Live Your Best Lives
Wish fulfilled! Wish fulfilled! It really paid off for my daily wish for tourism to resume soon. This Spring Festival, domestic tourism is booming! Outbound travel is also skyrocketing. In 2023, the spring of tourism has truly arrived!
Some nearby Asian countries with relaxed policies have already taken the lead in welcoming Chinese tourists (rubbing their hands and preparing to make a fortune in 2023).
Philippines: Tourism Minister personally went to the airport to welcome Chinese tourists▼
Photo @ CCTV News
Indonesia: The Ministry of Tourism and the Bali Provincial Government laid wreaths for tourists▼
Photo @Xinhua News Agency
Maldives: Watergate welcome, Minister of Tourism personally picks up at the airport▼
Photo @Xinhua News Agency
The Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand even went to the airport to welcome Chinese tourists.
The most exciting thing is that! After much anticipation, the "group restriction order" for outbound travel has finally been lifted. Outbound group tours will resume on a pilot basis starting February 6th, marking the long-awaited return of outbound group tourism to normal.
Image @Caixin.com
By the way, do you remember: where did you put your passport? Is it still valid? They say opportunities favor those who are prepared. Among my friends, many of them have already renewed their passports and are ready to go anywhere at any time!
Picture @Xiaoxia's circle of friends
During the three years of the pandemic, we also lay dormant for three years. This Spring Festival, while everyone was still immersed in the festive atmosphere, our product manager rushed to Thailand to check out the local scenery and experiences, bringing back firsthand reports for tourists!
He even arranged for my dream sea view breakfast at a secluded and secret place called Song Ballad Island. The comfort and deliciousness of it made me jealous beyond recognition!
But that's okay! We still have time, so I've asked the outbound travel department to pick out a few great Southeast Asian destinations (including travel tips and attractions) from the "First Batch of Pilot Countries for Outbound Tourism."
I'm going to plant some seeds first! Once you've prepared the preliminary work (passports, money, vacation time...), after February 6th, you can follow me and go abroad!
❤Let’s take a look, where would you most like to go for your first stop on your outbound trip?
Tips:
✈Travel Tips:
Visa on arrival/advance visa, passport valid for more than 6 months, round-trip air ticket itinerary, hotel check-in form, RMB 2,000, COVID-19 insurance
I bet many tourists consider Thailand as their first stop! After all, who can resist the warm climate, charming islands, markets, massages, and unique cafes? It's a true paradise!
"Private honeymoon resort island"
Koh Yao, a small island nestled in turquoise waters, has long been nestled in the waters about an hour's boat ride east of Phuket. Compared to its larger neighbor, Phuket, it retains a pristine, unspoiled atmosphere, devoid of any commercialism and remarkably tranquil.
The unique treehouse resort, nestled among coconut trees, with clear water and fine sand, is a perfect destination for honeymooners. Best of all, it's half the flight distance to the famous Maldives!
The local area is not only beautiful, but also has an extremely luxurious hotel, Six Senses Yao Noi. It is located between Phuket and Krabi. The island is independent, beautiful and sparsely populated, just like a paradise on earth.
Here, time seems to be wasted. Of course, we will never let your trip be in vain, so we have arranged some special experiences. ▼
Enjoy a stay at a five-star pool resort or a wonderful night in a stand-alone tree house, and take a limited-edition high-end yacht out to sea during off-peak hours to admire the unique scenery of Phang Nga Bay and snorkel to see beautiful corals and cute little fish.
Explore the secret area by bicycle. The lush trees are a paradise for small animals, including hornbills and long-tailed monkeys. You can experience free yoga classes, away from the crowds, and have a dialogue with your soul in the quiet morning. You can also enjoy the herbal steam bath provided by the hotel at any time and experience a pure Thai SPA massage.
Food is also a highlight of any vacation! Each bite of this exquisitely crafted, Eastern-Western cuisine will delight your senses. Enjoy a cocktail at the sunset bar or a special candlelit dinner on the beach, savoring the beautiful day amidst the sound of the waves.
"Welcome the most exciting Water Splashing Festival in April"
Second, we strongly recommend Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in northern Thailand.
In April, we will be welcoming Thailand's Songkran Festival! Songkran, also known as the Water Splashing Festival, is the most important and unique festival in Thailand. It is not only the Thai New Year, but also the most important festival of the year for the Dai people in my country and other Southeast Asian countries.
April is also the best time to visit here! The annual Songkran Festival is the most traditional Thai joyous celebration, and the streets and alleys are immersed in the carnival of the Songkran Festival.
At this moment, people from all over the world are eager to fly over and join the city-wide carnival!
