China travel

How to Celebrate the Year of the Rooster

Published January 24, 2017 | By Clark Norton

This is the year that the Rooster gets to crow.

Chinese New Year (also known as Spring Festival), starts on January 28 this year and continues for 15 days.

It’s the most important festival time of the year in China — when millions of Chinese travel to their home villages and cities to be with family or friends for holiday reunions.

One of the world’s most celebrated festivals, Chinese New Year is also a star occasion in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and some other Asian countries as well as Chinatowns around the world. And in recent years, the celebrations in New York, London, Vancouver, Sydney and other overseas cities have spread out of Chinatowns.

Parades with dragon and lion dances and fireworks, family feasts, and, on the final day, a Lantern Festival illuminated by red lanterns are all traditional.

This is the Year of… Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Baby boomer travel, Festivals, Holidays | Tagged 2017 Chinese New Year, China travel, Chinatowns, Chinese culture, Chinese food, Chinese legends, Chinese New Year, dragon parades, Lantern Festival, lunar calendar, Spring Festival, Year of the Rooster | Leave a comment

Do’s and Don’ts for Chinese New Year

Published February 3, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Yu Sheng, the salad that Malaysian Chinese toss to ensure prosperity for the coming year. Photo by Jade Chan.

Chinese New Year (also known as Spring Festival), starts on February 8 this year and continues for 15 days.

It’s the most important festival time of the year in China — when millions of Chinese travel to their home villages and cities to be with family or friends for holiday reunions.

This is the Year of the Fire Monkey: a combination of fire — one of the five primal Chinese elements that include wood, earth, fire, metal, and water — and monkey, which is one of the 12 rotating Chinese Zodiac signs.

Chinese New Year is now celebrated by parades featuring dragon and lion dances and fireworks, family gatherings and feasts, and, on the 15th and final day, a Lantern Festival featuring illuminated red lanterns.

According to legend, Chinese New… Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Baby boomer travel, Countries, cultural travel, Festivals, food, Holidays | Tagged 2016 Chinese New Year, China, China travel, Chinese food, Chinese legends, Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, lunar calendar, Malaysia, Spring Festival, Year of the Fire Monkey, Year of the Monkey | Leave a comment

Boomer Cruiser: Sailing China’s Yangtze (With Air Included)

Published February 18, 2014 | By Clark Norton

A boat sails through Qutang Gorge, one of the fabled Three Gorges, along China’s Yangtze River. Photo by Liu Liqun/ChinaStock.

River cruising has been one of our big topics recently, and for good reason: it’s the hottest segment of the cruising market, and it’s become a global craze, especially popular among baby boomers.

Asia is one of river cruising’s new hotspots, and while China’s Yangtze River cruises have been around for a while, it’s hard to think of a better way to experience the country than cruising through China’s heartland, with visits to Shanghai and Beijing on either end of a nine-day river voyage.

Pacific Delight Tours, one of America’s leading tour operators to China, has just announced a two-week all-inclusive package that includes those three highlights — as well as transpacific airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco to boot (airfare from JFK in New York will… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Boat travel, Cruises, Marketing | Tagged baby boomer travel, baby boomer travel trends, baby boomers, China travel, Pacific Delight Tours, river cruising, travel marketing, Victoria Cruises, Yangtze River cruise | 2 Comments

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.