China Travel Deals

SmarTours is offering a 10-day/8-night vacation including flights for $899. Flights to China normally top $1000!! What's even more amazing: This trip allows you to explore both Beijing and Shanghai for that price and stay in upscale, centrally located hotels.

Here's everything that's included in this super-hot deal :

Roundtrip air from San Francisco on Air China (Star Alliance member), or depart from New York City for only $100 more
Flight from Beijing to Shanghai
Airline fuel surcharge and all transfers
8 nights accommodations: Beijing (5 nights at Capital Hotel) and Shanghai (3 nights at Shanghai Days Hotel)
Full buffet breakfast daily
Assistance of English-speaking tour hosts

This package gives you the freedom to sightsee on your own, or add organized optional tours. With this deal, 7 excursions are available, including visits to the Great Wall and Forbidden City, a Shanghai Acrobats performance and city tours.

Travel Dates: Dec. 5; Jan. 9; Feb. 6 (7 other dates available for slightly more, November 2008 - April 2009)

Only a $300 deposit is required at time of booking. Note: The final price will include $175 in airport taxes and fees. Book by July 2.

EMIRATES AIRLINES: Free Hotel Stay when travelling to Guangzhou/China:

All customers travelling to Guangzhou between 1st July - 30th September 2008 are invited to enjoy a complimentary stay at the Shangri-La Hotel.

BUSINESS CLASS customers can enjoy 2 nights complimentary accommodation in a Horizon Club Premier room.

ECONOMY CLASS customers can enjoy 1 night complimentary accommodation in a Premier room.

This offer is applicable only to:
> New bookings made and ticketed on or after 1st May 2008.
> Passengers travelling exclusively on flights operated by Emirates.
> Adult fare paying passengers only
> Passengers holding return tickets to Guangzhou and back
> Travel commencing (and accommodation utilised) between 1st July and 30th September 2008 (both dates inclusive).
> Pre-booked and confirmed accommodation only
> Passengers whose travel originates from the Network (Outside China).

The accommodation offer includes:
> Room, buffet breakfast, taxes and service charges (transfers from airport to hotel and vice versa and all other ground services are excluded).
> Maximum occupancy of two adults per room.
> Maximum one child under 12 years of age sharing existing bedding.


For all other terms and conditions, please check the weblink below here:

Day 01: Arrival in Beijing
Welcome to China. Upon arrival, our local guide will take you to your downtown hotel. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city.

Day 02: Beijing (B+L+D)
Tiananmen Square ,the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven. Tonight, enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner in a famous restaurant.

Day 03: Beijing (B+L)
After breakfast, you will visit the Badaling Great Wall ,Spirit Way ,Ming Tombs.

Day 04: Beijing (B+L)
Summer Palace, Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill,Lama Temple.

Day 05: Beijing ? Urumqi (B)
The morning is at your leisure before taking flight to Urumqi. Upon arrival, transfer to the downtown hotel. The rest time is free at disposal.

Day 06: Urumqi (B+L)
Heavenly Lake (Tian Chi), Southern Pasture.

Day 07: Urumqi ? Turpan (B+L)
Jiaohe Ruins, Karez Well,Emin Minaret

Day 08: Turpan ? Dunhuang (B+L+D)
Gaochang Ruins, Baizikeli Thousand Buddha Cave

Day 09: Dunhuang (B+L)
Echoing-Sand Dune and the Crescent Lake

Day 10: Dunhuang ? Xian (B+L)
Mogao Caves

Day 11: Xian (B+L)
The Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum,Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower.

Day 12: Xian - Shanghai (B+L)
Provincial History Museum,City Wall.

Day 13: Shanghai (B+L)
Shanghai Museum,Oriental Pearl TV Tower,Huangpu River,Nanjing Road

Day14: Shanghai (B+L)
Yu Yuan Garden,Jade Buddha Temple

Day 15: Leave for home (B)
The morning is at your leisure before boarding your flight back home.

Person 1 2-5 6-9 Price per person( USD $ )
5 Star 4279 2769 2329
4 Star 3755 2508 2066
3 Star 3399 2338 1899

Day 1 Beijing
Welcome to China. Upon arrival, our local guide will take you to your downtown hotel.
Day 2 Beijing Meal(s) (B, L, D )
Sightseeing: Tiananmen Square/ Temple of Heaven/ Forbidden City/Olympic stadium- Bird Nest/ National Theater Building
Day 3 Beijing Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall/Spirit Way/ Ming Tombs/ CCTV new building
Day 4 Beijing / Luoyang Transfer via: P.M. flight Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Summer Palace/ Lama Temple/
Day 5 Luoyang Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Shoaling Temple/ Longmen Grottoes
Day 6 Luoyang / Xian Transfer via: Afternoon train/Soft seat Meal(s) (B, L, )
Day 7 Xian Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum/ Big Wild Goose Pagoda/Bell Tower
Day 8 Xian / Yichang Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Provincial History Museum/ City Wall
Day 9 Yichang / Shanghai Transfer via: PM flight Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Three Gorges Dam
Day 10 Shanghai Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Yu Yuan garden/ Jade Buddha Temple/Shanghai Xin Tian Di
Day 11 Shanghai / Suzhou Transfer via: Afternoon train/Soft seat Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Shanghai Museum/ Oriental Pearl TV Tower/ Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Day 12 Suzhou / Shanghai Transfer via: Afternoon train/Soft seat Meal(s) (B, L, )
Sightseeing: Humble Administrator's Garden, Hanshan Temple and Tiger Hill Pagoda.
Day 13 Shanghai / Hong Kong Transfer via: Am flight Meal(s) (B, )
Day 14 Hong Kong Meal(s) (B, )
Sightseeing: Victoria Peak/Aberdeen and Repulse Bay/Hong Kong Bank of china Building
Day 15 Hong Kong Meal(s) (B, )

1pax 2-5pax 6-9pax
5 Star 3735 3049 2657
4 Star 3294 2608 2216
3 Star 3171 2485 2094

I'm a do it your self traveler but many people like packages. This is what United Airlines sent me.

"Travel to China or Japan and enjoy great savings up to $400.00 per couple and earn 2500 Mileage Plus bonus miles! This offer is valid on new bookings made in February and paid in full by March 31, 2008 for travel anytime in 2008. Actual savings will depend on the program you book. It has never been a better time to visit Asia with United Vacations!"

Beijing - Urumqi - Turpan - Dunhuang - Lanzhou - Xiahe - Lanzhou - Xian - Shanghai

RMB3888/3nights stay at Deluxe Mountain View Room of Marriott Resort Sanya, buffet breakfast for 2 adults, complimentary extra bed and breakfast for 1 kid, dine coupon at RMB500, 4hours free use of ClubHouse, 10% off on laundry service, complimentary recreational activity for kids or adults, late check-out, etc.
There is also another 5nights package at RMB5888, more details, can see:
http://www.chinasanya.com/Artcle/0109/2008327/165342.htm

Tiger Airways, budget daughter airline of Singapore Airlines, has announced a new sector: Singapore-Xiamen.

Check back the website from time to time for cheap deals!

Forbidden City

The city?s formal entrance is through the Meridian Gate. The Wu Men or Meridian Gate was reserved for the exclusive use of the emperor.

Beyond the vast courtyard is a section of the Golden River. Golden River is shaped like an archer?s bow spanned by five marble bridges. Come to the Gate of Supreme Harmony ? deemed to be the center of the Chinese world. The gold leaf on the lower panel of a set of doors on the Gate of Supreme Harmony is the last word in craftsmanship.

Look up at the stunnin fabulously designed the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Symbolism abounds in Chinese architecture--down to the number of nails on a door. The Hall of Supreme Harmony, with its 12 dragon roof guardians, looms in the background.

Enter a splendid chamber where the emperor presided from the Dragon Throne and grand ceremonies held on festive occasions. At the Hall of Central the Emperor prepared for audiences.

At the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the Emperors entertained visitors. Extravaganzas of architectures in the area are difficult to describe and Halls are examples of imperial opulent. Next is the porch of the Hall of Middle Harmony.

Next, you see the impressive ornamental lion guards at the Nurturing the Heart Gate to the residential quarters of the Forbidden City.

It is Forbidden City with mysteries and architectural masterpiece

The beauty lies not so much any one building as in the ordered lay out of the whole and the exquisite combination of colours used in decoration. Altogether it reflects the Chinese views that the emperor as the Son of Heaven, was the mediator responsible for order and harmony on Earth. At the Forbidden City each palace, each temple, each walls and pavement are architectural masterpiece. Entire city has numerous crafted animals as beautifying apparatus.