My Trip Across China:A 7-Day Affair

Amery ThaoPeriod 7

Map of China

Plan of Action• Temple of Heaven

Bird’s (Beijing, China)

• Nest Stadium (Beijing, China)

• The Great Wall of China (Beijing, China)

• The Forbidden Kingdom (Beijing, China)

• Summer Palace (Beijing, China)

• Terra-cotta Warriors (Lintong, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province)

• Huangshan, (Southern Anhui Province)

What to bring…

• Luggage (2) – 7 outfits, sleepwear• Purse• Camera• Camcorder • Cell phone• Laptop• And an open-minded, adventurous

mind!

Airfare

• 1 adult ticket to Beijing, ChinaTraveler(s )  Flights   Taxes     1 adult(s) x ($820.00 + $144.10)   total $964.10 USD   

Currency Conversion1 Yuan (RMB) = $. 14(USD)

Travel Itinerary – Wednesday, June 01, 2011

• 9:00 am – Leave for Denver International Airport from my home in Colorado Springs – (Driving) 1 hour and 20 minutes approx.

• First Flight – 11:45 am–Departure- 11:45 am from Denver

International Airport– Arrival - 1:34 pm to San Francisco

International, terminal 3Airline: Air China CA8868 Operated by United AirlinesFare type: Economy RestrictedAirline: Air China CA8868 Operated by United AirlinesFare type: Economy Restricted

Travel Itinerary – Wednesday, June 1, 2011

• Approx. Arrival time is 1:34 pm to San Francisco – get something to eat, buy souvenirs, take pictures => $20 approx.

• Second Flight–Departure – 2:50 pm from San

Francisco International, Terminal 1– Arrival – 5:55 pm to Capital Airport

(Beijing, China), terminal 3Total Cost so far:Airfare- $ 964.10 Snack/Souvenirs - $20Total$ 984.10

Hotel• Hail a Taxi – Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing – 24 km

– $6.84• No.1 Nanwanzi Bystreet, Dongcheng District,

Beijing 100006• Check-In : June 1, 2010• Check Out: June 5, 2010

– Budget Room –meals included– 1 queen bed (non-smoking)– Cable / Satellite TV , Disabled facilities , Hairdryer , Iron

and ironing board , Microwave , Private bathroom / Ensuite , Refrigerator , Tea and coffee making facilities , Telephone

– $70.40per night • Total : $281.60 for hotel stay

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – 984.10Hotel- $281.60Total$ 1,202.70

Day 1: Temple of Heaven

• Arrive in Beijing, China at 5:55 pm• Check into Hotel• Take a taxi to the Temple of Heaven

around 6:10 pm• 13 minute drive – 5.9 km– Starting at 10 Yuan ($1.47)– Rate for an average taxi – 1.60 Yuan per

kilometer• Total Cost: 19.44 RMB ( $3.09)

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – 984.10Taxi - $3.09Total$ 1,205.79

Day 1: Temple of Heaven (continued)

• Enter: Temple of Heaven• Buy combination ticket – 30 Yuan

($4.41)• Take lots of photos• Stay for 1 hour and a half• Go to hotel by taxi – 30 Yuan ($2.86)• Eat dinner at hotel• Rest up for the next day!

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – 1,205.79Ticket - $4.41Taxi - $2.86Total$ 1213.06

Day 2 : Great Wall of China• Visit the Great Wall of China (8am – 6 pm)• $135 per person• Interesting Fact: The more people going with you, the

cheaper the total cost!• Tour Code: BXIT-F02

Tour Type: A private tour for your family or your friends exclusivelyDeparture: DailyDuration: Approx.9 hours ( include lunch )Hiking Area: 4-10 towersPick-up point and time: Your Hotel around 8:00amFinishing point and time: Your Hotel around 5:00pmGreat Wall Hiking Time: 2-3 hours at Badaling Great WallHiking Level: BeginnerCable car, Toboggan: Available ( optional )Attraction: Underground Palace - part of the Ming Tombs complexBest time to go: All year roundDistance: 85kmPayment Types: Cash, Credit Cards, Wire

• Go to Hotel , watch TV, and rest up for next adventure

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – 1213.06Ticket -$135Total- $1348.06

Day 3: Nest Stadium and Forbidden City

• Go to grocery store and buy food and water before 7:45

• Take Camera!• Public Sightseeing Double Decker Bus No.03:• Destinations: Hangtianqiao, Beizuizidongkou,

Ganjiakoudong, Fuchengmen, Baitasi, Xianmen, Beihai Park, Forbidden City, Jinshandongmen, Drum Tower, Minzhuyuan, Beichengxiqiaobei, National Stadium, Nangounihe, Aoyuncunbei, Olympic Bus Termianal.

• Bus Fare: RMB 3Bus Operation Time: 8:00-18:00

• Tel: 68429295

The Stadium was built and used for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – $1348.06Bus Tour Price - $.45Total- $1348.51

Photos of Forbidden Kingdom

Day 4: Summer Palace• Address: Yiheyuan (Summer Palace)

Road, Haidian District 62881144-209• Open Time: 6:30-20:30• Take busses No.726, 826, 718, 332, 331

or 737 and get of at Yiheyuan Dongmen• Entrance Fee: RMB 30• Combination Ticket: RMB 50 (including entrance

fee, Dehe Garden, Wenchang Hall, Tower of Buddhist Incense, Suzhou Street and Danning Hall)

• Visit from 8:00am to 1:00 pm• Go to a nearby grocery store and buy

enough food for the day• Stay home and rest up for next day

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – $1348.51Total- $2,708.92

Day 5:Xi An• Fly to Xian from Beijing• Beijing to Xi An • Flight 1- Sunday, June 05, 2011  • Departure: 07:30 Beijing, China (excl. Hong Kong SAR) - Capital

Airport, terminal 3• Arrival: 09:20 Xi An, China (excl. Hong Kong SAR) - Xianyang,

terminal 2 • Airline: Air China CA1203 • Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 • Fare type: Economy Restricted

• travelers   flights   taxes     • 1 adult(s) x (155.00 + 13.32) = 168.32 USD   • total for all travelers  = 168.32 USD

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – $2,708.92Total- $2,877.24

Day 6: Xi An - Continued• Two Day Tour Package• Single Supplement – Tourist Class: $25• Xian Melody Hotel for 1 night

• Inclusions:1.All transfers and city transportation for your own use2.Entrance fees and meals as mentioned3.Private car or van with English speaking guide4.One-night at the designated Xian Hotels above with daily breakfast5.The above private escorted tour is customized for you, your family or your friends exclusively. No other travelers will join in your group.

• Day 01: Arrival at XianMet at Xian Airport, transported to your hotel (booked by company).

• After lunch, first visit Shaanxi Provincial History Museum– a large modern museum of the national level and focuses on the highlights of the Shaanxi culture and

depicts the development of the Chinese civilization.• Then move on to Big Goose Pagoda for a visit

– Oldest Structure in China built in Sui Dynasty.– Unfortunately it was damaged during World War II and reduced to seven stories, which is as it

remains today. – Situated in the Da Ci'en Temple, four kilometers south away from the center of the city. It is one of

the city's most distinctive and outstanding landmarks– possibly the most beautiful building left in Xian today.

• Go to the Shaanxi Grand Opera House around 6:00pm • Dumpling dinner within the Opera House.

– Dumpling, or Jiaozi in Chinese, is one of the most representative Chinese food.. Enjoy the jiaozi dinner before and over the Tang Dynasty Show. • The Tang Dynasty Show showcases the costumes, music, and dancing of China's golden age: the Tang

dynasty (618 - 907). Return to your downtown hotel in Xian. ( L D )

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – $2,877.24Total- $2,902.24

Day 7:Xi An - ContinuedDay 02: Xian Tour and Exit• Pick up from your hotel in Xian. • First visit the Terra-cotta Warriors

– The original site was found by a local farmer drilling a well in 1974. Now it has turned into the most important attraction in Xian - Terracotta Warriors and Horse Museum.

