We are going to China!

My Dh called and said his Boss invited us on a all expense paid trip to China.

I can not believe we are going to China!
It a trip of a life time.

Now, I have to figure out what we need to see.

Has anyone been to China?

Re: We are going to China!

Wow, that's great Amy! An all-expense paid trip.

Re: We are going to China!

That's fantastic! Congrats to you both! Haven't been to china yet. When will you be leaving?

Re: We are going to China!

We are leaving on Oct 26th and returning on November 4th.

Still in shock!

Re: We are going to China!

that is amazing, soak up the whole culture....
GREAT WALL will be so beautiful and I cannot wait to see your pics!

Re: We are going to China!

Are you only going 1 place specifically in China, like Beijing or are you free to travel around?

If you're able to travel around:
*Beijing (Great Wall, Forbidden City, Silk Market)
*Shanghai
*Hong Kong (Victoria Peak)

Re: We are going to China!

I went to China for 6 weeks with my law school. It was amazing. My uncle lived in China for a while - he was the head of a major companies office in Hong Kong and then Beijing - now he is in Japan for a few years. It is an interesting country to visit.

I stayed in Xiamen - but spent several day in Hong Kong, Xian (for the terra cotta soldiers) and Beijing. As well as some local travel in the area.

I would be happy to tell you about any of the things I saw while I was there.

Re: We are going to China!

Day 1 JFK/Beijing

Day 2 Beijing Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China at 6 p.m

Day 3 Beijing Visit Tian An Men Square

Day 4 Beijing Take a tour bus excursion to the Great Wall

Day 5 Beijing/Shanghai/Suzhou sightseeing includes the centuries old Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill and Hanshan Temple

Day 6 Suzhou/Hangzhou Tour the centuries old Lingyin Temple

Day 7 Hangzhou/Shanghai boat cruise on West Lake with relaxing stopover at jewel-like pagodas and tea houses

Day 8 Shanghai sightseeing at the Yu Garden, a maze of marvelous pavilions, ponds, rocky works and over arching trees

Day 9 Shanghai/Beijing/JFK


This is the Itinerary that has been mapped out for us

I think we will be kept very busy!

Re: We are going to China!

Sounds amazing! Can't wait to see pics!!

Re: We are going to China!

China is great!

Just FYI the Chinese food that we are familiar with is from southern China, so when you are in Beijing (north) and Shanghai (closer south) you will experience different foods. On the subject of food, see if you can go to a Peking Duck restaurant...it's an experience - they cook every part of the duck - heart, feet EVERYTHING! Depending on how adventurous you are, it's a gastronimcal treat. (you eat it like a tortilla, which is interesting too!) Shanghai, you will see more of the dumpling/lo mein, etc

In Beijing:

see if you can see the Beijing Opera - it's more like Japanese Kabuki Theatre and really an great experience.

the Beijing acrobat show is like a cirque du soleil

when you are in tiananmen Sq - go see Mao's Mausoleum - if the line looks long - don't worry - they push everyone through quickly. It's an experience to see his body. - then onto the forbidden city and the temple of heaven and earth.

If you can get to the summer palace - it's beuatiful too!

For shopping check out the Friendship store, Wang Fu Jing Street and if you have ever wanted to buy pearls - do it at the pearl market!

In Shaghai:

Shanghai is just beautiful! Such a mix of old and new. The moderness of it really shocked me.

The Bund (by the water, where Europeans lived in the 1920's and before) is GORGEOUS! You will see European style buildings and people doing Tai Chi across the street by the water.

By the Bund is the Peace hotel - really just a beautiful hotel and a piece of history from colonial and opium China.

The Yu Garden is a Ming garden that is in the middle of Shanghai - pretty cool how it is preserved...when I found out that it was about $50/month to rent an apartment near there - I nearly didn't come back - but that is the price for Chinese citizens - foreigners have to pay $500!

Will you be with a tour? Having an interpreter helps immensely!

