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China-aah!

Skyscrapers, clean roads, gardens and structures dating back to ancient times... China offers diverse sights to a tourist

GREAT VIEW There is no missing the Great Wall while you are in China

Vacationing abroad in May is something we look forward to. After extensive research on the Net, we settled for a customised package through China.

A package means the travel agent organises everything — international and domestic air/train/bus/car travel, hotel bookings, sightseeing schedules, food, internal transfers, visa, cruise bookings, etc. This is important in non-English speaking countries. If you are flying into Beijing, the first day you can visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Beijing Zoo, the summer palace and China's best hot spring.

What is amazing about the airports in China is, despite being small, they are beautifully designed. But all the development seems to be happening on the eastern half of China.

Walking around Beijing, you realise how China has invested in infrastructure — roads, buildings, restoration of heritage sites, and so on. A lot of construction activity is in progress, especially in view of the 2008 Olympics.

A trip to China is not complete without visiting the Great Wall. And what a sight it is, even though one can see only a portion of it.

Incidentally, if you're not every adventurous when it comes to eating, there is an excellent Indian restaurant in Beijing called Indian Kitchen. They have 15 outlets all over the country.

Train journey

Take the overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an. It's a `Z' category train in which the top class has two berths, a table, single-seater sofa, a TV and an attached toilet. Book your heavy luggage into a luggage service available at every station. They charge Rs. 600 for an eight-piece luggage set and deliver it at your destination. It's better to carry the bare minimum hand baggage with you.

Xi'an, an old city, was the former capital of China. A lovely city wall, a bell tower, a drum tower and the 2nd Century terracotta soldiers, which were unearthed amidst much fanfare a few years ago, "guard" the tomb of the first emperor of China. From Xi'an, one can fly or go by train to Chongquing, from where a three-night/three day cruise on the mighty Yangtse begins. It ends at the Three Gorges Dam. This controversial hydel project-cum-dam is expected to be completed in 2009.

The way the ship/boat is lifted through the five-stage lock system as it enters the dam from the river is something to be seen. There are even elevators for ships weighing less than 3,000 tonnes.

There are cruises and cruises. Go for a four-star one as a five-star one may be an extravagance. From Yichang, where the cruise ends, you can fly to Huangshan, a rather small place, but beautiful in its own way. Here, you can visit an old Chinese village, where painters flock to capture the scenery on canvas.

On the mountains

A short ride from Huangshan leads to a range of mountains. There's no road to take you to the top. You can either climb or take a cable car. There are hotels and restaurants on top. The experience of going up, walking around, taking in those breath-taking sights of the canyon where pine trees grow on sheer cliffs is something to cherish.

After the Huangshan mountains, you can fly to Suzhou, a commercially vibrant city known for its silk, pottery and embroidery units. But the charm of Suzhou lies in its waterways and gardens; it is veritably the Venice of China. It's amazing to see the clean canals and the way they are maintained. There is also a lovely lake in Suzhou, not to mention beautiful gardens, pagodas and tea factories.

Chinese are extremely environment conscious, whether it is changing the towels/sheets in your room or riding battery-powered two wheelers. It is amazing to see Ferraris and Jaguars in a rather small city like Suzhou. And finally, Shanghai. People say it's like Mumbai, but I feel we have a long way to go.

Skyscrapers, clean roads, gardens and villages share space here. You can find the likes of MacDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut alongside old structures. The fact that it's a financial centre makes Shanghai a happening place. It has the world's third tallest TV tower, which houses an exhibition where you can get a peek at Shanghai's 200-year history.

Travel tips

The weather in May was warm. You can go online and check out the temperatures when you're travelling. Remember to carry sandals, T-shirts, water and a backpack. Shopping is fun but you have to bargain for everything. If the price quoted is 280 Yuan, you can end up buying it for 50 (a Yuan is approximately Rs. 5.50).

Travel light and if you are a vegetarian, inform your travel agent. Also, find out details about the places you want to visit, the weather and the terrain. Remember, vegetarian Chinese food means just lots of boiled vegetables, boiled rice and Chinese tea, soup and some fruit. Ensure you carry sufficient water. If you don't know to use chopsticks, ask for fork, spoon and knife.

As for the soup, the stock invariably has egg and/or mushroom. So at the time of ordering the meal itself, ensure that the soup has only vegetarian ingredients. Carry snacks, pickles and powders that can be mixed with rice with you.

The people are kind and hospitable. But only language seems to be the barrier, and this too vanishes when you happen to meet English-speaking Chinese.

SHANKAR SUNDARAM

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