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Travelogue

Travel blog written by the Designs 4 Trips team, our customers and other travel enthusiasts. If you want to contribute to these Travelogues, please mail your own travel experiences to support@designs4trips.com with your name and email id.

  • THE DRAGON TALES
    • When my husband was asked to attend a meeting at Shanghai and he offered me to join him to visit Shanghai and maybe a couple of more places in China, I was both excited and apprehensive. China is not a top of the chart tourist destination for people from India. I was also worried about getting a visa soon since the time was very short. Once we took a call to visit China, I had to quickly draw up the list of places and attractions that had to be covered. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which I got my tourist visa in less than a week. Language and food were my main concerns since I was not a meat eater. After touring China, we realised that language is indeed a problem and the choice of food too is very limited if you are a vegetarian or do not eat meat.


      It was a very wise decision to go through a local travel agency for a customized tour with a private English speaking guide and exclusive vehicle for the two of us at all the three destinations – Shanghai, Beijing and Xian. We did not to be herded with a bunch of tourists into coaches and taken from place to another and be asked to rush through the places. We wanted to explore the cities at our own pace. It was a little expensive when compared to all those package tours but it was worth it. So, our China trip became our special and private holiday in the Land of the Dragons. 


      The trip started with SHANGHAI, the sleek and modern city showcasing the progressive aspects of China. Streets lines with designer outlets, walking along the riverside at the famous Bund and Crossing the Huangpu river from the Bund to the opposite side through the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel was an exciting experience.  Climbing up the Oriental Pearl TV tower and walking on the glass decks made us almost dizzy and gave us a panoramic view of the city. A visit to  the temple of the Jade Buddha and witnessing prayers being offered there and  strolling in the Yu Garden which used to be a private garden, now open to public with several oriental structures and ponds inside were beautiful experiences that we will remember. Shanghai is one of the largest fake markets for everything designer and expensive. We were constantly approached by agents with their visiting cards. Buying a fake would mean going with an agent into non-descript shops and go downs located in long winding alleys behind main streets and haggling with them . There are also several markets – even indoor markets with escalators and all, that sell fakes. We stopped by for lunch at the French Concession, a residential area of Shanghai once designated for the French, the French Concession is popular with tourists and expats, and appreciated for its cafes, tree-lined avenues, and tudor houses. Our priced buys from Shanghai – jade jewellery and ultra light pure silk quilt, hopefully not fake. I do wonder sometimes.


      Our next destination was at the historic city of XIAN on a domestic flight. The main reason for going to Xian was to see the fabled Terracota warriors. Our guide was waiting for us at the airport to welcome us with our car. We didn’t waste any time and went to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Park to stroll around the park and admire at the beautiful architecture. The next day was  the much awaited visit to see the terracotta warriors. The location of the excavated site is outside the city. Besides admiring the terracotta figures and marvelling at the efforts involved in the excavations, we realised that Xian used to be the one of the capitals of Imperial China before it was shifted to Peking or Beijing. We went on a photo clicking spree to get the right pictures. After returning back to the city, we were also taken to the Grand Mosque which has traditional Chinese architecture has an Arabic soul and follows Islamic system of worship. We learnt of the cultural impact and intermingling of cultures because of the silk route and Arab traders travelling to China and some of them deciding to settle down there.


      Our last stop was BEIJING. A visit to China is incomplete without Beijing. For a tourist the city has so much to offer and is very historic. The Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Imperial Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven which is an architectural marvel – its magical stairway gives you a feel that it moves with you when you move sideways, the Sacred Way and Ding Tomb that were eye openers to ancient Chinese rulers and their ways, a short Hutong Tour to see the well preserved unique houses, there was so much and we felt the time was so little. We went to the Badaling portion of the Great Wall and climbed up and walked along the path on the wall. The feeling to be walking on one of the Wonders of the World was great. We also did quite a bit of shopping at various shopping centres and markets including the famous Pearl Market, which sells everything in wholesale and also pearls and started worrying about excess baggage charges that we may have to pay to the airline. We even ventured on our own on the metro and took local taxis to markets with directions from our guides and hotel staff. Remember to carry your hotel visiting card with the name and address written in local language if you are venturing out on your own so that you can just show the card and make your way back to your hotel.  . The people were very warm and friendly and some of them were amused to see us. There were youngsters who wanted to get pictures clicked with us. Unfortunately because of my food preferences, I could not try the very popular Peking Duck delicacy.


      It was a trip that we will truly cherish with very fond memories and a rich variety of experiences


      (D4T editor’s pick)

            
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