p r e m i n c h i n a

My Purpose:

To explore the culture, economics, tourist spots, hospitality and, most importantly, food and beverage of the unknown land of billions known as China.

My Journey:

Fly out March 2, 2011 - Fly back April 4th, 2011

Beijing 

Xi'an

Chengdu

Shanghai 

Yangshuo

Guangzhou

Shenzhen

Hong Kong

Home

What an incredible trip. Surprised. Thrilled. Happy. I booked the trip two weeks before I had left. Although such a short planning cycle, I had envisioned making this trip for far too long. I had initially booked the trip for Aug/Sept of 2o1o, but canceled due to an Emory leadership class that I decided was more important at the time. Finally, it became real. I was set myself free to be mystified by this ancient, character dependent society that, before our eyes, was transforming itself into a global power.

The timing of the trip couldn't have been better as the weather was generally quite pleasant. Yes, quite cool, but also bearable. I'm sure the summer would have been sweltering at best. There was also the annual meeting of the Communist Party in Beijing which added a bit of spice to my stay there. Finally, the tsunami and resulting nuclear catastrophe allowed me to gain a significant insight into Sino-Japanese relations.

Before I left, I had my doubts. How would I be received? Would I simply hate it and believe it to be the biggest mistake in my traveling career? Was I going to be jailed? Would I be able to comprehend hanzi and pinyin? Would there be any meaning to the trip? Was it simply going to be a polluted, mannerless wasteland of corporate communism that would suck the life out of my soul? Would I be moved? and, finally, Was there better out there? Would I regret it?

Yes, lots of questions! Although with any trip, you do go through some hard times (travel pains), for the most part, I refuted all of my worries on this trip and actually LOVED China! How could this happen, you may ask? How does a person that has not a clue about another culture, who is ill-prepared for the experience, and knows nothing of the language or which way he was to be traveling even have a chance at surviving much less thriving in this foreign, non-democratic territory? Well, it's actually pretty simple: Just eat, drink, sleep, talk, walk, dance, question, laugh, smile, love and move like the locals. Doing this, I was loved by those around me and had the best time learning so much about our Red Giant (and Giant Pandas). :)