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China 2024

May 2024
  • Dean Parham
A 24-day adventure by Dean Read more
  • Dean Parham

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  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024
    A wedding setup1View from the hotel window

    Arrive in Shanghai

    May 4, 2024 in China ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We're here after a pleasant enough trip (although seats on the plane weren't the most comfortable ever experienced. First impressions. They don't do skies well here -- cloud/smog mix. They seem to want to test the patience of foreigners at passport control. A population of 1..4 billion people and they can only spare 3 of them to sit at the passport desk. City looks pretty modern and the car fleet is flash and new. Staying in the old French concession which has some interesting architecture. Went for a walk and found a decent coffee. Wasn't expecting that.Read more

  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024

    Interesting fact

    May 4, 2024 in China ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    To own a car here you have to have a licence -- have your licence plates. You have to buy them at auction and that can cost around $25,000! Once you've outlayed that, you then can go and buy a car.
    If on the other hand you buy an electric car, no licence fee.Read more

  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024
    The museum
    A carving detailNear the Yuyuan Gardens1In the GardensTian Zi Fang

    A snapshot of Shanghai

    May 5, 2024 in China ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Since we arrived a day early for the tour, we had time to investigate Shanghai on our own. And since my personal tour director has previous China experience, off we leapt. Metro to the Shanghai museum. Like much in town it is modern -- and impressive. The furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties was the highlight. Superb. Unfortunately the ceramics we not on show as they are being moved. Then to the Yuyuan Gardens. There was more of the press of humanity here that you might expect, althoughstill not really bad. Narrow lanes, Chinesee architecture and tourist stalls. The Gardens themselves had a calmness and were quite impressive. Then to a shopping district Tian Zi Fang where old houses in random lane ways had been converted into shops. Then back to the Metro stop near the hotel where I thought to advise the tour director on which way to go. This turned out to be 180 degrees in the wrong direction. And it was a while before we thought to ask a young couple about our position on the globe. After consulting WeChat they sent us on our way from whence we had come. Back at the hotel we met the group for a drink and a welcome dinner.Read more

  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024
    Bird socialisation
    Took this photo because so many local influencers were onto itThe church seats about 2,5001This area was rice paddies about 30 years agoAt the Peace Hotel1One of these figures is a mythical Chinese beastThere are so many flowers everywhereWhere it all began1Smile!!

    Official start to the tour

    May 6, 2024 in China ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We started off with a stroll around the district. There was a nearby park where people bring their birds to 'socialise' and they can have a chat themselves. It is quite an appealing district with the French architecture and the leafy plain trees. We hopped on a bus to check out the unexpected sight of a Catholic cathedral which has managed to survive somehow. Then to the other side of the river and up the Shaghai Jimnao tower to take in a view of the smog. Got a very good coffee for $4.50. Walk along the Bund riverfront, a sticky beak in the Peace hotel, lunch back at the Yuyuan Gdns area and a look at the place where the Communist Party got going in 1921.Read more

  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024
    Soong Ching Ling
    Her residenceThe old HSBC bankLatte art is alive and wellThe table at which the CCP was formed

    Another day in Shanghai

    May 7, 2024 in China ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    We took a stroll to the former residence of Soong Ching Ling who was the wife of Sun Yet Sen, the father of Chinese independence (1911). He formed the Nationalist party which subsequently took issue with the communists. But SCL was so attached to her country that after SYS's death she went over to the communist cause where she became revered. Her residence was probably grand by Chinese standards but not flashy.
    The group went into the city centre where we split up to do our own thing. Sue and I went to an old art Deco bank, then the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, which over 4 floors was a bit bewildering for a boy from a small provincial city. After some canny shopping we went back to the site of the formation of the Chinese Communist Party. It was a bit disappointing to be truthful as it didn't attempt to convey an atmosphere or give English speakers access to the historical materials.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024

