My love one and I just returned from a visit to China. The area we visited was around Guilin and Guangzhou. Not the usual areas but I sure learned a lot.

 

The most serious problem we encountered is that virtually no one speaks anything but Mandarin or Cantonese. This makes it quite difficult to get around. On the plus side are the facts that the people are just like everyone else in the world in that some are very nice and some less. The country that I saw was clean except for public restrooms which can be really filthy. It was a big surprise for me to find the towns so modern. I had expected the old cities like we see in movies. Not so. The train system is second to none in the rest of the world. It is ahead of any in Europe and of course the abysmal system in the US.

 

Did see some really cute Chinese boys that I would like to have gotten to know but language is a real barrier.

 

A return visit to China is on the docket with the Beijing area is the goal.

There are older towns - and older picture-postcard looking towns - but you have to travel away from the main drag to see them. Beijing is a fascinating city. Much of its centre is also totally new, with some stunning architecture, but there are amazing places still to see, as well as some quaint old neighbourhoods. And then you have the Ming Tombs, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall a short distance away.

khun12 - you might be interested to note that the National Geographic channel is repeating a very interesting series titled Somewhere in China. This gives a perspective on China from two young Americans who lived there as children. Unfortunately, today's programme (which you may miss) is about Beijing where you plan to visit.

 

I note one progamme next week visits the world famous Harbin Ice Sculpture Festival. I already have my flights and hotel booked for next January! B)

 

"Nat Geo Adventure's Somewhere in China sends filmmaker/photographer duo Peter and Jeff Hutchens back to China – where they lived as children. Whether it is being kicked out of Gansu during Tibetan protests, swimming in an icy pool in minus 14 degree Celsius weather or playing polo with a headless goat, the two document a nation in the midst of social reinvention. The series also allows Jeff and Peter to demonstrate what they do best: taking truly stunning photographs and film footage that makes the series a visual feast. Travelling from rough and tumble western China to the Three Gorges along the Yangtze and the desolate steppes of Inner Mongolia, the boys expressively capture the landscapes' feel and the spirit of those living in these areas."

Somewhere in China: Ice City

The boys were at Harbin and visited the Ice Festival and a theme park where an ice Buddha,ice Westminster Abbey and an ice Acropolis are on display.

Next Showing: Tuesday 26 April at 08:50

Repeats: Tuesday 26 April at 12:30 and Saturday 30 April at 08:50

 

Somewhere in China: Kicked Out Of Gansu

Due to protests in several Tibetan communities,the boys got kicked out of Gansu while filmming at Labrang, sending them back to Yunnan.

(No timings given)

 

Somewhere in China: Silk Road

Jeff and Peter is at first stop on the 'Silk Road'. Join them around the marketplace to dress localise then to a dance party at Kyrgyz Village.

Next Showing: Thursday 28 April at 08:50

Repeats: Thursday 28 April at 12:30 and Thursday 28 April at 20:00

 

Somewhere in China: Three Gorges Dam

The boys arrived at Yangtze River and the Three Gorges Dam where China is undertaking one of the most ambitious construction projects in the world.

Next Showing: Wednesday 27 April at 08:50

Repeats: Wednesday 27 April at 12:30 and Wednesday 27 April at 20:00

 

Somewhere in China: Going Local

Join Jeff and Peter in the Chinese New Year celebration in Yunan.Although, they encounter language barrier at Lisu, they still end th journey well.

Next Showing: Monday 25 April at 08:50

Repeats: Monday 25 April at 12:30 and Monday 25 April at 20:00

 

Somewhere in China: Beijing Boom

Contrasting rapidly growing Beijing with cold and desolate inner Mongolia, the boys learn how China's expanding economy affect its ancient traditions.

Next Showing: Friday 22 April at 20:00

Repeats: Friday 20 May at 06:30

 

All timings seem to be Hong Kong/Singapore time - so one hour earlier in Thailand.

 

http://natgeotv.com/asia/somewhere-in-china/about

both those towns are very well on the main tourist-trail. Guilin is one of China's tourist-towns per se-even in the old days of communism. If people intend to go there, i would rather advise them to stay in nearby Yangshuo. This is one of the smaller villages opened up-by now decades ago, by intrepid backpackers. There is now a thriving english-lesson industry and there is West-Street, where now mainland Chinese come to gape at gwailo. (Do not worry-they have gone as evening falls). I always found Chinese from that area to be very close to Thai/Thailand. Sometimes I even thought they spoke a kind of Thai dialect. A local in Guilin once explained me that they are more close there to the Viet(namese) and that their local dialect resembles Viet very much.

It looks magnificent! There's so much of Asia I have yet to explore - and I've yet to cross walking the Great Wall in the early morning off of my "bucket list." Perhaps next year...

 

Thanks so much for the trip report. I'll make reference notes and explore more about it online.

welcome to china again,I went to Thailand 1week ago with my boyfriend, and we hand a really good vacation.

Im of to Shanghai for a week with my Thai boyfriend. Any hints on any gay night life would be helpful.

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