From bullet trains to bunk beds, rail travel is a truly immersive experience听听

By: Yves Marceau, VP of product for G Adventures听

When traveling, it鈥檚 all too easy to skip from one destination to the next, without really appreciating what we see along the way. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the destination, it鈥檚 the journey,鈥� is a phrase we鈥檝e all heard. At G Adventures, we believe it鈥檚 both. That鈥檚 why we recently launched our Rail Collection 鈥� 60 joyful train journeys across 20 countries that help travelers to travel flexibly and responsibly, while also offering true cultural immersion in a destination.  

There are so many reasons why train travel is increasingly important for a community tourism-focused operator like ours, allowing you to get more out of your adventure. Here are just some of them.  

It encourages you to slow down听

In a literal sense, opting for a train journey instead of a flight is a slower form of travel. Even G Adventures鈥� Rail Collection trips in Japan, which include journeys on the famous bullet train, are slow compared to air travel. But importantly, traveling by train also encourages you to slow down, too. What you may feel like you are 鈥榣osing鈥� in time, you are gaining elsewhere 鈥� leaving the pace of the journey to someone is freeing, and the hypnotic trundle on a train can do wonders for helping your mind slow, something that can be increasingly hard to do in a fast-paced world.听听

It can be a more immersive experience听

Major airports across the world have a tendency to look, feel, smell and sound the same. Train journeys do not. A train trip fully immerses you in the destination and doesn鈥檛 let you bypass local life on the ground. Whether it鈥檚 what you鈥檙e seeing out the window, from miles of countryside to rarely-seen villages, to what you鈥檙e smelling on board, or what you鈥檙e eating along the way. And while airports go big on global food chains when it comes to eating options, at train stations, particularly smaller ones out of bigger cities, you鈥檙e more likely to find smaller independent cafes and food sellers, giving you the chance to try more local dishes – and put traveler dollars directly into the pocket of locals.听

Big picture benefits

Using public rail transportation not only helps infuse money into communities that wouldn鈥檛 usually benefit from tourism income, but also helps keep commuter rail travel funded and more affordable for locals. It鈥檚 a simple yet great example of how tourism can be a force for good, and benefit communities on a much more local level in the easiest of ways. 

It encourages new connections听

Chances are you鈥檝e taken a seat on a train and spent the journey sitting opposite someone. It鈥檚 impossible 鈥� certainly with the longer train journeys G Adventures features in its Rail Collection 鈥� to not interact with the people around you. Some of our favorite Rail Collection trips feature day-long journeys across India, where your local travel companions start out as strangers, but soon become acquaintances with stories to tell, giving a unique and powerful insight into life on unhurried journeys. And how could you possibly share a bunk cabin on a sleeper train in Vietnam without a spontaneous conversation 鈥� or long game of cards 鈥� with your new cabin mates? Authentic interactions like these are the memories we take away from trips abroad 鈥� and they鈥檙e often the stories that we tell, too.听

It鈥檚 a true adventure听听

Ever seen a toddler or group of kids gleefully smiling at a train passing by? Trains have been synonymous with adventure since we were kids. And as adults, what鈥檚 one person鈥檚 commuter train is another person鈥檚 adventure. It may look like a train ride through the bucolic Italian countryside, it may be a night rocking to sleep on the top bunk of a train journeying across Japan, or it may be a bullet train whizzing at the speed of light (almost) from Shanghai to Berlin. It鈥檚 a meaningful way to see the world 鈥� a journey to be celebrated, not endured.听

About G Adventures

G Adventures isn鈥檛 just a travel company, we鈥檙e a movement. Since 1990, when social entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip set out to change the way people see the world, we鈥檝e been leading the way in community tourism and small-group adventure travel. With more than 850 life-changing trips in 100 countries across all seven continents, we help travelers connect deeply with local people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife,  all while having a blast. 

But it doesn鈥檛 stop there. With us, travel  is about passion, purpose, and making a difference. Our 鈥楪 for Good鈥� social impact commitments ensure every journey supports local communities, with over 130 community tourism projects powered by our non-profit partner, Planeterra, and our industry-first Ripple Score,  which tracks how much of our travelers’ money stays local. And through our Trees for Days initiative, we鈥檝e planted over 3 million trees (and counting), one for every traveler, every day they are on trip with us, helping communities and the planet to thrive together. 

