13 hours ahead of Eastern Time
To Beijing
Arielle- DELTA 2274 CHS 8:20AM – ATL 9:25AM || DELTA 2755 ATL 11:04 – DTW 12:58
Mary Sue – DELTA 2755 ATL 11:04 – DTW 12:58
Together: DELTA 189 Detroit 3:29pm- Beijing 5:10pm **Wed 13MAR
March 12 – March 26
Itinerary for the Family
March 13- 17
Currency: Yuan Renminb
The most useful note is the ¥10
* Try not to have coins
Spoken languages: Mandarin
北京市东城区北新桥街道西仓门胡同8号, Dongcheng Qu, Beijing 100001, China
March 14: Day 1
Forbidden City – Built in 1406, the Forbidden Palace was there to follow the move of the capital of China from Nanjing to Beijing. It is said that there is 9.999 rooms in this construction and you will quickly see that the number 9 is of great importance there since so much follow the pattern of being replicated 9 times. (9 is the number of the Emperor)
Jingshan Park – A garden. 360 view of Forbidden City.
Tienanmen Square – Add it to your visit of the Forbidden Palace.
Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant– to try the Peking Duck
March 15: Day 2
Temple of Heaven/Pearl Market – Best place to buy cheap pearls
“The Temple of Heaven was self-guide. They did require our passports to enter though, so check ahead of time what you need to enter places.” – Amee
Summer Palace – And one more for the UNESCO list in Beijing! The gardens, landscapes, lakes and temples make for stunning scenery and are well worth spending a bit of time in.
Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)
A mix of Tibetan and Han Chinese architecture define this characterful Buddhist temple in Beijing. Called Yonghe Temple or Lama Temple, this is one of the best Buddhist temples you can find in town,
March 16: Day 3
Tour: Both the Great Wall and the Jiuhua Spa
$159pp
The Great Wall (mutianyu) – The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China is the longest fully-restored section of the wall. Toboggan down 1 mile.
Pickle Shop – Liubiju– Pickles
Jiuhua Hot Spring
75 Shunsha Lu, Xiaotangshan town, Changping district (6178 2288; jiuhua.com.cn). Open 9am-midnight daily. 180RMB. ($26.27pp)
Hutongs – Narrow streets, old Chinese architecture, the Hutongs are becoming a big hit in Beijing and more and more art galleries and shop are moving to those areas. See: Fangjia Hutong
Eat: Li Qun
798 Arts district – Comprise a complex of 50-year-old decommissioned military factory buildings boasting a unique architectural style, located in Dashanzi, Chaoyang District of Beijing, that houses a thriving artistic community.
Sanlitun – Sanlitun is an area of the Chaoyang District, Beijing containing many popular bar streets and international stores. It is a popular destination for shopping, dining and entertainment
- Wangfujing Street: Deep fried scorpions, star fish to lamb meat skewers and hard candy on a stick.
- Xian Lao Man Restaurant
Tiny Brewpub- Microbrewery feat Bubble labs beer
Jing A– brewery- flavor infusions, highly rated
57 Xingfucun Zhong Lu, Chaoyang District
Slow Boat Brewery– IPAS, burgers
2 locations (Sanlitun & Hutongs)
- MALIANDO TEA STREET– a street full of tea vendors
- TAI CHI LESSONS – The practice of tai chi leaves you feeling energized yet relaxed while you also regain an important feeling of connection to yourself and the world around you.
- TRY THE CUPPING THERAPY – This can relieve swelling and pain. A good place is Wu Zhi Sheng Foot Massage (Wu Zhi Sheng Zu Liao Bao Jian/五指生足疗保健), on the second floor of Zhonghang Mansion, in Dongzhimen South Street.
Beijing West Railway Station is 5 miles (8 km) from the Forbidden City
Address: East Lianhuachi Road, Fengtai District
March 17-19
Arrive by train
Spoken languages: Mandarin, English, Shaanxi Hua
March 17: Day 1
Terra-cotta Soldiers – (1 hour away) These take at least half a day to see. In 210 BC Emperor Qin commanded these warriors be built to protect him and guard him through to the afterlife. They weren’t discovered until 1976.
The museum is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
cost you RMB150 ($21 USD) per person.
Transportation– Just head to the bus station by Xi’an main station and there will be coaches bound for the attraction. Have a note of the Chinese characters for “Terracotta Warriors” and show to any of the drivers, who will be glad to point you in the right direction. The buses cost 8-13 yuan ($2) each way and entry to the Terracotta Warriors costs 150 yuan ($22USD).
Bike the Ancient City Wall – The old town of Xi’an is surrounded by a huge wall, an impressive and well-preserved construction. The wall is open to the public, you just need to buy the ticket and go on the top of it. A bike trip around the wall can take anywhere from 1-2 hours. Start the bike tour at the South Gate. Then you can explore the art and caligraphy district near the South Gate.
March 18: Day 2
Day Trip
Mount Huashan – plank walk – The path was only 50m
How To Get To Mount Huashan From Xian
Mount Huashan is located in the town of Huayin, only 120km from Xian.
High Speed Train From Xian To Huashan
- Head to the Xian North Railway Station and catch a high speed train to Huashan North Station (华山火车北站). This train is on the Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xian line, and should cost between 34 and 55 RMB. The journey will be less than 45 minutes.
- When you get off at Huashan North jump on one of the green minibuses and it will take you directly to the mountain. This minibus is free (a first for China!).
- Standard Price: 180RMB
- Cable Car One Way: 80RMB
- Cable Car Return: 150RMB
- Plank Walk In The Sky: 30RMB for harness rental
- **Chess Pavillon: 30RMB for harness rental
Muslim Street – Muslim Street – Muslim Quarter, which is a busy area of the city full of restaurants, market stalls and street food. The Muslim Street is the physical mark of the Silk Road, where everything started and where you can see the Arab influence in the middle of China.
- Try: try local lamb kebabs and liangpi noodles!
- See video
Xi’an Brewery, and its beers are all served at Near Wall Bar just inside the old city walls. Milk stout is a particular standout, and will be sweet enough for people who don’t normally like dark beers
Near Wall Bar, No. 40 Shun Cheng (inside of the south gate), Xi’an 710000 中国陕西省西安市南门里南顺城街西段40号泥窝窝酒吧。邮编710000
March 19
Flight
- China Eastern Airlines ·(XIY – SHA)
- Flight #: MU2151
- Flight: Booking No. – 8311330713
- Airline Booking Reference – PKKMNW
- Times: 09:00 AM – 11:20 AM
March 19-22
瑞金二路街道 淮海中路526弄37号, 黄浦区, 上海市 200030, China
March 19: Day 1, Tuesday
Arrive around noon
PURPLE
Chenyi Square
the Bund, a mile-long promenade along the bank of the Huangpu River, flanked by 52 buildings in various modes of Western architecture, including Art Deco, Baroque and Gothic.
Xindalu China Kitchen in the Hyatt on the Bund, which serves a killer Beijing duck that’s roasted in a seven-ton brick oven and carved tableside. Then, head to The Nest, located around the corner from the Rockbund Art Museum, for cocktails and oysters in a high-design setting marked by a color-changing light installation.
The French Concession – The French Concession is a part of Shanghai that was once a French settlement, and it’s a lovely area to stroll through. Wonder Fuxing Park where you can see locals practicing Tai Chi and playing MohnJong. Stroll the Tianzifang area to try out some Chinese delicacies like scorpion or starfish on a stick!
Shanghai Tower 118th Floor Observation Deck $25
March 20: Day 2 Wednesday
DAY TRIP IDEAS
Known for its canals and gardens, it has been dubbed “Venice of the East”. A short 26 minute train ride from Shanghai. The G line trains are the most efficient.
March 21: Day 3 Thursday
Shanghai tours: free walking tour.
Booking Reference Number 2484-20190117234132-121
Product Shanghai Free Walking Tour
Date of the activity March 21, 2019
Start time 10:00 AM
People’s Square Metro Station, Exit 3 (Chinese: 人民广场地铁站3号出口)
Look for the “Freetourasia” YELLOW umbrella to find us!
The tour lasts approximately 4.5 hours and we will drop you off at Yuyuan Garden (Metro line 10)
This is a donation-based tour (recommended tip: 150RMB)!
