Travel China by Train - Hangzhou

On one of my trips to China I wanted to visit Hangzhou. I flew into Shanghai Airport and took the Maglev into Shanghai City. That is the trip I took to Shanghai where I stay at the highest hotel of that time, The Grand Hyatt. I stayed there a couple nights before departing for Hangzhou. There is high speed rail between Shanghai and Hangzhou so the trip took a little over an hour with one stop on the way. One thing I remember of the short ride was that a mother asked me if I could talk to her daughter who was about 8 years old. See wanted her daughter to practice the English she was learning in school. I was happy to do so. In my travels in China I have found the Chinese very friendly and am curious about anything in the western world. I have been asked many times by parents to talk to their children.  In Zhangjiajie Park I was even asked if people could take their picture with me as I stood out.

 

 

Hangzhou has many attractions, from the Silk Market to West Lake to the Pagodas to Longjing Tea. I had wanted to see as much of China as I could and Hangzhou was on the list. Hangzhou is in the Yangtze River Delta and because of this has been a very prosperous city. What I found was a very tranquil and slower pace than I had seen in other parts of China. If you really want to relax then go to West Lake or the area where they produce Longjing Tea. It was a welcome change of pace. I have a lot of pictures to show you how beautiful the area is.

Where to stay:

I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Grand Canal. It is centrally located and within walking distance to the Silk Market and restaurants. I like staying at an internationally known hotel as you usually will not get surprises.

Attractions:

West Lake is a very serene, peaceful, historical area of Hangzhou. I took a small boat ride out on the lake which took me to the causeway and iconic views of the lake. The back of the one yuan bill depicts a scene from West Lake.

 

From the lake you can see different pagodas. You can’t help but feel relaxed as you glide across the lake. I would highly recommend it.

 

 

The Liuhe Pagoda or Six Harmonies Pagoda is alongside the shore of West Lake. The original pagoda was built in 1165. It is a historical site built on the site of the original pagoda that collapsed in the 1920’s. They built a newer pagoda there with each floor showing the history of the site and Hangzhou. In the basement you can see what remains of the original pagoda.

 

 

There are other pagodas in the area like the Baochu Pagoda that are the originals and you can climb to the top floor.  Take the time to visit them also.

 

 

Longjing translates to Dragon Well. A short taxi ride outside the city and in the mountains is the area where they grow and produce Longjing Tea. This area is a must see. Foreign dignitaries like the Queen of England have been there to sample the tea. When I was there I was able to drink from the Dragon Well and view the process of making the tea. Don’t expect to see giant factories producing a massive amount of tea. What I saw was the tea being produced in individual houses by one person. The tea is roasted before it dries and therefore is not like other teas. This tea can be very expensive but it is worth it. I paid $50 USA for a few ounces. It is the best tea I have ever had. Before you buy they will be happy to let you sample as much as you want. Take the taxi ride up there. It is worth the trip.

Shopping:

The Silk Market is an area in Hangzhou with many shops dedicated to silk products. It is a pedestrian street of many blocks. If you are staying at the Crowne Plaza it is about a block away to the right as you walk out the main entrance. If you want to take home silk products then this is the place to go.

Getting around:

Depending on where you stay the Silk Market may be within walking distance. West Lake and the pagodas will be a taxi ride. To get to the Longjing area it is definitely a taxi ride. Taxis are easy to acquire.

Please contact me with any question. My website is www.popsipedia.com , drop me an email.

Travel China by Train - Part 6, The Journey Home

It was time to begin my journey home. The train from Xi’an to Guangzhou is about 18 hours so it would be more than just an overnight trip. To get ready I went to a market and purchased snacks, drinks and fruit to have on the train. In the early evening I went to the station.

