Hello from China!
After a full week of travel and excitement in China I finally have wifi and wanted to fill y'all in about my time on the other side of the world so far.
China is amazing. After a 14 hour plane ride from Toronto, Canada to Beijing, China, my friends and I arrived safely in Beijing on Friday May 24th. After getting settled in at the Foreign Affairs University dormitory, we explored every end of this massive and modernizing city. Beijjng was absolutely crazy. From the hectic traffic to its fascinating people and culture, there was always a source of entertainment. As my professor referred to our time as the "long march," we literally walked from site to site throughout Beijing. We visited China's Imperial Palace (the Forbidden City); we explored Beijing's various Buddhist temples; we stood in awe in front of the 2008 Olympics' Bird's Nest; we tried a variety of Chinese food and Beijing's exquisite Peking Duck... I could go on and on. One of my favorite area's was an old historic "hutong" district. Its intimate streets, local shops and markets, and quite surroundings made you feel as if you were in the city many years ago.
During one of our last days there, we drove by bus three hours outside the city AND CLIMBED THE GREAT WALL. IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER. The Great Wall extends over 3500 miles throughout China. It is astounding to see in person such a massive yet elegant structure defining the beautiful mountainius ridges of China's rural areas. Something everyone should put on their bucket list. Some of the steps were as tall as me- no kidding.
Yesterday we flew from Beijing to Dunhuang. Dunhuang is a small city IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GOBI DESERT. It has a population of about 15,000 and often is referred to as an oasis because spatially it is only 4% of its province- the rest being desert. This morning I literally went on a run into the sand dunes. And you will never believe it but I also rode camels and went sand sledding in the Gobi! So cool! We then visited breath taking buddhist monastic caves and saw the second largest buddha carving in China.
I love Dunhuang and do not want to leave but sadly we will depart tomorrow following the Silk Road to Xian! China and its people are beautiful!
Talk to everyone soon! I'd love to hear from ya!
Check out the photos attached.
Love
Allie
After a full week of travel and excitement in China I finally have wifi and wanted to fill y'all in about my time on the other side of the world so far.
China is amazing. After a 14 hour plane ride from Toronto, Canada to Beijing, China, my friends and I arrived safely in Beijing on Friday May 24th. After getting settled in at the Foreign Affairs University dormitory, we explored every end of this massive and modernizing city. Beijjng was absolutely crazy. From the hectic traffic to its fascinating people and culture, there was always a source of entertainment. As my professor referred to our time as the "long march," we literally walked from site to site throughout Beijing. We visited China's Imperial Palace (the Forbidden City); we explored Beijing's various Buddhist temples; we stood in awe in front of the 2008 Olympics' Bird's Nest; we tried a variety of Chinese food and Beijing's exquisite Peking Duck... I could go on and on. One of my favorite area's was an old historic "hutong" district. Its intimate streets, local shops and markets, and quite surroundings made you feel as if you were in the city many years ago.
During one of our last days there, we drove by bus three hours outside the city AND CLIMBED THE GREAT WALL. IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER. The Great Wall extends over 3500 miles throughout China. It is astounding to see in person such a massive yet elegant structure defining the beautiful mountainius ridges of China's rural areas. Something everyone should put on their bucket list. Some of the steps were as tall as me- no kidding.
Yesterday we flew from Beijing to Dunhuang. Dunhuang is a small city IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GOBI DESERT. It has a population of about 15,000 and often is referred to as an oasis because spatially it is only 4% of its province- the rest being desert. This morning I literally went on a run into the sand dunes. And you will never believe it but I also rode camels and went sand sledding in the Gobi! So cool! We then visited breath taking buddhist monastic caves and saw the second largest buddha carving in China.
I love Dunhuang and do not want to leave but sadly we will depart tomorrow following the Silk Road to Xian! China and its people are beautiful!
Talk to everyone soon! I'd love to hear from ya!
Check out the photos attached.
Love
Allie