Having chalked up almost two years in China, I often get asked advice on where to go and what to see, so I thought it was high time I put together a 'go to' post, if the Middle Kingdom's on your bucket list. Given the vastness of China, we've seen a mere blip of the world's most populous nation that's home to 661 cities. Nonetheless, we've managed to tick off quite a few, on the journey thus far! If you've got the urge to come and see what all the fuss is about and want the adventure of a lifetime, here are my top recommendations, for first timers, at least. First Stop: Shanghai Given that most airlines fly direct to Shanghai from most cities across the globe, China's biggest and brightest city is probably a good place to start exploring this unique part of the world. This city of 24 million people is buzzing with all the excitement of modern day China. With a skyline that's literally 'out of this world', Shanghai is renowned as the 'Paris of the East!' Bustling with a charismatic fusion of the East and West, the city has a unique blend of the sassy and sophisticated with the culturally quaint essence that is 'old China' running through her veins. Dip your toes in Shanghai and gradually get a feel for life in China, without throwing yourself in the deep end. For a list of what to do and see... click on my post: Shanghai Shenanigans: A Weekend in the Paris of the East Note: There are two international airports - Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport, the latter is closest to the city centre. Two to three days should be enough time to indulge in the city high life... Hangzhou If you've got extra time in your schedule, take a side trip down to the place they call 'China's Paradise on Earth!' Hangzhou is just a 45 minute train ride from the metropolis of Shanghai so it makes an easy day trip. The top must-see...the country's famous West Lake (just steer clear of national holidays)! If you're up for staying overnight, the area is also famous for its Longjin Tea Plantation. For more on what to do in Hangzhou or if you're unsure whether or not to add it to your itinerary, check out my post: China's Paradise on Earth: Hangzhou is it Worth the Visit? If you're up for another day trip from Shanghai and a taste of mini Venice in the East - head to one of the area's classic ancient water towns. I'll be honest with you, we missed these on our first trip but visiting one is still on the bucket list! Beijing If you've made the decision to visit China, it's hard to go past the nation's capital! The great political hub where the past and future collide in a hot pot of cultural ideologies. Home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, you can immerse yourself in China's rich history and get a sense of the how the headquarters of the world's second fastest growing economy ticks. Of course, access to one of China's greatest treasures, the Great Wall of China is just a stone's throw from the city (well, a two hour drive). A once in a life time moment -- you can soak up tradition and the mere scale of the great wall itself, which stretches across China. (Just be prepared for heart palpitating chair lifts up and a toboggan ride down that will have you hanging on by the skin of your teeth!) Beijing has a cold winter and very hot summer so choose your times wisely. March to May and September to November are ideal. For more on what to do in China's capital: check out my post: Visit Beijing: The World's Super City in the Making Harbin Time permitting and depending on the time of the year you're visiting (early January to mid February), take a trip up to Harbin to see the famous ice sculpture festival. Not for the faint-hearted, Harbin has without doubt one of the most bitterly cold winters in China, but if you're game -- I have it on good authority that the "Ice City" is pretty dam spectacular! At night these gigantic snow and ice sculptures are bathed in a kaleidoscope of brilliant colour. (Just think -- all of those Frozen fans visiting their own real life Arendelle!) A two hour flight from Beijing, Harbin bears the influences of Eastern Russia, so harbours its own distinct flavour. (Tip: I'm told you don't want to go too late in winter or the sculptures start to melt and get a little dirty.) Xi'an Of course, there's no visiting China without taking a trip to the so-called cultural cradle of civilisation! Pop in to say hi to those world-famous Terracotta Warriors (oh and me)! There's no shortage of things to see in this historical city, from a bike ride around the ancient city wall to the mesmerising and utterly mad Muslim Quarter, the 1300 year old temple we like to call our neighbour, Big Wild Goose