December 2009 Archives

As China enters the depths of winter, travelers are making plans to visit the world renowned Harbin Ice & Snow Festival. The China Guide is currently booking tours to Harbin which include hotel, festival sights and activities, train or flight tickets and the opportunity to ski at China's best mountain resort. Harbin Winter Festival activities will be under way as of December 20th, with the official opening ceremony taking place on January 5th of next year.

Visitors to Harbin can spend time enjoying the massive snow and ice sculptures, strolling the city sights or skating on the Songhua River. In the evening the Snow & Ice World will be lit up, creating a colorful icy landscape. Great for all ages, visitors can walk through giant ice structures and sometimes exit on ice slides. At any time during the day, festival goers can stop to warm up to a cup of hot chocolate or steaming noodles inside an ice cafe. As an added winter bonus, The China Guide is including a skiing option in its Harbin itineraries. The Yabuli Ski Resort is located close to the city and makes a perfect addition to the festival.

Yabuli is the best and most complete ski resort in China, making it popular for locals and tourists. There are 17 cable car lifts, 22 ski runs and the resort boasts a 3800-meter long trail. The resort has areas for recreational skiing, professional alpine training and competitions. Skiers of all ages can find runs suitable for their experience levels. Recently there have been a lot of investment and improvements to the ski resort, making it a great place for a weekend ski trip, complete with a wide selection of hotel options.

"We like to combine the top sights and activities in a destination so that travelers can experience the best of China. The Harbin Ice & Snow Festival is becoming more popular among travelers, but they might not be aware of other activities such as the great skiing opportunities, and it's our job to introduce it," says Judy Huang, Travel Manager of The China Guide. "The Yabuli Ski Resort is a perfect combination with the Harbin Festival sights. The ski resort is about two hours from the city and has beautiful mountain scenery surrounded by pine forests. The best part is you can get everything you need right at the hill including equipment and suit rentals."

The China Guide's Harbin Winter itineraries are available for booking now. Their 4-day itinerary includes two days of Harbin Ice & Snow Festival sights and 2 days at Yabuli with overnight accommodation at the resort. For travelers short on time, there are 2- and 3-day options available.

Visit http://thechinaguide.com/harbin/index.html for destination information, photos and itineraries.

The China Guide

The China Guide, http://www.TheChinaGuide.com , is a Beijing based travel agency, American owned and operated. Specializing in western-style service and quality with hassle free web bookings, they work with clients to customize tours that match their travel style. Operating only in China, they have up to date knowledge and offer exciting experiences for travelers including their famous Sleep on the Great Wall tour. The China Guide avoids the common factory shopping stops that are not reflective of the true China.

SOURCE The China Guide

Unique travel experience integrates students of mixed hearing abilities for the learning adventure of a lifetime

Hear the World, a global initiative by hearing system manufacturer Phonak, combines forces with Global Explorers, a not-for-profit educational travel organization, to offer the first-ever Hear the World Expedition. The expedition will integrate students of mixed hearing abilities to raise awareness about hearing as a fundamental part of life that many take for granted.

Hearing loss affects one in every six people worldwide - the equivalent of the number of people who own a car. However, few realize the important role that hearing and sound play in day to day life. The acoustical environment of the Peruvian Amazon is a complex symphony exploding with life - where one's ability to listen is increasingly magnified. For that reason, it is the perfect setting to educate students about the importance of hearing and the consequences of hearing loss. Students with and without hearing loss will form an unlikely team that will work together and learn from one another while shattering expectations and learning to use adversity to their advantage.

The expedition team will be accompanied by Bill Barkeley, a world-class mountain climber and one of the 15,000 people in the United States with Type 2 Usher's Syndrome - the leading cause of deaf-blindness in the world. Bill's 2007 summit of Mount Kilimanjaro shattered expectations and confirmed his role as an advocate and inspiration for the hearing loss community.

"With the assistance of a Phonak hearing device, I was able to successfully accomplish what many deemed impossible," said Bill. "I am thrilled to be a part of this partnership between Global Explorers and Hear the World, and accompany these inspirational young people as a mentor on this incredible journey."

About Hear the World Expeditions

Hear the World Expeditions create a unique platform where groups of students explore science, culture, leadership and service while at the same time raising awareness about the importance of hearing. More than a simple trip, the Hear the World Expedition to the Amazon will include a pre-expedition training in the Spring of 2010, a two week international field workshop throughout the Peruvian Amazon (Iquitos, Peru) from July 8-17, 2010, as well as follow-up service projects and a large-scale public outreach campaign for students from around the world.

Expedition applications are currently being accepted through January 15, 2010. Applicants must be between the ages of 17-22 on July 8, 2010, enrolled as a full-time student either the semester before or after travel and experience hearing loss or have an expressed interest in hearing awareness and education. Fundraising assistance is available for those who qualify.

To learn more, nominate a student or apply, visit: http://www.globalexplorers.org/programs/destinations/hear_the_world_expeditions/.

SOURCE Phonak