In the late 1990s when the 1st low-fare bus service from Chinatown in new york to Chinatown in Boston started running, few would have anticipated the impact it would have had on the bus industry in total.  This wasn’t a service that was marketed to the public.  It was meant to appeal to a targeted group of people–recent Chinese immigrants–who needed an inexpensive way to travel between the two cities to visit family, shop, or work.  The expansion of this phenomenon was organic.  The public heard of the’Chinatown bus’ thru personal recommendation.  It caught on quickly and shortly the market was flooded with other companies offering similar service on a variety of routes. 

it might be inaccurate to claim that the only reason that these companies succeeded was due to price .  Certainly this was the main enticement for travelers.  However, it must be claimed the service that the standard bus carriers was offering was ripe for competition.  Truthfully were the ‘full service’ offerings of the traditional bus firms worth a premium?  Hardly.  Shopper service lacked on each level, bus stations didn’t provide a snug waiting area, buses were often tacky and service was plagued by delays. 

Years after the arrival of this first NY to Boston route, it is worth examining how it has caused the bus industry to evolve as a whole.  Overall, it sort of feels like the independent companies and the traditional carriers are meeting somewhere in the middle.  Independent carriers have had to offer more facilities, adhere to more closely to safety standards and rules, and increase fares.  At the same time, the normal carriers have been forced to offer wildly competitive pricing and generally tighten up their operations.  Greyhound and its partners have a tendency to offer the most competitive pricing on the popular New York-Boston and NY -DC routes.  Further, these routes are the only ones for which online shoppers do not have to pay the hefty $4 online booking surcharge usually imposed at Greyhound’s website.  They heavily promote this discounted pricing and it sometimes requires customers to book ahead online ( purchasing tickets at the time of exit can be almost twice as expensive as thru their website ). 

What about safety standards?  This is the most argumentative point of debate in the industry.  There are many reports of safety violations and certainly anecdotal accounts of poor safety practices.  it doesn’t appear that the tangible safety records of these firms are actually worse than other bus carriers that depend on the same federal rules.  Thanks to intense lobbying efforts, in 2004 a special task force was set up by the federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ( FMCSA ) to step up inspections of’curbside’ ( Chinatown ) bus corporations.  Despite the increased inspections, the FMCSA said that curbside carriers had about the same rate of violations as other sorts of carriers under her agency’s authority3.  This could be a sign that hazardous operators have either stopped running or have improved their level of safety.

Fortunately bus travel is generally a highly safe style of transportation, with an average yearly death rate of only twenty-two for the past ten years.  No bus deaths to date have involved Chinatown bus carriers.  Accidents are often reported for all segments of the industry–municipal buses, line run carriers, charter and tour companies1,2.  No concrete research has pointed to the fact that Chinatown bus companies have a higher occurrence of Problems than other operators. 

it’s important to notice that what was once a little niche of the bus industry is now an overcrowded segment.  To lump all carriers following this low-cost model in the same group would be badly judged.  The standard of the service offered by the assorted firms is wildly variable.  Some are fly-by-night concerns while others have transitioned into sizable firms with many employees and fleets of buses. 

Another development is that Chinese immigrants are no longer the sole players in this segment of the bus industry.  Many supposed’Chinatown’ bus companies are owned by Hassidic Jews.  Additionally many charter bus corporations have entered the line-run business using the same low-cost model as Chinatown bus lines. 

The Chinatown bus industry has grown from an easy, one-man-operation to a longtime segment of the bus industry.  In all chance the evolution of the industry is not complete.  We may likely see some regulatory changes that may effect the way the Chinatown carriers run their operations.  Likewise, as competition in the segment increases, the poorly run operators will most probably be forced out of the game.  The standard carriers will have to continue to offer competitive fares and will also need to find new techniques compete.  What is extravagantly clear is that shoppers are more than pleased to forgo plenty of the services offered by standard carriers to economize. 

