Montreal-Based Beauty and Lifestyle Blog


December 20, 2018

China Travel Diary | Beijing, Wuxi, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai

Summer Palace Beijing

It's still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I travelled halfway around the world and got to visit the culturally-rich country that is the People's Rebulic of China! I had been wanting to visit for years, and when I came across a jaw-dropping deal online, I couldn't help but jump at the opportunity. I saw it as a sign that it was finally time to make the long journey! I spent close to two jam-packed weeks exploring Eastern China, starting off in Beijing, and then flew south to explore Wuxi, Suzhou, Hangzhou and finished off in Shanghai. From visiting the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Olympic Center, a live Kung Fu show, a jade exhibition and the Great Wall of China in Beijing, to visiting Nanchang Street and Three Kingdoms City in Wuxi, to going on a Grand Canal Cruise and visiting the Couple's Garden in Suzhou, to taking a boat ride on Serene West Lake and sipping freshly brewed Dragon Well Green Tea at the plantation in Hangzhou, to walking Nanchang Street, seeing The Bund at night, soaking in the view from the observatory deck of the Jin Mao Tower and going on the Maglev train (aka the fastest train in the world!) in Shanghai, I hope you enjoy experiencing China through my eyes. Make sure to watch the video below in which I captured the beautiful scenery for your viewing pleasure!


Summer Palace Beijing
Summer Palace, Beijing
Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Street Artist Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Summer Palace Beijing

Tiananmen Square Beijing
Tiananmen Square, Beijing
Tiananmen Square Beijing

Tiananmen Square Beijing

Tiananmen Square Beijing

Tiananmen Square Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing
Forbidden City, Beijing
Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Wall Art Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Forbidden City Beijing

Kung Fu Show, Red Theater Beijing
Kung Fu Show, Red Theater, Beijing
Kung Fu Show, Red Theater Beijing

Kung Fu Show, Red Theater Beijing

Beijing Olympic Center
Beijing Olympic Center

Beijing Olympic Center

National Stadium Bird's Nest Beijing
 National Stadium ("Bird's Nest"), Beijing
Water Cube Beijing
Water Cube, Beijing
Jade Exhibition Beijing
Jade Exhibition, Beijing
Jade Exhibition Beijing

Jade Exhibition Beijing

Jade Exhibition Beijing

Jade Exhibition Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing
  Great Wall of China (Juyongguan), Beijing
Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Great Wall of China Juyongguan Beijing

Juyongguan Great Wall Museum Beijing

Totem Beijing

Nanchang Street Wuxi
Nanchang Street, Wuxi
Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Nanchang Street Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi
Three Kingdoms City (CCTV base), Wuxi
Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Three Kingdoms City Wuxi

Spicy Tofu Pudding Truck Stop Vegan Fast Food China
Spicy Tofu from Tofu Pudding, Truck Stop Vegan Fast Food
Wuxi City Center
City Center, Wuxi
Grand Canal Suzhou
Grand Canal, Suzhou
Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Grand Canal Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou
Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden), Suzhou
Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Couple's Garden (Lotus Garden) Suzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou
Serene West Lake, Hangzhou
Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou
Fun fact: This is the exact scenery you see on a ¥1 yuan bill! 
Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Serene West Lake Hangzhou

Dragon Well Green Tea Plantation Hangzhou
Dragon Well Green Tea Plantation, Hangzhou
Dragon Well Green Tea Plantation Hangzhou

Dragon Well Green Tea Plantation Hangzhou

Dragon Well Green Tea Plantation Hangzhou

Dragon Well Green Tea Plantation Hangzhou

Nanjing Road Shanghai
Nanjing Road, Shanghai
Nanjing Road Shanghai

Nanjing Road Shanghai

Nanjing Road Shanghai

Nanjing Road Shanghai

Nanjing Road Shanghai

Nanjing Road Shanghai

Nanjing Road Shanghai

Nanjing Road Shanghai

Nanjing Road Shanghai

Peace Hotel Shanghai
Peace Hotel, Shanghai
Peace Hotel Shanghai

The Bund Shanghai
The Bund, Shanghai
The Bund Shanghai

Pudong District Shanghai
Pudong District, Shanghai
Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower
Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center
 Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center
Jin Mao Tower Shanghai
Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai
Jin Mao Tower Shanghai

Jin Mao Tower Observation Deck Shanghai
Jin Mao Tower Observation Deck (88th floor), Shanghai
Jin Mao Tower Observation Deck Shanghai

Jin Mao Tower Observation Deck Shanghai

Jin Mao Tower Observation Deck Shanghai

Jin Mao Tower Observation Deck Shanghai

 Longyang Maglev Train Station Shanghai
 Longyang Maglev Train Station, Shanghai (fastest train in the world - goes up to 430 km/h!)
 Longyang Maglev Train Station Shanghai

City Center Shanghai
City Center, Shanghai
Brown Rice and Red Quinoa with Spicy Soy Sauce Soft Tofu Sproutworks ShanghaiBrown Rice and Red Quinoa with Spicy Soy Sauce Soft Tofu from Sproutworks, Shanghai
City Center Shanghai

Visiting the most populated country in the world was definitely an eye-opening experience, and one I will treasure forever. This was my first time in Asia, and stepping foot on this new-to-me continent definitely sparked a desire to return and see what else it has to offer.

