21. China

If you really want to understand China, you will have to learn the language and spend a lot of time in this country. We just got a glimpse on China in the 2 weeks we spent there. There is a lot of disturbing things about the chinese culture (or should I say behaviour?), but there is also an amazing amount of positive things to discover in this huge country.

If you say so...

The big cities (well, let's say the very, very big cities as there are so many big cities) are very different from eachother. There is Hongkong, the former colony of the UK, offering everything other Western cities offer plus breathtaking nature and of course the Chinese culture and food. It is definitely one of my favorite cities in Asia!

Hong Kong by night

Then there is Shanghai - it is a huge, modern city with thousands of skyscrapers and some nice old spots (like the Bund or the old tea house). Overall, the progress has destroyed most of the flair of the old Shanghai though. Well, that is at least what I think as there seems to be nothing old left anyway...

Shanghai by night

Wanna buy turtles?!

Beijing on the other side was able to conserve some of the old flair with its old Hutongs, at least until now. Then there is of course the Forbidden City, the Olympia sites and some other interesting sites within Beijing. The top attraction is outside the city though - the Chinese Wall. It is even more impressive when you see it in person, and just visiting the Wall would already justify a visit of China.

The one and only Wall

Getting around in China is fairly inexpensive as there is an excellent system of night trains going pretty much everywhere. The only problem is the language. Chinese are not known for their excellent English skills, and learning Chinese is a question of years not of months. But having our personal Chinese speaking guide (my girlfriend Sandra ;)), we got along very well and also visited the terracotta warriors in Xi'an and the grasslands of the Inner Mongolia. Especially the later one was very interesting as it was quite unusual and showed us some spots beyond the typical travel paths.

Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an

Me with my horse "Helmut" and Sandra with "Soße"

Last but not least, a comment on the disturbing things. Is it wrong to spit in plastic bags, to smack loudly and to stare at foreigners? Well, let's say that it is definitely different from our culture. ;) I have to say that the food compensates for these somewhat unusual behaviors - I have never eaten so inexpensive and so good food in my life! The Chinese are true magicians when it comes to preparing incredibly delicious food in no time!

Mouth watering Chinese snack