travel souvenirs — part 2

Souvenirs are, literally, memories — and since foreign travel hasn't been happening this year, I've been looking through some of the souvenirs I've brought back home, remembering some of my favorite travel moments.

Claire and I visited China a number of years ago on a wonderful tour hosted by Imperial Tours. Pro tip: don't try to tour China on your own. We don't speak the language and can't read the signs, the traffic is crazy, the crowds are intimidating. If you want to get see all the highlights, you will be immensely grateful for the experienced English-speaking guide who is leading your tour.

Highlighting our experiences in China were: the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall outside Beijing; Xian's Terracotta Warriors; a raft trip on the scenic Li River in Guilin; the immensely interesting French Concession in Shanghai; and our stay at Amanfayun — an ancient Chinese village outside Hangzhou that has been converted into a luxury resort.

We purchased our book of paper cut art in a small shop in Shanghai. It contains twelve art pieces, one for each of the twelve signs of the Sheng Xiao corresponding to the years of the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Pictured below is a very colorful illustration of a monkey.

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copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

China next time | up close and personal

China is a fascinating destination, and your first trip should include iconic attractions like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace in Beijing; the Terracotta Warriors and Underground Museum in Xi'an; and the Bund and French Concession in Shanghai.

But your next trip to China should take you beyond the mega-sized cities to get up close and personal with aspects of traditional Chinese culture. Wild China, one of our valued Virtuoso partners, tries to do just that. Here are three of their specially designed tours that really spoke to me!

1. Yunnan Gastronomic Tour — Eat with local families, visit lively markets with, and be introduced to the best of the best that Yunnan food has to offer! Tip freshly sliced meats, vegetables, and a pheasant egg into a steaming bowl of “Across the Bridge Noodles” or dip Dali’s famous fried goat cheese into a sweet powder. 10 days, from $5,869 per person.

2. Guilin: into the Scroll — Step into a classical scroll painting in Guilin, whose harmonious landscape has inspired the brushstrokes of traditional Chinese landscaping for centuries. 5 days, from $1,950 per person.

3. Old Country Living — With fairytale images of rustic lakeside farmsteads, terraced rice paddies, jagged karst peaks, and vibrant ethnic villages, the southwest provinces of Guizhou and Guangxi are home to China's most dreamlike scenery. 12 days, from $5,550 per person.

We'd love to help you plan your own bespoke itinerary to China, whether it's a first-time trip to see the classic highlights or your next trip to explore the mystery and beauty of less explored regions.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Xi'an … terracotta warriors and more

Xi'an is one of the oldest cities in China and is China's former capital. While many folks go just for the terracotta warriors (which is an amazing sight - see my photo above), Xi'an is a destination well worth two nights. This gives you one day to see the warriors, ride a bike around the ancient city walls which encircle the core of the city, and explore the downtown area.

Don't miss what most tourists never see before leaving Xi'an — the Hanyangling Museum. Housing the mausoleum of the western Han emperor Liu Qi … the most fascinating section of the museum is underground. Visitors literally walk on glass floors in this underground museum, viewing a vast archeological dig with countless clay figures which were buried with the emperor.

terracotta warriors (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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