DECEMBER 2018 - CHINA

2 DAYS in SHANGHAI - GUILIN -   WULINGYUANG -  ZHANGJIAJIE (DAYONG)  - GUBEIKOU - HUSHAN  - XIAN -  PEKIN 

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart” – Confucius (wise words from the Chinese philosopher.)

An international flight, follow by three domestic flights then an express train plus busses and taxis. Here we are.

                           This travel was organized without the intervention of a travel agency

First night in a popular area to immerse  quickly in Chinese culture. 

 Subway in Shanghai

Pleasant surprise, in the great communist country. The updated stocks of the stock exchange remind you brutally that capitalism is well anchored in everyday life.

China rock me 💕

Common business Mindset

First steps is Tian Zi Fang district

with typical crafts shops as i like them

Few subway stations to reach the Bund 

And climb top the tower  

specially the Financial tower will allow you

 to have a panoramic view on Shanghai

Pleasant surprise, a very warm welcome 

with requests for selfie  all times.

The country is very organized and above all extremely clean

A dinner of beans soup 

It is super hot in Shanghai but the air conditioning is present everywhere from the airport to the taxi aisles of the genius foggers refresh you.

Temple visit 

Modernity cross authenticity 

                                                   Zen feeling when visiting a temple

Such a relaxing and green place 

Time to bike in Guilin.

My favorite spot soooo natural

weather was very hot and humid

Landscape is simple sublime

But the landscape was absolutely sublime

Drive to Yao women village  

interesting to meet them and learn about their culture

Houses are made with bamboo

Bamboo are also used for cooking rice 

Scenery is really unique 

Yao women hair are never cut, is a tradition and they style it for a finish look as a hat 

 It's a real village not a folklore one with very warm welcome

I recommand to spend one night here to 

 soak up the spirit of this tribe

 Lunch with typical chineese food to share

just slurp & yummy specially small fried fish with vegetables and rice bamboo

For a fructivore, tasting several unknow fruits was a sweet curiosity

An afternoon  at Guilin Paddy fields

Walking through rice fields will took you 

an afternoon and it's absolutly wonderful

While waiting for the departure, I observe some embroiderers

Time for dinner 

Cruise boat from Guilin to Yanshuo  

 

                                            

Simple splendid cruise. China defintively rock me

 with lot of suprising spots

Several beautiful isolated beaches with golden sand

Biking at Yanshuo   

to reach the mountain sky hole after climbing unlimited steps

 Lotus root dinner so  delicious with watermelon juice

 Night seightseeing walk

Lodge at Glass cube 

with night pool

Relaxing time after a long hiking day 

This rental built in height of natural materials was my favorite with large glazed openings on nature (plants, flowers ...)

 Midnight bath in a fresh pool with friends

Time for dinner starting with chineese green fruit 

A Day at Huashan Mountain

Spiritual walk up the top 

A day of escape, reflection and relaxation with meditation breaks in the temples & during outside stop with unlimited view ...

Collation time with a yummy corn boiled with hot chilli

New adventure authentic day in Zhangjiajie 

Long hiking 

in the nature which has inspired avatar moovie producer

Avatar Bird just for funny pic

 Pics of nature at this level speak by themselves

Tianmen Mountain

Thoses purple small chineese berries are expensive but very tasty  

certainly & probably rare also diffucult to harvest

Avatar inspiration environment

Kanyon Glass bridge ( cross or not )

yah done it easily 

even look creepy

 Typical Chineese fish burger absolutly crunchy for ending this splendid journey 

Arrival in the night by train at Pékin 

 Short night then city tour at Wangfujing pedestrian shopping street in Beijing

visit at the Imperial city

( the weather was less warm without pollution during the two days :-)  

                                  Pekin is different from Shanghai regarding architecture & vibe

Original ChineseTea Saloon

Typical temple

Authentic Cantonese rice, a pur delight

Xian

The terracotta soldiers

Great wall at Gubeikou, 7 hours walking

under an extremly baking sun

walking all the journey will be unforgettable

The day of walking, the most trying in terms of heat but also one of the most moving of the wall of China

 Waiting for the Sunset 

                                                                              Voiceless

Ending the day in a location with organic garden 

and one of the most wonderful dinner of the whole travel made by hand by the owners

Visit of a romanctic district water town  

Last relaxing time in a Spa hotel at Pekin 

Minerals hot pool spa

Gastronimic chinese pecking duck offered by an hong kongese brother's best friend

 Head of the duck (really) 

The tradition wants it to be served entirely with the whole 

organs of the duck

Absolutly delicious

 With typical pastries, tasty and finest 

On top of board for the return as a working girl

Cheers 

Thomas Bergersen - Colors of Love

Globy