By: Alex De Mostafa

The spring of 2009 heralds the arrival of the 105th annual Canton Trade Show and Fair, the largest mainland exhibition of import and export consumer goods in China. This international exhibition boasts an average of over 55 000 vendor booths from approximately 22 000 national businesses and over 400 international import and export exhibitors.

The China Import and Export Fair, as it is also known as, is hosted in three separate sessions. This year, Phase One will be run from April 15th-19th, Phase Two will occur from April 24th-28th and the third and final phase finishes up during May 3rd-May 7th.

Goods and services from all over the world are featured each year at this international trade venue. Whether you are a private citizen or a progressive business entrepreneur, there is an impetus to visit this gathering to peruse the latest accomplishments offered for trade and to inspire commerce. Innovative and contemporary advancements in technology, electronics, construction, transportation, medicine, travel, sports, business, health and recreation will be introduced and demonstrated. A bird’s eye view of progress will showcase the most recent improvements in automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles. Faster, more compact, more economical and more versatile alternatives to existing technology will be available to inspect and to aspire toward owning.

The latest trends in fashion, home decor, textiles will be presented and admired for their creativity and unique appeal. New personal care products, toiletries and clothing for the whole family will be available to try on and sample. Artwork in a wide variety of media including fabric, paint, rattan, iron and glass will be displayed and available for custom orders and purchase. Carpets, tapestries, weaving, furs and leather will be highlighted in their finest forms of design. Fresh food, gourmet spices and cookery, kitchen appliances and native produce will tantalize taste buds and entice consumers to trade money for culinary delights.

If your livelihood is derived from the retail of consumer goods or if you are an artisan, consider that your business will gain an average additional 10 percent in turn-over per year. Each time you choose to vendor your wares at a booth during one of the largest world trade fairs, you will increase your profits by a significant portion of sales. Approximately 175 000 foreign buyers attend the exhibition annually and in 2007 about 31 billion dollars worth of business contracts, were signed. Although attendance fluctuates from year to year and it dropped, for example, 8.5 percent in 2003 during the SARS epidemic, an additional 10 percent in your annual business profits does outweigh the cost of your travel and booth rental. Even during times of economic recession, when attendees drop from 175 000 to 162 0000 (less an estimated 8.5 percent or 12 500), that is still 162 000 clients with the potential to be new buyers for your services.

For domestic retailers in China, the opportunity for U.S. or European buyers rivals the overhead costs of floor space at the Trade Fair. Domestic consumerism is on the increase in China, making a slow but steady climb toward economic prosperity. Approximately 55 percent of business contracts signed at the China Import and Export Fair come from foreign buyers and although this percentage has shown a downward trend, its overall trend shows upward mobility. To encourage domestic commerce, China has increased the number and value of tax rebates on many items purchased domestically. To help boost the internal economy, the Chinese government has also made it easier to obtain bank credit to assist with the export of goods to foreign countries.

Expanding your business requires diversification. The Canton Trade Fair is a worthy opportunity to extend the reach of your sales. If you are looking for a fresh, new inventory or wish to keep up with the world market in technology or electronics, make some time to visit the next China Import and Export Fair.

For assistance with travel arrangements, hotel accommodations and navigating through the arrangements necessary to become a buyer or vendor at the 2009 China Import and Export Fair, contact your local travel agent. Full access to a range of hotels, vendor list, exhibition schedules, air fares and travel information can be found in one convenient website.

Article Source: http://articles-mart.com

Wentrip.com provides information and travel resources in China. Whether you’re looking for a canton fair hotel, Beijing hotels or are traveling to a different city or region Wentrip.com will help you find the right advice and accommodations fast.

The city government of Nanjing, eastern Jiangsu province, has decided to give away 20 million-yuan-worth of tourism coupons to urban residents in an effort to spur local consumption.

This is the fourth Chinese city that has introduced free coupons programs as a means to help spur their local consumptions following Hangzhou of Zhejing province, Chengdu of Sichuan province and Dongguan of Guangdong province.

According to Nanjing-based Yangtze Evening Post, each of the 200,000 households in the city will get a 100 yuan worth of coupons, which will be handed out in four months from March to June.

The first group of local families were selected as eligible first to get the coupons on Monday through a lottery, through which each household got its own number to pick up the freebies in one of the four upcoming months.

The coupons, with face values at 10, 20 and 50 yuan respectively, can be used as travel expenses to 37 designated tourism attractions around the city. The coupons sum is required to be less than half of the total payment.

Mu Genglin, vice director of the city’s tourism administration, said the coupons are expected to bring a corresponding consumption of as much as 200 million yuan in the local tourism sector.

The government of Hangzhou, eastern Zhejiang Province, is reported to further plan another shopping coupon program to cover its civil servants for consumption payments.

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Amidst our busy hectic schedule, tours and vacations are the only times where we can get our physical as well as mental body recharged and hence it is very vital to choose a place which you make you freak out all your worries and when you return back you muse be on the top of the world with such high energy!! So one of the hottest spots in china which could provide you with all fun you were waiting for is “Taichung”. Here is some of  the information you wanted to know about Taichung.

Location of Taichung:

For any tourist spot, location is the prime factor and hence the location of Taichung is very favorable as there are many means of transport by which we can reach there. The Taichung basin is found in the western plain and the location of Taichung is found there. Taichung being the third largest city in Taiwan by no doubt has tourist all throughout the year from various parts of the world.

Climate of Taichung:

The climate of the country is very pleasant and to the maximum of about 73 F can be experienced over the year. Also as the humidity level is high, the chillness prevails in the country and hence the other places in Taiwan too have a very mild climate. As china is always famous for its typhoons, Taichung also has been a victim for severe typhoons but the fact is that they occur very occasionally.

History of Taichung in a glance:

The origin of Taichung was in the year 1705 when it was parted from the country of Changhua. Right from the day it was taken as a separate country till today, we have much new advancement in the country which thereby leading to more in habitants. The country’s ruling began with the dynasty of Qing and Dadun was placed as the capital of the country. As time rolled, the Japanese won over the Chinese during the Sino Japanese War and this made the country men to be ruled under the Japanese kingdom. For more than a decade, Japanese were involved in ruling the Taiwan and they too brought so many benefits and advancements in the country.

But during the Second World War, the Chinese republic force got back their country by defeating the Japanese. We had people from native ruling the country and this was termed as the Chinese nationalist era.

Popular tourist spots in Taichung:

Starting with the temples, which are spread out all over the city of Taichung are people’s favorite places and here goes the list of few temples:

* The martyr’s shrine
* The Cheng Huang temple
* Li ancestral shrine
* Wan He Temple
* Wan Chun Temple and many more.

Let’s now look at some of the places where you can hang out whenever you get sick of routine plans.

* KaoMay Marsh- one beautiful place where sunset visualized is stunning
* One spot for weekend tour is the Lavender forests.
* Dah-Ken one of the exciting forest Park can make your holidays very memorable.
* The Jing Ming location where people hang out for tea breaks.

Not only the above mentioned places but also for the mountains and the beautiful scenic beauty, Taichung is famous for. Hence it is very important for all of us to visit Taichung at least once in our life time and if you do not visit, you will miss something great in your life!!

Lin Shi Family Temple

Xi’an is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, and is the capital of Shaanxi Province. Xi’an is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and known as the site of the Terracotta Army, made during the Qin Dynasty. The city has more than 3,100 years of history, and was known as Chang’an  (literally “Perpetual Peace”) before the Ming Dynasty. Xi’an means literally “Western Peace”.

Xi’an will host the 2011 World Horticultural Exposition b. The 2011 World Horti-Expo will be held from April 11 to October 11, 2011 as an exhibition of A2+B1 level, which permits local government to apply.The Expo is expected to bring some 10 million visitors to Xi’an. The venue will be located in a new district of the city, Chanba district.

Xi’an also has largest internet bar in the world with more than 3000 computers is located in . As one of the largest educational centres in China, with a huge number of undergraduate students, online games are very popular in the area. Xi’an has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as ACON5, CEG2006, and WCG2006.

Some popular attractions in Xi’an are the Terracotta Army, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower of Xi’an, Hua Shan (Mount Hua), City wall of Xi’an, and the Tang Paradise.

Tang Paradise is a large theme park near the city of Xi’an. The park is at or near the site of an earlier garden complex in the Tang Dynasty, but consists almost entirely of modern construction. In the evening the many thousands of visitors are treated to a spectacular Lake Show, featuring Lasers, video projection onto water screens, fountains and other special effects.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda or Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi’an. One of the pagoda’s many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveller Xuanzang.

Bell Tower of Xi'an

The Temple of Confucius was shown on a travel guide on TV here a few nights ago, so I thought I would “look it up”

A Temple of Confucius or Confucian temple  is a temple devoted to the memory of Confucius and the sages and philosophers of Confucianism. There are several countries that have them, but the argest and oldest Temple of Confucius is found in Confucius’s hometown, present-day Qufu in Shandong Province. It was established in 478 BC, one year after Confucius’s death, at the order of the Duke Ai of the State of Lu, who commanded that the Confucian residence should be used to worship and offer sacrifice to Confucius. The temple was expanded repeatedly over a period of more than 2,000 years until it became the huge complex currently standing.

