March 1, 2010
Lijiang is an and quaint town in Yunan, a province of China which is well endowed with magnificent and beautiful mountains, rivers and a long history. The ancient Lijiang county was put into the list of world cultural legacy by the World Legacy Committee of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization in 1997.
The city of Lijiang has a history of 800 years or 900 years dating from the Sung Dynasty. Why is Lijiang one of the most beautiful city in the world? Firstly, it is one of the very few city which is over a mile high above sea level. Smacked in the middle of the Lijiangba Dam, surrounded by snowcapped mountains and a river that runs through an oriental forest with small streams meandering into the town. Some tourists even called the town “Heaven On Earth”.
Lijiang experienced an earth shattering 7 on the Richter scale earthquake on February 1996 which killed more than 5,000 people mainly the Naxi community being the major community in Lijiang. Since then, Lijiang caught the attention of the world and tourism growth was unprecedented. As such, Lijiang is now one of the most favoured tourist travel destination in China.
Most residents in Lijiang are of the Naxi tribe. The Naxi community makes a living by herding yaks and doing small retail businesses. The construction of the ancient Lijiang city was quickly developed in the Ming Dynasty. This is especially so because the Ming Dynasty made a large number of people in Anhui Province to migrate into Lijiang in order to station military troops and common people in the boundary areas.
As a result of this mass migration, the buildings of Lijiang ancient city were very much influenced by the architectural style of Anhui Province. The original buildings of the Naxi community can only be found in the rural areas surrounding Lijiang City.
The Yuan dynasty and the Mongol Emperor then, Kublai Khan stationed military troops in Lijiang in 1253. He brought the foreign culture alien to Lijiang and thus Lijiang was then influenced by the culture Central China, such as Buddhism and Taoism, and then affected by the Christianity and Islamic culture in the early 1900s. The Naxi community assimilated all these cultures. As such, Lijiang is also very much appreciated for its cultural landscape not only in China, but the entire Asia.
Millions of tourists travel to Lijiang each year to enjoy Lijiang’s primitive simplicity, tranquility and elegant culture.The folks at Lijiang enjoy music too. You can hear the beautiful music from the dwelling houses in Dayanzhen Town. The musicians carry their often home made musical instruments to take part in household parties all over the town.
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang is perhaps one the most beautiful mountain range in the world, famous for its perilous, beautiful and breathtaking landscapes. The mountain is a world class tourist scenic spot. The peak of the Jade Dragon Mountain is some 5596 meters (about 17,000 ft) above sea level. The mountain’s thirteen peaks viewed from south to north look just like a flying giant Chinese dragon. A very formidable view indeed.
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March 1, 2010
China has perhaps one of the most beautiful, most historic and most immense cultures in the world. China is home to almost 1.5 billion people with an almost equal distribution of males and females. The political affiliation of China has caused a lot of pressure from other countries. China is one of the last communist countries. Land and water mass totals nearly 10 million square kilometers, China is almost as large as the United States.
The history associated with China is rich and filled with knowledge. Being such an old civilization, China has am enormous number of citizens. This large number of people has resulted in a story involving population control that the world has watched unfold. China has a one-child policy. Only one child per family is allowed to those falling under China citizenship. This controversial policy has made China into one of the oldest nations in the world: China has a huge, growing population of people over the age of 70.
The majority of the income of China is made through the exportation of goods to other countries. Only a small number of Chinese citizens are actual farmers. Over the centuries, China has depleted a majority of the country natural resources. In addition, China has a growing pollution problem and suffers from the deterioration of the surrounding environment. This problem is exaggerated by the exponential growth of the population when compounded with the exponential degradation of the soil. This is one of the reasons for the poverty limit being over 10%.
In 1733, in another part of the world, Josiah Spode was born into a pauper?s life. His father taught him a trade that would serve him well after his father?s death when Josiah Spode was only 6 years old. However, this death only seemed to inspire the young Spode. Spode became an apprentice to one of the most reputable potters of that day. There, Spode would stay until his 21st birthday. Shortly after, Spode would start his own business. Perhaps the greatest legacy Spode left for the world today was his discovery of the recipe for Fine Bone China.
Today, England still remains the leader in Fine Bona China. With traditional family recipes being passed from one generation to the next, England offers sophistication and superb quality to all the Fine Bone China it produces. The Fine Bone China produced offers a dignified excellence to the purchaser. Even today Fine Bone China manufacturers pride themselves in bringing us simply the best of what England has to offer in collectibles and tableware.
