ICTP President addresses China Tourism Forum at WTM

HALEIWA, Hawaii, USA; BRUSSELS, Belgium; VICTORIA, Seychelles; BALI, Indonesia – Addressing the China Tourism Forum at the World Travel Market, International Council for Tourism Partners (ICTP) President Professor Geoffrey Lipman reflected on his 3 decades of engagement with China travel and tourism and pointed to the systematic build-up of what he described as “a great positive force for change” for the whole world.

Lipman described his involvement with China’s aviation and tourism growth, with IATA. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and expressed confidence in the vision, planning, and execution of China’s leadership. He highlighted the following reasons:

-The immense size and potential of demand for the China travel experience, predicting that within 5 years it will be the largest domestic, inbound, and outbound market in the world.

-The domestic market today of 2.6 billion trips is already more than double the total international travel that UNWTO predicted for 2012.

-The fact that China has declared this sector to be a strategic pillar of economic growth, a key consumption engine in its 12th 5-year plan and an integral part of its strengthening international trade and development collaboration.

-That it has delivered on this by focusing its economic stimulus spending on fast roads, high speed trains, and dozens of new airports – the fundamental infrastructure of travel.

-Its investment in partnerships with African nations will lead to a great win-win travel flow, much of it through the emerging gulf mega hubs and airlines. This will be a major factor in the continent’s development agenda and the millennium development goals as a whole.

-China’s commitment to carbon reduction targets and its determination to be a leader in renewable energy will not only make it a champion of Green Growth, but will help the travel and tourism sector in its own transformation. This point had been re-affirmed by Maurice Strong, one of the architects of modern sustainable development thinking, during the recent Rio+20 Earth Summit.

BRUSSELS: With newly-affluent Russians and Chinese queuing up to tour the EU, Brussels on Wednesday urged European nations to facilitate travel visas to help spur badly-needed economic growth.

“It’s business,” said the commissioner for industry Antonio Tajani. “Tourism and travel facilitation have always been high on my agenda.”

Foreign travellers last year spent over 330 billion euros ($424 billion) in the European Union, the world’s top tourist destination, where the sector provides 18.8 million jobs.

 

Calling on the 27-nation bloc to do more to streamline common visa policy, Tajani said that he, for example, favoured granting Russians visa-free travel.

The issue is expected to come up at an EU-Russia summit December 21.

But European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem cautioned against doing away with travel documents altogether. “We can facilitate obtaining visas for Russia, China and other countries but it would be more complex to abolish them.”

Visas issued for entry into the 26-nation Schengen passport-free area have risen spectacularly in recent years.

Some 460,000 Schengen visas were issued in India last year against 340,000 in 2007, while for China more than one million were issued in 2011, twice as many as in 2008.

Russia however outdid them all with 5.1 million visas issued in 2011 compared to 3.5 million in 2007.

The EU’s executive says countries need to stick to short deadlines to grant appointments and issue papers while simplifying application forms and reducing fees.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2012

Luxury shoppers from the Asia-Pacific region are a major new tourist market. Photo: Aaron Tam

Luxury shopping trips for the nouveau riche, gadget-free accommodation and booking holidays on smart TVs are some of the travel trends predicted in a report released this week.

The Global Trends Report by market researcher Euromonitor International predicted a continued rise in holiday packages that cater to tourists on shopping trips, and a recovery in Middle East visits following the Arab Spring.

It also suggested Americans would be interested in destinations that have previously been off-limits, such as Myanmar.

Shoppers from Brazil, Russia, India and China — the so-called “BRIC” countries, with rapidly growing economies — were expected to flock to European cities to splurge on luxury goods.

Euromonitor said this trend would be due to the countries’ fast-growing affluent middle classes and high import taxes on luxury goods.

“We know that Chinese tourists are more and more travelling in groups across Europe and shopping is one of their main activities,” Euromonitor travel analyst Paz Casal said at the World Travel Market in London.

“This will only become more pronounced in the next five years.”

Chinese visitors to Europe alone reserve a third of their holiday budget for shopping, the European Travel Commission estimates, and 95 per cent of Chinese visitors to Louis Vuitton shops in Paris are on organised tours, according to Euromonitor.

Hotels in the Middle East are being built within or beside shopping malls to take advantage of the trend, and nine major malls are due for completion across the region between 2012 and 2014. One of these, Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, will be home to seven hotels.

