How do you start to understand China? "The most populous country on earth with the second-largest economy, it claims the world's longest continuously recorded history: the precociously advanced civilisations of its distant past have given humanity some of its most significant scientific and technological inventions. After an extended period of decline and turmoil, China has risen to become an economic superpower at dizzying speed, hosting a successful Olympic Games and weathering a global … [Read more...]
China Experience: Yangzi & Beyond
Over the next several posts I will share my experiences, impressions and photos of my visit to China: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Yangzi River Cruise and Xi'an. I was fortunate to attend a conference in Beijing and then take some leave afterwards. I spent nearly a week in Beijing and then travelled to Shanghai for a few days before joining a 2 week tour. The tour was Peregrine Adventures "Yangzi & Beyond" - a notch or so up in comfort level from my usual trips but it covered all of the the … [Read more...]
First Impressions of China
15 & 16 May 2016 As I flew into Beijing, as far as the eye could see was a vast flat land entirely covered by human endeavour. It was an orderly patchwork of regular rectangular fields of green and brown surrounding villages dotted over the landscape. Long straight roads connected them and stretched into the distance. Most of the village roofs were terracotta brown but favoured shades of red and blue provided bright flashes in the rather brown and dusty countryside. The dry winter has … [Read more...]
Beijing Sightseeing
17 May 2016 Beijing sightseeing: eating Peking Duck, visiting the Olympic Park and exploring the historic hutong area around Houhai Lake. On the second main day of the conference there is an optional visit to the Great Wall but it is exactly the same place I am scheduled to visit on a tour later in my stay in China. Instead my colleague Liverpool and I have planned to do our own sightseeing that afternoon and another colleague Mark decides to join us. Liverpool has contacted a friend to … [Read more...]
Hiking the Great Wall of China
19 May 2016 Today I am ticking one of my much awaited bucket list items off the list: Hiking the Great Wall of China - my sixth of the Seven Great Wonders of the World. I have booked a one day hiking tour from Simatai West to Jinshanling. This section of the wall is quite a long way out of Beijing so is very much less crowded and has some original as well as restored parts.I booked my tour with China Highlights online and they were extremely helpful and communicative. I needed to … [Read more...]
Beijing Day Tour: Goabeidian Village
20 May 2016 Today I am going on a tour to see Gaobeidian Village with a thousand years of history and award-winning modern developments. This is a great tour to do if you are spending more time in Beijing and have already seen (or are going to see) the main sights. My tour is not until the afternoon, so I make the most of a leisurely morning to sort out my luggage, do some washing, and explore the Dong Fang hotel and surrounds. I have a breakfast buffet included in the hotel restaurant and … [Read more...]
Travel to Shanghai
21 May 2016 Travel from Beijing to Shanghai and some musings about my China observations and experiences so far. Today I fly to Shanghai and although my flight isn’t until 1.30pm, there really isn’t any time to do anything in the morning except repack my bags for the flight and have breakfast. I have heard so many conflicting stories about how long it will take to get to the airport and how far in advance of my flight I have to be there that I decide that I will just head out in plenty of … [Read more...]
Things to do on a Rainy Day in Shanghai
22 May 2016 As it is forecast to be a rainy day in Shanghai today, I have decided to visit the Shanghai Art Museum, take the high speed Maglev train and listen to some jazz at the Peace Hotel. The Kingtown Plaza Hotel is very conveniently placed with just a few hundred meters walk to the People’s Park. I also pass the starting point for the Big Bus Tours that I have planned to do over the next couple of days so I get all the details for tomorrow, including that I can pay by credit card. … [Read more...]
Shanghai Sightseeing
23 May 2016 Shanghai sightseeing using the Big Bus tour; City and Temple tours; French Concession; Jing An Temple; and an Evening Cruise and City Lights Tour. On a nondescript morning but not actually raining, I head to the Big Bus (Hop on Hop off bus) starting point by People's Square to buy my 2 day pass. They are just starting a new activity and offer it to me for free as part of my ticket: a river trip on a Sunseeker ‘yatch’ (sic) as used in the Bond movie Die Another Day. It goes at … [Read more...]
Yangzi & Beyond: Day 1 Shanghai
This is the first day of my 2 week tour: Yangzi & Beyond but we don't meet the group until the evening so I have another day of sightseeing in Shanghai. 24 May 2016 Despite having slept well, I wake feeling totally lacking in energy. It is also pouring with rain again outside, so I laze around and have a slow start to the morning. Once the rain clears a little, I head off to take my second day on the hop on hop off Big Bus tour. I had planned to do the Blue Route today taking in the … [Read more...]