China Airfare and Dailan Info

Ctrip.com is a Chinese booking site that appears to offer a good "checking point". I understand it does not always offer the best rates but is a good starting point for checking fares and hotel rates. http://english.ctrip.com/

I learned of this site while planning the trip to China in April, coming across a *great* local travel site from a journalist who has been there for some time: http://daliandalian.com

I wish more people would create this type of website. It offers a lot of insight into the city, tips for travelers, and more. Unfortunately I'm not going to Dalian, but hopefully will find more sites like this about China cities. If all goes according to Hoyle I'll be *creating* a lot of content about travel tips for a first trip to China, but we'll see how that goes.

4.4 Billion air trips in 2006 is a new record

Worldhum, via a Reuters report, notes that China travel is increasing the number of airplane trips per year dramatically. 4.4 billion air passengers flew in 2006, approaching an average of a trip per year per person on earch. Worldhum also notes that China is poised to become the world's top tourism destination by 2014.

I'm big on China, though I hope they see the light soon and work harder to resolve the evil conflicts in Darfur which continue to ravage thousands there every day. A recent movement to boycott the Beijing Olympics is gaining steam and may impact the Olympics very negatively if China does not act more assertively with the Sudanese Government to stop Sudan's attrocities against the people in Darfur.