China - cycling the karst scenery of Yangshuo

Our bus from Ping'an dropped us back near the Hong Kong Hotel in Guilin and not far from our hostel, allowing us to quickly head back and grab our bags from Wada hostel who had been kindly storing them for us for free.

We grabbed a few steamed pork buns (yummy!) and a pastry for lunch before heading back into yet another rain shower to catch a bus to the Guilin bus station, just south of the Guilin South Railway Station.

Beautiful limestone karst scenery

China - Guilin and the Longji rice terraces

Guilin is a city surrounded by beautiful karst scenery. There are a couple of major things to do within a few hours of the city and a relatively easy distance given China - the Longji rice terraces a good 2 and a half hours north of Guilin and Yanghsuo a couple of hours to the south. But first we stopped off in Guilin for a night.

The journey there was fine, if a little long at 26 hours on a sleeper train. We decided to book lower hard sleeper bunks as we would be on the train during the day and wanted to be able to sit comfortably and have a table to sit at. The journey was really interesting. Looking out the window at the towns, cities and countryside (consisting mainly of rice terraces) to the random Chinese who would come and sit, say hello and some stuff in Chinese, ask if we could connect with them on WeChat and then wander off again.

Cheers!

China - Pandamonium

China - The Pandas of Chengdu

Having arrived on another overnight train from Xi'an, we pulled into Chengdu station at around 3pm and jumped on the Metro to the centre of the city and our next hostel - Mrs Panda's Hostel - quite appropriate given we were here to see PANDAS!

The hostel location was great, right by the bus station and a 10 minute walk from the metro and really close to the main areas to explore within Chengdu itself.

Panda time

China - the magnificent sights of Xi'an

Xi'an is where China began. It is an ancient city, with huge city walls, numerous tombs and atmospheric streets. Sitting at the end of the Silk road and in the centre of modern China, it is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, typified by the wonderful sights and smells of the muslim quarter.

Even though this was Chris' third visit, it was probably, outside of Beijing, our favourite city in China, and should be on everyone's agenda... if only to see its most famous sight - the Terrcotta Warriors... but more on that later.

Getting up close and personal with a warrior

China - The Quaint Town of Pingyao

After our second back to back night train in a row we pulled into the ancient town of Pingyao at 06:06am. 

Yawning and bleary-eyed we were met by the driver from our great little courtyard guesthouse, which offered a free pick up from the station (located just outside the north gate of the old city). We checked in and took the opportunity to have a few more hours kip so we'd be ready for touring the sights of Pingyao on foot.

Pingyao

China - Datong and the Yungang Grottos

On our way to Pingyao from Beijing, we decided to make a stop at Datong to go and see the Yungang Grottoes and hopefully the hanging monastery.  Sadly, we discovered the monastery is being repainted, sorry I mean restored, so we could only really go to the grottos. But in any case it we would have been pushing it for time and the monastery is a good couple of hours out of town.

The Yungang Grottos

China - The Great Wall

The great wall - probably at the top of the list for most people when visiting China - and deservedly so. It was up there on Julia's hit list too, and so we actually ended up walking the wall twice! Well...when in China!

A never ending view

China - Exploring the city of Beijing

Beijing is a must see place in China and on anyone's list of must sees around the world. The city is packed with amazing sights, and we felt gave us the chance to see the real China (whatever real China is nowadays). We both really enjoyed Beijing, and given it was Chris' third visit in 10 years, that's saying something.

Beijing

China - Shanghai - The modern China

Shanghai is the modern China... or more to the point, how China wants to be known. With over 24 million people and an endless sprawl of concrete and glass, this is the city that most typifies how China has developed in the last few decades and is the most westernised. So does Shanghai really represent the real China?

Shanghai... welcome to China... or is it?