Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Mountain, China: How to Have the Best Experience

Julie China 17 Comments

Tianmen Mountain is one of the world’s most beautiful mountains. Why should you travel here? To ride in one of the world’s longest cable cars, walk the narrow, plank paths attached to vertical cliffs, walk on the glass skywalk, and climb the 999 steps to Heaven’s Door. Tianmen Mountain is located in Zhangjiajie, in the Hunan Province of China. Most …

China Travel Tips

China Travel Tips: Things To Know Before Traveling to China

Julie China, Travel Advice 48 Comments

Traveling through China can be a very rewarding experience but it does come with its share of challenges. With the right expectations and a little preparation (such as reading our China travel tips), a visit to China can be an amazing experience. Many people travel here on a tour, eliminating the challenges of arranging itineraries, transportation, hotels, and meals. As …

Shanghai Skyline 2015

Photo Tour of Shanghai

Julie China 4 Comments

We spent several days exploring Shanghai while on our trip around the world. For part of our visit to China, we were joined by my mother, Kathy, and Tim’s mother, Valerie. While traveling, most of the time we feel like we fit in with our wardrobe. Traveling with only five shirts and several pairs of pants really limits the types …

Great Wall

Hiking Jiankou to Mutianyu on the Great Wall of China

Julie China 25 Comments

The Great Wall of China…one of the world’s most iconic sights and one of the top ten things to do on many traveler’s bucket lists.  We couldn’t visit China without seeing this amazing place.  It was so amazing that we actually visited the Great Wall twice. Our first visit was to the restored section at Mutianyu.  Several days later we hiked …

Zhangjiajie

Photo Tour of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Julie China 22 Comments

Zhangjiajie, China…a place you may never have heard of but have seen if you watched the movie “Avatar.”  When we learned that there was a place on earth that served as the inspiration for one of its most scenic landscapes, we put it at the top of our list. Zhangjiajie…the Inspiration for the Landscape in “Avatar” This place is Zhangjiajie, …

Li River Valley

Cycling the Li River Valley from Xingping, China

Julie China 7 Comments

This is what draws people from around the world to Yangshuo, China: the towering, leafy limestone peaks along the Li River. Yes, we loved Yangshuo, but it is great to get out into the surrounding countryside for at least a day if your schedule allows. We chose to visit the small town of Xingping, located just a half an hour …

Yangshuo China

Kung Fu, Calligraphy, and Exploring Yangshuo, China

Julie China 14 Comments

Our adventures in China continue with an amazing visit to the town of Yangshuo. When you see paintings and artwork of China, this is the area used so frequently. Bumpy limestone mountains, fishing boats and bamboo rafts drifting along the Li River, small villages located in the valleys, this is a beautiful part of China. Arriving in Yangshuo We were …