China/Harbin

On tuesday evening I arived at Fietes place in Beijing after struggeling with the Airport bus and the following local bus to get close to his address. It didnt pay out at all as I looked on the map how close he lives to the airport, could have taken the taxi as well. The next day i went with people of the Far East Youth Hostel to the Great Wall. The wall is just amazing, here a picture

A man is not a man if he hasnt been on the Great Wall - Mao Zedong
We hiked a distance of 10 km and spend about half the day there before the bus picked us up to go back. We had to climb some steep passages as the wall went up and down the hills. Must have been a real pain for the workers to build it. On the wall I met some British people. Adam had his birthday so we went for a beer after we came back ot the hostel. The bus ride to the wall took some three hours, I didnt expect it to take that long actually.
We had our beers in the bar across the street of the Far East. The Far East is located very nicely on a small lively street just in walnking distance to the Tianan'men Square. If I ever need a accom. in Beijing again I think I would consider going there. After some beers and Tequila I was happy to get some sleep, the day was quite long and the night before very short. I planned to go with Adam do some sightseeing the next day but I didnt make it to wake up in time.
On Friday I went to the Forbidden City. This complex of many temples is just huge! its around 2km long and 1km wide and was build to serve the emperor in during the Qing and Ming dynasties as an imperial residence. Here two pictures

Gate of Havenly Peace

Look from a hill on Forbidden City
On saturday i spend the whole day in cheap markets looking for things to bring home with me. In Beijing there are several markets which are used by tourists who look for bargains on nice products. The quality is not that good but you pay a really reasonable price for what ever you find. And the sellers like to huggle with you. Its a game whats fun everytime you start it:) If they think they lose you as a customer the literally run after you.
After a hard shopping day Fiete, Sven (Fietes flatmate) and me went clubbing to the nearby club area. We started at Club Vics, then club Mix, then Nanjing bar and than Vics again.

Fiete and me in front of Mix
Next day, first of Octobre was Chinese National Day. Our German Group of six planned to go to have look whats on at the Tianan'men Square. There were lots of people walking around and taking pictures. I took Fiete piggy back to make a picture of the masses from above

Lots of Chinese people
As usual people came to ask if we could be on pictures with them. We wanted one in return with these young ladies...

Andre,Arne, Fiete, Sven, Chinese girls
After lingering through the masses at the Square Fiete bought a kite and we let it fly for a while on the South side of the Square. This spot was full of kite sellers with rediculous prices for their kites. We got one for a cheap price though. Our kite flying was over when it got tangeled up with other ones, it produced a big mess and in the end our kite got cut into peaces to solve it. Was a funny view as people got confused by the kites tangled together.
We ended our day at a sushi bar near Fietes place, had an awesome dinner there.
The next day I had to leave back home and my China trip was over.
I saw alot beautiful places in these weeks and met nice people, China is definitely a country to come back and to explore more. Zaijian from Helsinki and will put some pictures I took on my trip at http://users.tkk.fi/~aholtl/pictures/!
-Arne

Ni hao!

Afer Shanghai i went north and travelled to the city of Qingdao. The city is hosting the Beijing Olympic Games sailing competitions. Qingdao is falsely called Little Switzerland by the Chinese eventhough it has German roots and not Swiss. But its the same for them:) I spend there one and a half day sightseeing Qingdaos German related histrorical places. The city was under control of the Germans about 30 years until the break out of the 1. WW. when the Japanese took over the control on the city. Qingdao is divided into a old part in the east and the modern new part in the west. My hotel was in the older part and I reached most sights by foot. I found some nice churches (protestant and catholic)

German church in Qingdao
and visited an huge bunker and artillery system build into a hill which the Germans used to defend the city against intruders from the sea. After that I went up to the TV tower to get a look on the city but didnt consider that the weather was too foggy to take good pictures.
If the weather had been nicer I would have went to the beach, but it was really not a sunny beach weather on that day. But I got this pic of one of the six(!) beaches in the old part of the city

Beach in Qingdao
People were searching for shells in the mudd which you can see on the pic, the black stripe next to the sand beach. And there were a lot of shell seekers! Must be a sport there or maybe special shell season. As the weather was not too good to spend on the beaches and there wasnt too much more tho see I was glad not having planned to stay longer here. So I continued the next day to Beijing where I would visit Fiete and stay for the rest of my time in China...

