Grab your camera and get ready to see our favorite parts of Dali on this self-guided biking tour. Download the map to begin your own Dali adventure.

 

Tucked between Cang Mountain and Erhai Lake, Dali, Yunnan is a Ming-era town that has retained much through the ages. It was once capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom and though the Kingdom fell long ago, the indigenous Bai ethnic minority who comprised its population still accounts for the majority of the residents in both the town and the surrounding villages. As a result, Dali offers rich, colorful traditions and diverse architectural design, set against some of China’s most stunning scenery.

From the cobbled streets of the old town, to the fishing villages on the shores of Erhai lake, grab your camera and embark on our AsiaTravel self-guided bike tour of Dali. The best part? It can be taken completely at your own pace.

Download the Dali Bicycle Tour map

 Directions:

1. 1. Begin your ride at The AsiaTravel Dali House

2. 2. Renmin Road, Dali Old Town Head East and ride through charming Dali Old Town. Explore the town’s traditional Bai architecture before crossing highway 221 and following the small roads heading east until you reach the shore of Erhai Lake.
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3. 3. Caicun Village Caicun village is just one of the communities you will visit along the lake. Continue North and although you will be traveling through farmland, the scenery is well worth the bumpier ride.

4. 4. Fengbei South Line Head West, back towards town, when you reach Fengbei South Line. Be careful when crossing the highways as there are no bike lanes.
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5. 5. The Three Pagodas The last stop before heading home, Dali’s emblematic Three Pagodas are located at the foot of Cang Mountain. Dating from 836AD, the central tower is both the tallest and oldest of the three Buddhist structures.

Want a local AsiaTravel guide to show you the way? Check out our Yunnan tour.

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Photo credits: 1. Jeremy Foster via flikr 2. Jeremy Foster via flikr 3. Alex Keshavjee via flikr

Guizhou is home to one of China’s largest ethnic minority populations, and throughout the year these vibrant communities celebrate their traditions with vivid and inspiring festivals. We’ve brought together a calendar of Guizhou festivals so you can get in on the action.

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Every year visitors from China and around the world make the journey to Guizhou in order to witness the many traditional festivals of the Miao ethnic group. These festivals are a perfect way to experience and celebrate one of the many faces of Chinese culture and we have pulled together a few of next year’s highlights that you should be marking on your calendar now:

Stunning Beadwork on a Traditional Miao Garment
Source: Daderot

Miao Long Table Banquet
As soon as harvest is completed in September or October – you can contact one of our trip designers for more details.

Despite the rapid transformation of China in recent years, the Miao ethnic minority have stayed true to their traditional dress, lifestyle and, of course, cuisine. The Miao Long Table banquet is a welcome antidote to the well earned hunger of a long day of sightseeing, as you sample dishes like Sour Fish Soup and Oil Tea made with ginger and salt, and indulge in enthusiastic toasts with local rice wine. The Long Table banquet is an important tradition and connection to the past celebrating a local goddess who was once able to feed the whole village. Each dish comes from the unique methods brought down from by Miao people for centuries to honor special occasions. 

Miao New Year
November 5

Miao Dancers
Source: Matěj Baťha

The Miao people have their own way of welcoming in the New Year, and their own calendar for deciding when it is. The Miao New Year typically rolls around in the 9th, 10th or 11th month of the Chinese lunar calendar and to mark the occasion, the Miao people assiduously prepare, gathering provisions, arranging ancestor worship, visiting neighboring villages and playing the Lusheng, a traditional music instrument made from bamboo.

Lusheng Festival
February, Several Dates

Lusheng Playing
Source: Impressive Pipes

The lusheng is the cornerstone of all Miao New Year celebrations. This bamboo instrument can measure up to three meters long, and makes a sound you’re unlikely to hear from any other source. During the Lusheng Festival, the biggest event of the Miao New Year, girls dress up in their finest traditional attire while boys lug the instruments to Lusheng Stadium to perform a dazzling display of dance and music.

Sister’s Meal Festival
April 11-13

Source: Fanghong

The oldest ‘Valentine’s Day’ in Asia, the Sister’s Meal Festival began its life as a humble courtship ritual where young Miao men and young Miao women could meet and embark on a life together. With their colorful traditional dresses and enthusiastic displays of local dance and music, the Sister’s Meal Festival soon began to draw a larger crowd. You can expect to be among thousands of other visitors who have gathered to watch this ancient ritual play out once more.

Dragon Boat Festival
May 30

Source: Flickr

The Dragon Boat Festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, placing it near the summer solstice. Across China citizens mark the occasion by drinking wine and eating triangular rice snacks known as Zongzi. They’re delicious, and if you’re in China at the right time you should definitely try them. In Guizhou, the Dragon Canoe Festival lets you witness the Miao ethnic people take to the waters in traditional boats, and race each other while dressed in purple and gold.

