Beijing: China plans to let more individual travellers visit Hong Kong as the two governments seek stronger economic and trade ties.

The number of regions where individuals are allowed to visit the city will be expanded steadily in the near future, China National Tourism Administration official Ren Jiayan said yesterday, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. The organisation has consulted with ministries on whether Hong Kong’s hotels and customs officials can cope with more visitors, Xinhua reported Ren as saying.

The Hong Kong government said yesterday it has reached an agreement with China to let travel agents in the mainland operate group tours to Hong Kong and Macau for those with residency in the region. The government will also allow one China and Hong Kong joint venture travel agent to operate a pilot programme offering Chinese residents group tours to places outside Hong Kong and Macau, excluding Taiwan, it said.

Rise in retail sales

Chinese visits to the city rose 21 per cent in the first five months this year, supporting sales at jewellery and watch makers, including Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co. and Luk Fook Holdings International Ltd. Retail sales in Hong Kong rose 11 per cent from a year earlier in April, even as Chinese visitors cut spending amidst the nation’s slowing economy.

While the rising number of mainland Chinese travelling to the city has brought economic benefits, it also spurred tension between the city’s residents amid surging property prices from an influx of investments and a shortage of hospital beds as Chinese mothers enter the city to give birth.

The announcements came as Chinese President Hu Jintao began a three-day visit to the city yesterday to mark the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.

LHASA — Several thousand tourists and traders are entering and leaving Tibet through Zham, a town on China’s border with Nepal, each day now that the annual travel rush has begun, local authorities said Tuesday.

Zham, located in Nyalam county of Xigaze Prefecture, is 114 km from Kathmandu and, therefore, a major route for international tourists and border residents travelling between China and Nepal.

The port serves as a crucial link for political, economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries, as well as a major stopping-off point for those shuttling between China and South Asian countries.

Several thousand people travel between Tibet and Kathmandu through Zham Port every day during the annual peak travel season that lasts from June to October, customs authorities in Zham said.

To shorten the travelers’ waiting time, customs officers on the Chinese side have put a bar code on each Nepalese border resident’s ID card.

“It takes only 8 seconds to verify a border resident’s identity, and a few minutes to go through customs formalities,” said Liu Weiqiong, an officer at a checkpoint in Nyalam.

Before the bar code system was adopted, he said even border residents had to wait for hours.

Last year, Zham Port saw 1.6 million entries and exits, including 1.5 million made by border residents, according to figures provided by the Nyalam checkpoint .

Border residents from the Nepalese side often travel through the Nepal-China border bridge – also known as the Friendship Bridge, carrying Chinese-made blankets, stuffed toys and utensils from Zham into Katmandu for use and resale.

In the first six months of this year, border residents made 293,441 entries and exits through Zham Port.

Meanwhile, the port reported 29,131 tourist arrivals and departures.

Beihai Park in Beijing

Restaurants, live music, and the lake; what more could you possibly ask for in an evening? Houhai Lake offers all of the above listed things and more. When you travel to Beijing, I guarantee you will not experience an area in any other part of Beijing quite like Houhai Lake. Houhai Lake area is one of the most fun areas in Beijing. When you make plans to go to Beijing, Houhai Lake is an area that you should take time out of your schedule to go visit. For a China tour, Houhai Lake is not only a great tourist attraction, but also an area where you can experience many of the local cuisines and music.

Houhai Lake is located in the Gulou area of Beijing and is a great place to spend an afternoon outdoors. During the summer, you have the ability to rent paddle boats or to ride in a boat with someone rowing it for your group. Tickets are relatively inexpensive and the boat rides typically last for about an hour and take you all around the lake. Similar to Houhai Lake, Beihai Lake also offers these same activities. Both lakes are relatively close together and both attractions can be visited in one day. These lakes are an immense amount of fun and I would go to both if the option is a possibility.

Beijing Houhai Hutong

Along with renting boats or riding in a row boat, Beihai Lake has one of the largest Chinese Gardens in the area, which is beautiful to see as are the lily pads floating in the water. It also contains a place called Bai Ta or as you may know it, the White Pagoda. Its body is made of white stone. Sun, moon and flame engravings decorate the surface of the tower. The White Pagoda is situated on the highest point in the area and offers a three hundred and sixty degree view of Beijing. The view is absolutely amazing and mirrors the beauty that the rest of the park has to offer.

When you travel to Beijing and visit Houhai Lake and Beihai Lake, it is recommended that you visit the lakes in the later portion of the afternoon and start at Beihai Lake. In Beijing, it is a wonderful change to start you travel around this lovely country. Take a close look at http://www.chinatraveldepot.com/China-Join-in-Group-Tours. If you begin at Beihai and see the garden and White Pagoda, you can then make your way down to Houhai area and walk around to the different street vendors. They sell everything ranging from clothes to fried scorpion. If you are feeling adventurous, they not only sell fried scorpion, but also fried sea horse. If you want a chance to try some of the “local cuisine,” there are many street vendors selling a variety of foods. The options for restaurants with a lakeside view are endless. You can eat anything ranging from Chinese food to American food. There is a restaurant offering both and although it was a relatively pricey meal, the atmosphere more than accounted for the price you paid. After dinner, you can walk around and listen to the live music that many of the bars and cafes have to offer and enjoy the scenery simultaneously. Visiting the Houhai Lake area made for an amazing afternoon and evening!