windows for china: 2008

Monday, November 3, 2008

Know Before You Go

What to Expect

The first thing that strikes visitors to China is its vastness in terms of both geography and population. It is a country with an incredible history of dynastic rule, which was eventually replaced by communist domination and closed to the outside world for many years. However, modern day China has advanced far from the image of uniformly clothed peasant workers on bicycles. The country now has a growing middle class determined to practice their capitalist principles in what is still a communist political system.

In larger cities you may experience the shove of railway station crowds, the noise of construction work and the sight of young entrepreneurs holding mobile phones and eating “fast food”. But venture away from the large cities and you will be rewarded with an experience that stays with you for years after you leave.

From the deserts of Xinjiang, to the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, from the beauty of the Li River near Guilin to the mystery of the “Silk Road”, from the relaxing getaway towns of Yangshuo, Lijiang and Dali to Tibet’s magnificent mountains and monasteries - China’s diversity is more evident than perhaps in any other country in the world.

The travel industry in China has for quite some time now been growing at a rapid pace. However, there are still a number of areas in China where the freshness and novelty of tourism is still evident. Major cities now offer facilities and services at western standards; however traveling in the more remote areas of China may involve road travel on bumpy roads, noisy trains, and the use of clean but basic accommodation. You may also find that attitudes towards customer service may not always be at the standard you would expect in a western country.

Whilst traveling through China please also be prepared for possible changes to tour travel plans. Flight, train and boat schedule changes throughout China are common and are a reality of traveling through this part of the world. Travel Indochina and your tour leader or local guide will keep you fully informed of any changes and amendments to the order of sight-seeing. Be aware that if you plan to travel around Chinese national holidays (listed in this guide), you may experience more disruptions than usual to your normal itinerary.

Visa Requirements

To enter China you will require a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry with at least 2 blank pages. A visa will need to be organized prior to your arrival. For this you will require a completed application form with one passport photo (two for US citizens) and your passport. Allow 5-10 working days for processing. It is your responsibility to ensure all visa and entry requirements are met prior to arrival in China.

Tibet is a part of China and as such the normal China tourist visa applies for Tibet. In addition to the China tourist visa, permits are required for visits to each region of Tibet. Note that permits are arranged by Travel Indochina for client travel to Tibet and thus do not need to be arranged by the client or the agent.

Visitors from most countries, including citizens of the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada and Japan, can enter Hong Kong (a Special Administrative Region of China) without a visa for periods of 90 days to six months, depending on nationality. Check with any Chinese embassy or consulate for the latest status.

Listed Chinese Embassy or Consulate in major Countries, for more other countries, please visit the official website of Ministry of Foreign Affaires of the People's Republic of China.

Arrival Instructions

Arrival (and departure) transfers are included for all package tours except other cases which are indicated in your confirmation documents. If you have pre-arranged an airport arrival transfer with us in China you will find a representative from ChinaTravelDepot.com waiting to meet you. Please look for a sign with your name on it (not a hotel sign). The airport arrival area tends to get crowded with lots of people holding signs.

Money

The currency of China is the Renminbi (RMB) or Yuan (or colloquially known as 'kwai' meaning “people’s money”) though you will probably see Hong Kong dollars floating around southern China. ATMs are abundant in most areas of China, and credit cards are widely accepted in metropolitan areas like Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.

Exchange rates are regulated, so rates are generally about the same anywhere. Approximate exchange rates as follows at the date of 2008/10/27, but you are advised to check current rates prior to your travel. Check out updated currency conversion rate here.

Y10.73 equals GBP￡1
Y 6.852 equals US$1
Y 8.584 equals EUR€1
Y 4.195 equals AUD$1
Y 5.2 equals NZ$1
Y 5.344 CAD$1

While ATMs have become increasingly common and are generally very convenient, traveller's checks remain a viable option in China. They can be exchanged at airports, banks, some large department stores, and many hotels at a rate slightly better than cash.

When exchanging money in China, it is important to retain exchange receipts. These are needed to convert Renminbi back into foreign currency when leaving China. You may convert up to half of the amount of Renminbi shown on your receipts. Alternatively you can take currency out of China and convert abroad though exchange rates will mean losses! Note that this only relate to cash exchange receipts. Withdrawal receipts from ATM's will not allow you to convert your RMB's back to foreign currency in China.

Credit cards are becoming increasingly popular and and are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants as well as in many supermarkets. Cash is king in China though, and cards are generally not accepted for causal expenses. Carrying a reasonable amount of cash to pay for drinks, snacks, buses, taxis and small souvenirs or other small purchases is therefore a sensible precaution.

Baggage & Clothing

Standard sized bags (preferably soft bags), backpacks or soft cases only are permitted on our journeys. Your baggage should be clearly labeled and kept to a reasonable minimum. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles and trains is limited. Any flights booked through China Travel Depot (domestic and international) have a luggage limit of 20 kilograms per person. You may be required to carry your own luggage at times where porters are not available – you should be capable of carrying your own bags on and off trains, and up and down stairs. If you are doing lots of shopping during your travels, it may be necessary for you to forward any excess to the city where your tour concludes, or ship purchases directly home. Keeping the amount of luggage you carry in check will ensure your safety and comfort, and the safety and comfort of your fellow travelers. Porterage is not included in the cost of your journey. Please ensure you pay porters around $1USD per person for carrying your luggage. Should you wish to avoid such payments, please carry and take responsibility for your luggage.

The time of year you travel to China will affect the clothes that you pack for your trip. Extreme temperatures are common in the winter and summer months, as well as in areas of higher altitude so warm jackets or comfortable casual cotton clothes should be packed accordingly. Packing at least one set of smart casual clothes is advisable. Laundry services are available throughout the country, although hotel laundry costs can be expensive. We suggest you include:

Flat walking shoes and sandals
Hat & sunglasses
Jumper/coat/thermals - if visiting in winter or mountainous high altitude areas
Bathers
Money belt
Raincoat or umbrella
Basic first aid kit
Insect repellent
Alarm clock
Power adapter
Women’s sanitary products
Ear plugs and eye patches for the train
Day pack – for carrying items on touring days and to be used as an overnight bag

Please note that airlines insist all sharp items (knives, scissors, nail clippers etc.) are packed in your ‘check-in’ luggage.

Alcohol is no longer permitted onboard domestic flights and must also be stored in your check-in luggage. You may be asked to open bottled water at security check-points to take a sip so they can verify the contents.

Electricity

The electric current in China operates on 220 volts. Electric plug types come in at least four sizes and vary throughout the country, however the two narrow-pin type is usable in most parts of the country. You may want to bring a small hair dryer or portable iron. Many but not all of our hotels will have these.

Health & Fitness

Travelers to China should take precautions as they would elsewhere in Asia. Western medical facilities are available in the major cities. In remote areas of China, medical facilities are basic. Some of the diseases known to exist in China include hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, rabies and HIV/AIDS. We recommend you take adequate preventative measures to minimize your risk of exposure to these health risks. We are a travel company and we are not qualified to provide detailed medical information appropriate to your individual needs. We recommend you consult with your local doctor or a specialist travel medical centre for up to date health information on vaccinations and medicine for your trip at least one month prior to departure.

We suggest you bring a simple medical kit. Your doctor should advise you what to include, but as a minimum we suggest you bring:

Aspirin or paracetamol (for pain or fever)
Antihistamines (for allergies and itches)
Cold and flu tablets
Something to stop diarrhoea
Something appropriate for nausea and vomiting
Rehydration mixture (to prevent dehydration)
Insect repellant
Antiseptic and bandages
Sunscreen and lip balm
Antibiotics (discuss with your doctor)

As part of our travel registration process at the start of any journey with China Travel Depot, you will be asked to declare any serious pre-existing medical conditions or allergies.

