My journey around China was a hectic but thrilling experience. In a short 3 weeks I managed to visit a several places in this truly fascinating and diverse country. I began with Beijing, a city full of character and history. I saw the incredible Forbidden City—once completely inaccessible to the public—as well as the beautiful Summer Palace and (probably my favorite place in Beijing) the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven offers you a chance to watch locals going about their everyday life. Men crowd round to watch and play Mahjong, women sew together, groups sing, practice Tai Chi, and take part in water calligraphy. It is truly fascinating.
![Dragon Statue in Beijing Dragon Statue in Beijing](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Dragon-Statue-in-Beijing.jpg)
![Chinese Lantern Chinese Lantern](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Chinese-Lantern.jpg)
![Dragon Boat in Beijing Dragon Boat in Beijing](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Dragon-Boat-in-Beijing.jpg)
![Hutong in Beijing Hutong in Beijing](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Hutong-in-Beijing.jpg)
![Tiananmen Square Beijing Tiananmen Square Beijing](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tiananmen-Square-Beijing.jpg)
![The Long Corridor Summer Palace Beijing The Long Corridor Summer Palace Beijing](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/The-Long-Corridor-Summer-Palace-Beijing.jpg)
![Long Corridor at Summer Palace Beijing Long Corridor at Summer Palace Beijing](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Long-Corridor-at-Summer-Palace-Beijing.jpg)
Of course, whilst in Beijing, I went to visit the vast, impressive and truly incredible Great Wall of China. Walking along the wall absolutely takes your breath away – it is stunning!
![Path on Great Wall of China Path on Great Wall of China](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Path-on-Great-Wall-of-China.jpg)
![Great Wall of China Great Wall of China](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Great-Wall-of-China.jpg)
I journeyed next to Xi’an, a lovely city where the recently unearthed Terracotta Army stand, a sight not to be missed in China. While in Xi’an, I explored the bustling Muslim Quarters. Though the rain was pouring down, it was bright and full of people, street food, and activity–I loved it!
![Terracotta Warriors Terracotta Warriors](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Terracotta-Warriors.jpg)
![Terracotta Warriors in Xian Terracotta Warriors in Xian](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Terracotta-Warriors-in-Xian.jpg)
![Xian Muslim Quarter Xian Muslim Quarter](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Xian-Muslim-Quarter.jpg)
![Muslim Quarter in Xian Muslim Quarter in Xian](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Muslim-Quarter-in-Xian.jpg)
Chengdu has the most wonderful Panda Research Base and Breeding Center, where you can watch the morning feeding of adult pandas and then be knocked down by the cuteness of the baby pandas!
![Panda Breeding Center Chengdu Panda Breeding Center Chengdu](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Panda-Breeding-Center-Chengdu.jpg)
![Giant Buddha Leshan Giant Buddha Leshan](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Giant-Buddha-Leshan.jpg)
A little off the beaten track, I next made my way to Yunnan Province, where I explored the Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La (home to over 900 monks), walked around the impressive Tiger Leaping Gorge and explored the winding, narrow streets of the Old Town of Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
![Songzanlin Monastery Songzanlin Monastery](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Songzanlin-Monastery.jpg)
![Songzanlin Monastery Shangri La Songzanlin Monastery Shangri La](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Songzanlin-Monastery-Shangri-La.jpg)
![Songzanlin Monastery Incense Songzanlin Monastery Incense](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Songzanlin-Monastery-Incense.jpg)
![Chinese Tea Chinese Tea](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Chinese-Tea.jpg)
My favorite part of the journey was visiting Yangshuo and Longji. This area of China is absolutely beautiful. Rugged mountains surround the picturesque Li River. There are relaxing bamboo rafts on the Yulong River. And you can visit the absolutely stunning rice terraces in Longsheng known as The Dragon’s Backbone. This area of China is a great place to hike and explore small villages. I stayed in Ping’an Village which was quiet, rural and absolutely idyllic—but did involve a pretty long hike to get there!
![Tiger Leaping Gorge Tiger Leaping Gorge](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tiger-Leaping-Gorge.jpg)
![Tiger Leaping Gorge Jinsha River Tiger Leaping Gorge Jinsha River](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tiger-Leaping-Gorge-Jinsha-River.jpg)
![Jinsha River Tiger Leaping Gorge Jinsha River Tiger Leaping Gorge](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Jinsha-River-Tiger-Leaping-Gorge.jpg)
![Lijiang Old Town Lijiang Old Town](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Lijiang-Old-Town.jpg)
![Bamboo Rafts Yangshuo Bamboo Rafts Yangshuo](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Bamboo-Rafts-Yangshuo.jpg)
![Li River Li River](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Li-River.jpg)
![West Street Yangshuo West Street Yangshuo](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/West-Street-Yangshuo.jpg)
![Bamboo Rafts in Yangshuo Bamboo Rafts in Yangshuo](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Bamboo-Rafts-in-Yangshuo.jpg)
![PingAn Village Longji Sign PingAn Village Longji Sign](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/PingAn-Village-Longji-Sign.jpg)
![Ping An Village Longji Ping An Village Longji](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Ping-An-Village-Longji.jpg)
I then traveled to a famous tea plantation near Hangzhou, where, supposedly, the best green tea in China comes from, and visited the West Lake, inspiration for many Chinese poems and paintings. Next was Suzhou, known for its beautiful gardens and Zhujiajiao, a pretty little water town known as “The Venice of China”.
![Zhujiajiao Zhujiajiao](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Zhujiajiao.jpg)
![Snow Beer Snow Beer](https://www.entouriste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Snow-Beer.jpg)
Finally, my trip came to an end in Shanghai. A busy, fast paced metropolis with an absolutely stunning skyline and the beautiful Bund to admire it from. I just loved Shanghai! I would jump at the chance to return and get lost in its many neighborhoods, try all the food I didn’t, and go to all the galleries I missed. It is a great city! I was lucky enough to stay on the Bund in a boutique hotel, Les Suites Orient, which I highly recommend. I could take a bubble bath with a view of the Pudong Skyline—a great end to my trip to the Far East!
Stay
Les Suites Orient
1 East Jinling Road, Shanghai 200002
86 21 6320 0088
[email protected]
The Details
- Learn more about visiting the Great Wall of China from Beijing
Comments…
Wonderful journey to enjoy with family in Shanghai. I really like this place. It is very popular place in China. Thanks to provide the blog post.
What an incredible looking trip! We have never been to any country in Asia. Any tips for when we do??
Thanks Greg! If you still need Asia advice let me know! I recommend Cambodia, I adore it. But China is incredible too (but huge!)
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