P365 TE Day 310

The Summer Palace in Beijing

Travel Bite: The Summer Palace is a beautiful place to visit in Beijing... when you're not pregnant and it's not cold. Otherwise, you will literally steal the socks from your friend (yes... it was that cold) and you'd rather call a taxi to go back to the hotel than look around. Hahaha.

Bonus Travel Bit: However, like all similar places, I still believe, If you've seen one, you've seen them all, so no need to put so many places to visit on your itinerary.

Location: Beijing, China
Date Photo Taken: April 2007

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of Nov 2: 266

P365 TE Running Points: 838 out of 872 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 309

The Bund in Shanghai

Travel Bite: You can't go to Shanghai and not visit The Bund - which means Embankment or Embanked Quay. There are other Bunds around the world but normally "The Bund" refers to the one in Shanghai lining the Huangpu River. It's really beautiful at night, with the pictured view on one end, and restored buildings on the other side (not in picture). 


Location: Shanghai, China
Date Photo Taken: August 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of Nov 2: 266

P365 TE Running Points: 836 out of 869 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 217

Terracotta Warriors

Travel Bite: The Terracotta Warriors were created and for the First Emperor of China and was buried with him to ensure his protection in the after-life. There are still a few of them that have been well preserved.

When I went to China for the first time more than seven years ago, I didn't really like Shanghai and Beijing, but Xian came as a pleasant surprise because it was more comfortable and tourist-friendly.
Location: Xian, China
Date Photo Taken: April 2007

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of July 27: 213

P365 TE Running Points: 647 out of 651 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 137

Hot Wind Stores

Travel Bite: One of my favorite stores in Shanghai is called Hot Wind. (Pictured above is their life store) They normally have a green windmill logo (same as the red one above).

This store stocks shoes and clothes from the same supplier that supplies chain stores like Zara at a fraction of the cost. They also offer lifetime warranty on their shoes!

Location: Shanghai, China
Date Photo Taken: August 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of May 17: 136

P365 TE Running Points: 407 out of 408 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 136

Xiao Long Pao place at YuYuan Gardens

Travel Bite: A famous Xiao Long Bao place in YuYuan Gardens is this take out window you'll see with a lot of the wooden steamers, and a long line of people buying xiao long pao to take away. They just dump it in a white paper boat to go.

For a more relaxing eating experience, just go up to the second floor. The same place has a restaurant, you'll know you're there when you see a giant xiao long bao with No.1 on it on the way up.

Location: Shanghai, China
Date Photo Taken: August 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of May 16: 135

P365 TE Running Points: 407 out of 408 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 135

Wholesale Market beside Yu Yuan Gardens

Travel Bite: While the tourists shop in Yu Yuan Gardens for souvenirs, somewhere very near it (walking distance) is the wholesale area where the locals go to buy their own needs. It's something like 168, or Chinatown (to other countries). You'll need to do your research or ask a local or your hotel to get directions.

The photo above shows the bin of Hello Kitty Charms I was picking from for Sofia. I know I got them for close to nothing.

Location: Shanghai, China
Date Photo Taken: August 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of May 15: 134

P365 TE Running Points: 404 out of 405 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 134

Yu Yuan Gardens

Travel Bite: A must visit touristy souvenir shopping area in Shanghai is YuYuan Gardens. While again, shopping is a tourist trap (remember to bargain!) the buildings that house the shops are beautiful, preserved in the old style.

You must explore the place because there are scenic picture spots, aside from the shops.

Location: Shanghai, China
Date Photo Taken: August 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of May 14: 133

P365 TE Running Points: 401 out of 402 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 133

Beijing Hutong Tour

Travel Bite: One of the touristy things I enjoyed in Beijing was the Hutong (small streets tour) on Rickshaws. This culminates in a place near the river where there are a lot of small shops (tourist traps I am sure) where it's fun to just look around and meander.

For a tourist activity, it's quite relaxed and if I remember correctly, not too crowded.

Location: Beijing, China
Date Photo Taken: August 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of May 11: 133

P365 TE Running Points: 398 out of 399 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 132

Han's Royal Garden Boutique Hotel

Travel Bite: Instead of staying in a traditional hotel, you can also look into staying in a Boutique Hotel with something unique to offer. 

We stayed at Han's Royal Garden Boutique Hotel. I'm not sure if I read it somewhere or someone told me, but I remember hearing that this place used to be the home of an old Royal Warrior.

The hotel is beautiful with courtyards like the one in the picture, that bring you back to the olden days. The rooms are beautiful too, maintaining the character of the place while remaining luxurious and comfortable in a modern way.

Location is also great with a shopping street (or hutong) right at the back of the hotel.

Location: Beijing, China
Date Photo Taken: August 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of May 11: 131

P365 TE Running Points: 395 out of 396 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 131

Great Wall of China

Travel Bite: When in Beijing, it goes without saying that a visit to see the Great Wall of China is in order. 

You should do your research before hand because you can access the wall from different points. Some are steeper than the others (more fitness required!), while some areas are accessible by cable car - which is what we did the first time around and which I highly recommend.

It's also best to visit when it's not too cold. You'll need to go quite far to take pictures with less people. Normally, at the access points, it's crowded as hell! Seriously, but it's like survival of the fittest. The more effort and exercise required, the more people drop out from the race. Just go far enough to take nice pictures with no photobombers.

Location: Great Wall of China, Beijing
Date Photo Taken: August 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of May 4: 124

P365 TE Running Points: 383 out of 393 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...