1Police : Driver fatigue likely allow for fatal bus crash
Monday, Nov twenty-eight, 2005 ; Posted : 7:15 a.m.  EST ( 12:15 GMT ) Famouswonders.com can help you decide where to go on your next vacation, or you can view Tian Tan Buddha statue.

Beijing’s Confucius Temple, which is quite beautiful, lies on the north side of the city, not far from the 4 star Beijing Ningxia Hotel.

Every day people from all over China come to pay tribute to the man who had had such a profound influence on Chinese history and culture. And you won’t find yourself a better start-off to know China.

As soon as you enter this ancient refuge, you will be amazed by the lush greenness of the trees. Many of them have been there since the time the temple was built, testifying to the reverence the Chinese hold to Confucius.

There 198 large stone tablets lie in rows on each side of the path that leads you to the main courtyard. They record the 51,624 Jingshi scholars who passed the imperial examinations during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

Running the world’s oldest civil service system, these scholars had successfully joined ancient China’s social elite . Before one became a Jingshi scholar and was rewarded a government post, first he had to pass various Confucian exams held at different levels in their home provinces. This was just to enter the final and most important exam – the one supervised by the emperor himself.

The possibility of loose was high: Only one out of a thousand scholars could succeed in passing the imperial exam, and before entering this exam, he would have spent at least ten years to prepare himself. Still, many tried their luck, and if they succeeded, wealth and honor would come with it.

Just past the tablets, a huge gate stands at the entrance to the main courtyard. There you will find a Chinese drum and a bell under the gate. Confucius was a great supporter of harmony among people all his life. But by which means can we achieve that? He said music, which nurtures one’s mind and makes them lovers of peace and harmony.

Enter the main courtyard, and your eyes will immediately drawn by a large, old well. This isn’t just any well; it was named Yanshui by a Qing dynasty emperor. Legend has it that anyone who drinks water from this well will become quick-witted and pass their exams. Come here and you seem to be able to feel the crowd when thousands of Jingshi-scholar wannabes came for the ‘miraculous’ water.

The dominant architecture in the courtyard is Hall of Ultimate Accomplishment, or as the Chinese calls it, Da Cheng Dian. This is where Confucius is remembered and honored. Various emperors had personally written tablets to Confucius to be hanged here. One written by Emperor Kangxi says: The Eternal Mentor.

Like his predecessors, Emperor Kangxi paid annual tribute to Confucius by offering him sacrifices. The emperor would oversee a series of imperial rites, including a dance performed by 64 dancers. The dance was only enjoyed by the most important imperial ancestors. Throughout Chinese history, few figures who were not royals enjoyed such an honor as Confucius did.

Also under the roof are shrines of accomplished Confucius disciples who had helped to bring Confucius doctrine to people in all around the country.

You will find a host of prime hotels in Beijing not far fromthe Confucian temple, some within walking distance. See some of the best hotels in Beijing here.  

For anyone who is considering travel for a vacation, the idea of an international getaway can be both thrilling and overwhelming. Leaving the country entails certain forms of identification and paperwork, health considerations, the risks of an unfamiliar location and many types of misunderstandings that can result from differences of culture and language. On the other hand, international travel is a great way to gain first-hand experience about another country and its people. Even novice travelers can find great group travel packages or tour groups that can allow a tourist to experience a foreign country without the danger of getting completely lost. In the field of international tourism, China is earning popularity as a holiday destination, and there are umpteen reasons to consider putting this interesting country on your itinerary.

Seeing The Sights In China

By far the most famous tourist destination in China is the Great Wall, a construction that stretches over four thousand miles across China. While the wall is well known worldwide, not every section of the Great Wall of China is readily accessible to tourists. Some parts of the wall run through sparsely populated or rural areas, and many sections of the Great Wall have fallen into disrepair. However, there are efforts to conserve and maintain this historical treasure, some parts of which are over two thousand years old. Originally made as a fortification to repel invaders, the Great Wall now attracts visitors globally. In particular, the Badaling section of the Great Wall has been restored and is a great favorite with visitors.

