The land surrounding the Taklimakan is equally hostile. To the northeast lies the Gobi desert, almost as harsh in climate as the Taklimakan itself; on the remaining three sides lie some of the highest mountains in the world. To the South are the Himalaya, Karakorum and Kunlun ranges, which provide an effective barrier separating Central Asia from the Indian sub-continent. Only a few icy passes cross these ranges, and they are some of the most difficult in the world; they are mostly over 5000 metres in altitude, and are dangerously narrow, with precipitous drops into deep ravines. To the north and west lie the Tianshan and Pamir ranges; though greener and less high, the passes crossing these have still provided more than enough problems for the travellers of the past. Approaching the area from the east, the least difficult entry is along the `Gansu Corridor’, a relatively fertile strip running along the base of the Qilian mountains, separating the great Mongolian plateau and the Gobi from the Tibetan High Plateau. Coming from the west or south, the only way in is over the passes.

The Early History of The Region
On the eastern and western sides of the continent, the civilisations of China and the West developed. The western end of the trade route appears to have developed earlier than the eastern end, principally because of the development of the the empires in the west, and the easier terrain of Persia and Syria. The Iranian empire of Persia was in control of a large area of the Middle East, extending as far as the Indian Kingdoms to the east. Trade between these two neighbours was already starting to influence the cultures of these regions.

This region was taken over by Alexander the Great of Macedon, who finally conquered the Iranian empire, and colonised the area in about 330 B.C., superimposing the culture of the Greeks. Although he only ruled the area until 325 B.C., the effect of the Greek invasion was quite considerable. The Greek language was brought to the area, and Greek mythology was introduced. The aesthetics of Greek sculpture were merged with the ideas developed from the Indian kingdoms, and a separate local school of art emerged. By the third century B.C., the area had already become a crossroads of Asia, where Persian, Indian and Greek ideas met. It is believed that the residents of the Hunza valley in the Karakorum are the direct descendents of the army of Alexander; this valley is now followed by the Karakorum Highway, on its way from Pakistan over to Kashgar, and indicates how close to the Taklimakan Alexander may have got.

This `crossroads’ region, covering the area to the south of the Hindu Kush and Karakorum ranges, now Pakistan and Afghanistan, was overrun by a number of different peoples. After the Greeks, the tribes from Palmyra, in Syria, and then Parthia, to the east of the Mediterranean, took over the region. These peoples were less sophisticated than the Greeks, and adopted the Greek language and coin system in this region, introducing their own influences in the fields of sculpture and art.

Close on the heels of the Parthians came the Yuezhi people from the Northern borders of the Taklimakan. They had been driven from their traditional homeland by the Xiongnu tribe (who later became the Huns and transfered their attentions towards Europe), and settled in Northern India. Their descendents became the Kushan people, and in the first century A.D. they moved into this crossroads area, bringing their adopted Buddhist religion with them. Like the other tribes before them, they adopted much of the Greek system that existed in the region. The product of this marriage of cultures was the Gandhara culture, based in what is now the Peshawar region of northwest Pakistan. This fused Greek and Buddhist art into a unique form, many of the sculptures of Buddhist deities bearing strong resemblances to the Greek mythological figure Heracles. The Kushan people were the first to show Buddha in human form, as before this time artists had preferred symbols such as the footprint, stupa or tree of enlightenment, either out of a sense of sacrilege or simply to avoid persecution.

The eastern end of the route developed rather more slowly. In China, the Warring States period was brought to an end by the Qin state, which unified China to form the Qin Dynasty, under Qin Shi Huangdi. The harsh reforms introduced to bring the individual states together seem brutal now, but the unification of the language, and standardisation of the system, had long lasting effects. The capital was set up in Changan, which rapidly developed into a large city, now Xian.

The Xiongnu tribe had been periodically invading the northern borders during the Warring States period with increasing frequency. The northern-most states had been trying to counteract this by building defensive walls to hinder the invaders, and warn of their approach. Under the Qin Dynasty, in an attempt to subdue the Xiongnu, a campaign to join these sections of wall was initiated, and the `Great Wall’ was born. When the Qin collapsed in 206 B.C., after only 15 years, the unity of China was preserved by the Western Han Dynasty, which continued to construct the Wall.

