Special Savings for the month of December!

A lot of people have considered traveling to China, and getting to experience all of the marvelous things the country has to offer; but they are a little lost on how they should go about getting the information that they need. Requesting information on the internet is easy! Requesting the information from the correct people, make things even easier!

We would like to invite all of you to call in to request a free color brochure that features all of the luxury prepackaged tours to China and Asia that China Discovery Tours offers. 

Our toll free telephone number is 1-866-992-4462 and our direct line is 1-310-802-7100. 

You can also request a travel brochure on our website at:  http://www.chinadiscoverytours.com/CD/catalog-request.html

We would also like to take this opportunity to remind all of you travelers that this is the best time to secure next year’s travel dates. In appreciation to our clients and customers, China Discovery Tours is offering a savings discount of up to $400 per couple. To secure these incredible savings, a deposit of $300 per person must be placed by December 19^th. This $300 secures your trip of a lifetime! 

Additional savings offers are also applicable; please call a travel specialist today!

Warm regards,

China Discovery Tours

Kristie, Gloria, and Claudia (your expert China specialists)

5 Things I wish I knew about traveling to Tibet before I went

I just wrote a new Journal entry for "Joe's Journal," a post-facto memoir about the trip I took backpacking China and Tibet. Especially working on the other side now (Sending people to China and Tibet), there are a number of wise tidbits I'd like to share with you. So without further ado:


5 Things to know about visiting Tibet

1. The Tibet "Visa," a real-life catch 22

The Tibet "visa" is actually known as the Tibet Travel Permit, or TTP. It's not a visa because you're technically not leaving the country (China) when you visit.

The interesting thing about the TTP is that in order to obtain one, you must first have a ticket (air or train) to get into the country. However, to obtain a ticket, you must first show that you have permission, or a TTP, to enter the country. Yes, this is a classic, textbook catch-22. The way around this when taking the train is generally to get a Chinese national to purchase your ticket for you, as they don't need a permit to visit. Then you use that ticket to go purchase a TTP from a local travel agency. For air, this is even more complicated. Barring people with diplomatic passports, we usually have no trouble getting the TTP via our vendors for around $25-30.

2. Altitude Sickness

It's not really a problem. The only person on our trip who had an issue was one woman who was in a state of near-panic about the altitude before we left China; of course upon arrival she had a harder time. However we regularly send even rather elderly people to Lhasa, where after a day to acclimate they are fine. If you're concerned, supplemental oxygen and medication (Diamox/Acetazolamide) can be obtained.

3. Clothing

Lhasa has very little atmosphere, so the sun heats you up and burns you quickly, and you freeze just as fast. Sunscreen and layers.

4. Censorship

Not as big a deal as you'd think. Don't bring pictures of the Dali Lama to hand out, and don't take pictures of any Chinese soldiers standing around, and you'll be fine. One of our clients was a film crew that went to film the 4 holy Buddhist mountains of China as well as Lhasa, and our agents in country were able to help them get their footage without trouble. The professional camera equipment was the only thing that made the situation a bit more delicate than normal.

5. You can see Mt. Everest while in Tibet

Do it. It's not cheap, you have to take a land cruiser trip out there (and get a bunch of extra permits), but its well worth it. By the time you've made it to Lhasa, you've come so far that it would be stupid not to go. Absolutely one of the best decisions I've ever made. For our absolute top-notch accomodations along the way, we charge about 1400 for a 5 day/4 night trip across the sights of Tibet to Everest and back.

You can read about my wanderings around China and my most recent Tibet travel post here.

EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT EXPIRING DECEMBER 18, 2010

We would like to remind everyone that our Early Booking Discount with a savings of $400 off per couple will be expiring on December 18, 2010. Don't miss out on this incredible offer!

Call one of our travel specialists today toll free at 1-866-992-4462.

Check Out Joe's Journal!

Would you like to be able to read about all of the experiences, one of our travel agents Joe Marcus encountered while back packing across China for two months?

Now you can go through the different entries of his journal, to read all about Joe's experiences. Check out the link below!

http://http://chinadiscoverytours.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/joes-journal-experiences-backpacking-solo-across-china-and-tibet-vol-1//

3 DAY PROMOTION

China Discovery Tours would like to inform everyone that we are having a 3 day promotion next week. Monday through Wednesday, for every deposit placed there will be an additional savings of $50.00 per person.

For more information please call our travel specialists at 1-866-992-4462 and ask for Joe, Kristie, Tselo, or William!


Have a great weekend everyone!

Chongqing

Chongqing is one of China's fastest growing Metropolis cities, with a population of more than 32 million people. In fact, Chongqing is the fastest growing urban-center on Earth. It is projected that each year approximately 500 thousand and one million people will migrate to Chongqing. Chongqing is also one of five national central cities within China.

Chongqing is where the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers combine, also making Chongqing a very popular tourist attraction. Many Yangtze Cruises start in the location and sail their way up the Yangtze River.

Chongqing, also known as the "city of ambition" to some, and is commonly known for its foggy weather. However, all the fog does not inhibit the amount of growth that this city is expanding.