While the Great Wall is a popular man-made holiday destination, the Yangtze River is an incredible natural attraction that also has interesting man-made features. The third longest river in the world, the Yangtze River is also China’s largest and stretches from the plateau of Tibet to the ocean at Shanghai. The river has historically been important in commerce as a means of transporting goods, and the river currently is notable for the Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in world that produces hydroelectric power. There are many tourism agencies that provide tours and cruises on the Yangtze River, and the Three Gorges Dam is successful as a tourist destination as well as a source of alternative power.

Preparing To Travel In China

Before you plan your vacation in China, you should be aware of the health conditions in the regions you will be visiting. Some areas of China are extremely modern, while others are remote and rural. Your doctor should be able to give you an idea of any inoculations or health tests you will need, and you should also have an idea of whether you will be participating in a lot of vigorous physical activity on your trip. As long as you take reasonable precautions and plan ahead of time, you can make your vacation in China a source of great memories that last a lifetime.

Hong Kong, a leading commercial center of the world, is also a great place to travel to. Tourists visiting the metropolis have found their trip to be a very enjoyable and enlightening one. This is an excellent place for sightseeing, shopping or simply moving around. No matter how many times you visit the city there will always be something new and innovative coming up that remains to be discovered. You can be assured of a rewarding experience every time you visit the city.

Though facing competition from the Mainland cities and Macau as far as tourist attraction is concerned Hong Kong does occupy a special place in the hearts of the visitors. The government of Hong Kong has been planning and developing a wide range of diversified tourist attractions in Hong Kong for bringing the city to focus as a premier tourist destination. So, planning a trip to Hong Kong can be a worthy experience indeed.

Hong Kong attractions

Attractions that await you upon your visit to the city are:

• The Sai Kung waterfront and the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade whose beautifications have been recently completed.
• The Stanley waterfront that is being completed.
• The Symphony of Lights launched in 2004 that is a world class multi-media light and sound show and a permanent night time feature of the Victoria Harbor.
• The Avenue of Stars- a new tourist attraction popular among tourists and locals alike that pulls in millions of visitors every year.
• The open plaza outside the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier.
• The newly designed visitor signage as installed in the 18 districts- seeking to make the city more visitor-friendly.

The Outlying Islands of Hong Kong are also great attractions. They are perceived to be endowed with the real Hong Kong magic- the traits that give Hong Kong a distinctive identity of its own setting it apart from the other great cities of the world.

The islands serve as a reflection of the unique history of the place. Tourists can get to witness ancient villages, little fishing communities, monasteries etc. – all reminiscent of the past days of the place that is now Hong Kong. However, with the setting up of roads and with telephone and electricity services being installed the centuries old lifestyle of the islands is gradually changing. Nevertheless, they will never fail to becharm you.

Visiting Hong Kong during festive times 

Hong Kong is also a city of festivities. A number of special festivals take place over the year that are great to witness and participate in. The Chinese (Lunar) New Year is an important festival that occurs towards spring time. Then there is the Spring Lantern Festival of beautiful lanterns. For best enjoying this, a visit to the Victoria Park of Hong Kong Island is recommended.

The Mid Autumn Festival as celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth Chinese lunar month is another festival of significance that can be witnessed. This is also called the lantern festival as decorative lanterns are made use of to add gaiety and brightness. Moon cakes that contain various fillings are eaten. 

Best seasons for planning travel to Hong Kong

The weather of Hong Kong becomes a little chilly in winter and hot and humid in summer. Spring i.e. March-April is considered to be the best time to visit the city as during this time it is neither too hot nor too cold and is not too humid either. Autumn i.e. between September and November is also a good season to visit the place. So, prime time travel to Hong Kong is during either spring or autumn. A number of special festivals can also be witnessed during these times.