Group items tagged

When you book a group tour to China usually there is not much choice about what to see and when. Your day is packed from 8am to 7pm when you are taken to a restaurant where the menu is decided by the government. You are usually presented with a visit to the Great Wall of China without specifying which part of the Great Wall. To keep costs down most companies take you to the Badaling section which is close to Beijing and most of the time, very overcrowded. If you are on a group tour your not able to see any current exhibitions in any of the cities visited, because there's just not time. In the evenings, you are booked to see a performance of Beijing Opera but without any explanation what is the significance of any of the colours or costumes or masks or dances, so you'll sit there out of sheer politeness and stay till the bitter end like most tourists do.You'll go to Shanghai but you won't have time to catch a world-class performance in the magnificent Shanghai theatre (the seats are so cheap too!). Nor will you be able to ride the fastest train in China, the Maglev, as there is no time, nor will you be able to go to the charming Taikang Lu district as buses can't park down the narrow streets. However, on your group tour you will be taken on factory visits, so-called friendship shops, again earmarked by the government for tourists, in order to increase guides' commission. Most of the time clients are get annoyed that they weren't told about these visits (sometimes 3 a day) which can take up a considerable proportion of your time - for example, instead of spending some quality time at the Great Wall of China you have to go to the pearl shop and even if none of the group members buy anything, the will still guide get commission. On your group tour there will be at least 20 other people, sometimes 30 or 40, and just one guide - how many questions are you going to be able to answer? Are you going to be able to get close enough to hear them even? Fo

What if lush greenery and clear blue skies no longer exist? Guess what - dirty business can actually save our planet!

For those who are going to attend the 114th Canton Fair, you are probably would like to know what the Cantonese eat in Guangzhou? What will you eat in this city? Here let me share some information as a Chinese who have live in this city more than 5 years...

All in one travel website providing comprehensive information on where to go and what to do in Bangkok .

All in one travel website providing comprehensive information on where to go and what to do in Bangkok .

Shanghai culture, a kind of open and unique culture on the basis of China's Jiangnan traditional culture, and blending with the western culture that had a profound and lasting impact on Shanghai culture...

South India Tourism offers a lot of prospective for every age of people. Goa is well-known due to its amazing splendors and fantastic landscapes. Mumbai is an economical power of India, standing with limitless of advance lifestyles, entertainments and colorful markets. Kerala wear a canvas of awesome panorama and curing Ayurveda, while Tamil Nadu is listed for its religious flavors and heritage sites. It doesn't matter what you looks in your holiday, South India has all the potential to satisfy your needs.

Weekendtrips made the lengthy, arduous trek from our downtown Toronto office to the spacious confines of the convention centre to check out what was up with the Interior Design Show. We spoke to author, artist and now furniture designer Douglas Coupland about his new line with Vancouver furniture company Switzercultcreative; the key-piece of which is a playful, Bento-box inspired take on the antiquated escritoire of gilded studies of old. The soft-spoken author of Shampoo Planet, Microserfs, Girlfriend in a Coma (and countless other novels) was also gracious enough to play along when we quizzed about some iconic chairs. As well, you'll catch some glimpses of the booths, people, and designs that go into making IDS such a destination.

If you ever wondered what Thailand was like in the late 1980s, check out Phu Quoc Island off the southwest coast of Vietnam, the new hop on the Gulf of Siam's circuit that embraces Koh Samui, Koh Chang and Koh Kong.

What things can be more comfortable than taking a hot spring in a cold winter day? If you travel in Xi'an during the winter time, you will have a chance to enjoy the hot spring in Huaqingchi. Huaqing Hot Spring is one among the famous hot springs in China which located at the northern foot of Lishan Mountain...

School Prom is the one event that all students look forward to in their academic career. It is a night of glitz and glamor when you can let your hair down and enjoy it. What adds more glitz and glamor than a luxury limousine?

Monasteries In Ladakh may be either of the Mahayana or the Hinayana sect of Buddhism. The head lama is called a 'kushak', meaning reincarnation. The monasteries of Ladakh are what give the region its unique flavor and beauty. Typically, most gompas are built so that they perch precariously on lone rocks or craggy mountain-faces

When we first heard about the Tree Top Lofts, we immediately imagined the hastily put-together, slightly ramshackle tree houses of early childhood stories. Of course we knew this wouldn't be the case; after all, the Lofts are set to deliver a 5-star "back to nature" experience. So what really is in store?

What goes on behind the stage of first homegrown theatrical spectacular? RWS Facebook fans were treated to an exclusive Fans Special before Voyage de la Vie takes its final curtain call on 16 July!

What price would you pay to look fabulous? Here are some freaky moments captured from the Halloween Horror Nights 2 auditions!

Marine Life Park's Marine Aquaculture & Research Centre (MARC) reaches out to the young to welcome students, and to promote conservation. What was in store during the visit?

American rock band Boys Like Girls dropped by Singapore recently and here's what they have to say about the sunny island!

Korean girl group 4Minute was in Singapore recently - what do they have to say to their fans?

Ready to be overwhelmed by durians? Check out what the Durian Fest prepared for guests!