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Want to pull up a seat at the Long Table Festival or try your hand at playing Lusheng? Journey with AsiaTravel throughout Guizhou on our Hidden Guizhou Private Tour. If you’d like to travel with a small-group of like-minded adventurers, we also do a yearly small group tour to Guizhou: Hidden Guizhou Small Group Tour.

From Peking duck in Beijing to the spice markets of Sichuan, Chinese cuisine is as vast and fascinating as the country itself. Here are our tips for eating the best Chinese food in China. Warning: this post will make you hungry.

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One of the first things you’ll learn when you visit China is that there’s no such thing as ‘Chinese food,’ at least not in the way most people think of in the West.

Chinese cuisine is as rich and varied as the dishes of Europe. The spicy aromas of Kung Pao Chicken in Sichuan is as different from the sweet flavors of Shanghai roast pork as a steak tartare in Paris is from a bowl of paella in Barcelona. Practically every province in China is known for a different dish and a new flavor.

Every year, award-winning writer, chef and China culinary expert, Fuchsia Dunlop leads a Gastronomic Tour of China – a journey through these foodie havens and into the country’s local markets, top restaurants and family kitchens.

Beijing

Kyle Obermann

The city’s namesake and most famous dish, Peking Duck, is itself ample reason to include China’s capital into your travel itinerary. This hearty, iconic meal is rightly world famous and you won’t easily forget the succulent crunch of the duck’s crispy skin paired rich hoisin sauce.

But it’s not only Peking duck which puts this city on the culinary map…

Beijing’s proximity to China’s northern provinces mean that the city’s flavors are infused with many exotic influences. Wander down a historical hutong and discover Mongolian Hotpot. Far less spicy than its Sichuanese counterpart, this dish is sure to soothe the soul on a crisp Beijing evening. Goji berries, jujubes, black cardamom pods, ginseng and fresh herbs steam in an aromatic broth at the center of the table and sides of marbled meats and crisp vegetables make for a sensually visual experience along with the wafting smell and – wait for it- mouthwatering flavor.

Xi’an

Xi’an Meat Burger – Roujiamo
Source: P. Xie

While Xi’an is best known for its ancient terracotta army, the present day inhabitants of the city have plenty to offer the hungry visitor. Navigate the beautiful city walls and venture to the vibrant Muslim quarter, where savory lamb skewers are roasted over red-hot coals and sweet glutinous rice is steamed in bamboo.

After washing down your meal with an ice cold pomegranate juice, enjoy some of the city’s famous sites (if only as an excuse to work up an appetite for the second meal of the day). Traditional Xi’an dishes include flavorsome cold noodles, hot and sour dumpling soup, and steamed beef with wheat powder.

Due to its unconventionally rich melange of flavors, Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter is one of our favorite stops on the Gastronomic Tour of China.

Chengdu

Lajiao Chilis

It’s the third stop on Fuchsia’s Gastronomic Tour and if spicy food is something you can handle, then Chengdu will seem like paradise on earth. Just be prepared; the local dishes pack a punch.

Spiced not only with normal chili or ‘lajiao’, Sichuanese food also uses a special, local pepper known as ‘huajiao’ to give the food a tingling, numbing effect. This combination of numbness and spice is called ‘mala’ by the locals, and will ensure that your first meal in Sichuan is burned into your memory as well as your mouth.

Shanghai

After your spicy trip to Sichuan, you might need to heal your scorched taste buds with a sweet Shanghainese meal. Unlike the burning hot flavors of Chengdu, Shanghainese cuisine is ‘tiande,’ sweet, an ideal antidote to the spiciness of distant Sichuan.

Rich, fatty pieces of pork and freshly caught hairy crab are easy on the tongue, but don’t let your guard down completely.  Dishes like ‘xiaolong bao’ or small dragon bags are aptly named, because these things can be vicious. Filled not only with flavor but also with piping hot soup, these dishes have been known to squirt water at unsuspecting visitors. Pierce the bag first with a chopstick to let the steam out before digging in.

Hangzhou

Stuffed Orange with Crab Meat 
Source: 三猎

Hangzhou is famous for it’s beautiful West Lake, a still, serene body of water which attracts tourists, world leaders and, most importantly, some of the country’s most inspired chefs. If you enjoy seafood, the sweet and sour ‘West Lake Fish’ and shelled shrimp will mingle perfectly with the tranquil surroundings. You can even try the savory sweet fusion of stuffed orange with crab meat. 

Hangzhou also produced world-renowned tea, a flavor that is infused into many local specialties. A Hangzhou banquet wouldn’t be the same without a plate of tea-infused prawns soaked in the Longjing (dragon’s well) green tea that grows exclusively in the region’s hills.

Enjoy a local West Lake beer with your meal, and enjoy the calmness of this city. After the bustle and energy of Shanghai – one of the biggest cities in the world – you’ve definitely earned the downtime.

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Wonder what it’s like to wander down side alleys to the kitchen of a local auntie, roll up your sleeves, and learn to cook and eat like a local? Discover all these cities with the help of Fuchsia Dunlop, on our Gastronomic Tour of China.

 

One of the oldest cities in China, Xi’an is best known as the home of Emperor Qin’s terracotta army but the city’s unique and mouthwatering cuisine is a reason to visit in its own right. As the first stop on the Silk Road, Xi’an has been at the crossroads of Muslim and Chinese cultures for centuries and the city’s signature dishes reflect the melange of this historic meeting point. Embark on a culinary journey and get to know the best dishes in Xi’an. 

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Shaanxi cuisine goes back a long way –  as an important stop on the ancient Silk Road, this central province welcomed travelers who had journeyed from the Middle East. Local cuisine became infused with Middle Eastern flavors and wandering the fragrant streets and side alleys of Xian, you can smell the savory aromas of lamb dishes, Uyghur flatbreads and exotic spices. Pathways are lined with barbecues and sizzling woks and raucous groups of locals dine at tables piled high with local beer and chuan’r. Read on for our pick of five dishes not to miss on your next trip to Xian:

Photo distributed under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license

5. YANGROU PAOMO

A local favorite and the irrefutable star of Xi’an cuisine, yangrou paomo（羊肉泡馍）is a stew with unleavened flatbread soaked in tasty mutton soup. Take your two pieces of flatbread – ‘mo’ in Chinese – and shred into small pieces. Locals believe the rather arduous task delivers a better hand-pulled texture to the dish. The shredded mo is then returned with the bowl to the chef, who cooks it in mutton soup with rice vermicelli until the bread is fully soaked in the light and aromatic flavor.

Photo by bionicgrrrl via Flickr

4. ROUJIAMO

Sink your teeth into the juicy, meaty goodness of roujiamo (肉夹馍), Xi’an’s take on a burger. The dish is rather simple, made up of two critical ingredients: baked leavened bread and shredded braised meat. The meat filling – either lamb or beef – is braised for hours in a bubbly vat of beef or mutton stew. A hearty portion is then fished out, shredded by hand and tucked in the bread.

Guilhem Vellut via flickr

3. LIANGPI

Roujiamo is often paired with a bowl of liangpi, a cold dish featuring thinly-sliced noodles. When liangpi is served, it is tossed with cucumber shreds and bean sprouts and drizzled in a sauce of pepper powder, diced garlic, sesame paste, black vinegar, and roasted chili oil.

Photo by ckmck via Flickr

2. CHUAN’R

Chuan’r (烤串儿) are a cheap and convenient snack that pair perfectly with a cold, local beer. A small skewer can cost as little as 1 yuan and there is a great variety of choices – lamb, beef, chicken, and potatoes are all favorites. The skewer is coated in chili pepper and cumin powder and roasted on a grill. Xi’an locals can be spotted at hole-in-the-wall restaurants or makeshift street stalls late at night, the table pilled high with these tasty Chinese Kebabs.

Photo by 飞飞1976 via szhome

1. Dumplings in Sour Soup

Only in the Shaanxi capital can you find the authentic taste of dumplings in sour soup (酸汤水饺). The history of the dish dates back over a thousand years, with a complex recipe for the soup – sweet vinegar, dried shrimps, cooked sesame, chicken oil and butter make up some of the many ingredients. The hot and flavorful dish is a perfect comfort for rainy days in the city.

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Hungry yet? We have two journeys that are perfect for the curious foodie. Check out the Gastronomic Tour of China or Yunnan Gastronomic Tour – both of which are curated and led by Fuchsia Dunlop, a world-renowned chef and Chinese cuisine guru.

Exploring Beijing by bicycle is a great way to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. We decided a bike-tour would be a great addition to our Beijing repertoire but we wouldn’t offer it to you unless we’d done ourselves – It was time for a test-drive.

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A few weeks ago our travel designers strapped on their helmets, mounted their bikes and put the pedal to the metal on a whirlwind tour on Beijing’s most popular form of transportation.

Known as one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world, Beijing’s flat roads and wide, dedicated bike lanes make taking your two-wheeler an ideal way to get around the capital. Follow in our footsteps (or our bike treads), with the details of the route that we took. You can hop on your bike and take a whirlwind tour of the city in typical AsiaTravel fashion: completely local and wildly creative.

 

Christine’s Tire Frames Mao’s Portrait

Our bike tour started out near the Drum Tower in the Gulou neighborhood. This area is known for its exciting side alleys and courtyard homes known as hutongs. Here, AsiaTravel can help you rent a bike for a whole or half day.

Cruising in Style Near Houhai Lake

HouHai

After choosing our bikes, we set out around houhai, a beautiful man-made lake. Cycling around the lake is a fascinating experience in all seasons. In summer, boats shaped like ducks propel themselves under the low-hanging bridges and in winter, intrepid old men dive into the frozen lake in nothing but their Speedo’s. We even organize calligraphy classes on the banks of the picturesque lake. Biking is the perfect way to take in all of these unique, Beijing sights.

the hutongs

After conquering Houhai, we decided to get lost in the hutongs. These narrow side streets hold surprises at every turn. At first you may see a street vendor selling fresh persimmons falling straight from the tree and turn the corner and bump into an old man playing cards with his grandson while smoking a cheap cigarette. On a AsiaTravel hutong adventure, we’ll introduce you to our good friend: a cricket fighter who’ll invite you in to his home to learn the history of cricket fighting in these ancient alleyways.

Rocking the aviator sunglasses in a hutong alley

Take it slow on your bike and take time to sip in your surroundings. Biking helps you maneuver around these crowded hutongs and not miss a single bit of the experience.

Jingshan Park

We followed the narrow pathways down south to Jingshan Park. We had to lock our bikes down at the entrance to the park, and we began our climb to the top of this small mountain. Our breaths were bated with anticipation for the panoramic view awaiting us at the top. And believe us, the view did not disappoint.

Jingshan with Our Helmets in Hand

We were able to see the sprawling metropolis of Beijing from all angles. But the belle of the ball was our view looking down over the Forbidden City. From the ground, it’s hard to see how magnificent and vast the Imperial Palace is but from the higher vantage point, we were able to see the grandeur of this centuries old sprawling royal residence. On a AsiaTravel tour we would walk down mountain and enjoy privileged access to the Emperor’s former childhood home within the red walls of the Forbidden City,

Tiananmen Square

We ended our half day bike tour of the city with one of its most iconic sights: Tiananmen Square. This part of the tour was when taking a bike really shows its benefits.

Special Access to Tiananmen – For Bikers Only!

When you ride through Tiananmen on bicycle you’re given special access to parts of the road that are blocked to both cars and pedestrians. It’s a very privileged experience that is only available to bikers. This special access gives you one-of-a-kind close up views of this historical locale.

Touring Beijing by bike is a great way to set your own pace and really enjoy your interaction with the city. Just don’t forget to wear your helmet!

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Now that this bike tour has the AsiaTravel stamp of approval, why not add it to your customized Beijing’s Past & Future tour.

 

Step into the ghastly past of the world’s oldest civilization and get acquainted with places that will chill you to the bone. These are the most haunted places in China.

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With over 5,000 years of history, China’s bound to have a few ghosts waiting in the nooks and crannies. From the wiles of eunuchs in Beijing to deserted mansions in Shanghai, China’s chock full of possible encounters of the spooky kind. Steel your nerves and prepare yourself to be haunted by legends and tales of a paranormal kind.

Wilson Loo Kok Wee via Flickr

Fengdu Ghost City, Chongqing

Nestled on the banks of the Yangtze River, Fengdu Ghost City’s spooky past dates back over 2,000 years. According to legend, 2 Eastern Han Dynasty imperials officials used Taoist practices to become immortal on nearby Ming mountain. Their names combined to mean “King of Hell” and they dragged all local villages into the underworld.

Today, the area is surrounded by temples and shrines dedicated to the underworld. Visitors can journey through the dark side of traditional Chinese culture with the paintings and sculptures lining the temple walls – each depicting scenes of villagers being tortured for their sins.

If you’re feeling brave, float down the Yangtze River and visit these ancient stone villages on our China Living Heritage Tour.

The Forbidden City, Beijing

The Forbidden City is a staple of any tour to China, but did you know that the Imperial Palace is also haunted but its own array of poltergeists and ghosts?

Built over 600 years ago during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the imperial palace saw more than its fair share of executions. Betrayal and disobedience were common and anyone who went against the emperor’s rule was easily removed.

And it wasn’t just the emperor creating Halloween-worthy tales. Jealous concubines, spited servants and envious guards would often poison one another in the most devious of ways and eunuchs went to any length to further their plot for power.