At the time China was restricting travel to Tibet for foreigners and the train originated in Lhasa, Tibet. Also, there was extra security on the train because it originated in Tibet. In my soft sleeper car I think most of the people were soldiers. I ended up with a 4 bed compartment to myself. Most likely, I was the only westerner on the train as just after boarding I received a knock on my door. When I opened the door there was a little girl of about 10 years old. All she said was, “People want to know where you are from”. When I said America she just smiled and walked away.  She might have been the only other English speaking person on the train.

Once I was settled in I had some of my snacks and fruit and went to sleep. The motion of the train and the sound of the tracks made it easy for me to sleep. The next day I still had 6 hours to Guangzhou so I was able to enjoy the countryside and cities along the way. I made it to Guangzhou in the early afternoon and caught the rail to Zhuhai. After checking into the Holiday Inn and taking a walk around the area it was time to have dinner, and get ready for the flight home the next day.

Getting to the Hong Kong Airport is almost the opposite of getting to the mainland I described in part one. There could be a few exceptions depending on when your flight leaves. If your flight schedule permits, you can take a direct ferry from Zhuhai to the airport. The terminal at the airport has counters to check in for your flight. It is very easy. If your schedule does not fit the direct ferry then you will have to backtrack the way you came. You catch the ferry to Hong Kong and then take a taxi to the rail station to take you to the airport. Before you board the train you can check into your flight there or wait until you get to the airport. Both are very easy also.

Once at the airport there are 2 main terminals. Make sure you are in the right one. After going through security you should have time to relax, grab something to eat and maybe get some last minute shopping in.

Have a great flight home!

Please contact me with any question. My website is www.popsipedia.com , drop me an email.

Next up, other trips I took by train in China.

Travel China by Train - Part 5, Xi'an

 

 

Why is Xi’an my favorite city to visit in China? When I went to Xi’an I didn’t know much about it except for the Terracotta Warriors. It could be the obvious. Like the Terracotta Warriors or the fact that it is one of China’s four ancient capitals.  It could be the fact that it is the start of the Silk Road. It could be the beautiful Drum and Bell Towers in the center of the city. Although these are all awesome to see, my reason is a very simple one. It is the wall.

 

 

I have been to Rome and other cities that were once enclosed in a wall. You can still see parts of the walls here and there but not the entire wall. The ancient city of Xi’an was enclosed in a wall for protection and the wall is still intact and in use. The wall is 40 feet tall, 40 to 46 feet wide at the top and 50 to 60 feet wide at the base. The length of the wall is 8.5 miles. There is also a moat on the outside of the wall. There are massive gates at the 4 sides of the wall for entering the city. Now cars and buses are seen driving in and out of the city gates. Now for a cool fact about the wall. The best way to see the city is from on top of the wall riding a bicycle. You can rent them at the top of the wall. Being about 40 feet wide it is very safe and you can ride all the way around the 8.5 miles or ride for a while and turn back if 8.5 miles is too far. Any way, you are 40 feet tall and get an incredible view both inside and outside the wall. When I did it some teenagers passed me that were speaking English. When I asked them where they were from they said New York. If you can’t ride a bicycle then someone can peddle you around in a 3 wheel bicycle that seats 2 people. Riding the wall is a must do experience.

Places to Stay:

I stayed at the Sofitel Hotel in the center of Xi’an. It was in a complex of hotels and entertainment venues. It is a modern hotel with large rooms. It is easy to walk anywhere inside the wall. There is a taxi stand close to take you outside the wall. I would stay there again.

Places to Eat:

I would pick any café you see that looks interesting. You can eat at the hotel but why not be adventurous. There are also the usual US fast food places.

Attractions:

 

The City Itself – Xi’an is one of the 4 ancient capital cities and is enclosed inside a wall. The city inside the wall is small enough to walk around. So, if you are up to it you won’t need a taxi. The city is clean and the air was clean while I was there. Take a bicycle ride around the wall and walk around the city. There are many sites to see.

