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Zennor

Zennor  (Cornish: Sen Senar) is a small village between St Just in Penwith and St Ives in West Cornwall, within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Antiquities include the megalithic burial chambers Zennor Quoit and Sperris Quoit.

Get in
By car along the North Coast Road (B3306) from St Just in Penwith or St Ives, or minor road from Penzance.

By bus - local bus services operated by First Group:
 * Bus 300 runs Penzance - Sennen - Lands End - Sennen - St Just - Pendeen - Zennor - St Ives in the Summer and it's often an open top bus.
 * Alternatively catch one of the Penzance - St Just buses that runs via Morvah (check with bus company which one) and walk North from when the bus hits the B3306 (the driver will normally tell you where to get off and give directions). These buses run year round every couple of hours and only take 25 minutes to Morvah).
 * In the Summer you could also the half hourly 17 bus from Penzance to St Just and change onto a 300 at St Just or Pendeen to avoid the Penzance—Lands End loop which takes a good hour and a half.

Get around
Great walking area.

title: Zennor


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Zentsuji

Zentsuji (善通寺) is a city of 31,000 people (2022) in northwestern Kagawa prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

By train
On the Shikoku Railway Company's Dosan Line from Konzōji.

By car

 * Takamatsu Expressway
 * National Route 11
 * National Route 319

By bus

 * Kotosan Bus (Marugame Station - Zentsuji Akamon - Kotohira Station)

Go next

 * Kotohira
 * Marugame
 * Tadotsu
 * Mitoyo
 * Kanonji
 * Manno
 * Sakaide
 * Takamatsu
 * Miyoshi

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Zentsuji


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Zephyrhills

Zephyrhills is a city in Pasco County, Florida.

Understand
The town, which had a population of 16,000 in 2019, was founded as "Abbott" in 1888. A post office was established eight years later, followed by the formation of the Zephyrhills Colony Company for Civil War veterans in 1909. The name was changed to Zephyrhills and incorporated soon after the formation of the colony company. Roughly a hundred years after its founding, in 2001, the town was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The airport is the location of Skydive City, Inc. The company, which was founded in 1990, is the largest woman-owned drop zone in the world.

The town is best known in Florida, however, for the "Zephyrhills" label on water bottles, as the water bottle company is based here.

By car
I-75 runs north-south west of the city. FL-56 connects to the Zephyrhills area from the west.

By plane
The local airport is (for general aviation), but most passengers will go to Tampa International Airport  or Orlando International Airport  and travel to Central Florida towns and cities by car.

Go next

 * Bushnell

title: Zephyrhills


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Zeravshan Valley

The Zeravshan Valley is a region in west-central Tajikistan. Zarafshan (also spelt Zeravshon or Zeravshan) is a Persian word meaning "spreader of gold", and is named for the river that carves out the valley. This region is probably the most well-known region for the average tourist due to its stunning remote alpine scenery and historic sites like Panjakent while still being easily accessible from the Tajik capital Dushanbe and major tourist sites in neighboring Uzbekistan like Samarkand.

Cities

 * — a crossroad town about a two-hour trip to the east from Panjakent, from where the roads to Dushanbe and Khujand branch off.
 * — Zeravshan's biggest city and main travel gateway is at the westernmost end of the valley. Home to the ruins of a same-named Silk Road city.

Many small villages are scattered along the Zeravshan River and further up the side-valleys in the picturesque landscape of this region.

Other destinations

 * — one of the oldest cities in Central Asia dating from the 4th-century BC.
 * — a turquoise lake in the Fann Mountains and one of the must-see stops of any Tajikistan trip.
 * — a chain of seven lakes that stretches for more than 20 km in a side-valley.

Understand

The Zeravshan Valley (also Zarafshan or Zarafshon) is in northern Tajikistan, embedded between the impressive mountain ranges of the western Pamir-Alai massive. “Zeravshan”, which means “Spreader of Gold” in Tajik, is the main river which crosses the valley and which supplies its inhabitants with a most precious resource: water. The area is famous for its unique mountain landscapes and its beautiful lakes: the Alauddin lakes, the Kulikalon lakes, Iskanderkul Lake, the seven lakes of Shing among many others. While being an important tourism and recreation destination during the Soviet era of dispatch tourism, it is now an insiders' tip among those interested in mountain trekking, alpinism/mountain climbing and the little traveled branches of the Silk Road.

The Tajiks and their ancestors, an Indo-Iranian speaking people called the Sogdians, have lived for more than 1500 years along the Zeravshan valley; a history which is still visible at the Old Panjakent archaeological sites and the remote Yaghnob valley (in fact, the Yaghnob valley is the only place in the world where the direct descendant of Sogdian is still spoken).

Several specialized tour operators in Europe and Uzbekistan are offering guided trekking and cultural tours to the area, normally in combination with visits to the Silk Road highlights Samarkand and Bukhara. Independent travelers will find a good network of local operators in Panjakent who can arrange trips on the spot. With support of international development agencies, the quality and variety of services has been improved to meet international standards.

Get in
Most visitors enter the Zeravshan valley from Samarkand, which is just across the border to Uzbekistan. You will need a valid Tajik visa to enter and a double/multi-entry Uzbek visa if you intend to return the same way you came. There is no public transport crossing the border and unless you have arranged your trip through a tour agent, you will have to switch taxis at the border. The border crossing between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan near Penjikent and Samarkand reopened in 2018, and there seems to be no indication that either side will close it soon. But given the sometimes volatile relationship between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, there's no guarantee that the border will remain open at any given time. The nearest other border crossing is in Oybek, 250 km from Samarkand and an hour's ride from Khujand.

Additional entry routes are from Khujand or Dushanbe. Both are spectacular but also tiresome trips in shared taxi over passes as high as 3600m. In 2009 the price for a seat was about С140 for the Dushanbe-Panjakent bit. The roads range from virtually absent to first league, depending on whether you travel on the original road or one of the bits already repaired.

If you are entering from Dushanbe, you will have to cross the once-infamous Anzob tunnel, which was extensively refurbished and reopened in late 2015.

Panjakent and Ayni have airports from which small planes occasionally fly to Dushanbe. There is no schedule. Normally, if the passes are closed and enough potential travelers have assembled, Tajik Air runs a trip or two.

Get around
There is no functional public transport in the Zeravshan valley, but shared taxis are an inexpensive and reliable way to get around along the main road. In Panjakent, the main taxi (and bus) station is in the east of the city (well past the bazaar).

If you are heading for smaller settlements you will need to book a whole car if you don't want to wait for ages for enough passengers to assemble. You can either try your bargaining luck at the taxi station or book through one of the local travel agencies who will normally give you a good deal as well. Make sure you get a 4WD vehicle if heading for the mountains - 2WD taxis tend to overestimate the offroad ability of their vehicles.

There is a major road connecting the Uzbek border with Panjakent, Zeravshan city, and Ayni (which connects with the main north-south road that connects Khujand with Dushanbe). Roads to smaller settlements spur off from this road, but are often of lesser quality.

See
Old Panjakent -The archaeological site of the ruins of old Panjakent- a walled inter-city which stood 2500 years ago - was once a Sogdian trading city on the Silk Road. Today only ruins are left owing to the fact that the main construction material was clay-bricks. Often referred to as “The Pompeii of Central Asia”, it is well worth a visit. Duplicates of old Sogdian art are exhibited in the nearby museum. The director will also take you on a tour, which will open your eyes to the interesting details which will normally escape the layman's eye.

If 2500 years doesn’t seem to suffice, 20 km further, one may find the oldest settlement in all Central Asia – Sarazm. The name Sarazm (or Sari Zamin) aptly means “the beginning of the world” for this site which is more than 5500 years old. More than 6000 people used to live here making it the oldest city in Central Asia. Sarazm has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The nearby museum shows archaeological finds including a picture of the discovered skeleton of the multi-millennia princess of Sarazm adorned with her impressive jewellery. The original is on display in the capital Dushanbe.

The seven pearls of the Shing - A string of seven lakes, each with its particular color and flora embedded in an impressive mountain scenery is a must-see in the Zeravshan valley. The lowest lake is a 1½-hour drive from Panjakent and the point of departure for numerous trekking routes. If your luggage is heavy, you will find porter donkeys in the villages. During the high season it might be prudent though to arrange donkeys beforehand through a travel agency, as the animals are still used by farmers in their daily work.

Fan mountains - A paradise for trekkers and alpinists featuring green meadows, old juniper forests and a great number of turquoise lakes all overlooked by towering mountains. In the central Fan area, Chimtarga (5489m) and Energia (5210m) are among the most popular peaks for alpinists, while hardcore climbers find enough challenges in the area's cliffs for a lifetime. The Fan Mountains have become one of central Asia's prime destinations for trekking and virtually all Tajik travel operators run tours in the region. Accommodation is either in homestays or tents (on rental for example at the ZTDA) or in one of the two remaining turbazas (alpinist camps) in Artush and Allaudin.

Iskander Kul - According to an old tale, Alexander the Great lost his horse on the banks of this gourgeous mountain lake about 25 km off the main road (and accessible by car). Even though the color of the water may look like something you'd see in the Caribbean, it is very cold and only the brave will go for a swim. At the lakeside a former turbaza (holiday camp) is featuring a restaurant and about 25 chalets for overnight stay (С25/pers). It operates only during the main season. Don't miss out on the impressive 40-m waterfall a 30-minute walk from the lake. Local people call it "Niagara" with some reason. If you are into multi-day trekking, the village of Sary-Tag (a two-hour walk from the lake) is a good base for tours crossing over to Allaudin lakes or the seven pearls of Shing. Sary-Tag features a number of good standard homestays of the CBT projekt of ZTDA.

Yagnob valley This remote destination is truly off the beaten path, here you will find rural Tajikistan at its purest. The Yagnob river is a tributary to the Zeravshan at South East of the Valley - turn east in the settlement Anzob. The Yagnob valley is home to descendants of the Sogdian empire who still speak this old Persian language and have preserved some of their traditions. Fantastic trekking opportunities in a spectacular mountain setting reward those visiting the area.

Eat
If you are looking for a good meal, your homestay or one of the few restaurants in Panjakent are your best bet. There is a chaikhana (teahouse) serving the odd shashlik in every bigger settlement but cuisine is often not of the highest level. As elsewhere in Central Asia, the diet is based on the staples rice and mutton. If you have the opportunity to eat in a private house (homestay) make use of it, in order to witness the full splendor of Tajik hospitality.