At G Adventures, we believe in changing lives through travel, and not just for the traveler. Our unique company culture fuels a global community that transcends borders, connecting people with purpose and spreading joy, curiosity, and humanity in everything we do. We鈥檙e not just about seeing the world, we鈥檙e about making it better, together. 

Learn more and join the movement at. 

The post The Joy of the Journey: Why Train Travel is the Ultimate Way to Get More Out of Your Adventure appeared first on 性视界 Blog.

By Ricko Tindage, Director of Sales at Elite Voyages

Since “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was released in the U.S. in 2000 and eventually garnered the Oscar in 2001 for best foreign-language film, this martial arts movie has captured the imagination of American and international audiences worldwide. 

I was fortunate to visit Anhui Province in November of last year, where many of the shooting locations of 鈥淐rouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon鈥� were located. This movie was so groundbreaking, helmed by Mr. Ang Lee as director, that many pundits in Hollywood did not give too much attention to it before its release. Yet the film, released in December 2000, would earn $128 million in the U.S. (or roughly $218 million today) and became a box office hit. The movie became what remains by far the highest-grossing non-English-language film, receiving 10 Oscar nominations and winning four. 

One scene that many audiences won’t easily forget is the sword fight scene between the two main characters while flying over the bamboo trees. This fight scene became a classic in itself. In 2023, the movie celebrated its 20th year, and a re-mastered version on DVD was released for a new generation of movie buffs. There’s no question that the film became a classic, and anyone who has watched this film treasures it as a collectible item. 

Two locations for 鈥淐rouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon鈥� where they made the movie that I visited鈥� are Huangshan (Mt. Huangshan or Yellow Mountain), and Hongcun Village. 

Yellow Mountain, also known as Huangshan in Chinese, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was inscribed on the list in 1990 for its remarkable scenery, including granite peaks, ancient pine trees, and cloud formations. The mountain is famed for its unique geological formations, including peculiarly shaped granite peaks, hot springs, and ancient, gnarled pine trees that cling to the rocks in improbable locations. The scenic area encompasses notable peaks like the Lotus Peak, Bright Summit, and the Heavenly Capital Peak. Huangshan has been the source of inspiration for Chinese poets, painters, and philosophers for centuries, embodying the quintessential beauty of the Chinese wilderness. 

Hongcun and Xidi are traditional villages dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. These two ancient villages are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Notable for their distinctive architecture and their layouts that reflect the traditional Chinese Feng Shui and rural life. Xidi and Hongcun are characterized by their narrow lanes, ornate Huizhou-style houses with white walls and dark tiled roofs, and elaborate carvings that decorate windows, doors, and beams. Both villages are set against a backdrop of picturesque landscapes, with Hongcun famous for its water system designed to resemble the shape of an ox, demonstrating an ingenious integration of the community with its environment. 

About the author:鈥�Ricko Tindage is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Elite Voyages. In addition to selling and marketing to the travel agent community, he creates new tour products.鈥� Originally from Bali, Indonesia, Ricko has called Los Angeles home since 1981.鈥� His academic background was in hotel management. He has had hotel stints in Jakarta, Indonesia; Brussels, Belgium and Los Angeles. Instead of a career in the hotel industry, the tour and travel industry has shaped the majority of his professional career.鈥� He started in the travel industry in 1990, Ricko has always been in the hospitality industry, even his spouse was a former director of sales at a major U.S. hotel chain. Before working for Elite Voyages he served in several major U.S. tour operators namely UNIWORLD River Cruises and SITA World Tours. In between, he has developed and created small boutique-style tour operators specialized in incentive travels, honeymoons, destination weddings, luxury travels, and leasing private jets. One of these tour companies was Romance Travel Concierge, a luxury boutique outfit based in Pasadena, CA, and he was president of the company.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

About Elite Voyages:鈥� Bespoke journeys are our specialty at Elite Voyages. Founded in 2019 as a luxury entity for Chinatour.com (established in 2002) our parent company, we have been strongly a believer in providing鈥�the most authentic and enriching tour experiences鈥�for our discerning travelers through the relentless commitment of our earnest and鈥�knowledgeable team before, during and after all journeys. Nothing is left to chance鈥�when every itinerary is carefully planned 鈥� selecting the鈥�best accommodation鈥�guests鈥�can enjoy, exciting connoisseurs with select鈥�culinary exploits, and amazing travelers鈥�飞颈迟丑鈥�must-see sights and entertainment鈥�鈥� so that every guest can always be assured鈥�of top quality and uniqueness in travel experiences.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;

The post Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon…Anyone?听 appeared first on 性视界 Blog.

