Cameron, Brianna, myself and a friend Jen will be going to China.
I have organized a lovely meandering tour. We have been into the CBD to apply for a Family Visa, visa for up to 180 days. It's been approved.
I've read many travel books, looked on the internet and asked advice from our friends who have visited china or have contacts in China. Using this information, I've stitched together a tour that will take us from Brisbane to Beijing, then after a week we fly to Shanghai. A week there and then we will be met by a local driver and a guide. They will take us around every day and do a good portion of the trip with us from Shanghai to the Yellow mountains, where another guide will meet us. After this another guide and driver will take us to Xi'An.
First stop after Shanghai will be Suzhou.(2,500 years of history. Venice of the Orient. Water boat of suzhou and tour of Tongli. Visit jade markets and cloisonné factory. Silk products village.) Then on to Hangzhou (Humble administrators garden. Tunxi old street, markets etc.) Followed by a trip up the Yellow Mountains, (will stay up top on the mountain) Huangshan mountain. Then onto Yulin,(Museum, Yuntian cultural city, gardens, markets) and the Li river. Will do a river cruise to Yangzhou village for a week. Onto Xi'An to stay for five says, and out to the terra-cotta warriors. Across to Luliang and onward, back to Beijing.
There are many stops in-between. We will only travel a few hours each day and I have arranged to visit local villages that produce silk worms, silk, silk products, pottery and the carving of wood. We will go white water rafting, visit quite a few gardens, art galleries and museums.
All in all it should be approx. 5,300Km or 60 hours of actual driving time. Not counting the time we are in hotels or staying put. I estimate that we will have 28 days between sleeps to travel from A to B. This should mean that we will average 2- 2 1/2 hours of driving per day. Depending on everyone's need to go to toilet, stop for petrol, impromptu shopping or other?
I think it is very doable and shouldn't be stressful as most of it is on well-maintained country roads.
It will be an adventure. EXCITING!
First stop Beijing. Fairmont Hotel. An oldy, but a goody, central to most tourist attractions.
Yong An Dong Li, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue, Chaoyang - first outing, The Forbidden city.
Bought tickets online so can go straight in ... woopie!
Forbidden City. What a truly amazing place. Looking in all the many pavilions for the concubines and other dignitaries was incredible.
We were lucky to have a day that few other people visited. If we saw a dozen people we thought it was crowded.
The artifacts from their day to day activities were still there in the rooms. They were covered in dust. The windows were open and you could just poke your head in and take a look. Should have taken more photos, but was too busy looking.
The Sacred Way - this is one of those places you feel is on some special meridian. The poplar trees were rippling in the wind, there were birds ... and us. It was magical.
Where all the other people are, we do not know.
Playing in the park. A kind Chinese man gave Brianna a happy sack that you kick with the side of your foot.
The Great wall of China. We hit a touristy spot.
Walked it for a few miles and decided to find another spot.
Riding a boat on The Royal Lake at the Summer Palace. Door and carvings in palace.
I organized to go to as many parks, gardens and local markets as there was time to see.
This market was frequented by the monks, for the Tibetan beads. A kind gentleman showed Brianna how to play a local instrument. It's carved from stone and engraved. We now have 2.
Selling lotus flowers for people to eat the seeds.
