China not being high on my list of places to visit left me with little expectations. This I have learnt is always a good thing when travelling as it doesn’t create room for disappointment and allows you to see things just as they are..

 

My time in China was limited as this trip was part of a charity challenge.   A charity challenge is a project where anyone can become a charity worker if you raise up to a certain amount of money towards a charity organization you are eligible to be part of a trip with Intrepid.    Usually my ideal way to travel is to experience places and people at my own accord, without time constraints and limited photo opportunities as well as not being able to stop and stay at a place if it captivates you. 

 

Intrepid ran this trip for 18 charity workers where it incorporated highlights of Beijing, The Great Wall, Hua Mountain and Xi An. This to me was a perfect introduction to China and to my surprise left me wanting to return to this country that I once didn’t have a desire to travel to.

 

I wasn’t a big fan of Beijing for a holiday destination however it does hold some interesting, informative and realistic perspectives on life in China.   Tianniman Square and the Forbidden city is obviously a must see for its history and purpose however if you are wishing to see some nice temples – Summer Palace is definitely worth a visit.   Also worthwhile is a tour (be it organised or just by catching a rickshaw) through the Hutong Villages where you can get a perspective on life in the heart of China.  

 

From Beijing we headed for the Great Wall of China, which was only a 3-hour bus ride from Beijing City. Here we started off in a quaint guesthouse where we spent the next day preparing ourselves for what was going to be a vigorous 4-day trek of The Great Wall.   Four days of the Great Wall most people would think is a lot of time to see a wall – however you would be amazed that in these 4 days how much ground you can cover despite this amazing 8^th Wonder of the World being 6000 kms long and what scenery you can come across along the way!! Each day the wall was different and the weather also plays a big part in your experience as to how and what you get to see of the wall. Another benefit in travelling with Intrepid was that it gave you the opportunity to go off the tourist route, which soon became very valuable to me when we walked for one day (amongst other tourists) to see this Great Wall… As spectacular as the scenery was this day it was more so amazing being anonymous amongst some beautiful mountainous scenery and this unique wall.

 

Obviously depending on what experience you are wishing to get out of China can depend on what time of year you travel. Travelling around the month of May to me was ideal as we experienced blue skys and cool days (on average of 18 to 20 degrees – which is perfect weather for trekking) Obviously if you are wishing to see the wall covered in Snow – January is the best time to be going.

 

After walking 50 Kms in 4 days throughout the towns of Gubeikou, Jinshanking, Simatai and Wangjinglou we headed to Hua Mountain which is one of 6 sacred mountains in China. To explore this mountain we walked 8km to experience the breath-taking cliff formations made out of monolithic granite, the narrow passages, and amazing sceneries.
 

From here we hit the town of Xi An which for me was a real favourite. This place is a a lot cleaner, laid back and has a real charm about it. With its Mausoleum quarter, walled city, markets and lots more to discover left me feeling like I wanted to go back and experience more of this city and its surroundings. 

 

I would recommend staying within the walled city, as it’s a lot nicer and easy to get around.

 

Basically to sum up this experience – if you are wishing to go to a destination that has many mixed experiences rolled into one – China is definitely a place that holds many experiences and adventures as far as their history, culture, religion, food and scenery. On top of all of that – it is affordable; there is nothing better than travelling to a place where you aren’t restricted because of our Aussie dollar!

 

If you do go to China – keep a look out for the hair saloons that provide Chinese head massages, hair washes and blow waves for as little as $3.00. Nice little luxury that is a must to experience!!

 

If you wish for any further information I would love to help assist you in making your China experience something unique to all your travel experiences.

Alisa