Panjakent and Ayni offer fairly well-stocked local bazaars where you can fill up your supplies. Make sure you bring enough food when going to the mountains independently - in the higher parts of the valley markets tend to be very small and in remote villages, you may only find fresh bread.

Make sure to wash (with clean water) and peel any produce you buy before you eat it. The tap water in the region is not of good quality, so it is better to use bottled water or water that has been boiled and has since cooled off for both drinking and cleaning purposes.

Sleep
The Zeravshan valley offers excellent opportunities for camping at the shores of its many lakes and rivers. You may bring our own tents or rent them from the ZTDA network. There is also a network of good homestays - particularly around the valley's main attractions. The places are clean, generally offer hot water/shower and good food. Prices are in the range of US$7-10/person. See contacts for CBT homestays further below.

Allaudin alpinist camp is in a lovely spot in the Fan Mountains and run by the Moscow-based association "Vertical". It offers basic accommodation in cottages (during the high season you may also have electricity and hot water) at €12/person.

Artush alpinist camp is a large site with dozens of renovated cottages and a nice main building. Overnight is around US$15/person depending on standard and season. There is no hot water and toilets are far off. But still a good place to take a rest before or after a long trek.

Panjakent offers a former Intourist hotel (now called "Hotel Panjakent") which has some decent rooms (among many not decent at all) for US$30-50/night.

The same is true for Ayni where a small hotel is in the city center (follow the signs "Welthungerhilfe" as this NGO is also in the hotel). Prices are lower than the ones in Panjakent. It is generally more advisable to look for homestays in Ayni and Panjakent as well. Tour agents will be able to find something suitable for you.

Go next

 * In Ayni, the road to Panjakent meets with the main arterial in Tajikistan. Heading north on that road is Khujand and Istaravshan; heading south is Dushanbe and beyond.
 * From Panjakent heading west you'll enter the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan

title: Zeravshan Valley


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Zermatt

Zermatt is one of the most famous mountain resorts in Switzerland, and attracts people from around the world. Located in the German-speaking part of Valais, its most popular sight is the iconic Matterhorn, one of Switzerland's most famous mountains. It comes at no surprise then that the town of Zermatt caters mostly towards skiing, hiking and mountaineering. Though its fame has also a downside, the town is busier and much more expensive than other destinations in the region.

Understand
Zermatt is surrounded by a range of fabulous mountains, including the highest of Switzerland, Monte Rosa. However the most famous of them is Matterhorn. It was one of the last alpine mountains to be conquered (in 1865), and the first expedition that reached the top ended dramatically (only 3 of the 7 climbers survived).

If you've never experienced a car-free city of any size then Zermatt could be a bit of a surprise: during the high season nearly there are 20,000 people living in a town with only 5 or 6 streets and more significantly almost no internal combustion vehicles except very occasional outside delivery and specialist services. This means that you can leave a noisy bar or party, and a few minutes later on foot find yourself in utter tranquillity. You can sit on the hotel balcony and listen to dozens of varieties of songbirds while watching the sun set on one of the most striking mountains in the western world. Wake up with the sun in a four or five-star room or a canvas tent to the sound of the aforementioned birds, crickets, church bells, and children's laughter.

Almost all vehicles in Zermatt are battery driven and almost completely silent. Taxi drivers have a habit of assuming that pedestrians have eyes in the backs of their heads, with occasional alarming though seldom injurious consequences. Horse-drawn vehicles are equipped with bells and many startled pedestrians might well wish taxis were similarly provided.

You can cycle or stroll in complete safety.

Incidentally there is a version of the standard Zermatt ski map/summer walking map in English although for some reason the lift stations only seem to hand out the German/French versions with tickets. The map is free - you can generally find it on one of the stands in the lift stations or in the Tourist Information centre.

The name "Zermatt" is a contraction of the local dialect words "zer", which means "to", and "matta", which means "field" or "meadow". Therefore: "to the field", although many of the fields have since had hotels of apartment houses built on them.

By train
For more information on train travel and tickets see Rail travel in Switzerland.

For most people the most convenient way to Zermatt is going to be by train. Half-hourly trains run from Visp, which has connection to most major Swiss cities as well as the airports in Geneva and Zurich. Zermatt is also the end station of the Glacier Express, a panoramic express train going to St. Moritz.

By car
Private cars can only drive as far as Täsch. The last 7 km must be travelled by train or by taxi. There is a shuttle train every 20 minutes during the day departing from the Matterhorn Terminal Täsch, which contains 2,100 covered parking spaces. You can take your luggage cart directly from your car, on to the shuttle, and on to the Zermatt train station forecourt.

By plane
If it's in line with your budget, Air Zermatt will fly you in from major regional airports. Otherwise the nearest airport is in Sion, but due to its very limited flight schedule most tourists opt for Geneva, Zurich or Milan Malpensa airports. From there it's also possible to book an airport transfer by limousine or van to get to Zermatt.

On foot
The village of Zermatt, while dense, is geographically very small. There are three main streets which run along the banks of the river Vispa, and numerous cross-streets, especially around the station and the church which forms the centre of the village. In general anything is at most a twenty minute walk away if you are fit.

During the summer there are roads and hiking trails leading up to a number of year-round restaurants in the direction of the Matterhorn.

By taxi
There are several companies in Zermatt that run small electric taxis. You can call one of the companies' numbers (printed on side of the taxi) to pick you up at any location in the village or they can be hired from the ranks outside the main train station or cable car station.

In addition, many of the higher-end hotels have porters who will meet you at the station with a small electric car/truck and will ferry you directly to check in, depositing the luggage in your room. A few of the really exclusive ones still use horse-drawn carriages.

By bus
Zermatt has a local bus with two lines. Both lines take the same route through the centre of the village, passing by the main station, as well as the Gornergrat and Rothorn stations. The green line then goes to the cable car whereas the red line makes a loop around the Winkelmatte area. Trips cost Fr. 2.50 on the green line and Fr. 3.20 on the red line, however if you have a ski pass or a train ticket, you can take it for free. A weekly pass with unlimited rides costs Fr. 22. Buses run every 20-30 minutes depending on the time of the day and year.

By cable car
There is a series of cable car runs leading all the way to the summit of the Klein Matterhorn (3883m), presenting the highest scenic outlook platform in Europe. A ride along the entire series costs Fr. 82 round trip.

By train

 * Gornergrat Railway – A railway to the top of Mount Gornergrat. Fr. 36 one way. Trains depart from a separate station opposite the main station. Allow a few hours and enjoy the great view and the sunny place. A nice trip is to take the train up and hike down.
 * Sunnegga (underground funicular) Railway - An underground funicular railway to 'Sunnegga Paradise'. Fr. 16 one way.  Trains depart from a separate station at the other side of village from the main station (follow signing).  From Sunnegga, two cable cars take you to Rothorn Paradise with great views.  Fr. 44 return.  A nice easy walk is to go by train to Sunnegga (you may then wish to take the cable cars up to Rothorn and back) then walk down the Marmot Trail back to Zermatt.  You may even see some Marmots on the way!
 * Lift Passes are ideal tickets for hikers, mountain-bikers and nature-lovers. They give you unlimited rides on the following cable railways: Matterhorn glacier paradise, Rothorn, Schwarzsee, Gornergrat and on the Matterhorn Gotthard railway between Randa, Täsch and Zermatt. as well as free entrance to the glacier palace and unlimited rides on electric buses (see below). They are available for 3 or more days at all ticket-offices of the Zermatt mountain transport system. Peak season prices for a three day pass: Adult - Fr. 190 Child - Fr. 95

See and do
Zermatt and the surrounding area is full of things to do. For sporty people, there are many activities such as hiking, skiing and mountain biking for you to enjoy. For the more laid-back tourist, there are many easy walks, spas, scenic train and cable car trips, a museum and much more to enjoy. For social people, there are also pubs and clubs in the village centre.

For more information on activities, a good place to visit is the Visitor Information Center near the main train station.

Mountaineering

 * Breithorn The "Breithorn" (4150 m) is the easiest 4000er of the Alps. Using the lifts "Furri" (1700 m), "Trockener Steg"(2800 m), "kleines Matterhorn" (3883 m) you reach the top of the little Matterhorn. Go down to the "Theodul-Gletscher" and follow the trail to left on the Breithorn. The top of the Breithorn can be reached after two hours of walking (no climbing!). A rope is necessary and a mountain guide is recommended. You should not start the tour from the little Matterhorn after 10:00 in the morning, because the snow gets too weak and you will not reach the last lift down to Zermatt in time. The Glacier Paradise (Klein Matterhorn) ski area is at 3850m (3899m when the additional summer season drag lift is open).
 * Matterhorn The "Matterhorn" (4478 m) can be climbed by experienced mountaineers. The usual pattern of ascent is to take the Schwarzsee cable car up from Zermatt, hike up to the Hörnli Hut elev. 3,260 m (10,700 ft), a large stone building at the base of the main ridge, and spend the night. The next day, climbers rise at 03:30 to reach the summit and descend before the regular afternoon clouds and storms come in. The cost is approx. Fr. 1200 with a mountain guide from Zermatt
 * Monte Rosa "Monte Rosa" (Dufourspitze) (4634 m) is the culminating point of Switzerland. The starting point is Monte Rosa hut at 2795m. The climb requires excellent physical condition, experience in climbing with crampons and prior acclimatisation to the altitude. The cost is approx. Fr. 700 with a guide from Zermatt

Skiing

 * . This is the access to the biggest part of the ski area. There are two parallel cable cars leading up to Furi from where you can pick your onward destination. If you want to access the Italian area, the fastest way goes by this route.
 * A rack railway leads up to the, another rather small skiing area.
 * The is an almost totally separated area which can be accessed via a funicular.
 * The is an almost totally separated area which can be accessed via a funicular.

Cycling and mountain-biking
Zermatt is a great place to mountain bike although it doesn't appear to have really become popular there yet. Bikes can be hired from several shops around Zermatt from about Fr. 38 for a hard tail and Fr. 50 for a full suspension per day. Downhill rigs are Fr. 100 per day and helmets are included.

