Well I could write pages and pages about the trip to China. Needless to say it’s an amazing place and I loved every second! Here’s a rundown of the locations we packed into the two-and-a-bit weeks anyway (check out some of the photos in my China album on Facebook):
Day 1 - Bejing: The Temple of Heaven, visit through the old town (Hutong) on a rickshaw, “Food Street” (urgh!)
Day 2 - Bejing: Tian’an Men Square, The Forbidden City (incl. Chu Xiu Gong Palace), The Summer Palace, checked out a Martial Arts play at night
Day 3 - The Great Wall (wow!)
Day 4 - Bejing: The Lama Temple. Then flew to...Nanjing: No time for much else other than drinking at night ;-)
Day 5 - Nanjing: The Purple Mountain, Dr Sun Yat Sen’s Mausoleum, Boat trip down the Yangtze (on Mao’s old boat, no less), Yangtze River Bridge.
Day 6 - Took the train to Wuxi (WOO-SHE) - The Jichang garden. Boat trip along the Grand Canal to...Suzhou (SOO-JOE).
Day 7 - Suzhou: Master of Nets Garden and The Lingering Garden (both beautiful Chinese rock gardens). A heavy drinking night this night (Boiling 100 club was amazing!)
Day 8 - Took the train to...Shanghai: visited Pudong area and up the Jin Mao Tower (88 floors!) - stunning!
Day 9 - Shanghai: visited The Bund, boat trip along the Huang Pu River. Yu Yuan (the old city), Shanghai Museum, Planning Centre (huge model of Shanghai!), shopping down Nanjing Road, through the “sightseeing tunnel” under the river and back again to Jin Mao (Cloud 9 bar) for cocktails. Then got a taxi to a restaurant before going to see a stunning acrobat show. Finished off in a bar at night.
Day 10 - Took the Maglev train from Shanghai to the airport (7 mins @ 431kph!) and flew to Xi’an (SHE-ANN). Dumpling banquet at night.
Day 11 - Xi’an: Wild Goose Pagada and temple, Terracotta Warriors (whoah!)
Day 12 - Xi’an: City walls and gatehouses, Han Yangling Tombs. Then to the airport to fly to… Guilin (GWAY-LIN). Sun and Moon Pagado at night.
Day 13 - Guilin: cruise most of the day down the Li River (stunning scenery of Karst formations) to Yangshou. Cormorant fishing at night.
Day 14 - Guilin: Shopping in the town. Reed Flute Caves. Back to the airport to fly to...Hong Kong. Too many drinks at night.
Day 15 - Hong Kong: Took the tram to Victoria Peak, overlooking Hong Kong. Stanley Market then Aberdeen (old fishing village area) for a trip on a Sampan boat. Took the underground to “Hollywood Road” area, Man Mo Temple. Dinner at night at the revolving restaurant - stunning views again. Temple Street Market afterwards. Boat trip around the harbour. Drinks at night in the bar again!
Day 16 - Hong Kong: Noon-Day Gun ceremony. Took the Star Ferry to Kowloon. Times Square for shopping. Off to Airport at night to fly home :-(
What a holiday!!! Highly recommended. Fantastic food too ;-)