During one of their campaigns against the Xiongnu, in the reign of Emperor Wudi, the Han learnt from some of their prisoners that the Yuezhi had been driven further to the west. It was decided to try to link up with these peoples in order to form an alliance against the Xiongnu. The first intelligence operation in this direction was in 138 B.C. under the leadership of Zhang Qian, brought back much of interest to the court, with information about hitherto unknown states to the west, and about a new, larger breed of horse that could be used to equip the Han cavalry. The trip was certainly eventful, as the Xiongnu captured them, and kept them hostage for ten years; after escaping and continuing the journey, Zhang Qian eventually found the Yuezhi in Northern India. Unfortunately for the Han, they had lost any interest in forming an alliance against the Xiongnu. On the return journey, Zhang Qian and his delegation were again captured, and it was not until 125 B.C. that they arrived back in Changan. The emperor was much interested by what they found, however, and more expeditions were sent out towards the West over the following years. After a few failures, a large expedition managed to obtain some of the so-called `heavenly horses’, which helped transform the Han cavalry. These horses have been immortalised in the art of the period, one of the best examples being the small bronze `flying horse’ found at Wuwei in the Gansu Corridor, now used as the emblem of the China International Travel Service. Spurred on by their discoveries, the Han missions pushed further westwards, and may have got as far as Persia. They brought back many objects from these regions, in particular some of the religious artwork from the Gandharan culture, and other objects of beauty for the emperor. By this process, the route to the west was opened up. Zhang Qian is still seen by many to be the father of the Silk Road.

In the west, the Greek empire was taken over by the Roman empire. Even at this stage, before the time of Zhang Qian, small quantities of Chinese goods, including silk, were reaching the west. This is likely to have arrived with individual traders, who may have started to make the journey in search of new markets despite the danger or the political situation of the time.
The Nature of the Route
The description of this route to the west as the `Silk Road’ is somewhat misleading. Firstly, no single route was taken; crossing Central Asia several different branches developed, passing through different oasis settlements.
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To read the full Silk Road book for free online, visit:
http://www.ess.uci.edu/~oliver/silk3.html

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Located on the southern part of the Tianjin Municipal Administrative and Cultural Center that belongs to the Hexi district, the Tianjin Museum covers more than 5 hectares of prime real estate in the heart of the city. At the highest floor of this three storied building lies the Historical Exhibition Hall where a collection of historically and culturally significant relics rest in wait to be seen by the hundreds of visitors that walk these corridors daily. Historically priceless documentation, ancient coins and folk art exhibits can be found here among other relics that belong to particular dynasties of Chinese history.

The second floor showcases a collection of rare folk custom exhibits and artistic exhibits that are of major historical importance. Among various other exhibits, Jiangu, jade ware, ceramics, bronze ware and ancient paintings are also on display at this venue. Last but certainly not least, the ground floor is complete with a reading room, a warehouse and a visitor’s lounge where you can enjoy a well deserved rest and a cup of coffee to go with it. With the vision to protect, conserve and find more historically priceless artifacts of the great Chinese civilizations from the past, the Tianjin Museum is definitely a must see venue.

While sweeping the borders of cultural Tianjin in search of ancient treasures, let the Raffles Tianjin pamper you and immerse you in a world of comfortable amenities that makes this hotel in Tianjin one of a kind. Offering magnificent views of the city, 116 spacious rooms and the popular roof top wine and dine area makes this Tianjin hotel one worth spending time in.

About the Author:

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Tianjin Museum- a peek into the past

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Huangpu river is the most important waterway of Shanghai, handling a majority of its shipping needs.

The river rolls itself, originating from the river Yangtze, Wusong, to the East Chinese sea. The river is yellow and free of ice, and about 71 miles in length (approximately 114 km), a quarter mile in width (around 400 meters), with a general depth of 9 meters ( around thirty feet). Huangpu divides Shanghai in to two main parts, east and west.

