Featured Country: China Go to China now, before the doors that have been slowly creaking open for the past 30 years are burst apart by the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. China is the most populous country in the world and Mandarin is more widely spoken than any other language on earth. Although the rise of Communism closed this colorful nation off to the Western world for a number of years, trade - and tourism - has been increasing steadily and shows no signs of slowing down. In the meantime, China continues to have its share of problems. Human rights advocates are quick to point out abuses, including the practice of abandoning or murdering female children, and the lack of free speech. Those who oppose the government remain subjected to the whims of the Communist party. Red tape bogs down any application from overseas investors wishing to open a business. Overwhelming, enchanting and always eye-opening, China should be on list of any adventure traveler. Ni hao means hello, in Mandarin. Renminbi (RMB), which literally means people's money, is the currency. Well, those are a few nuts and bolts. Keep reading for more info on China, as well as other travelers' experiences in the country. What's in this issue? Top Attractions Featured Content What our Insiders Say Airfare Deals Accommodation Info From the Bookshelf Links & Resources Write an Article and Tell a Friend CHINA'S TOP ATTRACTIONS What makes the China interesting? Why do thousands of travelers head to the China every year? Check out our list of the top three "must do" attractions! Beijing It all happens here. Revolutions. Olympics. The rise of a new country. China's capital is pulsating with life, quivering on the brink of a new future, one that promises better jobs, better living conditions and better lives for the China's people. The sites that travelers have written about for thousands of years are here, and not to be missed. Shanghai Shanghai is another large Chinese city that is hoping to return to its former days of glory by riding the wave of capitalism and big business. Sailors used to love the city so much that captains would have to drug them and drag them to the ships in order to force the sailors to leave. Although those spenders have faded, look for new ones to rise up in their place. Hong Kong Check out the most westernized part of the country and observe the struggles between Hong Kong/Chinese identity that still exist, years after reunification. Capitalistic to its core, this diverse hub of cultural activity will provide a visitor with an experience not replicated anywhere else in China. Back to top FEATURED CONTENT One Foot in the Future - From firing Chinese assault rifles to enjoying a cup of coffee at Starbucks, Joel Burslem rings in the Chinese New Year in Shanghai. Backpacking Through An Epidemic - In the hands of the Chinese propaganda department, SARS was more than a disease. It was war. Sean McCarthy concludes that the culture of the cover-up got a bashing no camouflage can hide. Emperor Qin's Army - Each of the 7,000 faces is unique, writes James Dorsey: a study in concentration of warriors ready to die, 2,500 years after they lived. If you would like to submit an article on your travel experiences, check out our Writer's Guidelines, then send it along. Back to top WHAT OUR INSIDERS SAY Check out our Asia Forum for inside tips on China and to post your own questions. You can also contact any of our China Insiders and get their insight. Back to top AIRFARE DEALS The BootsnAll TripPlanner can book your around-the-world flights. Plan and book your international trip here! When searching for multi-destination air tickets, the BootsnAll TripPlanner is tops. After using the TripPlanner to get an idea of the itinerary you want, be sure to submit it to us and talk to our counselors about fine-tuning your trip. We found some good R-T-W deals that stopped in China: $3220 US Toronto - New York - London - Delhi - Bombay Mumbai - Bangkok - Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) - Manila - Hong Kong - Taipei - Tokyo - Honolulu - Los Angeles - San Pedro Sula (Honduras) - San Jose - New York - Toronto $6400 US New York - Rome - Malta - Athens - Cairo - Bombay Mumbai - Overland To Varanasi - Khajuraho - Agra - Delhi - Agra - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Kathmandu - Calcutta - Rangoon (Yangon) - Bangkok - Shanghai - Xiamen - Bangkok - Angkor Wat (Siem Reap) - Phnom Penh - Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) - Bangkok - Singapore - Bali (Denpasar) - Sydney - Auckland - Tahiti (Papeete) - Easter Island - Santiago - Lima - Cusco - Lima - Caracas - Miami If you are looking for single destination tickets, head to the International Airfare Center. You can search via destination or departure city. Here are some examples of what we found: $828 US New York - Beijing $898 US San Francisco - Shanghai Now, log on to the TripPlanner or International Airfares and put together an itinerary! More Specials & Deals The only thing better than flying to China is getting a bloody good deal on the ticket. We work with other companies to bring you low, hard-to-beat round-trip fares, to help you fly not only to China, but to wherever you want to go: Cheap Ticket Links Back to top CHINA HOSTELS Hostels are a great way to stay when you're traveling in China. Staying in hostels when you travel not only helps your budget, it is a unique way to enhance your trip. Meet new people, have new experiences; with our hostels section you can learn more about hostels and book your bed online. China Hostels Beijing Hostels Chengdu Hostels Shanghai Hostels Xi'an Hostels Yangshuo Hostels Visit the Hostel Section Back to top FROM THE BOOKSHELF | China Read up before you go! Here is a list of the most popular guidebooks and literature/non-traditional guidebooks. For your convenience, these books are available at the BootsnAll Travel Bookstore. Traditional Guidebooks: Lonely Planet: China, by Damian, Harper, Marie Cambon, Katja Gaskell, Thomas Huhti, Bradley Mayhew, Korina Miller and Mielikki Org National Geographic Traveler China (National Geographic Traveler), by Damian Harper Frommer's China: The 50 Most Memorable Trips, Third Edition, by J. D. Brown Travel Literature/Non-Traditional Guidebooks: Chinese Business Etiquette: A Guide to Protocol, Manners, and Culture in the People's Republic of China, by Scott D. Seligman Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop Hong Kong, Shanghai & Beijing, Second Edition, by Suzy Gershman, Aaron Gershman, and Jenny McCormick Dear Alice: Letters Home from American Teachers Learning to Live in China, by Phyllis L. Thompson Back to top LINKS & RESOURCES Use the following sites to learn more about China, what it offers to travelers, and how to plan your trip. China Today Comprehensive factual database on everything from history to challenges facing those wishing to enter the Chinese marketplace. Good, quick way to learn about the background of the country. China Online The information network of China. At least, they say so. China Tour Lots of ads, but some good tourist information on here as well. Mandarin Tools Links can be overwhelming, but if you clink on a few, you'll find helpful lessons on speaking Chinese. To waste time, practice translating your given name into a Chinese name. China Links If the above links didn't drive you crazy, these ones will. This site claims to link to the best English-language sites on China. Back to top WRITE AN ARTICLE If you have a story of your own that you would like to submit on the China, have a look at BootsnAll's Writer's Guidelines: http://writers.BootsnAll.com And then send it along. We're always looking for new content and new perspectives, and we hope to get yours soon. TELL A FRIEND If you feel that BootsnAll.com is a valuable resource, or that others might think so, please tell your friends about us. As many of you know, we respond personally to every email we receive in an ongoing effort to build a true traveller's community. Many have responded positively. If you have comments both positive and constructive, we would love to hear them. Tell us what we have done well and how we can improve. We would appreciate it greatly. Back to top