one eighteenth of the total of the whole country. And the thousand kilometers long coastline is almost covered by high quality beaches.

Weihai has more than 100 islands, large or small, among which the most famous is Liugong Island top China tours located in the estuary of Weihai Bay. Known as the “birthplace of China’s first mode navy”, Liugong Island is not big but it concentrates the history of Weihai. The Museum of the famous Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 is worth to see. Liugong Island National Forest Park is the first forest park on the sea in China, where the pine and cypress trees are everywhere. About a hundred spotted deer live here leisurely.

Chengshantou, known as China’s “Cape of Good Hope”, is the first spot in China where people first see the sun rise in the moing. First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty visited it on his way to look for longevity medicine and entitled it “the End of the Heaven”. With the wooded peaks, jagged cliffs, and the furious waves rushing onto the shore, Chengshantou enjoys a magnificent view.

The Hailu Island in the Sihai Sea to the north of Chengshantou is famous as the “kingdom of seagulls”. Spring is the best time to view numerous seagulls flying in the sky.

Weihai is also the largest natural habitat for swans in Asia, so it is called the “Easte Swan Lake” popular China tour package. In November every year, thousands of swans fly to Weihai from the remote Baikal Lake of Siberia and the Bayin Buluke Grassland in Xinjiang to take their vacation.

Among the thermal springs in Weihai, such as the “Tianmu Thermal Spring”, “Huleitang”, “Xiaotang”, and “Qilitang”, the earlies developed one is “Baoquantang”, which has a maximum water temperature of 74 degrees Celsius. It is said that this thermal spring was discovered during the Song Dynasty. Weihai’s thermal springs have valuable medicinal values, being especially effective in the treatment of rheumatism, cardiovascular disease, low back pain and leg pain. Baoquantang is a typical thermal spring with medical properties with remarkable treatment effects.

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Baisha Murals

The murals were drawn on the walls of the Buddhist temples of Lijiang affordable China tours by the Mu family headmen during the Ming Dynasty. Now murals have been found in 55 places in the four temples of Dabao Jigong Hall, Liuli Hall, Dading Pavilion and Jingang Hall in Baisha Township, Yulong County. These murals are artistic works integrating the painting styles of Han, Naxi, Tibetan and Bai ethnic groups. The murals on the west wall of Dabao Jigong Hall describe the life scenes of weaving, fishing, dancing while murals on north wall depict the figures of officials, bailiffs, butchers and prisoners, the vivid and true-to-life pictures of the Ming Dynasty.

Baoshan Stone City

The stone city is located at the gorge of the Jinsha River of Yulong County, 110 kilometers north of Lijiang City. It is so named because the hundred-odd Naxi households inhabit in an independent mushroom-shaped giant stone and the city is surrounded by cliffs and precipices in its three sides. The stone slope with one side inserts directly into the Jinsha River Yangtze River tour and so people can only enter and exit via its south and north stone gates. It is really a city with natural barriers.

Former Residence of Joseph F?Rock in Yuhu Village

Joseph F?Rock, copy writer of National Geographic, came to China since the twenties of the 20th century, and lived 27 years in Lijiang successively, doing investigation and exploration. He set up the base camp of exploring team in today’s Yuhu Village China best tours at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baish Township of Yulong County. The house Rock once lived and many things left over by him remain intact in the village.

Museum of Dongba Culture

The museum with the features of Dongba culture, close to the Black Dragon Pool Park, is arranged according to the development of the residential houses of Naxi people. The Jade Spring and natural landscape of the west foot of Xiangshan Mountain are fully utilised for the opening up of the traditional residential houses of different periods, such as caves for Neoanthropus, nests and cave dwellings and half cave dwellings from the north to the south. And at the same time the folk custom and religious sites of offering sacrifices to the heaven, wind and god of nature have also been arranged for the performance of Dongba sacrificial ceremonies. In the museum, a lot of pictures on Dongba culture, religious books, paintings, ritual implements, and old production tools and daily utensils of Naxi people are exhibited.

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Wonderful Life...

Baisha Murals

The murals were drawn on the walls of the Buddhist temples of Lijiang affordable China tours by the Mu family headmen during the Ming Dynasty. Now murals have been found in 55 places in the four temples of Dabao Jigong Hall, Liuli Hall, Dading Pavilion and Jingang Hall in Baisha Township, Yulong County. These murals are artistic works integrating the painting styles of Han, Naxi, Tibetan and Bai ethnic groups. The murals on the west wall of Dabao Jigong Hall describe the life scenes of weaving, fishing, dancing while murals on north wall depict the figures of officials, bailiffs, butchers and prisoners, the vivid and true-to-life pictures of the Ming Dynasty.

Baoshan Stone City

The stone city is located at the gorge of the Jinsha River of Yulong County, 110 kilometers north of Lijiang City. It is so named because the hundred-odd Naxi households inhabit in an independent mushroom-shaped giant stone and the city is surrounded by cliffs and precipices in its three sides. The stone slope with one side inserts directly into the Jinsha River Yangtze River tour and so people can only enter and exit via its south and north stone gates. It is really a city with natural barriers.

Former Residence of Joseph F?Rock in Yuhu Village

Joseph F?Rock, copy writer of National Geographic, came to China since the twenties of the 20th century, and lived 27 years in Lijiang successively, doing investigation and exploration. He set up the base camp of exploring team in today’s Yuhu Village China best tours at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Baish Township of Yulong County. The house Rock once lived and many things left over by him remain intact in the village.

Museum of Dongba Culture

The museum with the features of Dongba culture, close to the Black Dragon Pool Park, is arranged according to the development of the residential houses of Naxi people. The Jade Spring and natural landscape of the west foot of Xiangshan Mountain are fully utilised for the opening up of the traditional residential houses of different periods, such as caves for Neoanthropus, nests and cave dwellings and half cave dwellings from the north to the south. And at the same time the folk custom and religious sites of offering sacrifices to the heaven, wind and god of nature have also been arranged for the performance of Dongba sacrificial ceremonies. In the museum, a lot of pictures on Dongba culture, religious books, paintings, ritual implements, and old production tools and daily utensils of Naxi people are exhibited.

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Ancient Lijiang City

With a history of more than 800 years, Lijiang Ancient City China travel deals was first built at the end of Southe Song Dynasty (1127-1279). It is an old alpine town inhabited by Naxi people. With Sifang Street as its center, the city is orderly arranged with five main roads radiating to all directions, and lined with row upon row of tile-roofed houses which are surrounded by streams. Mufu Palace, built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), has chastity stone arches at the back and front, Hall for Official Affairs, Wanjuan Building, Hufa Hall, Guangbi Building, Yuying Building, and Sanqing Hall and so on, which have blended the culture of Han, Bai and Naxi ethnic groups, gathering the beauty and elegance of the gardens in south China. Ancient Lijiang City was put on the List of World Heritages by UNESCO in 1997.

Mufu Palace

It was the palace of the headmen of Lijiang of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), deserved to be a grand view park top 10 China tours of the culture of Ancient Lijiang city. The palace, located at the southwest coer of the ancient city, is a large group of buildings, an imitation of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Among them the Loyalty Stone Arch, with spectacular looking and superb workmanship, may be rated as a treasure of China.

Shuhe Ancient Town

Shuhe Ancient Town popular China travel package, an important part of the Ancient Lijiang City, is one of the earliest sites inhabited by Naxi ancestors in Lijiang highland, and at the same time it was once an important post station on the ancient tea road. Its leather industry is well-developed with its leather products sold to Lhasa, faraway India and some other places.

Yufeng Temple

The temple, located at the south foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain travel China guide and built in the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911), is one of famous lamaseries of Lijiang. The ten thousand camellias in the temple were planted during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with a history of more than 500 years. The camellias are in full blossom when spring begins every year, praised as the first of its kind in the world.

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Often referred to as the most attractive destination in the West Lake Scenic Area affordable China tours, the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon is actually one of the 3 islands in the stunning lake. Including Lake-Heart Pavilion and Ruangong Mound, it covers an area of 7 square kilometers, 60% of which is actually covered by water. The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon features “the island in the lake” and “the lake on the island”. The various architectures are absolutely impressive to behold. Walking in from the North Port, visitors can see the beautiful Ancient Saint Hall and Nine-Curve Bridge. On the bridge are 4 dazzling pavilions, namely Opening-Net Pavilion, Tingting Pavilion, and the Kangxi Imperial Stele Pavilion, all idyllic places for visitors to take memorable photos to remember their trip to China by.

Surrounded by causeways, the Three Pools Mirroring top 10 China tours the Moon is mainly composed of 2 attractions: Yingzhou, and 3 stone towers. Yingzhou is the biggest island in the West Lake and was initially established by the Qiantang County magistrate, Nie Xintang, in the Wanli Period of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was then enlarged in the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911) with causeways and winding bridges in the north and south. Walking into Yingzhou with all of its dreamlike vistas, visitors will feel as if they are wandering in a fairytale land. Many trees and flowers are planted on the island and flourish unceasingly throughout the year, including willows, lotuses, red maples, and cotton roses.

As for the 3 famous flask-shaped stone towers, legend goes that they were built in the deepest part of the West Lake after Su Shi (the famous poet and magistrate of Hangzhou in the Northe Song Dynasty) dredged the waterway. All the towers are just 2 feet above the water level, and their top and body parts are in the shape of a gourd and a ball respectively. There is also a round hole in each tower. Visitors can appreciate the moonlight shining through the 3 holes of the towers on a clear night; this phenomenon is most incredible to experience during the Mid-Autumn Festival and is where the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon got its name.

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Lying in the central China in Dengfeng County of Henan Province, Mount Songshan affordable China tours, also called Zhongyue, is known as the “Central Great Mountain” among the Five Great Mountains in China, along with the Mount Tai in Shandong Province, Mount Hua in Shaanxi Province, Mount Heng in Shanxi Province and Mount Heng in Hunan Province. Mount Songshan, towering magnificently, is best known for its natural beauty, geological importance and Shaolin Temple.

Mount Songshan consists of Mount Taishi in the east and Mount Shaoshi in the west, stretching over 70 kilometers. It has 72 peaks grouped around the peaks of Mt. Shaoshi and Mt. Taishi, with the highest peak at an altitude of 1,492 meters. Besides these mountains, there are many valleys, caves, pools and waterfalls, each providing you with a unique and wonderful experience.

Out of the effect of many severe crust movements of the earth, the geological structure of the Songshan area is very complex, forming various kinds of geological views. Strata of five eras since the Archaeozoic to the Cenozoic are well kept as witnesses of the tremendous changes the central plain has experienced in more than three billion years. They are ideal for geological structure study and geological sightseeing as well, laurelled by geographers as the natural geological museum with “five generations of landforms together”.

Mount Songshan is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization and an important place for emperors, monarchs, empresses from various historical periods to present their sacrifices or pray to the god, for scholars to give lectures, and for eminent monks and Taoists to preach the Buddhist or Taoist doctrines. Within a 10-square-kilometer area on Mount Songshan stand many cultural sties, such as the Shaolin Temple, Zhongyue Temple and Songyang Academy (one of the four most famous academies in Chinese history) representing the early Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. In addition, there are the earliest Observatory ever found in China, the oldest Songyue Temple Pagoda top 10 China tours in China, and the capital city Yangcheng of feudalist Xia Kingdom. They constitute the mysterious and brilliant culture of Mount Songshan and are epitome of the Chinese culture.

The essence of Mount Songshan is the Shaolin Temple, which is situated at Shaoshi Mountain in the west of Songshan Mountain ranges. Shaolin Temple is reputed to be “the Number One Temple under Heaven” and long famous for its association with Chinese martial arts and particularly with Shaolin Kungfu. The Pagoda Forest of Shaolin Temple is China’s largest pagoda forest of Buddhism. There are nearly 250 stone and brick pagodas, ranging from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618-1911).

Zhongyue Temple, also called the “Taishi Temple” is located at the foot of the Huanggai Peak of the Taishi Mountain popular China travel package. It was first built in the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and was a shrine to offer sacrifices to the god. Today’s temple buildings, covering an area of more than 100,000 sq. m, were rebuilt during Emperor Qianlong’s reign in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The axis, a 700-meter-long flagged pathway, extends from the front Zhonghua Gate in the south to the rear gate of Yushu Tower in the north. The east and west wings of the temple consist of the buildings, each having a small separate courtyard. The temple has a reputation as a home of relics with 330 old cypresses, 100 stone steles, sacred ding tripods, and iron warriors.

Mount Songshan is about 70 km from Zhengzhou and the trip takes about 2 hours. It’s an easy day China trip. To visit Mount Songshan is to kill two birds with one stone: you can enjoy the beauty of a great mountain and pay homage to true Chinese Kong Fu.

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Lying to the north of the estuary of the Meizhou Bay China tour deals, 42 kilometers from Putian City, Fujian Province, Meizhou Island is known for being the birthplace of Matsu (or Mazu, the indigenous Goddess of the Sea), and considered as the “Oriental Mecca”. Pilgrimage and beach vacation are two good reasons to visit Meizhou Island.

Meizhou Island is the second large island of Putian city, covering an area of 16 square kilometers. The island is 9.6 kilometers long from south to north and 1.3 kilometers wide from east to west, in the shape of eyebrow. Its coastal lines extend 30.4 kilometers, in addition to 13 golden sandy beaches with a total length of 20 kilometers. Jiubaolan beach located in the southwest of Meizhou Island is a must-see. Its soft sand and clean sea have eaed the beach the nickname “China’s Hawaii.”

