Discovering a Different Side of China Beyond Beijing For many first-time travellers planning a China trip, Beijing (北京) is naturally one of the first destinations. And it should be. A good Beijing travel itinerary introduces visitors to some of China’s greatest historical landmarks: But China’s story did not end with emperors. During our father-and-daughter journey through northern China, Elaine and I wanted to explore another question: After thousands of years of imperial history, how did...
The China We Found Between Destinations When most travellers plan their first trip to China, they usually search for the famous places. The Great Wall of China. The Forbidden City in Beijing. The Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an. And yes — these are incredible places everyone should experience. But after travelling across China many times as father and daughter, Elaine and I discovered something unexpected. Some of our favourite memories did not happen...
Our China Journey Did Not End After the First Trip — It Only Began Many travellers planning their first China trip ask the same question: “How many days do I need to see China?” 7 days?14 days?3 weeks? After years of travelling across China with my daughter Elaine, from Beijing’s Forbidden City to Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors, from ancient Yellow River civilisation sites to China’s modern high-speed rail network, I have slowly discovered...
A Father and Daughter Journey Into China’s Earliest Stories Most travellers begin their first China trip with two unforgettable images. The endless stones of the Great Wall. The golden roofs of Beijing’s Forbidden City. And they should. Standing on the Great Wall (长城 Chángchéng), looking across the mountains north of Beijing, you feel the scale of ancient China. Walking through the Forbidden City (故宫 Gùgōng), you step into the world of emperors...
From Childhood Wonder to Understanding 5,000 Years of Stories When Elaine first stood on the Great Wall of China, she was only eight years old. At that moment, China was simple. China was a giant wall disappearing into the mountains. China was pandas. China was strange food, new sounds, different streets, and a world much bigger than home. She was not thinking about dynasties. She was not trying to understand Chinese civilisation....
小地方，大故事 — Discovering the China Most Travellers Miss A Different China Travel Guide: Looking Beyond Famous Attractions Most travellers planning their first trip to China usually start with the famous names. Beijing 北京. Xi’an 西安. Shanghai 上海. The Great Wall 长城. The Forbidden City 故宫. The Terracotta Warriors 兵马俑. And they should. These are some of the greatest China places to visit and unforgettable experiences for any China vacation. But after travelling across China many...
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...
.. 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..