    Observations on Shanghai

    May 8, 2024 in China ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    They say Shanghai is an international and not a Chinese city. I see what they mean. Put aside the 24 million residents and there's not a lot to distinguish it as Chinese. I liked it though. The parts we were in were interesting with Art Deco buildings green spaces flowers everywhere--even on the sides of highways -- interesting history and the whole place was immaculately clean. The people seemed friendly and happy enough. There weren't many foreigners around. Things are not busy as an empty domestic air terminal indicates. It's dear -- international prices.
    We saw a few beggars which was surprising. But apparently the safety net has some holes in it. Basically you have to work -- even if it's cleaning the streets or standing around guarding a door all day.
    They are cleaning up pollution eg EVs and electric scooters (petrol bikes banned). Scooters are the silent assassins on the pedestrian crossings.
    Comms are hopeless. WhatsApp works but nothing else for me. My VPN obviously hasn't been approved. Sue's works (Norton). She can also access emails etc through phone roaming.
    You have to use cash. Retail outlets don't accept cards (only WeChat payments on phones).
    The English signposting makes it reasonably easy to get around, as does the underground metro system. Young people speak enough English to help you out.
    Security cameras are everywhere. Our guide told us of one customer who lost his wallet (place unknown) and another who left his card in an ATM. Both were recovered within 24 hours by reviewing security footage. Would-be thieves are deterred by the ubiquitous camera coverage.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024
    The Sophia Cathedral
    The Unit 731 museumThings are more obviously Chinese here. Little English anywhereStreet foodSausages are the go here

    Harbin

    May 9, 2024 in China ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We're now in Harbin, a village of 10 million people in the NE of China. It took a Maglev ride (at 300 k/hr) and a 3hr plane ride yesterday to get here. The Maglev was a demonstration gift from Germany but apparently the Chinese were not sufficiently impressed to use the technology elsewhere.
    Harbin has traces of Russian heritage. Russians came here to build the railway ending up in Vladivostok (which was once part of China). White Russians also came after the revolution.
    We are staying at the Modern Hotel which was built in tsarist times. Lots of wood and creaks. Olde world charm.
    This morning we went off to the Unit 731 Museum. The Japanese invaded and took control of northern China in 1932 or thereabouts. They were after resources. They also set up a research centre on chemical and biological weapons -- unit 731. They experimented and fine tuned on the locals. It's an unheralded war crime which was overlooked by the Americans in return for all their well documented research. The Museum was in an impressive building, told a story that had to be told but was obviously not uplifting.
    But we cheered up over some excellent dumplings which are a Harbin specialty. Then a visit to the Sophia Cathedral -- a remaining Russian Orthodox church -- and a stroll along the river.
    We are something of celebrities here. Lots of stares and photos taken and parents thrusting their young children at us to say 'Hallo'    Read more

  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024
    Note I had finished while others still waited to be served

    To Beijing

    May 10, 2024 in China ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    We had a Disneyland night last night with dinner at a Russian restaurant Tatoc complete with Chinese people speaking Russian, a serenading saxophonist and absolutely chaotic service. A bit of fun in the travel experience.
    It was an early start this morning to get to the train station. The hotel packed breakfast boxes for us with sausages and an egg. We caught the high speed train to Beijing. (1100 km as the crow flies).Even travelling at up to 303 km/hr it took 6 hours. We had sausages for lunch.
    The hotel is right in the middle of town although it might have seen better days.
    We'll go out to dinner in a while. Hope it's not sausages.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamTravelerChina 2024
    Outside Mao's mausoleum
    Our guide Maureen was sent away at 17 in the Cultural Revolution and spent 5 years living in a caveInside the Forbidden CityNoodles for lunchThe Temple of HeavenThe tea tastingDinner at the WangsMr Wang even provided some entertainmentA bit of community activity in the hutong

    Out and about in Beijing

    May 11, 2024 in China ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Big day today. Tiananmen Square. It's huge. The locals say it holds a million people -- or 500,000 Americans. The scale of the Forbidden City was amazing. Apparently there are 9,999 buildings.
    We then journeyed somewhere and had the local noodle specialty for lunch.
    On to the Temple of Heaven, where the emperor used to drop in from time to time.
    Then to a tea tasting/ceremony which was pretty interesting and enjoyable.
    Finally a walk around a hutong, which is an enclave of small houses with communal toilets. We had dinner at Mr & Mrs Wang house. All 12 of us crowded around a small table in their upstairs bedroom and had dishes prepared by Mrs Wang. A special experience really.    Read more

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