Food/ Water

Chinese food incorporates a number of styles and each region specializes in its own cuisine. Breakfast is included each day on our tours and is usually a mix of buffet and continental style. In the major cities lunch should cost around RMB50 and dinner RMB50-100 - depending on the restaurant. Meals are generally cheaper in small rural towns or more remote regions such as along the Silk Road in Northwest China. Vegetarian meals are available but can be harder to find outside of the bigger cities. Please ensure your tour leader or local guide are aware of special dietary requirements in advance so they can assist you with ordering suitable food. Drinking local tap water is not recommended. Bottled water is cheap and readily available throughout China.

Tipping Policy

If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides, drivers and your tour leader, a tip is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, tipping inspires great service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across the country. As a general guide on Small Group or Special Group Journeys, please allow 2USD to 3USD per day per traveler for each of your local guide, driver and tour leader. If your tour is private, please allow 3USD to 5USD per day per traveler for each of your local guide and driver. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Should you be dissatisfied with the services provided by your local guide, driver or tour leader, please let us know.

Post & Communication

International mail generally takes 10 to 14 days to reach its destination and prices are a little less than western postal charges. Parcels must be inspected by a customs official at the post office before being sealed and boxes are usually available at the post office. Reverse charge (collect) calls are available in many cities. International phone and fax facilities are widely available however they are expensive (RMB20-30 per min). International direct dial is available from most hotels for additional charges but the service is not always reliable.

Email services are inexpensive and available in some tourist areas. Hotels often have internet and email services which are convenient but more costly. In other cases, more and more hotels provide free internet access, some even offer WIFI access, please consult our representatives for details of hotel internet access facilities.

Cell Phone in China
Purchase a prepaid SIM card from China Mobile will save your money on international roaming charges if you bring a cell phone with you in China. This card can be "topped up" if you find that you are running low on credit. There are numerous China Mobile outlets in most cities in China. It would be wise to bring along an inexpensive cell phone (GSM 900) because it can be easily misplaced or lost during your trip. These prepaid SIM card can be bought at the airport, some hotel's kiosk or China Mobile outlets.

Photography

Print film, such as Kodak, Konika or Fuji is widely available and costs approximately RMB30 per roll. China has good and fast processing facilities. A roll of 24 exposures can be developed for approximately RMB40. Slide films, APS and Hi8/V8 video cassettes are not widely available outside major cities. The x-ray machines at all airports are film safe. Digital photography is easily catered for in key cities in China and most film developers are able to place digital photos onto a disc for approximately RMB40 (256mb). Take care to ensure that the memory stick is not wiped after the download.

Tour Guides

All of our tour guides have an in-depth knowledge of China and an enthusiasm for the country that is contagious. Your tour guide is your link with China and is there to ensure the smooth running of the trip. They impart local information about history, customs and culture that can only come from living in the area. Generally, we have a different local guide for each city or region we visit. Thus, local guides are usually only with the group for a few days.

Local Time

China is set to Beijing time:

8hrs ahead of GMT
2hrs behind Australian Eastern Standard Time
4hrs behind New Zealand
13hrs ahead of Canada Eastern Time
16hrs ahead of Canada Pacific Time
13hrs ahead of US Eastern Time.
16hrs ahead of US Pacific Time.

Shopping

Clothing, paintings, jade, pearls, scrolls, silk, ceramics, antiques and a huge selection of souvenirs are favorite buys for visitors. A few guidelines to follow when shopping:

Except in department stores, bargaining is the norm. To get the best price you will have to haggle hard.
Export of certain antiques is not permitted. Make sure you are aware of relevant regulations before purchasing.
Fake reproductions are common. Make sure you know what you are buying - especially in the case of antiques, jade and gems.

Recommended Reading

Books worth reading include those outlined below. Please refer to our website for a wider list of suggested reading.

Guide Books

Lonely Planet Guide to China
The Rough Guide to China
Odyssey Guide to The Silk Road: Xi’an to Kashgar
Lonely Planet Guide to Tibet

Friday, October 31, 2008

Taobao.com Launches B2C Services

With market share of more than 67 percent of China's online shoppers, Taobao.com opens doors to large manufacturers and retailers

HANGZHOU, China, 10 May 2006 - Alibaba.com Corporation announced today the launch of business-to-consumer (B2C) services on its Taobao.com online consumer marketplace. Already China's largest online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace, Taobao.com is expanding its e-commerce model to include products and services provided by major manufacturers and retailers.