Whether it鈥檚 sharing lunch with a local family in a private home in Beijing, marveling at one of China鈥檚 52 famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or riding the Mag Lev bullet train into the modern metropolis of Shanghai, there are so many ways to experience the vast and varied country of China.

Credit: go-today

Discover just a few reasons why China 鈥� 5,000 years 鈥渘ew鈥� 鈥� could become your next dream vacation with a selection of itineraries from as many as 70 性视界 tour operator members. Find your own dream vacation to China here.

Marvel at the extraordinary sites showcasing China鈥檚 traditions and natural wonders during Adventures by Disney鈥檚 12-day 鈥淐hina Destination鈥� tour. Families can experience the excitement of Disney magic at China’s Disney theme parks, or be awed by some of the panoramic views of China鈥檚 UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the iconic Great Wall, Terracotta Army Museum, Beijing鈥檚 Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and the incredible Imperial Palace. Departures are available from September 3, 2017 to October 21, 2018 starting at $7,699 per adult/ $7,289 per child.听

Explore the serene beauty of China’s Yunnan Province and delve into the fascinating history of Shangri-La on Cox & Kings鈥� 鈥淵unnan: A Journey to Shangri-La鈥� private excursion. Explorers will discover the Old Town of Dali, cruise on the striking Erhai Lake, follow along the path of the Yangtze River, marvel at the views from Black Dragon Pool, ascend the Tibetan Plateau, and more. This eight-day journey is available throughout 2017 to March 2018 from $4450 per person based on two travelers.

Guests on 骋濒辞产耻蝉鈥� 鈥淭reasures of China鈥� tour will begin their journey through the city of Beijing to discover stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the Temple of Heaven. During the 11-day tour, guests also will delight in a colorful assemblage of classical performances in Xi鈥檃n, visit Guilin鈥檚 local tea farms for a hands-on demonstration of the tea-making process, and explore the sprawling city of Shanghai. Available on select departures in August, September, and October 2017 starting at $2,389 per person.

Credit: go-today

Experience the historical and cultural highlights of both modern day China and its grandeur-filled past on 驳辞-迟辞诲补测鈥檚 six-day 鈥淭reasures of China Escorted Tour.鈥� Travelers will visit legendary sites, such as the Great Wall, Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army Museum and be enthralled by China鈥檚 unsurpassed art and culture. Available throughout 2017 to January 2018 from $2,099 per person.听

Credit: Intrepid Travel

Journey from Beijing to Shanghai during Intrepid Travel鈥檚 12-day 鈥淣orth China Getaway鈥� tour. Guests will travel to Huangshan, also known as Yellow Mountain, and stay in a local guesthouse for two days to explore the mountain. Travelers also will venture into the idyllic Huizhou countryside and explore rural villages on foot or bike. The trip also includes visits to China鈥檚 historical landmarks like the Great Wall where guests will stay at a family-run guesthouse. Available throughout 2017 and 2018 from $1,296 per person.听

Credit: Mayflower Tours

Travelers can save $300 per couple on Mayflower Tours鈥� 鈥淏est of China and Yangtze River Cruise鈥� itinerary to marvel at some of China鈥檚 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and cruise along the Yangtze River. During the 12-day Chinese journey, guests can learn a Chinese folk dance and participate in a Chinese culinary lesson. The trip features visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven and Xian, and the Forbidden City. Savings available on the September 15, 2018 and October 13, 2018 departures from $2,469 per person.

Float down the famous Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, climb the Great Wall and gaze at the giant Buddha of Leshan on Student Universe鈥檚 three-week tour, 鈥淏eijing to Hong Kong: Essential China.鈥� Guests will experience cultural and natural highlights including the Terracotta Warriors, a visit to a tea plantation, and enjoy a bike ride through the stunning Yangshuo countryside. Additional bucket-list activities await travelers on this itinerary from $3,399 available through December 2018.

Credit: Trafalgar

Travelers can visit China鈥檚 must-see cities like eclectic Beijing, buzzing Shanghai and historic Xi’an and must-do experiences, like cruising down the iconic Huangpu River during 罢谤补蹿补濒驳补谤鈥檚 17-day 鈥淐lassic China with Yangtze Cruise and Chengdu鈥� tour. Guests will enjoy insider moments like dashing through the ancient Hutongs by rickshaw and savoring a home-cooked meal at a local family鈥檚 home in Beijing. Additionally, guests can join others on a visit to a primary school in Xi鈥檃n to get to know students and teachers, and see how their visit supports local education. Available on select departures in September, October 2017 and March-June 2018 starting at $5,475 per person.

