Top 10 Must See Places in China

1. BeijingBeijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, the center of the nation's politics, culture and international exchanges and a moden metropolis full of vitality. Beijing is one of the six ancient cities in China together with Xian, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou. It had served as the capital for the dynasties such as Jin (1115 AD - 1234 AD), Yuan (1279 AD -1368 AD), Ming (1368 AD -1644 A D) and Qin (1644 AD - 1911 AD).Top attractions in Beijing:Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, the Great Wall, Ming Tomb, Hutong, Lama Temple, Beihai Park, Beijing Capital Museum, Yashow Market and more...

2. XianXi'an, also called Changan is the largest city in north-west China. It had served as the nation's capital for 13 dynasties such as Western Zhou (11th century BC - 771 BC), Qin (221 BC - 206 BC), Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD) and Tang (618 - 907) for more than 1000 years. It is famous for historical importance.Top attractions in Xian:Terra-cotta Army, Banpo Museum, Huaqing Hotspring, City Wall, Big Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Xian Great Mosque, Forest of Stone Steles Museum and more...

3. ShanghaiAs the largest city in China, Shanghai is located in central-eastern China, confronting the East China Sea. Shanghai is mainly sectioned into two parts: Pudong (east of the Huangpu River) and Puxi (west of the Huangpu River). Pudong is the new development zone. Shanghai has two airports - Shanghai Pudong International Airport ( PVG ) and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Shanghai Pudong International Airport caters for international flights while Hongqiao for domestic flights.Top attractions in Shanghai:Shanghai Bund, Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Xin Tian Di, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Huangpu River and more...

4. GuilinLocated by the banks of the Li River, Guilin has gained fame both at home and abroad for its featuring scenery: verdant mountians, unique rockeries, crystal water, various caves, stones of numerous shapes. The many ethnic minorities live here that include the Zhuang, Yao, Hui, Miao, Mulao, Maonan and Dong. They add the much colour to the cultural life of the city.Top attractions in Guilin:The Li River, The Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Seven Star Park, Guilin Folded Brocade Hil, Fubo Hill, Solitary Beauty Hill, Longji Terraced Field in Longsheng, Fengyu Cave in Lipu County Guilin.

5. Yangtze RiverYangtze River cruising should be on the list for those who seek for romantic escape and travel with their family or friends. Yangtze River is winding through the mountains and the cities from the west to the east entering the East China Sea near Shanghai with a total length of over 6300 km, ranking the third in the world, only shorter than the Nile and Amazon.Top Attractions along Yangtze River:Chongqing City, Fengdu, Baoshizhai, Wanxian, Shennong Streem, Lesser Three Gorges, Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam and Yichang City, Wuhan City.

6. Lhasa TibetTibet is a place lonely from the rest of the world with the winding hills of the high plateau and the amazing Himalayas. Today in the age of information, people can easily get to the mysterious place with jet aircraft, highways, now even trains! Lhasa is the political and cultural capital of Tibet. Lhasa means in Tibetan "The land of gods". There are numerous scenic spots and historical sites in Lhasa Tibet.Top Attractions in Tibet:Potala Palace, Nobulingka, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Ganden Monastery and Jokhang Temple being the most worth visiting. Shigatse is the second biggest city in Tibet. Shigatse means in Tibetan "The Estate that materializes one's Dream ". Tashilhunpo Monastery is its main historic attraction. Mt. Kailash, in western Tibet is holy to both Hinduism and Buddhism.

7. Jiuzhaigou SichuanSituated in the depths of the mountains in the border area of Nanping, Songpan and Pingwu counties in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in the northwestern Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou is a fairyland named after the Nine-Village Valley, which is the living place of nine Tibetan villages. The valley is about 50 kilometers long. In 1992, It was listed as the world natural heritage list of UNESCO.Top attractions in Jiuzhaigou Sichuan:Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Qingchengshan & Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Emei Mountain and Giant Buddha of Leshan, Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Huanglong.

8. Lijiang YunnanLijiang is situated in Yunnan Province of south China. It is on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list. It has the history of over 1,300 years. Lijiang is inhabited by Naxi people. It is under the administration of the Naxi Autonomous County. It stands on a plateau at 2,600m above sea level. It is well known for its natural scenery and green vegetation. It has the Jade Dragon Mountain as its backdrop. The old town blends naturally with the natural scenery. Thel local Naxi people has developed a culture called "Dong Ba Culture". Classical Naxi music is considered as the "living musical fossil" due to its long history.Top atractions in Lijiang Yunnan:Ancient Town Lijiang, Yulong Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge.

