Hey all...I'm back... been travelling and so haven't seen ChinesePod in a while... and somehow I knew when I came back today I would be facing the new website that we saw SpanishPod change to a few weeks back, and lo-and-behold, it had.  I haven't even begun to get a feel for it, and sadly I wasn't around to see all the posts about the switch over nor have I begain to read them.  I still remember the switch to CPod V3.  We calling this one V4 now?  Fill me in.

Well, I thought I would put a more interesting Title on this post than "I'm back" because who really cares anyhoo?  Ha ha.  But I was thinking after traveling to Paris, then London, then Around the coast and islands of Scotland how many places the lessons that Jenny & Co teach managed to get listened to by me.  While I'm listening to them on the go usually, I have to note that there have been a few places where I never thought I would be studying Chinese but found myself purposing listening to ChinesePod because it was just something I had to do:

1. The Louve 卢浮宫: When wandering around the Louve in Paris I had to listen to Chinese at the same time  (and oddly, just a tad too late right after my trip to Paris巴黎, two lessons came out with "Louve" 卢浮宫 in the vocabulary)
2. Eiffel Tower 艾菲尔铁塔： I actually had so much time on my hand and spend a whole day in the Eiffel Tower.  But being surrounded by metal in such a high place, you can only study Chinese before watching to be back on the ground.
3。British Museam 大英博物馆 WHILE in the Chinese exibit:  Can you say nerd?? Okay, must admit, that is just a little too much Chinese, but I don't care for being in silence in museams
4. Under and around Big Ben 大笨钟：I actually did take the "London" lesson with me on that trip, and played the couple's disagreement for a few Chinese friends in London when at Big Ben...they laughed.
5. On a boat cruise of Loch Ness 尼斯湖：Just did this last week... wondered if the Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, knows any Chinese...
6. Sitting on the Isle of Iona: An island off the Isle of Mull that is famous for an Irish Christian missionary (Columba) bringing Christianity to those parts in the 6th century, and the island still keeps to that spiritual message of good news.  No Chinese people there though. :(

Well, those are all I can think of.  Last year I even took ChinesePod to the Great Wall, but that is too close to Cpod's home to almost not count as an exotic place.  You guys listen to ChinesePod in any unusual locations?

Hey..

So I have started to plan my trip to China that will happen around March 2009. I was wondering if anyone knows of any decent websites where I can find cheap accommodation all over China with reviews by people who have stayed there before etc? I'd prefer single rooms, not dorms.

I want to stay in Shanghai for a week, Wuhan for a few days and generally get a feel for different areas of China and where I might like to actually live within the next 5 years. I am not going anywhere near Hong Kong or Beijing on this visit as I am just not interested in those cities. I want to check out Shanghai because I have heard and read so much about it. Same goes for Wuhan.. Other than that, I am easy..

I am trying to workout how much a 3 week holiday is going to cost in terms of living expenses as well. In Sydney it would probably cost me between $100 and $200 a week if I ate take-out food for every meal and generally kept myself comfortable, interested, busy etc. I assume that it's not going to cost that much in China... but how much less.. this is the real mystery to me.

Thanks for all suggestions and tips.

Who has some advice related to travel to Shanghai?

Must see places? e.g.Huangpu River and the Bund, Jade Buddha Temple, Nanjing Road, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Xin Tian Di and Zhujiajiao.Comments on these places?

Places to avoid?

Good value places to stay?

Good restaurants?

etc.

I've just formed a new group called Travel tips.Please feel free to start your own threads on anything related at all to this topic.Obvious starters woud be destinations such as Beijing,Xi'an,Yangtze river cruises,Sichuan,Hainan,HK,Taiwan,etc.Other areas could include such things as reason for travel [e.g.business,tourist,study,visiting friends/rellies,moving to live,etc ],things to avoid [eg the recent holiday leading to crowded transport etc],things not to miss,best times,etc.

