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    • TravelerChina 2024
      1
      Day 2

      Arrive in Shanghai

      May 4 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

    • TravelerChina 2024
      1
      Day 3

      A snapshot of Shanghai

      May 5 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

    • TravelerChina 2024
      111
      Day 4

      Official start to the tour

      May 6 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

    • TravelerChina 2024
      Day 6

      Observations on Shanghai

      May 8 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

    • TravelerChina 2024
      Day 8

      To Beijing

      May 10 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

    • TravelerChina 2024
      Day 9

      Out and about in Beijing

      May 11 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

    • TravelerBike Tour Open End 2.0
      Day 677

      Einreise China / Mengla

      May 13 in China ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      Die Einreise hat geklappt! Ich bin in China und darf 15 Tage ohne Visa bleiben.
      Mein Pass hat auf Laotischer Seite bei der Ausreise für ein Gelächter bei den Beamten gesorgt. Keine Ahnung, ob sie mein Passfoto lustig fanden oder sonst was.
      Auf Chinesischer Seite wurde mein Pass mehrere Minuten von vorne bis hinten begutachtet und das mehrfach. Es kamen noch andere Beamte dazu und ich hatte schon Sorge, dass mir irgendein Land, welches ich vorher besucht hatte zum Verhängnis wird und die Einreise deswegen nicht stattfinden kann.
      Nach der Grenze versuchte ich einen Geldautomaten zu finden, der funktioniert aber das war nicht möglich und so bin ich dann knapp 60 km bis nach Mengla gefahren. Ein paar Müsliriegel haben mich gerettet aber leider viel zu wenig Wasser dabeigehabt. In Mengla hatte ich beim 2. ATM Glück. Gleich mal einen Laden gesucht. Der Inhaber war nicht da und so habe ich mich sehr durstig gleich selbst bedient und war froh, etwas trinken zu können. Im Shop konnte man nur mit Handy bezahlen und als der Besitzer dann kam, hat er mir die Getränke spendiert. Nur ein Selfie wollte er machen, wahrscheinlich fand er mein voll bepacktes Reiserad ziemlich cool. Habe dann mehrere Versuche unternommen, eine Simkarte zu kaufen, aber hier bekomme ich keine ohne eine chinesische ID Karte. Danach habe ich das Hotel gesucht, was die chinesische Radfahrerin, die ich gestern getroffen habe empfohlen hatte. Umgerechnet zehn Dollar: super Unterkunft.
      Leider funktioniert das Google Maps nicht. Hatte mir zwar offline-Karten heruntergeladen, aber die Positionen stimmt nicht und auch die ganzen Markierungen von Shops und Hotels die ich mir in Vorbereitung auf mein China Fahrrad-Abenteuer gemacht habe sind weg. Da bin und war ich erst mal ziemlich desorientiert. Früher ging es ja auch ohne Handy, aber da war man darauf eingestellt und es gab Landkarten.
      Die Chinesen sind echt freundlich. Das hätte ich so nicht erwartet. War heute Nachmittag noch auf dem Markt. Das war eine weitere Empfehlung der chinesischen Radfahrerin von gestern. Wollte mich durch das Streetfood durchprobieren, aber am ersten Stand bekam ich schon so eine große Portion, dass ich ziemlich satt war.
      Die Gegend, durch die ich jetzt fahren möchte, ist dünn besiedelt und es gibt kaum Hotels. Werde wohl öfter mal im Zelt schlafen, zum Glück ist es nicht mehr so heiß.      Read more

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    • TravelerChina 2024
      11
      Day 11

      On to Pingyao

      May 13 in China ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      We went to one of 7 Beijing railway stations ( you would need a month in a place to work out where to go -- or go on a tour) to catch the fast train to Pingyao. It took a bit over 4 hours (600 km from Beijing).
      (Old) Pingyao is the last remaining walled city with narrow streets and lanes. Since cars are banned we came to our quaint but comfortable hotel by golf cart. The hotel is an old residence that has been done up rather tastefully. We ate in and had a very nice set menu culminating in banana fritters and strawberry ice cream. Now I wasn't expecting that!      Read more

    • Vanessa SchuChina 2024
      32
      Day 75

      Taiyuan - Twin Towers

      May 13 in China ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

      Das Wahrzeichen der Stadt Taiyuan. Der Tempel ist einer der ältesten (und damit ersten) Bauwerke in der Stadt... und wird mittlerweile von Hochhäusern eingerahmt. Idyllisch ist der Park aber allemal. Zudem lohnt es sich, die 13 Stockwerke des Turms hinaufzugehen, um einen tollen Rundumblick zu erhalten 😊Read more

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    • TravelerChina 2024
      2
      Day 14

      Terracotta warriors

      May 16 in China ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

      A full-on tourist day. Off to the terracotta warriors, which were discovered by a farmer digging a well in about 1974. You should see the place now. Quite an enterprise and a place to come to experience the press of humanity. Pretty amazing though--an extraordinary effort to send off one person, albeit an emperor.
      This evening we went to a dinner & show at the urging of the local guide. It was Western tourist thick but, nevertheless, the show was quite spectacular and entertaining. Lots of dancing and drumming and flowing costumes plus the odd haughty pose.
      It's been hot the last few days -- into the 30s and 37 forecast tomorrow.
      Xi'an is quite a chic modern hamlet of 11 million people. Quite a few unfinished abandoned apartment buildings around. In another sign of how tough things have been, at least 3 of our local guides are just getting back to work after 4 years. 2 have said they haven't spoken English in that long.      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    People’s Republic of China, People's Republic of China, China, Volksrepubliek van Sjina, Kyaena, ቻይና, Cīna, الصين, চীন, República Popular China, Çin, Кітай, Китайска народна република, Siniwajamana, རྒྱ་ནག, Sina, Kina, Xina, Republikang Popular sa Tsina, ᏓᎶᏂᎨᏍᏛ, Čína, Китай Халăх Республики, Gweriniaeth Pobl Tsieina, Folkerepublikken Kina, རྒྱ་མི, Tsaina nutome, Κίνα, Ĉinujo, Hiina, Txina, چین, Siin, Kiinan kansantasavalta, Chine, An tSín, ચીન, Caina, Sin, סין, चीन, Kína, Չինաստան, Republica Popular de China, Republik Rakyat Tiongkok, Chaina, ꍏꇩ, Tsina, Populala Republiko di Chinia, Cina, 中国, jugygue, ჩინეთი, Қытай Халық Республикасы, ចិន, ಚೀನಾ, 중국, Res publica popularis Sinarum, Volleksrepublik China, Cayina, Sinɛ, ຈີນ, Kinija, Shine, Ķīna, Haina, Кина, ചൈന, Хятад улс, Ċina, တရုတ်, Volksrepubliek China, Chinne, Kitai, ଚିନ୍, Китай, Maldang Republika ning Tsina, Chiny, Chunwa, Ubushinwa, Kiinná, Shîna, චීනය, Čínska ľudová republika, Kitajska, Shiinaha, Kinë, சீனா, చైనా, จีน, Hytaý Halk Respublikasy, Siaina, Ol Manmeri Ripablik bilong Saina, Çin Halk Cumhuriyeti, جۇڭخۇا خەلق جۇمھۇرىيىتى, Хитой, Trung Hoa, 中华人民共和国, כינע, Orílẹ́ède ṣáínà, Cunghvaz Yinzminz Gunghozgoz, i-China

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