The growing band of China‘s rich are expecting to travel more than ever before in 2012 — and when they do, it’s most likely that they’ll spend a little money adding to their watch collections.

Such has been the major findings of the Chinese Luxury Consumer White Paper 2012, which takes a peek at the spending habits of those at the very top end of Chinese society and was put together by China’s Industrial Bank Co and the Shanghai-based Hurun Report Research Institute.

“Most brands recognize the spending power of the Chinese luxury consumer but we are attempting to ask the question ‘who are these people and what makes them tick?”’ explained Hurun Report chairman and chief researcher Rupert Hoogewerf to the China Daily newspaper.

Travel was rated by those surveyed as their major yearly expense, outstripping even money spent on daily necessities and their children’s education.

More than half those polled for the report expected their travel expenses to increase in 2012, while 40 percent thought they would spend more money this year on preserving their health and wellness and on education for their kids. When it comes to their children’s education, the report found that 85 percent of China‘s rich planned to send them to schools overseas. When they do travel, China’s wealthy most like to spend on watches, clothes and accessories and leather goods.

Researchers spoke to 878 Chinese with an average personal wealth of 49 million yuan (5.8 million euros). It claims there are now 2.7 “high-net worth individuals” in China with personal assets of more than six million yuan (714,000 euros) and that 60 percent of them are males with an average age of 39.

The report also claims in China there are now 63,500 “ultra high-net worth individuals” with personal assets of 100 million yuan (12 million euros) and that 80 percent of them are male with an average age of 41.

Tales of the modern Chinese consumer …

What they spend on when overseas:

watches (65 percent); clothes and accessories (49 percent); leather goods (48 percent); jewelry (45 percent); cosmetics (43 percent); electronic products (31 percent); wine (20 percent); art (16 percent).

What they collect:

watches (44 percent); ancient calligraphy and paintings (31 percent); wine (23 percent); porcelain (13 percent); contemporary art (13 percent); cars (10 percent); historical houses (five percent); other (eight percent).

MS

Explore Tibet provides travelers with the first-hand information of Tibet travel permit and documents.

(PRWEB) April 03, 2012

Explore Tibet provides travelers with the first-hand information of Tibet travel permit and documents. Tibet is officially a province of China and valid China visa is required to travel to Tibet, travelers need some additional travel documents or permits. Check details in the below:

There are four documents required for a foreigner to travel into Tibet.

1) Chinese visa or Tibet Group visa

2) Tibet Permit (TTP)

3) Alien’s Travel Permit (ATP/also called PSB permit)

4) Military permit.

China Visa or Tibet Group Visa

A valid passport with a standard Chinese entry visa is essential for all foreign travelers. China visa is generally obtainable from most Chinese embassies and consulates in the locality and must be obtained in advance. The cost of a standard Chinese tourist visa varies from US$ 12 to 120 according to the nationality of the applicant and the type of visa required. Individual visas (an ‘L’ Visa means tourist visa) may be issued for single or double entry, with a validity of one, two, or three months. Multiple entry visas are normally issued for business or educational purposes only, such as the “F” Visa, “X” Visa or “Z” Visa etc, ranging in validity from 6 to 12 months, and are more expensive (US$ 120-250). Normally three working days are required to process a visa application from the date of its submission, but express services are also available at a premium.

Important Tips from Explore Tibet Team when travelers apply for Tibet visa:

It’s better for travelers not to mention Tibet or any places in Tibet as the travel destination when they are applying for Chinese visa (the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu is the only exception). Tibet is politically sensitive in China and sometimes it may refuse the visa application if one mentions Tibet in the application form, travelers can mention any city of mainland China such as Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, Chengdu-Sichuan, Yunnan, etc. as their travel destinations.

Tibet Travel Permits (TTP)

Tibet Travel Permits (TTP) is necessary for foreigners to get into Tibetan Autonomous Region, Explore Tibet Team can apply it for travelers and usually it takes only 3 working days. But if travelers are traveling into restricted areas, then they need more additional permits and documents which will take longer time. Once travelers confirm their trips, Explore Tibet Team will request they to send clear scan copies or photo of their passports and Chinese visa at least 20 days in advance by email as it is required for applying Tibet Travel Permits. When it is issued Explore Tibet Team will send either a copy of original of the permit to traveler’s hotel in China.

Sonam Jamphel
Explore Tibet
(86)15889090408
Email Information

Peter Chang China Grill in Charlottesville, Virginia specializes in Chinese Szechuan cooking. The man Peter Chang is something of a local celebrity as well as an international chef.

According to various news reports and Wikipedia, Peter Chang trained as a chef in China, has cooked a meal for the Chinese President and worked as a chef at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., before opening his own chain of restaurants.

Fortunately for Charlottesville, Peter Chang picked this city for a new Peter Chang China Grill in early spring 2011. Unlike other great Chinese restaurants that usually have a “hole-in-wall” space while offering patrons a tremendous range of inspired tastes and culinary experiences, the dining area at Peter Chang China Grill is sizeable, with two levels and a full bar.

Asian decor, subtle green walls and hanging butterflies welcome the Peter Chang China Grill patron. Service is fine, but the food is fantastic. Szechuan cooking is classically hot, spicy and oily; Peter Chang China Grill delivers on this expectation.

In particular, the Dry Fried Eggplant is a wonderful food taste experience, and a first for this reviewer. Eggplant is one of those funny vegetables that many people may never have occasion to eat. An acquired taste for some, in this dish, the eggplant hardly looks like an eggplant.

Presentation of Peter Chang China Grill’s Dry Fried Eggplant is a cross between French Fries and Cheese Sticks. The outside is hard and crunchy, and the inside is marshmallow-soft. And the spice…like pepper…only more flavorful. The spice might leave the tongue quite confused for several minutes.

Upon drinking water with the eggplant dish, this reviewer’s tongue felt certain the plain tap water had been mixed up with an order for Perrier sparkling water. (Later, it became clear the spice was so hot, the tongue was numb. TIP: Beer or milk can soothe a spiced-out tongue.)

Despite the “tongue confusion,” this reviewer can’t wait to have Dry Fried Eggplant again. (It was like eating potato chips: a single chip is never enough, and before you know it the whole bag of chips is gone.)

Also on the menu that night at Peter Chang China Grill was Szechuan pork and a veggie plate of pumpkin and onion Szechuan style. Both orders were spicy hot and delicious.

The Peter Chang China Grill restaurant is located in the North Wing of Barracks Road Shopping Center at 2162 Barracks Road in Charlottesville, Virginia. Due to its popularity, reservations are suggested.  The restaurant is open Monday-Sunday, from 11AM-10PM; for more information call 434.244.9818.