Reset search
Big Trouble in Little ChinaBig Trouble in Little China
SatelliteEdit route
Visiting my big sis in the big country. Watch out China, we're on our way! Read more
  • 21footprints
  • 11days
  • 112photos
  • 27likes
  • China
  • Australia
Categories
None
  • 18.4kkilometers traveled
  • Flight18.1kkilometers
  • Walking-kilometers
  • Hiking-kilometers
  • Bicycle-kilometers
  • Motorbike-kilometers
  • Tuk Tuk-kilometers
  • Car-kilometers
  • Train-kilometers
  • Bus-kilometers
  • Camper-kilometers
  • Caravan-kilometers
  • 4x4-kilometers
  • Swimming-kilometers
  • Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
  • Motorboat-kilometers
  • Sailing-kilometers
  • Houseboat-kilometers
  • Ferry-kilometers
  • Cruise ship-kilometers
  • Horse-kilometers
  • Skiing-kilometers
  • Hitchhiking-kilometers
  • Cable car-kilometers
  • Helicopter-kilometers
  • Barefoot-kilometers
FollowCalendarShareBucket list
  • 21footprints
  • 11days
  • 112photos
  • 27likes
  • 18.4kkilometers
  • 18.1kkilometers
Newest first
  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 5

    Hiking Everest...

    June 5, 2018 in China ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Ok, so it wasn’t exactly Everest, but it sure was steep and lots and lots of rough hewn stairs, all up. The views were spectacular, and we worked hard for it. We were the only Westerners on the mountain, and we were frequently stopped to have our pictures taken with the Easterners. Paul in particular had a queue at one stage when he stopped near a stone obelisk-like structure...they called him the sixth peak! They did seem to like my blond hair and blue eyes too...they often came and practiced a little English to ask if they could have a picture, or else the snuck beside us and took a surreptitious selfie... haha. Ah, the paparazzi...

    The views were amazing, and as you can see, at times we had our best sides on view too. One particular bit, you had to climb up using foot holds hanging on a chain...it was actually fun, and none of us skinned our knees.    Read more

  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 5

    Blessed by a very cute Monk

    June 5, 2018 in China ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Paul and I climbed three peaks, Kerry and Clinton did a bit more - our knees were starting to give way, but we did exceptionally well. Phoenix, our guide trekked along with us, and regaled stories of the first climbers to the peak, and one in particular who carried his elderly mother up, as she could not climb it, and he wanted her to see it. He erected an obelisk to commemorate. Early climbers etched in the stone various glyphs - this one reads “a magnificent view”, according to Phoenix, and it certainly was....

    Dotted here and there are small temples and huts. At one point we came across a small Daoist Monastery, with a very cute young monk manning it...he lived up the mountain. There was a donation box, of course, and if you put money in, he would ring a sound on a brass bowl, and you could light incense and make a wish. We asked for a photograph, if it wasn’t disrespectful (through our guide of course, as he spoke no English) and he said on one condition - that if we had any currency, could he swap with us! I gave him one of our pretty five dollar notes, which he was delighted with, and gave me ¥25 back, which of course I put in his box, and he rang the bowl. He asked us a question about Australia- he wanted to know what direction the doors faced in Australia, because in Xi’an, the doors all faced South, as that was best for Feng shui...

    The trip back to the hotel was long, as we were very tired after a long hot hiking day, and we all dozed a little.

    We originally had plans to dine at another restaurant recommended by Phoenix, but when we hit the hotel, we found they had a Seafood buffet, and our choice was easy. Sam again greeted us, and looked after us well (he had a very long shift). Foot sore and weary, we flaked...    Read more

  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 6

    Pit # One - saving the best til last

    June 6, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    We entered at the back of this vast covered room, to see a lot of warriors in varying states of reconstruction. It reminded us of Game of Thrones.

    As we walked around this massive building, the vastness of this site was very evident. The warriors are all different, and all had different roles...there were the archers in front, who were all very young, and intended to be the sacrifices. The seated archers were behind them, followed by infantrymen. The Generals, and lesser officers were behind.

    The warriors needed horses of course, and they were there, perfect in every sense. All these statues are life sized (or a bit bigger, so as to increase on their imposing nature). They were built to guard Emperor Qin in the after-life, and as the entire site including the mound that is the Emperors mausoleum built around 250BC, they would be much much more to find...    Read more

  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 6

    Huaqing Palace of the Emperor

    June 6, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    The last stop on our tour of Xi’an was the Huaqing Palace, the Emperor’s holiday home...it contained many hot spa pools, not that you would want to swim in them now - they do not seem to have any filtration, as they are quite green and even the goldfish don’t like it much...

    There were many ornate buildings, and lots of history. Chiang Ki Shek was captured here in 1936, and deported to Taiwan, never to return to China. Many historic meetings have also occurred there. There was another gondola to the top of the mountain above the palace, but it would not have been as impressive at the one at Mt Huashan,so we missed it.

    Phoenix and Mr Wu drove us to Xi’anbei station, to catch the fast train back to Shanghai. We bade them farewell, and parted ways.