For bike hire, search for Bayardzermatt or Salom sport, Bayards is closer to the train station but you can get a mountain bike guide from salom sport for Fr. 180 in the afternoon or Fr. 240 in the morning and Fr. 350 for a full day.

Mountain Bike route and much more can be found at. The routes on this website can also be download to GPS or printed.

There is also the Bike school Zermatt, which is eager to give all interested bikers the best possible experience in the alpine environment around Zermatt. All ages and levels will find adapted programs, which will make your stay unforgettable, from playful skill training schemes for kids to epic freeride tours in alpine surroundings. See more infos at www.bikeschulezermatt.ch.

If you plan on cycling through town, take note that the main street (Bahnhofstrasse) is closed to bicycles(unless pushed) from the train station to the church for most of the afternoon, and the police are quick to fine anyone who does so anyway.

Mountain bikes may be carried on most of the ski lifts that are open in the summer although you will be charged extra. Lift passes that are valid for more than 3 days appear to include bike transport as standard although you can pay for individual journeys if you wish. Note that the Gornegrat train is not included in some summer lift passes.

You can also buy area passes on a daily basis that include the lifts on one particular peak (either Rothorn or Schwarzsee). These passes are available in mountain bike versions for not much extra.

The following lifts should allow your bikes:

 * Zermatt - Sunnegga (funicular)
 * You can wheel your bike through the tunnel to the bottom of the funicular and then place it in the bottom compartment on the train. You will have to carry it up about 8 steps at this stage. At the top of the mountain don't follow the crowd up the steps to the exit - there is a lower exit that you can wheel your bike straight out of and onto a slightly lower path. Alternatively get in the elevator lift located here and it will take you up the 15 metres (50 ft) or so to the top exit.
 * Sunnegga - Blauherd (cable car)
 * When you arrive at the ticket barrier the attendant should notice you and take your bike around the barrier. Since they don't fit in the cabins your bike(s) will be carried in an open cargo cable car. You will have to wait for it to appear on the cable but this shouldn't take more than a few minutes. The attendant then loads your bikes in and fastens them down whilst you get in a standard cabin. They then radio the top station who unload them for you on arrival.
 * Blauherd - Rothorn (Telecabin)
 * The top stage of the Rothorn route is one of the huge telecabins that carry 150 people at a time. In summer you can just wheel your bikes in and out again at the top.
 * Gornergrat (Mountain railway)
 * Bikes can be carried on the Gornergrat railway right to the summit. There are special cars where you can hang up your bike vertically.
 * Schwarzsee lifts
 * A biking lift pass is available and a number of routes are marked down the mountain from this area.

The tourist information centre next to the Zermatt train station sell a mountain biking map for Fr. 2 which includes a number of routes down from the various peaks. The map states that Zermatt's cycling policy is that any track wider than 2 metres (6.5 ft) is a valid cycling route. There are numerous roads that run down and around the mountains in the summer that carry cyclists in safety. Remember that Zermatt is generally car free so you will only rarely see a powered vehicle.

The Rothorn area is particularly good and suitable for all cyclists regardless of fitness or skill level. It is possible to cycle down from the summit following a wide but occasionally steep and rocky path down the back of the mountain that brings you back to the Blauhard lift station. From there you can follow the quiet mountain road routes all the way down to Zermatt. There are some excellent cross mountain routes that present you with stunning views and take you over to Gournergrat near Rifflealp. Unfortunately there is no cycling route down on the official map from that point so you can either get on the Gournergrat train or turn around and come back down to a lower point on the Rothorn.

The restaurant at Fluhalp is a pleasant first ride from the Blauhard lift station and a good way of familiarising yourself with a hire bike.

Make sure that you take some good quality cycling gloves since you can expect significant vibration from cycling along rocky tracks!

Sleep
For a tiny hamlet, Zermatt has more hotels than most big cities. There are 126 hotels and over 2700 apartments to rent for holidays. However, hotels and apartments can be sold out months, or even a full year before the major holidays. If you want a reasonably priced room, consider booking many months before your stay.

There are other options. You can camp, or as throughout Europe vacation apartments are the rage. Timeshares are another option: if you know you want to ski one week per year, maybe go in with a friend or two on a property. Foreigners are allowed to buy up to a certain square meterage in Switzerland, and you are free to lease, rent, or otherwise assign the property any way you like, barring industrial use.

Camping
If you're on a budget, try camping there is a camping area open in Zermatt during the summer months. It's to the left of the train station's main exit. Follow the street for a couple of hundred metres.

The campsite in Täsch is only about 100 metres (330 ft) from the train station and works out at about Fr. 20 a night for 2 people sharing a small tent without a car.

Stove fuels are quite hard to find although you can buy them in some of the outdoor shops in Zermatt. You are unlikely to find any in Täsch. MSR butane/propane canisters and Coleman's liquid fuel are definitely available if you hunt around. You can also buy fondue fuel (usually meths) which will work well in Trangia stoves.

Budget
Despite the great number of hotels, pensions, and vacation apartments in Zermatt, few can be considered "budget".

If extensive hiking is in your plans, mountain huts may be an option.

Near the base of the Matterhorn, the SAC-operated Schönbielhütte offers dormitory lodging for Fr. 80. SAC members are accommodated first and enjoy cheaper rates. Schönbielhütte is a 4-hour hike from Zermatt via Zmutt, but consider the more scenic 6 hour route via Pension Edelweiss, Hotel du Trift, and Höhbalmen.

Near Rothorn, the Fluhalp Restaurant offers dorm accommodation for Fr. 29 or doubles for Fr. 86. Fluhalp is accessible on foot (3 hours from Zermatt via Winkelmatten) or by funicular or cable car (Zermatt-Sunnega-Blauhard, then 45 min walk).

If you are planning to ski in Zermatt, consider staying on the Italian side. Lodging there is much cheaper compared to Zermatt, and you can still easily access the Zermatt Ski Resort, but you will need a more expensive ski pass to cover access to the two regions.

Täsch
a village down the valley from Zermatt. Whether you arrive by train or car, you'll have passed through here. This is also where the car terminal for Zermatt lies. Shuttle trains from Zermatt leave every 20 minutes throughout the day and the trip takes 10 minutes for Fr. 8.60.

Täsch offers beautiful cross-country skiing trails from difficult to easy. If you don't have your own cross-country skis, there is a shop in the village right by the train terminal that rents equipment. A day pass is quite cheap costing only Fr. 6. which can be purchased at the train terminal (window 1) or in the ski-rental shop.

Go next

 * Go to nearby Saas-Fee for a quieter alternative of Zermatt: Similar panorama and ski offer, car-free as well, but with half the people.
 * Visit the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO world heritage site with the majestic Aletsch glacier.
 * Take the train to Brig, to visit the closest thing to a city nearby.
 * Take the Glacier Express to Andermatt, or if you don't mind sitting on the train for a whole day, all the way to St. Moritz.
 * Travel on to Italy and visit Domodossola, the closest town after the border.

title: Zermatt


text:
Zhalong National Nature Reserve

Zhalong National Nature Reserve (扎龙自然保护区) is in Heilongjiang province.

Understand
26 km from Qiqihar is an excellent bird-watching center with 269 kinds of birds. It is also known as the "Land of the Cranes" because it is the natural habitat for 6 of the world's 15 breeds of cranes.

Flora and fauna
Highlights in the nature reserve are storks, swans, geese, ducks, herons, grebes, egrets and the rare red-crowned crane.

Get in
Zhalong Nature Reserve is easy to access from Qiqihaer. Buses leave from the corner of Longsha Lu and Zhanqian Dajie, about one block north from the train station. Look for "扎龙" on the bus signs. If there are no buses there, you can take a 3-wheeled motorcyle taxi (tuk-tuk) or normal taxi about five or ten minutes to Da4gang3zi (大岗子) and find a bus there. Buses usually wait in the parking lot on the right hand side of the road near the gas station. A round-trip ticket should cost ¥20, and the trip out takes about 40 minutes. In August 2010 the bus route number was 306.

Fees and permits
¥50 entrance fee. You can also pay for boat rides around the lake or golf cart rides around the park.

See
Many different kinds of birds live in this beautiful marsh and grassland, including about 400 of the world's 2000 red-crowned cranes. The crane viewing area is a short walk from the entrance. The cranes are kept in enclosures there, but are released to fly free and eat food four times a day. As of August 2010, the cranes were released at 10:10, 11:10, 14:30, and 15:30 but times may change.

Don't let the fact that the birds are kept in pens dissuade you. As you walk out to the crane viewing area, you can spot ducks, terns, herons, geese, and many other birds. It's not like a zoo or an aviary, and when you see the cranes fly over your head it's amazing.

Stay safe
Mosquito repellent is a must!

title: Zhalong National Nature Reserve


text:
Zhangjiagang

Zhangjiagang (张家港 Zhāngjiāgǎng) is a modern industrial city in Jiangsu province. It has developed into prosperous city famous for its large parks, clean and well maintained streets and friendly inhabitants.

Understand
Zhangjiagang was a small rural town until the economic reforms of the mid 1980s brought industry and business to the area. The city has a population of around 1.4 million (2021). Administratively, it is a county-level city within the prefecture-level city Suzhou.

By bus
Regular buses to Zhangjiagang run from most nearby cities, such as Nanjing, Wuxi, and Suzhou. Fares are ¥10-30.

By train
Zhangjiagang has no train service. Wuxi and Suzhou are the easiest places to catch a train.

By plane
Zhangjiagang has no airport. The normal means of arriving by air is to fly into Shanghai Pudong Airport, and then take a bus or taxi to Zhangjiagang.

By boat
Though it is an industrial river town, the Zhangjiagang town center is approximately 25 minutes from the river.

Get around
Most of Zhangjiagang is accessible on foot. The streets are clean and well-maintained by Chinese standards. All major roads are marked with signs in Pinyin.

Taxis are cheap and ubiquitous. Flag drop is ¥10, including distance up to 2.8 km. Most of the city center is within that range, though far-flung areas may be a bit higher. A few cab drivers speak a bit of English, but the vast majority do not.

Its difficult to get taxis during the period of 16:45 to 17:15 since the drivers have a shift change.

There is a city bus service, with ¥1 fare. However, it is not traveler-friendly, and can be difficult even for the locals. However for short distances and if routes known, buses are better.