There is plenty to do at the river with all the cruises that are at the travelers’ disposal. These are scheduled almost everyday travelers can choose between short, as well as long, cruises. These cruises go around the prime waterfront sections of Shanghai; the Yangpu and Nanpu bridges respectively. The complete cruises are much longer, typically 60 kms, and go along the whole golden waterway. Cruising during the day and nighttime is very enchanting and travelers have the opportunity to silently witness the beauty of Shanghai, through its modern architecture.

The Bund, commonly called as Zhongshan Road, is a famous waterfront, and is considered as the symbol that stands for the greatness of the city of Shanghai. The Baidu bridge is the point that connects the Suzhou creek to the Huangpu river. This is where the bund starts, extending to the East Jinling Road, traversing an arc of 1500 meters( just under one mile). The Bund is at the western shore of the Huangpu, and the Oriental TV Tower is located just on the opposite side, along with the Jin Mao Tower. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Shanghai. The recently constructed Flood Control bank is an architectural attraction that protects the city from flooding. The Marshal Chen Yi statue is an open air podium giving exceptional viewing of the Shanghai Plaza Culture.

Another famous area is the western side of the bund, including around 52 different types of buildings. All of these have varying styles of architectural make, like the Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, Classic, and the Renaissance. The Bund has a vast historical significance. It has stood as the heart of Shanghai’s politics, culture and economy for over several centuries.

In the city of Shanghai, accommodation is abundant. Most of the prominent Shanghai serviced apartments provide guests with luxury comfort and modern amenities. The Ascott Shanghai Pudong is a quiet and relaxed serviced residence in Shanghai, providing excellent luxury accommodation facilities for their guests, and is highly recommended by fellow tourists.

About the Author:

Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers integrated Internet marketing services and specializes in hotel Internet marketing industry. (http://www.emarketingeye.com/ )

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Huangpu River & the Bund

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One of the sites to be visited when in Beijing is the Temple of Heaven. The temple is located in an area of 2,700,000 square meters. The temple is bigger than the Forbidden City, but smaller than the Summer Palace. This temple was constructed in 1420 A.D, which was during the Ming Dynasty. The purpose of the temple was to extend sacrifice to Heaven.

The Temple of Heaven is confined with an elongated wall. The northern division inside the wall is semicircular representing the heavens and the southern part is square which represents the earth. The northern division is elevated than the southern part. This plan depicts that the heaven is lofty and the earth is near to the ground and the plan pondered an ancient Chinese sentiment of “The heaven is circular and the earth is square”.

The most superb buildings at the Temple of Heaven are The Circular Mound Altar, Imperial Vault of Heaven and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest from south to north. In addition to this, you can also see some extra buildings like Three Echo Stones and Echo Wall. All of the edifices are linked by a broad bridge called Vermilion Steps Bridge or the Sacred Way.

The spherical altar has 3 superimposed patios with white marble. At the time of Ming and Qing Dynasties, the emperors would put forward surrender to Heaven on the day of the Winter Solstice every year. This ritual was to thank Heaven and trust everything would be excellent in the future. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest is a big palace and has 28 huge posts. The Hall has a base of 3 layers of white marble and has an altitude of 6 meters. Another significant building in the Temple of Heaven is the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The tomb was utilized to place memorial tablets of Gods. White marble rails enfold the vault.

The Vermilion Steps Bridge links the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The southern end is lower than the northern end. The emperors conceived that they would be able to go to heaven via this Bridge and thus the bridge is known as Sacred Way. A Yu Route and a Wang Route are on both sides of the Sacred Way.

The Three Echo Stones structure is outside the gate of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. When you converse facing the Vault while standing on the 1st stone, you will listen to one echo; standing on the 2nd and then the 3rd stone, you will hear 2 and 3 echoes in that order.

China has much to offer and if you are visiting Beijing for some sightseeing and adventures, make sure you arrange your Beijing hotel accommodations in advance. A luxury hotel in Beijing would be ideal if you intend to have an indulging stay and enjoy the city to its fullest.

About the Author:

Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers integrated Internet marketing services and specializes in hotel Internet marketing industry.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Reach the Heavens From Beijing’s Temple of Heaven

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Suzhou, the cradle of Wu Culture, is a city with a history of more than 2,500 years, tracing back to the later Shang Dynasty. Suzhou is located in the south of Jiangsu province, some 50 miles west of Shanghai, along the old Grand Canal. While talking about Suzhou, the old saying mentions it as a “Paradise on the Earth” or the “East Venice of the World”, referring to its natural beauty, classical gardens, bridges and waters, traditional operas and soft dialect tone.

Situated in the downstream of Yangtze River Drainage Basin and Yangtze River Delta economic zone, Suzhou has been a national tourist center and has attracted visitors around the world. The city is well-known to its classical gardens, in which two of them have been listed as the great world heritage sites. Among the gardens are the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuo Zheng Yuan), the Blue Wave Pavilion (Cang Lang Ting), the Garden for Lingering In (Liu Yuan), and the Lion Grove (Shi Zi Lin), which are the four most famous gardens in Suzhou. The Blue Wave Pavilion is the oldest one in existence. The Lion Grove was constructed in the Yuan Dynasty. The Garden for Lingering In dates from the Ming Dynasty. These gardens attain their high reputation not only for their vast numbers, but also for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction. These gardens will surely make your Suzhou tours an unforgettable experience.

Besides, Suzhou has also long been noted for its beautiful women. The city is dotted with lakes and ponds connected by a spider’s web of canals. And all the canals are lined with whitewashed houses with gray-tiled roofs. The natural sights and human landscape enhance each other’s beauty, which is a great attraction to visitors who linger there.

There are many other Suzhou travel highlights, such as the Kunqu Opera, Suzhou embroidery.

By the 14th century Suzhou had established itself as the leading silk producer in the nation. Well-known products are silk embroidery of the Suzhou style (Suxiu) and the Song silk fabrics (Songjin). Suzhou people also developed their own style of exquisite embroidery, which is lauded as a “pearl of oriental art” for its beautiful designs, varied stitches, superb workmanship and elegant colors.

Suzhou has many local performances and operas, including Kun opera, Su opera, and Wuge opera. Kun Opera is seen as one of the most splendid cultural creations of the Chinese people.

With its roots in the folk songs of the mid 14th century, Kun Opera was refined over a period of nearly 200 years to stand out prominently among all the schools of opera in China. In 2001, UNESCO listed Kun as a “Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage.” Kun Opera is a comprehensive performance art involving literature, music, dance, acting, costumes, make-up, props and sets: namely, everything theatrical. Its cultural heritage value is embodied in this comprehensive scope, including its unique singing style. The subject matter for the operas comes from a wide reservoir of resources, integrating all the refined performance techniques and set tunes of northern and southern songs and operas of many dynasties.

As one of the famous tourist cities in China, Suzhou has made a great improvement to its basic facilities and tourist functions. Suzhou is accessible by plane, train and bus. Star-rated hotels with good services and reasonable guesthouses and hostels provide a range of lodging. Of course, tasting local delicacies should not be forgotten in your journey. Authentic Suzhou cuisines and snacks can be found in Guan Qian Street, where delicious food and friendly service are memorable. When night falls, Suzhou City is quiet and peaceful. You can enjoy it while sipping a cup of tea in any teahouse.

For more info about Suzhou Tours, please consult with China Connection Tours, an excellent China tour operator, which has over twenty-years of experience in tour operating, and specializes in custom China tours for individuals and groups; offers more than 300 China tour packages: China City Tours, Classical China tours, Yangtze tours, Yunnan tours, Tibet tours…

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2. Warm up in an exercise park or indoor spots. For travelers who need lots of time to warm up in the winter, Beijing has plenty of options. There are numerous indoor shopping markets and large malls to stroll through during a cold afternoon. Numerous cafes and coffee shops have opened up in the city offering a warm setting and a warm drink. Stopping for a famous Hot Pot lunch will also do the trick. Also you can do some exercise in a local park like Tiantan Park. Local residents get their daily dose of activity in these public spaces, and you should too. Whether to stave off the cold, get your heart rate up, or just goof around, these spaces provide a respite from the hustle-and-bustle of Beijing life, as well as some incredible people-watching.

3. Ice skating at the famous lake and Snow skiing at Nanshan ski resort. Beijing’s many lakes offer great ice skating during the winter. The most popular destination suggested by The China Tour Select is Houhai Lake. Here, visitors can purchase skate rentals or metal skating chairs that can be pushed around with ski poles. Houhai Lake is in central Beijing surrounded by many small boutiques, cafes and restaurants including Starbucks. After a skate around the lake, visitors can stroll through the area, shop, enjoy a hot drink or purchase snacks from one of the many vendors. We have great ski resorts just outside of Beijing city. The closest location to Beijing is Nanshan Ski Resort which offers full amenities including ski, snowboard and clothing rentals. The hills are not too difficult and perfect for travelers trying out the slopes for the first time.

4. Climbing the Great Wall in winter, Mutianyu Great Wall is perfect in winter. The clear winter sky creates a beautiful setting and if there is a light snowfall, it is really special. Mutianyu is a short drive outside of Beijing and there are plenty of good restaurants at the base of the Wall to warm visitors up with a good coffee or Chinese lunch.

About the Author

Peter Wang, Beijing travel consultant from http://www.chinatourselect.com/ , a local travel agency in Beijing providing various tours in winter. Visit us for more information on http://www.chinatourselect.com/China_Package/On_Sale/chines_new_year_tour.html

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The Great Wall of China, one of the most awe-inspiring man-made projects in the world, lies across the northern part of China like a great sleeping dragon, winding its way through China’s vast northern territory. With a history of over 2,500 years, the Wall attracts visitors from all over the world. In 1987, Great Wall was listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and selected as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in a global poll announced on July 7, 2007. It is often said that “If you haven’t climbed the Great Wall, you haven’t seen China.” Most people in the world have seen photos of the amazing construction, but photos are poor imitations of the beauty and grandeur. No China tour is complete without seeing the Great Wall. Visiting it is the experience of lifetime.

The construction of the Great Wall began during 770-476 BC. During that period Ducal states built walls to defend their territories. In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang conquered the six kingdoms and unified China to become its first emperor. To consolidate the country and ward off invasion by the ethnic minority tribes in the north, he had the separate walls joined together and extended to form a united defensive system. Construction continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when the Wall became the world’s largest military structure. The current measurement of Great Wall, which stretches from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west, is 7300 kilometers (4300 miles). Its thickness ranges from about 4.5 to 9 meters (15 to 30 feet), and at its highest point is 7.5 meters (25 feet) tall. Most of the walls we see today were built during the Ming Dynasty. The watchtowers are built at intervals of 1,500 feet except where the terrain is more complicated, and then they are even closer. In ancient time, everyday thousands of soldiers were stationed there to make sure the whole nation was safe. At night, they slept inside the towers.

Its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural significance. It is constructed of locally available materials – stone, rammed earth, large blocks of granite and bricks. The Great Wall is comprised of not only the walls, but also gates, beacon towers, watchtowers, castles and fortresses. Along the 7300 kilometers (4300 miles) long wall, there are countless beacon towers that were used as signal tower to deliver messages from one place to another. When the enemy invaded in the daytime, heavy smoke was used as a signal; while at night, a large fire would be lit, because fire was easy to see at great distances. The scale of the smoke and fire signals could reveal the number of invading enemies. The beacon towers were set at regular intervals along the Great Wall, and each tower upon seeing a signal from the previous one would light their signal to signal the next tower. A signal could be sent from one end of the Wall to the other, a distance of 7300 kilometers (4300 miles) in just over one hour.

The Great Wall was constructed using the Chinese people’s sweat, blood, and muscle. Ancient records show that at least one million slaves and prisoners of war were conscripted to build the great wall which followed the contour of the land, taking advantage of the natural landscape. As many died from exhaustion and starvation while working on this colossal task, the Wall was also known as “the longest cemetery in the world.” The bricks, rocks and lime used to build the wall had to be carried up the mountains on bare backs. Those who succeeded in climbing the wall today are often regarded as “real heroes”, but as visitors realize the difficulty in climbing the wall, they should try to imagine how difficult it must have been to build the Great Wall without any modern machinery.

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