The tour includes
- People’s Square
- Nanjing Road Shopping Street
- The Bund
- Yuyuan Garden
- Shanghai Marriage Market
- Best soup dumpling in town tasting
- Tianzifang. This market has good prices on handicrafts, jewelry, and other souvenirs.
- Best Markets
- Silk is huge in Shanghai
- Shanghai Shiliu Puhong Qixiang Cloth Market- 168 Dongmen Road, not far from Yuyuan Garden
- Tianshan Tea Market
- Shanghai South Bund Fabric Market-399 Lujiabang Road (near the Bund)
- Haidi Lao, which is a chain of hot pot restaurants that offers manicures and games while you wait for your table.
- xiao long bao, a crab and pork filled dumpling served on bamboo steamers.
- baobao, the steamed bun street food that first appeared over 1,200 years ago.
- Jia Jia Tang Bao, is frequently rated as the best in the city. It’s a total hole-in-the-wall, with about six tables and a tiny open kitchen with four or five staff members huddled around one prep table furiously filling dumplings.
- Qibao-street food
- Liquid Laundry
- The Boxing Cat Brewery is great if you’re into micro brew beers.
- People 7 is a nice bar, but you have to solve a puzzle to get in the door (and to use the bathrooms), so don’t go there drunk!
- Sinan Mansions and Xintiandi are both full of great drinking spots including a wine bar and a German beerhouse.
- VUE Bar at Hyatt on the Bund even has rooftop Jacuzzi that you can enjoy while you drink
- MINT bar/club has a shark tank!
- Top of the Radisson Blu (Sky Bar). The city view is just that amazing! They don’t have a minimum purchase here so one drink (around $10) go us some free wi-fi to post our pictures of the day along with some chill time with a view.
Foot massage– Just be sure to learn the word for “softer” because Chinese massages can be kinda painful!
M50 Art District
For a fun, quirky day of perusing, head to M50 for Shanghai’s contemporary art scene. Located in the Putuo district, M50 offers a ton of galleries (mostly free) open Tuesday-Sunday, 10AM-7PM.
Chronus Art Space – non-profit gallery focusing on new media art.
shanghART H-Space Gallery – houses some of the oldest contemporary art by some of China’s best artists.
island6 – if LED is your thing, don’t miss out on the interactive works here.
March 22
Flight: Hong Kong Airlines (PVG – HKG)
Flight #: HX231
Booking #: 8172677823
Times: 7:25 AM – 10:40 AM
Get an Octopus card in the airport as soon as you land
March 22-25
Currency: Hong Kong dollar
Language: Cantonese
March 22: Day 1
85 Connaught Road West 20H, Mansion, Hong Kong
Lunch
Luk Yu Tea
24-26 Stanley St, Central, Hong Kong
Before 2pm: High Tea at the Peninsula Hotel
Address: Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong
Getting there: Take the Tsuen Wan (red) line from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui. Come up through exit E, walk towards the bay, and it will be on your right.
5pm: Victoria Peak Hike
Address: 33 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
Dinner
Happy Paradise-Chef May Chow’s idea of a neighbourhood hang out – a re-imagination of a wildly creative yet casual Chinese dining experience.
Drinks
Lan Kwai Fong. LKF is Hong Kong’s historic nightlife district.
Bar: The Iron Fairies –outfitted to resemble a blacksmith’s workshop, with principal design elements including iron, timber, brick and leather.
March 23: Day 2
Mongkok || Shopping
Getting there: On the Tsuen Wan line, get off at Mong Kok. Take exit B2 and head East one block
Chill around Kowloon – Mongkok is the center of Kowloon
You can reach it via the MTR Tuen Wan Line (Red) at Mong Kok station, but don’t confuse it with Mong Kok East Rail station on the East Rail line.
Lunch
Lunch: Yum Cha: adorable dim sum critters but also pretty good other food, in a modern setting filled with natural light. Tip: we waited nearly an hour for a table but they do take reservations, which most ppl made.
8 Argyle St, Mong Kok
Shopping
Flowers Market
Address: Flower Market Road, Prince Edward, Hong Kong
Birds Garden Hong Kong
Address: At the end of Flower Market Road next to Boundary Street. See here for instruction.