Shopping district
The biggest shopping area is Walking Street (buxingjie 步行街), in the middle of town. It is a half-kilometer pedestrian street lined with many department stores, restaurants, and other attractions. Highlights include 85 Degrees, a good bakery with some Western-style pastries, Watson's (has some Western goods), and several large departments stores with international import sections. The department store with Watson's has a decent import section in their basement level.

The shopping park (gouwugongyuan 购物公园) is a shopping area with a Walmart, Bear Papa (a creampuff shop), a Gelato restaurant (quality varies dramatically), German restaurant (with probably the best burgers in town) arcade, and a movie theater that often has English language films. Look for the films with red text reading: 原片 (original film). Patrons at the theater, however, will often talk during English movies and use cell phones constantly. Going to unusual film times and during the week is recommended.

Big supermarkets
For groceries, household goods, or other necessaries, go to Suguo and Dao Ren Fa, past the west end of Walking Street.
 * Suguo - Very poor international imports section.
 * Dao Ren Fa - A small international goods section. Slightly larger dairy section than Auchan. Wine section is more limited than Auchan and usually more expensive.
 * Auchan - On the east side of town next to the only McDonalds. Has the largest international imports selection including many French goods, chocolates, pastas, condiments and the biggest/cheapest wine and spirits selection.
 * Walmart - In the Shopping Park (Gouwugongyuan 购物公园). Has some international goods, wines, but is usually overpriced.

Eat

 * Mandi Mandi. Italian place with terrific gnocchi and great selection of Italian beers and other drinks. Pricey but great if you want to treat yourself. Yangshe Laojie (old Street). Toz on tap at ¥40 a glass.
 * Mandi Mandi. Italian place with terrific gnocchi and great selection of Italian beers and other drinks. Pricey but great if you want to treat yourself. Yangshe Laojie (old Street). Toz on tap at ¥40 a glass.
 * Mandi Mandi. Italian place with terrific gnocchi and great selection of Italian beers and other drinks. Pricey but great if you want to treat yourself. Yangshe Laojie (old Street). Toz on tap at ¥40 a glass.
 * Mandi Mandi. Italian place with terrific gnocchi and great selection of Italian beers and other drinks. Pricey but great if you want to treat yourself. Yangshe Laojie (old Street). Toz on tap at ¥40 a glass.

Drink
Outside the hotels, there are two main bars in town which cater to foreigners. They have a decent selection of western drinks, and the prices are among the best in town.

 * Malone's Bar, just west of the Walking Street shopping district, is by far the most popular place for foreigners to drink and network. The girls behind the bar speak enough English to get by, and the many locals who stop in to practice their English are usually willing to help translate. Be sure to try the excellent jiaozi (Chinese dumplings), which the bar girls will order from a shop nearby (the jiaozi shop doesn't speak any English). Most taxi drivers understand "Malone's Bar".
 * Cheers Bar, also known as Lucy's, has a more relaxed atmosphere, nicer furnishings, and the staff speaks better English. However, it is located far away from most of the other bars. The easiest way to get there is to tell a taxi driver to go to the swimming pool (you yong chi). Standing at the front doors of the swimming pool, turn around and look across the street; Cheers Bar has the biggest neon sign nearby.
 * Excellent Bar, next door to Cheers Bar, is a karaoke bar (instead of a private karaoke room, the standard approach in China). The drink prices are higher than other places and the girls don't speak much English, but they have an extensive selection of English songs.
 * Bistro Champ de Ble, though a restaurant, is the only place in town to get a pint of draft beer. They have Japanese Asahi on tap.
 * Paramount, Located behind Malone's 3 floors up. You can't miss the rainbow neons decorating the staircase. This bar features smoke machines, laser effects, loud music, dancers and some friendly staff. It can be on the expensive side, but is one of the best Bar/Club in town definitely worth a visit.

There are many other bars in town, some of which cater to specific tastes, others of which are quite forgettable.

Mid-range
Traders Plaza Hotel is in the Guo Mao complex. Great hotel, clean, courteous staff, decent restaurant, large rooms with all of the amenities at a reasonable price of about US$85. The Small Devil restaurant and bar is just outside the hotel lobby. Taxis are plentiful.

title: Zhangjiagang


text:
Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie (张家界 Zhāngjiājiè) is a small provincial city in northwestern Hunan Province, China. It is significant for its proximity to Tianmen Mountain and Wulingyuan.

Understand
Located in the Lishui upper reaches, is a Wuling mountains hinterland. It is one of the most important tourist cities in mainland China. Zhangjiajie City has jurisdiction over Yongding District, Wulingyuan District, Cili County, and Sangzhi County. Among them, Yongding District and Wulingyuan District are the two main urban areas. Tourists usually arrive in Yongding District before going to other places to visit.

History
The city has a recorded history dating back to 221 BC. Its name was Dayong (大庸) until 1994 when it was renamed to link it to the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (itself named after a tiny village now known as Zhangjiajie village or Zhangjiajie Cun), which came within city borders after Dayong had become a prefecture-level city in 1988. This name was adopted to give the city more prominence after this site had been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The name Zhangjiajie is linked to the Han Dynasty general and minister Zhang Liang (died about 189 BCE). By some accounts he lived in seclusion on this mountain after retirement.

Geography
Zhangjiajie City has complex and diverse strata, creating a local characteristic landscape. Zhangjiajie is at the junction of the uplift of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the subsidence area of Dongting Lake. There are mountains, karsts, hills, hills, and plains in the landforms. The mountainous area accounts for 76% of the total area. The central part is along the banks of the Lishui River in a north-easterly direction, and the southern mountains are descending towards the Yuanshui River. The rivers in the city are vertical and horizontal, and the water system is mainly Lishui and Lushui.

Nature
Zhangjiajie has a typical monsoon humid climate in the middle subtropical mountains, with four distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, sufficient sunshine, a long frost-free period, and a short severe cold period. The average annual sunshine is 1440 hours, the average temperature is 16 degrees, the average annual precipitation is about 1400 mm, and the average frost-free period over the years is 216 to 269 days. Due to the influence of topography, landform, and other factors, the climate in the territory is complex and changeable, and natural disasters such as droughts, floods, strong winds, and hail are also frequent.

Zhangjiajie has a large temperature difference between day and night, and the temperature difference between the four seasons is relatively small. The temperature difference between the core scenic spots in Zhangjiajie and the urban area is about 5-10 ℃, the hottest time is 39 ℃ in the urban area, and about 30 ℃ in the scenic area. In summer, you need to bring sunscreen and sleep with a thin quilt at night, so it is best to bring long-sleeved clothing when staying at the top of the mountain at night. Spring and autumn are the best time to travel to Zhangjiajie.

Get in
Zhangjiajie is about 250 km (155 mi) northwest of Changsha.

By plane
Be careful with the taxi drivers in the airport parking lot. They are likely unwilling to use the meter. They may claim that your destination is very far and attempt to charge you a "parking lot fee". Call your hotel or hostel to find out how much the trip should cost and ask them to speak with a taxi driver for you. It should cost only ¥20-40 total for a trip from the airport to Zhangjiajie city. Alternatively, you may take a local public bus (service number 4) to the city. The Airport Bus, or Bus 4, is a circular route that reaches the city or bus station. The fare is ¥1. It runs from 06:00 to 19:00 and the departure station is before the airport gate. Divided into two lines, the routes are as follows.

Line A, in the direction of Nanzhuangping, reaches the Airport Hotel, Ziwu Road, Beizheng Street, the department store, the bus station, the pedestrian street, the railway station, and then back to the airport via Guanliping.

Line B, the direction of Guanliping, goes through the railway station, the pedestrian street, the bus station, the department store, Xianglong International Hotel, Beizheng Street, Ziwu Road, the airport hotel, and back to the airport via Nanzhuangping.

By bus
Intercity buses from Changsha take 5 hours and are boarded at the Changsha West bus terminal (a fancy new building that resembles a shopping mall, next to the Wangchengpo subway stop). These buses run approximately hourly with the last bus departing around 19:00. Fare is about ¥120.

Get around
Zhangjiajie Central Bus Station operates minibusses that will take you next to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park's entrance. You do not need to buy a ticket at the Central Bus Station ticket window, simply go through security, keep to the left and make your way outside through Exit 1. The bus fare to the park is ¥12, and you pay the driver directly. Keep in mind that these are older minibusses that are used primarily by local commuters to their job sites. Many stops will be made to pick up and drop off people along the route. The terminus appears to be a partially constructed hotel or apartment complex about five minutes on foot from the park entrance. The trip is about 1hr 20min, and the roads are substandard as of Jan 2018. Once you are done in the park, return to the location you were dropped off at. Busses will be waiting to return you to the Central Bus Station. The minibusses depart in both directions about every 20–30 minutes. The first bus leaves the Central Bus Station at 06:30 the last one returns from the park around 18:00.

Rural Zhangjiajie

Do
Zhangjiajie is the entry point for trips to two stunning nearby sites: Tianmen Mountain and Wulingyuan Scenic Area. There are also some less prominent natural attractions in the area.

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Eat
There are limited food options in the park, and what is available is offered at highly inflated prices. It is advised that you bring food and water with you to the park. Here is a selection of food in the city, which can be visited after a scenic tour.

Drink
Zhangjiajie berry tea is a specialty of Zhangjiajie's Yongding District.

Sleep
Accommodation in Zhangjiajie is typically around ¥170. There are many options within walking distance surrounding the train/bus station. There are many hotels and shops outside the Forest Park Ticket Station, which are very lively. Some tourists choose to live here, but it is not as convenient as living in the park.

Cope
Though Tianmen Mountain and Wulingyuan are major tourist attractions, perhaps 99% of their visitors are native Chinese. So you will find it surprisingly difficult to change foreign currency. There appear to be no currency exchange stores. Perhaps the only place to change money is a bank, such as the Bank of China (follow the main road north of the bus/train station area, it is at the first major intersection north of the river, about a 15-minute walk from the bus/train stations).

Wulingyuan, however, is rumored to have currency exchange stores.

Go next

 * Changsha
 * Fenghuang

title: Zhangjiajie


text:
Zhangjiakou

Zhangjiakou (张家口; Zhāngjiākǒu) is a city in Hebei.

By road
It is connected to Beijing, the rest of Hebei and Shanxi by the Xuanda and Jingzhang expressways, and Inner Mongolia by National Highway 207.

