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Yehah! New country- new adventures! We arrived in Beijing and were instantly thrown into the crowds and life that is China. Jen, Martin, Johnny and I made our on the Metro and managed to find the hostel- thanks Martin! And then hit the streets. Red Lanterns, street food stalls and people everywhere. This place was alive! And best of all- it was a decent temperature outside! Over the next five days we had a great time seeing what we could- The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, ...

The tour for the day wasn't included with what we have already paid on our tour package but it felt like we had no choice but to just go on and pay the additional tour. For what we paid we had our own service van and driver plus our tour guide and it wasn't really expensive so really no complaints or whatsoever.  And plus we were treated nicely and we felt like we were some big time tourists even for just a day!hehe. First, we drove to Window of the World, a theme park of miniatur...

@The 9 Hr bus ride from hell Here are your options to get from Guangzhou (Guangdong Province) to Guilin (Guanxi Province). Ranked by cost :$ - 9 Hr bus ride from Hell (170Y)$$ - 13 Hour Sleeper Train The price ranges from 160Y to 320Y for 5 different classes. 1- Hurt your ass hard seat class2- Less pain in the ass soft seat class3- Aeroplane like cushion seats4- Backache hard sleeper class5- Luxury soft sleeper with clean linen ! and pillow!$$$- Guilin Airlines ( about 600Y not inclu. of tax...

I know that many have walked the Great Wall of China and the experience has stimulated various insightful chronicles of the trek. As well, I know that the actions of the hawkers have often been described as a negative influence. I don't know if my hike was any different from most except that for me, for some strange reason, the focus became not only the Wall itself but also the stories of two women of incredible spirit and charm.Preferring to travel at low tourist time and to do an actua...

Our  holiday in China has been and gone .... and it was definately an experience! We flew from Belfast to Heathrow to Frankfurt to be delayed meaning we missed our connection to Beijing - after a harrowing hour we were moved to a China Airways flight to Beijing - so we arrived only 2 hours after we were supposed to arrive - not too bad! Our hotel was a basic but decent 3 star and was well located close to Waifunjing Road the main shopping drag. We had a Peking Duck meal on our first e...

After the cold of yesterday we decided to make a visit to an indoor market a priority to buy ourselves some warm clothes. The markets had been on our to do list anyway. We headed for Yashow market which was full of knock off labels which the stall holders insist are the genuine article. Strange that they don't appear on any retailer outlet lists. We set off on our search and rather than it being a case of gloves off it was gloves on as they were our first item. Stallholder "499 each but I do ...

Hey Guys, Sorry its been awhile since I last wrote. Been doing really great lately on this side of the pond. Still not tired of the food and my volunteer work continues to be great. I learn more and more chinese every day and its amazing how willing these people are to teach you chinese. I have about another week here in Xian to go and then Im off to Beijing and Shanghai for a few days each. Sadly ill be leaving right before the olympics start so I wont be around for any of the action. I got...

Day 6Today we got ready to go to the Summer Palace. Wake-up call was early as usual. When we entered the Summer Palace (it was about half an hour driving) it was very impressive to see. First thing we saw was a square with a lot of trees. Through the whole summer palace everything was green. A lot of trees and plants there, very soothing. Add in the typical (well it sounded typical to me) chinese music and it's perfect. First we saw 3 statues , a guardian, a dragon (symbol for emperor) ...

Where ever I go, if there's a museum, you will find me there.  Shanghai holds no exception.  There are a few of interest, the most notable are the Shanghai Museum and the Shanghai Science Museum.  The former is located on the People's Square while the latter is across the river on the Pu Dong side.  Above all though, and the one most amusing to me, is Madam Tussot's Wax Museum!  That's right, one opened up not too long ago this year.  I don't know if it was that ...

I've found a new site where I've transferred most of this blog AND am able to add my photos with no problems.  Please check it out at www.jadeintherough.etraveldiary.com Hope it works better!  Zai jian for now.

I spent three weeks in March of 2007 traveling through China. Recently, a friend planning a trip there asked if I had any advice, so I drafted these tips for him.

During my Beijing trip,  a couple of my co-workers and myself, hired a tour guide to take us to the Great Wall. I can't remember how much it cost, due to the massive hangover from the night before, compliments of a damn tea house that we stumbled upon after eating dinner, that was a block away from the hotel. We drank shots of some sort of moonshine called "Xian Quan Jiu" OMG this stuff put me on my ass... Anyway, back to the Great Wall. We hired "Mr Li" (real name, Li Hui Sheng...

I was fortunate enough to be able to fulfill an ambition of mine to see a real live panda, and preferably in China.  I was visiting Shanghai on a work trip for two weeks so decided to make a weekend trip to Chengdu - specifically to visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.  Originally I had read many things about the Wolong Panda Reserve, being in the panda's natural environment, I really wanted to try and visit here.  This place was however a five-six hour road...

6/16/07New Video - scroll down to the photo section to see a video of the monks feverishly debating at the Sera Monastery while the foreigners gawk and take their pictures...This morning after breakfast we hopped in the Toyota and started the three hour drive to Lhasa. The road is better than anything else we have been on in Asia and the scenery is desolate, arid and spectacular. Often, if you close your eyes for a second and forget where you are, you can open them and imagine that you are dr...

the children there especailly in small country side are very nice, they wanted to communicat with you, but they cant, they try to use their body language to show something to you.  we brought some pen for them, many children around you, watching you by their puerility eyes. you will feel that the most beautiful thing in the world.