Moving to China #brexit27th January, 2017
It's a new chapter for me, I've moved to China. These are the first few weeks and some observations.
I find some difficulties in adjusting to a new culture, new company, shopping, and exploring the city. Emotions have ranged from loneliness to suicidal to joy and intrigue.
Chinese New Year: The Great Wall, Clubs, and a Dead City31st January, 2017
I hadn't been in the country long, but it was time for an extended break. 5 days to explore Beijing, little did I know that the city shut down and there'd be nothing to do.
It was my first trip out of Beijing and I went travelled the short distance north to The Great Wall. It was cold, really cold, but this meant fewer tourists.
Roberts Came to Visit17th April, 2017
I've known him for 20 years, I moved to the other side of the world, but he can't take a hint. Joe and Aisling were here for a few days and I got to show them around Beijing.
We did all the sights and celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style. Although it was good to see them, they cost me a few of my very precious vacation days. I only get 10!
Gubei Watertown10th May, 2017
The transport left a lot to be desired, Arsenal lost in the North London Derby, and the children of Gubei staged some dirty protests. All of the makings of a romantic trip away.
Despite these, we still enjoyed a great weekend away from the smog of Beijing. Highly recommended, but just try not to go during peak times, or at weekends, or basically anytime there are crowds in China.
Longqing Gorge4th July, 2017
The beautiful natural scenery was twinned with a dodgy stomach. I wasn't in the mood for this one and left after only about an hour skipping the caves.
After I returned home I had diarrhea and got hit by a car. Maybe I don't give this place the credit it deserves. I'm sure it's nice if you don't feel like shitting yourself.
Six Months in China9th July, 2017
I've been exploring myself and Asia and learned a bit more about Chinese people, culture, and way of life.
There have been surprises - good and bad - but in this one, I talk about things I've noticed in China. Sure, I know it's a lot easier to talk about the weird and annoying, but that's what people care about. Who wants to read about how great other countries are? We want to read Britain is great and everyone else is inferior.
Tianjin: A Pleasant Escape from Beijing17th July, 2017
My first trip in China out of Beijing. We took the train short-haul to Tianjin, a city south-east of the capital.
It was far hot to be outside, but we braved the heat and explored the city, stopping every 30 minutes popping into shopping malls, convenience stores, and eateries feigning interest just to steal some air-conditioning.
It was a great trip and I was a little disappointed to return to Beijing. Love a bit of Tianjin.
Disaster and Chaos are Always Good13th September, 2017
A fellow reprobate was kind enough to pay me a visit. Drew flew in from America, we explored Beijing and saw that bloody wall again, before heading south to Shanghai.
We drank too much, endured too many hangovers, but his visit was welcomed. It was great to spend time with a good friend and it was well-timed before his move to Macedonia.
Xi'an: The Eternal Emperor22nd September, 2017
Only a few days after Drew had left I managed to salvage what energy I had left in the tank and headed south-west to the ancient city of Xi'an.
A city famous for historical relevance and The Terracotta Warriors. I did this trip solo due to a domestic disagreement. Travelling alone can be a welcome break, I managed to see a lot, met some new people that I'll never hear from again, and learned about myself and Asia.
5th April, 2018
The trip didn't start well, I already had an ear infection before leaving Beijing and then lost all hearing in my left ear by the time I had arrived in Pingyao. Regardless, Eunju and I explored the city before heading for Mian Mountain.
We slept on a brick bed and froze our tits off. It was a difficult trip.
Jinan & Qingdao; Football & Beer17th August, 2018
Another solo trip. I ventured to the relatively unknown city of Jinan where I met an old lady and people stared at me. Later in the evening, I watched a football game with many former Premier League stars. Exciting.
I also travelled to Qingdao to soak up the sun. Unfortunately, it was far too hot for that so I stayed inside. Like a nocturnal animal, I made it out in the evening to enjoy the delights of Asia's largest beer festival and the Chinese aren't mucking around!
Inner Mongolia is in China. China. Not Mongolia, China.4th October, 2018
With a long weekend ahead we decided to get out of the big city and head north to enjoy the grasslands and the desert of Inner Mongolia. Often mistaken as part of Mongolia, our tour guide was keen to set the record straight.
It was a lot of fun as we frolicked on horses, camels, ATV, drove dune buggies, and braved it sandboarding. The trip itself was fantastic, but as China's third-biggest province the places we visited weren't exactly close together.
7th August, 2019
It was my first visit to the southern part of China (if you don't include Hong Kong, controversial). China is such a diverse country and Guilin and Beijing couldn't be any more different. Guilin is one of the most beautiful places I have visited. Even the journey getting there was enjoyable, the views from the train were spectacular, even if inside the carriage was noisy.
I spent a week taking in the breathtaking scenery. The only downside to spending time in the south during the summer is the unbearable heat. I thought it would be a good idea to explore on a bicycle, but that was traded in for a scooter pretty early on.
19th February, 2021
Well, that was quite a wait for the next adventure in the Middle Kingdom! COVID was a real stinker! I got stuck outside of China for almost a year, but after a bit of a jolly back in Seoul, I was back!
Since the last blog, I had also broken my leg, which wasn't fun. I had surgery and will forever have a metal rod in my leg, it took some time to recover, but it's all good again. To prove to myself that it had fully healed I decided to do a half-marathon, which is why Hannah and I were in Hangzhou.
2nd March, 2021
Yunnan is another amazing place to visit in China! I didn't really have any intentions of ever going there, but Hannah was quite persuasive. We really packed in a lot in our 4-day trip. We managed to see the natural beauty of Yunnan, ate some delicious food, and saw the historical sites while dressed in the local gear. I got a lot of looks/laughs!
We took a trip up Snow Dragon Jade Mountain, which is almost 4,000m above sea level. It was my first experience at that kind of altitude and I absolutely underestimated it!
11th April, 2021
Pandas are a symbol of China, but despite being here for almost 4 years I had only seen a depressed one at Beijing Zoo. Hannah and I travelled down to Chengdu to see some happier ones and feat on the spicy delights that can be found in Sichuan Province. I was on the hunt for the spiciest hot pot in town!
It's a slower pace in Chengdu and provides a peaceful break from Beijing. It was also the start of summer.
27th April, 2021
Only 2 hours from Beijing, Qinhuangdao is a seaside town with an actual beach! Not those bullshit grey Chinese beaches that you often see. Granted, it was April and a bit chilly, but a day at the beach is always a good day.
We went to Qinhuangdao mostly to see the Old Dragon's Head, which is the nickname for the eastern end of the Great Wall of China. Other than that, we did nothing. We meandered, relaxed, slept, and generally enjoyed a bit of freedom.
13th May, 2021
Otherwise known as the Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie is another hot spot for tourism. Much like Guilin, it's one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Around every corner is another beautiful tall, narrow rock formation. You have to stop and take it all in. We visited the parks for 3-4 days but could have stayed longer. It's an unbelievable place that words or photos will never do justice. Go and see it for yourself. Even a day of bad weather won't bring your spirits down!
I'm not great with heights, so the high suspension bridges, glass floors, and 200m sheer drops weren't great for my nerves. As you take in the beauty of your surroundings, you become less concerned with the imminent danger of falling to your death and just enjoy the moment.
