myothercarsa2cv Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Currently in Chengdu. Arrived in Shanghai yesterday, been to Guilin today, seeing the pandas tomorrow. Then off to Xi'an in the evening, Terracotta Army the next day, sleeper train to Beijing then back to Shanghai that evening for our flight home. Bonkers, but loving it so far! The food is slightly scary though I'm celebrating finishing my GDL in style 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 My other half is from Chengdu, she was there in May. The pollution is pretty grim though isn't it? have you been to Kuanzhai "ancient street of Qing Dynasty"? if you get time it's might be worth a visit whilst you're in Chengdu (although its a bit of tourist trap). It's quite a strange as it's a brand new road but built in the old Qing Dynasty style so lots of weird and wonderful shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 Yep we're doing that tomorrow after the pandas. Only just arrived so off to sleep and checking out in 5 hours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titanium7 Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 In Nanjing and the pollution is so bad that you could not see the top of some of the buildings yesterday. Youth Olympics here soon and the authorities intend to shut down all factories in a 30k radius for a month before and during the games. All the workers will not be paid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Eamer Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I have been to Shanghai and Zhenjiang (near Nanjing) twice in the last 6 months and in the 2 weeks I've spent there I've never been able to see more than a mile in any direction due to air pollution. what I could not get over was the amount of high rise and general contruction going on.... would be big money to be in the business of supplying tower cranes in China!! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Just arrived in Xi'an. Hotel is a dump sadly but at least we're only here for a few hours! Terracotta Warriors in the morning! Chengdu was nice, actually saw the sky today! You're right about the high rise, Mike, they must be expecting either a big population increase or a mass exodus from the countryside... Other observations: Pandas are awesome. Wow the women wear short shorts and dresses! Being vegetarian is somewhat safer! Driving is a term used only the very loosest sense... The prospect of taking a número deux in a hole in the ground is terrifying Green tea is very variable and what they consider to be not bitter is very bitter indeed The same goes for spice - beware! Pandas are awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 Three hours sleep tonight before hitting up the Great Wall. Didn't help that the flight was delayed by three hours... We sat on the runway as long as we were in the air. Fun. In a hotel in Beijing, a million times nicer than the one in Xi'an! Then it's a flight back to Shanghai, quick clean up, a few beers with mates, then home. To say I'm tired is an understatement... Some more observations: The Terracotta Warriors are simply incredible - you have no idea how extensive it is until you see it. And they still haven't excavated them all yet! You never get used to the spitting. It's constant, and such a terrible habit... If the smog doesn't kill them, the smoking will. If you're on a moped, rules of the road are for information only... Amazingly, despite the nightmare that is driving in China, I haven't seen a single accident I have also not seen a single disabled person I met my first beggar today, surprising considering the wealth divide in China, although it's not high season for tourism yet. Most internal flights are delayed for 'bad weather' The girls are not as pretty in Xi'an as they are in Chengdu When women fly, it is imperative that they wear the least practical shoes in their wardrobe Sandwiches are simply awful here. Bread to filling ratio is completely backward, making it too dry. We could teach them a thing or two about the art of making the perfect sandwich. I even saw a Chinese person throw away his sandwich in disgust. Oh, and no one speaks English Edited by - myothercarsa2cv on 18 Jun 2014 20:45:55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 The girls are not as pretty in Xi'an as they are in Chengdu Is now a good time to say my wife is from Chengdu 😬 (I better show her this post, she'll be very pleased) Edited by - rgrigsby on 18 Jun 2014 22:39:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 You never get used to the spitting. It's constant, and such a terrible habit... Perhaps its because you are speaking English Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titanium7 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Agree with John but have another observation. Where do all the best cuts of meat go as here are a couple typical meals off a menu at a good restaurant Braised Duck blood curd with Pork intestine in Chili sauce! Or Olive pickles with green beans and gristle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 We went veggie for the most part, made the mistake of asking for chicken but have no idea what it was we got! Rob, feel free to tell her! It was a very pleasant city to walk around, an the Peoples Park is insane! Public karaoke anyone?! Saw the Great Wall just outside Beijing today, was incredible. Now back in Shanghai to meet a friend and have some beers before flying home. It's been short and sweet! Observations today: It must be an urban myth that l's are pronounced with an r. Tsingtao beer tastes better in China than it does in the UK The Great Wall is incredibly hard work - I have never been so sweaty! So many people wanted their photos taken with us I wondered if I should be charging Still no accidents on the roads - unvelievable Internal flights are definitely always delayed! I have felt safe for the whole time I've been here - no hassle - very, very impressed. But apparently Chinese prisons have a reputation! I am really looking forward to getting home to a cup of tea and a cake 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Kay Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Quoting myothercarsa2cv: Tsingtao beer tastes better in China than it does in the UKDo you know about the German heritage? (My father spent his childhood summer holidays in Qingdao.) Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 How they don't have accidents on the roads is amazing, I was there for 3 weeks and saw total chaos on the roads but only 1 small bump and that was between to electric scooters. When my wife went out in in May she took our 17 month old daughter with her, they couldn't move without people asking for a photo of her apparently, the wonders of a "foreign" baby in China. Edited by - rgrigsby on 19 Jun 2014 20:10:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wile7 Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Quoting Jonathan Kay: Quoting myothercarsa2cv: Tsingtao beer tastes better in China than it does in the UKDo you know about the German heritage? (My father spent his childhood summer holidays in Qingdao.) Jonathan It's like San Miguel - originally brewed in Macao, then the Philippines and my staple diet as a teenager growing up in Hong Kong. Only came to Spain in the mid 1970's I think.....tastes better in HK Amazing trip MOCIA2CV You will be tired.....different travelling without the seven there ? Edited by - Wile7 on 19 Jun 2014 20:09:16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 And... I'm home 😬 And back off to the airport in a few hours to go on a stag do in Portugal. Monday at work is going to hurt Interesting about Tsingtao (and San Miguel!), I didn't know the history, thanks! I'll try to download the photos before I b*gger off again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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