Tourism to the Middle East is expected to grow after the region experienced a 10 per cent fall last year amid the “Arab Spring” revolutionary uprisings. This growth is forecast to continue into 2013 and beyond.

Indian travellers are helping a tourism boom in the Gulf countries by heading in large numbers to the region’s souks to purchase precious metals for wedding gifts and investment.

Although the report says that growth in tourism arrivals will come from the relatively new outbound markets of Asia Pacific, Latin America and Eastern Europe, US travellers are showing a particular interest in travelling to countries that have previously been considered off-limits, such as North Korea, Libya, Cuba and Myanmar, thanks to the easing of travel restrictions.

American tourism to Myanmar is expected to rise by 71 per cent by 2016, says Euromonitor.

Smart TVs are also highlighted in the report as vital new platforms for travel marketers, who seek to use the device to directly connect consumers to the market by enabling them to make immediate bookings through the TV, or via travel apps and internet links.

“The next big thing is to have a presence on these machines,” Euromonitor’s travel and tourism research head Caroline Bremner told Reuters. “With 50 per cent penetration by 2014, it’s going to be fast adoption.”

On the flipside, customers will also want to be prised away from their technological gizmos on “digital detox” holidays in gadget-free hotels, or those which offer incentives to put down the “Crackberry” for a while.

Relaxing holiday options like spa, cruise and rail sojourns were also expected to perform particularly well through 2016.

Chan’s camera tells her where to travel in China.Photographers make great guides for scenic trips — they have a knack of finding places with stunning views but minus the crowds.

This is especially helpful when traveling in China.

In the past decade or so, Macanese photographer Melinda Chan has traveled extensively in China with photo tour groups. She considers this a great way to see the real side of the nation.

“Many photo tours are going to the places that are not very common for regular tourists,” says Chan, who is an air traffic control officer at Macau International Airport.

From her fat photo album, Chan picked out 11 favorite landscapes in China.

The list below is arranged in no particular order.

What’s your favorite Chinese photo op? Let us know in the comments section below.

1. Xiaodong River, Chenzhou, Hunan Province (湖南郴州东江湖小东江)

More poetic than a water painting.

Thousands of photographers descend on the 12-kilometer-long Xiaodong River every summer to capture the atmospheric fog.

The surreal scene is created by differing water temperatures between the cold Xiaodong River, which flows from a dam 100 meters or so beneath sea level and eventually into the warmer Dadong River.

The fog creates poetic water painting-like photos, says Chan.

She recommends photographers hire a local fisherman to row a boat along the river for better shots.

The best time to observe the fog phenomenon is around dawn between May and October.

The Xiaodong River is part of the 160-square-meter Dongjiang Lake scenic spot in Hunan Province in southeast China.

Getting there: Dongjiang Lake is 28 kilometers northeast of Chengzhou city (郴州).

Trains from Guangzhou (广州) bound for Changsha (长沙), Chengdu (成都), Shanghai (上海), Jinan (济南), Tianjin (天津) and other cities all pass Chenzhou. From Chenzhou, take a long-distance bus from South Bus Station to Dongjiang Lake. The journey takes about one hour and should cost less than RMB 20.

Admission to Dongjiang Lake costs RMB 52 (US$8).

2. Zhangye, Gansu Province (甘肃张掖)

An earthly rainbow.

In deep inland China, some 2,500 kilometers northwest of the glizty skyscrapers in Shanghai, lies one of the nation’s most spectacular natural phenomena. This landform, called danxia, was formed around 6 million years ago.

At the Danxia Geological Park in Gansu Province, wavy sandstone features in an area roughly the size of Manhattan spread out in more shades than a box of crayons.

Most areas are covered with red, yellow and orange stripes, but some hills are also tinted with green, magenta, black and even turquoise.

Getting there: The park is located near Zhangye, a city about 500 kilometers northwest of Gansu’s provincial capital Lanzhou. Trains leave regularly from Lanzhou to Zhangye. The journey takes five to eight hours depending on the train’s speed.

From Zhangye, take a bus from Zhangye Bus Station to Danxia Geological Park. Buses leave every 30 minutes from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The journey takes one hour and costs RMB 9.

Admission to the park is RMB 40.

3. Saihanba, Inner Mongolia/Hebei Province (内蒙古与河北省交接塞罕坝)

Autumn snow on former imperial hunting grounds.

Some 460 kilometers northeast of China’s capital, this meadow was a favorite hunting ground for the imperial family of the Qing dynasty.

