Sunday, September 30, 2012

China Sept 2012

Map of Provinces in China

" Walking can add minutes to your LIFE ! " 

" LIFE is a choice. It is your LIFE. Choose consciously. Choose wisely. Choose honestly. Choose happiness " 

" LIFE is precious. Value it. " 

" My 22 days visit to China (Guilin, Chengdu, Beichuan, Xian, Xining, Golmud, Yushu, Garze, Kangding & Fenghuang; from 1-22/9/2012) - taking the treacherous mountain roads from Qinghai to Sichuan (stunning scenery) and visiting the earthquake stricken towns of Beichuan & Yushu (grief & a lifetime of sorrow for the affected families) " 

Total Expenses Incurred in China (22 days) : Y3,308 + Rm776 = Rm2,420 (Euro$605)

- Air Asia promo ticket (booking date 17/10/2011): RM758 (incl airport tax, insurance, meals & luggage fee; KL > Guilin (06.25>10.25); Guilin > KL (11.10>15.20)
- Airport shuttle bus (LCCT): Rm18
- Hostels (14 nights) : Y690 (dorms)
- Airport shuttle bus (Guilin) : Y40
- Trains: Y805
- Long distance bus: Y799
- Taxi / pubic bus: Y122
- Metro: Y24
- Food: Y684
- Sundries: Y144
Exchange Rate: Rm$1 = Y0.497; US$1=Rm3.05; Euro$1=Rm4.0

Travel itinerary: KL > Guilin > Chengdu > Beichuan > Xian > Xining > Golmud > Xining > Yushu > Garze  > Kangding > Chengdu > Huaihua > Fenghuang >  Liuzhou > Guilin

This was my 5th free & easy trip to China. The first was in 2006. In the past few visits to China, I spent a total of 3-4 weeks for each trip. To date, I had visited all the provinces and municipal cities in China except the provinces of Hainan & Tibet. China has 27 provinces and 4 municipal cities (ie Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai & Chongqing). 

Due to the strict entry protocol, my attempts of visiting Tibet as a solo traveler had not been successful this time. So for this trip, I focused my visits exploring Qinghai (Xining, Golmud & Yushu) & south-west of Sichuan (Garze & Kangding) which have a strong Tibet culture. The Qinghai to Sichuan route is less traveled due to the treacherous mountain roads, deep valleys, vast grasslands, poor public amenities & infrastructure, high altitude (3,000-5,000m above sea level), sub zero temperature at night even in Spring, basic accommodation etc. The scenery from Xining to Golmud is rather monotonous but from Xining to Yushu , Garze and Kangding, the scenery en route is magnificent. 

Buying a hard or soft sleeper bed train ticket in China is a major challenge in most of the train stations as these tickets are easily sold out unless you book them 5-6 days in advance. So quite often, we end up taking a hard seat (or even a standing ticket) for an arduous 20 hr train journey ! 

My fellow Qigong mate from USJ, Mr Choy joined me for the first 10 days of the trip and both of us had a jolly good time visiting some selected places of interest around Guilin, Chengdu & Xian

For this trip, I had the opportunity of visiting two grief-stricken towns which were devastated by major earthquakes in 2008 & 2010 ie Beichuan (Sichuan) and Yushu (Qinghai). 

Before ending my visit, I had a relaxing 3 day rest in Fenghuang (Phoenix City) in the Hunan province. 

I shall return to China in 2013 and focused on those UNESCO heritage sites that I have yet to visit and not to forget the last two Chinese provinces I yearn to see ie Hainan & Tibet. 

Travel Highlights: 

1) Guilin, Guanxi


2) Chengdu, Sichuan


3) Beichuan, Sichuan


4) Xian, Shaanxi


5) Golmud, Qinghai


6) Yushu, Qinghai


7) Garze, Sichuan


8) Kangding, Sichuan


9) Fenghuang, Hunan


The secret of life is not to do what you like, but to like what you do "


"The above sign was put up in a small village in Qinghai province . It simply said a fine of Y$100 is to be imposed on anyone for passing urine or motion freely in public places - One up for China in preserving the public health environment"

China (Guilin, Guangxi) Sept 2012

Map of Guilin, Guangxi, China

Hostel: How Flowers Hostel (3 nights) - Y45 (double bed) + Y35x2 (dorm)
Train: Guilin > Chengdu East - Y104
Airport shuttle bus: Y20 x 2
Food: Y124
Sundry: Y84

Total cost incurred (3 days): Y467

Guilin was our first city of call in China. From Guilin, I then planned my trips (mainly by trains or long distance buses) to Chengdu, Xian, Xining, Golmud, Yushu, Garze, Kangding & Fenghuang. I stayed a total of 3 nights in Guilin and spent most of my time resting in the youth hostel and wandering around the city center and enjoying the local food.

In 2004, I had visited the Guanxi province on a 7 day package tour with my wife and other relatives so I skipped visiting the major touristy places in Guilin on this trip. 


1) Air Asia flight from KLIA2, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Guilin, Guangxi, China


2) Walkabout with my travel buddy in Guilin city, Guanxi, my 3 nights stay in Guilin before taking a train to Chengdu, Sichuan


" President Bill Clinton's visit to Lijiang River & Yangshuo in 1998. The landscape in Guilin is not only belong to China but also belong to the whole world . East or West, Guilin scenery is the best "

China (Chengdu, Sichuan) Sept 2012

Map of Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Hostel (3 nights): Chengdu Traffic Inn - Y55 x 2 (double bed) + Y45 (dorm)
Train: Chengdu > Xian - Y113 (hard seat)
Taxi: Y22 (cost sharing)
Metro: Y16
Food: Y72
Sundries: Y10

Total cost incurred (3 days): Y388

Chengdu, Sichuan

This is my second visit to Chengdu. In Sept 2010, I visited a number of UNESCO heritage sites in and around Chengdu ie Giant Buddha in Mt Leshan, Mt Qingcheng, Dujiangyan, Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Jinsha Ruins, Du Fu thatched cottage, Wenshu Monastery, Wuhou Shrine, Jinli Street etc. I planned to visit Emeishan but decided not to go due to time constraints. However,  I visited the People's Park, Mao's statute and the area around Lin Jiang Zhong Lu.

1) Train ride from Quilin, Guangxi > Chengdu, Sichuan (1,055km, 6.5hrs)


2) Walkabout in Chengdu city, Sichuan


3) People's Park, Chengdu, Sichuan - built in 1911.


4) Chengdu city by Night - night stroll near mid Binjiang Lu & Binjiang Pier



5) Hotel accommodation (3 nights) - Traffic Inn Hostel, Chengdu Y110 (double bed), Y45 (dorm) 


" Chengdu, Sichuan is the home of the giant pandas; China has recently loaned two pandas (Kai Kai & Jia Jia) to Singapore for 10 years; Malaysia is in the waiting list and Malaysians are eagerly & excited awaiting the arrival of two baby pandas from China - how about naming them as Ji Ji and Ding Ding ? "