When the palace was opened to the public in the late 1940’s, staff began to notice strange phenomena within the imposing red gates. A woman dressed in white has often been heard sobbing as she strolls around the grounds and as recently as 1995 guards have reported seeing a woman dressed all in black. The story is always the same – the woman turns to speak but has no face. Only black hair shrouds her pale visage.

Not too scared to walk through the same grounds as these ghosts? Consider our Beijing Imperial Day Tour.

Zoe via Flickr

Qiu Mansion, Shanghai

The Qiu brothers began their story as migrant workers in Shanghai. The pair made their fortunes selling paint after World War I and built identical mansions next to one another in the heart of the city. The ornate mansion grounds became home to the brother’s collection of exotic pets: Burmese tigers, peacocks, and even crocodiles roamed the gardens.

At the height of their fame and notoriety, the Qiu brothers mysteriously disappeared. Their mansions fell into disrepair and their gardens became a tangle of barren branches.

Workers at the Four Seasons Hotel, just across the street from Qiu Mansion, have reported hearing and seeing strange animals roaming around the abandoned site. A number of the hotel’s night guards have even received hospital treatment for mysterious “animal bites” – no one knows how the injuries occurred.

Ready to encounter some paranormal pets, customize our Shanghai Highlife tour.

High Street, Hong Kong

With eerie yellow lights casting shadows on dark, empty verandas, the Sai Ying Pun Community Complex is one of the most chilling locales on High Street, Hong Kong and has a frightening history to match.

Originally built in 1892 to house European nurses Sai Ying Pun was, accordingly to urban legend, a common site of execution during WWII. After the war, the complex was turned into an insane asylum. The asylum was abandoned after 2 fires in 1961.

In the dead of the night, it has been said that headless poltergeists and devilish figures roam the corridors of Sai Ying Pun Community Complex – The spirits of murdered victims and unsettled patients calling for revenge.

If these tales don’t spook you out, join us on our Hong Kong: Pearl of the Orient tour.

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For those with an interest in the paranormal, China has a closet chock-full of ghosts. Customize one of our city tours to experience the other-worldly haunts of these restless ghosts and you may even go home with your own spooky tales to tell.

A buzzing hub of energy, industry and innovation, Shanghai can be both exhilarating and exhausting, which is why it pays to stay in one of the city’s justifiably famous luxury hotels.
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Famous for its roaring ‘20s jazz history, Shanghai today stands as one of the world’s most significant financial centers. As Shanghai grows in stature, more and more global brands are leaving their mark on the city, and finding new ways to deliver luxurious accommodation to their guests.

The area known as the Bund is the crème de la crème of Shanghai. Similar to staying on Park Avenue in New York City, the Bund is the embodiment of the city’s high society. To put it plainly, the Bund is where you want to be to make the most of your trip to Shanghai.

To help make your choice easier, here are a few of the best hotels on The Bund:

1. The Peninsula Hotel, Shanghai

Style and glamour are the watchwords of the Peninsula Hotel’s Shanghai branch. The historic Peninsula hotel was the first new building to be built on the Bund in over seventy years. There hasn’t been new construction since 1932 when the Bank of China was completed.The beautiful colonial style building at the Bund was purposely built from the ground up to house the hotel. Guests will enjoy sweeping views of the iconic Pudong skyline and the Bund from both the rooms and the opulent rooftop bar. Since opening in 2009, The Peninsula Shanghai has gone from award to award, and was voted the Best City Hotel in Asia by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine in 2015.

• 2. Waldorf Astoria on the Bund

The Waldorf Astoria hotels have been named the greatest of them all by Conrad Hilton, a man who knows his hotels. The Waldorf Astoria on the Bund is actually the first purpose-build Waldorf Astoria Hotel outside of the United States, proving the allure of the Bund. A 12 minute walk from Shanghai’s famous Yu Garden, the Waldorf Astoria in Shanghai embraces the hard won international reputation of the brand for delivering unapologetically grand and luxurious accommodation. Offering stunning views of the Pudong Skyline and a host of impeccable facilities, the Waldorf Astoria on the Bund lives up to its stated goal of combining the history and culture of the celebrated Shanghai Bund with a taste for 21st century sophistication.

 3. Fairmont Peace Hotel

In contrast to the Asia-wide or international brands above, the Fairmont Peace Hotel stands out as an historically Shanghai based institution. Situated on the Bund with breathtaking views and easy access to the city centre, the Fairmont Peace Hotel owes its status as one of the best hotels in Shanghai not only to its location and quality, but also to its history.

