Just added a new feature, in co-operation with China Highlights you can now book train tickets online via the search box below or in the right column. AND you can book tickets 60 days in advance. Check Availability and Book Online China Rail Network Map Click for larger image
Official Chinese public holidays for 2015: New Year’s Day January 1st to the 3rd off with weekend shifted, and work recommencing on the 4th (Sunday). Spring Festival/Chinese New Year: February 18th (Chinese New Year’s Eve) to the 24th off with weekend shifted. Tomb Sweeping Day: April 5th off, with day…
A poetic tale, translated and reposted from wechat: Once upon a time, so slowly, so beautiful! Once daylight is very slow Cart, horse, mail is slow A greeting, had to wait for days Once upon a time the Moon is slowly A bit busy and a bit lazy In a…
Here’s a hot tip. Don’t overstay your visa, they really don’t like it. Over the four years or so of staying in China I was always on time with renewing my visa, in which case I would travel to Hong Kong and get it renewed, or, go to the local…
Number 1: Chengdu I will never forget Chengdu, my first food experience there was the famous spicy hotpot, my mouth and lips were on fire from the red soup of chiller and peppers! In 2010, Chengdu was designated the “Capital of the World’s Gourmet Food” by UNESCO, and renowned for…
Here’s a quick guide to some of the popular local snacks foods you’ll see on your travels around China (excuse the translations, will get to correcting the dish names): Lijiang: delicacies include spiral dumpling, buckwheat cake, walnut meatball, champion cake, Naxi Bowl Tsai cake, millet meatloaf, spiral cake, pineapple rice…
At first I was a little reluctant, I am sure you understand, but as I watched everyone else sticking there toothpicks into the platter of crunchy bugs, I thought, well, when in Rome. And I glad I did, they are delicious in their own way. Apparently they are also high in protein,…
Shaoguan is a quick and easy getaway from Shenzhen or Guangzhou being linked by the High Speed Rail. It takes about 2 hours from Shenzhen and 1 hour or so from Guangzhou. On this trip I came from Qingyuan, I missed the fast train having ended up at the wrong…
Out along Provincial Road there’s numerous sight seeing attractions and one of those is Xingfu Temple across from the Niuyuzui scenic area. Getting to either is easy, take the bus number 24 which terminates at the gate of the scenic area, then walk through the main gate and follow the…
Reading the net and according to locals, during the week boat hire to Feilai Temple is quite expensive, so I was pleased to find that you can walk there. There’s actually lots of tour boats going up and down the river, but most are private chartered for tour groups and they…
Here’s an amazing spot in Qingyuan that you should definitely take the time to visit. Featuring amazing natural scenery, a temple and pure mountain water rock pools for swimming. I will never forget swimming in amazing rock pools after the walk to the temple at the top of the mountain.…
[updated 2018] Heading to China? Here are some alternatives to Google services and the best VPN solutions.
Respite from the heat.. Without many other options the metro station is a popular place to cool down and rest…
Taobao is China’s undisputed king of online shopping malls in China, and is the local equivalent of ebay in many ways. Traders can list their products online and reach out to a large audience who can easily locate and compare goods of just about any type. Whilst prices can be…
Here’s a rough guide to fruits you are likely to come across in your travels around China including there seasons. The Chinese name for fruit is Shuǐguǒ ( 水果). Chinese Pear (Táng lí-唐梨) Season: Autumn Passion fruit (Bǎixiāng guǒ-百香果/熱情果) Season: midsummer Common Fig (Wúhuāguǒ-無花果) Season: July and September Persimmon (Shì-柿) Season: September…
China has nearly 900 species of wild mushroom, more than 50 of which are in commercial cultivation. Mushrooms are used widely in both cooking and in traditional medicine. They are sold fresh and dried. Black Fungus or Cloud Ear Fungus (黑木耳 hui mu er) Looks like an ear, it’s thin and a…
It’s really surprising just how many China blogs and news sources there now are, perhaps a reflection of China’s influence in the global scheme of things. There’s endless travelogues, personal blogs from expats, expat forums, global news agency blogs, independent news agencies along with the state owned news sources. For…
It’s that time again, when a whole country goes from ON… to OFF. The Spring Festival Travel Season, or Chunyun (春运), which goes for 40 days is well underway having started Jan 16 and will finish Feb 24. Many people wont finish work until tomorrow leaving them little time to…
Chinese philosophies, or if you like, doctrines, religions or cultural practices include Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Over thousands of years they have all played a major role in shaping Chinese culture, albeit sometimes falling in and out of favor with rulers over the centuries. Through an understanding of the different…
Human nature is the same wherever you go, so just like everywhere else, China has it’s share of good and bad. In my travels I have never had any major issues, perhaps I’m lucky, maybe just using common sense, I’m not sure. In any case, it’s best to be on…
It goes without saying that one thing that you will definitely want to have during your travels is a mobile phone, and more than likely a smartphone. Not only for calls, it’s probably also your music player, ebook reader, map, internet connection, translator and so much more. Overall I found…
Here’s a list of domestic and international airports in China, grouped by province, linking to the airports website where available. Many of China’s airport websites have an English version featuring useful guides on airport transfers and procedure guides for arrivals and departures. Also see Booking flights in China City Served…
One of the best things after a late night arrival into an unknown city is to wake up and find an awesome breakfast awaiting. So, when travelling what can you expect in a Chinese hotel, and how is the breakfast, well, here’s a guide. Most hotels I have stayed in…
The first time in China can be an entrancing experience, put together the mysticism of Asian culture, the buzz of the staggeringly large number of people, the sheer size and scale of everything, and you’ll probably be on a starry-eyed traveler high for a while. But, undoubtedly at some point…
There are seven holiday public holidays in China lasting from 1 day to 3 days. The holidays are lengthened by people working weekends prior and after the break, holidays such as the National Day holiday/Mid Autumn Festival period can actually become 7 day breaks or longer. New Year January 1…
If you are looking for a getaway from the hustle of Shenzhen or Guangzhou, like I was, you might want to check out Qingyuan. It’s a city packed with hot springs, eco theme parks and natural attractions. Fast trains from Shenzhen or Guangzhou make it a quick journey, from Shenzhen…
Guangdong Provinces’s smaller cities can be quite fascinating and uniquely diverse, Zhongshan makes a perfect example of this, here’s a small city set inland from the coast and some distance from the big powerhouse cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen yet it’s amazingly culturally diverse and mature city. Walking around certain…
Foshan City of Foshan District, Guangdong Province, is located about 2 hours by bus from Shenzhen, and 30 minutes from Guangzhou. You can also take the metro from Guangzhou to Foshan. The area is known for being large base to the ceramics and furniture industry, but it’s also a city…
Whats in Sanshui? A giant sleeping Buddha that’s what! The small city is about an hour by train or bus from Guangzhou and the main attraction is the Forest Park which features scenic areas, a go-kart track, Confucius Temple and Crocodile Park. The Giant Buddha and The Confucius Temple are…
Some time ago I remember seeing an ad on the English news channel here in China for the OYC Hotel and thought I’d love to check that out one day. The attention getting feature in the ad was the huge cave and hot spring located underneath the hotel, now we…