Inside Student BlogsSo many places, so little timeShanghai, Fall 2009
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- At the Pudong airport and ready to begin our journey~
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- With our backpacks ready, we set out to explore Yangshuo.
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- Although the town is small, it’s bustling with many shops and outdoor restaurants.
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- Unlike Shanghai, the buildings and roads are not as developed.
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- We finally made it to the bamboo boats after walking across many jagged rocks.
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- With our life jackets on, we leisurely set sail for our ride on the LiJiang River.
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- Surrounded by the breathtaking view, we could not help but feel tranquil and at peace.
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- The Yuanbao Hill on the LiJiang River is on the 20 Yuan bill!
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- Monkey Janes Guesthouse was so much fun! We saw the National Holiday fireworks from its amazing rooftop bar.
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- We woke up at around 6:30 AM to see the sunrise.
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- These early birds found the best spot to wash their clothes in the river.
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- Waking up early to catch this view was definitely worth it!
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- Us on the 18-hour train to Kunming with 3 levels of sleeper beds.
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- In Kunming, we stood in front of a Heavenly Gate in the Golden Temple Scenic Area.
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- Pathway up to the Golden Temple.
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- Me in front of the Golden Temple, which is the largest copper temple in China.
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- About halfway up the hill, we passed by this tranquil pond.
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- A woman using hot caramel to make candy on a stick. You first spin the dial to get a shape; then she makes the design on the ice block, and voila!
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- Also in Kunming, I visited another scenic, mountainous area called West Hill, where I rode a ski lift to the top.
After weeks of planning our 10-day vacation around the Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, we finally set out on the eve of China’s National Holiday. First stop, Guilin. Because our flight was delayed for 2 hours, we arrived in Guilin late at night and did not get a chance to explore the area.
The next day, we took a bus to the city of Yangshuo. If you are interested in a lot of outdoor activities, Yangshuo is the place to go. Unfortunately, I sprained my ankle before the trip and couldn’t do as much, but my other travelmates went to a mud cave and hot springs. Instead, my friends and I took a boat ride on the LiJiang River, which was absolutely peaceful and tranquil. Some of us even took a nap onboard. That evening, we returned to our hostel, Monkey Janes, and watched National Holiday festivities from its rooftop bar.
After a day in Yangshuo, we returned to Guilin and explored the city for a little bit. We would have liked to have visited the famous Elephant Trunk Hill, but our 18-hour train to Kunming was leaving that evening and we did not want to miss it. The train ride wasn’t actually that bad. We could at least move around and socialize, so time passed by quickly. Plus, the view was beautiful and scenic; we even caught a glimpse of the Stone Forest, which is known as the “First Wonder of the World.”
In Kunming, we visited the Golden Temple (the largest copper temple in China) and another scenic site called West Hill. Because of my ankle, I took a ski lift to the top of West Hill, where I saw a panoramic view of the city. After that, we set off again for our next transportation–a 12-hour bus to Shangri-la…(continued in next post)
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October 20th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Amanda, I’m so happy you got a chance to go to yangshuo! Didn’t you just love it? Was the recommendation good? Love your pics and your blog! Are you having a blast? is it cold in Shanghai yet? Hope to hear from you soon and wish you a happy bday! We can celebrate when you get back!
November 25th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Yangshuo was so great! I would love to go back again and explore the mud caves, maybe even do a little rock climbing!
Winter is definitely approaching in Shanghai. While we were in Taiwan, it apparently snowed a little bit. Oh well, I guess no snow this time. Weather in Shanghai has been a little wacky–some days it has warm fall weather and some days it’s so cold. I had to buy a winter jacket here. Luckily, it was really cheap at the markets!
And thanks for the birthday wishes! I was treated to a birthday cake by my program