If you are coming to China on an extended trip, then you will probably end up in Shanghai at some point. Adding Shanghai to your round the world trip itinerary is a great idea as it surely is a unique destination. The great thing about Shanghai is that it caters to every budget. If you have a bit higher of a budget, you’ll have options galore, from nice hotels rooms to high roller suites. But if you are more of a backpacker, you’ll be taken care of as well with hostels and cheap eats around every corner.

If you like indie travel experiences, then you’ve come to the right place as it doesn’t get more indie than China. You’ll be challenged each day. Hell, you’ll be challenged each time you step out the door of your hotel or hostel, as traveling in this country takes some getting used to. But if you have the patience and enjoy being thrown into sometimes uncomfortable scenarios, then this is the place for you.

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When I started learning languages such as French or Italian, the music, movies, TV shows and magazines has become my daily friends. And with the help of Internet, I also got a lot of real friends to talk to and write to.

Visiting the country is definitely one of the best ways to learn the language. When you deal with languages that are very different from your native tongue or other languages you speak, it’s going to be more challenging. But phrase books and , lately, mobile applications should be your friends. And, if your budget allows for it, take a language class in the country you are visiting.

Known some of the important phrases in Chinese means that dealing with awkward travel situations gets a lot easier. If you find yourself quite lonely and you cannot find anyone who speaks English, then known at least basic phrases will remind you why you are traveling and how lovely it is to experience a new culture.

Of all the traveling I’ve done so far , I either was able to use English everywhere (even in the market in Vienna, Austria) or I spoke the native language. When we went to Budapest, I relied on my partner who speaks the language and on my basic knowledge of Hungarian to get me by when needed. But as I plan travels further from my home base, I am certainly eager to learn at least some basic phrases in as many languages I can.

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Whether you choose to travel independently or you want to travel in an organized way (tour), make sure to check out the highlights of Beijing . One of the most visited parts of the Great Wall of China is located near Beijing. Just look for information at the hotel and you’ll be able to book a tour to visit the wall. Another must-see place is the Forbidden City. It is the largest, best-preserved wooden-structure ancient architectural complex in the world. Other stunning places to visit include: the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Ming Tombs.

But China is much more than just Beijing. Book one of the domestic flights in China and head to Xi’an, where you’ll find the Terracotta Army. It was discovered in 1974 and comprises four pits. Pit one is home to the main army, estimated at 8,000 figures.

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But difficult places to travel are often some of the most rewarding. Though China is a superpower and many of it’s large cities are as modern as any you’ll find in the world, it’s still possible to venture into places that very few non-Chinese have gone. Looking for an “authentic” experience? You can certainly find one in rural China.

Once way to make the trip a little easier is to book a tour. If you though tours weren’t for you, you may be surprised by the number of available adventure trips in China, many of which are much more independent than your standard group tour. Tours can also be a good value, as many tour operators are able to get discounts on airfare to China and bundle to cost of flights into the package price.

A trip to China may require more red tape than you’re used to, but for many people, the hassles and annoyances will be well worth it for the experience.

Photo by Stefans Photos

Very interesting round the world trip destinations include Egypt, Bali, Argentina, Peru, India, New Zealand and China.

You can plan to fly to Egypt and visit the Great Pyramids of Giza. They really do live up to their name. Thanks to the way most of the photos are taken, you’ll assume that are located well out into a barren desert, but they are just at the edge of the city of Giza, across the Nile from Cairo.

From Egypt you can hop on a flight to India. Undoubtedly, Taj Mahal is a must-see place in the vast country. It’s located in Agra, just south of Delhi. And while you are here, don’t miss the Red Fort in Delhi either. The holy village of Pushkar is also very popular among backpackers.

From here you can fly to China. A stop in Beijing is exactly what you need to be able to explore the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. Just make sure to book one of the hotels in China before you arrive in the country.

The Badaling section of the Great Wall is closest to Beijing (about 70 km or so) but it is also the most crowded. Still, it offers breathtaking views of the area. You can, however, plan to visit remote parts of the wall but you surely need to talk to locals to make that happen. For example, the Mutianyu section gets fewer visitors although it’s not very far from Beijing either.