 

Terracotta Warriors – Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor to unite China. You don’t do this without making enemies and Qin made a lot of enemies. Qin felt that after he died he would need an army to protect him. For that reason he started to build an army of terracotta warriors, chariots, horses, everything a powerful army would need. He housed this army outside of Xi’an. It is a form of funeral art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. When Qin died, the people were so mad at his rule that they invaded the house of his army and set it on fire. The timbers collapsed and the army was buried and forgotten until recently (1974) when a farmer was digging a well and brought up clay artifacts. The Chinese government started excavating and found the Terracotta Warriors that you see today. There are 4 main pits containing the army. Now there is a museum enclosing the pits and you can view the pits from above. Only a few people are allowed inside the pits. Bill and Hilary Clinton were ones allowed in the pits. The Terracotta Warriors and the Tomb are a must see. 

 

 

The Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang – Qin also built himself a massive tomb. It looks like a pyramid covered in dirt and vegetation growing on top of it. It is supposed to be spectacular inside but we may never know. Inside the tomb are lakes and rivers of mercury and it is too toxic to open up. 

The Silk Road – At the train station in Shanghai I met a husband and wife from Australia that were traveling to Xi’an by way of Beijing and had the same idea of traveling by night. I saw them at the train station in Beijing and also at the Terracotta Warriors. They had a vacation planned that would start in Xi’an and tour the Silk Road from Xi’an to Europe.  What an adventure that would be and maybe it is a future trip. All those countries you would see that end in -stan and were founded by Genghis Khan. Xi’an is at the eastern end of the Silk Road. Inside the wall is a well that could supply the entire population in case of siege. Caravans starting on their journey west would fill their water containers from the well. What a sight that must have been. There are monuments around the city for the Silk Road.

 

 

Bell and Drum Towers – In the center of the city are the Drum and Bell Towers. They are about a block apart from each other. Take a tour of each one. The architecture of both is beautiful and both are in great condition.

Fragrant Springs Park – In 1936 as Japan was invading China, Chiang Kai Shek and some of his senior advisors traveled to Xi’an. Chiang Kai Shek controlled the army. Some wanted him to join his army with the communist party to fight the invading Japanese army. He felt that he must unite China first before fending off the Japanese as he felt his army wasn’t strong enough. To do this he must defeat the communist party and also other war lords. When the communist party couldn’t convince him to fight with them they tried to have him arrested. He fled and was captured in a cave in what is now Fragrant Springs Park. After his capture he was forced to fight with the communists against the Japanese. The cave where he was captured now has a monument and the park seems to be dedicated to the struggle against the Japanese. It has beautiful walking trails in the park which is in the hills and mountains outside Xi’an. One thing I found interesting was the equipment on display was mostly from the USA. I saw jeeps, tanks and even an airplane from the USA. The park is outside the city walls between the city and The Terracotta Warriors.

Shopping:

Silk factories – You are at the beginning of the Silk Road. Try out one of the many silk factories. The taxi driver will help you get a discount. They all seem to have their favorite factory.

Getting Around:

You can walk the city inside the wall. For treks outside the wall there are numerous taxis. Just make sure you have your hotel and destinations printed out in Chinese and English. The rail station is just outside the wall.

As always, please contact me with any question. My website is www.popsipedia.com , drop me an email.

One more overnight train, this time I am on my way home.

Napa Valley Day Trip

One of the perks of living in Northern California is Napa Valley.Napa Valley to me is like going to another country. Prepare to relax and enjoy. In my opinion October is the best time of year to go there as the weather is perfect. Visiting Napa Valley on a weekday is also perfect as the crowds are thinner.

Yesterday I took my parents to Domaine Chandon in Yountville for lunch at their E'toile restaurant. It was their 61st wedding anniversary. I have been going there for over 35 years. It is not just lunch, it is an experience. We were there for two and half hours of incredible food, their fantastic sparkling wine, (not champagne as this is a French company and champagne only comes from France) , and good company. The only negative was we just missed out eating outside as the weather is starting to cool down. With older parents though it worked out better since it may have been too chilly outside.

