Showing the Good China
We’re still trying to sort out our thoughts on China. It’s a country with a lot to love and a lot to, well, not love. Firming up an overall opinion isn’t easy.
Here are some final photos that help to round out the (mostly good) story of our experience.
First up, let’s start where we ended. On our very last day, we were able to make it to the Great Wall.
Had we not had sickness in the house of NVR, we would have stuck to our plan of spending several days at the Great Wall, doing what we love most while on the road – hiking and exploring.
Even going for a day, though, allowed us a break from watching the sun wrestle with the smog in Beijing.
On a good (clear!) day, though, there’s a lot to like about Beijing. We already talked about loving our hutong experience, and we enjoyed uncovering surprises like this, the Drum Tower, as we roamed around. Yes, that’s a blue sky.
We were looking very forward to the high speed train between Beijing and Shanghai. While at 200mph, the speed was incredible, the experience was mostly ordinary.
Shanghai’s skyline – especially at night – was a big highlight for us. We even scored a hotel room with quite a view. It was a pretty decent place to be sick; we could have been camping.
Being in the country during Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day was both maddening (frenzy) and exciting (activity). The lantern dial was turned to “high” (they were everywhere) and we enjoyed celebratory mooncakes and dancing at every turn.
Although China is not a place we’d want to live, we were happy to find incredibly easy transit systems (and even an Apple store at which we could pay our respects).
But, let’s face it, every great Kent and Caanan adventure revolves around food. China delivered in that category. There isn’t a scary alley we wouldn’t go down for a good meal.
The pics of the Great Wall remind me of the Alaska pipeline, the way it winds through difficult terrain. And neither was necessarily built for the most moral reasons, either. But I like how the post accentuates the positive. It seems as though a lot of good experiences came out of your trip, despite its challenges.
We’re “things are what you make it” guys, so – yes – lots of good stuff to report about China. Now that we can breathe, that is.
Oh God the food LOOKS SO GOOOOOOOOOD.
My Auntie and her boyfriend just came back from China and they felt the same – they’re still trying to work out how they felt about it and what their thoughts on the country are…seems it’s a weird place that no one can really put into words.
As for the rest of your post – do you mind if I lick your food photos?1 Nom nom nom!
China is a country of extreme contrasts, for sure – which actually makes it very cool.
Too bad the experience was damaged by illness, but at least you got to see the Great Wall — that’s something right?
Definitely, it was incredible. Plan A – spending several days at the Wall – would have been incredible.
I was kind of reading this going “ok, China, whatever” until I got to the food photos. I want those noodles!
“ok, China, whatever” is kinda what we were thinking IN China. LOL!
Ok, you got me with the food. I might even consider going back just for that.
Can’t wait to see your food posts from Morocco!
I know exactly what you mean.. I’m still trying to form my thoughts on our trip to China and we were there back in May! Lol. We left with mixed feelings but thanks for reminding us on the things we did enjoy! Great list!
Hopefully we can compare notes at some point
Shanghai seems like it would be a good place to start if you are hesitant to go to China. How did you do with the lack of English?
Okay – except at the hospital.
I find it interesting how many people have mixed feelings about China. Anyhow, no matter what the thoughts on the country are the food looks to die for!
Have you been to China, Federico?
Awesome photos! It looks like the trip may have been worth it for the photos alone.
true!
Didn’t try magnetic levitation train connecting Shanghai with its airport? It touches 268 MPH.
I don’t have a good or bad overall opinion about China.
Because as soon as I landed in the country I had a feeling of finding myself on another planet. I thought: “Ok, forget all those differences between the US and Europe, or among European countries themselves. They’re still all Western Emisphere.
This instead, is just the EAST”.
Truly the other side of the sky.
Thank you for sharing such beautiful pictures.
The “mag lev” train is yet another thing we wanted to check out.
Glad you guys still go to see the Great Wall and had some fun. Great photo of the people dancing outside. I love coming across stuff like that when I travel.
The dancing was adorable and a very welcome distraction.
China is one country that I have zero desire to visit. I don’t know what it is about it… there is just no appeal. Oh well… at least its a big bad world with a couple hundred other countries to choose from!
It doesn’t matter because – if you’re smart – you’ll never leave hawaii
OMGTHEFOOD!!!! Ok, the lanterns as well. And the Great Wall!! Le sigh. Now China is an ADVENTURE. Now that I’ve done Indonesia, I think I’m ready for more of Asia. Broke the cherry and now I need to learn more
I have a feeling we’ll be sorting out our thoughts on China for quite some time. My head is still spinning from everything that went on and everything we experienced. We got our fill of food and lanterns but SO would have loved to have more time at the Great Wall.
1) You pretty much described my complex feelings about the US.
2) I feel like a failed foodie for hating mooncake.
Mooncake is gross 95% of the time.
We still have yet to make it to that part of China. Looks like you boys had some good times!
We’ve got to exchange travel notes. Next time we’re up in your hood, for sure!
Have you been to Hong Kong? How would you compare the food there to that of the rest of China? HK is my only claim to Asian travel at the moment. Neat trip, but not sure I could deal with the smog.
Aside from being busy, Hong Kong felt nothing like this journey to China. The food seemed quite different as well.
China is definitely one of those countries I’d like to see but I’m very hesitant. Love your Great Wall pictures! And most of the food looks delicious! I’m glad your time in China wasn’t all bad.
No, it wasn’t all bad at all. Anyhow, a trip to the hospital adds some excitement to any journey.
Had similar mixed feelings about the area of Mongkok in Hong Kong where we stayed–fascinating and more traditional neighborhood, though juxtaposed with modern shopping center and hotel and great transit. I do prefer the custard tarts I picked up at a neighborhood bakery to mooncakes though
A custard tart sounds good about now.
Enjoyed this post a lot…I hear the same about China from several people…they have a mixed reaction to it. I would love to see the Great Wall but I want to have an authentic experience there, and not just cross it off my bucket list.
Yes, try to spend several days at the Great Wall – that would have been ideal for us.
The smog in Beijing is so sad! I’ve been there a couple of times and it’s just getting worse and worse. The Great Wall should be one of the most picturesque places on the planet but it’s hard to find it with a blue sky background.
The further we get away from the experience, the more we realize that we were even down playing the smog a bit in order to feel better about going out and exploring.
We spent 3 weeks around Beijing and Shanghai last November and also has love-hate relationships with China. But probably more hate rather than love due to the language barrier, difficulties of independent travel, not very good food, severe pollution, etc. Of course, there were places we liked, like Pingyao, Nanjing, Shanghai, the Wall, but they were islands surrounded by chaos and dirt.
I would not live there for sure, but would visit south of China, Tibet, and probably would walk the Wall for a couple of months.
Tibet is on our list.
China definitely is a country full of ups and downs for visitors! Agree that the air was terrible, and that the Shanghai skyline is amazing, but I’m still split on the food – I’ve had some good meals in China, but mostly the food was “questionable”. Assuming, that is, you even know what you’re eating!!