Needless to say that no RTW trip is complete without experiencing the exciting cuisine each country has to offer.

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Spring (February to April) is an excellent time to plan your vacation in Beijing. The weather is dry and windy. But it’s low season so you won’t be bumping into endless crowds and you have the sights for yourself.

Since China is not exactly close to either Europe or North America, the bulk of the travel budget is going to be the flight. So it only makes sense to search for cheap flights to Beijing ahead of time and book your flight when you find the best deal. Of course, flying during the low season is a great choice to save on airfare.

If you fly from London to Beijing in early April, the non-stop RT flight starts at $978 (on Air China). Virgin Atlantic and British Airways also offer direct flights but the prices are much higher.

Should you want to fly from New York to Beijing during the same period, the non-stop RT flight starts at $898 (on Continental). Air China, United and US Airways also offer direct flights but the fares are more expensive.

Now that you have the flight secured, it’s time to look for hotels in China . In large cities, such as Beijing, it’s important to choose a place to stay close to the main sights. Depending on the location and the facilities offered, rates start at as low as $34 per night during the low season. With a bit of planning ahead you can stay in a 4-star hotel with just $64 per night, right in the heart of Beijing.

Tips

Make sure to always carry a map and be sure to know exactly where you want to go. Carry the name of the hotel with you and the name of the place where you want to go. It’s quite hard to find someone who speaks English so you need to be prepared.

Metered taxis and the metro are the two best choices for travelers. Buses are crowded and the names of the stations are only in Chinese so it can be a daunting task to figure out things.

Stay away from buying anything in China. Fake designer products are everywhere and we bet that’s not what you want to bring back as souvenir.

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City Walls

Many of China’s ancient cities have become modernized, but Xi’an has managed to retain a major piece of its history intact. Forming an enormous rectangle around the old imperial heart of the city, the Xi’an city walls date back to the Tang Dynasty, although several sections have been recently restored. You can either enjoy a peaceful stroll or leisurely ride on a bicycle (or a ride bicycle built for two!) with access provided at the major gates.

There are four main gates, although the South Gate is probably the most common starting point. The four gates form a twelve-meter high rectangle with a perimeter of twelve kilometers in length. Our perfect morning started by arriving at the South Gate with juice and pastries bought from a local bakery. After shelling out 40 Yuan for a two-hour bike ride, we spent the better part of the morning exploring Xi’an from the wall. My favorite part of the bike ride was the quiet and stillness of the walls.

China is a massive country with massive amounts of people, and Xi’an is no exception, so I was expecting to be fighting the crowds atop the city walls. However, I experienced a euphoric feeling of space being elevated from the daily grind of the city. After biking a bit away from the main gate we found a secluded and picturesque bench to break open our food goodies, and rest our weary legs.

Afterwards, as we rounded the last corner and saw the South Gate coming into view, my competitive nature got the best of me and I bet my bike buddy for a race to the finish. A perfect end to a fabulous bike ride – creamy, drippy, chocolaty ice cream cone bought on his dime.

The Muslim Quarter

The Muslim Quarter, comprised of a number of narrow and bustling streets in the vicinity of the Drum Tower, is home to Xi’an Hui population, one of China’s ethnic minorities. Xi’an is the start of the Silk Road which was the major trade route between Europe and Asia bringing wealth, power and Muslims in addition to goods.

While we wandered down through the stalls of the Muslim Quarter smelling the sweet smells of the food markets. We took in our five senses through the foods: the sizzling kebabs, spicy curry, colorful displays of dried fruit, various textures of nuts and enough tea samples to make the Irish jealous. All this unfolded before us like a variable smorgasbord. I had two goals here at the Muslim Quarter; I wanted to buy some authentic tea to take home, and an ornament for my eccentric Christmas tree. Jack, our enthusiastic guide, took those interested to a local tea house for a lesson in preparing and enjoying tea. We discovered that flower tea is not really drank by the locals, and is purely sold for the American tourists and that Oolong tea leaves are processed two different ways.