At its beginning it was one of the first large skyscrapers built in the Eastern Hemisphere. After the Communist party came to power in 1949, the building was used by the Municipal Finance Committee. Much later, during the Cultural Revolution the hotel was used by the notorious Gang of Four as their headquarters.

The Old Jazz Band of the Hotel was also used as the basis for a movie, “As Time Goes By” a film by Uli Gaulke. After 3 years of renovations between 2007 and 2010, the modern Fairmont Peace Hotel was born.

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Wanting to book your luxury retreat to Shanghai? Join our Chinese Treasures tour or Shanghai Highlife tour to get a firsthand taste of The Peninsula Hotel.

 

Harbin’s International Ice Festival draws in tourists from around the world, but this mystical city is worth more than just a day trip. If you stay just a little while longer, you’ll be privy to a whole host of wonderful experiences to complement your frosty voyage to the North.

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The capital of China’s northernmost province, Harbin was originally named to mean ‘a place for drying fishing nets’. The city grew from a small rural settlement on the Songhua River and today is heralded as the ‘City of Ice’, home to the world’s largest Ice and Snow festival.

But there is more to Harbin than record-breaking structures made of ice. The city’s parks, winter sports and Russian architecture make it a city where both children and adults can take part in the whimsy and magic of a storybook land.

Harbin International Ice Festival

Ricewind42 via Flickr

Let’s get the big one out of the way first. From the 5th of January each year until well into February, people from around the world flock to Harbin to witness the famous International Ice Festival. Palaces, sculptures, staircases, lanterns… a whole world of ice that will simply melt away when the weather starts to thaw.

During the festival you’ll be able to see ice sculptures throughout the city, but the two main exhibition areas are the ironically titled Sun Island, and the more appropriately named Ice and Snow World.

Lantern Festival at Zhaolin Park

 

As the day turns into night, ice lanterns begin to shine brightly at Zhaolin Park. They combine the beauty of light and sound as they sway in the winter air and provide the perfect backdrop for an evening stroll. The brilliantly carved ice and snow artworks dotted throughout the park are the work of master craftsmen and shouldn’t be missed on any tour of Harbin.

Harbin City Architecture

Fredrik Rubensson via flickr

After the Russian Revolution in 1917, many supporters of the tsar fled across the Chinese border and into Harbin. 100 years later and this influence is still very apparent. St. Sophia Cathedral, a stunning Russian orthodox church has come to symbolize the city and the famous Zhongyang Dajie or ‘Central Avenue’ contains several beautiful examples of Baroque and Byzantine architecture.

Harbin’s immaculately restored Jewish Synagogue, a remnant of the time when Harbin was once home to a Jewish population of up to 20,000, is also well worth a visit.

If you’re interested in China’s unexpected Jewish history, customize your own Jewish Tour of China.

Sun Island

Jared Burns via Flickr

Adjacent to the Ice Festival, Sun Island is a great place to take kids to enjoy winter sports such as ice skating. While in summer the landscape is a beautiful waterfall flowing into a pool, during winter the frozen waterfall is sculpted into beautiful shapes and designs. Wander around the grounds and take in the natural beauty.

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Grab your winter coat and bundle up for a trip through China’s frosty climes. There’s plenty of things to do in Harbin while you make the most of the icy landscapes. Journey with us on our Harbin: Winter Wonderland tour.

New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to reflect on the things we have done in the previous year and welcome the beginning of a new one – complete with making new goals and celebrating our achievements. What better way to check something off your bucket list while ringing in the new year than on a destination New Year’s Eve.

Since the Chinese largely follow the lunar calendar, Western New Year isn’t widely celebrated. This means fewer lines, and you can still have a good time in key locations with others who wish to celebrate. We’ve planned 3 itineraries that reflect on the old and welcome the new in some of our favorite destinations across China.

Shanghai

RELATED READING: 5 (Alternative) ‘Must-Sees’ In Shanghai

Likened to New York City or Paris, Shanghai is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in all of Asia. Visiting for New Year, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the melange of colonial charm and sky-scraping buildings that define modern day Shanghai.

Morning

The perfect beginning to your New Year’s Eve is to wake up bright and early and head out for a signature Shanghainese breakfast. This means ducking into an authentic local restaurant and eating the city’s signature soup dumpling, or xiaolongbao, as they are known in Mandarin. As fresh steam rolls off bamboo baskets, make sure you know the proper way of eating this scrumptious treat: bite the tip off first and suck the soup out before biting into the whole thing. This will save you from soup squirting everywhere!

