Jia Jia and the Warriors, a short story from China. After a prolonged period of stability, I finally bid farewell to Belgium in the summer of 2009. Uninspired by life in grey, uneventful Brussels, my girl and I headed off to China for an unforgettable year of teaching and traveling. The slow train from Beijing […]
Read MoreBeijian Bridge Taishun County. November 2017. Located in Sixi Town, Beijian Bridge is one of Taishun County’s most picturesque spots. Initially camouflaged by a stupendous one thousand year old camphor tree, you’ll need to make your way to the start of the lake’s stepping-stones before the bridge fully reveals itself. Perched eleven meters above water […]
Read MoreWucheng Village, Cangnan County, China. November 2018. Jamie and I had just finished the walking trail around the cliffs at Dragon Head Hill. Back on the pretty little beach at Half Moon Bay, I realised that darkness was rapidly setting in. Wucheng Village looked so pretty from across the water, nestled at the foot of the […]
Read MoreFudewan Ancient Village, China. Want to get the full context? Why not go back to the beginning with Fudewan Ancient Village Part I. October 2018. Having strolled the narrow lanes, marvelled at the alum and stopped by the Tea Academy, my next port of call in Fudewan Ancient Village was the sleepy post office. In […]
Read MoreJune 2014. Located just seventy kilometres northeast of Beijing, The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu is a fully restored section of the wall that’s ideal for those looking to strike a balance between convenience and authenticity. Having already hiked the stunning and somewhat wild Jinshanling to Simatai section four years earlier, this was my […]
Read MoreThe Great Wall of China, Jinshanling to Simatai. May 2010. For visitors to China, hiking a section of The Great Wall often finds itself at the very top of the to-do list. However, choosing which part to tackle can be an overwhelming task. Especially as there are nearly nine thousand kilometres of wall scattered around […]
Read MoreFebruary 2018. I’ve always been pretty relaxed about accommodation when I’m on the road. Sometimes I’ll fork out for somewhere nice, other times I’m happy to slum it in a basic guesthouse or hostel. Wonderboy on the other hand is a little more, how to put this, high maintenance. In fact, he found himself so disillusioned […]
Read MoreFebruary 2018. Art lovers will find plenty to admire about the Chinese city of Shenzhen. There are murals, sculptures and statues aplenty throughout the city’s parks and squares. Moreover, one shouldn’t leave town without visiting the fascinating Dafen Oil Painting Village. And then you’ve got OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park, built from the bones of a former […]
Read MoreFebruary 2018. Wonderboy and I were excited about the prospect of visiting the so-called Silicon Valley of China! In fact, we’d read all about it prior to our arrival in Shenzhen. Most people have never even heard of it, and yet, Huaqiangbei Electronics District is the biggest electrical complex in China. Some even claim it’s the biggest […]
Read MoreFebruary 2018. The Dongmen Market district of Shenzhen is one of the oldest parts of the city, with a three hundred year trading history under its belt. If you’re in the mood for some shopping, or even just people watching, this is the place to come for the biggest variety of goods and price ranges to suit […]
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Traveling the world, one country at a time.