Most Confucianist temples were built in Confucian schools, either to the front of or on one side of the school. The front portal of the temple was called the Lingxing Gate . Inside there were normally three courtyards, although sometimes there were only two. However, the complex in Qufu has nine courtyards. The main building, situated in the inner courtyard with entry via the Dachengmen, was usually known as the Dachengdian, variously translated as “Hall of Great Achievement”, “Hall of Great Accomplishment”, or “Hall of Great Perfection”. This hall housed the Confucius Ancestral Tablet and those of other important masters and sages. In front of the Dachengdian was the Apricot Pavilion or Xingtan .  Another important building was the Shrine of the Great Wise Men (Chongshengci , which honoured the ancestors of Confucius.

Unlike Daoist or Buddhist temples, Confucian temples do not normally have images. In the early years of the temple in Qufu, it appears that the spirits of Confucius and his disciples were represented with wall paintings and clay or wooden statues. Official temples also contained images of Confucius himself. However, there was opposition to this practice, which was seen as imitative of Buddhist temples. It was also argued that the point of the imperial temples was to honour Confucius’s teachings, not the man himself.

The lack of unity in likenesses in statues of Confucius first led Emperor Taizu of the Ming dynasty to decree that all new Confucian temples should contain only memorial tablets and no images. In 1530, it was decided that all existing images of Confucius should be replaced with memorial tablets in imperial temples in the capital and other bureaucratic locations, a rule still followed today. However, statues remained in temples operated by Confucius’s family descendants, such as that in Qufu.

Other countries that have a Temple of Confucius are Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Regalia Resort & Spa
No. 2 Li Gong Di, Jiangsu Province, 215021 Suzhou

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Romantically set on Jin Ji Lake, this is a magnificent sanctuary on the tip of Li Gong Di Island, blending ancient Ming and Qing influences with the surrounding culture’s warmth.

Regalia Resort & Spa boasts unique architecture and a lush tropical garden. It is full of exotic plants, and there is a secluded pond adding to the quiet atmosphere. Each villa enjoys a 270 degree lake view.

State-of-the-art audio visual equipment is offered within the multi-functional conference space. A variety of irresistible menus are available to choose from Thai, Asian and Western cuisines.

Energize at the fitness centre, or rent a bicycle. Relax at the spa, sauna and pool. When ready for sightseeing, ask at the tour and ticket desk. For trips further away, use the car rental facility.

Suzhou is a Chinese city famous for its gardens. Along with its gardens there are also many other attractions in the city.
The most popular of the Suzhou attractions are described below.
i) The Humble Administrator’s Garden- This garden is located in Suzhou’s northeast part and is the city’s largest private garden. It was constructed during the Ming dynasty and has ponds, streams, islands having bamboo forests and bridges. The garden complex is devided into four parts, eastern, western, central and a dwelling quarter. The dwelling quarter has many Suzhou architectures and serves as the museum and exhibition hall. The garden’s eastern side has attractions like Dotted Clouded Peak, Orchid Snow Hall, Lotus Flower Waterside Pavilion, etc. The central part consists of corridors pavilions, lush vegetations, mansions, etc. The garden’s western part has the 36 Mandarin Duck Hall, ponds, terraces and corridors. Since the garden is large and natural, visitors can walk leisurely for an hour.
ii) Lingering Garden- This garden was also built during the Ming dynasty. The garden consists of a pond, buildings in the southeast part and bells in the northwest part. The eastern part has courtyards and halls among which the largest is the Wufengxian Hall.
iii) Panmen Gate- The Panmen Gate lies in the city’s southwest corner. This gate consists of two land gates, two water passes, an area of ambush outside of city gate, city walls and a city tower. The Wumen Bridge and the Ruijuang Pagoda lies inside the gate.
iv) The Lion Grove- It is also an interesting garden in Suzhou famous for its deep caves and odd shaped rocks. This garden was built during the Yuan dynasty and the buildings inside the garden consist of Yuan dynasty’s architecture.
v) The Cangling Pavilion- This 10th century garden is the oldest garden existing in Suzhou city. The garden’s layout has a combination of outside and inside natural landscape. The garden’s main features are its winding corridors, flowery walls and rocks.
vi) Garden of Master of the Nets- It is the smallest, most delicate garden in the city and is also known as the Fisherman’s Garden. The garden has a residential quarter consisting of halls closely linked by a corridor. It also has a pond, decorated with rocks, plants, stone bridges and pavilions.
vi) Tiger Hill- The Tiger Hill is 36 meters in height and stands in the northwest part of Suzhou, outside the lumen gate. The Qianren Rock and the crystal clear Sword Pond is located midway up this hill. The famous Yunyan Temple is also located on this hill.
vii) Hanshan Temple- This temple is the most important landmark of Suzhou city and lies on the Grand Canal. The temple represents the architectural work of the Qing dynasty. It consists of a large bell and a stone inscription with poem written by the famous poet Zhangji.
viii) Guanqian Street- This street consists of century old shops, alleys and restaurants which serve authentic Suzhou cuisine. The street is 760 meters long and has three sections. This strret is among the famous of the Suzhou attractions and has a blend of religion, culture, business, and food delights.
ix) Suzhou Silk Museum- This museum is the world’s only silk-centric museum. The museum has three parts, the Modern Halls, the Ancient Halls and the Contemporary Halls. The Ancient Halls has silk displays of the Ancient China. The Contemporary and the Modern Halls displays the modern silk processes and products.
x) Tongli Ancient Town- It is a 1000 year old town located a short distance from Suzhou. This town is very attractive to visitors and tourists with its stone bridges, well preserved ancient architectures consisting of, temples, houses and gardens.

