Beijing – Guilin – Ping’an – Chengyang – Zhaoxing – Xingping – Yangshuo – Beijing
Hello,
We haven’t had time to give you our impressions of the trip.
Here we fill the gap.
The visits to the two provinces of Guangxi and Guizhou were very interesting. Good choice. We were able to see a bit of deepest China. The sites are beautiful, even in bad weather, and the rice terraces are always spectacular. We were able to see the locals living in areas that were inaccessible to 50-person buses! We really appreciated it.
Our guide, Wang, was very efficient and very kind. His French was perfect. He was always able to advise us and give us the right explanations. Apart from the question I asked him about writing ideograms on machines before computers ….. I asked the same question to my Chinese teacher at the Université du Temps Libre (the one for ‘old people’): same perplexity!
In terms of hotels, the establishments selected were of a good standard. But you have to adapt to local customs … beds that are a bit ‘firm’ !!!! for example….Wooden architecture, not ideal for soundproofing …! A few odds and ends.
We maintain that it was better to stay in the city centres, rather than on the outskirts. The days of sightseeing often ended fairly early, which gave us time to visit the city itself and dine quietly and sympathetically in the heart of the city in the local style. Which is probably more pleasant than more or less ‘westernised’ hotel meals. While you can eat very well in the shopping streets, e.g. Guilin on the first evening with an excellent experience in the street of small restaurants near the hotel: fried oysters, bamboo rice …. What’s more, the next morning, before Wang’s scheduled departure, we were able to walk around the lake and see the real local life.
Driver: very good, drives calmly, but takes ‘liberties’ with the signposts …. yellow lines among other things …. but it’s fashionable in this country! Get used to it!
Thanks again.
Our third experience with Asian Roads was just as conclusive as the previous ones. Next February, we’ll be tackling Laos! It’s got to be just as good!
And our son, who lives in Beijing, may be asking you for ‘a Tibet’ this summer.
We look forward to seeing you again.
Sincerely
Paul and Nicole Narjoux