It’s not possible to cover the vast expanse of a country like China. Skipping Xi’an from your travel itinerary, might seem like a sensible thing to do, if you’re pressed for time. But, if you’re a culture enthusiast – it might prove to be a mistake. After four days of exhaustive walking in Beijing, we headed to Xi’an, the…
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The Summer Palace is one of the top historic sights to visit in Beijing. It wouldn’t take much – to guess why – Emperors chose it to unwind in its tranquil gardens. After three days of back-to-back walking (including the Great Wall Hike), we decided to slow down the pace and experience a bit of tranquillity…
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“You’re going to CHINA? You must surely visit the GREAT WALL OF CHINA!”, squealed my elderly neighbour. I smiled warily. Her enthusiasm was palpable. Despite her age and average health, given an opportunity, she would have most definitely have walked the great walk herself. I probably kept her in mind, when I reluctantly signed up…
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It was our second day in Beijing and it was the perfect time to truly discover this fascinating city. Fortunately, for most visitors, the seat of China’s cultural (imperial past) and political(revolution) history, is within walking distance of each other. It’s easy to plan a day of exhaustive walking and cultural assimilation. Although, it…
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One half of me is yours, the other half yours- Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours, And so all yours! — William Shakespeare
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We’d never recommend 8 days to explore a country, leave alone – China. And yet, we managed to squeeze Xian and Guilin, along with Beijing, in our China travel itinerary. I’d have to admit, and Basil will agree, although reluctantly, it’s not been one of our best planned trips. With few days in hand, we…
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I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself what a wonderful world. I see skies of blue and clouds of white The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself what a wonderful world. The colors…
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In April, we stayed collectively for a period of three weeks in China – clocking two weeks in Shanghai. I’m not sure if the time was sufficient to make me get a deeper understanding of the city, but, I’ve always felt the minute you choose to stay in an apartment over a hotel, scout for…
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Undoubtedly, Chinese cuisine is probably the most popular food globally. So, what does authentic Chinese food actually taste like? There seems to be a common belief that authentic Chinese cuisine is largely raw or bland – without a trace of spice. While there maybe some truth behind this misconception; it’s hard to categorise Chinese food into a…
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Shanghai seems to be rapidly competing to transform itself into a concrete jungle – with jagged skyscrapers – dominating its cityscape. Oddly enough, sandwiched in-between these grey zones are huge spaces of green. It wouldn’t be hard to find locals and expats spending their weekends strolling, cycling, jogging, paddle-boating or camping in the park. And…
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