I’m not going to lie; the train journeys have been somewhat traumatic during my trip (I’m such a drama queen). There was always something wrong and it’s just led to frustration and me being uncomfortable, but that’s also down to me for booking last minute etc and having the plan that I have. These places aren’t close to each other at all, but I have wanted to visit these places since I knew I was coming to China!
Shattered, is what I was… stepping off the 10+ hour train journey from Guilin. I hadn’t been eating much because the heat had just really put me off and I was pooped! I headed to the bus station but there was a pretty big crowd and the last thing I needed was people and loud noise, so I hopped in the nearest taxi… He said he knew where he was going, he had a rough idea. He also decided to slap on an extra 50 yuan to my price because of having to go out of the city to the National Park. What a joke. So, it was 150 yuan. He didn’t drop me outside the hostel I had to wander without data and ask, I eventually stumbled upon the place and was warmly greeted. Turns out I got upgraded to the sister hostel, which was great! The staff and the hostel I couldn’t fault, they were extremely helpful during my time there. They set me up with my pass for the National Park and gave me a different route each day. It was just that the heat was a bit much for this Yorkshire lass, as well as the throngs of crowds that flowed into the park each day. I knew it was going to be busy due to the holidays and I accepted this fact. There were countless occasions where I really had to grin and bear it at times with it being so busy.
The Zhangjiajie National Park was breath taking. However, I expected being able to hike around quite easily, this wasn’t the case here. It was a bus tour to each ‘scenic spot’ then some small walking trails. On the last day I did the most walking along the main viewing area and down numerous stairs (my legs were like jelly by the end) it was a fantastic place to visit, but it was catered for individuals to just hop on and off a bus, get the snap then leave. I think as I’m getting older and doing more traveling, I’ve realised that I prefer staying a longer amount in places rather than just stopping off at a place, getting the snap and then leaving! I am such a tourist, but I don’t like being a tourist that much at all! Although, I did really enjoy being closer to nature and getting out of the larger cities, it was relaxing, and it also gave me time to miss Beijing.
On my final day I visited the longest glass bridge in the world and the Grand Canyon. It was a definite must for me! Was a lovely trip and I really enjoyed my time there; at the beginning you start at the bridge and cross over, then just work your way down the canyon and eventually have lovely boat trip at the end to the exit. The only negative was that I had to wait over 1hour for the bus to take me back to the bus station. I was conscious of getting back in time so that I could shower and get my stuff ready so I could then make my train to Chengdu. I eventually got back and managed to get a public puss for 14 yuan back to the train station and off to Chengdu I went.
Some of the sights I saw whilst traveling on the trains were amazing! Especially traveling through the countryside and witnessing some of the rice terraces. When I arrived in Chengdu, I followed very ambiguous directions provided by the hostel. Although I am not a huge fan of Starbucks it helped in this instance to fill the whole in my stomach and help me find my way to the hostel.
Chengdu had positive vibes, the central part just seemed very inviting and it had a good feel about it. The hostel was one of the nicest hostels that I had stopped in along my travels. By this time though my body was weary from the amount of traveling I’d been doing. I got myself ready and headed out to Wide and Narrow Alley (Kuanzhai Xiangzi) as recommended by the hostel staff. I only had two nights in Chengdu and wanted to make the most of it! I wandered through the People’s Park and to the Wide and Narrow Alley. It was bursting with people and smells! I loved it. I also bumped into a fellow Yorkshireman, (can you believe?) small world indeed! It turned out that we lived a stone throw away from one another back home and ended up high jacking one of the local bars and forcing the pianist to let us sing… he begrudgingly obliged.
The following morning; I was hungover, ill and up early to see the pandas! I Taxied to the research centre which wasn’t that far at all and thoroughly enjoyed my time there… and of course I got to see the pandas! The main reason I visited Chengdu for. After visiting the pandas, I went to pick up my train tickets back to Beijing and went home. Unfortunately, I was feeling very ill after walking around and had a very quiet evening in the hostel as I had an early train back to BJ.
I was excited to get back to the comfort of my own apartment and to the familiarity of BJ that I had grown to love.
Beans on toast blog 