Intro
China, the place that makes you go WU!
I have never explored Asia before, so when I was asked if I would like to visit China for an educational visit I jumped at the opportunity and found it is a place that makes you go WU!
Part 1 – Introduction
The Far East has always featured on my travel wish-list, but I was never sure how I was going to make it happen. It was a dream, but I had been lazy about making it a reality. It was so removed from my well-worn travel routes that the only way to make it a reality was to join an escorted tour and I wasn’t sure I was a ‘follow the flag’ type traveller.
I don’t know what my prejudice was, maybe it was some kind of travel-snobbery despite escorted touring not necessarily being the cheapest option. Perhaps I just didn’t like the idea of being told what to do and where to be at certain times, when I am used to holding the spreadsheet with the itinerary and folder full of hotel bookings and excursion tickets myself.
Regardless of what was holding me back, I can confirm I have now taken a complete 180-degree turn with my view of escorted touring. Travelling with a guide through a place so unfamiliar was priceless; and travelling without the responsibility of having to know where to be and when, meant I could relax and savour every fabulous moment of this journey in to the unknown.
My trip to China was arranged by Wendy Wu Tours. It is a name I knew that delivered high quality tours and despite never having travelled with them, a name I trusted. However, Wendy Wu is no longer just a name, she is a person I have had the good fortune to meet; she is a powerhouse of energy and enthusiasm. On this trip she was there to personally showcase her home country, and her pride and passion were palpable.
Part 2 – The Tour
Our tour started by flying into Chengdu directly from London Heathrow with Air China. We then had the first of what was to be the first of many memorable experiences that will stay with me for life, we boarded a bullet train to Chongqing. As the speed reached 347kmph, I couldn’t have imagined that, even such a thrilling experience as this, wouldn’t be the standout highlight of this 10-day adventure.
Chongqing is known as the ‘cyberpunk city’ and I knew little about it other than social media videos that featured a train travelling through a residential building. The ‘cyberpunk city’ label refers to its city lights; we saw them best from a night-time river cruise when the neon lights across the buildings and billboards lit up the night sky. The dazzling evening didn’t end there; we then witnessed the most incredible drone show. China first brought us fireworks, but their drone show proves that they still know how to cause awe when they light up the night skies. All bar one of Wendy Wu’s tours that include Chongqing will ensure you get to witness the drone show too, and I will warn you, many of us standing on that riverboat found the experience extremely emotional.
Chongqing is a fascinating area, firstly its huge and varied. I find it easiest to compare the city itself to Las Vegas - the lights, the attractions and even a world class show. We then headed out of the urban area and their UNESCO World Heritage sites left every member of our tour group in awe. In the city, there are ancient quarters, where you step back in time with vibrant stalls and friendly curious faces, to the dizzy heights of viewing decks on modern skyscrapers, or crossing the Yangtze river in a cable car. The memories being made in Chongqing were plentiful and before I travelled there, I would have said the seeing the giant pandas would be the highlight, but every single moment will stay with me forever.
I mentioned the Las Vegas style show, but ‘1949’ is bigger and more powerful than anything the sin city has ever offered. ‘1949’ is billed as an 8D experience, and this immersive show about the last days of liberation in Chongqing, was, even as an avid theatre goer, one of the most incredible experiences I’d ever witnessed in a theatre. I left the purposed built theatre in tears, moved emotionally but also enlightened about the history behind the streets we had been exploring.
Chongqing is famous for hot springs and hot pots. The hot springs with its warm thermal waters are a welcome relief after a long day sightseeing. The hot pots are their famous meals; a bubbling broth where you cook your own fresh food such as meats or tofu at the table. The traditional dish can be spicy but as visitors, we were offered milder versions too.
As with Las Vegas, head out of the city and you will find jaw dropping scenery and indigenous communities. My absolute favourite was a visit to the Three Natural Bridges in the Wulong area, we wandered in through the limestone gorge and were all in awe of nature at its best.
We were all sad to depart the Chongqing area, but Wendy Wu Tours weren’t finished with my group yet. They whisked us to Shanghai for a couple of extra nights. Here, we ventured to the top of the world’s third tallest building, took a ride on the super-fast maglev train and walked along the famous ‘The Bund’. The highlight here was a night-time river cruise where the skyline of this magnificent city left us all speechless once again. I think there was a unanimous decision that this was now our favourite night-time skyline in the world.
Part 3 – Conclusion
It’s worth noting that this trip wasn’t suitable for people with accessibility requirements, from plenty of steps, to squatty potties, there are physical challenges. However, if you are mobile, I would say go now! The hotels, the staff, insight and included excursions on a Wendy Wu tour are exceptional. Perhaps even more important right now, is that Chongqing still feels very special and while its population is huge, as a visitor you certainly feel like you’re on the road less travelled for western tourists. Wendy Wu has developed several tours that now include this region, and no-one knows China like them.
I have only scratched the surface of the things we saw and did here, so if you want to know more about this area, I would be more than happy to share my experiences with you and why you should go too, before Chongqing really does turn into a Las Vegas and tourist trap rather than just the very special place it is now.
