China
Sure its vast territory, China offers beautiful scenery, history and a civilization thousands of years old that tourists can admire in one or other of the famous 99 cities through 750 important cultural relics protected by the state or 119 attractions, including 23 on the list of World Heritage.
Among the cities marked especially by the history and richness of Chinese culture and have the remains
old, quote Beijing, Xi'an, Nanjing, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Hangzhou and Anyang which were seven imperial capitals. Note also the hometown of Confucius and especially the footsteps of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Genghis Khan, etc.
China is also known for its beautiful scenic spots, such as Guilin, the Five Sacred Mountains with their marked trails, the banks of the Yangtze, the villages encircled by water, etc. You can get to the Huangguoshu Waterfall, the amazing caves and sinkholes of karst topography, the Stone Forest of Lunan in Yunnan or the great steppe of Inner Mongolia, etc. In winter, frost in Jilin and snowy in the north of the country's forests are also impressive.
China offers opportunities to discover the richness of its major traditional festivals across many regular folk performances. In addition, Peking Opera, which combines acrobatics, music and dance fascinates the viewer, as well as other arts: painting, calligraphy, etc.
The Chinese coast, harbors but also beach resorts are built.
To showcase its tourism resources, China is developing more and more its road infrastructure, increases travel routes, improve tourist facilities and the quality of its services.
China is a very exotic destination for Zen and cultural holidays. With its 1.3 billion people spread over an area encompassing the France 17 times, you will make choices to discover its treasures.
China is a very mountainous country with some contrasts, both from a cultural and geographical perspective. The climate varies from one region to another - the south enjoys an almost tropical climate - and the landscape - rice terraces, barren plateau, high altitude mountain or even beach.
There's something for everyone: the urban revelers will find themselves in very modern cities like Hong Kong or Shanghai, where Chinese youth marks a break with the more traditional generation ago.
Lovers of old stones go in central China to visit the birthplace of Chinese Civilization in Xi'An or Pingyao.
China is full of beautiful natural sites including the Yunnan province at the gates of Tibet, where you will see very fertile rice fields waving in the hills. Discover the natural wonders that you would never have suspected: the Mount of the sleeping beauty, the stone forest or cave reed flute.
Admire the huge sites built hand men to show the greatness of the country: the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace or the Great Buddha Leshan.
Learn the history of the country thanks to iconic landmarks such as Tiananmen Square in Beijing, or the Bund in Shanghai.
Discover the great museums in Beijing and Hong Kong that tell China since ancient times through a sophisticated museum. You can also follow in the footsteps of the emperors of China, the ancient capital of Xi'an to the Forbidden City, located in the capital since 1421, Beijing.
Learn about Chinese culture by practicing tai chi in parks, drinking black tea or playing the game to go on a shaded terrace.
Experience the unique gastronomy of China, between rice, noodle, duck, scorpions, fondue or eggs hundred days.
These are unforgettable moments await you in Middle-earth at 10,000 km from France, in Asian culture deeply rooted in family and traditions.
Mosaic of different ethnic groups, the country remained long closed to the world, is to visit without delay. Discover ancient monuments, an endless array of beautiful scenery, kitchen extremely rich and exciting people to ancestral traditions. Stay true thousand faces, young and old, you can as well make a trek in the mountains that going to the beach, cultural visits or a spiritual retreat: it is a destination accessible to all and for all!
But do not wait too long to visit China as it increasingly Westernized through an unprecedented economic boom. Today is the third largest economy. Let's hope she keeps her heritage and cultural assets as long as possible.
China has been the filming location of many action movies like "Kill Bill: Volume 1" and "Kill Bill: Volume 2" by director Quentin Tarantino with the heroine played by Uma Thurman, "The Karate Kid" with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith or "Crouching Tiger, Hidden dragon" with Ziyi Zhang, Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh.
resorts
Located in the southern province of Guangxi, Beihai has a tropical climate. The city offers a superb sandy beach with silvery (it is called "Silver Beach") of 24 km: a good idea to relax and unwind.
