What to expect & what not to expect

Stairs, stairs, and stairs. No, the steps aren’t like the stairs at your home…  Some steps are narrow, some are steep. I do not recommend this hike for people who aren’t feeling fit. During the hike, you get to points where you can choose for more challenging routes. When you consider taking these paths, think of the route you’d still have to walk. Even though the route is tough I still recommend you take it. It is challenging but rewarding! Rumors go that Hua Mountain is the most dangerous hike in the world. Well… Please, do not believe this! Even Chinese children and the elderly hike it.  It might have been like that in the past, but nowadays the stairs are fenced off.

The peaks

Plank trail

Must do! A plank road in the sky?! You can find the plank road on the South East of the Mountain. Be prepared for a very long waiting line! Take 35 Yuan in your pocket as rent for the gear!

Useful information

The best time to visit the mountain is from March to November (especially September). It can be very hot during that time, make sure to bring enough water. I advise you not to go on the weekend or during a Chinese national holiday. It’ll be packed! When you get there, you’ll have to buy an entry ticket. Prices vary from season to season.

Transportation Xi’an – Hua Mountain

There are two options when you’re coming from Xi’an. It might be convenient to have a translation of these words, it could make your journey a bit easier:

• One-Way Ticket: Dānchéng piào, 单程票  
• Round-Trip Ticket: Wǎngfǎn piào, 往返票
• Hua Shan Station: Huàshān huoche zhan, 华山火车 站  
• Xian North Station: Xī’ān běi, 西安北

The high-speed train from Xi’an North Railway to Huashan North takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The North Railway station in Xi’an is very convenient to reach. There are free busses at the back of the Hua Shan station that will bring you to the entrance of the mountain. Be careful with unofficial cabs and never buy tickets of a not-ticket office!

The normal train from Xi’an Railway station. Make sure you go to the Xi’an Railway station, not Xi’an North Railway station! This train ride will take you about 1,5 – 2 hours.

Buses are available from the east side of Xi’an Railway station to the entrance of the mountain. The indication of the buses should be convenient because other buses to Terra Cotta Warriors leave from the same location. Make sure you get on the right bus!

Some more advice

• The biggest tips I have for you: be aware of scams! Only buy tickets at a ticket office, never drive unofficial taxis, … An official taxi will also raise his price, especially if you are not Chinese. Go as low as you can and accept the fact that you’re being ripped off.
• Bring enough water with you. There are little shops on the mountain but as you might already imagine, they’re expensive as hell!
• Start slow. If you’re wanting to hike the whole mountain you should start slow. I took a cable car to one of the peaks and started my hike from there (which was still very challenging).

Cheers! Safe travels!

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Chengdu – Xi’an: Day 1

I traveled by night train from Chengdu East to Xi’an South. I can tell you that the Chinese train infrastructure is very convenient for traveling. The train ride (Chengdu-Xi’an) took me about 10 hours. You get to choose between a hard sleeper (200 to 280 RMB) or a soft sleeper (300-380 RMB). If you choose for the soft sleeper you’ll be sleeping with ‘only’ 4 persons per section, contrary to the hard sleeper where you sleep with 6 persons per section. I choose the hard sleeper: you could compare the bed to a wooden plank. It wasn’t the most hygienic experience so far… The sheets were washed but obviously not clean… But hey, I’m still alive!?

Geography 101: Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan province, Xi’an is the capital city of Shaanxi Province.

How to get to the city center? Once you get off the train you’re still not in Xi’an itself, you’re some kilometers away. Walk out of the station and look for bus 920 or 918. This bus ride takes about one hour and costs only 3 Yuan. These buses will bring you to the closest metro station (which is on line 2). Be warned: the buses are always fully packed.

Terracotta Warriors; must-see attraction in Xi’an! Obviously, my fascination with the Chinese culture is very big, so I’ve always wanted to see the impressive Terracotta Warriors. Once I made it to the hostel I immediately dropped off my bags and left for the terracotta sculptures. Have you ever heard of one of the greatest archeological discoveries in the world? The Terracotta Warriors are thousands of clay warriors found in thumbs.