Credit: Wendy Wu Tours

Join Wendy Wu Tours on a 26-day in-depth adventure during 鈥淭he Silk Road Explorer鈥� air-inclusive itinerary. Guests will immerse themselves in Chinese history and visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Mogao Caves, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven and of course the famous Great Wall. Travelers also will have the chance to participate in a traditional dance class at the Temple of Heaven and marvel at Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years at the Mogao Caves. Available from $6,390 per person on select departures between September 4, 2017 and October 8, 2017.

Guests will hike through rice fields and across China鈥檚 countryside during Audley Travel鈥檚 鈥淗iking in China鈥� itinerary. Hikers also will take part in a guided trek through the impressive Tiger Leaping Gorge before heading to Zhongdian (Shangri La). Travelers will witness the sunrise over Huanshan, visit the high Tibetan Plateau in Zhongdian (Shangri La), and visit the magnificent Great Wall. This 18-day active journey is available from $7,630 per person in September, October and November 2017.

Credit: Avanti

础惫补苍迟颈鈥檚 new 鈥淭he Great Panda Adventure鈥� takes guests on a 12-day adventure through China with a private tour of Panda Center and UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Great Wall. Guests can add on the Panda Private Volunteer Experience at the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda. During this added experience, participants will spend five hours feeding, cleaning cages and learning about the 20-40 giant and red pandas living there. The panda add-on is available for $375 per person and open to those 12-65 years of age. The 12-day itinerary is available year-round and starts at $2,589 per person/double occupancy (land-only).

Credit: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Join Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection鈥檚 鈥淐hina, Tibet, and the Yangtze鈥� itinerary to experience the timeless allure of China. Guests will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Goddess Stream and see Shanghai鈥檚 modern landscape of towering skyscrapers. Travelers on this 14-day trip also will explore Beijing via rickshaw and enjoy lunch with a local family and a traditional tea ceremony. Available September and October 2017 from $7,299 and throughout 2018 from $7,099.

Credit: Collette

Guests on 颁辞濒濒别迟迟别鈥檚 鈥淲onders of China and the Yangtze River鈥� program will discover China鈥檚 food, natural beauty and historic landmarks in addition to a ride on the Mag Lev bullet train reaching speeds of more than 260 miles per hour. Other trip highlights include a traditional tea ceremony, lunch with a local family in their Hutong home, and a lesson from a Chinese calligraphy master. The 16 to 19-day tour is available on select departure dates throughout 2017 and 2018 from $2,649 per person.

Editor鈥檚 Note:听Information was correct at time of writing. All tours/packages subject to availability. Prices may vary from time of writing, based on currency fluctuations.

The post Four Reasons to Travel to China Now appeared first on 性视界 Blog.

Catch a Glimpse of Ancient China

As one of the oldest ancient civilizations, China boasts a rich and long-established history and culture. Wendy Wu Tours gives Kelley Ferro a glimpse into the ancient culture of China from a visit to the Forbidden City and Shanghai Old Town, to an one-on-one lesson with a Tai Chi master.

Explore Modern Day China

China is a mix of old world tradition and new world sophistication. While traveling with Wendy Wu Tours, video journalist Kelley Ferro got an insider look at modern day China from meeting locals to exploring up-and-coming neighborhoods featuring hip cafes and bars.

Bucket List China

With sought-after experiences like climbing the Great Wall and walking amongst the Terracotta Warriors, China is a destination that appears on many traveler鈥檚 bucket lists. With the help of Wendy Wu Tours, video journalist Kelley Ferro gained unparalleled access to these legendary sights.

Experience China’s Vibrant Food Scene

From dumpling making lessons to exploring exotic street foods, Wendy Wu Tours itineraries provide travelers insider access to China鈥檚 vibrant food scene. Join travel expert Kelley Ferro as she eats her way through Shanghai, Xi鈥檃n and Beijing.

The post Discover China appeared first on 性视界 Blog.