Occupying 940 square kilometers in south Inner Mongolia bordering Hebei Province, it’s now the largest national forest park in northern China.

Chan traveled there with friends in October 2010 to capture the golden scenery, but “we met with a sudden weather change.”

“Instead of a golden view, we got this amazingly beautiful snow shot,” says Chan.

The park has 800 square kilometers of grasslands accompanied by larch and birch forest that provide an ideal background for horse riding, archery and photography.

Getting there: Take a long-distance bus bound for Saihanba (sometimes known as “Weichang”) at Beijing Liuliqiao Bus Station. Buses leave every hour or so. The journey takes seven hours and costs RMB 104.

Admission to Saihanba costs RMB 130.

4. Yuanyang, Yunnan Province (云南省元阳)

Farming goes artistic.

These rolling, mirror-like rice terraces can be found in China’s southwest Yunnan Province.

Mountain-dwelling Hani minorities converted the steep slopes into rows upon rows of rice stairs, stretching as far as the eyes can see.

In Yuanyang, rice terraces run continuously for 113 square kilometers with a maximum vertical span of 1,500 meters, accommodating about 3,000 rows.

According to Chan, dusk and dawn are the best times to photograph the view, when the water-filled terraces have the most shades of color.

Getting there: Yuanyang County is about 320 kilometers south of Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan. Two buses bound for Yuanyang depart from Kunming’s Nanyao Bus Station every day, one at 10:20 a.m. and the other at 8 p.m. The journey takes about seven hours and costs RMB 90.

5. Langmusi, Gansu Province (甘肃郎木寺)

Religion and scenery meet in one little town.

The remote but holy town of Langmusi (population 3,000) is a great getaway for culture-loving backpackers.

Standing on the border of Gansu and Sichuan provinces, the plateau town is surrounded by alpine forest and lush mountains and is populated by Tibetans and Huis, a Muslim ethnic group in China.

The town’s landmark is its namesake Tibetan Buddhist temple. First built in 1748, Langmusi’s temple has for centuries been a sacred site for Tibetans from south Gansu, north Sichuan and West Qinghai.

Chan witnessed a Tibetan ceremony during her journey to Langmusi in July 2011.

“They paraded with instruments, and it was interesting to see the monks with traditional costumes,” says Chan. “It was like a scene from a movie.”

Getting there: Langmusi is some 400 kilometers southwest of Lanzhou (兰州), provincial capital of Gansu. Take a long-distance bus from Lanzhou’s South Bus Station to Hezuo (合作). The journey from Lanzhou to Hezuo takes about four hours and costs around RMB 60.

6. Moon Bay, Kanas Lake, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (新疆喀纳斯湖月亮湾)

Nothing escapes Kanas Lake’s reflection.

Located in the deep forest of Altai Mountain, this lake is best known for its extremely clear water, which changes color throughout the year as its reflection mirrors the surrounding environment.

Early autumn is the season to go because golden leaves along the bank create “fairy tale-like scenery,” according to Chan.

She recommends going in late September and walking along Moon Bay.

“The river is so clear and it has a lot of golden reflection,” says Chan.

Standing 1,374 meters above sea level, the 45-square-kilometer lake is in north Xinjiang, near China’s border with Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, and is home to the Tuvas, a group of ancient nomads in central Asia.

Getting there: China Southern operates four flights from Urumqi (乌鲁木齐), Xinjiang’s provincial capital, to Kanas. The flight takes about one hour.

Admission to Kanas Lake costs RMB 150.

7. Larung Gar Buddhist Institute, Seda, Sichuan Province (四川省色达县喇荣五明佛学院)

Holy land for Tibetan Buddhists.

Thousands of red wooden dormitories in the lush mountains of rural northeast Sichuan form one of the world’s largest Buddhist monasteries, Larung Gar Buddhist Institute.

Sprawling across approximately four square kilometers at 4,000 meters above sea level, the “Buddhist metropolis” houses more than 10,000 disciples, who practice Nyingma, a major school of Tibetan Buddhism. Most wear traditional red gowns.

Located in the Tibetan-inhabited part of Sichuan, the secluded Buddhist campus can be reached only after hours of bumpy riding on mountain roads. Nevertheless, Chan considers it her hands-down favorite destination in mainland China.

Getting there: Seda County is about 600 kilometers northwest of Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan.

The Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station (成都茶店子客运站) has one bus bound for Seda every day at 8 a.m. The journey costs RMB 144 and takes approximately 14 hours. Larung Gar Buddhist Institute is about 20 kilometers outside Seda town.

