China

I was going to blog while I was on vacation in China but the government had just blocked all access to Google :( That was certainly a blow to any attempts. Another problem that occurred was the lack of time. We were so busy every day that there was no time to blog even if I had had the capability! So I’ve decided to put a few things together.

First of all an itinerary.  This itinerary is not exactly what we did. Mainly because we added in a trip to my father-in-laws village. The trip cost us 3 full days and unless you are interested in carved rock it’s probably not worth the time. I’ve also taken out a few things that we visited and thought were a waste of time and added some places that were on our itinerary but we never got to. Also keep in mind that we traveled with two children which means that if you don't have children you can probably fit more into a day!

This is a very sparse outline. I hope to add further blogs with more details about what to look out for and how to get to places. 

Our travel plans took us first to Hong Kong then to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi’an and finally Beijing.

Hong Kong

Day1: Victoria Peak Garden. The Edward Youde Aviary. The museum of tea ware. Pool.

Day 2: Walking Tour. Western Market. Cat street bazaar. Man Mo Temple. Pool. Star Ferry. Light Show.

Day 3: Pak Tai Temple, Wanchai. Bank of China Tower. Chi Lin Nunnery. Nan Lian Gardens. Temple Street night market.

Day 4: Hong Kong to Shanghai (by air)

Shanghai

Day 5: Yuyuan gardens and bazzar. Shanghai Town God’s Temple. Shanghai Museum.

Day 6: East Nanjing Rd. The Bund. Shopping.

Day 7: Shanghai zoo. Shanghai to Hangzhou (by train)

Hangzhou

Day 8: Lingyin Temple. Ziyun Cave, Sunrise Terrace, Baopu Taoist Temple, Baochu Pagoda.

Day 9: Boat trip to the island “three pools mirroring the moon” on the Hangzhou lake. Quyuan Gardens. Yuewang Temple (Mausoleum of General Yue Fei).

Day 10: Bike around southern part of lake (Jingci Temple, Leifeng Pagoda).Tea plantations.

Day 11: Free day! Catch the night train or a plane to Xi’an.

Xi'an

Day 12: City walls. Muslim quarter. Great Mosque. Muslim quarter by night.

Day 13: Terracotta Warriors.

Day 14: Bell tower, drum tower, ice skating! Catch the night train to Beijing.

Beijing

Day 15: Lama Temple, Confucius Temple and Imperial College, Hutong alleys.

Day 16: Great Wall

Day 17: Tian’anmen Square, The Forbidden City.

Day 18: Temple of Heaven Park, drum tower, bell tower.