The single burnt out speaker crackles and pops as a high-pitched voice fills the thick night air in Xi鈥檃n. Mandarin sung is just as confusing as listening to it spoken, and now it鈥檚 blaring out of a single speaker that should have been retired about 15 years ago. However, it鈥檚 appropriate that a group of retirees are lined up in front of the old speaker square dancing on the new side of the city. At the same time, on the other side of Xian鈥檚 40 foot high city wall in the old part of the city is another group of people lined up doing movements in unison.听This group doesn鈥檛 have music and the average age is probably 23 years old. They follow the lead of a trainer as he shouts out stretching instructions as they prepare for a group run.听I鈥檓 amused by this young and old culture in such proximity and it seems to be an ongoing theme I run into all over China.

Old/New, Ancient/Modern whatever you call it, opposites attract. China, maybe more than any other country, lives in this world of opposites. With a culture that dates back 4,000 years, China is considered one of the ancient civilizations along with Egypt, Babylon, and India. Today, however, its years of traditions are clashing up against the modern world and an economy growing at a rapid rate.听听 It鈥檚 a petri dish of old and new intermixing, elders and hipsters co-mingling, braided together in a complex waltzing partnership; one in which you never quite know who is going to take the lead.

Many things and world famous sites stand out when you visit China; the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall, the architecture of Shanghai, and the billions of people. However, what I was fixated on was the relation between old culture and new. And I found it was this relation between ancient and modern that was the lens through which I viewed the famous sites of China during my tour with .

Shanghai Markets

I was expecting Shanghai to be completely modern and architecturally stunning, but when I walked to the Bund district to view the sleek skyline from the river, the first thing I saw was an old barge chugging down the river in front of skyscrapers.

In addition to the busy pedestrian shopping street with familiar brands like Apple, TopShop, H&M and Starbucks, our local guide, Ling, took us to a street in Nanshi Old Town surrounded by old buildings painted in red with traditional Chinese rooflines. Don鈥檛 let the term 鈥榦ld town鈥� fool you though, its fa莽ade is old, but its goods are new. Bins of selfie sticks and the latest craze of plastic flower sprouts that people wear in their hair were found at every shop and vendor. Nestled among the latest fads though were a few old items; I was entranced by the old Chinese comic books.听 And by old I mean 1980鈥檚 old.

But it was also here in Nanshi where we found the Yu Gardens, an oasis of calm and feng shui among the chaotic shopping streets. We walked around the beautifully manicured gardens and Ling told me about the 4 pillars that are required of any Chinese Garden; rocks, water, pavilion, and plants. As I walked through the gardens I forgot that outside of the walls was a chaotic crowded new square with dumpling vendors and people with selfie sticks.

Xi鈥檃n Old City Wall

The city of Xi鈥檃n oozes ancient tradition; it鈥檚 one of the most important cities in Chinese history. It鈥檚 been the capital of 13 great dynasties and was the starting point to the Silk Road. Today it holds one of the most famous archeological finds in the world, the Terracotta Warriors; an army of 8,000 soldiers that were created and buried to protect Emperor Qin in the afterlife. As I pushed my way through what felt like an army of people to see the warriors, I was getting a feel for what modern day China is really like; bursting with people.

However, what captured my attention in Xi鈥檃n was the Old City Wall standing 40 feet tall and 40 feet wide; a giant square cube running 8.5 miles around the old city. It was originally built to protect the city and Dynasty from invasion; however, it was never actually attacked. I guess the look of it was protection enough. Today the wall is this division of old and new.听 Inside sits the old city and Muslim quarter, bell towers, and parks. It鈥檚 quiet inside of the walls as only electric motorbikes are allowed, while outside the walls is a bustling metropolis of new buildings, high-rises, and traffic! Going up on the wall and walking or biking is a great way to place yourself between the old and new China.

Beijing Hutongs

Beijing鈥檚 culture was built in the hutongs, old courtyards forming tightknit neighborhoods where you find day-to-day life. Not many hutongs remain these days as most have been leveled to make room for the new China, but ironically, many tourists prefer to visit the few remaining hutongs rather than the city鈥檚 new modern buildings. It was my walk through the South Gong and Drum Lane hutong that made me love Beijing. I meandered through the narrow streets and alleys and got a feel for the old life of Beijing. I was even able to enter one of the homes and eat lunch with a local family.

I easily became distracted looking down every little lane, finding old men playing Mahjong. But the part I loved the most is that nestled among the connected homes, public restrooms, and men playing Mahjong, were young men and women with tattoos and piercings sipping coffee in small, hip coffee shops. This was the ultimate mix of old and new in Beijing. We stopped in at Si鈥f Bar on North Luogu Alley Dongcheng District, which labeled itself the 鈥榝irst bar in the hutong鈥�.听 It was an oasis of calm during the day with its clever wood design, bar dog that would lay by your feet, and self-proclaimed 鈥淔!*cking Good Coffee鈥�.

