The romance of Hangzhou - China

There are few places more romantic in China than Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province. Throughout Chinese history, the mystical West Lake has been recounted in numerous poems, stories, and paintings, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight attracting families and couples seeking out a relaxing weekend getaway. 

Spend your days boating, biking and exploring the many gardens, pagodas, temples, and bridges dotting the shoreline and many small islands of the lake. And as the sun sets, the West Lake comes alive with the Impression West Lake show to give you a truly magical experience in the most beautiful of settings. Staged entirely on the lake, Impression West Lake is a magnificent light, song, and dance spectacle directed by the famous Zhang Yimou. 

The China Guide offers customized tours of Hangzhou and the rest of China in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Korean. For more information about tours, you might like to check out The China Guide's website. One day I'm going to get myself to China. And find myself in this kind of place, where you can be sure to discover a special kind of mystique.

Helen Wong's Tours pre-Christmas special -14 day China Wonders

In the lead up to Christmas, leading tour specialist Helen Wong’s Tours has unwrapped six 14-day China Wonders group tours for early 2012 – priced from a bargain $2880.

The limited tours – between February 17 and April 4, 2012 – showcase cosmopolitan Shanghai, the canal city of Suzhou and the heavenly beauty of Hangzhou before moving to Xian for the tour party to see the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and ultimately, the capital Beijing to visit the Forbidden City and climb the Great Wall.

Price is based on per person, twin share, and includes a host of features such as return Air China flights from Sydney or Melbourne, China domestic flights and 12 nights’ accommodation in four to five-star hotels.

Daily breakfast and lunch with five dinners are also included along with three evening cultural shows, transfers, sightseeing and entrance fees where specified, China visa for Australian passport holders, English-speaking guide, a travel kit with 424-page Odyssey China book and cabin bag, and departure taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges (subject to change).

Seriously great value for an incredible journey through ancient - and modern day - China! Phone Helen Wong's Tours on 13001300 788 or head to Helen's website for more details.

Peregrine goes gourmet in China in 2012

There's an old Chinese saying that all good foods are found in Chengdu. But Peregrine's new Gourmet China adventure sets out to prove that - while Chengdu's Sichuan spice is pretty tasty - Beijing's duck, Xian's dumpling feasts, Yangshuo's ethnic minority specialties and Hong Kong's yum cha are just as delicious.

Peregrine's new, 15-day gourmet extravaganza starts in Beijing and includes cooking classes in a variety of regional cuisines, interspersed with the most famous and inspiring sights of China: the Great Wall; the Forbidden City; the Summer Palace; Terracotta Warriors as well as visiting the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.

The trip contrasts the tranquil, mushroom-shaped, limestone karst mountains of Yangshuo - explored by bicycle - with the frenetic, futuristic cityscape of Shanghai for more than just a 'taste' of China.

The Gourmet China adventure costs $3405 per person, twin share, including transport and accommodation, cooking classes, entry fees, some meals and local Peregrine leader. But for all new bookings made by December 9, for travel in 2012, there is a 10 per cent discount off the land portion, to $3126. There are currently eight departures from Beijing scheduled between May and September, 2012.

For further information and a copy of the new Peregrine 2012 China Central Asia & Japan brochure, contact your travel agent or Peregrine Travel Centre, call 1300 854 500 or visit their website for more details.