我不說英語

I didn't know what to expect when I landed in Beijing, but it was clear I wouldn't be hearing much of the English language. 

Luckily these things called 'smart phones' exist and thankfully they're smarter than me. Free WiFi and Google were my only source of navigation in China. God help me if I had to use a map (I don't know how I passed geography).

Somehow I found my way to a hostel. I was staying in the Quaimen area, which I highly recommend if in Beijing for a few days. It's close to Tiananmen square and other major attractions in Beijing, and like a lot of hostels, close to bars and nightlife. China was off to a good start; I met a great bunch of people at the hostel and upon my arrival a local gave me 5 yen when he noticed I didn't have enough money on me for a train ticket. 

After my visit to Tiananmen square however, things took a slight turn for the worse. I jumped in a rickshaw headed for the closest metro. After what felt like an odd route we arrived in an alley way. Long story short, the driver tried to mug me; he asked for all the money in my wallet, but luckily I only had 20 yen on me; equivalent to about 4 Australian Dollars (sometimes it pays to be a stingy bastard). The mugger left disappointed and in the end I had the last laugh. If you count the 5 yen the bloke lent me for a train ticket China's still 15 yen up. Ill get them back one day.

The Great Wall was just that. I cant say much other than don't miss it if your in China. This coupled with a few big nights and a colossal amount of dumplings pretty much wraps up my time in Beijing.

From Beijing I managed to navigate my way south to Hangzhou. Hangzhou is the capital and largest city of the Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. The city's main attraction is West Lake. I spent a day riding through the parks which surround the Lake. Hangzhou is also littered with great bars and restaurants; I got the impression that Hangzhou is frequently visited by the wealthy from Shanghai and neighbouring cities.

A local ritual at Ling Yin Temple

 










My final stop in China was Shanghai. To be honest the place was a little overwhelming. Shanghai is very westernised, especially when you compare it to Beijing. The sheer amount of people coupled with the lack of English certainly put me out of my element. I embraced the culture as best I could and after six nights I'd certainly warmed to the city for two main reasons; the shopping and the food.
Shanghai cuisine focuses on light seasoning and is known for its mild and tasty dishes. The Shanghaniese describe their food as fresh, intricate and refreshing. As a result their sauces are often very thin. Sauces in Beijing on the other hand are usually more of a paste; it tends to be thicker and sweeter. 

The Chinese love their shopping and Shanghai is no exception; it boasts some of the biggest malls in Asia. I spent some time strolling through the main shopping district; Nanjing Road but at times this experience was soured by countless people asking me if I wanted a 'massagey' or 'sucky sucky', I was in Asia after all. Lastly if your in Shanghai make sure to walk along the Bund at night and witness the spectacular view of the city's business district.

Tips for China

• Learn Mandarin: I know that's asking a lot, so at the least take a Mandarin handbook.
• Don't get in a rickshaw: For reasons stated above.
• Eat as many dumplings as you can, both meat and vegetable: They are delicious, also lurk for dumpling houses after a big night, most open at 4am.
• Try hot pot in Beijing: These dishes are unique to Beijing and normally consist of raw meats and vegetables which you cook yourself in a pot of water presented at the table.
• Guided tours where possible: Unless of course you can read signs and plaques in Mandarin