Day 1 – Beijing
Our first day arrived at Beijing airport with my group of 10 in total. A charming lady – Sandy Chen greeted us at airport and guided us to our mini bus driven by an English speaking driver. Sandy gave us her introduction of her role and hand us with our itineraries in Beijing and entertaining us whilst pointing out certain landmarks along our way to the hotel. Sandy and our driver Kenneth assisted us to check in and ensure all our luggages handled by the bellboys and into our allocated rooms. After an hour break and freshing ourselves up, Sandy and our driver took us to the restaurant to have our first meal in China. Food was excellent and because the long flight journey (13 hours short), we did have an early night only after we had a cheeky drink to christen our hotel bar! We stayed at the Grand Mercure Xidan Hotel Beijing.
Day 2 – Beijing
We had our breakfast in the morning at our hotel, the breakfast was in buffet style and there were various varieties to choose from – Chinese dim sum, traditional noodle soup and congee, Western style cooked breakfast, pastries and American style breakfast. This gave us plenty of energy for our day tour.
Sandy and Kenneth picked us up at our hotel around 9:30 and we head to our first stop – Tian’anmen Sqaure and the mausoeum where Chaiman Mao laid rest. At the end of the Sqaure was the entrance to Forbidden City – the ancient imperial palace. There were hundreds of buildings inside and took us over 2 hours walk from the front palace gate to the end gate (we only have time to walk straight without venture out to view buildings from our left and right. The palace is so big will take days to see everything!) We were so glad to see Kenneth with his mini bus waiting for us outside the gate. Its time for our lunch break and Sandy our tour guide took us to the local restaurant to have our lunch and our needed break! Checked out some shops nearby the restaurant after lunch. Our next stop was the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. The old empress spent her entire navy fund reserve to build her Summer Palace I must admit would have costed her a lot of pennies, specially the beautiful lake in the middle of the Palace.
We ended our tour for the day by 6 pm, Sandy took us to another restaurant to have our dinner and the Chinese food there was delicious. We returned to our hotel after dinner some decided to have their power sleep and some decided to venture out to look around the Beijing city. We got together in the evening at the hotel have more cheeky drinks before night out. What time was it, don’t ask !
Day 3 – Beijing
After our civilized breakfast, Sandy have to drag some of us out from bed to start our next day tour – Great Wall (Mutianyu Section) approx. 75 km away from the city. It was a wonderful experience to be one of the wonder in the world – The Great Wall and we climbed up the steps and please don’t ask me how many – ‘a lots of steps’! The structure so huge and it was never ending from our view. We only visited a very small part of the wall and I believed that most part of the wall is not suitable for tourist because safety. For me was another tick from my travel list of achievements. After lunch we were taken to Ming Tombs, the lavish burial chambers of 13 emperors. Don’t worry there were no bodies in there nor gold and jewelleries.
We returned to our hotel around 6 pm and rest and refreshed for just over an hour, Sandy and driver Kenneth returned again and took us to a lovely restaurant for our Peking Duck dinner evening. I must say it was quiet different and unexpected way serve the duck compare with the west. They served all the same pancake, sauce and garnish and the chef wheeled the mouth watering Roasted Duck out and start taking the Duck skin off and put on the plate. After that we saw a naked duck on the chef’s plate and disappointingly they wheeled the naked duck away. We only found out that was the proper way to serve and eat the Peking Duck dish without the duck meat. They use the rest for soup and stirfry with vegetable etc. It was wonderful although I would love to sink my teeth to the duck meat !!
After dinner we ventured out to the nearby bar with the girl’s favouite ‘karaoke’, we managed to howl our way through the night and again please don’t ask how many winks we had before day light.
Day 4 – Beijing / Xian
After our breakfast (just in time!) Sandy and our driver assisted us to check out from our hotel and transfer us to Beijing International airport, put us on the flight to Xian after we hugged and said goodbye to Sandy and Kenneth. We are happy that they looked after us so well in Beijing and the amount of knowledge she has about Beijing and information and history telling was wonderful. They were also happy with smiley faces for the tip we given to them too! Arriving Xian airport, again our new tour guide John Li and our driver transferred us to our hotel – Aurum International Hotel Xian. After refreshment, we started our tour to visit Shanxi Historical Museum & Muslim Street and the City Wall. From the wall, we can see the contrast between to old and the new buildings separated by the wall.
Our tour guide John also an experienced and licensed tour guide and know about the city of Xian inside and out. He outlined all the history about the city and landmarks, in between he also sing folk songs and tell joke to entertain us. We returned to our hotel to refresh ourselves around 6pm. John picked up us from hotel again at 7:30pm and took us to see the Chinese Music show while we enjoyed our dumpling dinner. The music show was wonderful and dinner was delicious and different. I learnt that in China, people in the north eat more dumpling and in the south eat more rice. Yet again we did have cheeky drinks but was in bed early with plenty of winks for the evening.
Day 5 – Xian
We woke up early in the morning, checked out the gym and did a bit of workout (no fat because have been eating healthy Chinese food for the past days!). Again the hotel restaurant buffet breakfast also have plenty of choices and suitable for everyone’s taste.
John picked us up from hotel around 10 am and we travelled to another one of the world’s wonder The Qin Terracotta Army archaeological finds. The site so vast but they only managed to unearth just a small part of it so far, but already have plenty to see with amazing history and thousands of warriers army all with different face impression. I have managed to take a cheeky snap shot of the farmer who accidentially discovered this burrial over 25 years ago. Now he got awarded a position at the museum to autograph on tourist magazine. Happy days for him and proud bless him!
We enjoyed yet another needed lunch and break at around 1 pm and continue with our tour to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. I was my fault taht forgotten to count how many level for the Pagoda, but take my words for it, it was big and tall. It was a mangaficent site and lovely scenary surrounding. At 5pm, we all decided to skip the dinner due to the fact that too much food for the past few days, we all agreed to return to our hotel for refreshment, then we were out for the evening show – Chinese Acrobatic Show – OMG ! I just can’t believe any human can do such acrobatic like they are made of rubber. I was unbelieveable and highly recommended to anyone to watch this show. After the show, we all went to local snack bar – McDonald to pig ourselves before we turn ourselves in for the evening.
Day 6 – Xian / Chongqing
After our morning breakfast, our tour guide John and his driver arrived at our hotel and assisted us to check out from our hotel and transferred us to the airport for our flight to Chongqing. After a short flight arriving at Chongqing, we’re greeted and picked up from airport and transferred to the 5 stars Victoria Cruise to start our 3 days Yangtze Rive Cruise.
Cruise staffs assisted us to check into our cabins and show us around the cruise and we attended the cruise reception when we set sail in the late afternoon. The cruise catered fantastic buffet style dinner again with plenty of choices. The cruise was on full board basis and we ahve to pay for our drinks which was very good value for money and inexpensive. Again plenty of variety to choose from wine, beer and spirits. During the dinner, cruise staffs performed their well rehursted entertainments with songs and dance routines. The room cabin is no different then our western style cruise cabin with plenty of space and bathroom with shower. It was very clean and pleasent and staff services very good and efficient.
Day 7 – Yangtze River Cruise
In the morning after our lovely breakfast again buffet style with both Chinese and Western style all good food with plenty of fruits as well. We went on deck and watch the cruise gliding along the mighty Yangtze River. The river is so big and the strong current making various of whoolpool in the water was beyond believe. The scenary was so beautiful and we can see all the mountains from both sides and it was a wonderful experience.
By lunch time, we arrived at Fengdu and we went shore to visit the Ghost City. For those who don’t like walking or steps, forget it. There were thousands of steps all the way to the top of the Ghost City with plenty of figures for good and bad ghost who were supposed to protect the city and out tour guide provided us with great details of the history and story. Somehow, we have managed to return to our cruise down thousands of steps late afternoon and set sail again. In the evening, we wine and dine ourselves and meeting up with other tourists from different part of the world. Once again the crews entertained us throughout the evening.
Day 8 – Yangtze River Cruise
In the morning, we sailed through the Three Gorges – Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Shennong Stream and they are so majestic and beautiful scenaries. Plenty of photos and relax and chilled out on deck. Sunshine with fresh air, what more you want in life!!!
When we arrived at the Shennong Stream, they put us on a small boat and visit a stream which we have to get on to a small wooden rowing boat with 10 tourist onbroad and 2 men row upstream and singing all along, until we came reached the shallow part, they jumped off and use the ropes to pull us upstream and they were only a little men, bless them!!!! Again great fun and experience. By the time we return to our cruise in late afternoon, food and drinks was the only thing in our mind.
Day 9 – Yangtze River / Yichang / Guilin
In the morning we arrived to a magneficent scence and the mighty structure of the Three Gorges Dam. Our cruise navigated through the locks which is big enough for 2 big cruise ships double lane per lock. It was a mighty man made structure which show the Chinese power! Wow! We disembarked in the afternoon at Yichang and our tour guide and driver transferred us to the airport heading to our next destination of Guilin. Arrived in early evening our new tour guide Wi Wang and driver transfer us to our hotel – Bravo Hotel Guilin. Lovely hotel with very spacious rooms with restaurants and bars; very handy! We decided to gather together to have our first Western dinner at the hotel and yet more cheeky drinks.
Day 10 – Guilin / Yangshuo
After we had our bellyful of breakfast, our tour guide Wi and his driver took us to Zhujiang Pier for our Li River Cruise tour. It was a double decker river boat sailing along the crystal waters. The landscape from Guilin to Yangshuo is truly a masterpiece of nature. Again Li River cruise is one of my highlight and memorable trip and it took four and half hours and we had our lunch on the boat during our trip.
In the afternoon, we arrived and disembark at the one thousand year old town called Yangshuo. We took a short walk through town to our hotel – New Century Hotel. It was a local hotel, very present, clean and sufficient as a small town hotel. After a short rest, we venture out and tour along the famous West Street with many restaurant, bars and shops and mostly can speak fluent English. Very soon we discovered that West Street catered for all westerns with lively nightlife, whether live band music and dance or simply just drinks! There was great variety of Chinese and Western food restaurants and it was really a memorable night for us in a small town like this.
Day 11 – Yangshuo / Guilin / Hong Kong
After breakfast, Wi and driver transferred us from Yangshuo back to Guilin for our day tour in Guilin. Our first stop was Reed Flute Cave, then Fubo Hill. We enjoyed our tour at the Reed Flute Cave and we walked inside the Cave downward to the length approx 240 metres and look like a magic fairyland with lovely colourful stone columns with shapes like curtains and flowers. The cave is a natural beauty of a large amount of stalactites and stalagmites. All foreign visitors to Guilin always visit this Cave as a famous attraction.
After our break for lunch at the local restaurant, we continue with our tour to Fubo Hill in the northeast of the city. It is well known as the ‘Wonderland on Wave’ with its exquisite peak rising high and its foot half in water and half on land. The east of the case curbs the river stream, causing the formation of a deep pool, so the hill is named Fubo Hill (Wave Curbing Hill). At the southern foot of the hill is a garden full of bamboos, palm trees and flowers, a quite and interesting place.
Before we transferred to airport to take our flight to Hong Kong, we visited the local silk factory. We saw the whole process from silk worms to finish products like silk fabric, silk sheet, silk quilt & pillow cases in various colours. I have managed to purchase myself a handmade (from start to finish in an hour!) silk quilt & pillow cases with matching silk cover. All in a vacum sealed hand carry pack. It was wonderful and very good value for money.
Wi and his driver transferred us to Guilin airport again assisted us to check in to our flight to Hong Kong. When we arrived to Hong Kong, because it was my home town, therefore, we decided to make our own arrangement for transfers and tour whilst we were in Hong Kong for 2 nights stopover before we return home to UK. We took the airport transfer coach only cost HKD100 per person each way to our hotel – Metropark Hotel in Mongkok area Hong Kong. After rest and refreshed ourselves, I was acting as my group tour guide to show the boys and girls what nightlife’s about in Hong Kong. We had a quick dinner in an Italian Restaurant and travelled to the Central district in Hong Kong Island, an area called Lan Kwai Fong, where all the bars and restaurants specailly cater for visitors from all over the world. It is one of the Hong Kong most famous watering hole for both local and overseas visitors. We had a wonderful evening there but unfortunately some did chicken out and went back to hotel early except few die hard stay up till early hours in the morning which including me!
Day 12 – Hong Kong
After all the tours and travels, we all agreed to sleep in and skip the breakfast. We met up just in time for lunch and we went to nearby Dim Sum restaurant to taste the traditional Dim Sum lunch with noodle and soup and endless variety of dishes. After lunch we travelled to the Peak Tram station via underground. We took the Peak Tram to the top of the Victoria Peak. From there, we can see whole of Hong Kong central district, Victoria harbour and cross the water the Kowloon side which connected to the mainland of China. From the Peak, there are shopping mall with great variety of shop, boutiques and restaurants & bars.
From the Victoria Peak, we travelled back down by tram and took a local tram trip from the central district to the other side of Hong Kong island. During the tram journey, we can see the city life of Hong Kong with the new and old building alongside with many businesses and shops. Our hour and half tram journey was a great experience. We took underground back to the central district area and experienced the world famous Star Ferry cross the Victoria Harbour. During the short crossing (7 minutes) we can see the shoreline landscape and buildings on both side of the harbour. It was a wonderful view and experience for everyone. We returned to our hotel rest and refreshed ourselves and we decided to go to one of the Indian restaurant called Spices and we had a wonderful meal there. Then we took underground to Mongkok area to visit one of the most famous shopping street – ‘Lady Market’. Just one long street and full of street traders to sell from small hair accessories to handbags and shoes which including ‘fake’ label products. We spent hours to shop there and hackled like mad (forgotten to mention that we did have an hour training between us to learn how to hackle before we went there!). At the end of the evening, all of us brought a lot of goodies and enjoyed our shopping experience in the area. By the time we return to our hotel soon after midnight, we decided to venture out again for our supper hence Hong Kong restaurant and bars never sleep and you can always find something to eat and drink 24/7.
Day 13 – Hong Kong
After breakfast in the morning, unfortunately we have to say goodbye of our China experience and checked out from our hotel and took the afternoon flight return to UK.
We had a wonderful journey and fantastic experience on our China trip. Everyone in our group agreed that we need to arrange to return to this part of the world again. There are still plenty to see in China and in Hong Kong. We enjoyed our food very much and experienced the different kind of Chinese dishes from different cities and the services was second to none. We outlined the follow lists of places for our next visit and will be soon.
Beijing – the birdnest Olympic Stadium
Chengdu – the gaint panda sanctary
Shanghai – the bund
Kumning – the stone forest
Sanya – the sunny beach resort in Hainan
Hong Kong – The disney for big kids, the Ocean Park, Aberdeen fishing village, Hong Kong offshore islands fishing villages. Lan Kwai Fong – the watering hole again to finish the rest of the bars we ran out of time on our first night.
Happy days!