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Fredrik goes to China or "Zhong Guo" as it is named in chinese. Nothing is booked in advance but I will most certainly visit Xi'an, Shanghai and Beijing. In addition to these cities I will stop at several places and cities in between.
By tradition I will upload pictures and write a travel diary while travelling in China... so keep an eye open from August 20!

Tobbe is travelling with me and he will also upload pictures and texts from the trip on his homepageNew window .

Adventure keywords:
Terracotta army, temples, hanging monastery, Mao, fried insects, rice, noodles, Lao Wa (J-O Walder), stairs, 1300 million people, communism, language practicing.

Category picture: "China" in chinese.

WHEN

August 20 - September 12 2006

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71 ENTRIES (chronological ordered)

 
 

Monday August 21st, 2006

Asia > China > BeijingAsia > China > Datong

(travel diary) Arrival: China

Category: China, 2006
We landed at 8 in the morning, local chinese time. The customs and everything went smooth, clear blue sky and about 30-35 degrees Celsius. Took the shuttle to XiDan (16 Yuan) central in Beijing near Tian An Men Square. We would now try to find a hotel in this area for our two first nights in China.
We knew there should be a low priced hostel in Wang Fu Ying, close to Xi Dan. While searching for this hostel, a chinese girl stopped us. She wanted to help us find it and a couple of minutes later we were there. But.. it was full and we were told that we should come back at 14:00 and maybe there was a room. Ok, the chinese girl that led us here said she was an art student and she asked us that in the meentime, maybe we would like to see her work? The gallery was very close to the hostel, actually more or less wall-to-wall.
[I will cut down on details now I think] Oh, well. The thing was that she wanted to sell as much as possible to us 4 hours young China tourists and to prices that were much higher than the markets. She wanted about 100-150 Yuan for her paintings.. Not really expensive and they were pretty nice but we didn't buy any. We didn't feel like to carry extra weight. This was too early on the trip to buy things.

However, this girl connected us with a guy that had a appartment for rent. Now we are living there for two nights. It's situated in a new area, the area is not quite finnished, but almost :)
11 COMMENTS10 RESPONSES
 

Monday August 21st, 2006

Asia > China > Beijing

Our home for night 1 and 2 in Beijing

Category: China, 2006
Our home for night 1 and 2 in Beijing - I the house in the middle on the 14th floor in a appartment of the parents[...]
I the house in the middle on the 14th floor in a appartment of the parents of an art student (?).
Tags » Beijing, staying
3 COMMENTS3 RESPONSES
 

Wednesday August 23rd, 2006

Asia > China > Beijing

Highway in Beijing

Category: China, 2006
Highway in Beijing - We are soon going into the Beijing West Train Station. I take the opportunity[...]
We are soon going into the Beijing West Train Station. I take the opportunity and snap a picture of the nearby highway leading in to Beijing.
Tags » Beijing
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Wednesday August 23rd, 2006

Asia > China > Beijing

(travel diary) From Beijing to Datong

Category: China, 2006
The train was about to leave at 10 pm from the Beijing West Train Station. We left early from the apartment and arrived to the station about two hours before departure. The station made quite an impression on us, it was a big station.

We found our carriage and our so called hardseats (they are not that hard in reality, actually they are rather soft and nice to sit on). The air fans in the roof above our seats were broken. Despite the lack of artifical wind we arrived to Datong in good condition.

In the evening I played some 8-ball billiards against some natives -- one of the adventure traditions! The "billiard hall" consisted of five tables in a row, outside. I started play against an older man, but he soon realised he wasn't going to win this game so he handed the cue stick to another man and it continued like this. I think I met 5 guys totally. The last one was pretty good. 3 games total and I won 2 of these. Pretty ok, considering that tables, balls and rules were not the usual stuff :)
1 COMMENT
 

Wednesday August 23rd, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Billiards in Datong

Category: China, 2006
Billiards in Datong - Me (center) in a 8-ball billiards battle against some very friendly chinese[...]
Me (center) in a 8-ball billiards battle against some very friendly chinese pool junkies.

Photo: TobiasNew window
Tags » Fredrik, pool
1 COMMENT1 RESPONSE
 

Wednesday August 23rd, 2006

Asia > China > Beijing

Beijing west trainstation

Category: China, 2006
Beijing west trainstation - It's gigantic, the Beijing West Train Station.
It's gigantic, the Beijing West Train Station.
Tags » Beijing, train station
1 COMMENT
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

(travel diary) Sightseeing in Datong

Category: China, 2006
Today we started with a visit to the hanging monastery. Two hours by minibus 65 km south-east of Datong.
The monastery is about 1400 years old and was built "hanging" to protect it from weather. Originally the monastery was more than 100 metres above the ground but nowadays it's only about 15 metres up because of the dirt the water has brought from the mountain.

After this our minibus drove us to the Yungang-grottoes about 16 km west of Datong. In the grottoes there are about 50.000 statues in different sizes.
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Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Yungang grottoes

Category: China, 2006
Yungang grottoes - In this mountain of sandstone is the grottoes located. Behind the trees.[...]
In this mountain of sandstone is the grottoes located. Behind the trees.
1 COMMENT
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Yungang caves II

Category: China, 2006
Yungang caves II - Yungang-grottoes.
Yungang-grottoes.
Tags » cave
1 COMMENT1 RESPONSE
 

Thursday August 24th, 2006

Asia > China > Datong

Yungang grottoes III

Category: China, 2006
Yungang grottoes III - Yungang grottoes.
Yungang grottoes.
Tags » cave, tourists
1 COMMENT1 RESPONSE