If you are in Napa Valley I would recommend visiting the winery. They have a beautiful tasting area where you can taste their sparkling and still wines. If you want to have lunch there I would recommend a reservation. If you can't do lunch the tasting area has food to order. Sit outside by the oak trees and relax. The grounds are very beautiful.

For more information on Domaine Chandon visit http://www.chandon.com/ or you can always contact me.

Travel China by Train – Part 4, Beijing

The train from Shanghai arrived about 7am and I was checked into my hotel by 8am and having breakfast. Having slept on the train I was ready to begin my day. There is so much to see and do in Beijing. Beijing is full of both history and the modern aspect but the modern is not to the extent of Shanghai. However the history far outweighs that of Shanghai. Since I love history, Beijing was a must stop. When I think of Beijing I think of The Forbidden City and the Great Wall but I also think of Genghis Khan, the Opium Wars, and the Boxer Rebellion. It is one thing to see pictures of the Great Wall and The Forbidden City but until you actually walk on or in them you won’t get that experience that only travel can give you. Seeing the Great Wall from a distance is not even enough.   I spent 3 days in Beijing and saw as much as I could. I could have stayed longer and not seen everything.  One day was touring the Ming Tombs and walking the Great Wall. The second day was The Forbidden City, Tiananmen and Tiananmen Square. The last day was the Temple of Heaven, Zoo and Pearl Market. All three were full days.

I will only recommend places I have been to:

Places to Stay:

I stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing. This is an upscale hotel and you are pampered from the moment you enter. I booked all of my excursions at the hotel. Since Beijing is so big and spread out the location really doesn't matter. You will have to take a taxi where ever you go. I made the right decision on the hotel and would recommend this to anyone.

Shopping:

Pearl Market – close to the Temple of Heaven, the Pearl Market is a 5 story building of many shops. Presidents and their families have purchased jewelry here. The jewelry ranges in all levels of quality so make sure you know what you are buying. When visiting the Temple of Heaven you can walk over to the Pearl Market.

Food:

My days were pretty full so I either ate at the hotel or ate street food. Don’t be afraid to try something different.

Attractions:

The Forbidden City – the place everyone visiting Beijing should see. There is so much history to see and imagine how it would have been to live back then. Did you know that The Forbidden City was built by Genghis Khan as a way of preserving the Mongol way of life? It was walled in and the buildings were just tents with a lot of grass area so they could ride their horses. It was forbidden to go in there if you were not a Mongol. It evolved over time into what you see today. Today it is a walled in city with about 980 buildings surrounded by a moat. The current city was built in the early 1400’s. I would take an entire day and visit Tiananmen and Tiananmen Square also. Until recently the government neglected the property and it was in very bad shape. It may be a product of our society but one thing I noticed were signs all over The Forbidden City with “This is brought to you by ‘Corporate Name’”. I guess without their support we wouldn’t get to see it in a restored state. A must see as it is now called the Palace Museum.

Tiananmen and Tiananmen Square – Tiananmen is a national symbol of China and is the entrance to the Imperial City. The Forbidden City is within the Imperial City. Tienanmen Square is across the street and has the Monument to the Peoples Hero’s and Mao’s Tomb.

Great Wall – I can’t describe the feeling of walking on The Great Wall. Now this is history. You can take bus tours to the wall but I elected to charter a car and driver for the day. I recommend having your own driver as you can also make side trips. You can charter the car and driver at your hotel. On the way to the wall I saw the Olympic Village and had the driver take me there to see the stadium, Birds Nest and other attractions. Once you get to the wall he will show you where to go, park the car and wait as long as it takes. Because of the popularity of the wall there will be a lot of people there. What I found was that when you first get on the wall it is packed with tourists. Once I walked past the first tower it thinned out and as I went on there were very few people. I ended up walking past 6 towers that took me way up a mountain. The Great Wall is thousands of miles long and you are only seeing a few miles of it but still it is a must see. I can’t see going to Beijing and not walking on the wall. Around the parking area there are places to get something to eat and drink. Where the bus may have a schedule to keep, you have the car and driver all day so take your time and enjoy the experience.

