Need some travel advice for China

Need some travel advice for China newbie questions

#21 camerata

Posted 18 February 2010 - 10:00 AM

rae1968, on 18 February 2010 - 04:16 AM, said:

I found wet wipes to be invaulable when I went to China. Since most places had little or no toliet paper.

That's no problem... as long as they have a "bum gun" and water.

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I also brought antibactial gel again soap can be an issue. So when will you guys be in Xian and Bejing? I plan on going sometime in April.

The plan is arrive in Xian April 20 and leave on the 25th.

You are visiting, Camerata?

Are you going to see Jack?

I might be back in Beijing by then, but that's not confirmed. I might have already swung by Beijing/HK and came back to Vancouver since the family house needs repairs that I need to look after.

My work is never done even on vacation. :help:

Btw, have you been to Jie Tai Temple, or Jie Tan Temple near Beijing?

It's the one of the oldest surviving temple with practicing monks in Northern China.

This post has been edited by Starseeker: 18 February 2010 - 11:25 AM

#23 camerata

Posted 18 February 2010 - 01:49 PM

Starseeker, on 18 February 2010 - 11:22 AM, said:

You are visiting, Camerata?

Yes. I can't afford Japan this year so I thought I'd try "cheap" China instead. The problem is I don't have 6-8 weeks to do this, so rail is out and all those internal flights raise the cost a lot. Plus I'll only have time to visit SW China. Xian was a last-minute add-on.

I PM'd Jack for some tips last week as I'll be in Chengdu for a couple of days.

#24 rae1968

Posted 18 February 2010 - 06:26 PM

camerata, on 18 February 2010 - 10:00 AM, said:

The plan is arrive in Xian April 20 and leave on the 25th.

I arrive the 16th and leave either the 19th or 20th. Then heading to Beijing for a few days I still haven't got the tickets yet. So close LOL

This post has been edited by rae1968: 18 February 2010 - 06:27 PM

#25 Starseeker

Posted 19 February 2010 - 12:22 PM

Huh? Jack isn't in Chengdu..., afaik... :unsure:

If you haven't been to the temple, you should if you are stopping by Beijing at all. IIRC, you are a practicing Buddhist?

You are stopping by China, rae? Have you been here before?

#26 camerata

Posted 19 February 2010 - 12:42 PM

Starseeker, on 19 February 2010 - 12:22 PM, said:

Huh? Jack isn't in Chengdu..., afaik... :unsure:

His profile still lists his location as Chengdu, but when I asked him for tips he said he'd ask around. So maybe he isn't there. I seem to recall him saying he was in Gansu at one time.

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If you haven't been to the temple, you should if you are stopping by Beijing at all. IIRC, you are a practicing Buddhist?

Yes, but Theravada Buddhism. Anyway, I'm not going to Beijing. I decided to stick to SW China plus Xian and not rush around trying to see everything. Did you mean The Temple of Heaven - the Taoist Temple?

#27 Starseeker

Posted 19 February 2010 - 01:48 PM

Ur..., NO.

From my blog:

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Jie Tai Temple, or Jie Tan Temple (the temple of the altar) This is NOT a very well known place, and this place is still a real temple with real monks training and living here. It’s too bad that they are trying to ruin such a spiritual place with more tourism/tourist stuff and the intention to build condos on the huge but used to be tranquil grounds. I still recommend you to go see it. It is situated on Ma’an hillside of the Western Hills in Beijing 25 kilometers from Beijing. First built in the reign of the first emperor of the Sui Dynasty (581- 600) and named as Hui Ju Temple, it has a history of over 1,400 years. I recommend you take the whole day for this place. Try not to buy any incense or Buddhism stuff until you are inside the temple. You can get drinks anywhere though. There are a lot of things to see here. If you are the hiking type, take the road to the back mountains to the dragon pond where one of the area’s river originated. The Tower Forest (my translation) or the place where they place the tomb stones of the famous monks through out Northern Chinese history is quite a sight to behold. It’s a somber but beautiful place. The dignity and tranquillity is quite tingling to the bones for the spiritually inclined. If you are a Buddhist, you MUST Visit this place.

http://www.travelchi...e/tour-bj05.htm

A lot of links fail to mention the Tower Forest located near JieTai temple. It's where a lot of famous monks through out Chinese history were buried. JieTai Temple has a very long tradition and a lot of old Buddhist stories associated with it. One of my Chinese friend's best friend insisted on going there because she is a devout Buddhist.

IIRC, Jack should be in Xian..., but I could be wrong. We Chinese expats can move around a lot.

This post has been edited by Starseeker: 19 February 2010 - 01:59 PM

#28 camerata

Posted 19 February 2010 - 01:56 PM

OK, that temple would be of interest if I were visiting Beijing. As for Jack, he hasn't been online for awhile so I doubt he knows I'm visiting Xian.

#29 Starseeker

Posted 19 February 2010 - 02:24 PM

Ok..., I've screwed up..., and I apologize if I confused anybody who knew anything about Beijing. The Temple that I was referring to is Tanzhe Temple, not JieTai Temple. They are almost right next to each other geographically. Hence my confusion. In fact, you have to pass the sigh that will tell you JieTai temple to the left if you are moving on to TanZhe temple.

:doh: