Sing for your supper
In China, songbirds are kept in bamboo cages. Their owners take them for walks and hang the bird cages off tree branches. They will often cluster the cages together so the birds can be introduced. This wee bird was hanging…
Category China
The Bile Bears of China – please help me raise awareness
This year’s Wild Photos event was, as ever, an inspiration. The most shocking lesson learned came from the power of photojournalism and in my opinion, no one does this better than Britta Jaschinski, whose images of China’s captive performing animals living in appalling condition’s in zoos…
The evolution of our trip to China
I had always dreamt of visiting. I recall, when we bought our first house I was so in awe of Chinese culture that I couldn’t wait to use Chinese fabrics, art, decoration and faux Chinese objects throughout the house, dreaming…
Tianamen Square
It’s not a beautiful square, per say. But rare in the fact that it’s avoided the temptation of other great city squares to capitalise its space. There’s no rows of cafes on its edges and very few hawkers selling their…
The Forbidden City, Beijing
I was instantly surprised at the size of the Forbidden City. It took us an hour to walk from the bottom walls to the entrance gate, but I am glad we did so. We wandered through local communities, saw children…
Old Beijing
Old Beijing was a dream come to true. Whilst one part of me recognises that the Hutong district has been preserved and monopolised for tourists, the other part of me says I don’t care. The restoration has been so sympathetic,…
Rail trip part 2 – X’ian to Chengdu
This rail trip could not have been more different to the Beijing to X’ian journey, but it was no more less of an experience. X’ian is dirty, busy and chaotic. The train station is no different…but it’s easier to navigate…
The Terracotta Warriors, China
On the tourist trail for many, Xi’an is home to the famous Terracotta Warriors. They’re located about one hour’s ride on a tourist bus from the city centre, and it’s defiantly worth a visit. Buses are regular and hassle free…
Rail trips in China – part 1
Beijing rail station is busier and larger than most airports I have visited. It’d also a dramatic introduction to the difference between English and Chinese social norms. Arriving at 10:30 pm for an overnight rail trip to X’ian, we found…
The Great Wall of China
We set off before dawn with the uncle of our Beijing hostesses to head to Simitai – the less touristy and less frequently visited part of the wall. It’d take 4-5 hours to hike to Jinshanling where we’d be picked…