Ewei Stone Park China best tours, a cluster of amazing stone landscapes located in the south of the island, is also worth seeing. The stones are of various shapes, such as a frog, turtle, axe and carp, which are all vivid and lifelike.

Temple of Mazu on the island, which was first constructed in 987 during the Northe Song Dynasty, is the ancestral temple of all the Mazu temples in the 26 countries and regions around the world, and it is also the birthplace of Mazu culture. Mazu, bo in 960 A.D., was called Mo (silence) because she never cried until one month old. When she was 16, a celestial being gave her a bronze talisman, and from then on she grew in supeatural powers and wisdom. Mo ended her life at age 28 and her spirit began appearing to ships in distress and guided them to safe haven. From then on, grateful fishermen worshipped her as the Goddess of the Sea popular China travel package.

Nearly 200 million people in the world believe in Mazu. Each year on the 23rd day of the third lunar month which is Muzu’s birthday and the 9th day of the ninth lunar month which is anniversary of her death, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world, especially from Taiwan, flock to Meizhou Island to visit the temple and worship Mazu. Therefore, Meizhou Island is considered as the “Oriental Mecca”.

Traces of Mazu worship can even be seen in Meizhou Islander’s daily life. Some women still show their respect for Mazu by wearing the Mazu hair style, in which hair is coiled on the back of the head like a ship’s sail. This is to honor Mazu, and to invoke their husbands’ safe retu from the sea. Meizhou women also wear half-red, half-blue or half-black trousers. Only half of their trousers are red because they think they are just ordinary people and are unworthy of the Goddess Mazu’s all-red trousers.

Mazu Festival will also be held on the 23rd of the third lunar month (late April) and 9th of the ninth lunar month (early October). During the festival, various kinds of activities are held, such as worshipping Mazu, holding the symposiums on Mazu culture and organizing the exhibitions and sales of arts and crafts. You can also appreciate folk songs and dances and taste delicious Fujian Cuisine.

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In addition to imperial structures and gardens, hutong and siheyuan (quadrangle) are characteristic of life in Beijing affordable China travel packages and perfect to tour, whether riding in a rickshaw, on a bike or on foot.

Most people who visit Beijing are drawn to its hutong and siheyuan (courtyard with houses on four sides). In Beijing, hutongs may follow criss-crossing grids or wind naturally with the environment; they house many families. If you want to known more about hutong, you should enter the quaint courtyards which are the main structures found in hutongs, and Beijing courtyards are famous all over the world. In ancient Beijing, in addition to the Forbidden City, imperial gardens, temples and yamen (govement departments top 10 China tours), most of the structures were for civil use. In the quaint courtyards, there lived not only old Beijingers from generation to generation, but also notables. Former residences of notables are the main attractions in some courtyards, allowing you an insight into the lives of historical, distinguished people.

Unfortunately, many of the old courtyard dwellings are becoming uninhabitable. Mode buildings are replacing them, and some hutongs are losing contact with the past. Nonetheless, hutongs still account for about one-third of the dwellings in Central Beijing. Many renowned hutongs have been preserved to protect Beijing’s heritage and to maintain the ancient charms of a mode and inteationalized Beijing.

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Built in 1950, Shuishang Park affordable China tours is located in the southwest of Tianjin and covers an area of 213 hectares. It is the largest scenic park in the city.

Shuishang Park is most admired for its waterscapes, which cover almost half of park's total area. Surrounded by water are 12 isles, which are also connected by elegantly designed arch bridges and artificial dykes. These bridges and dykes divide the water surface into East Lake, West Lake and South Lake. Within the dominating cool shade of willows on banks, keen nature lovers are bound to spot some beautiful lotuses in water. The sidewalks on isles are lined up with Chinese ashes, Chinese scholar trees, silk trees, Chinese parasols, and the like. The central point of the park is Yuantiao Pavilion top China tours (pavilion from where to look into the distance). Twenty-six meters high, the pavilion is the highest point within the park.

Around it is a three-layer sloping terrace, which offers a spectacular view of the park at different heights. The charming pavilion beautifully set off by the water and the boats on it reflects a truly rustic ambience set within the tranquil setting of the park's deep interior. Within the park are also built Shenhu Garden (garden for celestial households), Penjing Garden (garden of potted landscapes), Bibo Village (village of blue ripples popular China tour package) and Children's Paradise, all of which are imitations of antiques. A zoo is home to nearly 200 species of animals, including pandas and golden monkeys.

To the north of the park are Nankai University and Tianjin University. In the proximity of the park is the famous Tianjin Broadcasting and Television Tower, which is nicknamed "Sky Tower."

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