Having some words/phrases will help too. Thank you - Shi Shi; Ni Hao - hello; Ni hao ma - how are you? ; Boo Yow - I'm not interested (there are some places where vendors will squarm you tour bus trying to get you to buy something

I'll try to think of some more...have a blast!

Re: We are going to China!

Posted by Erica

China is great!

Just FYI the Chinese food that we are familiar with is from southern China, so when you are in Beijing (north) and Shanghai (closer south) you will experience different foods. On the subject of food, see if you can go to a Peking Duck restaurant...it's an experience - they cook every part of the duck - heart, feet EVERYTHING! Depending on how adventurous you are, it's a gastronimcal treat. (you eat it like a tortilla, which is interesting too!) Shanghai, you will see more of the dumpling/lo mein, etc

In Beijing:

see if you can see the Beijing Opera - it's more like Japanese Kabuki Theatre and really an great experience.

the Beijing acrobat show is like a cirque du soleil

when you are in tiananmen Sq - go see Mao's Mausoleum - if the line looks long - don't worry - they push everyone through quickly. It's an experience to see his body. - then onto the forbidden city and the temple of heaven and earth.

If you can get to the summer palace - it's beuatiful too!

For shopping check out the Friendship store, Wang Fu Jing Street and if you have ever wanted to buy pearls - do it at the pearl market!

In Shaghai:

Shanghai is just beautiful! Such a mix of old and new. The moderness of it really shocked me.

The Bund (by the water, where Europeans lived in the 1920's and before) is GORGEOUS! You will see European style buildings and people doing Tai Chi across the street by the water.

By the Bund is the Peace hotel - really just a beautiful hotel and a piece of history from colonial and opium China.

The Yu Garden is a Ming garden that is in the middle of Shanghai - pretty cool how it is preserved...when I found out that it was about $50/month to rent an apartment near there - I nearly didn't come back - but that is the price for Chinese citizens - foreigners have to pay $500!

Will you be with a tour? Having an interpreter helps immensely!

Having some words/phrases will help too. Thank you - Shi Shi; Ni Hao - hello; Ni hao ma - how are you? ; Boo Yow - I'm not interested (there are some places where vendors will squarm you tour bus trying to get you to buy something

I'll try to think of some more...have a blast!

Re: We are going to China!

Posted by Erica

China is great!

Just FYI the Chinese food that we are familiar with is from southern China, so when you are in Beijing (north) and Shanghai (closer south) you will experience different foods. On the subject of food, see if you can go to a Peking Duck restaurant...it's an experience - they cook every part of the duck - heart, feet EVERYTHING! Depending on how adventurous you are, it's a gastronimcal treat. (you eat it like a tortilla, which is interesting too!) Shanghai, you will see more of the dumpling/lo mein, etc

In Beijing:

see if you can see the Beijing Opera - it's more like Japanese Kabuki Theatre and really an great experience.

the Beijing acrobat show is like a cirque du soleil

when you are in tiananmen Sq - go see Mao's Mausoleum - if the line looks long - don't worry - they push everyone through quickly. It's an experience to see his body. - then onto the forbidden city and the temple of heaven and earth.

If you can get to the summer palace - it's beuatiful too!

For shopping check out the Friendship store, Wang Fu Jing Street and if you have ever wanted to buy pearls - do it at the pearl market!

In Shaghai:

Shanghai is just beautiful! Such a mix of old and new. The moderness of it really shocked me.

The Bund (by the water, where Europeans lived in the 1920's and before) is GORGEOUS! You will see European style buildings and people doing Tai Chi across the street by the water.

By the Bund is the Peace hotel - really just a beautiful hotel and a piece of history from colonial and opium China.

The Yu Garden is a Ming garden that is in the middle of Shanghai - pretty cool how it is preserved...when I found out that it was about $50/month to rent an apartment near there - I nearly didn't come back - but that is the price for Chinese citizens - foreigners have to pay $500!

