3 Days Dunhuang Bike Tour

Going on a bike is a great way to explore the natural beauty of Dunhuang. Our tour is spent riding along the country road and the edge of town where we’ll pass by country houses, farmlands and vineyards (葡萄园) to show you the beauty of the little oasis (绿洲) in the desert.

Day 1

Meals: None

Accommodation (住宿): In Dunhuang

You will be picked up at the train station and moved to the hotel once you arrive in Dunhuang. Free for the rest of the day. Dunhuang is located on the western end of Hexi Corridor, at the meeting point of Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang in the Northwest of China. Known as Shazhou in ancient times, Dunhuang served as a rest stop for traders and due to its special geographical location, it was the gateway through which many religions (宗教) like Buddhism, Islam and Christianity entered China.

Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: In Dunhuang

You need to get up and start biking early in the morning. First, we will ride 30 minutes to the Mogao Caves (10 km) and visit the biggest Buddhist art gallery of the world. After lunch, we will ride bike to the White Horse Pagoda which is located in the countryside (12 km) and was built in 386 A.D. in memory of the white horse of the greatest Buddhist translator, Kumarajiva. Then we will have dinner at a local farmer’s restaurant. In the evening, we will ride bike to the famous Singing­Sand Dunes and Yueyaquan (6 km). Finally, we will ride back to the hotel.

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: None

Be dropped off at the airport and call it a day.

SHORTLIST OF LONDON'S BEST

If you have limited visiting time we recommend you follow this list.

1) Houses of Parliament. The guided tours of the Houses of Parliament are excellent, in any language you want, and get you to places that even normal Brits can't. However, when Parliament is sitting, they are not running, but you can still get in.

2) Hampton Court. We rate this as one of the best attractions in Europe. A whole succession of kings and queens have added to Henry VIII’s original palace. There lie a fantastic park (by Capability Brown) and gardens (including the famous maze), and Tudor kitchens and one of the last remaining Real Tennis courts. Lots of free (once you've paid the admission) guided tours, some in costume, by people who know and love the place. It's also surrounded by   a series of parks and makes a great destination for a bike trip — train out (30 minutes from Waterloo), bike back (12 miles) along the river. We prefer it to the Tower of London — you'll probably want to visit both, it knocks the spots off Buckingham Palace.

3) The River. Walk along the South Bank from Tower Bridge to Lambeth. The best of London is spread out for you: The Tower of London & Tower Bridge, The Houses of Parliament, Lambeth Palace (residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury), Shakespeare's Globe theatre, Both Tate Galleries, St Paul's Cathedral, The South Bank Centre, The Temple, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Somerset House. (A 2 hour walk if you don't stop for long). Or you can take a boat out to Greenwich, the Thames Barrier or the Dome.

4) Westminster Abbey. Where they crown Kings. An unreasonable admission charge (should really be free or voluntary donation), but a masterpiece anyway. If you get bored of waiting in the queue, or packed down by the crowds, hurry yourself off to the City where there's more square space of historic church, and empty.

5) The Theatre. It'd be a crime to visit London and not take in a show. Londoners have been passionate about theatre for centuries. Not only is the quality high, but the price is low - one third the price of Broadway. Classical Music and Opera is of a similarly high standard and low price.

Budapest is fast becoming one of Europe’s leading travel destinations, especially in winter when Hungary’s capital city truly comes to life. Here are some top things to do during the winter:

Taking place from November until early January each season, the markets welcome large visitor numbers from right around the world and deliver an authentic Hungarian Christmas experience you’ll never forget. Admission is free. Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

St. Stephen’s Basilica is truly a beautiful piece of architecture, but what makes it even more pleasing to the eye is the spectacular light show that lakes place for free throughout the year. The winter season offers the best light show experience. Breathtaking and groundbreaking, catching the Basilica light show is a must when visiting Budapest. The light show takes place every half an hour between 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. during winter.

Covered with over 39, 000 lights, the Budapest Christmas “light tram,” is put into operation across the city from 5 p.m. each evening throughout December and early January. No special tickets are needed to ride the tram, standard tickets are valid for travel. There are no services on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Tram tickets cost 380 HUF (around $1.35).

The River Danube Cruises last a few hours and stretch from one end of Budapest to the other. Day or night cruises are available. The most expensive include a three-course lunch or dinner with drinks, while the cheaper options consist of a comprehensive sightseeing tour. Ticket prices start at around 3, 800 HUF ($13.50) per person, including children.