China Travel Review: Beijing, Great Wall of Mutianyu, Xian, Longsheng Rice Terrace, Li River Cruise, Food & History

Touring the sites of Beijing was the perfect introduction to China.

Despite a rainy, cold, and windy day, our visit to the Great Wall of Mutianyu was very memorable.  There were stretches which my husband, our guide, and myself were hiking the Wall in complete solitude and we could really appreciate its enormity, the history, and the beautiful landscape. 

One highlight was our visit to Xian.  We loved everything about our time in Xian (except the traffic, which was horrible).  Riding a tandem bike on the city wall is a MUST!  We were surprised at how easy it was and rode from the South Gate to the West Gate.  It was a clear, sunny day which made for some great views of the city. 

Seeing the Terracotta Warriors was spectacular.  Our Xian guide, Wei Wei, was truly the best.  She asked for our permission to adjust our schedule for an early pick-up from our hotel so that we could arrive when the gates opened.  It turned out to be an excellent idea.  We had the first 20 minutes inside all to ourselves ahead of the crowds and got some amazing photos.  The place is immense; the size of a football field.  We were completely memorized.

Another highlight was our stay in Guilin and our hike through the Longsheng Rice Terraces. Farmers had just harvested the rice, but we could see it drying.  The landscape and small village was very picturesque.  Our lunch, which included sticky rice with bits of bacon and sweet potato cooked in bamboo was outstanding!

Our day cruise down the Li River was a relaxing change of pace.  We floated past the beautiful limestone mountains, small fishing villages and had a nice buffet lunch.

We also spent two days touring on our own in Hong Hong.  Our travel planner assured us we could easily tour the city without a guide and he was right.  Navigating the city and seeing all the sights was no problem.  It was fun exploring on on our own and I would highly recommend it.

Lastly, I have to mention the delicious food.  All our guides took us to excellent restaurants and we tried so many new, flavorful dishes we don't have in the United States.  The cuisine of China is as much a focal point as the sights!