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Transsiberian Express!

May 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The aim of this article is to share my experience and provide all the practical information that you may need to enjoy an unforgettable trip along the Transsiberian or Trans Mongolian railway.

Here a short outline of the article:

  • Transsiberian myths and wrong beliefs.
  • Why should you take the Transsiberian Express?
  • Where to buy the tickets for the Transsiberian?
  • Railcar and train’s classes
  • Which route should you choose?
  • Russian, Mongolian and Chinese VISA requirements
  • Things you should bring with you
  • Essential information and tips

[Read more...]

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Travel to China: Tips and Resources

May 20, 2013 by 5 Comments

This guide contains pretty much all the info that you’ll need to prepare your trip to China: VISA requirements, travel insurances, vaccinations, guidebooks, planes and trains, hotels, internet and phone cards.

Also, you’ll find tips on where to eat, what to bring to China, when to travel to China, how to avoid the most common scams and how to bargain.

p.s. At the bottom of this post you can download a Travel Phrase Book Chinese/English in PDF format. You’ll find the most common greetings, the most common food and drinks, numbers, how to ask for help or directions, as well as some useful sentences for taking a taxi and shopping. You can print the PDF e-book and use it during your trip to China ; )

[Read more...]

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Walk the Great Wall: Interview with the author Bryan Feldman

September 10, 2012 by 6 Comments

Last month, while I was doing a research for an article about the Great Wall of China, I stumbled upon the Great Wall Forum.

The Great Wall Forum offers detailed advice for visiting any section of the Great Wall, high quality photos, GPS maps and any kind of feedback you need within a couple days.

I dug a bit more and discovered that the founder of the forum, Bryan Feldman, is also the author of the book Walk the Great Wall. Being a big fan of the Wall myself, I contacted Bryan. This article is the result of our discussion. [Read more...]

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Great Wall of China: A short guide to the 14 most popular sections

August 22, 2012 by 10 Comments

great wall of china

I’ve always been fascinated by the Great Wall of China (长城, Chang Cheng in Mandarin). The first time I had enough time and money to afford an intercontinental travel I took a flight from Paris to Beijing and I went straight away to see the Great Wall section of Mutianyu.

This was in February 2008 and since then I’ve visited the Great Wall other three times, once per year. And I plan to visit it again soon with my new wide angle lens : )

Where to visit the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall has often been compared to a giant dragon that stretches for about 8,850 km. The dragon has its head in Beijing and its tail in the desert of Gansu Province, along the silk road.

Even if it’s possible to visit many sections of the Great Wall, each one with its own characteristics, most of the people end up at Badaling, Mutianyu or Juyongguan.

In my opinion this happens because it’s not always clear which are the differences between the sections. Also, few travel agencies go beyond Badaling and Mutianyu.

This article contains a short review of fourteen sections of the Great Wall. The idea is to help you establishing which section fit better your requirements. [Read more...]

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The most fashionable street in China

June 28, 2012 by 3 Comments

maozedong

I don’t know whether Nan Luo Gu Xiang is the most fashionable street in China or not. But if Mao Zedong says so, it must be true! [Read more...]

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Back to West Beijing

June 8, 2012 by 9 Comments

west beijing

As soon as we land and get off the Airchina number 944, I recognize the acrid mixture of Gobi desert’s sand and pollution from the factories that surround the capital.

“Nice to meet you again Beijing,” I think.

I could get a cab, but instead I walk till the Airport Express train that, I know, will only cost me 27 kuai.

An hour later, I’m at 魏公村 (Wèi Gōng Cūn) subway station.

Two years had passed since last time I was in West Beijing and [Read more...]

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Five reasons to love China

February 9, 2012 by 4 Comments

chinese marketChinese Merchants.

The markets

“kuai kuai kaui!” is the mantra you hear along the streets of Beijing, where there is not a market: Beijing is a market.

Luxury market at Xidan Square, Wang Fu Jing or the Village in San Li Tun; antique market at Liu Li Chang; fake market at the Ya Shou or at the Silk Market in Guo Mao; farmers’ market through the secondary streets full of villagers that come at night riding their horses and run away every time the police arrives; sex market inside the red light massages parlors. [Read more...]

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