I decided today that I’m going to travel to either Sichuan or Yunnan province this summer before I make a trip back home to the states. I’ve done a lot of traveling in China, but never to either of these two massive provinces and I couldn’t be more stoked about it. The lure of Western China calls out to me and I’ve only scratched that itch but once with a trip into Xinjiang province. Yunnan and Sichuan remain mystified, but the former will likley be next on the hit list. Also, unless it’s just financially stupid, I’ll take the train. Of course it’s substantially longer than a flight, but I enjoy long-distance train rides in China. For me, they’re filled with long conversations, baijiu and a real sense of movement that you don’t get on an airplane. I’m looking forward to it.
I love Shanghai, but one needs to escape it’s packed streets, pace and pollution at least a few times a year.
Well, at least I do anyway.
The weather is quite phenomonal today, however, and for that reason it’s time to get away from this damn computer screen!
Beer me.
3 Comments
they are both wonderful to travel around the country or city. have you ever made a plan to come to Xi’an in Shaanxi province? i think you would also be attracted by it and you can try to go and see the other cities in northwest of China. and i promise it must be very different with south. hehe.
anyway, Sichuan and Yunnan are also fantastic, but i have never been to Xinjiang. if i get a chance, i would like to go there. hehe.
if possible i might go to Shanghai for my graduate study this september. but everything is still uncertain now. i really hate the sense of uncertanty. i cannot do nothing but wait.
I actually went to Xi’an on my way to Xinjiang. In fact, I took a train from Xi’an to Urumqi. Although it was super hot when I was there, I enjoyed it. The bike ride around the city walls was fun too. I also went a bit outside of town to 华山 which was amazing.
I hear you on the sense of uncertainty. I seem to find myself in those situations quite often. Moving around, changing jobs, etc. But it always seems to work out in end, no?
Sichuan was one of my favorite trips (went twice). Never made it to Yunnan–though I really wish I had.
If you end up in Sichuan, be sure to visit Leshan and then head north to Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou.