Like other cities in China we visited, Luoyang’s old city, temples and pagodas are surrounded by constant high-rise construction. Luoyang’s streets are massive and seem endless. Skeletal new apartment buildings covered in cranes and scaffolds pop up in every corner of the city, where whole suburbs are being built all at once, from the ground […]
The main must-see on my China list, standing on the Great Wall was truly awe-inspiring. We went early to the Mutianyu stretch of the Wall to avoid crowds and haze, but it was still a little hazy. After Huangshan our legs were still pretty shaky, but otherwise Mutianyu is a great choice for those […]
It’s funny, there is an exhibition on the Forbidden City running in Melbourne at the moment. I decided to spend the extra few bucks to come to Beijing instead. I learnt some things (thanks audio guide thingie): The Forbidden City is super old (construction started in 1406). The emperor was believed to be an ambassador […]
There are few occasions where I might say, the weather is too beautiful. Climbing in Huangshan, the Yellow Mountain, we had sunshine and blue skies, missing what is locally called the “sea of clouds” around the iconic jagged peaks, which gives the illusion that the rocks are floating in the heavens. Stone steps are carved throughout […]
We arrive in Hongcun in the late afternoon, and because the day has been hazy, the town glows pink. Fun facts about Hongcun: the village is a UNESCO World Heritage site, was apparently built in the shape of an ox, and served as the set for some of the scenes in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It […]
Tuesday in Shanghai. This city is made for strolling. Firstly, driving seems near impossible (although I think in time I could manage riding a scooter here). But walking means exploring the tree-lined alleys and hidden markets which have made this place so special for me. So it’s Tuesday, and we’ve trying to fit in as much as possible before […]
Night falls; Shanghai lights up. Strolling along the river, the city is awash with colour. Later, through Yuyuan Garden, there are less people than during the day, and it is perhaps more beautiful.
