Beijing

Obviously, the Great Wall is a sight on many bucket lists. Part of me would like to see it, but then I get a bit dissuaded when I see some of the extensive touristy activities that have developed there. At one time I had planned on doing the Great Wall Marathon. Yes, there is actually a marathon that tackles all those steps. I think I’ve moved on from that particular idea, though.

Despite the possibility of heavy crowds, etc., I think not going to the Great Wall is probably like going to Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower. It’s just one of those things you really need to do.

I would also like to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

A friend has also suggested dining in Wangfujing Street. Considering her other wonderful food suggestions, I’m definitely planning on following through on this.

Harbin

This city probably isn’t a huge item on the typical China tourism roster, but a friend and her son lived here for 6 months or so, and I was quite enthralled with some of her descriptions of the place. Most specifically, I would love to be there during the annual ice festival. The city is also filled with many quirky sights, and I’m a big fan of quirky places.

Shanghai

On the long list of things to see in Shanghai, I’d like to visit Yu Garden. This garden was finished in the 16th century by a government official of the Ming Dynasty. Just that history alone is enough to make me to want to visit.

Guangxi

This region has absolutely amazing scenery. It is well known for its rivers, caves, and karst formations. Just seeing one photo of the rugged, verdant, extreme peaks in the region was enough to catch my interest firmly. One of the main sights here is known as Elephant Trunk Hill. It is the symbol of the city Guilin. The space beneath the elephant’s “trunk” is known as Water-Moon Cave because one can see the reflection of the moon in the water at night.

That’s something I would love to see!

Gansu

In this province are located the Mogao Caves, which form a system of 492 temples. There are multiple huge buddhas carved into the hillsides. This area served as an important religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road.

These carvings and other important historical areas are almost 2000 years old. Manuscripts have been found there dating back to the year 1000.

I can only imagine what it would be like to walk in and among these ancient grottoes.

Which regions on your wish list for visiting China?

Anyone who has considered travel to China knows that the visa process can be . . . a bit of a challenge. And thanks to reciprocity, US citizens have to pay quite a bit of money to acquire their visa.

However, HK makes it easy on visitors! Most people can visit the city without an advance visa and get a generous 90 days to stay within the region. From what I’ve heard from numerous people, HK is also a great place to get a hold of your Chinese visa if a visit to the rest of the country is on your horizons.

With so much to do and see in the city, Travel Associates have created a rather helpful infographic so you can easily filter out all your must-do things once you’re there.

What’s on your list of things to do and try in Hong Kong?

In recent years, most of what you hear about Macau comes from the success of Macau casinos. They are now among the most profitable in the world. While many do go to Macau strictly to gamble, there is still a world of history and culture that is largely overlooked by the modern tourist population. Below are a few of the best things to do while traveling in Macau.

Senate Square

With streets paved in cobblestones and lined with excellent examples of European architecture, Senate Square is a commerce hub for Macau. Here you can check out numerous small shops and restaurants and sample some of the local fare.

A-Ma Temple

Built in 1488 the A-Ma Temple can be found at the southeast tip of the Macau Peninsula. Know for being among the oldest Taoist temples in the area, the A-Ma Temple was constructed and dedicated to the goddess Matsu, the goddess of seafarers and fishermen.

Taipa Village

If you are looking for classic examples of Taipa history, then you need to check out Taipa Village. Here you can find ancient temples, colonial villas, traditional Chinese restaurants and shops, as well as old churches. For those that enjoy leisurely strolls, try the Avenida da Praia which has a lovely esplanade lined with trees.

San Paulo Cathedral

Known for being the iconic symbol for Macau, the San Paulo Cathedral is a great example of classic architecture. While only the facade remains intact for the structure, many come here to marvel at the wonder of the architecture that went into this structure.

Guia Fortress

Built somewhere between 1622 and 1638, the Guia Fortress is another wonderful example of classic architecture. The multi-purpose facility has a lighthouse, chapel, and military fort. The lighthouse was the last part built to the facility, build around 1864.

Museum of Macau

Located inside what is left of an ancient fortress, the Museum of Macau tell the history of China and Portugal and brings that history to life with stunning exhibits. One of the more rare and unusual exhibits you will find here is one dedicated to prize fighting crickets. Some of these crickets were so revered that they were provided with coffins and headstones after they died.

