Traveling the World

Train to Guilin = 212rmb (paid for Lily) ($30.9)
Hostel in Guilin = 70rmb (paid for Lily) ($10.2)
Food in Guilin = 35.5rmb ($5.10)
Transportation in Guilin = 6rmb (buses/paid for Lily) ($0.80)
Activities in Guilin = 40rmb (die cai shan, paid for lily) ($5.80)
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Total for Guilin = 363.5rmb ($52.80)

Bus to Yangshuo = 30rmb (paid for Lily) ($4.37)
Hostel in Yangshuo = 70rmb (paid for Lily) ($10.2)
Food in Yangshuo = 55rmb ($8.02)
Transportation in Yangshuo = 5rmb ($0.72)
Activities in Yangshuo = 0rmb
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Total for Yangshuo = 160rmb ($23.31)

Train to Chengdu = 104rmb ($15.1)
Hostel in Chengdu = 60rmb (Melba paid for my first night) ($8.75)
Food in Chengdu = 62rmb ($9.05)
Activities in Chengdu = 100rmb ($14.59)
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Total for Chengdu = 326rmb ($47.49)

Bus to Emei Shan from Chengdu = 46rmb ($6.71)
Monastery in Emei Shan = 50rmb ($7.29)
Food in Emei Shan = 50rmb ($7.29)
Donation to Monastery = 30rmb ($4.37)
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Total for Emei Shan = 176rmb ($25.66)

Private Car to Leshan from Emei Shan = 30rmb ($4.37)
Activities in Leshan = 90rmb ($13.13)
Bus back to Chengdu = 45rmb ($6.56)
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Total for Leshan = 165rmb ($24.06)

Train to Xi’an = 209rmb ($30.51)
Hostel in Xi’an = 50rmb ($7.29)
Food in Xi’an = 101rmb ($14.74)
Activities in Xi’an = 155rmb ($22.62)
Transportation in Xi’an = 15rmb ($2.18)
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Total for Xi’an = 530rmb ($77.34)

Train to Beijing = 311rmb ($45.40)
Hostel in Beijing = 140rmb ($20.43)
Food in Beijing = 242rmb ($35.32)
Activities in Beijing = 100rmb ($14.59)
Transport in Beijing = 139rmb ($20.29)
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Total for Beijing = 932rmb ($136.03)

Train to Wuhan = 287 ($41.89)
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Total spent = 2939.5rmb ($428.58), My budget was 4500rmb ($656.93)

In the end, my friends paid for these things for me (thanks Alfred, Richard, and Melba!):

Hot Air Balloon = 480×2 (paid for Lily)
Black and White Panda = 1000
Red Panda (really a raccoon) = 100

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Look for my upcoming posts about Guilin, Yangshuo, Emei Shan, Leshan, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Beijing!

I left on a Sunday afternoon on a train from Wuhan to Huaihua, and then took a bus from Huaihua monday morning to Fenghuang. I think the four days I spent in Hunan province was great, and a much needed escape from the heat and fast pace of Wuhan. It was recommended to me by my girlfriend as a place for lovers, and indeed we met many couples there! At the time of this summary, the exchange rate was 6.83rmb for $1.

• The train from Wuhan to Huaihua = 211.5rmb ($30.90)
• The private car from Huaihua to Fenghuang = 30rmb ($4.37)
• Food = 126rmb ($18.40)
• Accommodation = 90rmb ($13.10)
• Private boat ride = 40rmb (20rmb each person) ($5.83)
• Miscellaneous = 438rmb ($63.90)
• The private car from Fenghuang to Huaihua = 30rmb ($4.37)
• The train from Huaihua to Wuhan = 211.5rmb ($30.9)

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My budget was 1600rmb, and I spent 1177rmb = $171

Remember that because I went with my girlfriend, some of my expenses involved paying for her food and her portion of the private boat ride.

The best part about it is that you can be totally by yourself, or make new friends along the way. I chose to be alone the first day, until a Chinese man who teaches English at a local middle school stopped me in the street. He took me to the Site of the First Communist Party Congress and gave me some insight into China’s foreign relations in the 19th century. Afterwards we walked around before hitting the Dunkin Donuts (I’m American, sue me!) At DD, he gave me a jade necklace to thank me for spending time with him.

Travel Tips

• Whether you are traveling solo or in a group, when in China it’s best to carry tissues with you at all times, as most bathrooms do not have them. You can buy a pack of 10 for 3rmb. For a family, you can split them into 2 or even 4 pieces to make them last!
• Subway stations require a learning curve. I underestimated the Chinese ability to plan ahead. The signs are all in English and Chinese in Shanghai, but this is most likely not the case in most other cities!
• If sleeping on the bottom bunk, turn the zippered side of your bag facing away from the aisle, and push it as far back as possible. Every measure you take to deter thieves is a good one.
• Soloing by train? Befriend you car-mates and they might just look after your things when you are away.
• Don’t buy food on the train/plane or at the airport/station. Instead, buy it at a store nearby because it will be much cheaper.
• To avoid a bad night’s sleep on the train, put your most valuable possessions underneath your pillow.

The picture above is Shanghai’s Pudong district as seen from the Bund. The entire skyline was built within a few years! When you walk around the Pudong district you will notice this because this part of town resembles an American city that has been zoned. Commercial and residential are separated from one another in this district, whereas the Puxi district (north of the river) is much older and has many streets with shops on the first floor and people living above them (especially noticeable in the Old Town and French Concession areas). These older areas developed this way because this is the old European style of city planning, but the way Shanghai is being modernized puts this style to the wayside.

At the time of writing this monetary summary, the currency exchange was 6.85rmb to 1 USD

• Train from Wuhan to Shanghai: 260rmb ($38)
• Hostel, 3 nights at 30rmb: 90rmb ($13)
• Food: 224rmb ($32)
• Sights: 190rmb ($27)
• Misc: 150rmb ($21)
• Train from Shanghai to Wuhan: 270rmb ($39)

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Budget 2000rmb, Total Spent = 1184rmb ($170)

The pictures of Pudong in this article were taken by my good friend Simon van der Meulen.