It started with a seat sale. Air Asia had unbelievably cheap seats bound for Macau on my husband's birthday week. We immediately agreed to book our flight as our wanderlust has been dormant for far too long. It was a deal we could not deny ourselves. We thought about it for a while and decided to go to the Great Wall to tick it off our bucket list. As I had a cousin in Guangzhou, we also decided to pay her a visit.
I immediately planned our itinerary. Here is how it went. We arrived in Macau before lunch so we stopped by a few sights then headed straight to Guangzhou via land travel. Guangzhou is only a 2-hour bus ride from Macau-Zhuhai land border.
The next day we flew to Beijing via Air China's early evening flight, got picked up by our tour provider in Beijing and dropped off at our hotel. On Day 3 we headed to Jade Factory, Ming Tombs, get an authentic Chinese lunch, climbed the Great Wall and visited a traditional silk shop. On the way back to the city, we cruised by the Olympic sites like The Bird's Nest and Water Cube. The following day, we visited the pearl factory, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, had lunch at a traditional family restaurant, experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine and visited Forbidden City, also called The Palace Museum. We opted to walk around the hotel block on Day 5 and get some rest because we walk 5kms each day on the average, our legs and feet complaining about our weights. Ha! By the sixth day, we were courageous enough to explore the gorgeous city on our own. We went to Beihai Park, Jingshan Park and had a loooong walk towards Wangfujing district. The customary Peking Duck was on our dinner menu that day and we had a terrific meal (as always. Thank you Beijing!). On our last day in the city, we finally got to visit Tiananmen Square which was closed the previous days due to their week-long National Day (and boy was it CRAZY!).
In the evening we boarded our flight back to Guangzhou, my basic Mandarin and charades skills in tow. Thankfully, we made it to my cousin's place on our own. We visited Chen Clan Academy the next day and literally shopped till we dropped. The city is a shopping haven with really unbelievable bargains. The following day, we celebrated hubby's birthday! First off, shopping for us and our families, then a romantic night cruise at Pearl River and a sumptuous late dinner (we literally had a feast!) to cap off the special day.
Early the next day, we headed back to Macau and checked in at our hotel. We later on visited the Grand Prix Museum and Wine Museum, Senado Square and St. Paul's Ruins, had delectable egg tarts and pork jerky, explored the city's lively night scene, casinos and Macau Tower, and got wowed by Venetian Macau. It was a very long day indeed and regretfully, our trip was coming to an end. We admired the beautiful nightscape by our window and slept very peacefully. We woke up early the next day, had breakfast and explored the hotel's pool and lounge area. We then packed our bags and headed to the airport to bid goodbye to Macau.
Have fun browsing photos below. Many happy travels!
TIP: Click on a photo to open the gallery for actual photo size.
I immediately planned our itinerary. Here is how it went. We arrived in Macau before lunch so we stopped by a few sights then headed straight to Guangzhou via land travel. Guangzhou is only a 2-hour bus ride from Macau-Zhuhai land border.
The next day we flew to Beijing via Air China's early evening flight, got picked up by our tour provider in Beijing and dropped off at our hotel. On Day 3 we headed to Jade Factory, Ming Tombs, get an authentic Chinese lunch, climbed the Great Wall and visited a traditional silk shop. On the way back to the city, we cruised by the Olympic sites like The Bird's Nest and Water Cube. The following day, we visited the pearl factory, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, had lunch at a traditional family restaurant, experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine and visited Forbidden City, also called The Palace Museum. We opted to walk around the hotel block on Day 5 and get some rest because we walk 5kms each day on the average, our legs and feet complaining about our weights. Ha! By the sixth day, we were courageous enough to explore the gorgeous city on our own. We went to Beihai Park, Jingshan Park and had a loooong walk towards Wangfujing district. The customary Peking Duck was on our dinner menu that day and we had a terrific meal (as always. Thank you Beijing!). On our last day in the city, we finally got to visit Tiananmen Square which was closed the previous days due to their week-long National Day (and boy was it CRAZY!).
In the evening we boarded our flight back to Guangzhou, my basic Mandarin and charades skills in tow. Thankfully, we made it to my cousin's place on our own. We visited Chen Clan Academy the next day and literally shopped till we dropped. The city is a shopping haven with really unbelievable bargains. The following day, we celebrated hubby's birthday! First off, shopping for us and our families, then a romantic night cruise at Pearl River and a sumptuous late dinner (we literally had a feast!) to cap off the special day.