"The City of Ambition is a map of economic growth and of hope for the future. But it also breathes with history, social change, and the exploitation of nature. All this is true for the whole of today's China." (Quoted within Wired Magazines Article titled World's Fastest-Growing Megalopolis Hides in Fog.)

Chongqing is where two of our Yangtze based tours depart on their 3 nights / 4 days adventures. At this point I would like to take this opportunity to highlight our Yangtze Downstream Discovery Tour (TYD) Our Yangtze Downstream Tour is a 15 day, 12 nights tour that covers Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, the Yangtze Cruise, Suzhou, and Shanghai.

"Featuring a luxurious 5-Star Century Diamond Cruiser down the magnificent Yangtze River and a spectacular journey to famous modern and ancient architectural wonders, this China excursion will lead you on an unforgettable adventure. Experience ancient rural China and the massive Three Gorges Dam Project on exciting shore excursions along the Yangtze River. Enjoy the ancient Terracotta Warriors in Xian, the massive Great Wall of China, a delicious peking duck banquet in Beijing, and the brilliant Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai. The Yangtze Downstream Discovery provides a memorable taste of China to cherish your entire life."

For more information on our Yangtze Downstream Discovery, you may click here:

 http://www.chinadiscoverytours.com/china/2010-tyd.html

For more information please feel free to give our travel specialists a call at 1-866-992-4462. Ask for Joe, Tselo, William, or Kristie and they would be more than happy to assist you with your traveling needs.

http://www.chinadiscoverytours.com/

Bon Voyage to the NAWAWI FOUNDATION

"This year, the Nawawi foundation is taking a trip to the East. Partnering with China Discovery Tours, our voyage will take us to the ancient country of China, where we'll experience the rich history of China and its Muslim heritage."

 

Here is what the standard Nawawi Foundation Itinerary looks like. Many of the foundation members have also customized this itinerary to fit their needs. (We can tailor all of our tours to fit your needs, call today to find out how.)


Day 1-2 Depart from LAX
Board a Trans-Pacific flight to Beijing.

Day 3 Beijing (AB, L, D)
Arrive in Beijing in the early morning. Prior to checking into the hotel, we visit sites of the 2008 Olympic Games such as the Bird's Nest (outside) and the Water Cube (outside). After resting up, we visit the Summer Palace and a pearl factory.

Day 4 Beijing (AB, L)
After breakfast, we visit the Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.

Day 5 Beijing (AB, L, D)
Along the way to the Great Wall, we stop by a jade factory. After exploring the Great Wall, lunch is served. We then return to the city for shopping followed by dinner and a Kung Fu show.

Day 6 Beijing-Lanzhou (AB, L, D)
Take a morning flight to Lanzhou, the most important city on the Silk Road in Northwest China. Upon arrival, we'll transfer to our hotel. After lunch, we'll visit the Yellow River Bridge, and enjoy a Lanzhou Lamian noodle dinner in the evening.

Day 7 Langzhou (AB, L)
Today we'll visit the famous West Gate Mosque. Afterwards, we'll visit 5 Springs Park and Binhe Avenue.

Day 8 Lanzhou-Xian (AB, L, D)
Today we'll take a flight to Xian, and visit the Great Mosque at Huajue Lane. The Mosque is Ming-style design, and is the religious and spiritual center for the 60,000 Muslims in Xian. In the evening, we'll enjoy a Muslim-style Lamb Soup Dinner.

Day 9 Xian (AB, L, D)
Spend an exciting day as we visit the Terracotta Warriors excavation site. Three pits contain over 7,300 warriors, horses and chariots crafted more than 2,000 years ago in honor of China's first Emperor Qin Shi Huang. After lunch, continue to the Big Goose Pagoda and the Ancient City Wall.

Day 10 Xian-Shanghai (AB, L)
Board a flight to Shanghai where we visit Yu Yuan Garden, Old Shanghai District and take a ride up the famous Pearl TV Tower. After lunch, we stroll along Nanjing Road and the Bund.

Day 11 Shanghai-Suzhou (AB, L, D)
Today we visit Suzhou, known for its delicate gardens. In Suzhou we visit Tiger Hill, the Linger-in Garden and Silk Factory #1 before returning to Shanghai. An optional Shanghai Harbor cruise or Shanghai Acrobat Show completes the evening.

Day 12 Shanghai (AB)
Free day to explore Shanghai. We suggest visiting the Shanghai 2010 Expo beginning May 1st, 2010 through October 31st, 2010!

Day 13 Shanghai-USA (AB)
Free morning in Shanghai before catching a flight back home via Beijing.

You can look at our Nawawi Foundation Tour in more detail on our website here: http://chinadiscoverytours.com/CD/nawawi.html


We would like to wish the whole NAWAWI FOUNDATION a "BON VOYAGE!"


For more information about the tours that China Discovery Tours offers you can look here: http://www.chinadiscoverytours.com/CD/2010-tour-packages.html


Our travel specialists can be reached toll free at 1-866-992-4462. Ask for Joe, William, Tselo, or Kristie.


China Discovery Tours Blogger Team!
http://www.chinadiscoverytours.com/