Please mind the gap! Laugh if you like, but these were the best words I had heard in two weeks of travel. I was immediately out of China and into London, almost. I am not big on cities, but Hong Kong is a world-class, first class city. While you can't condone how the Brits came to acquire the place (Opium Wars), I have to tip my cap to them because they did a bang up job! Similar to how England is not European. Hong Kong is not Chinese. There are subtl...

Like Shanghai, I had no intention of going to Xiamen when I originally planned my trip. Unlike Shanghai, I am really glad that I went to Xiamen and Gulongyu Island. Gulongyu Island not only has the laid back atmosphere that most islands do, but due to its history as a Portuguese Imperial settlement Gulongyu also boasts some wonderful Mediterranean Architecture. This place is a haven for tourists and well worth it to boot. Presently almost all of the...

If you read my Nanjing entry then you know that I was having a bit of bad luck. Well the streak continued on my first day in Huangshan, but fortunately I had a strong and wonderful finish to my trip to one of China's Yellow Mountains, Huangshan. To get things off on the right foot, I manage to nearly miss my stop in Huangshan. I was the only one left on the train when I showed my ticket to the staff member. I did not have to know Chinese to realize that s...

Ten Ways Taxi (Mini Bus Drivers) Use the Car Horn 1. The basic move out of my way is definitely practiced with a high degree of frequency here. 2. Going around a curve to announce your presence. 3. Telling the car in front of you that you are about to pass, are passing, and once again upon completion just for good measure. 4. While passing said car, honking at the oncoming car whose lane you are in is also common. 5. Of course you have to honk at eve...

Nanjing is a former capital of China and probably has tons of history to study, but I was interested in one thing only, the Museum of Nanjing Massacre. To make a long story short, I went out of my way to get there and the darn place was closed for some reason or another. I was not a happy camper. I saw a things, walked around the local market, and then got out of town that night. Off to the Huangshan Mountains on an overnight train.