Hey all.. good idea this group.. Should have thought of it when I had my questions the other day.

Anyway.. In my other conversation I ended up with a preliminary route to go around China. Here's what I came up with:

Shanghai -> Wuhan -> Chengdu -> Xi'an -> Beijing -> Jinan -> (some place just southwest of Shanghai, Zhanghou may be?) -> Shanghai.

The point of this post is to find out what others think would be a good first trip to China. What destinations would you suggest, without going into massive amount of detail on each location?

On my trip to China (and now a short stay in Taiwan as well.. hehe) I have decided to do it backpacking-style. I have NEVER backpacked before and I know that a few poddies have done this, I think sebire and gesang are at least two who have backpacked around China.

I am wondering what to take... are there things you took that you thought you needed and you ended up not needing? Are there things you didn't take and ended up needing? I'm really lost here..

Obviously I need to take a small sleeping bag, first aid kit, small toiletries bag, change of clothes.. but beyond that I am just not sure.

I travel to China with 15 or so students every three or four years. Each time I map out a different tour. This coming summer I would like to try a coastal tour. These trips always involve slower modes of transportation (train, bus, boat, bicycle, foot) with an emphasis on visiting at least a few places off the beaten track and intermingling with the locals. This last bit might be a bit difficult given the path of this itinerary. I welcome comments, warnings, and suggestions on destinations, sites, hotels, etc. from the many inveterate China travelers here on CPod.

Cheers. Randall

So far, this is what I have worked out (with the help of my long-time Chinese tour insider): 

Day 01   Beijing 北京

• Arrive late in the afternoon
  
• No hotel yet (looking for something near intersection of Wangfujing-Chang’an streets)
  
• Dinner in a dumpling restaurant

Day 02  Beijing 北京

• Tian'An Men Square
  
• Forbidden City
  
• Temple of Heaven
  
• Summer Palace
  
• Peking Opera show at Lao She Tea House

Day 03  Beijing 北京-长城

• Simatai and  Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, with some hiking and hawker dodging
  
• Peking Duck Dinner at Qianmen Quanjude Duck Restaurant
  

Day 04  Beijing 北京/ Qingdao 青岛 (overnight train to Qingdao)

• Morning tour of Hutong, with bicycle rental
  
• Local kindergarden visit
  
• Tour the 2008 Beijing Olympics venues (including Water Cube and Bird Nest)
  
• Walk around the famous Silk Alley Market
  
• Qingdao by overnight train

Day 05 Qingdao 青岛

• Stay at the Equatorial Hotel Qingdao in Old Town
  
• Afternoon walking tour

Day 06  QIngdao 青岛/ Tai’an 泰安

• Bus to Tai’an
  
• Stay at International Hotel Tia'An near the Dai Temple for 2 nights
  
• Afternoon walking tour of town & temples

Day 07  Tai’an 泰安 / Mount Tai 泰山 / Tai’an 泰安

• Full-day tour at Mount Tai, with hiking (or, if you’re too lazy, cable car ride)
  
• Return to Tai’an for dinner
  

Day 08  Tai’an 泰安/ Qufu 曲阜

• After breakfast, depart Tai’an for Qufu
  
• Tour in Qufu including Confucious Temple / family residences and etc.
  
• Stay at Queli Hotel  

Day 09  Qufu 曲阜/ Zhujiayu 朱家峪 / Jinan 济南/ Shanghai 上海(overnight train to Shanghai)

• Bus to Jinan
  
• On the way, stop by in Zhujianyu village. Walking tour of village and lunch. Then proceed to Jinan by coach
  
• Depart Jinan for Shanghai by overnight train 
  

Day 10    Shanghai 上海

• Stay at  Boadway Mansions Hotel Shanghai for 2 nights
  
• Visit the Bund and East Nanjing Road / Xin Tian Di area. 
  

