Lijiang, the Venice of the East – Yunnan Province
Lijiang, dubbed the "Venice of the East" by tourists, may well be one of the prettiest towns in China
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Party approved cab driver, Chongqing
It can be difficult to find a taxi in Chongqing - we struck very lucky and got the best one!
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Walking tour of Chongqing, China’s largest city
A walking tour of Chongqing, taking in the historic Diaojiaolou stilt houses and the Eighteen Steps area leading down to Chaotianmen Docks.
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Chongqing Hot Pot at Qi Qi Catering
Being a lover of hot pot, and discovering that Chongqing lays claim to having invented the dish, I had to try the local speciality whilst in town.
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Two visits to the Mountain Bar Resort – Huairou, Shentangyu
North of Beijing, in the Nightless Valley, lies the disparate collection of restaurants around the Mountain Bar Resort. Some are better than others...
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How not to eat well in Beijing
Being home alone for three weeks, with little to do, has given me ample opportunity to try a few of the less popular foods I've seen around, many of which my better-informed partner refuses to touch. Don't tell anyone, but she was right.
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Failing to Learn Chinese: Beyond the tipping point
After a sudden burst of learning Chinese on an intensive course, I became caught up in work and barely practiced for a month. Inevitably, starting one-to-one lessons with the same tutor was an exercise in embarrassment as I’d nearly forgotten everything she’d taught me that wasn’t related to ordering in restaurants.
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Avoiding horse rides in Weichang Scenic Area – Hebei Province
A visit to Weichang Scenic Area, a few language mistakes and a lot of avoiding horses.
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Notes from a drive to Weichang, in Hebei Province
For the October week of holidays we left behind the partially deserted confines of Beijing to drive up to Weichang Scenic Area, about 450km north. A few observations along the way:
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The Laowai Death Stare
The Laowai Death Stare, also known as Marco Polo syndrome, when foreigners are upset about meeting other foreigners in their own little corner of the world
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