By train
There is a high speed rail link from Beijing North Station to Zhangjiako. It continues on to Hohhot and Botou in Inner Mongolia. The high-speed line has cut travel times from Beijing North Station to Zhangjiakou from approximately 4 hours to just 47 minutes. Tickets cost approximately ¥80 (May 2020).

There are also still the slow trains which come from the Beijing Main Railway station, via the Beijing-Baotou conventional railway.

title: Zhangjiakou


text:
Zhangye

Zhangye (张掖; Zhāngyè) is a city in Gansu Province with striking and beautiful mountain scenery nearby.

As for most Chinese cities, the name "Zhangye" is somewhat ambiguous since it can refer either to the city itself or to the prefecture with that city at its center. Wikivoyage has a separate article for Minle, a suburb which is in the prefecture but not in the city.

Understand
Zhangye became the garrison headquarters after General Huo established control of the Hexi Corridor. Formerly known as Ganzhou, the town was part of the Western Xia dynasty until it was conquered by Kublai Khan in 1227. Although the city is not a tourist destination as such, it serves as good place to make stop when passing through the Hexi Corridor. Zhangye has a population of around 1.2 million (2010), of whom 260,000 are urban residents. In addition to Han Chinese, the city is also home to members of the minority Yugu people, who live only in Gansu.

By plane

Zhangye has frequent high-speed rail connections from Lanzhou via Xining, both of which have much larger airports than Zhangye's. These airports are likely to be more convenient for many visitors.

By train

By bus
Take bus No.3 to the West bus station, take bus No. 1 to the train station Bus fares are ¥1 - correct change only.

By private car or bus
You can book a private car via a travel agency or at the reception of most hotels. A trip to Mati Si + Daxia Landscape cost ¥500.

Do

 * Swim in Hei river

Eat
During the day, give Qing Ming Street a try and during the night, give Xiaochichang (Little Eat Market) a try.

Go next

 * Minle, in Zhangye Prefecture
 * Mati Temple - in the Tibetan town of Mati, more caves carved into a cliff.
 * Qilian mountains
 * Zhangye Danxia Landscape - 1-1½ hr by bus from the West Station.

title: Zhangye


text:
Zhangzhou

Zhangzhou (漳州; Chiang-chiu in Minnan, Zhāngzhōu in Mandarin) is a city of 4.8 million people (2010) in the west of Fujian Province in China.

Understand
Prefecture consists of: Xiangcheng District (芗城区), Longwen District (龙文区), Longhai City (龙海市), Changtai County (长泰县), Dongshan County (东山县), Hua'an County (华安县), Nanjing County (南靖县), Pinghe County (平和县), Yunxiao County (云霄县), Zhangpu County (漳浦县), Zhao'an County (诏安县)

Talk
Minnan is the main language spoken in Zhangzhou. The local dialect differs somewhat from that of neighbouring Xiamen, but they are still similar enough to be mutually intelligible. There are also dialectal differences between the Minnan spoken in different parts of the prefecture-level city, with the dialect in Zhao'an in particular having a strong Teochew influence, though in general, this should also not hinder communication too much. Most locals are also able to speak Mandarin, so Mandarin speakers would not have any problems getting around.

By bus
There are frequent buses from Xiamen (about 1 hour), as well as some direct service from most cities and counties in southern Fujian.

By train
There are two passenger stations in the Zhangzhou metropolitan area: Zhangzhou Railway Station and Zhangzhou East Railway Station.

The spacious new (which was known as Zhangzhou South during the planning stage) sits on the new high-speed railway (the Xiamen-Shenzhen line) about 10 km south of downtown Zhangzhou. Many of the high-speed trains travelling along the coast from Xiamen, Fuzhou and points north to Shenzhen stop here. There is also high-speed service inland to Longyan; many of the conventional trains from Xiamen to destinations in the interior of China use that line too.

The older is remarkably inconveniently located (miles away from the city, with few signs posted along the road, and fairly limited bus service; even some of the locals have only a vague idea as to where it is). Many trains have been routed to the rail line south of the city and the Zhangzhou Railway Station, but a few (slower) trains run through Zhangzhou East.

Finally, there is the Zhangzhou North Station, just north of downtown Zhangzhou. Don't go there: even though older maps still call it "Zhangzhou Station" (this is how it was called until 2011), it has no passenger service anymore.

By plane
The closest passenger airport is in Xiamen.

Get around
The city has extensive local bus service, with several routes extending to outlying suburbs (some of which are really cities in their own right, such as Longhai).

Nanjing County
Most people travel to Nanjing County to see the Fujian Tulou clusters.

Zhangpu County

The Liu'ao Peninsula, in the southern part of Zhangpu County, has the ruins of an ancient fortress, good beaches, and interesting rock formations.

Xihu She Ethnic Township, also in Zhangpu County, has two 17th-century fortresses: Zhaojiabao and Yi'anbao.

Learn
Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College (厦门大学嘉庚学院) Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College is located in Zhangzhou Campus of Xiamen University, facing Siming Campus of Xiamen University across the sea. Established in 2003 with the approval of the Ministry of Education, the College is an independent college jointly organized by Xiamen University and Xiamen Jiageng Education Development Co., LTD., operating according to the new mechanism and new model. Jiageng College of Xiamen University has been applying for admission in this second batch since the day it was founded.

Buy

 * 1) Longhai Peanut Sauce: Longhai County is famous for its peanut sauce, which is rich in flavor and is often used in cooking, such as for stewed chicken and grilled dishes, or as a spread for bread.
 * 2) Zhangzhou Lychee: Lychee from Zhangzhou is a local specialty fruit known for its sweet taste and juicy flesh. Zhangzhou lychee is commonly consumed fresh and is also used to make lychee candies and other products.
 * 3) Zhangzhou Taro Pastries: Taro pastries are a popular type of pastry made primarily from taro. They have a crispy outer layer and a delicious filling, making them a delightful snack.
 * 4) Longhai Dried Oysters: Dried oysters from Longhai County are a traditional seafood product made through sun-drying. They have a unique flavor and are often used as a snack or ingredient.
 * 5) Zhangzhou Wenchang Chicken: Wenchang chicken is a local poultry specialty known for its tender meat. It is commonly used to prepare the traditional dish known as Wenchang chicken rice.
 * 6) Zhangzhou Wax Apples: Wax apples from Zhangzhou are a unique fruit with juicy flesh and a refreshing taste. They are typically enjoyed fresh and are also processed into products like fruit juice and ice cream.

Eat
Zhangzhou is most famous for its lor mee (卤面 lǔmiàn) braised noodles, the original version of a dish that's become even more well-known as an element of Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisine. Other famous local specialities include muah chee (麻糍) and the local version of oyster omelette (蚵仔煎), which is different from the version in neighbouring Xiamen and the Taiwanese version, being crispier and served with pickled radish on the side.

Drink
Wuyi Rock Tea: Wuyi Mountain, under the jurisdiction of Zhangzhou City, is a renowned region for producing rock tea known for its unique rocky flavor and rich floral and fruity aromas. Varieties of Wuyi Rock Tea include Da Hong Pao, Shui Jin Gui, and Bai Ya Tou, making it one of China's top ten famous teas.

Zhangping White Tea: Zhangping, a city in the Zhangzhou region, is famous for its representation of white tea, known for its fresh white hair (buds) and tender leaves. Varieties of Zhangping white tea include Silver Needle (Yin Zhen) and White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), which have a mild flavor and high health benefits.

Puerh Tea: Zhangzhou is also one of the areas in Fujian known for producing Puerh tea, particularly the raw Puerh tea from Zhangping. This tea is made through fermentation and aging, resulting in a strong flavor and unique aged characteristics.

Black Tea: Zhangzhou's production area also yields high-quality black teas, including Zhangping black tea and Nanjing black tea. These black teas have a distinct black tea aroma and taste.

Sleep
Accommodation within the century-old Fujian Tulou is possible, offering a unique cultural experience. Many of the guest houses and inns are family-run and allow for a glimpse into the local rural life.

Go next
Take a bus to Nanjing County or Yongding County, and see Fujian Tulou, large fortified earth buildings which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Or go the opposite way, to Xiamen which is the hub of the region and has the scenic island Gulangyu.

 * Wuyi Mountain
 * Longyan

title: Zhangzhou


text:
Zhanjiang

Zhanjiang (湛江; Jaamgōng in Cantonese, Zhànjiāng in Mandarin) is a port city of 1.6 million people (2010) in the western part of Guangdong Province in China.

Understand
Zhanjiang was a small fishing port when it was under French occupation in the early 20th century. French colonizers forced the Qing Dynasty to agree for a 99-year lease in 1899 (in a manner similar to what British colonizers did with Hong Kong's New Territories) and renamed the city as Fort Bayard — some old colonial buildings still survive. That said, mismanagement and fierce competition with other neighbouring cities failed to create another Hong Kong for the French, and they returned Zhanjiang to China in 1946 due to unprofitability. In 1964, Zhanjiang began its development into a naval base owing to its geographic importance, and this also enabled Zhanjiang's heavy industrial development. Now it is a rapidly developing modern city and the gateway to Hainan by car and railway.

Talk
Cantonese is the main language spoken in Zhanjiang, albeit with a distinctive accent. Nevertheless, if you are fluent in standard Cantonese, this shouldn't pose too much of a challenge. The local language in Leizhou is Leizhouhua (雷州话 Léizhōuhuà), a member of the Min family of Chinese dialects that is closely related to Hainanese, though not mutually intelligible. Most younger locals are able to speak Mandarin as well, though often with a heavy accent.

Get in
Zhanjiang is at the base of the Leizhou Peninsula that points toward the island province of Hainan. Travellers often pass through Zhanjiang en route to Hainan. There are trains and buses to and from nearby mainland cities and boats to Haikou, capital of Hainan. The boat is an hour's bus ride away from Zhanjiang.

There are two major train stations and a small airport that service Zhanjiang. Buses also run daily to most nearby cities. The downtown bus terminal next to the downtown train station (end of Jiefang West Rd) has one bus daily to Kaiping at 14:00.

A bus runs daily to Zhanjiang from Hong Kong (8 hours) via Shenzhen and tickets are ¥280 at the travel agency's office in Chikan District.

Get around
Zhanjiang is almost like two cities combined. The northern half, composed of Chikan district (赤坎区 Chìkǎn qū) and Mazhang District (麻章区 Mázhāng qū) and the southern Xiashan District (霞山区 Xiáshān qū) are separated by a less developed corridor.

