Going to China

Posted on 1 Apr 2009 - by Katkat In: the World

What better way to spend the Holy Week by traveling! I’ll be going on a 10-day vacation to China with my sister this Friday. We’ll be meeting up with my other sister who works there. We’ll be visiting Shanghai and Beijing. I’m so excited but I haven’t packed yet! I’m worried about my clothes because they’re only suited for warm weather. Here in the Philippines particularly Metro Manila it’s always 98% warm. So I couldn’t find any cheap cold-weather clothes here.

I don’t know what to expect in China since I didn’t plan the itinerary. My sister did. I usually research the places I’m going to travel so that I’ll be prepared for anything. Now I believe I’m prepared for the inevitable: of getting lost and overspending.

Right now I’m feeling slightly apprehensive because China is a big place and my sister won’t be able to go with us in some days so my other sister and me will be left to ourselves. People there can’t understand English while I have limited Mandarin vocabulary skills. That’s why I prepared myself by practicing my rudimentary Mandarin skills. I also downloaded Chinese translator app in my ipod touch. If that will help.

So here’s the itinerary my sister planned:

Day 2 and 3: Shanghai
Apr 4 – Yu Garden, Xintiandi, The Bund, Nanjing Road, Urban Planning Museum
Apr 5 – Shanghai Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Building, Aquarium

Day 4 to Day 9: Beijing
Apr 6 – Great Wall
Apr 7 – Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Qianmen Street, The Egg
Apr 8 – Temple of Heaven, Olympic Park, Acrobat Show
Apr 9 – Old Summer Palace, Fragrant Hills
Apr 10 – Summer Palace, Beijing Zoo/798 Art District
Apr 11 – Shopping at Panjiayuan (Antique Market)

We’ll be taking cebupacific and it costs us 14700php (per person) with travel tax already when we bought the ticket on January. I’m thinking of spending PHP15k only (without shopping!) for the whole trip. That’s P7.1 to 1 RMB so around RMB2113. Wish me luck that I don’t overbudget!!!

I’ll tell you more of my China adventures in the coming days. If you have any suggestions of an interesting place to visit in Shanghai and Beijing, please do tell.

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