9. Zhangjiajie HunanZhangjiajie City is located on the west mountians of Hunan Province. Under the administration of Zhangjiajie City, there is a district called Wulingyuan District where the Wulingyuan Scenic Area is located. The Wulingyuan Scenic Area is sectioned into 3 parts: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park; Tianzi Mountain and Suoxi Valley. Most of the visitors stay at the Wulingyuan area instead of the city center of Zhangjiajie City. In December of 1992, Wulingyuan was included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.Top attractions in Zhangjiajie Hunan:Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain, Suoxi Valley Nature Reserve.

10. Silk Road in ChinaThe Silk Road has a history of more than 2,000 years. It actually started from Chang'an ( the present Xian, Shaanxi Province ) in the east and stretched to Rome, Italy in the west. The ancient silk road went through Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai provinces, Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions and then extended over the Pamirs, further extending to Central and West Asia. And finally the silk road met the east bank of the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Europe. The Silk Road had the total length of over 2,485 miles and over half of which is within China.Top attractions along the Silk Road in China:Lanzhou, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan Pass, Dunhuang, Hami, Turpan, Urumqi, Loulan, Korla, Kuqa (Kucha), Aksu, Kashgar (Kashi), Hotan.

Quito:A maze of colonial streets, wrapped in modern city and surrounded by mountains.

Spread across a spectacular Andean valley, Quito looms 2850m (9350ft) above sea level and is flanked by snowcapped volcanic peaks. While the old town sparkles with indigenous character and recently restored colonial splendor, the 'new town' screams hotels, high-rises and too-trendy cafes.
As a Unesco World Heritage Site, building in the old town has been strictly controlled since 1978. The city is aflush with pride - 2006 marked the final instalment of its huge restoration project. Buildings have been spruced up, historic theaters have been revived and the once-sketchy streets are now safe.

Ecuador may be tiny, but it sure packs a spectacular punch.

The smallest country in the rugged Andean highlands, Ecuador has an array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes, dense rainforest and sublime islands - all in a nation no bigger than the US state of Nevada.
Once a banana republic, Ecuador's politicians still pocket the wealth accumulated from its treasures: a picture-perfect capital, the all-consuming Amazonian jungle, breathtaking wildlife reserves, ancient sites, remote indigenous villages, and, of course, world-famous tropical beaches.
Travel Warning: Floods - Lively Volcano - Dangerous Areas
Heavy rains and floods across Ecuador prompted the national government to declare a state of emergency in February, and the inclement weather continues. Travel to Quito was badly affected by a landslide on 31 March, and floods around the city of Loja have caused serious damage. Travellers should expect delays to transport services, and very poor road conditions.
Tungurahua volcano, south of Quito, is currently more active than usual, prompting authorities to declare a red alert and evacuate nearby residents. Visitors are prohibited from going near the volcano, and entry into the city of Baños is limited. Travelers should heed local advice and be aware that an eruption could occur at any time.
There have been several reports of robberies and rape on Volcán Pichincha, near Quito. Armed with machetes and guns, the robbers have attacked groups of hikers on the main trail up Rucu Pichincha from the telefériQo. We're hoping these attacks will cease with a planned increase in security, but it's best to check with your embassy or with South American Explorers for an update on the situation before considering a hike here.
There is a high risk to the security of those traveling in the northern areas of Ecuador that border with Colombia because of kidnappings, military and guerrilla activity and increased crime. Landmines are also present in the Cordillera del Cóndor region, bordering Peru. These areas should be avoided.

Top Places to Visit in 2008

Beijing: The city that is hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics has been recently abuzz with construction, including the "Bird's Nest" stadium seen here. Beijing is putting on its best face for the event, which will see all of China on the world stage.

Quebec City: This Canadian city, celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2008, is one of the world’s most enchanting destinations. Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River in 1608, establishing the first permanent French settlement in North America.

Liverpool: The European Capital of Culture for 2008 is hosting a variety of arts-related events, including a comprehensive exhibit of Gustav Klimt's work, Theatre in the Park, the start of the Tall Ships Race 2008, and a once-in-a-lifetime concert featuring one of the “lads of Liverpool,” Sir Paul McCartney.

Bhutan: If the lush valleys and snowcapped mountains, ancient temples and monasteries, and expansive markets full of cheerful locals haven’t lured you yet, reconsider: In 2008, the 101st anniversary of the country’s monarchy will be commemorated by a yearlong celebration.