Grand Trunk Western
Plan your first travel to China
We feel more convenient to travel in China along with more development of tourism facilities there.
Must-visit cities and must-see spots on your plan:
Beijing and Xian are the two historical cities that you must visit, especially for your first trip to China, where you see the world level historical site as the Great Wall in Beijing and the Terra-cotta warriors in Xian. Beijing is also worth to see the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Ming Tombs, and the Hutong tour by rickshaw. Beijing Roast Duck is good to taste and Beijing Opera is nice to see for your first trip. Either Silk Alley Free Market or Panjiayuan Flea Market is an ideal place for bargainers to hunt for some symbolic souvenirs before you leave Beijing. In Xi'an, you will enjoy the Dumpling Banquet and the Tang Dynasty Style Dance Show.
Guilin is known as a scenic city where you can see the picturesque mountains and water, and take a cruise on the Li River down to Yangshuo where hiking and biking are enjoyable activities to fill your free day. You may find a cozy corner at the West Street in Yangshuo to relax yourself with a beer over some local dishes. You will also see the Elephant Trunk Hill as the symbol of Guilin, and visit the Reed Flute Case as the most representative of the kind.
Shanghai, a modern city in China shows the incredible wealth and economic growth of China today. It also provides a place that remains western style constructions that you can see on the Bund. Suzhou, just one hour drive from Shanghai, is famous for its Chinese traditional style gardens and the Grand Canal. Suzhou is the right place for Chinese silk production.
Yangtze River is a valuable part to add on your tour if you have few more days for your vacation to cruise the amazing Three Gorges and witness the construction of Three Gorges Dam Project. Chongqing is the city where to board the ship for a down-stream cruise and disembark at Yichang or Wuhan, or reverse it as an up-stream cruise.
Route of the tour:
Ports of entry & exit of China are suggested to choose Beijing and Shanghai, that is to enter China from Beijing and leave from Shanghai. Why? Beijing is heavy for the sightseeing so is reasonable to complete first when you are in an exiting mood and with energetic body, and finally you could finish your trip by relaxing yourself on the Bund and enjoying your free days in Shanghai. A typical itinerary goes like this: arrive in Beijing from your home city on the first day, spend 3-4 nights; then fly or take an overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi'an, 1-2 nights there; then fly to Guilin, 2-3 nights including Yangshuo; then fly to Chongqing to catch the Yangtze River cruise schedule, usually 3 nights onboard ship; then fly to Shanghai (or make immediate transfer to Suzhou) right after disembark at Yichang, stay 3-5 nights including Suzhou, and bid farewell and transfer to airport to board you return flight home.
Feature of tour packages:
Beside the 10 plus group tours or join-in tours, many tour operators are providing custom or private tour packages featuring tailor-made, flexible and self-control paced tours for a couple, a family, or a small group, and providing private vehicle, drive and guided sightseeing. You can compare the prices with value before making decision.
Best season to travel in China:
From April to November is moderate to make your trip to China, among which May, September and October are the beat months to pay the visit, especially for the tour route mentioned above.
Avoid planning your travel during the two golden weeks in China:
1. First week of October (National Day holidays)
2. Two weeks during Chinese New Year (Likely to be late January or early February each year)
Other tips for preparing your trip:
1. Consult and book a tour with a travel service from your home country;
2. Ensure you have a valid passport and applied for a visa to enter China;
3. Prepare a small medical kit as you may fall sick from the local food or from too much hectic travel
Click here for more China travel information.
About the Author
Grand Trunk Western
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Kirawira Camp in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
You can survey the endless vista of the Serengeti National Park Tanzania and its teeming wildlife, a cooling drink in hand, served by the attentive staff. Wildlife Game Drives Safari Camping Walking Culture Honeymoon Photography Birding Luxury Tented Camp Day Tour. Kirawira Camp, epitome of colonially styled safari luxury stands high on the bluff of a bush-cloaked ridge, commanding panoramic views over the endlessly rolling reaches and volcanic reefs of the Serengeti National Park.