Early the next day, we headed back to Macau and checked in at our hotel. We later on visited the Grand Prix Museum and Wine Museum, Senado Square and St. Paul's Ruins, had delectable egg tarts and pork jerky, explored the city's lively night scene, casinos and Macau Tower, and got wowed by Venetian Macau. It was a very long day indeed and regretfully, our trip was coming to an end. We admired the beautiful nightscape by our window and slept very peacefully. We woke up early the next day, had breakfast and explored the hotel's pool and lounge area. We then packed our bags and headed to the airport to bid goodbye to Macau.
Have fun browsing photos below. Many happy travels!
TIP: Click on a photo to open the gallery for actual photo size.
Macau Highlights
Macau Grand Prix Museum
Our personal favorite was Ayrton Senna's exhibit. Take note the museum is closed on Tuesdays. Entrance is free until December 31 2014.
So is it worth a visit? YEAH, since we loved the movie Senna, and we love cars!
So is it worth a visit? YEAH, since we loved the movie Senna, and we love cars!
Guia Fort
Is it worth a visit? If you like hiking and plenty of time to kill then yes because it is a bit far from the city center. The fort is closed on Mondays and we didn't find any cable car as was mentioned in several reviews. Make sure you have drinking water with you and possibly a change of shirt if you're not going during winter time. It is probably best to visit in the early mornings, in my opinion.
Macau Night Scene
Is it worth a visit? YES! Macau is known for its vibrant and colorful lights. Make sure you go out at night to explore the night scene. For Saint Paul's Ruins though, it is more beautiful during the day. You can go through the facade and read a bit of its interesting history. Make sure you get egg tarts! They're a definite must, trust me.
Macau Regency Hotel
Our verdict: It was cheap for a 5-star hotel, given the exhorbitant cost of accommodations in Macau these days. It is quite old but I am glad that there is no musty smell in the corridors or in the room itself. The staff were courteous and professional and were kind enough to give us a nice view from our spacious room. Location-wise, it is okay. About a 5-minute walk to the bus stop but the area is peaceful and safe so it's quite nice to walk around. The hotel has free shuttle service to the city center and ferry terminal every hour or one and a half hours. It is very near the airport so you don't have to pay a big sum for taking a taxi. You can miss out on their buffet breakfast though. Extra breakfast costs about 120 MOP and to be honest is not good enough for the price.
Guangzhou Highlights
Chen Clan Academy and Folk Arts Museum
Is it worth a visit? Definitely! It is listed as one of the top national tourist attractions in all of China. It truly takes you back in time to when wooden clogs can be heard on the streets of Canton (old name of Guangzhou) and lifestyle was basic and simple. You get a glimpse of family cultures around that time through works of art. Intriguing art pieces are bountiful in their collections and will truly amaze you, regardless if you are an arts buff or not.
Pearl River Cruise
Is it worth it? A resounding YES! After a long day of walking, shopping and taking crowded public transportation, a perfect way to end your day is a cruise along the famous Pearl River. I urge you to do it during the night to enjoy the breathtaking serenity of lights in the skyline. We had a full hour of relaxing and romantic experience on the ferry. Canton Tower is absolutely gorgeous! I would go again in a heartbeat.
Beijing Highlights
The Streets and Traditional Shops of Beijing
Beihai Park and The White Pagoda
Is it worth a visit? If you love nature, definitely. The huge lake brings a feeling of calm, of time standing still. You can opt to relax aboard petite private boats or explore the temples. You should go up a number of stairs and see the White Pagoda's grandeur. 2 hours can easily pass when you're here, especially since the weather was perfect. There are lots of shops from the East exit offering various Chinese delicacies.
Jingshan Park
Is it worth a visit? If you have an hour to spare and you love landscapes, don't miss out on this place. It offers a panoramic view of the vast Forbidden City and the nearby Beihai Park. I absolutely loved people-watching here. Chinese kids are so cute! Oh, and by the tower you will find the central point of the city. Beijing strictly abided by Feng Shui guidelines and made their significant landmarks follow a North-South axis, gates exactly pointing to the 4 main directions. Yes, we used a compass to test it!