Pagoda.... and an opportunity to soak up what I like to call the "real China!" For more - this post has got you covered: 48 Hours in Xi'an: Top 5 Things to Do! Note: Xi'an has two seasons, a cold winter and a hot summer, so if you don't want to get caught in the icy winter pollution or summer furnace, the best times to visit are between March and May and September and November. Xi'an is just under two hours flight from Beijing. Luoyang If you have time for a side trip from Xi'an, I would highly recommend catching the high speed train to Luoyang. It's a one and a half hour trip through the countryside to the city of six million and from here you can visit the mystical Shaolin Temple high up in the Song Shan Mountains -- this is the birthplace of Buddhism and is still an active monastery today, as well as being home to the world's largest Kungfu academy. The world famous Longmen Grottos are a 45 minute drive from Luoyang and here you can get up close and personal with incredible gigantic sculptures carved into the side of cliffs that are still clearly visible centuries later. For more information on visiting these hot spots, check out my post Kungfu But No Panda: Welcome to 3rd Tier China. Tibet Sustaining spectacular landscape, spiritual traditions and a mythical-like culture, the Buddhist region of Tibet is a once in a life time wonder....which also boasts the world's highest peak, Mt Everest. But this is a magical place in which you need time up your sleeve to visit. At around 3000 metres above sea level, Tibet is the highest region on earth so it takes time to acclimatise, which means ideally at least four to five days in the region and even better, stretching the journey there over several days to avoid altitude sickness on arrival. (Note: Altitude sickness doesn't discriminate, so regardless of age, gender or fitness there's generally no rhyme or reason as to who gets hit and who doesn't.... If you suffer from any illnesses, you should definitely check with your doctor first if you do plan to go to Tibet.) Experts say, taking the train to Tibet makes acclimatising easier......but you can easily fly from many cities in China, including Xi'an, Chengdu, Beijing and Shanghai. It is difficult for non-Chinese citizens to travel independently in Tibet with various restrictions on foreign tourists. All foreign travelers are required to join an organized tour operated by authorized travel agencies and Chinese authorities often close Tibet to foreign tourists altogether in March. If you have the desire for adventure, take time to schedule a trip to the place they call the 'roof of the world' into your itinerary. Chengdu If you love cute and furry teddy bears, aka Giant Pandas - Chengdu is the place to see them in China. Just a short one hour flight from Xi'an, Sichuan Province is where you'll find the majority of these furry critters lounging about, just chewin’ on bamboo. It’s predicted just over a thousand live in the wild and the China Conservation and Research Centre in Chengdu is home to around 80 of the provinces most famous residents. Head to Chengdu for an overnight trip. For more check out my post Pandas in Chengdu: Don't Mind if I Do! Yangtze River Yangtze River known as Cháng Jiāng - or longest river is the largest in China and the third largest in the world after the Nile in Africa and the Amazon in South America. It spans over 6000 kilometres and traversing eleven provinces and cities from west to east! Tourists can enjoy the stunning scenery of the Three Gorges while exploring the ancient cultural sites along the river. There are a myriad of different packages, boats and routes to take so you'll need to pick your package carefully... whether you take one that winds from Beijing to Shanghai over 10 days or just a few days between Chongqing and Wuhan, there are many options. I'm yet to tick this off my list but for more information, check out these sites: The Travel China Guide The Yangtze River Cruise Guide Guilin One of the most beautiful and quaint places I've seen in China, Guilin has definitely earned it's nickname ‘Shan shui jia tian xia’ meaning Guilin’s ‘mountain and water scenery is the best under heaven’. Guilin city is the stepping stone to places like Ping An Village where you can see the China of old in all her glory. From Guilin Airport, Ping An is a 2.5 hour drive up into the hills.... spend a night here and soak up the unique and rich culture of this 600 year old village that oozes unrivalled charm amongst a setting of stunning rice terraces. A world away and a breath of fresh air from China's manic side! Catch a ferry up the river to Yangshuo and marvel at the limestone karsts that jut from the sea in their mesmerising shapes and sizes. No wonder they call it a ‘jade ribbon winding among thousands of Karst Hills.’ Yangshuo Village is the perfect place for a fun adventure. Ride bikes along the river path or catch a bamboo raft and glide your way down the river. This post will give you the lowdown! China's Pearl of the Orient: Why Guilin is Compulsory Viewing! Hong Kong It's not part of the mainland, but my advice is after all of that adventure, you need to end your trip on a high note....perhaps amongst Hong Kong's glittering sky scrapers? The 'city that never sleeps' is home to 8000 plus restaurants, not to mention some beautiful beaches and hiking trails. Oh and let's not forget the fabulous shopping! Finish off your amazing trip to the East with a relaxing couple of days in the fragrant harbour. Hong Kong gets very humid, so avoid the blazing summer months from June to August. Travelling to Hong Kong? This page has it all. Oh and if you're still not convinced...check out my post Four Good Reasons You Need to Travel China If you are convinced.... don't forget to read this! Travelling to China: Top Ten Things to Pack! Happy Travelling! This is China. Pssst... feel free to message me with any further questions and I'll try to help. Nicole@mintmochamusings.com … [Read more...]
Pandas in Chengdu? Don’t Mind if I Do!
Giant Pandas. What’s not to love? They’re furry, cute and cuddly….well at least they look cuddly, from a distance. The ultimate human teddy bear! A species that has survived for eight million years and with fewer than 2000 left in the world and most of those in China, it stands to good reason they’re the nation’s beloved national treasure. The Sichuan province is where the majority are lounging about, just chewin’ on bamboo. It’s predicted just over a thousand live in the wild and the China Conservation and Research Centre in Chengdu is home to around 80 of the provinces most famous residents. I’ll be honest as much as I love a good panda, thinking about them doesn’t send me into a state of pandamonium! (See what I did there!) But…. given Chengdu is kind of on our door step; a hop, skip and a jump south west (or a one hour flight) it makes sense to tick the panda box. I was also keen to see Chengdu. Another colossal Chinese city of 14 million! They call it the 'Country of Heaven' or Tiān fǔ zhi guó often translated as 'The Land of Abundance'. It’s also been earmarked as the nation’s 4th most liveable city. Not bad out of 656 cities. It was a three day weekend in China, a national holiday — which in all reality is never a good time to take a vacation with a billion other friendly Chinese faces at your side. But ignoring all previous shoulder to shoulder encounters with mammoth holiday crowds, we booked our flight to the Panda capital for a fast Friday night flight out. It was all going as smoothly as one could hope for a Friday night dash to the airport. We arrived with plenty of time, lined up for check in…. had a giggle at the lady in front of us who didn’t appear to know if she was Arthur or Martha, running from one check in counter to the other, bags at both. But it turns out the joke was on us! We smugly handed over our passports and saw that “look” which we hopefully assumed was just a case of Small Person’s name being spelt wrong again so her passport didn’t match the booking. We gave each other the side ways (crap this better be ok) glance… but it was worse. So much worse. Our flight was actually Saturday night. And breathe. The Friday night flight was already packed to the rafters, so our next option was to wait on standby for a slightly later flight in the hope someone or three decided to ditch the pandas ‘no-showed’ and we could take their seats. In anticipation we headed to the airport’s Pizza Hut for dinner. Yep the big cheese is supremely popular in the East and the only real option outside of oodles of noodles. So - pouring beer and pizza into our bellies, we prayed to the airline gods. But it wasn’t to be…. all flights to Chengdu that night and the next morning were completely full! Nada. We ended up hightailing it home around 10pm with a cabbie driving at breakneck speed….until there was a lone car, stopped dead in its tracks in the middle of the highway. We swerved erratically, narrowly missing him….and breathe. The next day we jumped back in the car for the 45 minute drive back to the airport for an afternoon flight. (All the while muttering under my breath, “those bloody pandas better be worth it!”) As if to remedy the past 24 hours, the Aeroplane Gods had put us in First Class. The first sign of this was the 70's retro first class lounge, in which one