China Trip 2004

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China Trip 2004
Beijing and Xian, July 21st 30th 2004
BEIJING
XIAN
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China Trip 2004
Bordered by 12 countries
The 3rd largest country on the planet
55 recognised ethnic groups
Did you know?
Hosting the 2008 Olympic Games
Home of the Giant Panda and feng shui
Population of 1.2 billion the largest in the
world
Communist State since 1949
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China Trip 2004
Means Northern Capital
Population 12 million and rising
Tiananmen Square
The Forbidden City
Beijing
The Ming Tombs
The Summer Palace
The Temple of Heaven
The Great Wall of China
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China Trip 2004
Tiananmen Square

• Largest Square in the World
• Can hold up to 1 million people
• Mao announced Communist Revolution from here
  in 1949
• 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students here

Ming Tombs

• Built from 1409 by the Ming Emperor Yongle
• Contains the tombs of 13 Ming Dynasty
  Emperors
• Also contains tombs of 23 Empresses, 8
  concubines and 1 Prince.

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China Trip 2004
The Forbidden City

• Built by more than 200, 000 men in 1420
  for the Emperor Yongle
• Contains 800 buildings and thousands of
  chambers
• For 500 years normal Chinese Citizens
  forbidden from approaching its walls

The Temple of Heaven

• Emperors came here to pray for a good harvest
  in spring and rain in summer
• Centrepiece is the 38m high Hall of Prayer
  for Good Harvests

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China Trip 2004
The Summer Palace

• The most magnificent of all Chinas Royal
  Gardens
• Used by the Emperors as a retreat from the
  capitals heat for 800 years
• The 700m long corridor gives a superb view of
  the Kunming Lake

The Great Wall of China

• One of Chinas most magnificent sights
• Built 2500 years ago
• Total length of 6500km

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China Trip 2004
Capital of the Shaanxi Province
Wild Goose Pagoda and Huaqing Hot Springs
One of the more pleasant and prosperous Chinese
Cities
XIAN
Between 1000BC and 1000AD the city was the
Imperial Capital for 11 Chinese Dynasties
Terraccotta Army
Banpo Village
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China Trip 2004
Terraccotta Army

• Discovered in 1974 by peasants sinking a
  well near Xian
• Dating back 2200 years
• Built to guard the 1st Qin Emperor, Qin Shi
  Huangs Tomb
• More than 8000 soldiers and horses
  excavated so far
• Each has an individual facial expression

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China Trip 2004
Wild Goose Pagoda and Huaqing Hot Springs

• Gained its name from legend that nearby
  temple was built to honour a sacred goose
• Built in 652 AD, 7 storeys high with 284
  steps
• Hot Springs favoured resort of the Emperors

Banpo Village

• Excavation site of a Neolithic Village
• Occupied between 4500 BC and 3750 BC
• Remains of villagers huts and graves can be
  seen

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China Trip 2004
Tang Dynasty Show Originated in the Tang Dynasty
over 1000 years ago. Traditional music and dance
Chinese Acrobat Show Gymnastics, juggling, magic
and animal tricks
Evening Leisure Activities
Peking Opera Singing, dialogue, mime, dancing and
acrobatic fighting. Traditional Chinese costumes
and stories
Pizza Hut
Peking Duck Banquet
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China Trip 2004
Hotels
Catic Plaza Hotel, Beijing
Wan Nian Hotel, Xian
Plush eh !!!!!!
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China Trip 2004
Suncream and sunglasses
Yourselves (on time!)
Insect repellent
Hat or cap (Blue)
Camera and spare film/batteries
Plug adaptor
What To Bring
Toilet roll
Umbrella/waterproof
Plenty of shorts and T - shirts
Comfortable shoes
Chinese Yuan/dollars travellers cheques
English money
Suitcase and 1 piece of hand luggage
Smart clothes for the evenings
Common sense !
Mobile phone