All Fours Movement
The first video right here is one thing odd I witnessed at a park. Check out this new ‘All Fours Movement’ (coined by me). Elderly crawling up hill on all fours? This was at Yue Xiu Park, Guangzhou. Quite weird, however they appear to know what they have been doing.
We flew to Guangzhou on Singapore Airlines. We arrived in Guangzhou in good time. When we have been researching on the place to remain, we determined that since this was a brief getaway, and costs in China have been nonetheless comparatively cheap (in comparison with resort costs in Singapore), we selected a pleasant resort chain, and landed on the Marriott – A China Hotel.
This was a 5-star Marriott resort, nevertheless it was one of many earliest (if not the earliest) 5-star resort in Guangzhou. Hence the property was a bit outdated. Booking on-line, the charges for a Club Room was affordable (about $210 SGD), so we determined to go together with that.
Further analysis revealed that we may take the Guangzhou Metro from the airport, all the way in which to the resort. It appeared quite simple, and it turned out to be very straightforward certainly.
Of course, when you have giant baggage to lug round, then it might be more durable. But since this was a brief journey, our baggage was gentle and simple to push round. So after touchdown, we obtained a China SIM card close to the bags carousel, after which made our technique to our resort through the Metro.
The video under exhibits you this expertise, from amassing our baggage, to purchasing the SIM card, strolling to the Metro station, shopping for a 3-day METRO ticket, and using the Metro correct. It actually was very straightforward certainly.
When we arrived on the Yue Xiu Park metro station, (the place the Hotel was situated), we determined to go seize a chew on the close by McDonalds first. We have been hungry. Here is the video of the snack we had at McDonalds. We shared a Spicy Chicken Fillet Burger.
Guangzhou Metro Map
Here is the Guangzhou Metro map. You can simply discover this on-line. The airport station is on Line 3, on the North of the map, known as Airport South. (or was it Airport North, both manner one of many airport stations is not opened but).
Taking Line 3 southwards, we modified trains at JianHeWangGang to get onto the Blue Line, in direction of Yue Xiu Park, for our resort.
On our first day, after arriving and attending to the resort, we set out utilizing the MRT to get to Shamian Island. To get there, we took the Metro to HuangSha station, which is on the western facet of the map. At the Huang Sha station, exit through Exit F, stroll through an overpass to get to the island. Here are two video clips on our expertise.
Part 1 – Guangzhou China, Metro, Walk to Shamian Island
Part 2- Walking round Shamian Island, in Guangzhou.
Notice from the movies that the guests have been all locals. Plenty of native people out for a stroll right now. We additionally noticed folks taking wedding ceremony pictures on the island.
Shamian Island, earlier generally known as Zhongliusha or Shicuizhou, is an elliptic sandbar within the Liwan District of Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. The island’s identify actually means “sandy floor” in Chinese. Surrounded by water, it is rather like an enormous ship mooring alongside the wharf. Get additional and one will discover that the island is fastidiously deliberate. Three east-west avenues, Shamian Avenue, Shamian North Avenue and the South Avenue, and 5 north-south streets, Shamian Street 1 to the Street 5 divide the entire space into 12 components, with varied buildings, specifically White Swan Hotel, Shamian Hotel, and Poland Consulate in Guangzhou, scattered round.
After roaming the island a bit, we headed off (utilizing Bai Du maps) to stroll round. I feel we made all of it the way in which to the up-down 9 avenue – ShangXiaJiu avenue or 上下九步行街.
Next Morning – Bai Yun Mountain
Next morning, the place we had a full day, we determined that we should always do the Bai Yun mountain as early as we may. Bai Yun (White Cloud) mountain is definitely only a hill. Highest level is 382M. After doing our analysis, we determined to attempt taking the general public bus #24 from Yue Xiu Garden (which is close to the place we stayed) to the foot of the mountain. It took some time for us to seek out the proper bus cease, however we discovered it. While ready for the bus to reach, I noticed this car going previous. Was it cleansing the highway? I wasn’t certain. The video was taken on the bus cease the place we have been ready for #24. In the space, you’ll be able to see the Marriott Hotel.
Taking the general public bus
First bus was too full. We managed to get on the second bus #24 that got here alongside. Fare was 2RM per particular person and the motive force would not give change. Since I did not have small notes, I used 10RM for the each of us. It was a reasonably tight squeeze alongside the way in which, however the bus was air-conditioned and it was a reasonably snug journey, though we have been standing. When we reached the terminus station, we obtained off, adopted the crowds to cross a highway, and walked as much as the ticketing space. This video exhibits you snippets of the journey. The journey from Yue Xiu Garden to the bus terminus was about 20 minutes.
Once we reached the cable automotive station, we obtained to the ticket line for cable automotive tickets. Pleasantly stunned that the road wasn’t too lengthy. After all, this was the Golden Week in China. We had executed our journey analysis and determined that we should always take the cable automotive up, after which search for the electrical cart to take us as much as the summit. Buying the tickets was very easy. I requested in regards to the return ticket, and the counter workers stated that return ticket may solely be bought up the mountain. Ok, then. We go up first. The subsequent video exhibits the cable automotive journey upwards. As there was already a small crowd, they squeezed 8 pax to a automotive. The journey was pretty lengthy.
Electric Cart
After we alighted from the cable automotive, we walked round a bit (this wasn’t the summit but) and located our technique to the electrical cart station. You may stroll to the summit from right here, however it might be an uphill 2km stroll. I extremely suggest taking the electrical cart, at 10rmb per particular person. You will see from the video that there have been many individuals strolling up, so the stroll is do-able however I feel fairly tiring.
Even after we attain the Moxing Summit station (the place we get off the electrical cart), it was nonetheless a superb 5 minutes uphill climb to the summit correct. Therefore, except you are feeling like strolling many steps uphill, I’d strongly suggest taking the cable automotive adopted by the electrical cart.
Finally, we have been getting ready to reaching the summit.
To recap, first we took the general public bus #24 (2rmb) from Yue Xiu backyard to the mountain bus interchange. Next, we purchased the cable automotive tickets (25rmb) which introduced us as much as a big, busy space. Then we discovered the electrical cart station, and took the electrical cart (10rmb) to the Moxing Summit. The remaining leg, we now have to stroll. But first, one other 4rmb entrance charges. And we’re lastly right here! (Prices appropriate as at Oct 2017)
This might be the quickest technique to rise up. I realised that whereas many locals took the cable automotive up, they did not take the electrical cart. You may do this too, however take a look at my earlier video to get a way of how far you would want to stroll (uphill). I feel the 10rmb was nicely definitely worth the cash.
Walking again to Cable Car Station
We spent round half-hour on the Mo Xing summit. It was fairly heat. Soon, it was time to make our manner again down. Recall we took the electrical cart right here. This time spherical, we determined to take a stroll again to the cable automotive station. Walking downslope wasn’t troublesome. On the way in which, we noticed many individuals strolling up, together with younger and outdated.
We had to purchase tickets to do down through cable automotive, which we did. The complete place was getting extra crowded as we approached mid-day, with an increasing number of native vacationers arising. But we have been executed with the go to and on the way in which down. The subsequent video exhibits you the cable automotive journey down. Check out the crowds on the base station!
Taking Public Bus Back to Hotel
We determined to take the identical public bus #24 to go again to the place we began. Here is the stroll from the cable automotive station again to the bus station, and a few snippets of the bus journey.
The remainder of the time in Guangzhou, we have been exploring, both on foot or through the metro. Here are some extra video footage. Somehow, we discovered ourselves strolling by way of some backstreet alleys of Guangzhou. We had veered off the primary highway. However, we weren’t misplaced, merely following Baidu maps.
QingPing Market
Also walked by way of a little bit of Qingping market. Famous place for all sorts of medicines and dried items.
QR Code Bus Station
Walked previous a bus station. First time I noticed such giant QR codes printed on the wall. Later, I realised that their folks have been shopping for bus tickets to varied locations utilizing their cell phone.
Li Wang Plaza Guangzhou
We discovered our technique to Li Wan Plaza Guangzhou, which was a wholesale heart. This place was enormous! All the retailers have been opened, however we hardly noticed any clients. Later on I figured that they have been all wholesalers and merchants, taking a lot of their orders over the telephone, or web.
Dian Du De
And we had some meals at this place known as Dian Du De. This place was tremendous crowded! We had examine it on-line and got here to test it out. Full of locals. We ordered, and had manner an excessive amount of to eat! The parts have been extraordinarily enormous (we did not know).
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