Blogs from Zhejiang, China, Asia

We took the bus from Ningbo train station (988) to Fenghua. The bus driver was totally mental and drove like a maniac, which is unusual as most bus drivers are pretty good. He stopped in the middle of the road to use his phone at one point and then sailed past one of the bus stops, coming to an abrupt halt a hundred metres or so past the stop. The bus journey took about an hour and we definitely passed some of the grittier and grimier parts of Ningbo. We got off the bus in Xikou, a small town. My friend had went to high school in this town and had visited the scenic area back then so she recommended this place to us to visit. Fenghua is famous for beef noodles, and since we had ... read more

…and fruit flies like bananas…hard to believe I will be home in less than a month. I think this China trip has gone by the quickest of all. I’m really not sure why, but maybe it’s a combination of being totally at ease with what I do here and, to some extent, with China itself. China is always going to be a mystery regardless of how long you spend here as a foreigner, but at least some of the mystery becomes less, well, mysterious. Overall, the Chinese people that I am in contact with, even if just for a few minutes, have been great. Gentle, generous and genuine. (How’s that for alliteration?) As a ‘for instance’, I have been going to a restaurant by my supermarket for dumplings or noodles from time to time. The husband ... read more

Well the giant crab like spider didn't bite me to death during the night, which was a relief. I soon got myself sorted and headed out to explore some more of Shaoxing. I didn't get too far as my first stop was Starbucks for a coffee and some breakfast. Filled with caffiene, I was ready to explore. I took a walk down the main pedestrianised tourist street. I loved the little canal ways that were filled with small boats. I kind of wish that I could have took a ride on one, it would have been nice to see the streets and houses from a different perspective. I came to the Shou Family Taimen and went in there for a look around. A taimen is a house complex and this one was built during the Qing ... read more

Since we didn't have too much time for my friend to see many places in China, we decided to do a day trip when we were in Shanghai. I said either Hangzhou or Suzhou would be good destinations as they are both popular destinations with plenty to see and do and they are both close to Shanghai. My friend chose Hangzhou, so I booked the train tickets and we headed there early in the morning. The train took about an hour and after getting the subway, we were in downtown Hangzhou. Our first port of call was Starbucks for coffees and breakfast. We got seats by the window and got to watch the world go by as we ate and drank. Then we followed the crowds down to West Lake. West Lake was swarmed with people. ... read more

August 23-24th As an art student China has fascinated me, especially through its many forms of sculpture. So I visited the ancient port city of Ningbo. Tianyi Pavilion is a diamond in the rough for most international travellers. China’s oldest private library full of brilliant relics preserved for over 2,000 years. The sculptures did not disappoint either. Dignified Dragons, mysterious cat-like figures, and the stone landscaping are truly inspiring. The next stop: Southern Song Dynasty Stone Carvings Here was what really brought me to Ningbo. The stone carvings are the largest archaeological relic collection in the Southern Song dynasty, arguably the most artistic of all the Chinese dynasties. The details of each stone have been preserved for centuries and have all kinds of forms. The serious expressions cover most the figures, except for a ... read more