Check Out China!! Ava’s Country Information!!

 So, as some of you may have seen in a previous blog or in my about me section, I used to live in China. I lived in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province from October 2013 to December 2015. Whilst I was there I was lucky enough to visit some amazing cities/sights across China. Living in China was definitely different from living in any other country. Of course, everything is very cheap and there are so many new foods to try but it is completely different to what you expect, mostly in a positive way. Overall I had a great time there and have so many amazing memories. I have included a few pointers below to where I would recommend visiting if you’re planning a trip to China.

Beijing

There are so many great things to see and visit in and around Beijing, too many to write about. So I have chosen my top 4 must see’s whilst in Beijing.

Great Wall of China – The Great Wall is probably the biggest and most popular sight to be seen whilst in Beijing. There are different parts of the wall that you can explore. Badaling is the most popular for tourists which also means it is quite busy. My favourite part of the wall is Mutianyu, as it is not as busy and it is a beautiful part of the wall. It is also very fun as you can take the chairlift up to the top and then toboggan back down. Click here to check out my blog about the Great Wall of China.

On the Great Wall of China April 2015

Temple of Heaven – The Temple of Heaven was first built in 1420 but wasn’t opened to the public until 1988. It is a temple park that consists of several temples in beautiful surroundings. I visited the park with my friend Emily and her parents in October 2015. It ‘s a great place to visit and spend the day walking around taking in the amazing surroundings.

Myself and Emily at the Temple of Heaven.

Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City – These are separate sights but they are opposite each other so can be seen consecutively. Tiananmen Square is a large city square, it contains many monuments of the ‘people’s heroes’. Many people go there to pay their respects. Forbidden city is just over the road, you can walk around the gardens and the buildings but you can also go inside and view the palace museum.

Summer Palace – Summer Palace is definitely a must see. It was one of my favourite places in Beijing. It a very large area that will take a whole day to explore. The area consists of lakes, gardens, temples, and palaces. You can also visit the 17 arch bridge. One thing that you must do is hire a pedalo and you can go boating on the lake and get up close to the bridge. There is also a boat that you can take from one end of the park to the other as walking around the entire park would take too long.

Summer Palace

Xi’an

I really liked Xi’an, just the general atmosphere was great and there were little temples all over the city and great markets that were hidden between the buildings. I even tried fried crab and scorpion on a stick whilst I was there. Would you try it?

Terracotta Warriors – As you may know, the Terracotta Warriors are the biggest sight to see in Xi’an. There are 3 excavation sites and each one very different from the site before. The first site is the biggest and it really is a spectacle. It is amazing to see them up close and personal. They are still in the process of uncovering more warriors. As well as the soldiers, there is also horse and carriages and other ancient statues.

At the main Terracotta Warriors Site

Bell Tower – The Bell Tower is located in the centre of the city, it is located on the main intersection and there are great views from the tower in all directions. The Bell Tower in Xi’an is one of the grandest Bell Towers in China. It is also the most preserved and largest in the whole of China.

The View from the Bell Tower.

Shanghai

Shanghai was probably my favourite city in China. As it was so close to Nanjing, my friend Emily and I used to go at least twice a month for the weekend. The main road in Shanghai is Nanjing East Road and you can find lots of shops, bars, and restaurants, it’s also the direct road up to The Bund.

The Bund – The Bund is a must see in Shanghai, it’s easy to get to from the city and of course, it’s free. It is great during the day and even better at night. It lights up with various colors and it’s great when they put on a fireworks display.

The Bund

At The Bund

French Concession – The French Concession is a really funky place in Shanghai. If you fancy a meal together or a night out drinking then this is the place to go. My favourite restaurant/bar is a Mexican bar called Zapatas.

Chengdu

Unfortunately, I never managed to visit Chengdu whilst I was living in Cina but I definitely want to visit there someday. If you do get the chance I would recommend making the trip. Chengdu Research Base Centre is home to the giant panda. You can also have the opportunity to hold a panda and maybe even feed them.

Giant Panda is resting on a platform made of trees in Chengdu, China.

So, if you fancy including China on your next cruise then click here for some inspiration with our Asia Tailor-made Packages.