The main bus routes (2, 11, 12, 22) travel from the northern districts to Xiashan and back. Smaller buses and other routes can allow you to explore more areas of the individual districts.

The Zhanjiang bus company has a list of its routes (公司所有线路) on its web site (in Chinese only).

Taxis in Zhanjiang are fairly cheap, starting at ¥5. Afterwards the fare increases by ¥2 per kilometer. Please note that there is an additional ¥1 fuel surcharge that will be added onto your final fare.

Buy
As a major stop for many bikers heading to the islands, Zhanjiang has a fair range of bicycle shops to shop on components and parts. Most shops are along Minzhi Road (民治路) and certain brands such as Dahon, Giant, Merida also have their branches there.

Eat
Local specialties include seafood, sugarcane, charcoal-grilled oysters (炭烧蚝) and chicken (湛江鸡). The Lianjiang area is known for its red oranges (红江橙).

Drink
Zhanjiang has a small bar street (酒吧街 jiǔbā jiē) in Xiashan District. Unfortunately, most places do not serve cocktails or shots, but instead tend to sell liquor by the bottle. Beers in the bar also tend to be about three to four times more expensive than on the street.

Some western-style restaurants such as Steakking Kitchen Production and the West Coast Coffeehouse (西海安 xīhǎi ān) do sell mixed drinks and shots.

Also, Wal-Mart has the best selection of spirits for sell if you would like to make your own drinks.

Sleep
Zhanjiang is separated as two major districts: Chikan and Xiashan, in which Xiashan is more developed and newer than Chikan, but both districts also have plenty of hotels.

Many budget hotels are along Minzhi Road (民治路) near to Jiefang East Road (解放东路). Prices range from ¥60-70 for a double room.
 * Xiashan

Go next

 * Donghai Island, the fourth largest island in China, is about 1½ hours drive from Zhanjiang and is popular for its beaches. Buses leave regularly from the Xiashan District.
 * Naozhou Island, reachable by ferry from Donghai Island.
 * There are almost hourly buses to Guangzhou, the provincial capital. Buses also leave four times a day for Zhuhai, where you can easily cross into Macau.
 * Several trains to Hainan Island originate in Beijing and other mainland cities, and will take you from Zhanjiang West Station to either Haikou or Sanya. It is about eight hours to Sanya, the southernmost Chinese city.
 * There are also regular trains to Guilin in neighboring Guangxi province. The ride takes about eight hours.

title: Zhanjiang


text:
Zhaoqing

Zhaoqing (肇庆; Zhàoqìng) is a city near Guangzhou in Guangdong Province in China. It is famous for its fresh air and its beautiful mountainous surroundings. With an urban population of 1.2 million, it is much smaller than neighboring cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

By plane
There is long-distance intercity bus service from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Zhaoqing. It is convenient and safe.

By bus
Buses from Guangzhou leave frequently. You can catch them from Yuexuenan (越秀南) or from the bus terminal near the train station.

Buses to Kaiping leave from the downtown bus terminal. Buses from Hong Kong and Macau arrive nearby on Duanzhou 4th Rd.

Get around
There are various city bus routes. Fares are from ¥2 to ¥4.
 * Bus 12 links city train station and main bus station
 * Bus 21 goes to the Dinghu Shan reserve from the main bus station

Go next

 * Deqing County, Guangdong
 * Guangning County
 * Sihui, Guangdong
 * Kaiping, a good base for visiting the diaolou-towers

title: Zhaoqing


text:
Zhaoxing

Zhaoxing is a town in Southeastern Guizhou.

Understand
Zhaoxing (肇兴) is a pretty Dong minority town nestling in a valley a long way away from anywhere. It's full of old wooden buildings, wind and rain bridges, and drum towers, and surrounded by beautiful scenery. It's had a bit of the government sponsored "Chinese Minority Village" makeover. It is well renovated and commercialized.

The local people will refer to this place as Shaoxing and having the name written down will be useful.

The motorway to the town has an exit at Congjiang East which is just outside a town called Luoxiang (洛香). Luoxiang is less than 10 km from Zhaoxing, although the road between the two is in a terrible condition (probably due to the large volume of construction vehicles passing through the area).

Get in
All access to the village is by bus. The Guiyang to Guangzhou high speed rail can get you to Congjiang or Rongjiang very quickly and is a good option if travelling onwards from Yangshuo, Guilin or Chengyang. From the Congjiang high-speed train station, minibuses (¥10) make the 7 km journey to Zhaoxing in about 15 minutes, with a short stop at the village's ticket booth where you have to pay admission (July 2018 ¥100, or ¥50 for Shanghai residents)

From Kaili. Take the bus from Congjiang (and consider stopping off either there or at the nearby Langde on the way) costs ¥55 and takes about 7 hours.

From Congjiang (town, not station), there are direct buses which take around 2½ hours and cost ¥15.

From Sanjiang. Take the bus at HeXi bus station (河西汽车站), it takes around 3½ hours and costs ¥32.

It is possible to fly into Liping (via Guiyang, also infrequent flights from Shanghai) and take a bus to Zhaoxing, via Liping town. The total ride is about 2 hours. First take the airport shuttle bus to liping (¥10), which stops at a bus depot in Liping, and from there you can buy a ticket to Zhaoxing (around ¥20 and a journey of about 1 hour).

Buses cannot go inside the main tourist area, so when you get off the bus you will need to walk or take a tourist golf buggy to get to your hotel.

Get around
It's a small town - walk! For those who are less mobile, regular free golf buggy-style buses run the length of the main street with frequent stops.

See

There are five old wooden drum towers and a few old wind and rain bridges scattered throughout town. They're best discovered by wandering through the back streets.

You can hike through the rice paddies above the town. Guest-houses will be able to help with directions. The walk up the valley is particularly picturesque.

There's a lovely 3-km walk from Zhaoxing up to the nearby village of Jitang (紀堂). And it is consistently uphill. They've a drum tower, nice old houses and a lot of peace and quiet and the villagers are lovely. There is at least one home-stay open there too - ask at the shops near the drum tower square for directions. The route from Zhaoxing is reasonably well signposted. Exit the village at the south east gate then follow the signs.

The village of Tang'an (堂安) is a pretty village about 20 minutes drive from Zhaoxing, with buses leaving every hour from the east edge of the village. The cost is ¥20 and includes a return bus. From the bus stop it is a 10-minute walk up to the village. The village is a better example of the local way of life than Zhaoxing since it is less developed for tourists, although there are a few restaurants and small shops there. Views from the village over the rice fields are beautiful. There is a walking path from Zhaoxing through the rice terraces and a couple villages. It is well marked and has stone paving the whole way. The walk is mostly uphill and takes about two hours.

Do
There is a surprisingly enjoyable nightly performance by the villagers of local songs and plays. Entry is included with your ticket to the village.

The town has a large museum of Dong culture, entry to which is free. Exhibits have good English translations.

Eat
There are many small restaurants attached to guesthouses serving a wide range of Chinese dishes. There are also many street stalls offering grilled food sticks. Only some keep their meat sticks covered and chilled so check you are happy with food hygiene arrangements before you buy anything. Finding non-Chinese food is very difficult. Bring your own food if possible through this area if you do not like much in the way of local Chinese food or are on a special diet.

Drink
Most guesthouses and restaurants serve beer. There's a bar with a particularly fine view of town where the main road crosses the river in the middle of town. There is a KTV in the community, and a bar/restaurant next door with a second floor balcony overlooking the main road that serves cold local Guizhou beer and some western liquor (like perhaps Jack Daniels and some Vodka). This is a community, and not a "party spot" with most of the people going indoors by dark.

Sleep
There are a plethora of identikit guesthouses to choose from.

The sole hotel is the aptly named Zhaoxing Hotel. There are two branches. The cheaper branch is in the middle of town at the back of the square where the buses stop. The second, more expensive, branch is by the Rantuan Roofed bridge.

Go next
From Zhaoxing to Sanjiang. There's no direct bus any more. Take the bus which passes through the village towards Sanjiang at around 08:90. It costs ¥16 and takes you as far as a weak bridge. Change here to a Sanjiang bound bus. The road on the Zhaoxing side of the bridge is OK, but due to the construction traffic for the new motorway and express train tracks it's clogged with lorries. On the Guangxi side it was resurfaced in 2009. It takes around 4 hours from Zhaoxing to Sanjiang in total.

From Zhaoxing to Guilin. Take the 08:00 bus as above. Once at the bridge change to the Guilin bus. You'll have to be quick as they fill up fast. If you miss the direct Guilin bus take the Sanjiang bound bus and let the bus driver know you want to go to Guilin, and another bus will magically be waiting for you outside Sanjiang.

From "Zhaoxing to Congjiang" meets at 07:30 near the drum tower. Look for 从江 (Congjiang) on the bus. From Congjiang, one may travel to most destinations in the region.

title: Zhaoxing


text:
Zhejiang

Zhejiang (浙江) is in a province in East China, very close to the major city of Shanghai.

Main cities

 * (杭州市) – Zhejiang's capital, former capital of China, China's busiest destination for domestic tourism, famous for tea, silk and the great West Lake.
 * (湖州市) – borders Lake Tai to its south, includes the historic district of Anji.
 * (宁波市) – former treaty port, clean and compact with interesting islands nearby
 * (绍兴市) – traditional Chinese cultured city
 * (温州市) – major industral center, near the sea and Fujian border
 * (义乌市) – vibrant with Middle Eastern flavour due to large Islamic business community.
 * (舟山市) – gateway to Mount Putuo, an island that is regarded to be one of the Four Great Mountains of Buddhism

Smaller cities

 * (鳌江镇)
 * (北仑区) – international port near Ningbo
 * (慈溪市)
 * (江山市) – is a small city at the intersection of Zhejian, Fujian and Jiangxi.
 * (嘉兴市) – civilized city of fish, rice and silk including famous resting-on-water towns Wuzhen and Xitang
 * (台州市) - formerly known as Haizhou, Taizhou has a long history.
 * (溪口镇)
 * (余姚市)
 * (诸暨市)
 * (丽水市)
 * (丽水市)

Villages

 * (新叶村)

Other destinations

 * (普陀山) - is an island and National Park in Zhoushan, and derives its name from a sacred Buddhist mountain at the center of the island.
 * (千岛湖) – a scenic lake known for its clear water and 1,000+ islands (hence its nickname Thousand Island Lake)
 * (雁荡山) - was formed 120 million years ago, is the edge of the Pacific Rim Volcanic Belt in one of the most complete, and typical of the rhyolite fire breakthroughs, experienced four phases of volcanic eruptions created the Yandang Mountain majestic and magnificent landscape.
 * (莫干山) – a mountain getaway from Shanghai
 * (天台山) – Rocks, waterfalls, and an ancient temple
 * (天台山) – Rocks, waterfalls, and an ancient temple

Get in

 * Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
 * Ningbo Lishe Airport
 * Taizhou Luqiao airport
 * Wenzhou Longwan International Airport
 * Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport

By plane
Zhejiang is a very small province, it usually makes sense to prefer train over plane whenever possible considering both money and time.