As is obvious, China is a word that brings forth images of true beauty and true grace. Whether you consider the country or creation of tableware and collectibles, China is a marvelous example of human spirit and fulfillment. Whether you choose to explore a possible vacation of the beautifully, exotic China or if you choose to decorate your home and dinner table with the best china in the world, China will forever hold special meaning to our spirit.
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March 1, 2010
Planning to take a vacation? Do you know what you really like to do? it could make your vacation even more meaningful. Many travelers go on a trip that friends and relatives recommend, but is it what they really want? You should start planning early and know what you really want to accomplish.
Ask yourself the following questions before starting to plan your vacation; do I want to relax? Do I want adventure or a learning experience? Do I want to get away from my job? When you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip.
Vacations are essential for our emotional, physical and mental balance. You give yourself a chance to relax, renew your energy, free from the daily routine. Vacations could be far away or close to home. Wherever the vacation may be, it does the same thing. It is the satisfaction that is more important than the destination.
There are many different types of travel according to activities involved. Some are listed below:
1. Responsible Travel. Traveling doesn’t always have to be self-serving. With responsible travel, one could have enjoyment as much as respecting the local environment and the people.
2. Rediscovering nature. Rediscovering travel is all about nature and everything in it. It revitalizes the soul while smelling and feeling nature.
3. Responsible Diving. Diving not only let vacationers appreciate what is down in the sea but also making them more aware of the conservation effort.
The country of travel also leaves an indelible mark on the traveler’s diary. Here are some of the most popular destinations today:
1. Thailand. Thailand is also known as Siam. It is an Asian country bounded by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Behind the back draft of Thailand’s jungles of bamboo, rubber trees and vines are the Five-star hotels of modern conveniences. In some parts of the country, elephants are still being use to lift timbers and buffalo is still being use in farming.
2. China. China is now the second largest country and fastest growing economy in the world. Most parts of China are still unexplored by tourist; however, the eastern portion is now popular to western tourist. First class hotels now offer highest class of amenities and dozens are still being built/
3. Italy. Italy is a boot-like shape country bounded by Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia. The main attraction of Italy is St. Peter’s Square where the Pope resides.
4. Caribbean. Caribbean is an archipelago of islands, 2000 square miles across. Most of the islands are plateaus and eruptions of underlying mountain systems. There are nice beaches of crushed coral and white or pink sand and the water at the shore is a deep blue.
Your vacation success will not depend on how much you spent or on the destination. But how well you enjoyed it and how you were able to achieve the primary goal of “getting away from it all.”
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March 1, 2010
Even as the political climate continues to wax and wane, tourists from all over the world flock to China. Perhaps one of the most exotic destinations for those who love to travel abroad, this ancient country offers a multitude of sites tourists just love to visit. From the natural landscapes to the culture itself, China is a one-of-a-kind tourist destination.
Those who travel to the Orient do so to view a civilization that’s ancient. Perhaps the biggest attraction here are the ancient relics that remind the world – Chinese and visitors alike – that this country is unlike any other in the world. With strong ties to its past and firm roots in the present and future, China is a country that’s distinct.
Four of the biggest stops for tourists include the cities of Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and Guilin. Here visitors will find a mix of the old and the modern melded in a way that makes both vitally important to the Chinese people. Ancient cultural practices mix with modern technology and ways as reminders of the past peek around every corner. All four destinations offer their own unique draws, but each speaks loudly to the country’s rich history.
Beijing is the country’s capital and gives visitors a real feel for what was, what is and what will be. The city mixes modern conveniences with ancient practice. Shanghai, too, is a bustling metro area that’s known as the country’s financial heartbeat. Keep in mind though that this city, too, is ancient and there’s lots of history to be uncovered. Xi’an is known for its terracotta warriors and horses in the mausoleum of the first emperor. This site is an incredible archeological uncovering and it’s visited by thousands and thousands annually. Guilin is a natural beauty that’s smaller than the other destinations, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch.
Those visiting China often come to see the major attractions. Not the least of which, of course, is the Great Wall. This is found in northern China and runs for about 2,000 miles from Jiuquan to Shanhaiguan. This ancient structure was finished in 204 B.C. or thereabouts and includes walls that are fifteen to twenty-five feet thick and more than fifteen feet high!
Mount Taishan is one of the country’s most impressive natural features. It includes 112 peaks and has many temples and ruins to see. It was and is the location for personal pilgrimages and more for thousands of years.
The Beijing Imperial Palace is one of the country’s most incredible man-made features. Second only to the wall in awe factor, this palace has 9,000 rooms.
Even with more open tourism, China remains a land of mystery, one many choose to visit. Those who travel abroad will find the destinations in China are breathtaking and incredible. Few things here are built on a small scale and visitors are as likely to find a connection to the ancient past as they are to enjoy the modernization of cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.
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