Let’s Visit Asia

When I wrote about China’s tightened visa procedures in light of the upcoming Olympics, I already said that they should watch out that it doesn’t backfire. Looks like my fears were not unfounded.
By now, Beijing hotels should already be fully booked in anticipation of the summer visitors. In reality, however, business is slow.
“We are not full at the moment, and we have rooms to fill,” said Anthony Ha, general manager of the newly opened Marriott Courtyard Beijing Northeast. “There’s not much time left, and we have a way to go.”
Ha declined to reveal the hotel’s occupancy rate. But he expressed …read more

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I love audio guides. Not only does it give more in-depth real-time information while taking a tour, it also allows you to go at your own pace, unlike when joining a group tour with a real flesh-and-blood tour guide.
Not the type to go for audio tours? Well, don’t say no til you’ve checked out the Louis Vuitton Soundwalk, an mp3 audio guide to Beijing, Hong Kong or Shanghai. And yes, like its bags, these are a touch more elite compared to other run of the mill audio guides.

For Beijing, your guide will be Gong Li (Memoirs of a Geisha’s Hatsumomo); …read more

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It turned out that my mother-in-law and her sister, who wanted to spend a week in Beijing, weren’t able to secure the necessary tourist visa to enter China as the country tightens security in reference to the Olympics. What a bummer! Oh well, they’re heading to Ho Chi Minh City instead.
That’s one great thing being based here in Singapore– it’s easy to hop off to the neighboring Asian cities, being one the main airline hubs in Asia. Assuming you get the visa, that is.

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There are a number of promotional videos made for the Beijing Olympics. Here’s one of my favorites, featuring the song One World, One Dream:

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The Olympic torch has arrived in China and will do its three-month long relay across major cities in China. In Sanya, Hainan, Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan and other celebrities added glitz and glamour to the parade. It seems that despite its protest-ridden run in Europe due to the Tibet crisis, the parade has been well-received in China.
Before the crisis over Tibet and the bitterness over protests abroad, China’s 1.3 billion people seemed unusually united in joy at the idea of seeing the Olympics in Beijing. The shouting and cheering Sunday suggested that, for many people at least, that …read more

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Have a peek at Beijing’s Olympic Village, which will house the 16,000 athletes, coaches and other participants to the 2008 Olympic Games.
Solar panels, drinking water on tap, internet access (subject to government censorship) … quite an architectural feat, really. Let’s hope everything’s up and running in time!

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The Hotel Club Travel Blog has the details on the new Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport, which was just finished right in time to welcome the hordes of visitors arriving for the upcoming Beijing Olympics 2008. If the photos over there aren’t impressive enough, take a look at how the airport glows in the night:

If this is the sight that will welcome you as you land, geez, I think I’d feel like I’m going to land on a different planet!

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You’re based on the US East Coast and would like to fly to Beijing? You’re in luck: United Airlines is having an East Coast to Beijing airfare sale.

Well, the image above says it all, but some important details of this promotional sale:

Purchase by November 24, 2007
Travel outbound by December 13, 2007
Travel is valid on Monday-Thursday; travel on other days of the week are slightly higher
A 6-night minimum stay is required and a maximum stay of 30 days is permitted

Other sample fares:
Atlanta – Beijing: $380 (may be co-operated by partner airlines)
Chicago – Beijing: $370
Miami – Beijing: $380 (may be co-operated by …read more

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If you need convincing, here are 8 reasons to visit Beijing, courtesy of Fodor’s Travel Wire:

The Temple of Heaven
Ancient Observatory
Magnificent Markets
Confucius Temple
Forbidden City
Lama Temple
Summer Palace
Tiananmen Square

These are the must-see spots that definitely must have a place in your itinerary. For more details and travel tips on these destinations, see the full article on Fodor’s Travel Wire.

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A new luxurious hotel, right in the heart of Beijing, has recently opened: the Regent Beijing. From the hotel website:
Set comfortably between the sleek modernity of the business district and the ancient hutongs of traditional China, The Regent Beijing is in an ideal position to offer a complete experience of Beijing. Strategically located in the heart of the city’s prime cultural and commercial district, the hotel is approximately 10 to 15 minutes walk to Wangfujing shopping districts, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square and 45 minutes drive to the international airport.
Visitng Beijing this year? You can avail of the Regnet …read more

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