International travelers to Seda do not need a Tibet Alien travel/PSB permit, but regulations often change regarding permits to enter this region. It’s advisable to consult a China state-owned travel agency before planning a trip.

8. Zhouzhuang, Kunshan, Jiangsu Province (江苏省昆山市周庄)

Canal charm in eastern China.

One of the most iconic water towns in the country, Zhouzhuang provides a window to eastern China before highways, cars and skyscrapers took over the Yangtze River Delta region.

Canals lace the millennium-old town, marked by late Ming Dynasty architecture and batik-clothed gondoliers (most of whom are middle-aged women).

Don’t expect this view in daytime — the 2.7-square-kilometer town gets swamped by 25,000 tourists on an average day.

If you stay the night, you’ll be able to experience the peaceful side of the town in early morning and after sunset.

Getting there: Zhouzhuang is some 80 kilometers west of Shanghai. Shanghai Tourism Distribution Center organizes day trips to Zhouzhuang and other nearby water towns every day. Bus journeys to Zhouzhuang take 90 minutes each way and cost RMB 130 per person.

Admission to the mountains costs RMB 100.

9. Flaming Mountains, Turpan, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (新疆吐鲁番火焰山)

The hottest place in China.

Near the Taklamakan Desert and stretching about 100 kilometers, the sandstone Flaming Mountains are the hottest place in China in summer.

Average temperatures in July and August boil to at least 40 C with the ground temperature reaching nearly 80 C — it takes about 20 minutes to fry an egg on the ground.

Fissures on barren rocks can make the mountains look like solid flames.

The living hell, however, is one of Xinjiang’s most popular tourist spots due to its connection with the Monkey King. In the classic novel, “Journey to the West,” China’s very own superhero is said to have put out an immense fire with a palm-leaf fan.

Getting there: The Flaming Mountains are 30 kilometers east of Turpan city, which can be reached by long-distance bus from Urumqi’s South Bus Station. The journey takes around two hours and costs less than RMB 30.

From Turpan, either hire a private taxi or join a day trip to the Flaming Mountains. There is little public transport available between Turpan and the mountains.  

Admission to the mountains costs RMB 60.

10. Qilian County, Qinghai Province (青海省祁连县)

An oil painting by Mother Nature with rapeseed and wheat farms.

Chinese call this view “heaven’s environment” (天境). “God’s country,” if you will.

The country’s best landscapes seem to assemble in this multi-ethnic plateau county: snow-capped mountains, sweeping grasslands and thick forests.

Approximately 3,500 meters above sea level, Qilian is one of the most ecologically diverse regions in China.

Rapeseed and wheat farms alternate in the fields, creating a bright oil-painting-like pattern when viewed from the highlands.

Located at the foot of Qilian Mountains and on the former Silk Road, the area is home to ethnic minorities, including Tibetan, Mongolian and Hui.

Getting there: Qilian County is about 280 kilometers northwest of Xining, provincial capital of Qinghai. The Xining Bus Station despatches buses bound for Qilian every day until noon. The journey takes about six hours and costs around RMB 55.

11. Yellow River Stone Forest, Jingtai, Gansu Province (甘肃省景泰黄河石林)

Stone spectacle above the Yellow River.

These awe-inspiring rock pillars can be found along the banks of the Yellow River in northwest China. They form a 50-square-meter geological park.

Formed approximately 210 million years ago, the columns originally stood as high as 200 meters. Most pillars are 80-100 meters high nowadays.

Chan says the stone forest park is one of the least-visited tourist destinations in China, making it ideal for travelers who like exploring China off the beaten path.

She recommends touring the rock posts via donkey cart, the preferred local mode of transportation.

Getting there: Yellow River Stone Forest Geological Park is located in Jingtai Town, about 100 kilometers northeast of Lanzhou, provincial capital of Gansu. Public buses are available between Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport and Jingtai Town, then to Jingtai and the rock pillar scenic zone.

Admission to the park costs RMB 110.

- By Tracy You, CNNGO

News24 Travel Reader Hitekani Mbatsana recently visited China and was baffled to locals turning their cameras on her as the tourist.

Our
list of things to do in China was filled with all the great attractions we
hoped to see, including the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. What we
didn’t anticipate was becoming the
attraction…

While standing at the ticket kiosk, a cloud
of humidity hovered around us, we noticed a dark haired man staring intently at
us; a man who we instantly recognised from earlier in the day. Could he have been
following us? We entered the park and each time we glanced behind us, there he was;
instantly confirming our suspicions. In a state of rising panic, we tried to lose
him.

