Monthly Archives: October 2017

Beijing – China

Asia,


Chinese culture in Beijing is just like the thickest encyclopaedia containing the  heritage and history between its covers.  A city trying to absorb the exploding knowledge of the current society and foretelling the scenarios of the future’s growing developments – and all the while still holding on fast to many old traditions.


Bikes galore and possibly the best way to make your way around Beijing (that’s if you’re a local – not me) which is impossibly busy with non-stop traffic 24/7.


Our guide showing us the magnitude of the Summer Palace and its gardens which is situated in the Haidian District northwest of Beijing. The Summer Palace is 9 miles (15 kilometres) from the downtown area and being the largest and most well-preserved royal park in China, it greatly influences Chinese horticulture and landscapes which has long been recognized as ‘The Museum of Royal Gardens’.


The Summer Palace’s lake with a sea of Lotus showcasing its famous natural views and the cultural interests which form this crowd pleaser.


A boat ride around the lake ensures you don’t feel you’ve missed out on seeing the area other than from the foreshore. And yes, with a peripheral view you’re kept nice and dry with calm waters on Kunming Lake.


Connecting the eastern shore of Kunming Lake and the only passageway to Nanhu Island in the west, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge was built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799). There are some thirty bridges in the Summer Palace area and this is the largest one, with a length of 150 metres (164 yards) and a width of 8 metres (8.75 yards).


Affectionately known as the Bird’s Nest, the National Stadium, it’s situated within the Olympic Green Village in the Chaoyang District of Beijing  and was designed as the main stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games.

An afternoon stroll will secure your sighting of mainly one-child families out with their off spring finding solace in a wide open space with plenty of security. While a few tantrums were witnessed here by some little princes and princesses, it seems the parents are adept in tuning out with selective hearing. I’m told that the one-child policy in China has been relaxed since 2016 and having spoken to a few parents, it seems they are not rushing to accept the new ruling and bolster further production …


Part of my group’s youngsters enjoying Tiananmen Square where you’ll find the Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People’s Heroes, Great Hall of the People and Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. Thousands of people come to the Square every day and is the ‘must place’ to visit in Beijing.

Outside China, the square is best known for the Tiananmen Square protests whereby there was an armed suppression of a pro-democracy movement back in June 1989 by the Chinese government.


The National Museum of China flanks the eastern side of Tiananmen Square with its mission to educate about the arts and history of China.


Now known as the Palace Museum, it’s to the north of Tiananmen Square, rectangular in shape and it’s the world’s largest palace complex which covers 74 hectares. Surrounded by a 52-metre-wide moat and a 10 metre-high wall, there are more than 8,700 rooms.


The Great Wall steps here at Juyonguan are gigantic in height to say the least. Make sure you’re fit if attempting any part of it.

The most famous Great Wall sections are located in its suburban areas, including the well-preserved Badaling and Mutianyu, the renovated Juyonguan, Jinshanling and Simatai and wild Jiankou and Gubeikou. They’re all not too far from downtown Beijing – about 1-2 hours driving away depending on traffic conditions.


In Chinese history, Beijing was not only one of the ancient capitals, but also one of the most strategic cities in the north. To defend their territory, many rulers had actively ordered to build a Great Wall here and of the surrounds, Beijing totals 573 kilometres (356 miles). Those from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it was the last dynasty engaged in the Great Wall construction which amounted to 526 kilometres (327 miles).


Jade is everywhere for sale. Don’t take my word on what’s the best deal. Sometimes you’ll have to rely on your own judgement on what’s a fake or not. If you ask me the precious gem all looks very much the same to me …


There are pockets of quietness and a boat ride around a moat might be one way of escaping some of the maddening crowds. Not sure about leaving the bike on the footpath though, but I wouldn’t do that in Sydney either!


The majority of the Ming tombs are located in a cluster near Beijing and collectively known as the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty. The site on the southern slope of Tianshou Mountain was chosen based on the principles of feng shui by the third Ming Emperor Yongle.


Once you’ve mastered China’s most sought-after sights when touring, you’ll realise how quickly a week goes when it’s time to say bye. And, if you’ve been lucky enough to have a fabulous and fun group along the way, then it makes the journey even more enjoyable.