Ming Tombs – most tours to the Great Wall include an obligatory stop at the Ming Tombs. There is a museum there and the grounds include the burial tomb that you can walk around. It was nice but if you are short on time I would skip. 

Zoo – I went to the zoo to see the pandas. Just my luck, I picked a time to go when they were remodeling the panda enclosure and the pandas were temporally moved to another city zoo. Since the pandas weren’t there I could have skipped the zoo. Now that they are back I would recommend going.

Temple of Heaven – my first impression of the Temple of Heaven was how beautiful it is. The temple sits in the middle of a large park. Just walking the park was worth it. It is green with many grass and garden areas and with very clean walkways. Watch the people in the park. When I go to someplace I have never been to before I like to see what the people that live there do in their free time. The Chinese like to spend a lot of their free time outside exercising, walking, flying a kite or sitting on a blanket enjoying the scenery. The Temple of Heaven is where they would make sacrifices for a good crop (not human). They would sacrifice livestock and also rice, corn, wheat. The buildings are beautiful and well kept. Many presidents have visited the site including Nixon on his first trip. This is one of my favorite places and I would highly recommend going.

Olympic Village – if you have time, check out the Olympic Village. The buildings reflect Chinese heritage and history.

Getting Around:

Because of the Olympics it was easier to find a taxi driver that spoke some English. Also, I would say it was a lot easier to find a taxi than it was in Shanghai. With that I would say it was very easy to get around Beijing by taxi.

As always, please contact me with any question. My website is www.popsipedia.com , drop me an email.

After another overnight train, next stop is my favorite Chinese city, Xi’an.

Travel China by Train - Shanghai Extra

In my last post I had traveled to Shanghai by train from Guangzhou. I have also flown to Shanghai directly from San Francisco. I wanted to tell you about something special. The airport is outside the city and about a 45 min drive. Another option is to take the Maglev.

What is a Maglev you ask? Well it’s a train without traditional tracks. A Maglev floats and is propelled by a magnetic field. Because there are no wheels and traditional tracks the ride is very smooth. There are only a few in the world and one is in Shanghai. The only other one I know of is in Japan but goes nowhere near as fast as this.

The train was built by a joint venture of Siemens and ThyssenKrupp in Kassel. The track (guideway) was built by local Chinese companies. The Maglev set a Chinese speed record at 311 mph. The operating speed is 268 mph.

When I rode the Maglev, the 45 min taxi ride was cut to a little over 7 min. The Maglev gets to its top speed about halfway to Shanghai and then immediately starts slowing down gradually.

Due to the cost I don’t see many more of these being built. So, if you fly into Shanghai make sure to take the Maglev into the city. It will be an experience of a lifetime and one that you will not get anywhere else in the world.

For information on how to take the Maglev please contact me. My website is www.popsipedia.com.

Travel China by Train - Part 3, Shanghai

To me Shanghai is a city of distinct old and new separated by the Huangpu River. On one side you have the Bund, a very nice area along the river, and Pudong, with the iconic views you are used to seeing in pictures of Shanghai, on the other side. Shanghai is one of the most western cities in China and I would say it is very similar to New York.

 

Pudong

The Bund

I have been to Shanghai 4 times, each time staying at a different hotel in a different district of the city. The first time I stayed at the Sofitel Hotel close to the free trade zone. I also stayed at the Crowne Plaza in the older section, the Grand Hyatt in Pudong and the Equatorial Hotel kind of in between. I will describe these later in the post. My first 2 trips were for work and the last 2 were vacations.