    We are now on the train heading 6 hours to Shanghai, where we will surely sleep like babies tonight...    Read more

  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 6

    The Terracotta Warriors...

    June 6, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Up early again, we breakfasted and checked out of our hotel, to head towards the place we were really looking forward to...The Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin, the First Emperor who unified China.

    It was about an hour’s drive, and the day was dawning very hot again.

    Our first stop was to meet Mr Yang, one of the farmers whose well-digging on their farm in 1974 discovered Pit #1, finding a terracotta head when he fell through the hole.

    They lost their farm when the officials took it over, with no compensation, and their families struggled, until in the 1990’s, Bill Clinton came to visit, and wanted to meet one of the farmers who found such an amazing discovery. The government realised that Mr Yang’s house was not suitable for a visit from such an important man, and gave Mr Yang all sorts of things to improve his home. Bill Clinton met Mr Yang, and shook his hand. After that Mr Yang became a bit of a celebrity, and now has a job at the site. We could shake his hand, and if we bought a book from him, he would sign his name and place his “chop” in the book, and let us take a photo with him like Bill Clinton...so, of course we did.

    Then we decided (or at least our guide Phoenix did) to go in the opposite direction to the holds...we would starts in the museum housing the bronze horses and charioteers that were found near Emperor Qin’s tomb (a large mound that has not yet been breached, due to stories that it is booby trapped, and his coffin floats on a river of Mercury. They have determined that the Mercury levels of that area are indeed very high, but they have not yet found a way to breach the tomb...

    We then entered Pit #2 - this pit has not been fully excavated yet...and there are many discoveries still to be made. The only intact warrior found, was the kneeling archer, pictured here. All the other warriors have been reconstructed, because after then end of the Qin Dynasty, the tombs were entered and the warriors smashed. There were no records of them so no one knew they were there until Mr Yang fell through a hole in 1974.

    The site is really amazing, and eagerly, we headed for Pit #1 - the first Pit to be found.    Read more

  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 7

    Carrefour - the supermarket experience

    June 7, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    This morning was a little more leisurely... Wien drove us to the supermarket for some supplies, and a bit of a look see. I live going to supermarkets overseas, and this one sure did not disappoint. It was huge, on two floors.

    The fruit and veg section was pretty standard, as far as they go, except for the fresh (read super stinky) durians, and lots of veges I had never seen before, for which there was no translation.

    Next was the seafood aisle - mostly still swimming in tanks, fresh as you can get! The Hairy Crabs, tied up in red and white twine, were about the size of an apricot. To my mind, they'd be a lot of work for not much gain. Clinton says they're really muddy in flavour.

    Soy sauce has its own aisle, there are so many varieties, and rice comes in open tubs that you select and weigh - all different types.

    Alcohol is available in the main part of the store, beer of all varieties, and is pretty cheap. Tsingtao is the local brew, three 750ml bottles for ¥9.90 or $A2.05. Then there was the Chateau Lafitte Rothschild, for ¥11000 (about $2250). Sure, why not.

    Kerry and I had a laugh in the condom aisle - you could actually get denim colored ones (triple denim, anyone?).

    We actually even found Pooh Bear and Mickey Mouse shaped dumplings. You just couldn't get this stuff at home...

    Anyway, an intetesting experience, we stocked up, and we were picked up by Wien and headed home.    Read more

  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 7

    Tianzifang

    June 7, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    In the afternoon, we picked up Paul, who didnt want to come to the supermarket, and headed to Tianzifang. This area is in the FFC (the former French Concession) and has wonderful little walkways and alleys of tiny shops and stalls. There are bars four stools wide, and so many colorful shops!

    There were lots of little hole on the wall dumpling shops, but we stopped for doza masala, which was fabulous!

    Dapuqiao, Huangpu, China

    https://g.co/kgs/4TLEkZ    Read more

  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 8

    Moganshan art district M50

    June 8, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today we caught the metro around, very easy, but there are so many lines to choose from!

    We went to a place called M50 on Mogansham Road. This was an arty area, and the first thing we saw was this amazing residential building, looking like something out of a video game we used to play (Riven) or a science fiction movie.

    There are a lot of art installations and tiny galleries, and the artists were at work. We found a lovely pottery shop, with gorgeous glazed tea sets and jewelry with hand made beads.

    We stopped for soup dumplings (love em) and wandered around wonderful laneways.

    Our last stop was the world's biggest Starbucks, the Roastery. It was unbelievable, over two floors. The coffee was wonderful, and we both got a major sugar rush from the divine carrot cake and chocolate cake...    Read more

  • Beth VogelzangBig Trouble in Little China
    Day 9

    Taking Shanghai by bike..

    June 9, 2018 in China ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    After a 3 hour bike ride round Shanghai (no mean feat) we've stopped on the Bund on the rooftop of the Fairmont Peace Hotel for a beer and fish and chips. The views are lovely, and the clock tower chimed are lovely...Read more

  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Blog
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Legal notice