Despite having lived in southern China, Guangdong Province, for 2 years I haven’t travelled extensively in China. Travelling in China can be tough if you don’t speak or read Chinese (luckily A. does) but even so each time I go I feel like I’m embarking on a real adventure into somewhere very different. There are some fantastic sights and experiences that I’ve had which include standing on the Great Wall of China, seeing the Terracotta Army, the limestone hills of Yangshuo and taking a group of students on the overnight train from Xian to Guangzhou.

When: Lived there 2005-2007, visits in 2005, 2013

Where: Beijing, Xian (school trip), Shanghai, Guangdong: Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zeng Cheng, Shenzen, Sherkou, Yangshuo, Guizhou province, Guanxi province

Who: mostly with A, though I did take school trip of 7th & 8th graders

How: I’ve flown and taken the train both long and short distances. The trains are great and generally run on time. Long distance buses are less comfortable and subject to delays.

Weather:  Varies dramatically as the country is so big. I have not experienced the extreme cold of the north in winter. Summer in the south is hot and humid.

Food: varies from north to south. South is predominantly rice eating. The Chinese eat pretty much anything and you can expect to see dog and other delights in markets and on the menus.

Sights:  The Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Old Shanghai, river and hills of Guilin and Yangshuo, Xian and the Terracotta Soldiers

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Surprises:

Tips: learn a bit of basic Chinese or bring Chinese-pinyin-English dictionary to help communication.  A visual/picture dictionary might also help.  China is not very clean, wash your hands regularly to avoid getting ill.