After an exciting week in Hon Kong we continued with Ingo to Wuhan in East China. The city should be a quick stop for us to go on see the three gorges dam in Yichang, about 5 hours by bus west from Wuhan. The hostel in Wuhan was awesome (nice people, clean rooms and cheap), what I personally wouldnt say about the city after spending there two days. It looks like a industrial city with few too see (Maybe Krista will tell something else after spending there a year) It has 8 million people and is situated on both sides of the Yangze river. We spend about a day to explore it, and half a day to find a bank to change our HK dollars back to Yuans. Mostly the only choice is Bank of China for me cause I have traveller cheques and have to go to the biggest branch in cities. A thing to consider is to use a bank card on the next China trip. I was supposed to meet Krista in Wuhan, shes studing there as exchange student. But cause she had lost her phone and wasnt able to check mails at that time and I had forgot her number we missed eachother. Bummer... We went to see the Wuhan University campus, wich is - sorry Harbiners!- much nicer than the one in Harbin. I heard its supposed to be even the nicest in China. After Wuhan we spend a night in Yichang and visited the 3-G-dam. Its huge! Some details: More than 2 kilometres long and about 180 m high and provides as much electricity as 18 nuclear plans. It supposed to be running on full power till 2009. A pity was that we were not able to drive over the dam, wasnt possible at that time.
From Yichang and Wuhan we first had plant to travel further east to Nanjing and the Yellow Mountains. Unfortunately we did not get night train tickets, they were sold out for the rest of the week. We had quickly to change plans and decided in the end to go straight to Shanghai and spend some additional time there. We got cheap flight tickets with 50 off the regular price.
So, off we went...

We already had booked our Hostel in Shanghai but cause we arrived two days earlier we spend the first nights in another one outside the city centre. the city is really big and has a similar crazy traffic as Harbin. We arrived from Shanghais second airport and missed to try the Maglev Transrapid train at the Pudong Airport. We did that later and it was a fun ride! At 431 km/h it speeds from the airport to Pudong, the business district of Shanghai. I you ever go there try it out, worth the 4 euros. Our second period in Shanghai we spend at the Captains Hostel. I mention the name cause I hardly recommend it to anybody who wants to visit Shanghai and live right in the centre. Manuel had given me a list of sights and eat places in SH (thanks mate!) and we headed on the first day to the Sightseeing tower and afterwards to Grape restaurant. The sight from 263 metres on SH is amazing. Some of the woorld highest towers are in Shanghai, the Jinmao tower we went to is one of it (about 430 metres totally). I think we need one of these in Helsinki too:) Maybe the German school will need some more space soon and add some metres on their building...
The restaurant Manuel had recommend was awesome. Shanghai restuarant prices are high but this one was reasonable and the food good. Thus it was crowed on a Monday evening until closing time.
One day we decided to spend in close by cities Hangzhou and Shuzhou. In HZ we struggeld a bit with the few time we had. In both cities we rented bikes drove around. Shuzhou was more comfortable to see in one day cause its smaller, hangzhou requires almost two to see all important things.
Back in Shanghai we spend almost half a day at the great Shanghai Museum(about Chinese art, history, culture), well worth the time. When we walked around in Renmin Square-a place we had to cross quite alot- we often got into a chat with chinese students. They were really friendly until they at last ask you to join them to a tea ceremony or a beer bar. I had been told that both are rip off places for tourists. Well, we said no and got our beer and tea somewhere else.
On saturday I met Fiete who was at the same time in in Shanghaia and we wen t the Science Museum, a big dissapointment. Its more like a playground for kids with all kinds than a museum and has few interesting information. If you go to SH, dont go there unless you travel with kids...
Another thing you hear on Shanghai streets is: DVDs, watches, shoes, massage? People sell all these things on the Nanjing Road-a big shopping street- and literally attack you if look like a tourist. We learnt you should say 'bujau' and they let you go, thinking you speak Chinese. It works.
Last evening in SH and the rest of not-spend cash we said we go get a massage. this time it was only the foot. A friend of Ingo took us to a place he goes regularly. The guy massaging Ingo told him he feels by touching his foot that hes gonna suffer from cronic stomach problems if he doesnt stop drinking and eating cold things for a year. But anyway, the massage was good and no comment on the staff.
Ingos flight bakc home left at 10 in the morning so we planned to stay wake and go clubbing. A friendly Shanghai IAESTE trainee told us to meet them at the bonbon club in the French Confession (party and eating zone of SH) We had great time there and travelled back happily and drunk to the hostel. Unluckily a guy had taken the wrong bed and slept in mine (must have been more drunk than me) so i had to take the next one.
We both left Shanghai the next day with the feeling we'll be bakc there for sure. My trip continues to Qingdao. This city used to be German once. Lets see if it feels like home:)

Zaijian!
-Arne

Ni hao!
Here are more pics of the trainee crew from Harbin

Paul, our "man for everything" in Harbin cheering with Manuel

Huan, Jaume, Lory, Christoph, me and Lucy in front of Hamamas, a good bar to get a sandwich and milkshake in between the regular chinese food

Marcel, my roommat and Alice, our KTV star at a KTV evening

Manuel and me with Baofeng, our great tourguide in Harbin at the Buddist temple

Ni hao!

I have 30min to spent on this hostel computer so i thought i'll introduce some people i met back in Harbin. Still cant put new pictures on here...