Also the opportunity to visit the beautiful volcanic Weizhou Island, near Beihai.
Weather / When to go
What is the best time to visit China? What is it there now? All weather and climate information.
»Weather in China
Passport / Visa / Formalities
The passport must be valid for six months after the return date. A visa is required to enter the Chinese ground: you should contact the consular department of the Chinese Embassy in Paris, the Chinese Consulate General in Marseille and Strasbourg.
Important: You must go there physically or send a third party. No application by mail is processed. Alternatively, to use a company that will perform the steps for you.
transport
by plane
The choice to reach Beijing from Paris: 10 hours flight or 275 days on foot! Of course, the plane is the fastest means of transport to reach the Republic of China, 8400 kilometers from France.
There are several international airports, mainly in large cities: Hong Kong International Airport, Beijing Capital Airport and Hongqiao Airport and Pudong Airport in Shanghai.
A Paris-Beijing trip will cost an average of 600 euros if you book 6 months in advance on a low-cost airline as China Southern Airlines and Lot Polish but you will certainly get a call.
A flight with Air France will cost in 1000 euros but it will live.
A Paris-Hong Kong costs an average of 700 euros with companies such as Cathay Pacific, but you put more than 12 hours to get there.
A tax of 90 yuan (9 euros) will be required when leaving China. Provide cash to pay the fee.
by train
Backpackers who enjoy the famous Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok. Then you have to take the Transmandchourien to Beijing is 9025 km or Trans, a little faster, passing through Mongolia.
Travel within China
If your time is limited in China, circulate air to save time. Know that you will pay 50% more than the Chinese domestic flights and a fee will be required (about 5 euros).
Many domestic routes serving the major cities. Expect to pay about 200 euros to get Hong Kong to Beijing and a little less to go to Shanghai.
For less full scholarships, choose the train. The railway network is excellent and the prices are very affordable. By train, but no class differences in comfort between the seats (hard, soft, lying, sitting, ??).
If you have more time, take the bus. This is the best way to meet people and see unforgettable landscapes.
For short trips, for example to visit a monument on the outskirts of a city, rent a bike. 300 million bicycle travel in China.
formalities
You will need a passport and a visa to set foot on Chinese soil. If you stay less than 90 days in Hong Kong, but not require a visa passport remains indispensable.
For the rest of the country on a tourist visa will be required. We must get it before you go on with your passport valid for at least 6 months after return date. You must also bring with you a photo ID and a completed form by the consulate or embassy of China in France.
Do not worry, all the information is on the website of the Chinese Embassy in France.
You will receive your visa within five days of your request, but plan to take these steps in advance in case of administrative delay.
The fee for the issuance of a visa is 50 euros for two tickets in China.
General
Transmandchourien
Since 2001, a new way of Transsiberian, called Transmandchourien connects Moscow to Beijing. This route bypasses Mongolia from the east through Harbin.
There is no open ticket with which one could make stops in any city at will and take the next train. The trip is direct and stops last only a few minutes to a few hours.
If you want to use the trip to visit the areas traversed, it will either take your train tickets step by step, is to use a travel agent (travel included exist in many tour operators count between 2000 and EUR 4 000) .
Upon arrival in China (or exit in reverse), the axles of cars are being changed as the track gauge is different. This change takes a little time ... The restaurant car exchange in each country.
The trip takes about 6 days. To book your tickets, check schedules or train fares, please visit the website of the Russian railway company (in English).
Car rental
It is possible to rent cars on site, but it costs about 50 euros for a day
subway
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are the only cities in China to have a subway. Very cheap (just 0.50 euros), it is a practical transportation.
Small detail and not least, the station names are sometimes written only in Chinese characters ...
taxis
It's easy to find a taxi in the cities. It is a practical way of moving and not very expensive....