Chiang Mai offers affordable living and a great value for money. Whether it's enjoying local delicacies or enjoying a star-rated hotel, we can accommodate your needs! We'll arrange for you to stay at an art hotel hand-picked by fashion magazine Vogue.
Enjoy lunch at the French Gaoyan Riverside Restaurant, relax at the MUJI Field Wind SPA, and experience the pastoral scenery of Chiang Mai.
In addition to Chiang Mai, we also go to the more niche Chiang Rai. Here, Buddhist culture is no longer the unchanging golden temple, white temple, blue temple and black house; heaven, hell and reincarnation, the three distinctive temples have gradually become Chiang Rai’s most famous business card!
Going deep into the hill tribes of Chiang Rai, we find that the long-necked people here have also kept pace with the times and stepped out of their closed environment, gradually unveiling their once mysterious veil.
In northern Thailand, the trend of "small fresh" isn't limited to Chiang Mai and Pai. Cuifeng Tea Plantation, with its innovative approach, seamlessly combines tea plantation living with a vacation getaway. This bright, modern, and stylishly designed teahouse is a great place to savor a slice of homemade matcha cake and a matcha drink while enjoying a relaxing stay in Chiang Rai.
At night, enjoy a romantic dinner with your loved one at Chiang Rai's only Michelin-starred restaurant. Whether you're looking for a fresh, artistic or bohemian atmosphere, Chiang Rai can satisfy you.
Tips:
✈Travel Tips:
Visa on arrival, passport valid for more than 6 months + US$35/500,000 Indonesian rupiah, then customs application form + entry and exit form + 2-dose vaccination certificate + health declaration (need to be printed out)
When it comes to vacations, Indonesia definitely has a place! Couples love to go on a honeymoon in Bali, while adventure seekers love to explore the mysteries of the rainforest, volcanoes, and ocean.
"Pink Beach Searching for the Ancient Dragon"
Komodo Island in Indonesia is just 200 nautical miles east of Bali. It takes about 45 minutes to fly from Bali.
The wonders of nature have carved this place into a pink pearl, and it has maintained its most pristine beauty, with pink sand beaches, ancient monitor lizards, the intersection of three bays, an underwater world... It has everything that other islands have, and it has its own unique features that other islands don’t have!
China-TravelNote arranged a special trip deep into Komodo National Park, home to the largest known lizards in existence, Indonesia's ancient dragons, the Komodo dragons. They crawled slowly across the beach, creating a real-life "Jurassic Park" experience.
Start a light hike on the volcano on Padar Island. When you climb to the top of the mountain, the amazing sight of the four bays converging will immediately appear before your eyes.
Head to the idyllic Kanawa Island, one of the world's top diving spots. You can snorkel at will and explore the wonders of the Indian Ocean seabed!
“Time and space stand still here”
Yogyakarta, located in south-central Java, Indonesia, is one of the island's oldest cities. The ancient city is tranquil and elegant, rich in Indonesian traditions and boasts a mild climate with an average temperature of 26°C.
There are castles, palaces and pavilions left by Dutch colonists in the city. There are many historical sites in the suburbs, including the world-famous huge artistic building Borobudur and the exquisite ancient Hindu temple complex Prambanan Temple.
It is worth mentioning that before the epidemic, Yogyakarta could attract more than 1 million tourists every year. It is the only one in Indonesia that can compete with the charm of Bali.
In Yogyakarta, time seems to have stood still. The attire and duties of the palace guards have remained largely unchanged for centuries. Rush hour traffic still snarls in front of the ancient palace. Soft gamelan music and throbbing disco music echo across the city. You can literally feel every trace of time's carvings.
Don't forget! There are volcanoes here too! In the sandy sea basin formed by the ancient giant Tengger Volcano, China-TravelNote arranges a special jeep ride to the end of the desolate world. Don't miss the sunrise, starry sky, and sea of clouds at Mount Bromo!
It is the most beautiful volcano in the eyes of Indonesians, and it is also the most mysterious and violent volcano in Indonesia.
At sunrise, Mount Bromo looks like a dream in the morning light. If you are lucky, you can also capture the shocking scene of the sea of clouds engulfing the Lawang village next to Bromo!
Mount Bromo under the starry sky at night is as quiet and lonely as the surface of the moon.
Tips:
✈Travel Tips:
No need to fill out a health declaration card, or present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or vaccination record card
Visa on arrival is available (remember to prepare a 2-inch photo with a white background)
Only when you have actually been to Cambodia will you find that it is a Southeast Asian country with low prices, friendly and simple people, mountains, seas and historical sites. Even Lonely Planet has recommended it many times. It is worth a visit!
"Searching for the mysterious thousand-year-old smile of Angkor"
When you come to Cambodia, you have to mention Angkor Wat, which is known as one of the four wonders of the ancient East along with the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India and Borobudur in Indonesia.
Angkor Wat is an exotic place recorded by Zhou Daguan. With the fall of the Zhenla Dynasty, the Sangxiang Buddhist Temple has been sleeping in the dusty river of history for a thousand years.
Angkor Wat is the eternal beauty described by Jiang Xun, with sunrise and sunset, waxing and waning moon, blooming and withering flowers, and scriptures recited and sung during the rise and fall of life and death.
Angkor Wat is the unspoken love in "In the Mood for Love". Tony Leung tells the secret in his heart to a tree hole, seals it with grass, and is too shy to speak.
Angkor Wat is the door to time and space in Tomb Raider. Lara came to the far east to search for the key in the ancient temple that was almost completely swallowed by the jungle.
Follow China-TravelNote this time for a unique adventure! Follow in the footsteps of French explorer Henri Mouhot and explore the Four Wonders of the Orient, discover the mysterious smile of Angkor at Bayon Temple, and encounter the filming locations of "Tomb Raider."
Learn traditional Khmer cooking at the Khmer Cooking School, explore Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and discover the beauty of Angkor from a deeper perspective.
This trip covers the highlights of Angkor Wat, the exclusive five-diamond pool resort hotel, the upgraded specialty internet celebrity quality restaurant, and the rich and interesting gameplay. This may be the most comprehensive Angkor itinerary you can find.
Tips:
✈Travel Tips:
Electronic visa (submit visa application 2-3 weeks in advance) + vaccination certificate (paper or electronic is acceptable, not required for children under 12 years old) or nucleic acid negative certificate within 48 hours before departure
Why is Singapore such a popular destination for families? With no time difference from China and a flight time of just four hours, it's easy to get into vacation mode!
“Classic and interesting coexist”
This country, where you may not even be able to leave the airport, has invested 8.5 billion to build a dream world. The waterfall pouring down from the glass dome, the misty water, and the forest valley next to it have transformed into a dreamlike fairyland.
The surreal Secret Garden, the thrilling Universal Studios, and the many world-leading science and art museums... every place is super fun!
We will take a rare amphibious duck boat to experience the Singapore cityscape from both land and water.
Say goodbye to the same old group meals and crowded internet-famous restaurants, and let the locals take you to taste unexpected everyday delicacies.
Take an in-depth tour of Singapore's old town and let the locals show you Little India, Arab Street, Haji Lane, and more. This multicultural collision of exotic customs is definitely worth the trip!
Tips:
✈Travel Tips:
1. Passengers must register at https://etravel.gov.ph/ up to three days prior to arrival. Registration will generate a QR code that passengers must present at check-in and upon arrival.
2. Passengers are required to undergo rapid antigen testing upon arrival, but this does not apply to the following:
a. Passengers holding a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, proving that the passenger has been fully vaccinated at least 15 days before departure from the first boarding point, please prepare the relevant certificate in English (paper version).
b. Passengers who have a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure at the first boarding point.
3. Unaccompanied Filipino nationals under the age of 4 must obtain prior coordination between the airline and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ)
The Philippines, with its sea, sunshine and beaches, has always been a favorite among island lovers. There are more than 7,000 islands of various sizes here, and diving spots are everywhere!
Dive into the ocean and dance with whale sharks
This is a golden loop in central Philippines created by China-TravelNote. At OSLOB Whale Shark Village, we invite you to dance with the gentle ocean giants "whale sharks". The immersive feeling will surely be unforgettable!
Head to the tenth largest island in the Philippines: Bohol Island, where the scenery is pristine, the people are simple, there are endless white sand beaches, playful and cute dolphins, and the world's smallest and cutest tarsiers. We will look for them together, row a boat on the Lobo River, dance with the locals, and feel the coolness of the mint.
During the dry season from February to May every year, the grass and trees on the island's hills turn brown. From a distance, they look like magical chocolate hills. The scene where Harry Potter flew over the top of the hill on his broom was filmed here. This is the most authentic magical world created by JK Rowling, and we look forward to your arrival.
Take a boat trip to Siquijor, the magical island from the book "Lonely Planet," and admire the 1,200-year-old tree [The Old ENCHANTED Balete Tree]. Then, enjoy a leisurely foot soak and fish therapy. Then, head to the famous natural hot spring waterfalls [Cambugahay Falls] for diving, swimming, snorkeling, photos, and a restful rest. Along the way, admire the beautiful scenery of Siquijor Island, capping off a thrilling day of chartered car tours around the island!
There are no crowds like on popular islands here, and the perfect trip that is comfortable, fun, and truly exists!
Honestly, I'm really curious about what the world outside has become like in three years. This year finally gives me the chance! Come on! Choose a destination and embark on a new era of "freedom to embrace the world"!