Nestled in the back alleys of the Muslim Quarter is the Great Mosque of Xi’an and dates back to 742 AD in the Tang Dynasty. The unique architecture is a blend of traditional Chinese and Islamic influences and is the largest and best preserved of the early mosques in China. The mosque has the layout of a Chinese temple with successive courtyards and pagodas adapted to suit Islamic religion. However, the great axis is aligned from east to west, facing Mecca. The narrow side alleys that surround the Great Mosque are packed with vendors selling souvenirs. You can get anything from Mao paraphernalia to jade jewelry – just make sure it’s real!

The Dumpling Banquet

No matter where I travel, the main attraction, the neon sign of life blinking me toward experience after experience, is that most primal of desires – food. In other words, I like to eat, a lot. From the cliché to the unimaginable, the more authentic the dish the sooner I need to try it. The more genuine the dish – the more memorable it becomes. My quest for this trip (and most trips) is to try everything that isn’t readily available in Los Angeles, and I’ve lived through quite a number of stomach aches to prove it. However, I was a bit nervous about China. Shockingly enough, from the first meal through the last was fantastic.

One of the culinary experiences to be had in Xi’an is a Dumpling Feast. The cooking methods for these succulent delicacies include steaming, boiling, pan-frying and deep-frying all including a myriad of flavors from salty to sweet. Anyone who loves to cook knows that we eat with our eyes, and the presentation of this regional delight should be considered an art form. Our table of twelve devoured nearly thirty different types of dumplings. The dumplings were in the shapes of frogs, chickens and exotic flowers just to name a few. The Chinese dumpling has a long history and is an essential part of celebratory meals, and this ancient city is regarded as the birthplace of the dumpling tradition.

That night as I was lying on my train bunk feeling the bumps from the tracks and listening to the low roar of the people, I thought of my experience. It’s rare for a city with such high expectations to not end up disappointing on some level, but Xi’an far exceeded even Jack’s sales pitch.

More photos from the tour:

What does the terracotta army comprise?

The army is formed by figures which vary in height and are all life-like and life-sized. The tallest of them are the Generals. The army includes warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians. Currently it’s estimated that the army comprises over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses most of all still buried in the pits.

History

The emperor buried his army with him with the only purpose to serve him in the after life to rule another empire. It’s estimated that Shi Huang Di’s army was buried in 209-210 BC.

The emperor’s necropolis was built to serve as an imperial palace, complete with office, halls, walls and entrances. It is believed that the craftsmen working on the complex were all buried alive when they completed the necropolis in order to not divulge any secrets.

Studies have shows that most likely 8 head moulds were used and then clay was used to give them the individual features. After the figures were done, they were places in the pits in practice military formation according to rank and duty.

There is evidence of a big fire that burned the wooden structure of the tomb. According to the historical records, General Xiang Yu raided the tomb not long after the emperor’s death. Legend say the fire lasted for three months. Because of the incident only one statue remained intact. But despite the fire, much of the army survived in various stages of preservation.

Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses

The army in the three pits which form the museum is located outside the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum. The museum covers 16,300 sq m / 4 acres. The largest pit is Pit 1 and it was opened for the public in 1979. The first pit contains soldiers and chariots. Pit 2 comprises over a thousand warriors and 90 chariots. The last one comprises only 68 warriors, a war chariot and four horses. Most of the clay figurines discovered in the pits have been restored to their former grandeur.

Opening Hours

The museum is opened daily from 8 AM to 6 PM

Admission Fees

High Season (Mar 1 to Nov 30): 90 Yuan
Low Season (Dec 1 to Feb 28/29): 65 Yuan

The National Museum of China

The National Museum of China stretches more than 300 m / 984 ft to the north and to the south along the east side of the Tiananmen Square. The predecessors of the museum are the Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of Chinese Revolution, which shared the same building.

The Museum of Chinese History

The Museum of Chinese History is actually Beijing History Museum and was built in 1912 and opened to the public in 1926. It displays three periods of China’s history: the Primitive Society (500,000BC to 4,000BC), Slavery Society (2,100BC to 475BC) and Feudal Society (221BC to 1911).