Ming Tombs
Is it worth a visit? If you ike history and culture, do not miss out on Ming Tombs. This is the closest you can get to the remains of an emperor and his empresses. Though there were lots of staircases, the panoramic view of mountains at the top was breathtaking. The doors, we were told were 4 tons in weight! Piles of money offered to the emperor and his empresses were believed to bring prosperity.
Summer Palace
Is it worth a visit? Definitely. From grandpas showcasing their calligraphy skills to long empirical corridors to a chilly boat ride on a lake that would take you 2 days to walk towards the other end, we thoroughly enjoyed our time here. This place holds a lot of interesting historical stories, and is the summer retreat place of the famous Dragon Lady.
Temple of Heaven
Is it worth a visit? This is my personal favorite! The park was alive with people playing cards, doing tai chi, dancing to traditional music, grandmas and grandpas energetically playing badminton with rackets in both hands, and the majestic round temple. Chinese believe that the symbol for heaven is round, so the emperor built this place in honor of the gods. It is best to go during the mornings to appreciate the tranquility of the temple.
Wangfujing District
Is it worth a visit? If you love shopping, you have to go here! The district is especially alive in the evenings. I loved the bright lights and the array of luxury shops. Another reason is to go is to try Beijing streetfood. The streetfood market starts around 5:30PM everyday. See grilled octopus, peking duck, dumplings, dimsums, barbeque lamb, cakes, and a lot lot lot more! It's usually jampacked (like crazy!) but hey, that's how you know it's good right?
Forbidden City
Is it worth a visit? Don't leave Beijing without going here. This vast complex is teeming with history and culture. It was the emperor's residence from the Ming Dynasty towards the end of Qing Dynasty (the last dynasty). There are numerous halls with different themes, an imperial garden, the emperor's throne, his quarters, his empress' quarters, and more importantly his 3000 girlfriends!
Tiananmen Square
Is it worth a visit? If you have an hour or two to spare, please do so. This is the political district of China's capital is and where you will see the portrait of the famous Mao Zedong. The grounds are typically used for nationalistic celebrations. Chairman Mao was quite a political figure. Too bad his mausoleum, the national museum and surrounding historical buildings were closed when we visited due to the National Holidays. It would have been cool to learn more about the history of China.
Great Wall at Mutianyu
Is it worth a visit? Do you need to ask? Haha. This was the highlight of our 11-day trip! They say it would take about 200 years to rebuild the Great Wall during this modern times. How amazing is it that they built this with hand centuries ago? The fort was designed to block Mongolians from attacking China, and its purpose it did well. The section at Mutianyu had a cable car (more like a ski lift) but on your way down, you can opt to ride a slideway or toboggan instead. The air is fresh and crisp at the top and if I had one word to describe the Great Wall, it would be MAJESTIC.
Beijing Sicily Hotel and Restaurant
Our verdict: Great value hotel. It is perfect for those on a budget. We got it online at CNY 239 per night but if you walk in, the price becomes pretty steep (CNY 389 discounted!). The hotel is pretty basic but very clean and well-maintained. Bring your own shampoo though because it is not provided. The major advantage for us is their restaurant which serves mouth-watering yet reasonably-priced food. There is also a convenience store and a marketplace right beside it so it's really convenient. You will not be paying much for taxis because it is only 3 kms away from the city center. It is located in a quiet district so we absolutely got peaceful sleep each night. We loved it! We'll be glad to stay here again.
Travel Tips to China
- Book tours in advance especially if you're visiting during national holidays. It can get quite crazy there!
- Learn basic Mandarin unless you are very good with charades!
- Have your hotel address written in Chinese characters and the attractions you will DIY so the taxi driver can take you there easily.
- Always check the weather to know what clothes to wear. Beijing temperature can suddenly drop, you don't want to freeze out there.
- If you're into social media, buy VPN before you go there. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many others are blocked, including Gmail.
- Try to bring minimal stuff with you when exploring as you will be walking a LOT.
- It is safe to cycle around Beijing, as there are bike lanes everywhere and lots of bike rental shops.
- In Macau, take advantage of free shuttles provided by hotels and casinos. You will be able to save a lot on transportation.
- Take advantage of the unbelievable bargains in Guangzhou. I was able to buy an original Naturalizer sandals for CNY 100!
- Wear ultra comfortable shoes AT ALL TIMES. At the end of the day, your swollen feet will thank you for it.
If you intend to visit these cities, feel free to contact me for any questions you may have. If you've been to these places, please share your stories or tips in the comments section to help out fellow travelers.