Day 11 Shanghai 上海

• Old Town
  
• Yu Garden
  
• The Shanghai Museum
  
• Wander the French Concession. 
  
• Acrobatic show in evening

Day 12 Shanghai 上海 / Moganshan 莫干山

• Depart Shanghai by bus to Moganshan in Zhejiang Province
  
• Stay at Jianquan Shanzhuang for 1 night
  
• Afternoon hiking 
  

Day 13 Moganshan 莫干山 / Hangzhou 杭州

• Depart Moganshan for Hangzhou by bus
  
• Stay at Sunny Hotel Hangzhou
  
• Afternoon tour on West Lake
  

Day 14 Hangzhou 杭州/ Shenzhen 深圳 (overnight train to Shenzhen)

• Morning at leisure. 
  
• Depart Hangzhou for Shenzhen by overnight train
  

Day 15 Shenzhen 深圳/ Hong Kong 香港 (Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙嘴)  

• Shenzhen to Hong Kong by bus
  
• Stay at the YMCA Salisbury House
  
• Night tram to Victoria Peak

Day 16 Hong Kong 香港/ USA 美国

• Free day at leisure. 
  
• Depart HKG for USA by air

不远千里   
bù yuăn qiān lĭ

英译 (English)     to come for a visit from a faraway place
释义 (paraphrase)     不以千里为远。形容不怕路途遥远。
示例 (demonstration)     王华不远千里从山西太原来重庆“相亲”。

Hi all - I am looking to travel around China on tour for a couple of weeks. There are a lot of companies claiming to offer such trips, but I would rather go with a company that comes recommended. Do any of you have a company you have good experiences with?

Thanks, Greg

I am glad there is a site just for suggestions!

Having just returned from China, one of the problems I had was reading the information signs on buses, trains, and shops.  Also It would be nice to understand the announcements on planes and in airports.  Is there any way of:

1. gathering a vocabulary related to these activities

2. doing a "hungry traveler" type of lesson / video / discussion?

For example, arriving at an airport and checking the boards for arrival and departure times, gate, etc.

Hi!

Sorry for cluttering the board with this post but I just got to have a place where to put my thoughts. My head is spinning.

The day before yesterday I took my chinese friends for a trip in my tiny sailboat. When we were sailing the guy asked me if I wanted to go with them to China in 3 weeks. I was stunned. -I'll think about it, I said.
Later on that day he asked me again. I had repressed it. Stunned again. -I have to think.

Go, go, go! I hear you all poddies say; but you remember I'm not a globetrotter. I travel abroad one time per ten years... It's the longest trip I have ever done if it comes true.

At the present I'm still a bit confused. Do they really want me to join their trip? They are living at my place and are going to visit some relatives in China. We have been friends for a few months. The woman has not asked me in personal to come with them, so I wonder if the guy wants to 请 (qing3) me join but the woman don't want to or is not too excited about it. I really don't want to go if I'm considered a burden to anyone of them.

How can I figure out if they both are frank about this? Spending 2 weeks together is a bit more than a casual 10 minute chat in a restaurant.

What are the top places to travel to in China?

yeah, I asked this about Beijing, and now i'm asking it about Shanghai for the same reason.  One day, I might visit Shanghai again.

Hi, all

I'm planing to visit Shanghai from Feb 13 to 16. It's the first time for me to visit China on Chinese New Year. I'm very excited but a little nervous. The city must be very different during the time. Activities, Dining info., Places to go, Tourist traps, any suggestions are welcome!

     How can I call up all the lessons that are helpful for traveling in China?

     About a year ago, I think there was a way to click on "Topics" and then on "Travel," but now I can't find "topics."

     At that time, there were supposed to be 6 Newbie lessons on Travel, 9 Elementary lessons, and 10 Intermediate lessons - plus lessons at those 3 levels on related useful topics like Transportation, Taxi, Weather, Shopping, Food. I need them now.

Donald Shaffer

dshaffer1@embarqmail.com