June 2008
Monthly Archive
Monday 30 Jun 2008
China on the Go! Let’s Take a Tour to Beijing
So you have decided to take a tour to China? As China brags of many cities and towns filled with history of ancient civilizations, you probably would be wondering where to go in China. Well, it should not be a very hard decision to make; Beijing should definitely be the first stop over on a planned tour in China.
Beijing, one of the first attractions and most exciting places to visit is located in the North of China. It is the country’s capital which demonstrates most of the country’s cultural heritage. The natives are preparing the beautiful city in anticipation for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. So, the upcoming years will be a perfect time to take a tour to Beijing. Beijing is the home of history in China. It has always represented the place of three important Chinese dynasties over the past 1000 years. Peking duck is one of the most famous dishes in Beijing which many tourists enjoy having as a special cuisine.
A typical tour in Beijing comprises of places like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, the Ming Tombs as well as the Lama Temple. There are lots of hotels around these cities due to the large number of tourists who visit China. The Beijing Grand Hotel is completely decorated in Chinese style with rooms well furnished with Chinese calligraphies and paintings. As a tourist, you feel more at ease and welcomed into the Chinese culture.
The Forbidden City boasts of the world’s largest public square which is the Tiananmen Square. The Tiananmen Square is synonymously linked to the Chinese cultural revolutions where thousands of Chinese supporters crowded the square during Mao’s reign.
Not forgetting the Summer Palace, a major tourist destination spot located on the outskirts of Beijing, although, much of it is covered by the Kunming Lake. This palace completely demonstrates Chinese architecture, history and garden design. Taking a tour to the Summer Palace, you will see the Long Corridor of the lake which runs for about 2500 feet and ends at the marble boat.
One of China’s most cherished and greatest treasures is the Great Wall which makes the people proud of. This wall was built over 2 millennia by the old Chinese dynasties. It started in 221 BC and was continuously built until the 17th century. The Great Wall of China stretches from almost the center of Asia to the East China Sea. Visiting a part of the Great Wall is a must for any tourist who tours China as it is truly one of the great wonders of the ancient world.
Don’t get too tired as the Ming Tombs is still one of the nicest places to visit in Beijing. These tombs represent the burial grounds of some of the 16 Ming dynasty emperors of China. It has a 7km quiet walkway known as the Spirit Way which leads to the tombs.
As a tourist in Beijing, there’s still so much to see and even after taking a tour in Beijing, places to tour in China includes Tibet, Huangshan commonly known as the Yellow Mountains, Shanghai, Xian and many of the traditional local places. A short tour in China will not be enough to tour all these places, but the experience and adventure would definitely be worth it.
For comments and inquiries about the article visit Passport to China Tours.
Lola Adewoyin writes for Passport to China. An inbound tour operating company serving as your gateway to Tours in China
Tags: beijing tours, china tourism, china tours, shanghai, tibet tours, tour operators, tours to china
Sunday 29 Jun 2008
20 Interesting Things About Europe
Europe has been the center of much of Western Civilization throughout the history of mankind. Here are 20 interesting things about Europe you should know, but may not.
20 Interesting Things About Europe
With the amazing history of Europe, picking 20 things out can be a controversial effort to say the least, but here we go anyway.
1. Europe is the second smallest continent with roughly 4 million square miles.
2. Europe is designated as a continent for political reasons. There is no geographic basis for the claim.
3. Europe is home to more than 700 million people, but birth rates are stagnant.
4. Most scholars believe Europe was named after Europa, a Phoenician Princess in Greek mythology.
5. The smallest country in Europe is the Vatican, which is considered a separate country from Italy even though it is in the middle of Rome.
6. The largest city in Europe is Paris with a population of just under 10 million people.
7. La Sapienza University in Rome is the largest university in Europe with a whopping 184,000 students.
8. Europe produces just over 18 percent of all the oil in the world.
9. The European Union has 25 country members.
10. 80 to 90 percent of Europe was once covered in forest, but this has been reduced to 3 percent in Western Europe.
11. Europe has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world.
12. Europe has been racked with war throughout its history to the point where more than 70 former countries have been conquered and no longer appear on maps.
13. The great Roman inventions so often cited by scholars actually were created by Etruscans, a small empire in the south of present day Italy.
14. The Dark Ages in Europe lasted from 476 to 1,000 A.D. or twice as long as the United States has been a country.
15. The Renaissance followed this period and lasted roughly 200 years.
16. The first country to join the industrial revolution in Europe was Great Britain.
17. The First World War lasted from 1914 to 1918 and resulted in four empires radically changing or dissolving completely: the German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman and the Russian.
18. Adolf Hitler was not German. He was Austrian, born in the small town of Braunau am Inn.
19. It is estimated that 62 million people died in World War II, 2.5 percent of the world’s population at that time.
20. The 10 most generous countries in the world when it comes to charitable giving are all located in Europe.
To be honest, the 20 items mentioned about Europe cited above are just scratching the surface. If you have a hankering for history, Europe is a fascinating subject to study.
Richard Monk is with FactsMonk.com - a site with facts about everything including Europe.
Tags: 20, continent, Europe, european, forest, history, interesting, italy, population, roman, rome
Saturday 28 Jun 2008
Visit Arivaca, Arizona
Create your own Arizona day trip experience!
Whether you wish to plan a trip to see nature and wildlife, learn about the history of the southwest or just want to get away from it all Arizona has a variety of places to see and things to do that will interest any recreational adventurer.
Day trips make a refreshing break from the chaos of the daily routine. They can also be cheap, since many of the areas are distant from the city.
Arizona features a surprising range of terrain that includes desert, grassy lowlands and vegetated mountain regions. The climate found across the state also shows much variety. And you don’t have to travel far to appreciate this assortment of scenery. In the summer you can take a break in the cool, nearby hills, while the lower lying areas are more popular in the winter months.
Arivaca is in Southern Arizona. The community is 56 miles southwest of Tucson on Interstate 19 approximately 11 miles from the Mexico border.
Father Kino was one of the first Europeans to visit this region. He visited the Pima Indians in 1695. In 1833, the Mexican government granted Tomas and Ignacio Ortiz. They soon gained ownership where the brothers built the Aribac Ranch and raised cattle and horses.
In 1856, the Ortiz brothers sold the land to the Sonora Exploring and Mining Company and the ranch soon became an active mining community. But when the mines closed the area was largely abandoned.
Charles Poston acquired the property in 1870 then transferred his rights to the Arivaca Land and Cattle Company. The U.S. Government did not recognize the title so the land was declared public property.
Today, Arivaca is the home of about eight cattle ranches. The region is ideal for cattle grazing and orchards. The town has a community center, two tennis courts, two softball fields and a library.
The area’s rural character makes it perfect for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities. There is some vegetation, but also a lot of desert. The area is home to many species of birds, including hawks, ducks, songbirds and the strikingly beautiful “fully red” male Summer Tanager
Arivaca Lake is a 90-acre well-stocked lakes maintained by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It is a quiet and peaceful place to visit but does require a bit of hiking to find.
The lake is secluded and is ideal for bird watching and lakeside walks. Lucky anglers will find the lake stocked with large-mouthed bass, bluegill and catfish.
The history of the region is whispered from the thresholds of the many ghost towns that mark the settlement of earlier travelers
Plenty of ghost towns
The Tumacacori National Monument mission and Tumacacori National Monument are places of important historical significance.
The southwestern climate features mild winters and scorching summers; but this climate is well suited for the camping and hiking so popular to visitors.
See which features of this community appeal to you the most.
History, nature, and memorable experiences are all a part of what Arizona offers those who live, work, and visit. So consider the things this area has to offer the next time you take off to discover Arizona
R. Steven Thomas Yacono is a legal scholar, educator and writer who has traveled extensively over the course past decade. From Beijing to Barstow and Xiamen to Sedona, his journeys have provided a wealth of experiences about fascinating people and places to share with interested readers. Comments and ideas are welcomed. Please direct correspondence to R. Steven Thomas Yacono at aztreking@hotmail.com.
Tags: activities, cattle, hiking, history, lakes, mission, ranches, trip, Tumacacori, vacation, wildlife