– It is located about 50km east of the Xian City. – The museum includes Pit 1, Pit 2 and Pit 3 as well the exhibition hall of the

chariots and horses. The Pit 1 is the largest of the three.– The museum and the mausoleum are listed the world's cultural legacies as

the UNESCO.• After lunch, drive back to the city center of Xian and visit the City

Wall.– The main magnet of Xian is the city wall, which is the most complete city

wall that has survived in China – One of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world– built in Tang Dynasty– Its south gate is the most largest with a suspension bridge.

• Most of the tourists choose the south gate for sightseeing.

Day 7: Return Home

Total Cost so far:Subtotal – $2,708.92Total- $4012.02!!!

Physical Characteristics of China

• Northern China (areas such as Beijing) – – During winter, from December to March,

temps. can be extremely cold • can reach -20C at night

– During summer, from May to August, temps. are often very hot • can reach -38C or 100F• Rainy season

– Best time to visit – spring and autumn• Temperatures range from 20C to 30C or 68F to 86FAverage Precipitation is 25-28 inches per year

Physical Characteristics of China• Central China (Area

around the Yangtze River Valley)– Winter – dropping well

below freezing– No Heating in Public

Buildings during this time to the south of the Yangtze River• Can be wet and muddy

anytime apart from summer

– Impossible to choose an ideal time to visit – preferably Spring and Autumn

30 inches of precipitation per year

Physical Characteristics of China

• Southern China (Guangzhou)– Summer – “Season of typhoons”

• July and September

– Winters are short• January to March• Not as cold as north

– Going to this region -> need warm clothes – Autumn and spring can be good times to visit

• Sunny - 20C to 25C (68F to 75F)• Wet, cold with rain or drizzle

• Average Precipitation: 30 inches per year

Physical Characteristics of China

• Northwest China– Hot in summer

• Dry and sunny• Desert can be scorching hot

– Turphan – 150 m below sea level, referred to as the “hottest place in China”• Max of 47C

– Winters are very cold• Turphan during winter is a little more

favorable to humans– Experiences little rain -> very dry air– Summers can exceed 40C and drop to -10C.

• Precipitates less that 4 inches per year

A view of Turphan

Lavender Farm in Xinjiang

Physical Characteristics of China

• Tibet– Harshest places for human existence– Cool in summer– Freezing in winter

• May exceed 29C in summer and drop to -16C in winter– Sun radiation strong

• Sunlight so intense in the city of Lhasa that city is literally called Sunlight City

• Thin air doesn’t block or retain hear -> temps can be extreme throughout day

– Average temp. in northern Tibet is subzero• Winter arrives in October till May or June• July to August are best times to visit• May, June and September are tourist months in eastern Tibet

– Heavy snow, landslides and rock falls occur – South Tibet- May to October – great festive events– Rainy season starts from June to September

• Travel hard but scenery is at it’s best– November to May wind blows often

Human Geography of China• Capital – Beijing• Largest City – Shanghai• Official Language – Mandarin Chinese• Government – People’s Republic (Communism)

– 2010 Population estimate – 1,339,510,000 people• Mostly populated in big cities• Infant Mortality Rate17.77 per 1,000 live births (2008)• Life Expectancy at Birth: 73.12 years (2008)• Religions: Taoism, Buddhism, Muslim Christian; however, officially marked as Atheist

• Agriculture – Over 300 million Farmers– Agriculture – 19%– Industry – 49%– Services- 32%

• Arable land : 10%• Permanent crops=+0 % • Permanent Pastures: 43%• Forests and wood land: 14%• Agriculture - Rice, wheat, potatoes, sorghum, peanuts, tea, p millet, barley, cotton, oilseed, pork and fish• Exporting Goods: Electrical machinery, woven apparel, footwear, toys and sporting goods

• The Cultural Revolution resulted in a non-progressive China under the communist rule of Mao Zedong• Due to mass production and industry of China, China is one of the leading countries responsible for the increase of

Carbon Dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere• Large Military• Largest Problem (internal) – Drug Trade with Heroin• Political Feuds- Boundary with India, Russia, Tajikistan, North Korea, Spratly Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan,

Vietnam, Brunei, Gulf of Tonkin with Vietnam, Paracel Islands claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

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