Curious onlookers gawked at us as we ran
through the park, turning down alleyways and moving briskly around temple
stairs. We finally stopped to catch our breath and relief flooded over us as
we appeared to have eluded him. Our victory, however,  was short lived. As we stepped around the
corner, those stony brown eyes were there, burning into us. We frantically looked
around in an attempt to call for help, no one was around. We shivered as he reached
into the inner pocket of his jacket. Clutching each another, we watched in horror
as he slowly drew out…a camera.

“Take pik-cha?” he asked. Before we could
respond, yay or nay, he snapped a picture of us and disappeared…

Photo sent in by Hitekani Mbatsana

Our pre-trip research alluded to the fact
that many foreigners were stared at, particularly in the more rural areas. This
is understandable; China is a homogenous society after all. However, one would
think (as we did) that large cities, such as the capital, would be frequented
by tourists and this would lessen the fascination. We were wrong about that.

We first noticed it at the Forbidden City
where, while looking around, a lady approached us and in lightly accented
English asked: “Excuse me, can you take a picture?”

Ever the friendly tourists
we happily agreed, as one of us reached for her camera, she quickly said “No,
no” and pointed to her friend who, with a big smile, nodded and gestured that
we move closer together. After a moment of confusion, it dawned on us that she
didn’t want us to take a picture of her; she wanted to take a picture with
US.

It seemed a little weird but we obliged, moved closer and smiled for
the camera. She thanked us and went on her way.

We looked at each other for a moment,
shrugged our shoulders at this bizarre situation and turned around to continue
our tour. We had hardly taken a single step before another woman, camera in
hand asked for a picture. She was travelling with her kids.

“Um…okay” we said.

At which point, more and more people stopped and an impromptu queue was
formed as the locals waited to have their picture taken. The group grew larger
and larger. Soon our smiles faded away and we politely declined to take more
photos as we wanted to see the palace.

 
Photo sent in by Hitekani Mbatsana

It was then that we noticed that while some
people had politely asked for pictures others were merely taking pictures of us
as we walked though the palace, when we stopped to pose for a picture others stopped too, when we stopped for a break or lunch people pointed and took more
pictures of us. One man went as far as following us around looking for that
perfect shot.

After a couple of days, the novelty of the
situation wore off. We went from “excited tourist” to hounded “celebrity”, large shades and all, in a
matter of hours. Tyra and Naomi touring the streets of Beijing- although, I’d
imagine that they would travel in far different circles. We were able to use
our new found fame to bargain lower prices and to find a person to take a
picture of us together, in exchange for a picture with us of course.

However, what it didn’t do was to make
ordering food easier. In fact, it made it harder. Waitrons scrambled around
looking busy so they wouldn’t be assigned to our table. Once they came to the
table they were tasked with explaining the menu. This is where the game of
charades with sound effects came in handy. Thankfully, the outcome was good (well,
in one case anyway).

One of the reasons we didn’t book a tour
guide was because we looked forward to the adventure. Well, they say “be
careful what you wish for!”

THE BEST WAY TO YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA

From LAX, Korean Air, China Airlines, China Eastern and China Southern offer connecting service (change of plane) to Kunming, China. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $970, excluding taxes and fees.

WHERE TO STAY

• 
• 

  Yunnan, China: Thousand Lion Mountain, cormorant fishing, more

Landscape Hotel, 96 Yuer Road, Dali; 011-86-872-266-6188, http://www.landscapehotel.com/. In the heart of old town Dali and within walking distance of most of the top sites. Double rooms from $58 a night.

Shaxi Laomadian Lodge, Sideng St., Shaxi Town; 011-86-872-472-2666. Nine modernized rooms built from refurbished stables. Doubles from $65 a night.

Shiner Hotel, 144 N. Changzheng Road, Shangri-La; 011-86-887-822-2233, http://www.shinerhotel.com/english/index.html. Designed for the business traveler, the 212-room hotel is on the outskirts of the historic old town of Shangri-La. Doubles from $65.

WHERE TO EAT

The Sweet Tooth, 52 Bo’ai Road, Dali; 011-86-872-266-3830. For those in search of familiar sweets, stop by this small bakery and coffee shop that provides job training and employment for the deaf community in Dali. Some of its most popular desserts include Oreo or Snickers cheesecake, cinnamon buns, “ugly” brownies and chocolate chunk cookies. Most desserts $1 to $3. Open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays.

Tara Gallery Café Bar, House 29, Old Town, Shangri-La; 011-86-887-822-6128. Located in the center of Old Town Shangri-La, this wooden two-story building once served as a trading house on the tea and horse caravan road. Its friendly owner converted the space into a casual restaurant that serves traditional Tibetan food such as yak meat momos, or dumplings, as well as a variety of Chinese, Western and Indian dishes. The downstairs area includes several couches and is decorated with colorful tapestries and art from the community. Most entrees $7 to $12.

Thousands of years’ history combined with picturesque scenery make China’s water villages enchanting places to visit.

Visit the Great Wall of China or the Bund and you’ll have an amazing insights into some of the country’s most fascinating eras. Visit one of China’s water villages and you’ll experience living history. Dating back as far as two millenia, these towns are surprisingly well-preserved and still very much inhabited, with residents ekeing out a simple living in much the same way as their forebears did. And the great news is that your clients have even more opportunities to check out water villages during their China trip, with tour operators increasingly incorporating them into their itineraries.

WUZHEN

World Heritage listed and dating back to 872AD, Wuzhen is among the most popular of the water villages. It’s also the best preserved, with more than 80% of its architecture enduring from ancient times. Located at the centre of a triangle formed by Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou, this town is known for its ancient stone bridges, stone pathways and delicate wood carvings. Here, the locals purchase goods from trade boats, right through the windows of their houses, while blacksmiths and wood-carvers still ply their ancient trades.

ZHOUZHUANG

Up there in popularity with Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang has been around since 1086AD and is located close to Suzhou. Visitors flock to this village to see its traditional Suzhou architecture, whitewashed houses with black-tiled roofs and many stones bridges. The symbol of Zhouzhuang is the Twin Bridges – comprised of a round arch bridge and a square arch bridge.

TONGLI

Regarded as a less crowded version of Zhouzhuang and dating back to the ninth century, the village of Tongli is also found close to Suzhou. It’s best known for its many islands and bridges – there are 55 bridges in Tongli and the most famous three (Taiping, Jili and Changqing) are especially significant to the locals. When a birth, birthday or marriage is being celebrated, residents will walk across the three bridges. One of the town’s main attractions is the Retreat and Reflection Garden, which along with other classical Suzhou gardens is World Heritage listed.

XITANG

This town near Shanghai is truly ancient – dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period (771BC to 476BC). It’s a place of covered corridors, lanes and bridges, as well as its various antique residences and temples. Xitang’s main attraction is its unique Covered Corridor, with elegant carved decorative patterns in one section of this kilometre-long structure. It’s a popular spot for visitors to sit back and take in the boats passing by on the canal.

ZHUJIAJIAO

Not everyone is aware, but even in Shanghai itself you can find one of China’s ancient water villages – Zhujiajiao. The town dates from around 300AD, although archaeological findings in this area date back several thousand years. The most popular attraction in Zhujiajiao is the North Street, where tourists come to admire the wonders of ancient Chinese architecture.

NANXUN

At just over 700 years of age, Nanxun is not as old as the other water towns in China, but it is just as charming. An ideal day trip from Shanghai, this is a place of arched bridges, narrow canals, beautiful gardens, as well as 18th and 19th-century villas built by silk and salt merchants during the Qing dynasty.

Visitors to this vibrant democracy – known for its semiconductors and tech gadgetry – can be mesmerized by Taipei’s swarming motorbikes, natural scenery along coastal beaches and mountains full of hiking trails.

There is also Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest buildings, which offers high-end shopping and dizzying high-level views. And the National Palace Museum, which displays some of the most important Chinese artifacts found anywhere.

But there are also Taiwan’s night markets, among the best-kept secrets in the country.

As the sun goes down over Taiwan, the streets of this densely populated island come alive as thousands of people descend on streets and alleyways for some of the best and cheapest thrills one can find in Asia. The night markets serve up items ranging from tasty treats to inexpensive belts and sandals.

Sure, there are similar street scenes across the continent, from Cambodia to China. In Taiwan, however, night markets are a cherished cultural phenomenon that embraces traditions while remaining contemporary with quick-stepping, fashionably dressed young people who flood them.

Plunging into one of these body-bumping bazaars is a senses-awakening experience – wafting smells of good food, neon lights that dazzle like disco strobes, the singsong sales pitches of hawkers with bullhorns competing with throbbing techno music. This cacophony of street-side capitalism can last well past midnight.

As afternoon

wanes, city streets are transformed into a highly festive nocturnal world aglow with charcoal fires and electronic billboards. A river of restless young Taiwanese flows through a warren of lanes filled with portable stands. They shop for Nike shoes, electric razors and even puppies. Vendors blend fruit and sugarcane drinks. Chicken and squid sizzle on grills.

Some night markets have foot massage parlors; others, snake restaurants.

In Taipei, about 20 night markets occur every day in addition to “floating” night markets, open occasionally or on fixed evenings, such as Saturdays, explained Lula Han, an expert on Taiwanese culture. There are as many as 100 major night markets across the island, she added.

“Every town, every city has two or three night markets,” she said.

They are more than a place to pick up a pair of cheap sunglasses or grab a watermelon drink. For Taiwanese, they are equivalent to the corner pub where they meet friends and grab bites of handmade delicacies from curbside cooks.

Indeed, what really draws the jostling hordes is the xiaochi, or “small eats.” In Taiwan, eating literally is a religious experience. That’s because night markets initially sprang up around the

many Buddhist temples in Taiwan, Han said. The Keelung market developed around Dianji Temple, which is more than a century old, to meet the eating needs of the faithful.

“We always say, when you worship God in the temple, you worship your body, your temple,” Han said as we eagerly made our way to one of the oldest night markets in northern Taiwan, in the harbor city of Keelung, on a misty spring evening. “After you give food to the god in the temple, you give food to yourself. So the food stalls originated with the temples.”

These days, just as many Taiwanese visit the alleyways lined with food stalls as they do the temple to burn incense in the name of good fortune.

IF YOU GO

Getting there: EVA Airways (evaair.com) and China Airlines (china-airlines.com) offer flights to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

When to go: Fall, winter and early spring are cooler seasons in Taiwan. Summers are hot and humid.

Staying there: There is an abundance of hotels with varying price ranges in Taipei.

Less than $100: Forte Orange Business Hotel (Kaifeng), No. 41, Section 1, Kai-Feng Street, phone 886-2-2388-1523.

Midrange: Landis Taipei, 41 Min Chuan East Road, phone 886-2-2597-1234l; Novotel, 1-1 Terminal South Road, Taoyuan County, Dayuan Township, phone 886-3-398-0888. (This hotel has a great gym that’s open 24/7.)

High end: Grand Formosa Regent, No. 3, Lane 39, Section 2, ZhongShan North Road, phone 886-2-2523-8000.

relief: They frequently are the easiest place to find a bathroom in a night market.

The Keelung night market, near the Keelung train station, is one of the more traditional street markets in Taiwan. It has a neighborly feel to it – couples with young children stroll past the food stalls, students in their school uniforms cluster around an arcade. Its proximity to the harbor is reflected in the plethora of fresh seafood dishes. There is plenty of sushi and other Japanese-influenced food, harking back to the early 20th century, when Taiwan was ruled by Japan.

“Every time I come here, I think that my stomach is too small,” Han said as we scanned scores of stalls selling everything from barbecued seafood to shaved-ice peanut desserts.

One can feast all night for as little as $4 to $10. It’s not unusual to see a wealthy business executive in a suit and a customer of much less means sitting side by side on a wooden bench or on squat plastic stools to tuck into a bowl of rice noodles, purchased for a pittance.

What makes the food so appetizing is that the lightly pan-fried cabbage buns or oyster omelets smothered in soy and chili sauces have been made and sold in night markets by the same families for generations, explained Han, who once debated getting an apartment in Keelung simply so she could be in walking distance of its fabled night market.

In Taipei, one doesn’t have to go out at night to enjoy night-market culture. Some day markets stay open into the evening. One of the most famous is the Dihua Street Market, a historic narrow brick lane surrounded by a mix of building architecture, from China’s Fujian Province to Baroque and contemporary, located in the western part of this city of 2.6 million residents. It’s a great place to buy Chinese medicine, bolts of cloth and lots of edible goodies.

A friend and I perused the dried-food stores lining the street late one afternoon. Merchants sold dried blueberries, mullet, green-tea pumpkin seeds and more. During the Lunar New Year, the area draws massive crowds who buy special holiday treats such as chewy candies and smoked duck.

As often is the case, whenever there is an abundance of good food around, a temple is not far away. In this case, the Hsiahai Cheng Huang Temple is just around the corner. The relatively small temple attracts many young people seeking advice and help in finding love.

The dried-food snacks served to awaken our appetite for another night market. This time we made our way to Shilin Night Market, the city’s most famous, located near the Cicheng Temple, a subway station and a number of schools. It’s something of an all-season night market: It has food stalls in alleyways as well as in an enclosed area, making it waterproof when it rains.

As the sky was darkening, pushcart vendors made their way to the area.

It doesn’t take a food reviewer to find the best eats here: Just look for the long lines.

Guilin, which means “Osmanthus Forest,” is one of the best-known tourist destinations in China

I’ve photographed in over 40 countries but on a recent trip to China, I found what I believe may be the most picturesque place on earth.

I was on an extended trip to Asia with my camera, hoping to photograph some of the Mysterious East’s beauty spots. What I found stands firmly in my mind as one of the most exotic and incredible landscapes I have ever seen.

Guilin, which means “Osmanthus Forest”, is one of the best-known tourist destinations in China. It’s hailed across the country as one of the most photogenic landscapes in the world. Yet it remains relatively unknown in the West. I wanted to find out for myself.

But Guilin wouldn’t be easy to get to. I had to take a 24-hour train ride from Shanghai to get there.

Guilin has been populated since around 300 BC and its central city is built around interconnected rivers and lakes.

The waterways are traversed by numerous distinctive bridges that have a way of making you want to wander across and experience the other side. Weathered limestone pinnacles rise sharply into the clear blue sky from the dense green vegetation that surrounds them. These otherworldly formations are sometimes up to 650 feet tall and are found in only a handful of places in the world.

The incredibly beautiful Li River is the beating heart of Guilin and the focal point for much of the region’s tourism. The 50-mile-long waterway from Guilin to nearby Yangshuo is like a beautifully painted masterpiece that seems like it was lifted right out of a Chinese scroll painting. You just can’t take your eyes off it.

The landscape is peppered with towering limestone columns, mysterious cave systems and small rural villages all banked by vast forests of lush, green bamboo.

People here still travel the river on low bamboo rafts and locals use trained cormorants to catch fish from the waters of the Li. It’s like stepping back in time. I viewed the scene from the deck of a large river boat. Cruises take about six hours and if you ever choose to take one, I promise it will be something you will never forget.

My camera could barely keep up with the incredible photo opportunities. I filled my camera’s memory card with images of landscape after landscape.

For me, this was more than just a pleasure cruise. I uploaded my images to microstock photo websites that have accepted my work over the years. From there, people who need photos of this area can buy copies of my images. They use them for sales brochures for hotels…or tour company posters…or on travel websites. Each time someone buys an image, I get a commission. It’s a great way to earn money from my favorite pastime.

Sustainable Tourism Observatories aim to provide standardized, usable information to recognize sustainable tourism providers. Travel agencies use this information to help in choosing sustainable suppliers and certification programs. Consumers use it to identify sound sustainable tourism programs and businesses they might use when traveling. Monitoring the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism, two new observatories have been set up in China.

A product of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, Sustainable Tourism Observatories have been set up in 155 countries. Representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities, the UNWTO tackles challenges like climate change, poverty elimination and others that will be affected by tourism.

“UNWTO’s Sustainable Tourism Observatories are providing decision makers with the information they need to make more responsible tourism decisions,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai in a statement.

Kanas Lake Nature Reserve in the extreme northwest of China and the city of Chengdu, one of China’s most populous cities, are the locations of two new UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Observatories, which will gather and report sustainable tourism indicators and help ensure more sustainable tourism growth.

For those who have traveled to some of the most beautiful, unspoiled places on the planet, this effort aims to keep those destinations that way while supporting tourism, often a major economic factor in those areas.

The city of Chengdu, for example, sees tens of millions of tourists each year, sourced both domestically and internationally. These tourists contribute a great deal to the city’s economy and add an estimated 600,000 direct jobs. Is that amount of tourism sustainable? Will future generations be able to see what we see there today? These and other questions are what the UNWTO hopes to answer.

“The establishment of the Chengdu and Kanas Observatories will allow these destinations to better understand the impact of their many visitors, evaluate the impacts of existing sustainable tourism initiatives and ensure tourism benefits both the people and environment of the surrounding areas for years to come,” added Rifai.

For more information on sustainable tourism, visit the UNWTO website and check this video:

[Photo credit: Flickr user dcmaster]

Filed under: Asia, North America, China, United States, Ecotourism