On this one are from the left front: Martin(Germany), Ingo(Germany), Baofeng(China), Kristina(Germany), Lucy (England), Manuel(Spain), Huan(Spain), Martin(Swiss), Tobias(Germany), me, Hanna and Irene (Germany)
The hot pot restaurant was very good. They gave us some aprons so we wouldnt spoil our cloths. No trust in tourists...

Ni hao!

Two weeks ago I left the counrtyside to spend six days in Hong Kong. Ingo (who I met earlier in Harbin) and me chose the WangFat Hostel in Causewaybay on Hong Kong Island. The location was perfect to explore the city cause it was in the centre and public transportation was easy to reach. On our first day we went up to Victoria peak to have a look at the city from the 500 metres high hill. A tram goes up the very step hill. Luckily the weather was good so we shot some nice pictures (unluckily this comp here doesnt let me upload pics, so cant show them now). The days later were quite rainy and we often had to hide from heavy rain storms. In HK people are warned of storms on TV and radio, when you see a red cloud in the top corner it means heavy rainfall. One day they warned us of a Taifun which luckily went pass HK. We tried hiking on Lantau Island, the biggest of all Islands in HK. Our destination was the huge Budda statue onthe top of the island. The locals said we should take the bus because the hike would be too long. But we wanted to do some excersice so we walked up the hill. The top was croweded with tourists who came by bus, we did it the hard way (har har :)) The weather kept us from doing anything really exciting in Hong Kong, we visited the museum of aeronautics, went swimming and tried Tai Chi (dont know if i spelled it right). We had planned to go visit the horse race( famous in Hong Kong) but it was cancel because of the bad weather.
One day we went to a bar called Dusk till Dawn, recommended by Lonely Planet. They played really good life music but beer prices were redicoulusly high for china:the bottle 5 euros. We spoke with some friendly students from Malaysia who turned out to be hockers and wanted us to pay there booze. Bummer:) A German who had lived in HK for a while told me its not unusual to meet them in bars. Our evening was saved afterall when we found some Harbin beer Hapi-pijui in a shop, the good stuff from the north!
Getting around in HK was easy. Metro and bus network are clear and everything is in English. Also the people on the streets speak English and help you. Buses and trams have two levels, reminds of those in England. Streets in HK are crowded with foreigners and the food is more western like than in China.
When we left Hong Kong back to China mainland we first went to Shenzen right behind the border at China side. From there we took a flight to our next destination , Wuhan. We almost missed our plane cause we had planned too little time for the trip to go to the airport. We had got used to the fact that people understood our English in Hong Kong, here we had to adapt again to the hand and feet language:) About Wuhan later and i hope I then can put some pictures here... Zaijian!!

Hi,

finally I can provide pictures from our tour to picturesque places in Ping'an and Yangshuo. This is the village Pingan with a view on rice fields surrounding it.
Here are two friendly local women whome I asked to be on a picture with me.
On our hinking tours we had a great view. On a leaflet I saw pictures of the rice fields in different terms. After the summer the green turns into a strong yellow . In winter the fields are coverd with snow and in spring the fields are watered again for the next season. It makes a nice contrast.


Our trip took us from Pingan furhter to Yangshuo, a town 2hours away by bus frm Guilin. The landscape changed to a flat land with lots of single hills. On the next picture is a view from the Moon mountain near Yangshuo with view at a nearby village.

The following picture is from a boat trip on a river north of Yangshuo. The landscape picture on the 20 Yuan bill is taken at this river.

My next destination will be Hong Kong where I will spend a week. I'm looking forward have an exciting time there!
Till next time, zaijian!
-Arne

Ni hao,

I've finnished my traineeship in Harbin and the more fun part of my time in China has begun:travelling! Last friday I went to Beijing by train and stayed there for a night. Thanks to Fiete I did not have to get a youth hostel and stayed at his appartment. We did some sighseeing by bike, no problem in Beijing cause bikers have actually more space to use on the street than cars. And the traffic is not as bad as it was in Harbin. I bought some good cloths a the silk market for low price, its always fun to bargain with the vendors.
Next I went with a friend to Guilin, a city in the south of China. The weather down here is hot! Guilin is a lively city with extremly friendly people who speak english. From Guilin we headed to a small village called Ping'an in the mountains. Unfortunaltey I cant upload pictures right now, it was one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen! If you ever consider going to to China and that region go there, you wont regret it. The village consists of couple of wooden houses on a hill. Its cosy and you dont find lots of tourists there. Around the village are rice fields, from the top we got an amazing view on them. We did some hiking there and shot nice pictures. We met a proffesional fotographer who came to Pingan a second time to make pictures. Think I will do the same:)
At the moment I'm in Yanhshuo, a place full of tourists, western bars and restaurants. The landscape again is super, the town is surrounded by lots of single mountains which arent connected. Strange look and hard to describe. Better with pictures i put here next time.
On friday I'll continue to Hong Kong amd stay there for 6 days. My next posting will be from there.
Thats all for know. Greetings from South China!
-Arne