As China hums along with an annual economic growth rate of 9 percent or more, the tourism industry is constantly upgrading. The past year or two has seen the opening of new train lines, fancier hotels, renovated museums, and a burst of new restaurants. The levels of service and spoken English in the tourism industry are also improving. But growth means that China is also subject to change and not all the changes -- like faceless modern buildings and L.A.-style traffic jams -- are welcome among tourists looking for an "authentic" China experience. The quaint courtyard-style Peking duck restaurant that your friends raved about on their last visit to Beijing may have been torn down to make way for a new skyscraper. But you can rest assured that new changes and improvements mean that China is quickly becoming a more convenient and comfortable place to travel in.
Domestic airlines have raised their fuel surcharge levied on all domestic flights. As of September, passengers on flights going less than 800 kilometers are charged 60 yuan ($7.50) while those on longer flights pay 100 yuan ($12). This is in addition to the usual 50 yuan ($6) airport tax. For flight bookings, contact Ctrip, a competent, English-speaking web-based travel agency (tel. 86 21/3406-8608, or toll free at 800/820-6666 within China or 400/820-6666 from a Chinese mobile phone; www.ctrip.com).
Beijing
A very posh addition to Beijing is the new Raffles Hotel, 33 East Chang An Avenue (tel. 8610/6526-3388; www.raffles.com). It occupies an historic building, steps away from Tiananmen Square. Even if you can't afford the opulence, you can sneak into the hotel for High Tea at the La Vie restaurant between 3-5:30pm or relax in the hotel's impressive atrium after a tour of the Forbidden City and the Square.
The popular Xiao Wang Fu restaurant (Ritan Park, north gate, past the altar and turn left; tel. 8621/8561-7859) has a new location with al fresco dining in Ritan Park, serving delicious Peking duck that the locals love. Aside from the relaxed atmosphere, you don't have deal with the usual tour groups that crowd many duck restaurants, plus the service is top-notch.
Renovations on the Summer Palace (tel. 86 10/6288-1144), a resort for imperial families of the Qing dynasty, have been completed. More than 9,300 square meters of buildings were repaired at a cost of $7.5 million. Admission prices and hours are: April-October ¥30, open 6:30am-8pm; November-March ¥20, open 7am-7pm.
Lanzhou
The city's Provincial Museum (tel. 0931/234-6306; admission ¥15) is scheduled to complete its renovations by the end of this year. Don't miss the Flying Horse, a replica of an original Han dynasty bronze that is considered priceless: The original was damaged in the replication process and the mold was either lost or destroyed.
Nanjing
Nanjing's new subway has made getting around in the city more convenient, with trains approaching stations every three minutes. The subway is open from 6am-10pm and tickets are either ¥2 or ¥3, depending on the length of your ride.
The Nanjing Massacre Memorial and Museum, Chating East Road 195, Jiang Dongmen (tel. 025/8661-0931), is closed for a $60 million renovation that will double the size of its grounds and include three-dimensional exhibitions and black-and-white video documentaries. Call ahead of your visit to see if the renovations are complete.
Shanghai
The Le Royal Meridien Shanghai, 798 Nanjing Road East (tel. 8621/3318-9999) just opened in September, and it boasts 770 rooms outfitted with 42" inch plasma screen televisions and wireless internet access.
The Xiangyang Market, Shanghai's biggest outdoor emporium for knock-off purses, clothing, and DVD's, was recently bulldozed to make way for a new construction project. Shoppers can go to the Qipu Lu market, located near the Bund. Ask your concierge for more details.
Urumqi
The capital of China's northwestern Muslim province Xinjiang, Urumqi boasts the newly-renovated Regional Musuem, Xibei Road 132 (tel. 0991/455-2826; admission ¥25; Mon-Fri 9:30am-6pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5pm). The museum holds four large exhibition halls detailing the province's history and a dozen well-preserved mummies with Caucasian features that were dug up in the area.
Lhasa, Tibet
A new railway line connects Beijing to Lhasa in 48 hours. Cars are outfitted with oxygen tubes for the ascent to the high Tibetan plateau, and the journey covers more than 4,000 kilometers. A one-way train sleeper ticket costs $101 or $157, depending on the class of service, plus a reservation surcharge, which ranges from $30 to $75 depending on the travel agency. Contact China International Travel Service (in the U.S. 626/668-8993 or in China 8610/8511-8522; www.cits.com.cn) or try Comfort Travel Services (tel. 8610/6501 5429).
In Lhasa, the new House of Shambhala hotel (tel. 8610/6402-7151; www.houseofshambhala.com), a boutique hotel and yoga-spa center, has opened to rave reviews. The Shambhala is a sister hotel to the Red Capital Club in Beijing. Rooms start at $60 per night.