Kirawira Camp is designed in typically Edwardian style, it features an elegant central meeting tent evocatively furnished with a tasteful selection of chintz-covered chaises longues, jewel-hued Persian rugs, antique escritoires, wind-up phonograms, leather-bound traveling cases, brass shooting sticks, carved rocking chairs and stud-backed smoking chairs. Camp Kirawirais most exclusive of the Serena Group’s many Hotels, Lodges and Safari Tented Camp, the exquisite Kirawira tented camp is the epitome of classic safari camp luxury and a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group.
The whole concept of Kirawira Camp is as imaginative as it is elegant. A top a hill overlooking the endless Savanna, you will find tented luxury beyond your dreams. From this oasis of sophistication, every tent has its own private verandah and is superbly appointed. The open-sided architecture of the public area keeps you constantly in touch with nature. The food is a delight; the finest ingredients used and meals cooked to your own recipe or to-order from the house cuisine. There is an exceptional wine list too. Big game safaris will take you in search of lion, cheetah, gazelle and many other species.
Kirawira Lodge is the perfect location for an exclusive executive retreat, special anniversary or an unforgettable honeymoon safari, From behind specially built blinds you can observe crocodiles feeding by the Grumeti River. Without even leaving camp, one can encounter much of the extraordinary bird life known to the immediate area. At Kirawira Luxury Tented Camp, guests experience Africa's majesty as if they are among the first to travel these extraordinary lands. The panorama of the Serengeti’s searing stretches seems endless; timeless.
As you lie back on the chaise and contemplate the campaign chest, antique writing deskand wind-up gramophone, you could be forgiven for expecting an invitation to share a sundowner with Baroness Blixen on the terrace. There you can look out over gently sloping acacia groves towards the lilac-grey hills and lion-gold plains of the Serengeti’s Western Corridor, scene of the wildebeest migration. The essentially colonial ambiance of the tented-rooms evokes colourful memories of the famous safaris of days gone by, when such romantic figures as Teddy Roosevelt and Edward, Prince of Wales indulged in lavish East African shooting safaris of unrivalled elegance.
Accommodations at Kirawira Camp consist of just 25 luxury tents perched on a hill just south of the Grumeti River. Describing the rooms as tents is probably misleading and a better description might be luxury cabins under canvas. There are 20 twins (2 twin beds) and 5 doubles (1 king size bed). The doubles can be converted into triples to accommodate two adults and one child.
The main lodge facilities are at the top and center of the hill while the sleeping tents are positioned around the perimeter of the hill. The tents are spaced roughly 50 feet apart along bricked pathways. Tents 1 – 15 have the best views, as these are set higher on the hill. Tents 16 – 25 are set farther down the hill and have a better bush feel. Tents 3 – 6 are the closest to the main lodge areas (i.e. dinning tent) and are recommended for those individuals seeking more accessible camp accommodations.
The tents are elevated above the ground being constructed on wooden stilts. Each tent is accessed via a short set of stairs (about 10 – 15 steps), which leads to a beautiful private veranda. The verandas are well appointed with safari chairs and offer breathtaking views of the open woodlands below. It is possible to continue your Tanzania safari experience from here with a pair of binoculars. Each tent is tastefully decorated with hardwood furnishing in grand safari fashion.
The décor is a clever blend of classic opulence and camp practicality featuring generous four-poster beds, hand-made patchwork quilts, steamer-trunk wardrobes and brass lamps. To the rear of each tent is an elegant mahogany-paneled bathroom with twin marble washstands, polished brass fittings, a black-and-white tiled shower and separate tiled compartment containing the toilet. There is hairdryer in each tent and electrical outlets to charge your batteries. Kirawira Camp runs the generator 24-hours a day.
About the Author
Edwin is a specialist in African Safaris and a tour operator. His tour company, African Safaris & Adventures, has presence in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Egypt, Madascar, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Seychelles.