Travel stories from China

My first year in China I had made travel plans to go to Kunming for Chinese New Year. I had heard phenomenal things about Yunnan, the natural beauty, and the rich culture. As a rookie in the travel scene here in China at the time, I had no idea what travelling during CNY meant.

Of course, the warnings were many but I persevered and struck to my decision. Roughly a week before my expected trip, I went to book my flights. Only problem? No tickets. Like I said, I was a bit of a rookie.

I finally found a train ticket to the gorgeous city that I snatched up as soon as I saw it. Travel duration? 40 hours. I swallowed my pride and boarded the train with two bottles of wine, a nice book and a fierce drive to have a good time.

Fast forward a whole day, with about 10 hours left in this nightmare adventure I found myself, drunk, hysterical, and almost falling into the train's toilet... it was a great experience.

I love getting massages in Asia where the prices are less expensive than in the West. While I worked in China, I frequented a chain of massage spas which I really liked. One weekend I was in Beijing in an area that I was not familiar with. I decided to get a massage. I remembered seeing what looked like a massage place a few blocks away and headed there. The place didn’t look quite like a typical spa with its flashing neon signs and pictures of smiling women in the window, but I figured that was just their style. Having traveled all my life I have frequently found myself in unfamiliar situations that at first might have felt uncomfortable only to dive in and discover a delightful new food, experience or location. So, in I went.

The inside had low lights, incense and nature sounds, typical of a spa, so I felt reassured. Rather than the smiling, gracious hostess that typically greets one in a spa, the woman that approached me looked worried and asked me something in Chinese. Through hand gestures, I indicated I wanted a massage. She called in another woman and the two engaged in a long and animated conversation behind a beaded curtain. Occasionally the separated the curtain and peeked out at me. Finally, they lead me to a darkened room with what I assumed was a massage table. I disrobed and lay face down on the table. A woman came in and proceeded to give me a pretty good massage. I paid and went home.

Next day was Monday and everyone was discussing their weekend. I mentioned my massage. I explained I went to the spa two blocks away. After pinpointing the exact location, I was told this was a high-end brothel.

It's always a nice surprise when your aunt calls you up to say she's bringing you to a 5-star resort somewhere in China. So was the case one summer and I was ecstatic!

I had been living in Shanghai for about a year (and kinda slumming it) when she told me she was taking me along on her business trip to Lijiang. I had never heard of the place but when she mentioned where we were staying I was floored. Banyan Tree!

I knew of the resort but never though I'd ever have the chance to stay there. One word: villa. Our room was actually a small house with 2 floors and it was heaven! My cousin also came with us and the next day we went sightseeing. Our aunt couldn't join us and just told us to enjoy the mountain. She sent us to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

At that point I had only been to Yellow Mountain and was expecting an easy hike with lots of trees. Boy was I wrong! I didn't expect the high altitude or the snow (although the name really says it all).

When we got there, I noticed people carrying what looked like aluminum cans. I didn't know what they were but my cousin did. He said they were oxygen cans. I'm like, what?? At first I was thinking I didn't need it, but our guide urged us to buy them.

My god, I have never felt so out of shape than I did that day! We got pretty high up that mountain, but almost died on the steps because of the thin air. I was sucking the life outta that can and both my cousin and I would never forget that experience!

Wonderful and terrifying all at once! But would I go again?! DEFINITELY.

On my recent trip to China with three friends, we went to this lovely local restaurant with traditional Chinese decoration completely by accident. It was a bit late into the evening so the restaurant wasn't too busy. We sat down at this dark brown wood table with beautiful carvings. Our waiter came over with a pot of freshly brewed tea, he was an outgoing young man and we started chatting. We told him that the four of us often travel together and we've been to many places. He told us that his girlfriend of 2 years also works at the restaurant and shared a few funny moments they encountered on a trip to western parts of the country. We jokingly asked him when he was going to propose. His face turned red, and said he definitely would once he has enough money to buy her a nice ring. Then, to everyone's surprise, my friend Alice took off her ring, and said to this suddenly shy man, "here's a ring, you can use it to propose to her". We could tell the excitement in his eyes, he gently took the ring from Alice's hand and walked toward a waitress cleaning a table on the other side of the restaurant. He kneeled down and popped the question. The lady was in tears of joy. Everyone was applauding and cheering. That evening, a man got a "Yes", a woman introduced her future husband, the four of us got a free and memorable dinner.