"While American B2C models have failed to succeed in China, Taobao's model will make B2C a reality in China," said Toto Sun, Taobao.com's General Manager. "Because we are simply connecting large sellers to consumers, rather than taking possession of the goods and serving as a middleman, we are offering a solution that will benefit both manufacturers and consumers in China."

Already, Taobao.com has signed up manufacturers and retailers including Motorola, Nokia, Haier, Aigo, Lining, Adidas, Giordano, and UT Starcom. In the coming months, Taobao will aggressively expand its B2C services to include additional leading manufacturers and brands.

"Taobao's growth has been based on four pillars - trust and safety, the AliPay payment system, search and an active marketplace," Sun said. "With Taobao's trusted e-commerce community now leading the market, the site is the ideal channel for manufacturers and retailers to reach millions of consumers and to expand as online shopping becomes a part of everyday life in China."

More than 10 million small- and medium-sized businesses use other Alibaba.com online marketplaces for B2B marketing and sales, and Taobao.com expects to see a large number of Alibaba.com members joining its new program along with leading international companies.

Taobao.com's announcement comes after the China Internet Network Information Center announced this week the results of a new e-commerce study, which found Taobao holding 67.3 percent market share in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, versus eBay China's 29.1 percent. The recent data indicate significant market share growth from the fourth quarter of 2005, when Taobao.com was found to hold 57.7 percent market share by independent research firm Analysys International. Another recent study, by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, found Taobao.com to be the clear market leader in China, with 72.2 percent market share.

Taobao.com now has more than 26 million product listings, nearly 20 million registered users, and over 100 million page views per day. In 2005, Taobao's transaction volume, or Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV), reached US$1billion, up 700 percent from 2004. AliPay, China's leading online payment solution, recently reached 150,000 transactions per day.

About Alibaba.com Corporation

Alibaba.com Corporation is China's leading e-commerce company, operating the world's largest online marketplaces for both international and domestic China trade, as well as China's most popular online payment system, AliPay. Alibaba.com also owns and operates Yahoo! China, which it acquired in October 2005.

Alibaba.com's Businesses

Alibaba International (www.Alibaba.com) is the world's largest import-export marketplace primarily serving Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME's) in the international trade community.

Alibaba China (www.China.Alibaba.com) is China's largest online marketplace for domestic trade among businesspeople.

TaoBao (www.Taobao.com) is China's most popular consumer-to-consumer trading site.

Yahoo! China (www.yahoo.com.cn), a division of Alibaba.com, is a leading Internet search brand serving China's consumers and businesses. In October 2005, Alibaba.com acquired Yahoo! China and formed a long-term strategic partnership with Yahoo! Inc.

AliPay is China's most popular online payment solution and enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive payments online.

Alibaba.com's Team
Alibaba.com was founded in 1999 and is based in Hangzhou, eastern China. It has approximately 3,500 employees, 14 sales offices across China and other offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Silicon Valley and Europe.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Olympic torch passed through Shenyang, NE China

Torchbearer Liu Hongtu, whose father Liu Changchun was China's
first Olympian, runs during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in
Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.
(Xinhua Photo)

Torchbearer Zhao Benshan, a famous comedian runs during the
2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's
Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008

Local people dressed in the ethnic costumes cheer for the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's
Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.

Torchbearer Kang Hui (R-2) lights the torch for the next
torchbearer Raga Thomas during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in
Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17,
2008.

Torchbearer Su Hongzhang lights the cauldron during the 2008
Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's
Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.

Local residents wave flags to greet the Olympic flame during
the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital of northeast
China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.

Torchbearer Du Junfeng (R) and torchbearer Du Rongjie pose with
torches during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Shenyang, capital
of northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 17, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

Thursday, June 26, 2008

beautiful Wedding Dress

3 Columns : Minima : Left and Right Sidebars

this Article from http://bguide.blogspot.com/2008/03/3-columns-minima-left-and-right.html

Article Series: 3 Column Step by Step Guides

Here are the steps to convert a default 2 column Minima template in to a 3 column template with two sidebars on left and right hand sides of the main post area.