Ladies market
Address: Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong
Sneaker Street
Address: Fa Yuen Street between Nelson to Soy Street
Snacks– bubble tea, egg waffle
Walk around Kowloon Park
Dinner
Little Boa: one of Hong Kong’s favorite restaurants, serving bao burgers, sharing plates and cocktails for a great night out.
March 24: Day 3
Head North for sight seeing/ hiking
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is a complex of five temples, four pavilions, and one pagoda. The site is notable for its uphill path decorated with dozens of life-sized, golden Buddha statues (each one different from the other) and its hall, which is really and truly filled with 10,000 Buddhas.
Lots 358-359,IN D D 185, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
Tai Sin Temple-Hong Kong’s most famous Taoist temple exemplifies the architecture of a traditional Chinese temple, and is a popular place of worship for those with health or business problems or for those seeking to have their fortunes told.
Choi Hung Estate – Google Maps- basket ball court for pictures.
Hiking –Suicide Cliff
MTR to Choi Hung Station. Then, opt for Exit C1. Walk for a short 120m to the bus stop and take bus no 1A or 11 to Good Hope School stop. It is just 2 stops away and you will see the Clear Water Bay sign.
March 25: Day 4
Montane Mansion- famous apartments famous for taking pictures.The Choi Hung Estate was built back in 1964 to provide locals with affordable housing– which is a big deal in Hong Kong, where the cost of living is the second highest in the world! They painted the estate in rainbow colors to make it look cheerful, and the world fell in love.
Choi Hung Estate Basketball Court is easy to find if you know where you are going. The exact location is 2 Tse Wai Ave, Ngau Chi Wan, Hong Kong. I’d recommend using Google Maps to map a route from where you’re staying, and you’ll have no problem getting there. Here’s a link to the exact location.
Din Tai Fung Restaurant (Yee Wo Branch)HKD $70~ – This is yet another affordable Michelin-star-awarded franchise restaurant and it rather specializes in xiao long bao — a type of steamed soup dumpling
(Nearest MTR: Causeway Bay Station)
Address: 地下3-11舖, 68號 Yee Wo St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Have afternoon tea at the top of the Ritz Carlton HK, the highest hotel in the world (or a drink at Ozone, their bar). Don’t bother going on a rainy or foggy day as you won’t be able to see a thing. Also I was told reservations for tea at the popular window seats need to be made about 2 months in advance.
One Dim Sum Chinese Restaurant
Around HKD $25~ per meal – If you want to taste a One-Michelin star dim sum restaurant that wouldn’t burn your wallet, then this is the right place for you! During peak hours though, be prepared to wait for about 30 minutes until you get seated; otherwise, it’s best to visit during low peak hours from 3PM to 5PM and 9PM to midnight. (Nearest MTR: Prince Edward Station)
egg waffle:
Mammys Pancake: 32 Bonham Strand W, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
More Eggettes– 17 Yu Chau St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Modos: 2/F, SA27A, Argyle Centre, 688 Nathan Road, Shop 3B, 5 Cannon Street, Causeway Bay
Blonde Abroad Blog post and best food in Hong Kong
Try the Shek Tong Tsui Cooked Food Market in Kennedy Town
470 Queen’s Rd W, Sai Wan, Hong Kong
Java Road Cooked Food Centre in North Point
99 Java Rd, North Point, Hong Kong
BUBBLE TEA
Gong Cha: 43E Dundas St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
TenRen: 1 Harbour View St, Central, Hong Kong
Share Tea:
Happy Lemon
CoCo
TP Tea
March 26: Day 5
From Hong Kong
1. Korean Air Flight 612
Hong Kong HKG 2:05 AM – Seoul ICN 6:20 AM
2. Korean Air Flight 35
Seoul ICN 9:35 AM – Atlanta ATL 10:10 AM
Useful Apps in China: WeChat
Use this link to get 30 days free:
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P.S. Check out the cool things you can do with ExpressVPN:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8We–FWw7o
Charles and Schwab that I use when I am traveling. I put all the money that I plan on spending during my trip in that account and withdraw cash whenever I need to because they reimburse of all foreign transaction fees.
DiDi ride share
Swoon Worthy Travels 