Backpacking with kids is even more adventurous and exciting than travelling solo or with a companion. Kids make you laugh and keep you active.

Travelling in Beijing with kids could be a scary proposition. Why? Some parents are afraid of kids getting bored quickly in China’s most famous historical sites. However, if you plan your day properly with a lot of activities in between, you can turn a boring day in Chinese temples into a fascinating adventure.

Things to keep in mind during your stay in China:

• Do a lot of walking and trekking to keep your kids active
• Do not visit too many historical places in one day
• Keep every visit in temples short

Climbing the Great Wall of China

Take your kids to Mutianyu (the most renovated part of the Great Wall of China to explore with kids) early in the morning to avoid the crowd. Don’t take a taxi, walk there or take a bus to save some money. Take your kids for an exciting cable car ride up to the Wall, then have a walk, take some photos, enjoy the scenery and you can boggan down at the end, which is going to be a great fun! For sure, that is going to be more fun than booking a tour with a travel agency. If your children are older you can even spend a night on the Wall playing guitar, having a picnic and watching the sky.

Exploring the Forbidden City

Instead of hiring a travel guide, you can follow your China Lonely Planet book to plan a few hours in the Forbidden City. Read them some stories about the history of this place to bring the history alive for them, then stroll down the gardens looking at animal and other creature sculptures and head to Belhai Park to rent pedal boats so you can go for a boat ride across the lake.

Fly a kite in Tiananmen Square

Your kids will be excited and happy to fly their kites in world’s largest square and you can have a break. The best time to do it is afternoon as the square is not so crowded. Just be extra careful not to lose them off your sight.

Buy some toys at Beijing toy market

Beijing toy market is full of toys your kids will love such as dolls, stuffed pandas, and flying toy helicopters. If you feel like your kids are getting bored, take them there and let them play!

Go to the Beijing Zoo

You can take your kids to see giant pandas, monkeys, and much more here. It is home to many animals from around the world so your kids can observe them and take some photos with them. If you have an afternoon off, stop by and see some pandas!

Get your kid’s kick out of the echo wall in the Temple of Heaven

You can stroll down the park or have a picnic before you start exploring the Temple Of Heaven. The Temple is very colourful, so your kids will like playing around it. There is a huge wall surrounding the Imperial Vault, where your kids can stand at opposite sides and whisper to each other being heard clearly.

See the exotic fish in Beijing Aquarium

The Beijing Aquarium is one of the biggest and most spectacular aquariums in the world. You can take your kids there to observe various different exotic fish, see a dolphin and sea lion show, have some snacks and buy some souvenirs.

Watch the Kung Fu show

Take a peek at the Shaolin Kung Fu performance, which is extremely exciting for kids to see. They can see Chinese fight and learn something more about Kung Fu.

Have a dinner at Wangfujing Street at night

Wangfujing Street looks stunning at night with thousands of red lanterns hanging above your head. Your kids can see and taste scorpions, frogs, some bugs and worms and get delicious fresh fruit sticks with huge sweet strawberries! There are a lot of traditional Chinese dishes to try such as baozi (Chinese dumplings) or spicy Hot Pot. Don’t go too late though, you want your kids to have enough energy for the next day!

Do some exercise at Fundazzle Indoor Playground

This is a great place to stretch your legs, dance and go for a see-saw or slide.

There are plenty of activities to do when exploring Beijing city with your kids. If you feel like historical spots are too boring for them, you now see it doesn’t have to be this way! Your kids will be amazed by the range of things they can do here, and you will be happy with them, too.

For more information and photos from Beijing you can go to http://etramping.com and follow Agness and Cez on their journey around the world for less than $25 a day.

Author Bio
Agness is a Polish vagabond who, after graduating in 2011, left her comfort zone setting off for a journey of a lifetime to China. She has been constantly travelling the world since then (slowly, but surely as she says), living like a local for less than $25 a day. She has become passionate about photography and adventure blogging, sharing her enthusiasm for life as well as her travel experiences.

Follow Agness on Twitter, Facebook, and.or through Agness’s blog.