By train
High-speed rail is most recommended. Most of the cities and towns in Zhejiang has at least one fast train station.

By taxi
Most cities have taxi providers, though online taxing platforms like Didi may be preferred.

See

 * Wuzhen (乌镇) is located on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and also around a net-work of other smaller canals and rivers. The town has numerous bridges, ancient harbors and water-side pavilions, and makes an excellent complimentary side-trip for visitors staying in nearby Hangzhou. Buses ply the route from Hangzhou to Wuzhen.
 * The China Danxia landscape near Jianglangshan is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Eat
Zhejiang cuisine is one of the major cuisines of China. It isn't greasy and has a fresh and soft flavour with a mellow fragrance. A notable and prized product is Jinhua ham (金华火腿) from the city of Jinhua.

Go next

 * Shanghai
 * Fujian
 * Jiangxi
 * Anhui
 * Jiangsu

title: Zhejiang


text:
Balashikha

Balashikha is the largest city in Moscow Oblast, Russia.

Understand
Balashikha was founded in 1830, and became the center of the textile industry, but that is now closed

By train
From the Kursk railway station (Kurskaya and Chkalovskaya stations) in Moscow, trains leave for the Balashikha station (41 minutes).

By car
The center of Balashikha is 6 km from the Moscow ring road. Gorkovskoe highway M7, Shchelkovskoe highway A103 and Nosovikhinskoe highway pass through the city.

Get around
There are 16 city bus routes and fixed-route taxis in Balashikha. Suburban routes connect Balashikha with the nearest metro stations and with the cities of Zheleznodorozhny and Reutov. Transit suburban routes follow from Moscow to settlements in neighboring districts of the Moscow region.

See

 * Former estate of the Golitsyn princes, Pekhra-Yakovlevskoe, on the left bank of Pekhorka. In Soviet times, various higher educational institutions were located on the territory of the estate. Pehra-Yakovlevskoe is a monument of federal significance and is protected by the state.
 * Gorenki is another old estate, on the southern side of Entuziastov highway, on the left bank of the Gorenki river. It has a cascade of seven ponds formed during the construction of the estate (three survived) with islands and bridges. In the second half of the 18th - early 19th centuries, the estate belonged to the family of the Razumovsky counts. Under Alexei Kirillovich Razumovsky, the largest botanical garden in Russia was built in Gorenki. The estate houses the Moscow regional sanatorium of extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis "Red Rose".

Sleep

 * Hotel complex, Karbysheva street, 2B . ☎ +7 (495) 521‒29‒52.  From 1500 руб
 * Sport ,Razin street, 2. ☎+7 (495) 524-10-99.  From 1400 руб
 * East Gate Hotel ,Lenin Avenue, 25. ☎+7 (495) 926-04-56.  From 4300 руб
 * Hotel on Julius Fucik, Julius Fucik street, 1a . ☎ +7 (495) 521‒90‒76.  From 4000 руб
 * Artiland, Novskoe shosse, 10. ☎+7 (495) 276‒21‒21.  From 4500 руб.
 * Artilend, 143903, Moscow Region, Balashikha, Novskoe shosse 10. By public transport to the Shkola stop: From the Perovo metro station. Mar 2016

title: Balashikha


text:
Zheleznogorsk

Zheleznogorsk (Russian: Железного́рск zhyh-leez-nah-GOHRSK) (previously known as Krasnoyarsk-26) is a city of 84,000 (2018) 60 km northeast of Krasnoyarsk. During the Soviet era, it was a major plutonium-producing city, and remains a "closed city", requiring an invitation from an authorized agency in the city, with a government-approved reason for visiting.

Understand
This "secret city" of about 94,000 residents did not appear on maps of the Soviet Union. Situated on the east bank of the Yenisei River, it was constructed after World War II specifically for processing weapons-grade plutonium, and was known during this time as "Krasnoyarsk-26": essentially a post office box address indicating only a location near the city of Krasnoyarsk. In 1992 Russia's President Yeltsin permitted the secret cities to reveal themselves and use traditional names; Krasnoyarsk-26 came out as the "closed city" of Zheleznogorsk.

Although the nuclear industry is gradually being down-sized due to safety and non-proliferation pressures, in 1996 the residents voted to remain a closed city in an attempt to maintain their town's charming, village-like quality amidst harsher, more environmentally damaged cities. Built on a picturesque artificial lake, the town is said to resemble St. Petersburg. The city is clean and the transportation system efficient, a legacy from the time when Zheleznogorsk was part of the privileged, secret nuclear weapons complex.

Get in
Although you can now find it on maps of Krasnoyarsk Krai, you cannot just drive there without authorization. Visitors are only permitted by screened invitation. Before you will be permitted to visit, your hosts must submit a request to the Ministry of Atomic Energy and to Russian national security agencies for authorization, which can take up to two months. If approved, you'll receive a letter of invitation, which will be required for your visa application, which can take anywhere from a week to a month.

Travel to Zheleznogorsk is done by way of Krasnoyarsk. There are four-hour red-eye flights daily from Moscow's Domodedova airport to Krasnoyarsk's Yemelyanovo. As of late 1999, tickets cost roughly US$148. The more scenic route is to take the near-three-day train from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk: The "Yenesei" No. 56 departs Kazan train station every other day and winds its way eastward through the vast countryside reaching the Krasnoyarsk train station at early on the third day of travel. The cost of a sleeping car for this trip was about US$81.

From Krasnoyarsk, bus route #521 links Yemelyanovo airport to Zheleznogorsk. The Icarus Company provides a daily shuttle on this route from the airport at. The departing time is 08:30 and arrives in Zheleznogorsk at approximately 11:00. Taxi service from the airport to Zheleznogorsk costs about ~US$20. Public buses traveling between the cities of Krasnoyarsk and Zheleznogorsk provide daily service at half-hour intervals from 06:00 to 21:30. Buses No. 502 and 503 also depart the train station for Zheleznogorsk about every 30 minutes for a 90-minute trip. Taxi service between the rail station and the city is available.

Get around
Your hosts will arrange transportation within Zheleznogorsk. It has public bus routes that operate daily from 06:00 until 00:00 and 24-hour taxi service (, (, or ({{phone|+7 39197 325-88).

See

A local private tourist agency provides tours of Zheleznogorsk and Krasnoyarsk Kray (.

Do
The city offers many recreational opportunities including:

 * four indoor swimming pools
 * a 5-km roller skating pathway
 * a mountain climbing facility
 * a stadium with two soccer fields, a hockey rink and running/walking track
 * a separate track and field complex
 * four tennis courts
 * five shooting ranges
 * a sports garden with an artificial ice surface
 * a physical therapy center

There are also 32 community exercise facilities in town; not including those housed at state and private businesses.

Buy
There are over 200 stores in the city, half of which are food stores. Most city stores are open 09:00-19:00. Food stores are open daily, while other types of stores are generally closed on Sundays.
 * Baltiskiy, the largest variety store in the city, is open every day until 9PM. Similar to Target or K-Mart in the United States, Baltiskiy offers a wide selection of goods including clothes, shoes, electronics, and children's toys. Location is Leningradskiy Prospect 35, (.

Sleep
Accommodations will be arranged by your host agency.

Many guests stay in one of the two pensions: the Zvezdniy, owned by Nauchno Proizvodstvennoe Obiedinenie Prikladnoi Mechaniki, or the Yubeleniy, owned by the Mining and Chemical Combine. Both are located in a picturesque section of town.

Should no vacancies exist in either pension or hotel, the Krasremstroy Company lets two-room apartments. (

title: Zheleznogorsk


text:
Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou (郑州 Zhèngzhōu) is a city on the south bank of Yellow River (Huang He) in China. It is the capital of Henan Province. Zhengzhou is a convenient starting point to explore a series of Chinese cultural sites, like Kaifeng, Luoyang and Shaolin Temple.

Understand
The name Zhengzhou comes from a city in the Sui Dynasty, but its actual location was in modern day Chenggao. During the Tang Dynasty, the name switched here. The area remained an unimportant backwater until it was selected for development by the Chinese Government after 1949. Zhengzhou is now a major transportation hub in the center of the country, and a rapidly growing city.

Zhengzhou City is located in the north-central part of Henan Province, where the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River divide.

By the end of 2022, the resident population of Zhengzhou City was 12.8 million.

History
According to the division of "Shangshu - Yugong", Zhengzhou belonged to the "domain of Yuzhou" among the nine states in the ancient times.

China's second slave dynasty, the Shang Dynasty, established its capital in Zhengzhou more than 3,600 years ago as the founding capital, Bo Du.

During the Ming Dynasty, a reform of the nation's local establishment was carried out, with the introduction of a three-tier system of provinces, prefectures (directly subordinate prefectures) and counties, and the Guancheng County was transferred to Zhengzhou. At that time, Zhengzhou still had four counties, Xingyang, Xingze, Heyin, and Sishui, but they were subordinate prefectures (county-level). Together with Zhongmou, Xinzheng and Mi counties, it was subordinate to Kaifeng Prefecture.

In October 1948, after the liberation of Zhengzhou by the Central Plains Field Army, Zhengzhou City was established in the urban area of Zhengxian County, directly under the leadership of Henan Province.

In 1954, Zhengzhou City became the capital of Henan Province.

Get in
Zhengzhou City is a national transport hub for railway, aviation and mail. As of September 2023, Zhengzhou has 2 terminals, 2 runways, 162 air routes, 6 railway stations, 2 main railway lines, 6 high-speed railway lines, 9 metro lines, 11 motorways, and 37 BRT lines.

