Me Time!

[sharonkhoo]

Definitely not during the Golden Week! I lived in China for several years, so I know to avoid that week. OK, sounds good - we’ll look at around for tickets and hotels over the next few days. My husband is having a busy period up to end-Sep, and another busy period coming up from end-Oct, so he’s suggested we take a short break in between. Must get used to holidaying without kids.


I’ve looked at photos of Hangzhou and Suzhou and also know that saying. Xiamen also sounds nice, and I haven’t been to any of those places. We’ll probably decide based on airfares and hotels.

[Estéema]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1933559\" time=\"1567568048\" user_id=\"28674:

Definitely not during the Golden Week! I lived in China for several years, so I know to avoid that week. OK, sounds good - we'll look at around for tickets and hotels over the next few days. My husband is having a busy period up to end-Sep, and another busy period coming up from end-Oct, so he's suggested we take a short break in between. Must get used to holidaying without kids.

I've looked at photos of Hangzhou and Suzhou and also know that saying. Xiamen also sounds nice, and I haven't been to any of those places. We'll probably decide based on airfares and hotels.

@ slmkhoo Do hv a great holiday with yr DH :celebrate:

[.010675zeit]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1933559\" time=\"1567568048\" user_id=\"28674:

Definitely not during the Golden Week! I lived in China for several years, so I know to avoid that week. OK, sounds good - we'll look at around for tickets and hotels over the next few days. My husband is having a busy period up to end-Sep, and another busy period coming up from end-Oct, so he's suggested we take a short break in between. Must get used to holidaying without kids.

I've looked at photos of Hangzhou and Suzhou and also know that saying. Xiamen also sounds nice, and I haven't been to any of those places. We'll probably decide based on airfares and hotels.

Am surprised you didn't take a weekend trip to these cities during your posting there for 'several years'!
For a 3 day break, Xiamen is good. I only spent 3 days in Xiamen. My favourites were: Gulangyu Island (must take vehicular ferry across) which is now a UNESCO WHS, Jimei District (Tan Kah Kee's former residence and Xiamen Uni which he founded), Zhongshan Pedestrian Street, Hulishan Cannon Fort and Overseas Chinese Musuem. Tried the oyster omelette but it sucked. Different from Singapore's version.

There's of course the famous Wuyi Mountain and Nanputuo Temple which I wasn't interested. If you're Hakka, you might want to extend your stay to visit the famous circular Earth Buildings.

If more days, then you can go to Hangzhou, Suzhou as there are many old towns in that region.

[MyPillow]

floppy\" post_id=\"1933547\" time=\"1567564531\" user_id=\"97579:

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1933540\" time=\"1567562488\" user_id=\"43981:

Both cities are modern, but they have also taken steps to make sure that they are not so modern, especially in and around the sights.

E.g. 西湖, 雷峰塔 and 灵隐寺 in HGH still retains much of their charm. “水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇。欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜。” is as true today as it was when 苏东坡 penned it hundreds of years ago. Meanwhile, 鼓浪屿 in XMN is pedestrian only, which goes a long way in protecting the world heritage site.

I have done some driving in CN but not that far a distance in CN, mainly within cities. TBH, I won’t want to drive with HGH to PEK - I rather take the train. High speed train (> 200km/h) will take you more than 5 hrs already! To Guangzhou is more than 6 hrs.

thanks floppy.

mrsks, nice to bring the girls around when u there... i think yours should be able to appreciate more
i m thankful ds sch brought him there & he enjoyed better with sch mates . i din go there yet -only been to shenzhen, zhuhai-hahhah... in my list one day - beijing, zhangjiajie, guilin,sz,hz - dh biz trip to sh but dun fancy so never think to vacation there- next time la, when i no need bring kids -can go anytime like slmkhoo

[MrsKiasu]

MyPillow\" post_id=\"1933578\" time=\"1567571377\" user_id=\"70594:

floppy\" post_id=\"1933547\" time=\"1567564531\" user_id=\"97579:

[quote=MrsKiasu post_id=1933540 time=1567562488 user_id=43981]

Both cities are modern, but they have also taken steps to make sure that they are not so modern, especially in and around the sights.