Hangzhou city attracts millions of tourists all over the world every year. The city is famous for its unique environment, scenic splendour, cultural and historical features.
The famous Hangzou attractions include the following places.
i) West Lake- The area of the West Lake Scenic Area is 60 square kms among which the area of the West Lake is 5.6 square kms. Three sides of the lake is surrounded with hills and the other side faces the downturn area. The two causeways in the lake are called Su Causeway and Bai Causeway. These causeways devide the lake into five parts. The outer lake consists of 3 man-made islands called, Mr. Ruan Tyuan’s Mount, Mid Lake Pavilion and the Three Pools Mirroring The Moon. The beauty of this lake is intensified by ‘Ten new West Lake view’ and ‘Ten West Lake view’.
ii) Lingyin Temple- It is the largest temple in Hangzhou city. The temple has many halls and corridors consisting of the Hall of the Great Hero, Hall of the Heavenly King, Hall of the Buddha of Medicine, the West and East Winding Corridors. This temple also has a large collection of Buddhism relics and treasures. The Lingyin temple is an important temple of Buddhists in the region and is popular both among pilgrims and tourists.
iii) Peak Flown From Afar- It is a limestone peak of 209 meters and lies opposite the Lingyin temple. Near this peak, on its slope lies the ‘Peak Flew From Afar Cave’. This cave has more than 300 stone figures of Buddha appearing in different poses.
iv) Six Harmonies Pagoda- It is located on the Qaintang River’s bank. This pagoda has seven storeys with eight sides and thirteen upturned eaves. These eaves get narrower towards the top. Visitors can get to the pagoda’s top through a spiraling staircase and get a nice view of Qaintang River and its bridge.
v) Grand Canal- This man-made legendary canal runs between Hangzhou in the south and Beijing in the north. The canal is 1747 kms long and interconnects five rivers, the Yellow River, the Haihi River, the Qaintang River and the Yangtze River. Tourists can take boat trips through this canal and get scenic views of China’s arched stone bridges, typical water villages, Chinese countryside and the riverside ancient buildings.
vi) Tomb of General Yufei- The tomb of General Yufei is located on the bank of West Lake. A temple is located near the tomb and composes of a group of buildings. Each sides of the tomb has various stone sculptures of men, sheep, horses and tigers.
vii) Hefang Old Street- This street is well designed and has shops selling souvenirs, arts, crafts and silks. Many restaurants and tea houses line the street on both sides; these restaurants serve diverse foods, both from local and various parts of the country.
viii) Xihu Tiandi- It is located on the West Lake’s southern bank and is famous as a leisure destination in Hangzhou. It has upmarket restaurants serving different local flavours, bars and boutiques selling many international brands. Visitors can take walks during the night to experience its surreal beauty.
ix) Song Dynasty Town- This town lies adjacent of the West Lake. It is arranged in the Song Style and the streets are lined with colourful stores, shops and restaurants. The town is devided into six parts, Jiulong Square, Reappearance of the Painting, Song Dynasty Town Square, Song Palaces, Romance of the Song Dynasty and Fairy Hills with Wonderful Towers.

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) — Coupons worth almost 10 million yuan (1.5 million U.S. dollars) in discounts are to be handed out to tourists in the scenic city of Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, to boost visitor numbers during the financial crisis.

The vouchers will be targeted at people living in the Yangtze Delta region and Shanghai, China Daily cited Hangzhou tourism committee as reporting on Wednesday.

Visitors will be able to use the coupons to pay entrance fees to the city’s most popular scenic sights, as well as buy tickets for entertainment events or food, according to the tourism committee.

“Boosting tourist spending is an immediate necessity for Hangzhou. Not everyone who gets the coupons will actually come, but the odds increase a lot,” said Li Hong, an official for the city’s tourism committee.

Apart from the 10 million yuan from the city’s tourism committee, the government will also help fund the Hangzhou tourism stimulus package, an official from the tourism committee said without revealing the specific amount.

Details of how the coupons will be distributed have not been finalized yet but the stimulus plan will be implemented soon if everything goes well.

Hangzhou tourism committee will subsidize the businesses that participate in the stimulus project, local media reported.

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