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China Highlights recently managed a tour for a chorus from Central State University Chorus in the U.S. which visited Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. The group's ten-day travel experience during March 16–25 covered the most popular attractions in these three cities and four concerts at four universities.

The main activity for the Central State University chorus was to tour through the four Chinese universities. To carry out the tours smoothly, China Highlights consulted with the universities on the details of tours, including confirming show times and props. China Highlights also sent camera operators to record the concerts in Shanghai, and they made videos for the chorus.

The chorus appreciated China Highlights’ considerate service, as the concerts went smoothly and they were able to visit the key attractions in these three cities. Thr chorus visited the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, hutong, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, and Yuyuan Garden.

In addition to arranging traditional tour groups (such for families, students, and individuals), China Highlights arranges and carries out tours for many special groups, including a tour for Swiss college athletes for Shenzhen Universiade 2011, a tour for a family of love from the U.S. (a warm family with 9 children, and four girls jointed the family through the miracle of adoption from China), and tours for honeymooners. We at China Highlights are here to help you advoid all of the difficulties of travel. Consult with us for free, and have us customize a tour for you.

Related Links

• Top Things to Do in Beijing
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• Popular Beijing Tours

My very first time to join China Highlights for it China tour. I found this website while I'm doing my research for the Huangshan free and easy trip. Frankly speaking, I was really doubtful when doing my booking and payment online through China Highlights, but never try never know, so we just give it a bet on it. And guess what, it was a wonderful and enjoying trip for both of us. We prefer a small private group tour, where we can spent more time on certain places to take nice photos without in a hurry. And choose the desire places to visit in our itinerary. Thanks to China Highlights especially Robert, who replied my emails promptly and for all the arrangements during our trip to Huangshan. Such a patience person to answer all my questions and enquiries. Thanks again.

Huangshan city is a very clean city especially on the Huangshan mountain. We spent 5 days in Huangshan, over night on the mountain for a night. When we up to Huangshan mountain, it a sunny day. According to our tour guide Jerry, he said it has been raining no-stop for more than half month in Huangshan, so we were so lucky it a sunny day and we even managed to see and captured sunrise the next morning. Scenery was awesome, the weather is cold but not freezing, just nice.

We spent few days tour around Huangshan city. We visited few old villages too. The best was the Hongcun Village. A good place to take nice photos. We saw many art students doing their drawing or sketching around the village.

The foods and hotel are ok. May be it still a low season in March, so everywhere we went was not crowded and feel comfortable. Such a nice experience for us.

Qingming Festival falls on April 4 this year; most of Chinese people can enjoy a 3-day holiday from April 2 to April 4.

Holiday Arrangement

Wednesday (April 4) is a statutory holiday. Because March 31 (Saturday) and April 1 (Sunday) are workdays instead of Monday April 2 and Tuesday April 3, a three-day holiday is formed (Monday 2–Wednesday 4). Check out China Public Holiday Calendar 2012/2013 and Hong Kong public holiday calendar 2012.

Customs and Traffic during the Festival

Qingming Festival, also called Tomb-Sweeping Day, is one of the four major traditional Chinese festivals (another three are: Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Chinese New Year). Besides the most important custom during Qingming Festival: tomb-sweeping, there are some other customs, including kite flying and putting willow branches on gates. Check out the original and legend of Qingming Festival.

During these three days, especially on April 4, many Chinese people (except those really too far to get back to their ancestral home) would worship their ancestors in traditional Chinese ways: sweeping tombs, burning joss paper, candles, and sticks, and sacrificing foods. Because of this, local transportation (especially in large cities like Beijing and Shanghai) will be busier than ordinary days (but not as busy as during Chinese New Year days).

People will go back to their ancestral home on April 2, and April 3, and April 4 is the peak time for tomb-sweeping. To be more precise, the peak time for tomb-sweeping is from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm on the day of Qingming Festival (April 4), which might bring a crowded phase to city traffic.

In addition to Qingming Festival, China has many festivals, including ethnic festivals. China Highlights has listed them according to the 12 months of the year for you. You can experience the atmosphere of one of China’s top festival with our Festival Tours or tailor make a tour include festivals of your choices.

Hi, I am Jerry Zhou, a taxi driver in Hangzhou, China.

Hangzhou is a paradise city and a romantic place in the Italian tourist Marco Polo's eye, 200 km south of Shanghai. To be defined as the best tourist city in China, it has not only lots of beautiful sceneries , such as the west lake, but also deep historical and cultural value.

I love this city so much. It’s my pleause to introduce my home town to foreign friends and let them enjoy the harmony and beauty of the city. Though I haven’t received any advanced education, I've kept on learning English by myself and already got the English guide license. Please contact me when you come to Hangzhou. I will appreciate the chance to serve you—introduce scenic spots to you and let you have a good knowledge of Chinese culture and history as well.

hey travelers

I am from Australia Adelaide.

I have done the best thing that nothing can replace. i went on exchange to XI'AN for 6 weeks

i recommend you go to XI'AN. The history and shopping is AMAZING.

The best part was experiencing schooling over in XI'AN.