Will you be with a tour? Having an interpreter helps immensely!

Having some words/phrases will help too. Thank you - Shi Shi; Ni Hao - hello; Ni hao ma - how are you? ; Boo Yow - I'm not interested (there are some places where vendors will squarm you tour bus trying to get you to buy something

I'll try to think of some more...have a blast!

Re: We are going to China!

Posted by BunnyWife


WOW! Great info! You wouldn't happen to have any must sees for Hong Kong would you? DH and I are going in April for our 2nd anniversary

Re: We are going to China!

Posted by Erica

Posted by BunnyWife


WOW! Great info! You wouldn't happen to have any must sees for Hong Kong would you? DH and I are going in April for our 2nd anniversary

Sorry, I have never been to Hong Kong, but want to see it desperately! I worked for an airline in the mid 90s and wish that I had taken advantage more and gone to HK before the handoff to China. Contact the China Institute - they might even offer a class/seminar that you might enjoy before you go.

Re: We are going to China!

I went to China last April and, well, let's say it was very interesting.
I went to Shanghai, Shantou and Hong Kong.
When in Shanghai definitely go to the Bund. It's pretty awesome...
I do think another poster said something about the food. You MUST realize that the food is not Americanized. You are NOT getting chicken and broc. Or an egg roll. It is completely different. See my picture below of something that looks like fingers....and The crab which are HUGE and tasty.
I have to be honest...i Am not adventurous SO I brought food....like Granola bars and stuff like that. White rice was the way to go for me. I just couldn't bring myself to eat any meat or anything.
Keep in mind, the poverty level is very high and you will experience something you have never seen before...which Is pretty amazing.
OK...let's Talk about the toilets in restaurants and stuff. Most of the time while in China, we came across the toilets that are in the ground...but A lot of places had regular ones as well. See the picture below to kind of get an idea :LOL: ...yea A little weird.

Hong Kong is amazing. I would have stayed there for weeks if I a. had time and b. had the money. It's very pricey there.
Whoever is going there should take the Star Ferry to the Peak. The Peak is basically a 360 degree view of Hong Kong and is absolutely breathtaking...beyond the smog.
At the Intercontinental hotel...outside is a huge deck that wraps around the hotel, basically. It's on the water and every night there is a light show off of the water and the boats...it's pretty cool.

Overall, whoever goes will have a great time. Just watch out for the food...cause we are not used to eating that kind of stuff...i would watch the drinking water...and wear sneakers...lots of walking around.

HAVE FUN

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Re: We are going to China!

ok couldn't get all the pictures up. sorry

Message edited 7/23/2008 10:37:22 AM.

Re: We are going to China!

Re: We are going to China!

DH is in China as I type.

As previous posters stated, food is very different. I lived on watermelon while I was there. DH is much braver than I am. He'll eat turtle soup and scorpion. I don't touch that stuff.

Re: We are going to China!

Great photos Bellabear and thank you so much for the hong kong info!. We are really excited about trying the crazy food (except for that finger thing you posted)!

Re: We are going to China!

LOVE the pictures!!!

I brought granola bars too! LOL

I actually got by pretty well...I had trouble with meats, b/c I was in the dorms in Beijing University and they didn't tell you what the meat was...so knowing the rat and dog are used, I didn't eat it.

There is a delicious egg and tomato dish though that I liked for protein. You won't really find dairy/butter - that disappointed me. If you need it in your coffee - think about bringing some powder creamer packs.

I'm sure your TG will tell you - never ever drink the tap water and always check your cap on any bottled water you buy on the street - make sure it wasn't just refilled. I never encountered it, but I was told to check every time.

Even without eating the meat and all the walking I did - I still gained 2 pounds! I think from all the white rice!


I forgot to mention the toilets! If you ever feel the need in public - look for a nice modern hotel - you won't have to "squat" there! LOL

Re: We are going to China!