Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Feb 15

A Guide to the Chinatown Bus

The word is out-the most cost-effective technique to get from one major U.S.  City to another is on the’Chinatown bus’.  Recently this has become transportation option of choice for budget travelers in the Big Apple, Washington DC, and Boston, and more lately on the West Coast.  Scholars, backpackers, and an array of other savvy travelers have long liked the rock bottom costs that these bus companies offer.  Notwithstanding the idolization of these bus lines it can still be tricky to find information on Chinatown bus service. 
What exactly is a’Chinatown Bus’?  Read on and you will have the inside track on this great budget travel option. 

Chinatown Bus history

The Chinatown bus phenomenon started in the late 1990s when a businessman in NY’s Chinatown started running daily bus service from Chinatown in the Big Apple to Chinatown in Boston.  The service was aimed at Asian immigrants who wished to shop or visit relatives in either town and needed inexpensive and convenient transportation.  The service was bare bones-no advertising, customer service, or bus stations.  Shoppers simply went to the bus stop, waited for the bus ( or wagon ), and paid the driver upon boarding.  For those ready to do without frills, they offered virtually the same service as traditional bus firms at a significantly lower cost.  Before long, the word spread and all categories of people started to use the service.  It became especially well liked by scholars, budget travelers, or people for whom the service was simply more convenient. 

soon more bus firms duplicated this model and started offering service in other towns.  Now you’ll be able to find this type of bus service in Philadelphia, Virginia, Baltimore Washington DC, L.  A.  , las vegas and San Francisco.  At this point the term’Chinatown bus’ is used more loosely to explain this kind of low-cost/low-frills service.  Many if not most, of the companies do not have Chinatown as their main location and may not serve the immigrant population at all .  These operators are also often referred to as’curbside’ operators. 

How can tickets be so cheap?

$15 between New York to Boston?  $25 from Vegas to Los Angeles?  It appears hard to fathom.  Chinatown bus corporations can keep costs low because they operate in a fundamentally different way from normal carriers.  Foremost, the service is very basic.  There’s not much in the way of client service or comforts.  Most of these operators don’t have formal stations, picking up passengers at bus stops instead.  They eschew traditional advertising in favour of recommendation by friends.  Further, lots of the operators play a very hands-on role in the operation-you won’t see idle operatives at a little independent bus company.  Finally, these operators make sure they fill their buses.  That is why Chinatown bus operators often only operate on heavily trafficked routes.  Indeed some companies only run buses at peak times.

Are they safe?

When these firms first started operating, concerns were raised about safety standards.  There’s still controversy within the bus industry about whether these newbies are complying with the same regulations as the standard firms. However a task force set up by the federal government to look at issues of safety revealed that Chinatown bus corporations didn’t perform good or bad than other kinds of bus firms ( ie.  Charter, tour buses ).  All bus companies operating in the U.S.  Must undergo the same inspection standards and must go along with the same rules.  Realistically there’s probably a selection of quality among Chinatown bus carriers.  Some are fly-by-night operators attempting to make a fast buck, while others are bonafide entrepreneurs who intend to grow and operate a long-term business. 

What you need to expect

• No frills service-the driver may be the ticket collector ; there won’t be a lot of purchaser service.
• Comfortable buses.  Despite the low fares buses are usually quite nice.  Most buses are comparable to Greyhound and many are really more deluxe.
• Communication challenges.  Drivers are legally required to communicate enough English to help passengers in the case of emergency.  In reality this is frequently sticked to rather loosely.  At the very least, expect your driver to have an accent.
• Possible delays.  Many of these bus routes are on highly congested roads.  When the roads are busy, expect delays.
• Rest stops.  Buses will have a can on board but there is customarily a 10 or 15 minute bathroom break on trips over 4 hours.  Don’t be late returning to the bus, the driver will not count heads before leaving at the allocated time.
• Full buses.  Buses definitely sell out at peak times ( weekends and evenings ).  Book ahead or get there early if you want secure a seat.
• Plastic Bags.  An odd small affectation on Chinatown buses is that every aisle seat generally has a plastic grocery bag tied to the arm.  I guess they find this is the best way to keep the buses clean.

How do I find the Chinatown Bus?

Again,’Chinatown bus’ is a term used to explain a sort of operator and not an individual bus company.  Many not related bus corporations fall into this class.  Since most Chinatown buses do not spend money on advertising it can be tough to find out details about schedules and bus stop locations.  Lots of the carriers are becoming savvier about the Internet and quite a few have websites with info.  Sometimes an internet search will yield links to bus service to your destination.  There are also several directories, such as chinatown-bus.org that include links for most Chinatown bus companies and the writer’s employer, GotoBus.com, is a centralized booking site that has schedules and sells tickets online for most Chinatown bus corporations. 

The Chinatown bus is not for everybody.  If you want an orderly system with American style customer service, you should likely stick to traditional carriers.  However if you know what to expect and come prepared with a feeling of adventure and humor, you must enjoy the trip fine.  You’ll also enjoy the money you save!

Enjoy traveling around the world? If you love to travel, check out famouswonders.com to see the most famous places around the world and also have a look at Shouxi Lake China.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Aug 11

Planning to have some fun near your hotel in Beijing? Getting ready to wind down after a tiring day? Looking for one of a kind party experience to jazz up your stay in Beijing?

Then visit Sanlitun Street-the best place to pull in Beijing-with top bars, cafes, nightclubs and restaurants the city can possibly offer.

During the Beijing Olympics, swimming star Michael Phelps, soccer star Renaldhino, and movie star Vince Vaughn were among the many celebrities to make appearance at the bars here.

Known as ‘Sanlitun Bar Street’ among locals, this hot nightlife venue lies in the famous embassy area not far from Beijing’s east 3rd Ring Road. Every day from afternoon till late night, this bar street is overflowing with foreign tourists, expats, and locals who have excess energy to burn.

The street comprises two parts: Sanlitun North and Sanlitun South. Sanlitun North is where most bars are located, where you could rock until early morning. It’s not far fromthe 4 star Beijing Taiyue Suites Hotel.

This north part of the street is home to several dozen bars, most of have tables outside where customers can have a drink while enjoy the fresh air. The treat can be agreeable even in Beijing’s hot summer, because the dense trees keep you out of the sun and offer you only cool shade.

Most of the bars on the street offer liquor and beer from around the world to cater to an increasing number of international customers. Some even offer drinks from your hometown!

Despite this, many visitors to China fall in love with local draft beers such as Yangjing and Tsingtao, which are palatable and refreshing by anyone’s taste. Prices for these two beers go around 25 RMB (a little over $3 US), expensive by Beijing standards, but still cheaper than back home.

Another good spot to visit for drinks at low pricesis the bar at the Beijing Avic hotel.

At night, many bars stage live band performances, which soon bring the party to its climax. Party goers groove to beats from DJs or covers and originals by local bands, bartenders work magic as they pour your drink, and waitresses weave their way through tables to deliver your order. You might find the spirit slightly different from that back home, but with the good looking crowd and sexy ambience, who cares!

Of course, if you need quiet surroundings to have an intimate conversation with your loved one, you could find bars hidden in the alleyways offering just that. Lovely surroundings create cozy and romantic ambience.

Most of the bars offer salad, hamburgers, spaghetti, and soup, so you can have a quick dinner here. Otherwise, just go to Sanlitun South for a formal meal.

Sanlitun South gathers some of Beijing’s best restaurants for south Asian cuisines. A considerable number of ambassadors and diplomats are among the regular customers.

Ok, you know the street, now it’s time for you to set out to experience all the fun at firsthandJust don’t have so much drink that you can’t return to your Beijing hotel or miss your Great Wall tour the next morning!

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Aug 3

Beijing’s Confucius Temple, built for the great Chinese educator and philosopher, lies on the north side of the city, just a few minutes away from the 4 star Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

Each day there are people paying homage to the man who had altered the course of Chinese culture and history. And you won’t find yourself a better place to get to know China.

As soon as you step in this ancient sanctuary, you are sure to be astonished by the lushness of its trees. Many of them have been there since the time the temple was built, testifying to the reverence the Chinese hold to Confucius.

There 198 large stone tablets lie in rows on each side of the path that leads you to the main courtyard. The tablets bear the names of all 51,624 Jingshi scholars who passed the imperial exams throughout Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Having passed the world’s oldest civil service system, these scholars joined ancient China’s social elite. To became a Jingshi scholar and hold a government post, first one would have to pass various Confucian exams held in his home provinces. If they can succeed in these exams, they will enter the final and most important one – the exam to which to topic will be assigned by the emperor himself.

The chance of fail was high: Only one thousandth could pass the imperial exam, and the previous exams that brought one scholar to this point had already took him ten years. Still, more were coming to try their luck, for success in the imperial exam could mean wealth and honor of their family.

Just past the tablets, a huge gate stands at the entrance to the main courtyard. Under the gate are a Chinese drum and a bell. Throughout his life, Confucius had been a great advocate of harmony among people. But was the best tool to accomplish that? He suggested music, which allows one to achieve mental peace and makes him a true lover of harmony.

Once in the main courtyard, you will be immediately attracted by a large, old well. This isn’t any well; it got its name Yanshui from a Qing dynasty emperor. Legend has it that anyone who drinks water from this well will become quick-witted and pass their exams. Come here and you seem to be able to picture the crowd of hundreds of Jingshi-scholar wannabes who came for the special water, hoping it could help in passing the imperial exam.

The dominant building in the courtyard is Da Cheng Dian – Hall of Ultimate Accomplishment. This is the hall where people offer their reverence to Confucius. Various emperors had personally written tablets to Confucius to be hanged here. One written by Emperor Kangxi says: The Eternal Mentor.

Following a thousand-year-old imperial tradition, Emperor Kangxi offer sacrifices to Confucius every year. The emperor would chair a series of imperial rites with the height being a grand dance performed by 64 dancers. The dance was only performed to pay tribute to the most important imperial ancestors. Throughout Chinese history, few figures who were not royals enjoyed such an honor as Confucius did.

Also under the roof are shrines of accomplished Confucius disciples who had helped to bring Confucius doctrine to people in all around the country.

There are many prime hotels in Beijing nearthe Confucian temple, some only a few minutes away by walk. See some of the best hotels in Beijing here.  

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Aug 3

A China tourist visa is required of all U.S. citizens who wish to enter the mainland for tourism. While the Chinese consular services offers several differnt types of visas, this article will provide information on how to apply for a China tourist visa.

Visa applications by mail are no longer accepted by the Chinese consular services. The application can be submitted personally by you or you can get another person to do it for you. A family member, friend, travel agent or visa expediter can do this for you.

China visas have validities of 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. You can ask for a single, double or multiple entry visa. An additional travel permit is necessary in order to visit any non-open city. You can get this in China at the local public security bureau.

The China Tourist Visa

A China tourist visa, also known as an L visa, is usually valid for 30 days from the day of entry. Upon arrival, your documents will be examined by an inspection agent. If all your documentation is in order, an entry seal will be stamped in them. Request for an extention can be made while in China at the local public security bureau.

The tourist visa only allows you to travel to China for sightseeing or to visit family. If you want to travel to any area not yet opened to tourists, you will have to apply for a Foreign Travel Permit at the local public security organ.

Chinese Visa Requirements

The following items are required in order to obtain a tourist visa to China.

Completed Declaration Form

The Declaration Form became effective in May of 2009 and is a requirement for all those who are applying for a Chinese visa. The form includes space for name, nationality, passport number and a list of countries or U.S. states you have been to during the two weeks prior to submitting the form.

Your Current US Passport

You have to submit your current, valid and signed U.S. passport along with the application for the tourist visa. Your passport should have at least six (6) months validity remaining after your intended arrival to China. Also, you should make sure you have at least one blank visa page in your passport.

One Recent Photograph

The photograph must be 2×2 inches in size. To avoid problems you should get your photograph at a place that has experience with this type of photo. The photo will only be accepted by the consulate if it is high resolution, clear, and provides proper contrast with white background.

Completed China Visa Application

The China visa application has seven sections. The first section is for personal information such as name, sex, nationality, date of birth, passport number, occupation, etc. The second section is where you provide information about your trip to China. This includes the purpose of your trip, intended number of entries, date of entry and length of stay.

Questions about your health and prior travel are found in Section 3. You need to include information about previous trips to China. Section 4 is for your contact information such as home address, work or school address, contact in China, telephone numbers and email.

Additional declarations about your travel plans are made in the fifth section. The sixth section asks information about the person that completed the form if other than the person requesting the visa. The seventh and final section is for your signature.

How to Get Your China Tourist Visa Quickly

Regular processing of your visa to China can take 4 business days or more. If you need to get your visa in a hurry, the Chinese consular services offers express and rush processing. Express processing takes 2 to 3 business days. It only takes one business day for rush processing. There are additional fees for expedited service.

If you are unable to travel to the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate general and do not have a friend or relative who can do it for you, then you will need to contract a private visa expediter. An expediter can submit your visa application and documents to the consulate for you. This allows you to get your China visa expedited as quickly as the same day.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jul 27

Lao She Teahouse, sitting at the center of Beijing not far from the Hwa Apartment Hotel, is where tourists get a taste of old Beijing life while sitting down for a good cup of tea.

Former U.S. president George H. The teahouse even appealed former U.S. president George H. Bush and Jordanian queen Rania to step in for a good cuppa.

It, indeed, has much to offer.

The building itself is a Qing dynasty-style loft structure, so the establishment really brings you back in time at your first sight! The waiters wear ancient outfits, and greet you in a very special way that seasoned Beijingers say reminds them of the city’s old days.

Despite being called a teahouse, Lao She is more like an entertainment venue, where some of China’s finest traditional performing arts are staged every night. On its third floor, you can enjoy acrobatics, Kung Fu shows, Peking opera, ventriloquism, cross-talk, and the famous face-changing dance while taking a sip of your favorite tea.

One of the most welcomed performances is the face-changing dance that originated in Sichuan province. A performer will wave his arms and twist his head as his painted mask changes, almost by magic, often in less than one second. The best dancers can bring up 30 different masks at one go. Due to difficulty of changing masks faster than the eyes blink, only a small number of artists can perform this old dance today. There are also occasionally such performances around the Haige International Hotel.

Another program that also amazes many is the ‘Han Deng Da Gu.Singers of this ancient folk art don’t sing in the normal way. They light up a few of candles, put the candles on a holder, put the holder in their mouths, and sing.

They need to somehow keep the balance of the holder using the muscles in their face, otherwise the candles will fall. Han Deng Da Gu signers of the Lao She Teahouse are all masters. They sing so skillfully that their sound is hardly comprised by the holder in their mouths. All around China, only a few of singers are able to perform this ancient art because it is simply too difficult to master.

But that’s not all they offer at the Lao She teahouse. Here waiters pour tea in a procession that looks more like an acrobatic show. The pot they use is quite usual for it has a long and thin spout with the length of up to 1.5 meters. When serving, the waiter tosses the pot around before pouring your tea from the long spout without splashing even a drop. This is a task few can perform, and therefore is often met by much applause.

You can also enjoy a variety of Beijing snacks as you enjoy the shows. Rolling Donkey, known as Lv Da Gun in Chinese, is actually a dish of glutinous rice balls stuffed with bean paste. Millet Mush, or Mian Cha as known in Chinese, is a kind of porridge made with sesame and peanut butter. Sweet tooth may try Wan Dou Huang, a serving of small cakes made of soybeans.

Prices are reasonable; an average of 50-60 dollars should be enough to cover the fare of the shows, tea and a couple of snacks. Business hours: 14:00 – 22:00.

The Lao She Teahouse’s location in central Beijing is very convenient, and you can book a Beijing hotel here.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jul 22

With slick new malls opening all over the city, Beijing definitely is a shopper’s stop. But one street in particular is right next to some of Beijing’s most famous hotels, and it keeps the style of the old.

Suppose you want to shop somewhere with a little history, somewhere where you can get lost in antiques and traditional Chinese art forms. History for Beijing’s liulichang street traces back to the early Ming dynasty in the 16th century, and there is no shortage of unique Chinese gifts here.

For centuries, the street remained one of Beijing’s most prosperous shopping grounds. Today people shop from window to window on this very street for unique Chinese gifts, such as fans, brush paintings, tea sets, shadow puppets, antiques, and a variety of ethnic items.

For unique Chinese gifts to bring back, this is just the place for you!

Here are some of the shops:

Pin Hu Tang – A Good Cup of Tea Made Easy

This quaint shop at the west end of Liulichang Street is where big-time tea lovers go for authentic Yixing purple clay teapots. It’s not far from the Haige International Hotel. 

Yixing teapots are said to be able to improve your tea by allowing tea aromas to build up right in the walls of the pot. The key is the special purple clay they use for the pots: the clay is micro porous and absorbent.

The clay is found nowhere but Yixing, and the shop carries a large collection of teapots made of this clay and from their own kiln. The owner himself is a well-know teapot maker in Beijing.

The designs of their teapots are pretty unique. There you will find shapes imitating pumpkins, gourds, stumps, and castles, to name a few. And you will find skillful engravings on these teapots: a scene showing harmony between man and nature, a quotation from an ancient love poem, or an auspicious animal mounting the lid to entertain your eyes…

These really are things you won’t find in your back home! That might be why so many tourists would like to spend their travel dollars here.

Gu Miao Hua Yuan –- Pristine Beauty of Flowers Live On Your Walls

This interesting little shop is tucked away in a 600-year-old building and offers exceptional Chinese flower paintings that have found their way into the homes of many Beijingers. It is just a short cab ride from Hwa Apratment Hotel.

In the shop, you’ll find paintings of plums, orchids, chrysanthemum, as well as bamboo; they all are the work of our master - Mr. Xie.

Mr. Xie owns this shop. He specializes in painting many flowers, but what he is the best at and he loves most is painting peony. He’s spent more than a decade observing the flower so as to create works that are true to nature.

Not everyone can accomplish such an achievement!

Upon your request, Mr. Frame works, and scroll works which is easier to carry, are both available in the shop.

Qing Ci Lan Ting – A Lovely Touch To Your Home

This interesting little shop with an old-fashioned façade carries a large collection of celadon products made in Longquan, a southern Chinese town knows as the hometown of celadon.

There you will find a nice array of products with designs that are rarely seen outside of China. For example, a bowl is engraved with a pair of fish that are unique to a small river in Longquan. Another teapot looks like a big river snail. It is very likely that you wouldn’t recognize it at first sight!

In fact, there is a little something for each and every home: a hat-style vase that is nice for holding roses, a pumpkin-shaped jar for placing CDs, and a lotus leaf platter for holding dishes, and so on.

Some products bear cracks. They are made by an ancient technique. New cracks keep showing up ever since a celadon ware is made, but the ware won’t break into pieces as the glaze holds it into one piece. The cracks only add up to a more gorgeous looking item.

Anyone who comes in will be served a cup of tea for free. The manager is a young, nice lady. Quite a celadon expert, she knows celadon well and is kind enough to tell whatever you hope to know.