China has long been Huyen Trang's dream destination. And Guangzhou - Shanghai is the first choice for her journey to explore this vast country, instead of other ancient cities. Because she wants to immerse herself in the modern, vibrant lifestyle, while learning about Chinese history and culture in a new, vibrant space.
The trip lasted 9 days and 8 nights, with 5 days and 4 nights in Guangzhou and 4 days and 4 nights in Shanghai. Each city brought Huyen Trang unique and impressive experiences.
China has long been Huyen Trang's dream destination.
The trip lasted 9 days and 8 nights, with 5 days and 4 nights in Guangzhou and 4 days and 4 nights in Shanghai.
From the moment she stepped off the train station, she was overwhelmed by the vastness and modernity of this place. The train station was as big as a miniature airport. The roads were spacious and clean, and vehicles moved in an orderly manner. The architecture bore a strong Chinese influence with curved tiled roofs and majestic dragon and phoenix statues.
The modernity of these two cities overwhelmed Huyen Trang. Everything was new, from skyscrapers, bustling shopping malls to modern means of transportation. In particular, the dense camera system and police force on duty everywhere made her feel secure, even though she was a girl traveling alone.
The modernity of these two cities overwhelmed Huyen Trang.
The roads are spacious, clean, and vehicles move in order.
Guangzhou - The beauty of the intersection between tradition and modernity
Walking on the old streets of Guangzhou, Huyen Trang felt like she was lost in another world. The ancient houses and winding alleys bear the mark of time. However, next to that is the modernity of new neighborhoods and bustling shopping areas. The unique blend of tradition and modernity creates a fascinating Guangzhou.
Located in the South of China, Guangzhou is one of the most vibrant and developed cities with more than 15 million people. It is known as the “city of flowers”, “city of shopping” and is an ideal destination for those who want to experience the vibrant life and explore the unique culture of China.
Walking on the old streets of Guangzhou, Huyen Trang felt like she was lost in another world.
The unique blend of tradition and modernity creates a fascinating Guangzhou.
Guangzhou is one of the most vibrant and developed cities with over 15 million people.
An ideal destination for those who want to experience the vibrant pace of life and explore China's unique culture.
Guangzhou owns many modern architectural works such as Canton Tower - the 6th tallest tower in the world, Guangzhou Opera House - the city's iconic theater or Zhujiang New Town - a bustling new urban area. Besides, Guangzhou also preserves many ancient historical and cultural relics such as Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Guangdong History Museum or Enning Old Street.
In addition, Guangzhou is also known as a “shopping city” with countless markets, shopping malls and retail stores. Visitors can find everything here from clothes, shoes, electronics, to souvenirs. Some famous shopping places in Guangzhou are 13 Wholesale Market, Baima Market, Huagang Market, Wanda Plaza or Shangxiajiu Street.
However, those are not the destinations that “score points” in Huyen Trang’s heart. “What remains in me are the streets of Yide Lu. One morning, I went to look for food on the street according to reviews and accidentally followed the crowd into the small alleys of the residential area. I decided to stay and sit and watch the peaceful scene of the Guangzhou people here. The peace in the middle of the bustling city,” she confided.
Guangzhou is also known as the "shopping city"
Shanghai - The most luxurious city
Shanghai is vibrant and modern with skyscrapers and bustling neighborhoods. The hustle and bustle of this city makes Huyen Trang overwhelmed but also full of excitement. Shanghai is known as the most modern in China, always welcoming visitors with unique and impressive experiences. This place with a harmonious combination of traditional and modern beauty promises to bring you an exciting and memorable trip.
Shanghai is vibrant and modern with skyscrapers and bustling neighborhoods.
Shanghai, China's most vibrant and modern city, always welcomes visitors with unique and impressive experiences.
Shanghai is awe-inspiring with towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower - the symbol of the city or the Shanghai World Financial Center. Visitors can also find traditional values in old neighborhoods such as Nanking Street, Yu Garden Street or Jade Buddha Temple.
In addition, this is a place where many cultures intersect, creating a diverse and unique picture. Visitors can participate in traditional festivals, enjoy special dishes or explore museums and art galleries.
Shanghai is a crossroads of many cultures creating a diverse and unique picture.
Visitors can participate in traditional festivals, enjoy special dishes or explore museums and art galleries.
A feast of delicious Chinese cuisine
Chinese cuisine has always been a tourist attraction because of its diversity, richness and unique flavors. During her trip, Huyen Trang had the opportunity to enjoy many typical dishes of this place, from Teochew hotpot, claypot rice, Cantonese breakfast to stinky tofu and malatang.
“The two dishes that impressed me the most were stinky tofu and Cantonese breakfast, also known as 'zaocha'. I was especially impressed with the breakfast culture of the people of Guangzhou (Canton), where people lined up to eat breakfast, sat down to eat breakfast, drank tea and talked to each other,” Huyen Trang shared.
Chinese cuisine always attracts tourists because of its diversity, richness and unique flavors.
Pocket tips for independent travel to China
Many people think that traveling to China on your own for the first time and without knowing the language is difficult. However, in reality, it is not as complicated as you imagine. Just prepare carefully, you can completely explore this vast country by yourself.
Detailed schedule:Make a detailed plan for each day, including places to visit, transportation, accommodation, food... This will help you save time and avoid confusion when you arrive.
Beautiful and confident soul:It is important to be open-minded and willing to explore new cultures. Being confident in communicating in English or using gestures will help you solve many problems.
Many people think that traveling to China on their own is difficult for first-time travelers who don't know the language.
Prepare the necessary "weapons":Phones with useful applications installed such as maps, translation, ticket booking, taxi calling... will be your great assistants.
Consider the difficulties: Surely you will encounter some obstacles on your journey such as getting lost, difficulty communicating... Stay calm and find a solution or ask the locals for help.
Safety first: China is a safe country. However, you should be careful with your personal belongings and pay attention to security when traveling, especially at night.
With careful preparation, you can absolutely explore this vast country on your own.
Sometimes the difficulties you encounter on your travels are the most memorable. For example, you might get lost and meet kind locals who help you. Or you might have trouble communicating but end up creating funny stories.
“Before going, I was also very scared because of the language barrier as well as the transportation in China. But when I arrived here, everything was not as scary as I imagined. With only three words in Chinese, I was able to travel and experience two cities in 9 days very fully. Everyone here is very friendly and enthusiastic. When I asked or asked for help with anything, everyone was very enthusiastic to help. So if you want to travel on your own but are still worried because you don't know the language, don't worry. Just boldly go out with Google Translate and a fully charged phone,” Huyen Trang advised.
Sometimes the hardships you encounter on your journey are the most memorable.