Shanghai reminds me of New York with its diverse districts, foods, shopping, external influences and nightlife. There is the street food to steak houses, Chinese Opera to Jazz, street knock-offs to high-end shopping. Districts have their own character. Pudong is ultra-modern with its skyscrapers and in the older sections you will find international influences from pre-WWII where Shanghai was considered as one of the top cities in the world with New York, London and Paris.

I will only recommend places I have been to.

Places to stay:

Sofitel Hotel Pudong – This is a high rise French hotel chain. On the top floor is a circular rotating lounge and restaurant with beautiful views. Rooms are large and modern. I would recommend this hotel if you have business in the free trade zone.

Crowne Plaza – This one is in the older section of Shanghai. It is very large and set for doing business or holding large meetings. Great location and is kind of in a quiet area. I would recommend for doing business in central Shanghai.

Grand Hyatt – I had to stay here for the experience. It is located in the Jin Mao Tower in Pudong and is one of the highest hotels in the world with the lobby located on the 54^th floor. This hotel has some of the best views of Shanghai. The Cloud 9 Lounge is located on the 87^th floor and was known when I was there as the tallest bar in the world. It is in a great location in the heart of Pudong. It is close to shopping, the Pearl Tower and the river.

Hotel Equatorial – I have been staying at the Hotel Equatorial in Penang, Malaysia for 16 years so I decided to try their hotel in Shanghai. I was impressed with the hotel but its location is not central to either the Bund or Pudong and not within walking distance to any attractions. I would stay there if you have business in the area.  

Nightlife:

CJW stands for Cigar-Jazz-Wine and is a must see when in Shanghai. There you can listen to Jazz artists from around the world while enjoying a glass of vintage wine and maybe a cigar. There are 2 locations, one in the Bund and the other in Xintiandi.

Xintiandi is an affluent car-free shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai. It is in a redeveloped area of 19^th century buildings. I would highly recommend going there to shop, eat and relax.

Walk the Bund at night to get the best views of Pudong. You will have never seen anything like the Pudong skyline all lit up. It will take your breath away.

Take a river cruise at night. Cruises depart from the Bund side of the river. Even the boats are all lit up. Some of them look like giant dragons.

If you want a taste of the USA go to the Hooter’s. The wings are the same as they are back home. Hooter’s is located behind the Super Brand Mall. There is also a Hard Rock Café in Shanghai. I didn’t make it there but, from experience, when you are traveling internationally and want a burger with ketchup and mustard that takes the same in America the Hard Rock Café is the place to go.

Just like in Zhuhai, there are the fast food chains. KCF is very popular everywhere in China. 

Shopping:

Super Brand Mall is a very large mall in Pudong along the river. It is one of the top places to shop in Shanghai.

Xintiandi – mentioned above.

Yuyuan Old Street and Bazaar is a huge shopping area in Shanghai with the style of the buildings in older Chinese architecture. It is the place to go for Chinese souvenirs and street food. You can have BBQ scorpions, brown eggs, and other assorted goodies if you are brave enough.

 

Attractions:

The Chinese Grand Prix is the Formula One stop in China and is usually at the begining of the season around April.

Yuyuan Gardens is inside the Yuyuan Bazaar complex. It was built in 1577 and has a rock garden inside. It is worth the admission.

Pearl Tower is one of the icons of Shanghai and Pudong. Take a tour inside.

 

 

The World Financial Center has a great observation area. It is taller than the Jin Mao Tower where I stayed and has a taller hotel, The Park Hyatt, which is on the 79^th to 93^rd floors. The building was completed after my last stay. I think it is still the tallest building in Shanghai.

 

 

Getting Around:

Shanghai is so populous that getting a taxi is difficult. When one pulls up many people go for the same taxi. Don’t be timid or slow, you won’t get a taxi.

As always, please contact me with any question. My website is www.popsipedia.com .

After another overnight train, next stop Beijing.