(If you really want to understand what's happening here, read the article series Three Column Templates Explained.)

1) Add a new CSS id selector for the 2nd sidebar wrapper.

Go to Layout -> Edit HTML
Locate the #sidebar-wrapper section (Do a Find using your browser)
Copy that full section and paste below the existing sidebar section (it doesn't have to below) and rename it to #left-sidebar-wrapper
Change the float: $endSide to float:$startSide of this newly copied section (See the code snippet below)

#sidebar-wrapper {
width: 220px;
float: $endSide;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

#left-sidebar-wrapper {
width: 220px;
float: $startSide;
word-wrap: break-word; /* fix for long text breaking sidebar float in IE */
overflow: hidden; /* fix for long non-text content breaking IE sidebar float */
}

2) Introduce a new div element, as a child of the content-wrapper, to be the placeholder for the 2nd sidebar

Locate the
element.
Copy the code shown in red, above that section (this has to be above)

3) Expand the width of the other wrappers to accommodate the new sidebar

Locate the CSS sections called #outer-wrapper, #header-wrapper and #footer
Change their width property to 880 pixels

#outer-wrapper {
width: 880px;
margin: 0 auto;
...
}

#header-wrapper {
width: 880px;
margin: 0 auto 10px;
...
}

#footer {
width: 880px;
clear: both;
margin: 0 auto;
...
}

4) Do necessary adjustments to margins, padding etc

Locate the #main-wrapper section
Insert a left margin of 12 pixels.

#main-wrapper {
width: 410px;
margin-left:12px;
float: $startSide;
...
}

Note: Step 5 is only needed if your Layout Editor does not show the newly added sidebar. There was an issue where the Firefox browser didn't show a 3 column template fully in the edit mode. But Blogger reports that the issue has been fixed now.

5) Modify the CSS rules for the wire frame layouts editor.

Locate the end of the skin denoted by "]]>"
Add the following code above that line.

/** Page structure tweaks for layout editor wireframe */

body#layout #outer-wrapper {
padding-top: 0;
width:720px;
}
body#layout #header-wrapper,
body#layout #content-wrapper,
body#layout #footer {
padding: 0;
width:720px;
}

body#layout #main-wrapper {
width:400px;
}

body#layout #sidebar-wrapper,
body#layout #left-sidebar-wrapper {
width:150px;
}

]]>

Save the template. Switch to Page Elements view and enjoy your 3 column template!

Rounders 3 columnas template

Todas las Rounders a 3 columnas

Siguiendo con las modificaciones de plantillas, y a pedido de Rob x aquí les dejo las otras Rounders, (pero estas no las he modificado yo, sino que las he encontrado en internet)

Rounders 4 con 3 columnas
Blogger Template Rounders 4

Demo | descargar

Rounders 3 con 3 columnas

Demo | Descargar

Rounders 2 con 3columnas

la pueden ver en este post

Rounders 3 columnas

Demo | Download

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

4 Column Template for Blogger

Blue 4 Column Template

Template for Blogger.4 Column Template for Blogger.Varieties of Templates.Green Template for Blogger.This is the Green template for Blogger. Whole Green Looks for Blogger. Download XML template:- Download

Green Template for Blogger

4 Column Fire Template

This is the 4 Column template for Blogger.Used In various Purpose.Easy to Use Just By Downloading or Editing it from Edit Html.
Download :- Download

Tuesday, 5 June 2007

Colourfull Template

This is the 4 Column template for Blogger.Used In various Purpose.Easy to Use Just By Downloading or Editing it from Edit Html.
Download Xml File
Or Edit It
by Downloading txt file :-Download

Thursday, 31 May 2007

4 Column template for Blogger

This is the 4 Column template for Blogger.Used In various Purpose.Easy to Use Just By Downloading or Editing it from Edit Html.
Download Xml File
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