E.g. 西湖, 雷峰塔 and 灵隐寺 in HGH still retains much of their charm. “水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇。欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜。” is as true today as it was when 苏东坡 penned it hundreds of years ago. Meanwhile, 鼓浪屿 in XMN is pedestrian only, which goes a long way in protecting the world heritage site.

I have done some driving in CN but not that far a distance in CN, mainly within cities. TBH, I won’t want to drive with HGH to PEK - I rather take the train. High speed train (> 200km/h) will take you more than 5 hrs already! To Guangzhou is more than 6 hrs.

thanks floppy.

mrsks, nice to bring the girls around when u there... i think yours should be able to appreciate more
i m thankful ds sch brought him there & he enjoyed better with sch mates . i din go there yet -only been to shenzhen, zhuhai-hahhah... in my list one day - beijing, zhangjiajie, guilin,sz,hz - dh biz trip to sh but dun fancy so never think to vacation there- next time la, when i no need bring kids -can go anytime like slmkhoo[/quote]going there on own like so difficult to see those nice scenery de..only see modern buildings
Beijing went many years ago, a nice place or maybe we follow tour then so know where to go? I need to apply visa this wk..

[lee_yl]

Do we still need to give Teachers’ Day presents since both kids already in sec sch …

[MyPillow]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"1933583\" time=\"1567572641\" user_id=\"17023:

Do we still need to give Teachers’ Day presents since both kids already in sec sch ...

My boy will give
Teachers commented he is a sweet boy in sch .... hahahaha

[sharonkhoo]

.zeit\" post_id=\"1933571\" time=\"1567570405\" user_id=\"171271:

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1933559\" time=\"1567568048\" user_id=\"28674:

Definitely not during the Golden Week! I lived in China for several years, so I know to avoid that week. OK, sounds good - we'll look at around for tickets and hotels over the next few days. My husband is having a busy period up to end-Sep, and another busy period coming up from end-Oct, so he's suggested we take a short break in between. Must get used to holidaying without kids.

I've looked at photos of Hangzhou and Suzhou and also know that saying. Xiamen also sounds nice, and I haven't been to any of those places. We'll probably decide based on airfares and hotels.

Am surprised you didn't take a weekend trip to these cities during your posting there for 'several years'!
For a 3 day break, Xiamen is good. I only spent 3 days in Xiamen. My favourites were: Gulangyu Island (must take vehicular ferry across) which is now a UNESCO WHS, Jimei District (Tan Kah Kee's former residence and Xiamen Uni which he founded), Zhongshan Pedestrian Street, Hulishan Cannon Fort and Overseas Chinese Musuem. Tried the oyster omelette but it sucked. Different from Singapore's version.

There's of course the famous Wuyi Mountain and Nanputuo Temple which I wasn't interested. If you're Hakka, you might want to extend your stay to visit the famous circular Earth Buildings.

If more days, then you can go to Hangzhou, Suzhou as there are many old towns in that region.

Wrong end of the country, and my kids were in school. Since I refused to travel during the Golden Weeks (which was when they were free to travel), that didn't leave much time to sightsee. We did visit Beijing, Xi'an, Kunming, Guilin and Hainan over the years.

[MrsKiasu]

MyPillow\" post_id=\"1933585\" time=\"1567573122\" user_id=\"70594:

lee_yl\" post_id=\"1933583\" time=\"1567572641\" user_id=\"17023:

Do we still need to give Teachers’ Day presents since both kids already in sec sch ...

My boy will give
Teachers commented he is a sweet boy in sch .... hahahaha

it will be a list long of teachers name..

[sharonkhoo]

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"1933579\" time=\"1567571984\" user_id=\"43981:

going there on own like so difficult to see those nice scenery de..only see modern buildings
Beijing went many years ago, a nice place or maybe we follow tour then so know where to go? I need to apply visa this wk..

We usually book our own travel and accommodation, then book full- or half-day tours to see things that are not within easy reach. That gives more flexibility than following a fully guided tour. Most hotels will have a tour desk where you can book tours, or there will be travel shops in most tourist areas. We also try to choose a hotel near at least some of the main sights so we can see them on our own.

But for BJ, we did go on a tour from the city we were living in. It seemed easier as we didn't have many days and there were so many things to fit into the time. The places they bring you to are very standard and will be covered by most tours.

Why do you need a visa for China? Or are you planning to stay longer than 14 days?