By plane

An airport shuttle bus leaves from Zhengzhou Hotel, centrally located and costs ¥15.

A public bus runs from the airport to the Aviation Hotel (民航酒店 Mínháng Jiǔdiàn) on Jinshui Road (金水路 Jīnshuǐ Lù). It costs ¥25.

Taxis to the airport will cost around ¥120-140. While the distance implies it should only be ¥60, you're charged for the round trip driving. Bargaining seldom helps as locals pay this price as well.

The airport is now served by the Zhengzhou Metro Line 2's Chengjiao (Suburban) extension. The first and last trains depart at 06:30 and 20:00 respectively. Additionally, mainline rail service connects the airport to Zhengzhou and Kaifeng (mostly to Zhengzhou East Station), at intervals fluctuating between approximately 30–60 minutes.

By train
Zhengzhou is China's biggest train hub; you can get here from nearly every major metropolitian area in China. There are several arrivals each day from Beijing (about 11 hours, or 5½ hours by high-speed rail), Guangzhou (about 18 hours), Xi'an (about 5 hours, or 2 hours by high-speed rail) and Shanghai (about 14 hours, or 6 hours by high speed rail). Trains arrive from other places less often. The Hanoi to Beijing train also stops here.

Be sure to clarify which of the two stations your train will arrive at or depart from:

By bus
Across from the train station, you will find a long-distance bus station. Buses arrive regularly from almost anywhere in Henan province. Buses may be less comfortable than the trains, but are cheaper and you do not have to push and shove your way in and out of the train. You are guaranteed a seat but sometimes buses wait to fill up, rather than leaving at a set time, and be aware that long-distance buses may be sleepers rather than seated if the trip is very long.

Get around
The city's focal point is Erqi (February 7) Square (二七广场). This large public square comes alive at night, when an entire market fills the space with vendors and locals hanging out. From the square, several main streets fan out to different areas of the city.

Since Zhengzhou was handpicked to serve as a transportation hub - and does not have a very long history as a large city - the urban planning is more noticeable here than in other places of China. This means there is plenty of green space, tree-lined streets and logical arrangement to the city.

Zhengzhou is relatively spread out, but most sites are accessible by public bus, which costs ¥1 or ¥2 per ride - depending on whether or not there is air-conditioning, those with A/C being more expensive but usually less crowded.

By taxi
Taxi fares begin at ¥8 in the day, and ¥10 late at night (after 22:00), with each kilometer after the second costing ¥1.5. All taxis are metered but sometimes the drivers will try to cheat foreigners.

Local taxis and private car owners often ask '走不走'(Pinyin: zōu bǔ zōu, 'Going or not?') to solicit passengers.

By metro
The Metro system has seven lines in operation:
 * Line 1 runs east-west that connects Zhengzhou Station, Zhengzhou East Station and a few other points of interest.
 * Line 2 is a north-south route, and runs to Nansihuan (with through services to Zhengzhou International Airport on the Chengjiao line). You can transfer to Line 1 at Zijingshan (紫荊山) station.
 * Line 3 is an L-shaped line connecting the northwest with the southeast. It runs south from the Henan Sports Center in the southern part of Huiji District and then turns east after reaching Erqi Square before eventually reaching Henan Orthopaedics Hospital in Guancheng District.
 * Line 4 is another L-shaped line running from northwest to southeast. It begins at Laoyachen in Huiji District, intersects with Line 3 at the Henan Sports Center, then continues east until it reaches Dragon Lake, whereupon it turns south and heads toward Langzhuang in central Guancheng.
 * Line 5 functions as a loop line around the city center.
 * Line 14 serves the CBD area to the west of the city, though as of January 2021, only 3 stations have opened.
 * Chengjiao line is a suburban metro line, starting from Nansihuan in Guancheng and ending in Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport. There are through services through Line 2. The southern extension of Chengjiao line to Zhengzhou South Railway Station is expected to open in 2023.

On most lines, the first train leaves each terminus at 06:00 and the last at about 23:00. However, on the Chengjiao line, trains stop running at 22:00, and on Line 14, the trains only operate from 08:00 to 20:00.

Fares are calculated by distance traveled, ranging from ¥2 (within 6 km) to ¥9. A journey shorter than 6 km costs ¥2; ¥1 is charged for every 7 km after 6 km, every 8 km after 13 km, and every 9 km after 21 km. Children under 130 cm may ride for free when accompanied by an adult. Single journey tickets can be bought from ticket vending machines at every station. Tap it on the sensor on the ticket gate when entering and insert it into a slot at the exit gate where the ticket is reclaimed.

Lv Cheng Tong (绿城通, literally: "Green City Pass") is a rechargeable contactless smart card which can be used on the metro and buses in Zhengzhou with discounts. A 5% discount is available for taking Zhengzhou Metro using Lv Cheng Tong compared to using single journey tickets.

Climate
Cold and warm air masses alternate frequently, and the four seasons are distinct in spring, summer, autumn and winter. The winter is long and dry and cold, with little rain and snow; the spring is dry and less rainy, with more spring drought, changing temperatures and winds.

Do
There's relatively few things to do in Zhengzhou but a possible evening might involve eating at a Sichuan or Henanese restaurant, buying yourself a bottle of decent Dynasty wine, parleying with the local clientele, getting lazy, and rounding off the evening at a KTV bar.

Buy
Large department stores and international brands tend to be concentrated around Erqi (February 7) Square. The two major department stores are Kingbird (金博大) and Beijing Hualien (北京华联), which are next to each other. Both stores have supermarkets in their basements.

Some of the most interesting gifts can be purchased at the city's antique market. Most of the shop owners will have a calculator handy so you can bargain by typing in prices. Consider that you got a good deal if you pay half of what they originally quoted. The people are friendly but many of the shops sell fake antiques made to look old. Nevertheless there are interesting items that will decorate your walls or look great on a stand back at home. You can even impress your friends by telling them you bought them an antique from China.

Some of the small shops sell real antiquities. You'll know when you're buying one because the prices will rise dramatically from about ¥100 or less for fake goods to well over ¥5,000 for the real deal.

China will not let foreigners take antiques out of the country that are over 200 years old or possibly even more recent items depending on their cultural value.

Make sure you know where your wallet is at all times. There are some unsavory characters in the markets. This is, in fact, true of Zhengzhou in general, which has a reputation for pickpockets. Buses are especially risky. Keep your wallet in your front pocket.

Eat
Zhengzhou has a diverse array of fine Chinese cuisine. Its location at China's center means you can find almost any type of Chinese food here. The city is big enough to have a scattering of cosmopolitan restaurants, and while there are a number of imitation Korean, Japanese, Indian, and Western options about, you will do best to stick with Chinese food.

One of the most representative delicacies in Zhengzhou, braised noodles.

Zhengzhou braised noodles are made from high-quality fresh lamb and lamb bones. After soaking, the bones and meat are boiled together over high heat to form a white soup, and then flour is mixed to form a soft noodle. After repeated kneading, the noodles are manually pulled into strips of varying widths and thicknesses and placed in the pot. The lamb is then paired with yellow cauliflower, black fungus, and vermicelli. When dining, small dishes such as coriander, chili oil, and sugar garlic are added to make the taste more fresh.

Budget
There is the usual assortment of dumpling shops and noodle joints on every street and back alley.

There is a good number of Sichuan restaurants, which makes sense considering the proximity to the Province of Spice.

You should not miss a special breakfast in Zhengzhou (hulatang), it is a special soup, a little spicy. You better go to Shunhelu where you will find the best hulatang in town.

Noodles, especially the mutton noodle (羊肉烩面 yangrouhuimian) and beef noodle (牛肉拉面 niuroulamian) are must-eat in Zhengzhou. There are three good yangrouhuimian restaurants with many locations, ask a taxi driver to take you the nearest one, and you will taste the best delicilous huimian in Zhengzhou:

Other cheap eating places include:

Chinese
Some of the finest Chinese restaurants are located on Jingsan Road (经三路). To find these restaurants, ask a taxi driver to take you to Xiaonanguo Restaurant and just look around. You will find a number of options about:

Other Asian
Korean:

Muslim halal food is available all throughout Zhengzhou, with the banner on the entrance board saying Mata'am al muslimeen (Restaurant of the muslims) in Arabic. The food tastes delicious. Once you go and eat at these restaurants you just feel like coming back again, especially those yangrou chuars (lamb kababs) taste yummy:

Drink
There are bars around the city, but the best area for drinking is around the tree-lined Weiyi Road:

Other areas:

Budget
Zhengzhou is not a major backpacker stop, so there are few cheap lodgings in the city. That said, there are some hotels that offer real value for money if you are more than two people. As with most Chinese cities, there are several a bit run down hotels to be found near the train station. These might be your cheapest options. Most likely English is not spoken but you can get a room for ¥50 or even cheaper if there are two people splitting a bill for a double room. Bargain, especially if you are staying more than one night.

Stay healthy

 * Henan Provincial People's Hospital (河南省人民医院). No. 7 Weifu Road, Jinshui District. This 117-year-old hospital is a government-run medical instituti.

Go next
Henan awaits:

 * Kaifeng is a laid-back town about 90 minutes to the east of Zhengzhou. Enjoy ancient temples and an escape from Chinese skyscrapers. Sizeable night market comes to life in the evenings too. Kaifeng was the capital of several dynasties before it slid into irrelevance the last 200 years. Buses leave every half hour from Zhengzhou central bus station (90 min). Alternatively, there are quite a few trains in the morning and evening to Kaifeng station (45 min) from Zhengzhou station. High speed trains depart half hourly to Songchenglu station from Zhengzhou East.
 * Another great city nearby by is the ancient capital of Luoyang, home to the Longmen Grottoes. The city is worth a look, with an interesting old section and easy walking downtown. It's about three hours by bus, which leave Zhengzhou every hour or so. An express - the "elephant bus" or kuai che - costs ¥40. One train in the morning departs from Zhengzhou station straight to Luoyang Longmen station (45 min) very close to the grottoes.
 * Yuzhou is a small and relatively undeveloped city, off the main rail network, but well worth a visit to see the Jun Royal Kiln Museum and to get an insight into life in Henan off the tourist trail. One and a half hours by bus, and very walkable once you get there.

title: Zhengzhou