According to Annuals of Cang County, records and folklore, Cang County Lion Dance goes back to the Ming Dynasty. And it is very popular all over the country since it is ardent, naughty and vivid. Some of the lions’ heads are pasted by papers, while others’ eyes are made of iron sheets. If you want to discover Chinese culture, pay a visit to Cang County to discover its lion dance would be a good choice for you.

Whatever the kind is, the lion’s head is an appearance of violence. Their eyes are wide open, their mouths are big and frightening and their tongues are out of the mouth. The lion’s body is woven by the linen that is dyed red, green and yellow and fixed on a piece of yellow cloth with ropes. There is a big cloth ball that is linked with a spring on the back of the lion. So when the lion walk, the cloth ball trembles at the same time. The lion’s tail is also made of linen and upward. There are also a string of bells colored silk on the lion’s head. If your China vacation packages, chances are that you could see life-like lion dance heartily.

Cang County Lion Dance is brilliant and has a substantial content. Most movements are imitated from that of the real tigers and lions, such as a hunger tiger catches the good, lion standing up, shaking the head three times, trundling a silk ball, getting on the high table, yawning, scratching an itch, swallowing the ball, scrambling for the ball and spitting out the ball etc. Many parents particularly booked the most popular student tours to China for their children to offer them good chance to get closer to Chinese culture. In this case, tours of lion dance discovery would meet their needs.

At present, there are more than 200 Lion Dance groups among the people in Cang County. The representatives are Yinshao Mountain Lion Dance Group of Liuji Town in Huangdipu Village and Zhou Yuqin Lion Dance Group of South Xiaoying in the Zhifangtou Village. These two groups show the full explanation of Cangzhou natives’ vigorousness, boldness and the lion’s bravery. This may just show us why so many foreign travelers want to enjoy their China vacation deals in winter around the Spring Festival. I think getting closer to authentic Chinese culture like lion dance would be a predominated reason.

As long as snow falls, the taste of Beijing as an imperial city suddenly emanate. The Forbidden City shows its dignity while the old Hutongs embrace you with tenderness. Where are the best places in Beijing to appreciate snow? Here the editor of Culturalchina list too six most beautiful snow scenes in Beijing, equipped with exquisite photography works. If your Beijing tours fall onto winter, the following sites are highly recommended to discover.

First: The Forbidden City—— Feel the dignity of snow

Five hundreds years ago, the Forbidden City used to be the symbol of feudal imperial and the stage of emperors and ministers. Five hundreds years has passed, the emperors and ministers have gone, the snow left the Forbidden City with slience and dignity. However, the majesty and solemnness of Forbidden City where 24 emperors lived can still be felt, as well as the profound history, especially on a snowy day. A visit to the Forbidden City under snow would make your China travel in winter more enjoyable.

Second:Hutong—— Feel the tenderness of snow

Being rich in history, Beijing is a city that need you to savor it slowly,just like the old wine, and the best way to savor the old city is wandering around the old Hutongs. Walking in the old Hutongs is like reading a folk book，the positive and entertaining lifestyle of Beijing locals is the living culture of Beijing. Discover the snow-covered Hutongs would be another highlight of your China vacation packages of Beijing in winter.

Third:Shichahai Lake—— Feel the romance of snow

Whenever in the ancient times or in the modern times, Shichahai always seems to be the most romantic placce in Beijing. Laying in the sofa of a warm bar, seeing the snowflake quietly falling on the lake, will old memory come to your mind? Shichahai is always a good place for local Beijingers' recreational life, and in the last 200 years, many governmental officers, celebrities, monks and nuns chose to build mansions, temples and nunneries in Shichahai. Thus, Shichahai's attraction lies not only in its natural beauty, but also in the historical value of its architecture. It is no wonder that so many people prefer to discover the Shichahai Lake enveloped by snow during their 72 hours visa free travel in Beijing.

The attraction is the Jinshajiang section of the Yangtze, with an elevation of over 1800 meters. The sight is one of the top attractions of Lijiang and the important hub linking the Tiger Leaping Gorge, Laojunshan and Meli Snow Mountain. Along your Yunnan China travel, you may have chances to see the First Bend of Yangtze River.

The great Yangtze flows down from the world's roof –Tibet Plateau and enter into the Yunnan province from Batang (one Tibet County), the river mixes two other great rivers, Lancang River (Lantsang) and Nu River (the Angry River) here, and then the Three Parallel Rivers landscape is formed. The river suddenly topped by Hailou Mountain Cliff and takes a sudden turn to the northeast in the Shangri-la County, therefore the peculiar 'V' shape valley appears, and the world famous Tiger Leaping Gorge was created. If you have discovered the Yangtze River along your Yangtze River cruises, exploring the impressive The First Bend of Yangtze River would offer you more idea about the Mother River of China.

The water of the First Bend of Yangtze and the Tiger Leaping Gorge is treacherous, fast and deep. Only few ferries can be used to cross the river, it is called the wondrous spectacle. Due to its geographic importance and precipitous, ancient militaries and strategists fought a lot for this place. The First Bend of Yangtze River is highly preferred by the adventure-lovers when picking destinations for their affordable China tours.

The name of the First Bend of the Yangtze River in Naxi language (Naxi minority is one of the main minorities here) is pronounced 'Ciba', with a meaning of the place where tigers roaring or the flower of the tiger minority. Knowing this before enjoying your China travel service for the First Bend of Yangtze River would make your trip more intriguing.

