A ChinaTravelBug journey from the Great Wall of China from Beijing to the Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an — discovering China’s history, culture, high-speed rail and hidden places beyond the usual tourist route. A 7, 14 & 21 Days China Travel Guide Through History, Culture and Modern China Planning your first trip to China can feel overwhelming. China is huge. Should you visit Beijing or Shanghai? Should you start with Beijing or Xi’an?...
Wall? The Terracotta Warriors? Those are good questions. But after travelling through China with my daughter Elaine over many years, I slowly discovered another question: “What story is this place trying to tell us?” Because China is not only a country of famous attractions. It is a civilisation built layer by layer. A small village. An ancient writing system. A forgotten king. A philosopher. An emperor. A merchant town. A capital city....
Why ChinaTravelBug believes the best journeys begin with curiosity, stories, and understanding civilisation Many years before travelling deeply through China with my daughter Elaine, I discovered something important while walking through the streets of London, Amsterdam, Paris and Istanbul. A meaningful journey is never only about visiting famous attractions. A castle is not only a castle. A museum is not only a building full of old objects. A river, bridge, railway, market,...
Great Wall, Forbidden City or Terracotta Warriors? Discover how China’s two greatest ancient capitals tell one amazing civilisation story. Planning your first trip to China and wondering: “Should I visit Beijing or Xi’an first?” You are definitely not alone. For many travellers preparing their first China vacation or holiday in China, these two cities usually appear at the top of every China travel itinerary. And for very good reasons. Beijing. 北京 (Běijīng). The characters literally...
From an 8-year-old’s first China vacation to discovering Beijing, Chinese history, culture, and the stories behind one of the greatest China wonders There are many unforgettable places to visit in China. Ancient cities. Beautiful mountains. Traditional streets. Modern skylines. But for many travellers planning their first trip to Beijing China, there is usually one destination sitting right at the top of their dream list. The Great Wall of China. 长城 (Chángchéng). In Chinese,...
Some travel memories begin with famous landmarks. The Great Wall. The Forbidden City. The ancient palaces. The places that appear on almost every Beijing tour itinerary. But sometimes, the strongest memories from a trip to Beijing China begin with something much smaller. A simple souvenir. A little object bought during a family holiday. Something that quietly follows you through different chapters of life. For Elaine and me, that memory keeper is...
Some places are not meant to be visited only once. The first time you visit, you probably see what everyone sees. You take photos of the famous buildings, follow the recommended walking routes, try some popular food, and happily tick another attraction off your travel list. But when you return again, something interesting happens. You slow down. You notice things you missed before. A street sign. An old shop. A familiar childhood...
If you’re planning a trip to China and only thinking about Beijing 北京 (Běijīng), Shanghai 上海 (Shànghǎi), and Xi’an 西安 (Xī’ān)—pause. Because you might be missing out on one of the best travel decisions you’ll ever make. We discovered that just 2.5 hours and ¥230 away from Beijing’s towering crowds lies Handan 邯郸 (Hándān)—a city with a powerful ancient past, glowing city walls, affordable comforts, and heartwarming hospitality. Our high-speed train ride...
If you’re planning a trip to Beijing China, there are three famous ancient commercial streets that belong on every visitor’s list: Dashilan 大栅栏, Wangfujing 王府井, and Qianmen Street (前门大街)—a top choice for travelers seeking both cultural charm and vibrant nightlife in the Beijing capital. While many rush to the Great Wall of China from Beijing or explore modern skyscrapers along the Beijing China skyline, few know that Qianmen Street is a magical...
They say every stone in Beijing, the capital of China, whispers a story. But inside the Forbidden City, those whispers echo like thunder. For anyone planning a trip to Beijing, China, visiting this imperial complex should top your list of Beijing China tourist attractions. On a misty morning, my daughter Elaine and I joined the tide of visitors flowing through the Meridian Gate (午门, Wǔmén), the grand southern entrance to Beijing’s most...
.. with my special need and self-learning (homeschooling) daughter, Elaine. We are China-focused travelers and have visited more than 20 interesting historical places/cities in China. And we enjoy bringing you useful & practical travel stories to help you enhance your experience traveling in China.. do follow us for more interesting travel stories..