There was also a mixture of old and new at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, an hour outside Beijing. You can take a gondola up to the wall and walk on the ancient steps where warriors once protected China from Mongol invasion and then opt to take a more modern route down the wall 鈥� a toboggan slide that wound like a snake down the steep hill.

Getting Off the Beaten Path

While many travelers tend to focus on the older, ancient sites of China, local guides will take you off the typical tourist trail and introduce you to today鈥檚 鈥榥ew鈥� China.

Sherry Ott is a long term traveler, blogger and photographer without a home. She spent a year living in Vietnam, hiked the Annapurna Circuit, did cultural exchange programs in the Middle East, drove 10,000 miles from London to Mongolia, and walked across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. She seeks out adventurous opportunities to inspire people to overcome their fears and reap the benefits of travel. Hear more about her journey to China with Wendy Wu Tours at听.

The post Traveling Through Old China a New Way appeared first on 性视界 Blog.

I craned my neck to look into each doorway that we passed. We were moving along at good clip on a bike taxi, or 鈥渂ike rickshaw,鈥� through the narrow streets of a Beijing neighborhood. The streets were lined with high walls and intimidating doorways. These imposing facades gave very little insight into what lay behind…but I knew. They were hiding courtyards with bird cages, children playing, cats basking in the sun, old ladies hanging laundry. I was welcomed into one of these homes just moments before, to have lunch with the Fan family. This family welcomes travelers, entertains them with music and allows them to peek into this otherwise hidden daily life. I only had a taste of what was on the inside and I wanted to see more, so desperately I tried to catch glimpses through open doorways as we bounced by.

This neighborhood of Beijing is known as the 鈥渉utongs,鈥� or what the locals refer to as 鈥渟lums.鈥� That word is a bit abrasive and I had a very different idea in my head of what we were going to find before we came here. As we bounced down the cobbled streets, vines crawling up impressive walls, old men playing mahjong on plastic tables down side streets, this didn鈥檛 feel at all like a slum. Sure, it was a little worse for wear in some areas, but these one story buildings were over a century old. It felt like one of the first times that I actually got a real insight into China鈥檚 culture.

Thus far I had been exposed to the clean, precise streets of orderly Shanghai, the modernized historical city of Xi鈥檃n, with its manicured parks, and the hyper modern downtown area of Beijing which could have been New York City or Paris if you looked quickly. Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Burberry and Apple lined the streets and the busy crosswalks were filled with well-heeled Chinese carrying smartphones. Here in the sleepy, tree-lined hutongs, there were more birds chirping than car horns. Life was slower and moving at the same pace of the Chinese ancestors that lived here generations before. China鈥檚 door to personal life was left ajar.

Hutongs used to dominate Beijing but they鈥檝e now been bulldozed to give way for the city鈥檚 rapid development. However, there are still several century old hutongs that have been preserved and exploring these will take you back in time. We went to the Nanluoguxiang hutong, one of the more popular in the area near the Forbidden City. Though it isn鈥檛 as wealthy or modern as other areas, there was energy there. A resurgence of youth had come back to these hutongs, choosing to appreciate the past instead of plow forward to the newer, faster, the shinier. On one block, old men were playing mahjong outside but on the other, a young couple shared headphones as they poured over their laptop, drinking chai lattes at a laid-back cafe. We hopped off the rickshaw to browse the kitschy shops selling minimalist homewares, succulents and vintage handbags. A number of restaurants and cafes caught my eye, and I typed their names on my iPhone, hoping for the chance to try them out on a return trip.

But Bar Si鈥f grabbed our attention immediately. Two millennial men sat on wooden benches in front, wearing black t-shirts, eyeliner and smoking cigarettes. The unusual name is open-ended, giving the sense of 鈥渨hat if鈥� or endless possibilities. It seemed appropriate for a hipster coffeehouse meets clubby bar located on a centuries old street. It also was decidedly quiet on this Friday afternoon. Understandably so, as it was crowded until early morning and is one of the nightlife destinations on this trip. Many of these sleepy cafes and bars morph into the city鈥檚 new in-the-know going out spot. After dusk, music flows from the open windows until daybreak. We grabbed a delicious coffee, ordered via a tablet menu, and we considered grabbing a cold beer from their impressive list (Brooklyn beer in Beijing, what!). But we had at least nine more hours of shooting, so we forged on!

