The best time to go to CHINA will depend on what you want to do once you get there. The most popular time is from September through October (late fall) because that's when the weather is best. Long days and temperate climate make it comfortable to travel. On the other hand, if you want to avoid the crowd then plan to go in the spring time, between March and May. A few scattered rain bring freshness to Spring flowers. If you have never been to China then we would recommend that you try DISCOVER CHINA tours first. It covers Beijing (modern capitol, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Forbidden City), Xian (old capitol, Terra Cotta Soldiers, Shanxi Museum, Dumpling Feast and Tang Dance), Shanghai (commercial capitol, the Bund, the traffic) and Suzhou (for Silk and Gardens), Hangzhou (for Dragon Well Tea) as well as Guilin (scenic) --- 12 to 14 days. This will give you a birds eye view of the Middle Kingdom. CHINA is so large that you can never do it in one trip. The second trip is more scenic: The 3 Gorges, Yellow Mountain, Zhangjajie --- the first National Park in China, Jiuzhaigou --- stepped lakes and waterfalls galore, Guizhou --- mui minorities and scenic. 10 to 17 days according to your preference. The third trip is to follow Marco Polo's steps to see the Silk Road, Buddhist grottos, Sand Dunes, Crescent Moon Oasis, Flaming Mountains, Whole Lamb Feast, Chairman Mao's first Dam, Camel rides, Danxia landforms, and high speed trains throughout. The fourth trip is either to the north east part or the south east regions. If you are in Vancouver, apply at the CHINA VISA APPLICATION SERVICE CENTER at 250-999 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1K5 Tel: 604 336 8866 Click the link below: http://www.visaforchina.org/YVR_EN/ and follow the Guide step by step. You must go to the visa office of the embassy or general consulate in the area in which you live. The People's Republic of China has one embassy in Ottawa, as well as three general consulate offices. These offices are located in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Mailed applications are not accepted. Residents in Canada can apply for Chinese visa, passport, document notarization and authentication at the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa and the Chinese Consulates-General in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. For residents in Ottawa and in the provinces of Quebec, New Foundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia , Prince Edward Island, please submit applications to the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa . For residents in the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, please submit applications to the Chinese Consulate-General in Toronto. For residents in the territory of Yukon and the province of British Columbia, please submit applications to the CHINA VISA APPLICATION SERVICE CENTER at 250-999 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1K5 Click the link below: http://www.visaforchina.org/YVR_EN/ For residents in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, please submit applications to the Chinese Consulate-General in Calgary. The addresses, phone and fax numbers, office hours of the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Consulates-General in Canada and their respective consular service districts are as follows: The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada (Ottawa) 515 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa, Ont. K1N 5H3 Tel: (613)-7899608 Fax: (613)-7891414 24-hour service of automatic telephone information: (613)-7890327, 7890329 Office hours: 9:00AM - 1:00PM (Monday to Friday, closed on holidays) Consular Service District: Ottawa Region, Quebec, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Toronto 240 St. George Street Toronto, Ont. M5R 2P4 Tel: (416) 9647260 Fax: (416)324-9010 24-hour service of automatic telephone information: (416)-9648861 Office hours: 9:00AM - 12:00AM 1:30PM-3:30PM (Monday to Friday, closed on holidays) Consular Service District: Ontario and Manitoba The Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Vancouver: 3380 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3K3 Tel: (604) 7365188 Fax: (604)737-0154 24-hour service of automatic telephone information: (604)-7340704/7363955 Office hours: 9:00AM -1:00PM (Monday to Friday, closed on holidays) Consular Service District: British Columbia and Yukon. The Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Calgary Suite 100, 1011-6th Ave. S. W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 0W1 Tel: (403) 264-3322 Fax: (403)264-6656 Office hours: 9:00AM - 12:00AM (Monday to Friday, closed on holidays) Consular Service District: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. |