For group enquiries contact me on the home page ‘About Me’ of this website.

Hangzhou, Suzhou and Wuxi – China

Asia, ,


Travelling within China needn’t be all about the Golden Triangle of Shanghai, Xian and Beijing as this is one country which encompasses a mammoth area in terms of touristic sites to visit and it’s worthy of going outside the ‘triangle’. Art, food and theatre play a major part of China’s cultural heritage and traditions which can be easily seen in other more tame cities such as Hangzhou, Suzhou and Wuxi.


However, there are some destinations which are best I feel to be a part of an organised tour when it comes to learning from local guides about what’s interesting and historical in that region. In particular, quaint smaller cities you might otherwise miss if travelling independently. Additionally, it takes away the stress of traffic congestion, having decent hotels already sorted with all transfers included and language barriers overcome.

Overall, distances are huge within China and there’s a plethora of airlines, trains and buses servicing the country. However, a packaged tour is generally regarded as value for money allowing you to take in the sights without too much fuss.


In the area around Hangzhou, Mei Jai Wu Village is a tea growing district and here we learn about the differences of green and black tea – and anything else in between.


Hills and fields of green as far as the eye can see, with little Chinese workers’ heads bobbing throughout the rows and covered with cornical hats to ward off the heat, which in turn, is lovingly soaked up by the precious bushes producing one of the world’s most enjoyable beverages.


Tea leaves which are really quite delicate are harvested by hand before being dried and crushed to give many of us our first hot drink of the day. Well mine anyway …


Hangzhou’s West Lake has influenced poets and painters throughout Chinese history for its natural beauty and historic relics. It’s among one of the most important sources of inspiration for Chinese garden designers. If you look on the back of all Chinese paper notes, you’ll find all the heritage-listed natural wonders of China are revered here, rather than other past prominent rulers.


And onward we go with plenty of sites to see along the way. Distances between these three cities by bus is anywhere between three and five hours depending on the traffic.


China is known for its silk and Suzhou is most famous for producing its silk. Here at a factory we’re  able to see how intricate and fine the technique is for yielding quality products from these small cocoons.


Here silkworms are munching away on mulberry leaves as if it were their last meal, and yes it really is … What’s so amazing about the silk-making process is that the silkworm creates its cocoon out of a single silk thread that is continuous for approximately 3,600 feet.


Among the processes, making cocoons to skeins is especially important to produce quality goods.


For an extra couple of Yuan, take a very quick boat ride around the perimeter of the factory. Really have to capitalise on those tourists coming in …


Xue Fucheng’s former residence, also known as the Xue Family Garden, is the biggest of its kind in Wuxi our next stop. Once belonging to the late Xue Fucheng, a famous ideologist and diplomat during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the garden was built in 1894 and covers an area of 21,000 square metres.


The magnificent residence with its gardens had been restored and is open to tourists to admire a bygone era. Obviously it’s in the middle of Wuxi’s central business district and thankfully had been saved from developers.


All around when motoring between cities, you’ll witness some amazing architecture, waterways and bridges.


Beautiful gardens at Panmen Gardens in Suzhou and if you’re a guest of the Pan Pacific Hotel it’s entry is free. Only a six-minute walk from the scenic garden and five kilometres from the Tang Dynasty-era Shantang Street.


The Pagodas in the Gardens are located on the south-west corner of the Main Canal, or the encircling canal of Suzhou. Originally built during the Spring and Autumn period in the state of Wu, historians estimate it to be around 2,500 years old.


Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre is regarded as the landmark of the development of the city’s culture and arts.


End of the day, a cool breeze and understanding some feng shui will help keep you balanced and ready for the next part of your journey.


Airports in China are not really any different to most when it comes to security and safety. However, I’ve not seen a Ladies Only line before. Didn’t make too much of a difference with long lines anyway. Ensure you have plenty of time to make it to the airport if travelling independently as the traffic is horrendous and language barriers can take time for explanations to departing passengers.

Let the tour company’s guides take all the hassle out of your travel by taking a packaged tour such as this one which included our flight as well and seemed great value; especially when short on time …

Next stop Beijing.