IF you are planning a trip to China on your own I am always willing to share some of my 27 years of travel throughout China.  Culture differences will be apparent to you on your arrival and the more you are prepared the better your trip will be.  Feel free to contact me anytime as I am always happy to share my experiences as well answering any questions you might have on travel in China and Tibet.
My name is Dave and you can reach me at   email:  interlak@eskimo.com

Travel Tips on touring China

I have retired after 26 years of travel throughout China and Tibet.  The best thing I can tell you is to research blogs from everyone as well as doing research on the internet.  The more you know before you go the less problems dealing with the infrastructure of China.  You will find the people very friendly and helpful.   One of the differences I got use to right away is.....You ask.....Are we not going to the Great Wall today?    If you are not going to the Great Wall the guide will say "Yes"  if it is scheduled for another day.   Or   "Yes, we are not going to the Great Wall today"    Most of the time they may say just "Yes" as an agreeable answer to you.   Lots of small differences will be apparent the first few days of your tour.   Also take some free time to yourselves.  Chinese people often take walks in the evenings and a nice time to have a tea or coffee and perhaps meet some of the local people....For additional questions please feel free to contact me at   email:  interlak@eskimo.com     Have a nice day!    Dave

Blogs Transferred to New Site

I have now added my Blog to my web site.  www.interlakechinatours.com  All 400+ blogs here have been transferred to my site so you can check that information too that has been all updated to current information.  Future Blog entries are being added to our web site blog.  If you have questions, contact me at  interlak@eskimo.com   My Name is Dave and I enjoy sharing my 26 Years of Travel in China and Tibet.  You will not be added to any spam list or be pushed to buy a tour from me.  Happy Travels....   Dave from Seattle

Time to Look at Booking Your Tour for 2016

The booking period that is most important in Touring China or Tibet starts here in November and extends through late May for the best results.  I have been planning tours for clients for 25 years.  Best results are had when planning and booking early.  Popular well located hotels often book up early.  Most important is the Yangtze River Cruise which often closes bookings on their most popular sailing dates by the end of February should be booked soon.  The prime tourist season is April/May and September/October.  Summer months are also busy for those who must take their vacations during that period.  Prices have been stable the past couple of years but have declined somewhat since the exchange rate with the U.S. dollar has increased this year.  This is a good year to tour China and Tibet and tourist numbers will shown a marked increase it is expected.   For more information on Touring China please go to   www.interlakechinatours.com   My blog is  also shown on the web site.   For any questions please contact us at  interlak@eskimo.com    You will not be added to any spam list or have a sales pitch for booking with us.  My name is Dave and I am always glad to assist people in their touring plans or information on China without an expectation of your business.  You might want to check out our 50% OFF on a Yangtze River Cruise too!

Shipping Purchases Home

In my 26 years of travel in China I have found many wonderful things to buy.  Most of them I have brought home on the plane with me including a 2.5 foot tall hand painted vase.  I have shipped a rug and a special embroidery home but that is all.  My experience with clients shipping purchases home as been good and some poor.  If the item gets broke in shipping you have a claim on it however you do not have the item that you purchased either.  Chinese are experts at packing purchases for travel.  I have brought home silk comforters, pottery, and antiques of many kinds without any breakage either in special packages or in my suitcase.  Rugs and artwork they usually have you sign the item some place on it so that when you receive it you know it is what you purchased.  If not sent by air, ship can often take up to 2 months so one needs to be patient.  I often have bought a second suitcase just for purchases that I have bought for family and friends for the Holidays.  They may be purchased at Bargain shopping booths for little money.  Ask your guide for help. 

Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple

Many people are interested in Kung Fu and I have had to go to the Shaolin Temple and see for myself if it is worth sending my clients to that location.  The Shaolin Temple home of KungFu is located between the cities of Luoyang and Zhengzhou in the countryside.  The photo here was taken with the #1 Shaolin monk.  I was the only foreigner watching the demonstrations.  The Monk needed a volunteer and of course all the Chinese tourists pushed me into it.  The Monk had a small bowl which they use for eating lunch or dinner.  He put it on his stomach muscle and challenged me to remove it.(only once had anyone ever been able to do it)  I saw his skin was moist from all the activity so I thought perhaps if I twist it rather than try to pull it off, it might work.  It did and I was able to remove it.  I thought the audience would cheer but the Monk Lost FACE and the audience remained quiet.  This is a culture thing of course.  After the demonstrations were over, the Monk came out and requested me to come up on the stage.  He then bowed to me and presented me with the bowl.  An act of humility.  I still have the bowl of course and it makes great memories for me.  The Temple is original but has become quite a tourist attraction for mostly Chinese people some Kung Fu followers from around the world. One can take lessons there if you like but the facilities are not deluxe.  In Beijing there is a Kung Fu Show which is more like an Opera if you do not have the time to go to the Shaolin Temple itself.  I send many people to Xian, then to Luoyang where the famous Longmen
Buddhist Caves are located along with the White Horse Temple built in the 1st century as the First
Buddhist Temple in China.  Called that because two months came from India on white horses with their religious books to establish the temple.  From there by car to the Shaolin Temple and then to Zhengzhou to catch a plane either to Beijing or other destination.  The old Jewish Settlement at Kaifeng is not far away too but little is left of the Jewish settlement other than a large Metal Pagoda and a more modern area to remember the Jewish settlement.