Legend goes that the Nu River, Lancang River and Jinsha River are sisters and once travelled here, they had point of disagreement where to go next, therefore the older two sisters (Nu River and Lancang River) went south while the Jinsha River swore to find her love and own luminosity on the east, so they departed at Shigu Village and the persistent little girl of Jinsha River transformed into the First Bend of the Yangtze. Why not discover the Yangtze River further even you have enjoyed the Yangtze River cruises from Chongqing to Yichang.

Where to see the First Bend of the Yangtze River?', Almost every tourist to Lijiang ask the same question. Be sure to keep in mind the follow travel tips and to understand your tour to see the First Bend before booking.

1. There are two places to see the First Bend of the Yangtze, one is in Shigu Village and another is on the way from Lijiang to Shigu Village (about 34 kilometers after leaving Lijiang for the village), the awesome landscapes can be seen along the No.308 provincial road, and a special viewing deck is built there and helps guest to enjoy the grand scene of the Yangtze River.

2. Usually the tour group will only see the First Bend in Shigu Village, it will be only a glance from far away and with poor direction. People need to climb the hill at the entrance of Shigu Village to see the panorama of the sight with the help of local people (maybe at an extra fee of RMB5 or 10 yuan to pass their home to the hill’s peak)

3. Don’t forget taking your wide-angle lens with you because the common cameras can not keep the whole scenery down. These tips would bring much help for your last minute deals for China travel for discovering the First Bend of Yangtze River.

The Jade Belt Bridge

The Jade Belt Bridge in Beijing's Summer Palace, one of the six bridges of the West Embankment, was built in the 15th year (175O) of Emperor Gaozong. Although located in north China, it is more of the southern Chinese style, and was obviously modeled after the singe hole stone arched bridges of areas south of the Yangtze River. Further artistic processing made it a fine example of stone arched bridges. It is as light and thin as a ribbon, and is highly arched like a rainbow. The end of the bridge is connected to the land with a reversed line, making it very beautiful. Along your China tours of Beijing, if you want to discover ancient bridges of China, the Jade Belt Bridge has much to offer.

Palace-shaped, multi-span, stone arched bridges of north China, built during the Qing Dynasty, can be represented by the 17-Arch Bridge in the Summer Palace. It is 150 meters long and eight meters high. The bridge surface slightly rises. It is somewhat void and mostly solid, with a settled and steady character. The stone balustrades are carved with more than 500stone lions, and at the end of the bridgehead balustrades are images of ferocious beasts. Appreciating the designing skills of the the Jade Belt Bridge would be a must-have for the last minute deals for China travel of bridge-engineering-addicts.

Lugouqiao

In addition, Beijing's Lugouqiao (Marco Polo)Bridge is also a famous stone arched bridge, built with many spans in the Jin Dynasty. Marco Polo once lavishly praised it. In 1937, Japanese aggressor troops launched the July 7 Incident here, thus evoking the great War of Resistance Against Japan waged by the Chinese people. Appreciating the Lugou Bridge along your Beijing tours would offer you a great chance to get closer to Chinese history.

Gallery bridges are commonly found in south China. Pedestrians can take a rest in the bridge corridor or pavilion, or set up smal1 shops to Supply food. Tablets of the gods and Buddha statues are erected in this type of gallery bridge in the countryside. Gallery bridges have great power of figurative expression which is often used in gardening. Many travelers prefer to discover Lugou bridge along their 72 hours visa free China travel of Beijing.

Wutingqiao

The Wutingqiao (Five Pavilion Bridge) in YangZhou is another famous stone arched gallery bridge. Located within the West Lake Gardening District, it was built in the 22nd year (1757) of Emperor Gaozong. The plane of the bridge is in the shape of the letter "I", in the middle of which a multi-eaved square pavilion is set up, higher than the single-eaved square pavilion on the four corners. At both ends of the bridge are slanting steps extending 55 meters. The Wuting Bridge, together with the gardening scenery of the White Pagoda, the Lianxing Temple, the Xiaojin (Little Golden) Hill and the Diaoyutai (Fishing Platform),constitute a beautiful scenic area. Many educational tours in China designed for bridge-designing students has arranged the Wutingqiao in their itinerary.

Siling Lake is on the south of Qiangtang Plateau, with an elevation of 4,530 meters. It is 72 kilometers long from west to east, and 22.8 kilometers wide on average. The widest eastern part is 40 kilometers wide. Its area is 1,640 square kilometers, and it is the largest lake in Tibet. If you are a photographing-lover, you should never miss Siling Lake along your China travel, which would offer what you want to capture.

Siling is the big devil who used to live west of Lhasa. He was always swallowing thousands of living creatures including beasts and men. Everyone felt troubled by him. Knowing the mysterious legend told by your tour guide would make your China tour packages to Siling Lake much interesting.

On a morning, after a heavy storm, Padmasambhava, who had been slaying demons, finally found Siling. Unable to repel Padmasambhava, Siling fled to a vast muddy lake on the south of Gangni Qiangtang. Padmasambhava commanded him to stay in the lake and never to leave it, and not to kill the creatures in the water. Subsequently the lake was named Siling Lake. Many businessmen come to seek some business opportunities around the Pangong Tso Lake while enjoying their Pangong Tso Lake China business travel to Tibet.

Pangong Tso Lake is located north of Ngari in the west of Tibet. Though it doesn’t have a peculiar and sacred religious significance, it is well known by local people. he lake is long and its western end is in Kashmir, where it is a salt water lake with little animal or plant life. Its middle and east part is freshwater, and there are abundant fish and waterweeds. Why not join the China Tibet tours to witness this scared lake?