Itching for more travel content? Check out my recent Eurotrip where I explored London, Paris, Nice, Monaco, Brussels and Amsterdam, as well as my past trips to Alberta, Italy and Greece.

Have you been to China? Where would you like to travel next?

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40 comments

  1. We were able to see China through all the many, many photos you showed us. The wall would be nice to see right now China isn't on our radar to visit. To many places ahead of it right now.

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  2. I just love your photos! I've always wanted to go to China. One day, I hope. It's such a beautiful area.

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  3. I wish our country would be as culturally rich as other ones. Every other country keeps their culture from the past alive. It looks like this place is beautiful and I wish I could go there.

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  4. I bet it was a fun trip judging from your pics. I have never been to China but it is at the top of my bucket list.

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  5. Great pictures you took in the people’s republic of China. Keshia Richmond

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  6. Wow this looks beautiful. I went to China as a young child but I would love to go back in my adult life.

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  7. I've never been to China. It's on my list of places that I would love to visit though.

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  8. Wow that looks like an amazing place to see for yourself. We have not left the country but it does sound like fun someday maybe.

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  9. Wow what an absolutely beautiful place to go and visit. I love the colours and vibrancy of all the buildings.

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  10. You saw so many beautiful places! I've never been to China, but I would love the chance to go.

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  11. Thank you for sharing this with us. I doubt I'll ever make it to China, so I appreciate the excellent images you shared.

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  12. I would love to visit China someday. It looks like it would be such a cool experience.

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  13. I will hopefully visit China one day. It really looks incredible with a lot to do. One day...

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  14. What incredible photos! I really felt like I was sharing your journey with you. Thank you for this - I haven't been to China before, so enjoyed it immensely!

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  15. What beautiful pictures and I love the architecture of Asian buildings

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  16. I just came back from south east Asia. I didn’t get a chance to see China but it looks magical.

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  17. What an amazing trip! I've always wanted to visit China.

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  18. Loves your pictures! So pretty! You've made me want to visit Beijing!

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  19. Such an inspiring post. I’m adding it to my bucket list

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  20. China looks like a very magical place. I want to visit it sometime.

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  21. Your trip looks absolutely stunning and amazing! China is definitely on my travel bucket list!

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  22. WOW WOW WOW so many amazing photos! Giving me all the wanderlust!

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  23. I have never been there but I would love to be there. Such a lovely place. Seems you had a great time.

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  24. Sounds and looks like a lovely place.

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  25. China is on my "to do" list. I've never been there, but can't wait to go.

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  26. What an amazing trip that must have been! Your photos are gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us!

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  27. I am so jealous! China looks amazing and has so much history, so many places to visit! your photos are gorgeous!

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  28. You saw some incredible things. I would love to spend some time there.

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  29. Wow! It looks beautiful there. I would love to visit one day

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  30. I LOVE Asia! I've traveled to various countries several times, but never to Chine. It's definitely on my list and looking at your pictures makes me want to go there even more!!

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  31. Wow how amazing is this. I'd love to take a trip there at some point in my life. I think it looks incredible. - Jeanine

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  32. This trip looks like it would be one of a lifetime. I have always wanted to experience Chinese culture. This must have been fabulous!

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  33. I've always wanted to visit China. Thanks for sharing the vlog. These pictures are also amazing

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  34. Not sure why but I'm obsessed with the shapes and architecture of all of those buildings. I'd spend a day just looking at them all. What a great place to travel.

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  35. Reading your post and watching the video makes me wonder why I didn't get to visit some of it. Well, I guess, there's so much reason for me to revisit it.

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  36. Wow...I want to go China. All these places looks amazing.The buildings are so special and different.

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  37. Beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing your journey!

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  38. Beautiful pictures and such a great country. Thanks for posting!

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  39. I would love to spend 12 months in China....so diverse.....beautiful attractions of nature and geography....a rich cultural history....it is a dream on my wish list

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  40. Oooo wow - amazing pics - one day is love to see all this too

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