One of the key things I want to do during my 4 months exchange here in China is to travel around China. Initially, I was most interested in visiting Beijing, Shanghai, and Tibet. I told my mom this and she actually laughed at me and said that I shouldn't be expecting to travel throughout China in a matter of 4 months (on top of school) because China is just too big for that.
Now that I've been here for almost a month and gotten to know (at least geographically) where I am and what's around, I have made up a mini list of what I can do during the school term, approximately how much time it would take to visit and whether I would have time to make these trips.these places (Beijing is excluded from this list because I'm going there after my exams end in June. Shanghai is also excluded because I will be spending a lot of time there in May):
Hangzhou/Shaoxing (1-2 hours bus away from Ningbo) - an easy weekend. But this will have to wait till when the weather clears up because it would really suck to see the infamous West Lake in Hangzhou when it's all rainy. Shaoxing (land of ancient temples, Lu Xun's childhood home, and such) is also on the way from Ningbo to Hangzhou so this can be a two birds one stone kinda trip.
Suzhou/Nanjing (at least 5 hours train to Suzhou, another 5 hours to Nanjing) - more difficult trip to make since this trip could take more than a week. Firstly, I've heard that Nanjing, as the capital of the Ming dynasty and the ROC, is so packed with history that one cannot possibly see everything in this city. Suzhou, which is also somewhat "along the way". Like Nanjing, it's also in Jiangsu which is the province north of Zhejiang (where I am right now). It is infamous for its charming scenary, a stop for the Grand Canal and being a prosperous city back in the Tang and Song dynasties. Also, 金裝四大才子s are "蘇州三寳".
Wenzhou (10 hours train) - optional trip for the weekend (I have half a Thursday and the whole Friday off anyways). My friend is from there and her family is still there. She says that there is a very strong 江南味道 there.
Huangshan/Jingdezhen (8 hours train) - not dying to go there but it could be interesting since it is a very famous scenic mountain. It's also where they filmed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" although I'm not a huge fan of that film. And of course, Jingdezhen is the famous pottery place that I learned about in my Chinese school textbook.
Looking at my list, I can't help but wonder why all the places I want to go all have very similar descriptions (i.e. something to do with scenery or history). I hope they don't all turn out to be the same.
With only limited time and money, where shall I go?!?!!?!?!
Currently listening: Celos - Gotan Project
2 comments:
i went to ALL the places in your list already hahahah
i hoped i guessed the places right though with your english pinyins = =
wangshan is reaaaally pretty but its a long long long walk haha. i stayed at the motel up there..it was sooooooo hideous = S so don't!
the west lake..is kinda polluted haha ..but its worth a go =) its a good tourist place...i remember there was a tcby except very expensive. nanjing is really hot..i almost died because of the heat when i went. but its a lot of historical buildings and stuff, which might interest you.
ok...my comment is too long. i shall tell you more later =)
you definitely have to share with me when you get back!! :)
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