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You Simply Can't Plan Nights Like That!

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:27:19 PST

What an absolutely superb night. Yesterday I arranged to meet my pal Peter in the Yu Xiang Man Bu coffee bar to hand over my scooter. We couldn't have chosen

Never Get Lost In China - MAPBAR.COM

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:57:18 PST

Are you looking for streets in China? Do you need directions? Which bus should you take? Which underground line do you need in Beijing, or Shanghai? How long will it take to get from A to B? Mapbar.com has an answer to every single question.

No! Not The (Chinese) Dentist.

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:05:44 PST

My teeth aren't good. I've known this for nigh-on thirty years. I've spent thousands of dollars in the US on them as well as thousands of pounds in the UK but I've discovered that no amount of money can cure the underlying problem..

Salt & Vinegar Crisps in Beijing

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:22:12 PST

Still looking for those elusive Salt & Vinegar crisps in China? Look no further than April Gourmet, a shop in the Sanlitun district of Beijing.

Face to Waist with The World's Tallest Man

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:50:06 PST

Coming face to waist with the world's tallest man is not something one is going to forget in a hurry. We were minding our own in Beijing's Terminal 3 when all of a sudden the light dimmed..

Nandaihe and Beidaihe 南戴河和北戴河

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:35:26 PST

Nandaihe and Beidaihe 南戴河和北戴河. They are two great places to stay, the former being the best but, are there problems? Last week a very strange thing happened; I opened an email from a guy called..

A New-Look Beidaihe

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:16:18 PST

The Chinese landscape can change with the blink of an eye, or the cast of a line. If you've previously read any of my fishing entries then the following article and pictures will blow you away.

Wireless Even In Qinhunagdao

Thu, 14 May 2009 13:03:49 PST

The cricket is on (the internet) and I had to go out and meet someone. Bugger, you may think. That's not the case. Not anymore. There are a couple of places..

TESCO Is Coming To Qinhuangdao

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:20:15 PST

I now know for a fact that a Tesco supermarket will be opening in Qinhuangdao in December, 2009. This is fantastic news for any foreigner living here.

Flower Appreciation Kills!

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 02:06:47 PST

Some breaking news from Qinhuangdao. Yesterday I was asked if I'd like to go to the mountains. I had to decline the offer because I'm too busy. Then, reading the local news this morning I discover..

Mama Naxi

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:07:57 PST

Mama Naxi is not a figure of backpacker folklore nor a myth of ancient China. She is as real as you or I and, amongst backpackers from every nation the world over who have been to Yunnan, Mama Naxi is the Mother of China, the Patron Saint of Backpackers.

Tibet Travel Advisory Notice

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:02:30 PST

Please be aware that new travel restrictions are in place for Tibet as well as certain areas of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces which are home to mostly Tibetan people.

The World's Oldest Bar

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:08:17 PST

Understanding the date in China can take a while to sink in. For example, at certain times of the year you'll see thousands of posters announcing 'numbers', one of which is '10 1'. What the hell is '10 1', you'll be thinking..

Dalian in Pictures 1

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 03:59:55 PST

Dalian, Liaoning Province in northeast China is a delightful, modern, vibrant coastal city and a place I have visited a number of times. I go for a couple of reasons..

City Maps in China

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:45:54 PST

You may be carrying your 'Lonely Planet' or 'Fodder's Guide' but I strongly recommend buying a city map when you arrive at your given destination in China. Prices range from city to city but for the 3 - 5yuan...

The Zhalong Nature Reserve

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:19:20 PST

Even if you don't like birds (the feathered variety), if you're in Heilongjiang then the Zhalong Nature Reserve is well-worth a visit. Don't be rushed into buying a package deal to go to see the cranes, buses from ...

WARNING: Lushun (Port Arthur) Restricted Zone

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:34:07 PST

Even though China 'opened-up' to foreigners there are still some parts that are strictly 'no-go' areas: Lushun 旅顺 is one such place, a bus-ride from Dalian city centre.

Beidaihe Hebei

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:58:00 PST

The first mention in Chinese chronicles about Beidaihe appeared over 2000 years ago. It was proclaimed in 1898 by Emperor Guang Xu as a state resort. In the 1930s the Guo Min Dang...

Pingyao, Shanxi - Part I

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:38:45 PST

Pingyao 平遥
Why did we going to Pingyao? The simple answer is that there is a great Chinese film called Raise the Red Lantern which both Tanya & I love. Shanxi is famous through..

Qinhuangdao Coffee Bar

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:05:36 PST

'Strolling Down a Rainy Alley'. What a strange name for a great coffee / music bar in Qinhuangdao. As anyone who has ever lived in China will know, never try to translate a name!
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