Next up, get to grips with the city in style as you ride a vintage sidecar through the elegant, tree-lined streets of the French Concession. We’ll arrange everything so you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Afternoon

Whether it’s modern art or colonial history that takes your fancy, let us arrange your perfect afternoon with one of our experts in Shanghai. For a taste of unconventional history, you can get to know the Jewish history of China with Dvir Bargal, an internationally acclaimed journalist and documentary filmmaker hailing from Israel. He’ll lead you through Shanghai’s Jewish Ghetto and explain how Shanghai was the last open port for Jewish people escaping Nazi Europe.

Evening

Top off a great day with dinner at one of the city’s great Michelin-starred restaurants. The Yi Long Court at the Peninsula is a great bet right near the Bund.

Then, as the sun begins to set on the final day of the year, it’s the perfect time to hop aboard your private VIP river cruise on the Huangpu River – arranged by AsiaTravel. This gives you a great setting to count down the seconds to new year and enjoy a glass of champagne or apple cider.

With all this history and culture, Shanghai is a great choice for New Year’s even if you’re not the party animal! We visit Shanghai on a number of our longer China journeys or can customize your perfect city getaway.

Hong Kong

RELATED READING: Top 5 Hotels in Hong Kong

The glittering skyline of Hong Kong might just rival any fireworks show (almost). The glitz and sophistication of the “Pearl of the Orient” is the perfect place to ring in the New Year with a touch of class. Here are some of the high-society activities you can indulge in on our Hong Kong: Pearl of the Orient journey.

Morning

Ready for Hong Kong to take your breath away? Our perfect New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong begins with a light hike up to Victoria Peak where you can drink in the sights of this glamorous city. Then, we suggest slinking down the mountain and heading over to the bygone splendor of the western market, an Edwardian style building that sells arts, crafts and fabric for suits and cheongsam tailoring.

By midday, you’ll probably be feeling a bit peckish so saunter over to one of our favorite street markets on Bonham Strand. These flavorful streets with their abundance of dried seafood and Chinese herbal shops have been operating here for over a hundred years.

Afternoon

After lunch, head over to a hundred-year-old store that is renowned for tailoring hand-made qipao. Here, the shopkeeper can take your measurements and make your own sophisticated qipao to be shipped back home to you. Who knows? Maybe for your next big celebration you’ll sport a handmade qipao with all the refined colonial elegance of Hong Kong stitched into the detail.

Wind down from all the exhilaration with a relaxing afternoon tea at the grand dame of Hong Kong hotels: the Peninsula. Done with the colonial elegance of British tea with the queen, you’ll dine on a tower of canapés, scones, and cakes whilst sipping on some of the port city’s finest tea.

Evening

In the evening, head out on a traditional junk in Victoria Harbor. These slow-moving boats will allow you to rejoice in all the splendor of the New Year. When you book with AsiaTravel, we can arrange a private junk for you, so you can enjoy the show with only those you want around. You can take this cruise at sunset or near the stroke of midnight.

If you’d like to soar to dizzying heights, Hong Kong is also home to a myriad of world-class rooftop bars. On the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, you can find what was the world’s highest bar up until 2010.

Dali

RELATED READING: AsiaTravel Founder and Dali-Native Mei Zhang’s Insider Tips to Dali

For those who want a slower pace and a spiritual vibe to see in the new year, consider Dali, in Yunnan province. With its relaxed “California-style” attitude and temperate climate, Dali is a laid-back option for a New Year trip.  

Morning

Like our suggestions for Hong Kong, our recommended first activity on New Year’s Eve is a refreshing hike up Cang Mountain. On the slopes of this rustic mountain, visit a tea plantation where you can pick your own tea leaves and learn the whole process of tea-making from bulb to brew.

Afternoon

After a visit to the market and a local lunch, we’ll arrange a truly spiritual experience: a Bai three-cup tea ceremony. The age-old wisdoms imbued in this ceremony have been passed down through the Bai ethnic minority culture through time. You’ll be given 3 different teas, each representing an important part of life. The third and final tea is a mixture of flavors and represents the importance of accepting all that life gives you.

Evening

For dinner, our favorite Auntie Cheng will cook up a storm using the most authentic local ingredients from the area. Around the city, there is a smattering of local villages where various artisanal products are made and with Auntie Cheng, you can learn how to properly enjoy the results according to local custom. Artisanal salt, hand-crafted cheese, and savory Dali ham are just a few of the delicacies you have to try as you celebrate the start of a new year. Get to the heart of Dali on our Artisanal Dali journey.

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So the final question you have to ask yourself: Which way do you want to ring in the New Year?

So you’ve tried Chinese food from all over the country – Beijing’s famous street snacks, dim sum from Shanghai, hotpot from Sichuan, perhaps even Yunnanese cheese. But have you ever sampled Xinjiang cuisine?