Hutongs were originally created by the Mongol Empire, the word meaning 鈥渨ater well.鈥� They were designed to center around water and now that sense of community continues. The bathrooms of the hutongs are communal, with one shared single sex bathroom every few blocks. This feature was something I had never seen before and to be honest, was a bit hesitant about trying. But nature called and to my thankful surprise, they were very clean!

We continued to meander through the alleys around the districts notable Drum Tower. These maze like streets continued to baffle me with one seeming like a replica of Abbot-Kinney, another like it was 1915. It pains me that one of the most historical parts of the city has been diminishing. Back in 1990, 600 hutongs were destroyed each year. However, there鈥檚 been an effort to preserve more and more of these culturally significant, personal homes. The gentrification by the shops, cafes and bars like Si鈥f, may serve to help this preservation by bringing in more awareness from the local and tourist population as well. The authentic local life is what many of today鈥檚 travelers are looking for and for the sake of the remaining residents; I can only hope that they continue to flourish. My best tip is to go spend a day there, chat up the locals and enjoy this living history. And I鈥檇 suggest, don鈥檛 wait too long.

Kelley Ferro is a travel expert & video journalist living in California. She films her show,听, around the world鈥揾opping on a plane at least twice a month. She is also a contributor to听. For more on her travels, follow听,听听and听听pages.

The post Beijing Behind Closed Doors: A Peek into the Hutong Neighborhoods appeared first on 性视界 Blog.

My first memory of international cuisine was when I was 12 years old. 听I鈥檒l never forget going to a Chinese restaurant in Peoria, Illinois for the first time. It was darkly lit, with big round tables and little cups for tea. I was fascinated with these cups because they didn鈥檛 have handles 鈥� unconventional for my Midwest life. 听My dad ordered some dishes for our table; sweet and sour pork, wontons, egg foo young, and pork chow mien. I remember being that awkward age that hated eating anything that I didn鈥檛 know, but wanting to try new things. I had no idea how to use the chopsticks in front of me 鈥� they seemed as confusing and impossible as solving my Rubik鈥檚 Cube 鈥� but that was the first of many Chinese dinners I had in my hometown of Peoria. Chinese food reminds me of my childhood and exploration of new things, so when I landed in for my 8 day trip with , I was excited for one thing 鈥� I wanted to eat!

Eating in China

Though China may seem daunting due to the language barriers, your local guide can lead you through all the tough decisions 鈥� like what to eat! They can help you order and work your way through the maze of menus. Most of the restaurants that we went into were gigantic, with big round tables and a lazy Susan in the middle for easy sharing. The menus tended to be the size of an old Sears Catalog and include pictures and English, which made things a little easier. These are great places to eat but it you want to throw caution to the wind and find some restaurants that are smaller and don鈥檛 have pictures or English menus, then just ask your guide and they鈥檒l lead you deep into the alleys of China to eat. After all, travel is about going local and exploration of new things!

Dumplings

I quickly learned that dumplings are a staple in Shanghai, little bites of flavorful goodness; but in Shanghai you get something extra in your dumpling – soup.听 I had my first soup dumpling at breakfast (yes, dumplings for breakfast). I was startled when I bit into what I thought was a normal dumpling and soup came out and subsequently went all over me! I pretty quickly learned that Shanghai dumplings need to be eaten with care. Shanghai is known for 2 main kinds of dumplings: Xiao Long Bao, a dumpling made of wheat dough that is steamed, and Sheng Jian Bao, made of a thicker dough first fried in a cast iron skillet and then steamed. Both are typically made of pork and have a gelatin soup inside that gets heated and liquefied when steamed. Dip them in a vinegar soy mixture and try to poke a hole in it first so that you can 鈥榙rink鈥� out the soup or at least let it cool before you bite into it!听 My favorite way to eat them was with a straw.

In Xi鈥檃n we not only ate dumplings (jiaozi), we learned how to make them.听 Our teacher, Chef Jin, makes about 3,500 dumplings a night, which explains why her super power is to make dumplings lightning fast. Seriously, if you blink you鈥檒l miss it and will all of a sudden have a butterfly shaped dumpling in front of you. Chef Jin works at the Shaanxi Sunshine Lido Grand Theatre (and in the time it took you to read that title, she made 4 dumplings). She makes dumplings every night for customers who come to the cultural theater show. Her dumplings are in the shape of butterflies, roses, swans, cabbages, and ducks.听 However, for teaching purposes she kept the shapes simple and slowed down long enough to show us how to roll out the dough, spread in the filling, and then form them into shapes.听 Mine didn鈥檛 turn out too shapely, which made me conclude that I鈥檇 rather eat them than make them.

