China on A Shoestring

China is not only the largest country in the world with 20% of the world''s people, it is also the world''s oldest continuing culture. Its more popular tourist attractions include the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, and the Forbidden City in or near Beijing, and the ancient cities of Xi''an, Nanjing, and Kaifeng. Natural attractions include the Yellow River, the Long River, the Himalayas, and the unique natural beauty of Guilin. A China tour can be quite affordable if you use a discount tour company.

China tour companies and travel agencies offer group and individual tours. Deep discounts are often available for hotels, rent-a-car, air tickets, and more ? discounts can reach 50-70% of normal price. Even during the peak tourist season, hotel rates offered by many China tour operators can be quite affordable for Westerners used to the sky-high costs charged in Europe. Some of the most popular China-related travel agencies include China Comfort Travel, China International Travel Service, and several companies on the web.

Because of China''s large size (about the size of the United States), individual travel over a short time can be a logistical nightmare. Accordingly, China tour companies offer comprehensive tour packages that will allow you to see a lot of China as possible during a short tour. The China Tour Service offers several theme-oriented tours including a Tibetan adventure tour, a Silk Road tour, and a cruise on the Yangtze River Cruise. China Custom Tours offers a few special interest tours to remote or unique locations rarely seem by most tourists. This is only the tip of the iceberg. If you so desire, you can take a martial arts tour of China tour or go trekking in the Himalayas.

Foreigners visiting China should to register with their embassy in Beijing in case of loss of passport, accident, kidnap by a Yeti, or other unexpected difficulties.

The Discount World Travel blog offers comprehensive information about discount travel to various international destinations.