could hide in one of these egg-shaped, red velvet cocoons... and snack on tasty little nuts. Now, having never had the privilege of travelling first class, it was almost as if the joke was on me (again). I’m acutely aware, this will probably be the first and LAST time I ever fly first class… so did I mention the flight was an hour? Yes! ONE single, solitary hour. One single hour to partake in those oh so heavenly lie flat beds and that free-flowing champagne (which never came!) (It is China right!) More nuts and apple juice all round. But I did lie flat under the big yellow duvet cover for the entire flight, right down to the wire. I reckon the flight attended had to literally rip that cover from me as we approached the runway. Ruined for life. "Those bloody pandas better be good,” I muttered again as we touched down (in what I later discovered was the world’s 30th busiest airport)! #TrivialFact So our first impressions of Chengdu - a city with some seriously strapping skyscrapers. Which when compared with Xi’an’s rather low lying landscape always has me a little giddy with excitement. After all, this city has seemingly earned itself the title of China’s most successful economy! More than 260 'Fortune 500' companies have established branches in Chengdu with US$8.8 billion plunged into the city in foreign investment. This, of course all adding an extra dash of international flavour and a mass of expats. I could almost trick myself into thinking I was in Hong Kong with this super chic, rooftop pool bar! (Let's not mention the fact that Chengdu has one of the lowest annual sunshine totals nationally, with less sunshine annually than much of Northern Europe!) Of course the Chengdu saying goes, "Sunny days are rare, but teahouses are abundant!” Step outside though and there’s no mistaking, this is China! For all it’s modern contemporary spots, hip eateries, high end shopping centres and shimmering high rises, in equal measure you'll spy the hallmarks of quintessential China. Ramshackle alleyways, Tuk Tuks and bicycles with mandatory sky-high loads on the back, locals gathered in side streets fervently playing mahjong and sipping tea; traffic jams that resemble the jumbled power lines that drape themselves across the city. Wandering through the city’s popular Narrow and Wide Alleyway, the ancient setting a little too man-made for my liking - it was the evidently popular ‘ear cleaning’ that caught me by surprise. A little investigating tells me it’s a popular Chengdu hobby. Long metal skewers are used to bang on the sticks inside your ear - cleaning vibrating and massaging - all in the name of promoting blood circulation! Mention Chengdu to any local friends in Xi’an and forget about the pandas (or the ear cleaning,) for them it’s all about the food! Sichuan is of course famous for it’s chillies and peppercorns — never more prominent than in one of China’s favourite dishes Hot Pot. The whole idea is for it to be so hot it literally numbs your tongue! Sugar and spice and all things nice? Only for the bravest. But what about those bloody pandas? Up at the crack of dawn (I muttered those by now familiar words)! We’d been told to get their nice and early to avoid the holiday crowds and have a chance to watch the pandas at play. With our expat friends in tow, we jumped aboard the happy bus, driving about an hour out of town to see these creatures in all their glory. The Chengdu Field Research Centre for Giant Pandas was definitely an impressive spot. Covering 165 acres, this wasn’t a rundown poor version of a zoo (as can be found in many parts of China) but a relatively clean, green, healthy environment for both the pandas and the tourist! We wandered along the pathways flanked with lush greenery and there they were, enclosed but openly on display lolling about in the sun….. Or just smothering themselves in bamboo as they tried to shovel in as much as possible….Trivial fact: Giant Pandas eat around 40 kilos of fresh bamboo a day! And they spend over 40 percent of the day, sprawled out like this, sleeping. (Sounds good to me!) Specifically dedicated to breeding pandas, it’s divided into the giant panda breeding zone, baby giant panda care zone and the research centre. These were the babies having some rough and tumble play time. Their average life expectancy in the wild is 15-20 years and in captivity, 30 years. Known as ‘Xiong mao’ in Chinese… there’s no doubt they are a global phenomenon… they’ve even made it into the famous movie ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’ which incorporates many elements of Chengdu! Those bloody pandas….they were definitely worth the effort. This is China. … [Read more...]