Milk

In our quest for local food, our Shanghai guide took us for a traditional breakfast enjoyed by the fast paced business workers in Shanghai 鈥� warm, sweet soymilk and a fried breadstick. Yon Ho is a fast food chain that started as a street stall in Taiwan and now sells their soybean milk all over China. The drink sort of tastes like what’s left in the bottom of a cereal bowl once all the cereal is gone and immediately won me over! It was fun to be the only foreigners in the restaurant and watch a steady stream of young business professionals come in and eat before work. Sort of like the Chinese Starbucks 鈥� a cool (and tasty) view of daily life in Shanghai!

Noodles

Have you ever heard a noodle? In Xi鈥檃n if you listen carefully you鈥檒l hear why the Biangbiang noodle got its name. It is named after the sound of dough being thwacked on the chopping board so it can be stretched into one very long belt-like lasagna noodle. We stopped at a local food court inside the old city in Xi鈥檃n and saw the noodles being made and then slurped them down in a delicious broth mixture with soy, peppers, and scallions. And if you are wondering, in China it鈥檚 perfectly acceptable to slurp your noodles!

My other favorite noodle was the Peking noodle dish found in Beijing.听 The noodles are long, cylinder shaped, and delicious. My favorite part was that the noodles, vegetables, and sauce were brought out in separate bowls and it was up to us to mix the three items together at the table鈥ith chopsticks.听 Good luck鈥he taste is worth it!

Peking Duck

It might look slightly unappetizing to have a whole duck brought out to your table, but trust me on this and say 鈥榶es鈥� to Peking Duck when in Beijing! The duck is best known for its breeding and roasting process; plus it was once the food of Emperors.

We went to Da Wan Ju, a small, local restaurant near the Wangfujing night market. Once the duck is carved by your table, you eat it in a pancake with scallions, cucumber and sweet bean sauce all rolled up like a taco. However, I’m not sure what I liked the most 鈥� the duck breast 鈥榯aco鈥� or the crispy skin! For pure decadence, try dipping the crispy skin in sugar 鈥� the ultimate treat!

Street Food

If you want to get a little bolder, then try the street food in China!听 Don鈥檛 get scared away by Beijing鈥檚 Wangfujing night market, which tends to cater to tourists more than locals. It鈥檚 a market with split personalities 鈥� it has a bunch of great traditional street food such as noodles, dumplings, and soups mixed with creepy crawlies on a stick. It鈥檚 definitely worth a visit to see how daring you are!听 I decided to try dessert there after our Peking Duck dinner, sweet sticky rice 鈥榩ops鈥� on a stick were the perfect ending!

There are plenty of other street markets selling food all over China鈥檚 cities that are geared to locals and your guide can help you find. Our guide led us to the Chang li neighborhood in Shanghai to try some local street food.听 Nestled among retail stores, the market smelled of durian and was filled with businessmen and women stopping to get dinner on their way home from work. The food is cooked right in front of you and I suggest you just pick the stand with the biggest line! The other great thing about local street food is it鈥檚 cheap; I had a giant noodle and veggie dish for only $1.20 USD.

What About the Fortune Cookies?

If you are looking for those crispy sweet fortune cookies at the end of you meal in China, you鈥檒l be waiting forever. In fact 90% of Chinese people don’t even know what they are.听 One of my biggest surprises was learning at all; they are from the United States, created in San Francisco.

The food in China was nothing like what I grew up eating at my family鈥檚 favorite Chinese restaurant in Peoria; instead it was infinitely better. And like most things in the world of travel, it鈥檚 even better when you can get out and explore the local scene, because it鈥檚 all about the journey.

Sherry Ott is a long term traveler, blogger and photographer without a home. She spent a year living in Vietnam, hiked the Annapurna Circuit, did cultural exchange programs in the Middle East, drove 10,000 miles from London to Mongolia, and walked across Spain on the Camino de Santiago. She seeks out adventurous opportunities to inspire people to overcome their fears and reap the benefits of travel. Hear more about her journey to China with Wendy Wu Tours at .

The post Exploring China鈥檚 Food Scene appeared first on 性视界 Blog.