China Adventure - past and present

My first brush with China was a trip in Hong Kong and Macau. But because of their autonomy from mainland China, I consider those trips as entirely separate from my China adventure.

It all started in Guangzhou, the capital of the Guangdong province, in southern China. With all the promo fares going on, my friend and I grabbed a super seat sale to this Chinese city.

This trip was an eye-opener for me and I learned how to survive China without any knowledge of their language. It was difficult but we got through. We'd use sign languages and expressions or carry a Cantonese phrasebook with us wherever we go.

One funny incident was when I approached a security officer in the subway and pointed him our location and our destination. He stared at me and asked, "so, you want to go from here to here?" pointing at our map. It was embarassing as I assumed he wouldn't be able to understand or speak English. But I learned my lesson - young people, especially teenagers, can now converse in English. Wherever we went, we'd look for teens to approach and inquire.

It was still winter season when we visited Guangzhou and the cool weather was very ideal for walking. Apart from the subway, we also tried taking the bus even when we couldn't read the Chinese characters. It was also a memorable experience for me since this was the first time I've stayed in a youth hostel, which I found homey, neat, and affordable.

What I liked most about Guangzhou was its gardens especially near Baiyun mountain. Guangzhou is a city with history, colorful economic activities, and places for relaxation and communing with nature.

Moreover, this city once known as Canton, is a place full of delicious Chinese delicacies.

Written and contributed by writeonthespot
www.firsttimetravel.wordpress.com