Never fear, AsiaTravel is about to give you a 6-dish tour of Xinjiang, China’s next biggest foodie destination. On one of our many Silk Road tours, you’ll be able to stop in Xinjiang to try all these sumptuous treats. Get to know more about our Silk Road tours by reading our blog post.

1. Ice Cream

The gelato of Xinjiang, formed from a holy trinity of cream, ice, and sugar. Using a large metal spatula, ice cream vendors manage to pile an impossible amount of ice cream even into the tiniest size of paper cup they’re served in. The most common flavour you’ll find is cream, but on your meanderings through the winding streets of Kashgar, you’ll stumble across a rainbow of pastel-coloured seasonal flavours like pistachio, fig, almond, or melon. Milky and smooth, the ice cream is hand-churned and at around 3RMB a cup, it’s a bargain compared to your local artisanal gelato and just as delicious.

2. Polo

This is a popular dish you’ll find everywhere in Xinjiang. Polo is made of rice slow cooked with slices of carrot and peppers, often studded with fat Xinjiang raisins, and always topped with succulent lamb. Does the name sound familiar? Perhaps you’ve sampled pilaf, a cousin of this dish served all over the Middle East and Central Asia. Although lots of Xinjiang dishes are eaten with chopsticks, locals use a spoon for their polo. In the past, people used to eat this dish with their hands, hence the Chinese name translates as ‘rice eaten with the hands’. If you go to a market for polo, you’ll usually be dining at a long communal table dotted with huge enamel or metal teapots filled with the fragrant local brew. Polo is quite a heavy dish, so a small plate of grated carrot, stirred through with vinegar and spices will usually be served alongside.  

3. Pomegranate Juice

This drink is currently a popular superfood (containing more antioxidants than green tea) in the West, but it’s an old favourite in Xinjiang. Be sure to try a freshly pressed cup of pomegranate juice and look out for the telltale sign of freshness: a pile of pressed pomegranate carcasses. With no added sugar, chemicals or additives, the juice is crisp and refreshing, sweet, with a slight sharpness. A small cup of this refreshing treat will power you through a morning of shopping or sightseeing.  

4. Samsa

Baked in a stone oven until crisp, these buns are made of a simple dough of wheat, water and salt, and stuffed with juicy diced lamb and onion. Your samsa will be blistering hot as it comes straight out of the oven so as you wait for it to cool down, make like a local and inspect the base for small stones- they may have escaped from the oven with your parcel. Once you’ve picked them off, watch out for dribbling juices as you bite into your pie. The road to a good samsa is littered with peril, but it’s well worth the journey.

5. Fresh Melon

Go to any market in Xinjiang during the melon season (Summer), and you’ll be overwhelmed by stall-owners selling it by the slice. Throughout China, Xinjiang is known for its sweet and juicy melons, especially the Hami variety. How do you find a melon seller? They’ll usually be surrounded by a pile of melon rinds indicating the number of satisfied customers. This is farm-to-table eating so extreme it skips the table stage: after being picked, the melons are put straight on a truck (or horse-drawn cart) to market. Look out for a melon-seller’s key accessory: a large packet of paper tissues for customers to clean their hands of juices. 

6. Ice Yogurt

Xinjiang’s answer to frozen yogurt. Finish off your meal like a local, with a bowl of iced yogurt. The creamy mixture is spooned into a bowl and chips of ice are added. Light and naturally tangy, you can choose whether or not to add sugar syrup according to taste. You’ll see locals crowding around vendors, sipping away and holding out their bowls for more sugar syrup or ice.

You’ll be spoilt for choice eating in Xinjiang. But how will you know where to go for the best ice cream in Kashgar? Where can you picnic in the shade of Turpan grapevines? If you travel with AsiaTravel on a Silk Road journey, you’ll be accompanied by our local guides who know the area better than anyone. They can guide you to the best food and help you converse with vendors to learn how to make your favorite Xinjiang dishes when you get home. They’ll even introduce you to a local family who will invite you home and teach you how to feast Xinjiang-style. 

And of course, travel to Xinjiang isn’t all about food. Let AsiaTravel guide you on your voyage and we’ll take you to see Flaming Mountains made famous by China’s seminal piece of literature, Journey To The West; to feel a cool alpine breeze by the clear waters of Karakul Lake; and wander the ruins of an ancient capital, long abandoned in Xinjiang’s ‘Death Valley’. For more reading about Xinjiang, check out our blog 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Xinjiang.

RELATED READING: Top 10 Xinjiang Dishes

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If Xinjiang sounds like your kind of destination, check out the itinerary for our Marco Polo’s Silk Road, or Northern Xinjiang journeys.