The Palace Museum

The Palace Museum (see photo) was established on the basis of the Forbidden City, which used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The palace covers an area of 720,000 square km. The Palace Museum was established in 1925 and it represents the China’s largest and most intact ancient building complex. It has the country’s largest collection of art works, including paintings, potteries, toys, documents and many more.

It is China’s largest museum and in 1961 it was included n the List of Key Historical Monuments under State Protection, while in 1987 it was put on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

The National Art Museum of China

The National Art Museum of China ((Wu Si Street) is an art museum displays, collects and researches the work of Chinese artists in modern times. There are 13 exhibition halls filled with more than 60,000 fine art works like Chinese paintings, prints, sculptures, iconography, shadow play works, paper-cuts, embroideries and many more.

Beijing Ancient Coin Museum

Built over the reconstructed Zhenwu Temple at the Wucheng of Deshengmen, the Beijing Ancient Coin Museum exhibits Chinese ancient coins from different dynasties. It also features temporary exhibitions.

Beijing Art Museum

Beijing Art Museum is located within the Temple of Longevity, which was built in 1577 under the reign of Wanli Emperor. Beijing Art Museum was founded in 1985. It houses collections and exhibitions and its aim is to preserve, to study and develop the Chinese cultural heritage. Among the collections you can see the valuable Chinese paintings and calligraphies of Ming and Qing Dynasties, ancient coins of China and the modern Chinese and Japanese arts, crafts and paintings.

PS – For all those asking me to post pictures – I am still learning on this system – I am waiting to hear back from my friend and will post some good ones, soon. Thanks

“No problem – it’s my pleasure.

OK – regarding the train to Lhasa, I am going to email my friend who recently took the trip and he will be able to give me definitive answers to the questions regarding oxygen and food quality (I suggest bringing some food with you.) I can say a good train resource is seat61.com - and the local website to find the fares is: http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains

The non-commission price for a softsleeper is $134. This is the one with four-berths. People feel differently about whether they prefer high or low bed; with the lowbed you can put stuff under the seat and you dont have to climb up, unless you are really, really short – and, depending on the train (no idea about the Lhasa train) there is a compartment underneath that you can put your stuff in. I prefer the top myself because I’m less bothered up there, but either one is fine.

My suggestion would be that, depending on her comfort level regarding hostels, she should stay at 365Inn or LeoHostel, both are located on DaZhaLan St. about a 1/2 mile from Tiananmen and the main center of Beijing – the reason I suggest one of these two places is they have tours up to the Badaling section of the Great Wall – this is the orginal wall and is not very commercial, at all. It will cost about 150-180RMB (about $25) and includes a really nice lunch….it does involve some hiking, but if your Mom and brother are in good shape they should have no problems.

She can also get her train tickets booked through either hostel for a commission of about 30 RMB ($4.50.) For more info; www.leohostel.com – I am friendly with the owner, although he is not there much – but you can use my name – “Adam who is friends with Mr. Kim”

What I normally do when I go to Beijing, is stay at 365Inn because it is quiet, comfortable and cheap (I usually get a room (often to myself for 50 RMB/$6.50)) – she and Caleb should be able to get a room with two double beds, AC/Heat, and a TV for about 100 RMB total,) and then I go over to LeoHostel to hangout and schedule tours and train tickets. LeoHostel is very popular and sometimes it is a bit noisy – the two places are about a 5 second walk across the street from one another. The price I quoted is the bare-bottom price and those rooms dont have a bathroom in them – I have gone there between October and March and have been able to negotiate because there were several rooms open. She or Caleb should look up the number and call them first and make reservation – both places everyone speaks English. 365Inn also has a washer and dryer – very rare, indeed.

One more thing, the train to Lhasa leaves out of Beijing West which is about a 15 minute cab ($5) ride from those hostels/Tiananmin Sq. She can tell the cabbie – BeijingXi (shi) or just point to the ticket (upper left hand corner.)

Lots of info, but it is hard-earned and very good.

Adam”