Each of them has a unique facial expression and every statue represents a real soldier that has served the army of that time (the Qin dynasty). The replicas were made so that emperor Qin wouldn’t be alone in his afterlife. With an army of thousands of soldiers, weapons, philosophers, and farmers Emperor Qin clearly had big plans for his afterlife! Getting there: The most convenient and cheapest way of getting there is by bus. You can take bus 309 that departs right next to the North railway station. The buses leave every few minutes, so no need to rush! This drive will take about 40 minutes and will only cost 5 yuan. They drop you off at the entrance of the museum. Tip: Terracotta Army in Mandarin: 兵马俑 – Bīngmǎyǒng.

The Muslim Market Right after the Terracotta Warriors, I went to check out the Muslim Market. I think of it as a busy, colorful street full of culture. I absolutely loved it. Fun fact: many years ago Xi’an was the starting point of the Silk Road. Thousands of merchants, students, predictors, teachers, etc … would come down to Xi’an from Persia and other Arabic countries. They settled down in the current Muslim Carter of Xi’an. Nowadays it’s a very touristic place. I really recommend you to check it out and try some (street) food!

Hua Mountain: Day 2

Hua Mountain is located in the middle of China, Shaanxi province. It has several peaks, the highest peak reaches 2155 meters above sea level. I’ve hiked quite a bit in China but nothing could compare to Hua Mountain. Coming up: a new article about hiking up Hua Mountain. I started off this journey all alone but totally underestimated it. Halfway up my hike I met Cory, who became my mental support for the hike and my travel buddy for the rest of the trip!

Discovering Xi’an: Day 3

Day 3 wasn’t very intensive for me. I didn’t want to have a busy day of sightseeing with sour legs from my hike the day before. Recommended things to see in Xi’an during a walk:

• Xian City Wall: This landmark is one of the largest defense barriers in the world. You could go for a walk or a ride on a bicycle. Entry tickets cost 45 RMB.
• Bell Tower
• Muslim Street: see the Muslim Market. Ps, look for small corridors within the area to find some ‘fake’ markets. 
• Drum Tower: located in the city center & next to the Muslim Market
• Small Wild Goose Pagoda
• Shaanxi History Museum
• Xian Museum

Cheers! Enjoy beautiful Xi’an!

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Chengdu Food Tours

After living in Chengdu for a while I realized that I didn’t know a lot about the food culture. I was always eating the same dishes, the dishes I felt comfortable ordering. Time to get out of my comfort zone! I looked around a bit and finally, Chengdu Food Tours drew my attention. As the name suggests., Chengdu Food Tours organizes food tours. It’s also an online platform for courageous foodies and cultural interaction. CFT is about interacting, learning (and of course, teaching), and exploring.  The platform includes different kinds of food tours, workshops, ‘the Sichuan food blog’, and more. Jordan, the author, sees food as the cultural vehicle for immersing oneself in a culture.

Jordan, founder of CFT

When I interviewed Jordan, I was obviously not only curious about his business in China but also about his personal experience as a foreigner moving to China. Just like many other foreigners that are established in China, Jordan sets his first steps into China as a student. His passion for Chinese culture, his curiosity, and his international relations led him to the idea/opportunity of Chengdu Food Tours. Food became a big focus, not only because he was fascinated by the flavors and diversity but also as a means to immerse himself in a particular culture. Getting to know the food is getting to know the culture. He uses Chengdu Food Tours to share his experience with other travelers.

Chinese Food Culture & Typical Sichuan dishes

In Chinese culture, food has many symbolic meanings. I’ll give you a very clear example: during the Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Mooncake Festival), people eat mooncakes. At weddings, people will serve seeds, as symbols of bearing many children. I tell you, there are too many dishes that have a symbolic meaning to sum up in this article. Every region in China has its specialty. Food in China is very regional and seasonal. If you want to be able to experience Sichuan optimally, you also have to appreciate the local food. Sichuan province is the province that’s known for its spiciness. By the way, did I mention that Chengdu is a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy? Here are some pics of typical Sichuanese dishes.

Street food

I’d get on the first flight back to Chengdu just to get some street food. Like the word already gives away: it’s food sold on the streets. Especially at night, Chinese vendors come and go with their little vehicles. It’s an important part of Chinese food culture. The most known street food is Chinese Barbecue or 烧烤 (Shaokao). But, always be careful with your stomach when trying street food: many vendors have never heard of the word ‘hygiene’!

Curious about Chengdu Food Tours? Check their website. Cheers, and enjoy your meal

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