Chengdu, China, is already quite famous for its giant panda sanctuary. However, the Chinese government would like to boost tourism to the region and apparently those pandas, as adorable as they are, are not drawing enough tourists. So, what is China’s solution? Smurfs!

Yes, those little blue mushroom-dwellers are getting a new lease on life: in China. The Wall Street Journal reports:

The beloved, animated blue creatures — famous for their white caps, cheery theme song, and proclivity for using the name of their race as a verb — are moving to Chengdu, where development firm Chengdu Teda Sino-Europe Construction and Smurf-brand owner IMPS plan to open a Smurf theme park, according to a report from DTZ Asia Property Market Update.

With investment of 20 million yuan, or about $2.9 million, the theme park is set to open in three to five years, according to DTZ. It’s part of a bigger plan to build tourism in Chengdu, where pandas are one of the biggest attractions.

Why the Smurf theme? Apparently the Smurfs are experiencing a bit of a revival in pop culture, with a new live action/animated movie starring Neil Patrick Harris set to come out next year, when it will no doubt appeal to the usual “Smurfs” demographic of really young children and really stoned young adults. If you fall into the latter group, consider yourself warned: The Department of State says that “Chinese law enforcement authorities have little tolerance for illegal drugs and periodically conduct widespread sweeps of bar and nightclub districts, targeting narcotics distributors and drug users.”

To visit China, you need a passport valid for at 6 months past the day you plan to arrive in China and a valid Chinese tourist visa, also known as an “L” visa. You need to apply for your visa in advance, as you will not be allowed into the country without one. For more information on how to apply, see Chinese Visa Requirements for Tourists.

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For most of us, traveling overseas means budgeting carefully to contain costs. However, if you just won the lottery or are otherwise lucky enough to have money to burn, you might be interested in Gadling’s write up of China’s newly re-opened luxury hotel. The Peace Hotel, which just opened its doors back up after a 3-year, $64 million renovation, has rooms that start at $340 per night and go up to $1000 per night. Splurge on rooms here, at you can walk in the footsteps of former US Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter and silent-film legend Charlie Chaplin, all of whom stayed here often in the past.

Rooms and suites feature amenities like walk-in closets, luxury bathrooms, flat-screen CDs, powder rooms and in some cases, even dining suites so you can entertain guests in style. Sure beats staying in a Motel 6!

Luckily, if you’d like to see Shanghai and don’t have $340+ for a room in the Peace Hotel, there are plenty of other, cheaper rooms available in the city. A quick search at Yahoo Travel, for example, showed rooms available as low as $24 per night, although around $100 per night seemed average for most of the well-respected, global hotel chains.

No matter where you’re staying in Shanghai or how much your spending, you will need to apply for a China visa before you leave the US. If you’re traveling as a tourist, see China Visa Requirements for Tourists for more information on how to apply.

If you’re going to be in China on business, the requirements to get a visa are slightly different- see Getting a Chinese Visa for a Business Trip for more information.

Whether you’re traveling to China for business or pleasure, RushMyTravelVisa can help you get the documents you need to travel. When you apply through us, your professional visa specialist will walk you through the application process, helping you avoid common errors that could hold up your application. Then, we expedite your visa with the Chinese embassy for the fastest possible processing.

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Macau, once a Portuguese colony, is now a Special Administrative Region of China. It’s also known as the “Vegas of Asia,” and a recent Bootsnall article referred to it as a “gambler’s paradise.”

Like Las Vegas, Macau features a plethora of casinos, including local establishments as well as such familiar American names as Wynn and MGM Grand.  According to Bootsnall, the Wynn casino in Macau is “freakishly similar” to the one in Vegas.

Should you actually manage to beat the house, the streets are packed with jewelry vendors who will be more than happy to let you spend some of your winnings on some bling.  24-carat gold is the norm.

Most travel to China requires a visa, but Macau is different. Americans can visit for up to 30 days without a China visa, as long as they are just visiting as tourists. However, if you are visiting Macau for business, you will need to apply for a visa beforehand. Also, check the expiration date on your passport. If yours expires in the next 6 months, you need to apply for a passport renewal before you leave.

Although you don’t have to have a China visa to visit Macau, you will need one if you plan to stop in China during your trip. It may be possible to obtain to a China visa in Macau, but the US Department of State notes that some Americans have had problems doing so, and recommends that you obtain all necessary visas before leaving the United States. For more information on how to get a Chinese tourist visa, see Chinese Visa Requirements for Tourists.

If you need a China visa, RushMyTravelVisa can help. We make the visa application process much easier by providing a helpful checklist and personal assistance from a trained representative. Then, we’ll expedite your visa for you, personally delivering your paperwork to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

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