I arrived in Shangri-La by bus from Lijiang. The ride cost 68 RMB ($10.97 USD), took about four hours, and was full of beautiful scenery.
ShangriLa China: Guishan Park and The World’s Second Largest Prayer Wheel
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Tag Archives: solo female trip to china
Lijiang, China: My Budget for a Three Day Visit
Cost of Traveling in China: Dali, China
How much does it cost to visit Dali, China? Let’s find out.
I spent two nights in Dali. I arrived early morning on day one and left early morning on day three.
How did I travel to Dali? I flew from Kunming. There are bus and train options which are way cheaper. But one of the benefits of being employed full time is that you can justify these splurges in order to get a few more hours in a destination.
While here, I stayed at the Dragonfly Inn (Hi Lorelai and Sookie!) in a private room with private bathroom.
Dali, China: The Gorgeous Three Pagodas of the Congsheng Temple Grounds
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you may have seen me post that once upon a time, I saw a photo of Dali’s Three Pagodas and immediately thought “I need to go there.” So I did.
This is one of the many things I love about travel. That as you go further and further, you realize how attainable things are. You can be a person who looks at a picture in a magazine and thinks “Oh how pretty” before turning the page and running for your car keys when you see an ad announcing that your preferred brand of kitty litter is on sale, or you can be the person who does not turn the page and instead brings the magazine to her laptop and begins Googling to figure out the logistics of getting there. I will always be the latter. How could I not be when this exists:
Dali, China: Beautiful Scenery, Dead Butterflies and I Get Lost and Hitchhike
I woke up in Kunming this morning and had a fight with my VPN for way too long to actually admit to, so let’s just say it was a long time.
Took my hotel’s airport shuttle to the airport and checked into my flight to Dali. The flight was a short 57 minutes but I screwed up everything about it. I thought it was leaving at 9:35, but that was the time it was arriving. I also at some point thought we were leaving an hour late because it was 8:30, but that is the time my flight was supposed to leave (and I thought it was 9:35 so wouldn’t 8:30 be an hour early and not late?) Yeah.
We land in Dali and I am picked up by a prearranged driver for my hostel. This is a luxury I love affording myself because it sure beats figuring out where I have to go. Which as you read on, you will see why it is probably best I am not left to fend for myself.
I checked into my room at the Dragonfly Guesthouse. There are so many places to stay in Dali, all with amazing reviews. How do you choose? Easy. Pick the one with the Gilmore Girls related name. Easy, peasy. Lorelai would be proud.
31 Hours From My Apartment to Kunming via Kong Kong: Then Not Finding an ATM That Takes My Debit Card.
After taking an hour long subway ride (that includes taking three trains to avoid having to carry my bags up several flights of steps,) I missed my airport train by about two seconds. I wait half an hour for the next one, and then finally arrive at the airport. Of course I was excited to see my flight was delayed. Oh wait, no I wasn’t. Sigh.
I was a combination of exhausted and hyper and I didn’t even realize I was making some sort of scene by stamping my feet singing outloud and talking to my cute little stuffed dog. Then an airport employee came over to ask me if I was okay and then I realized I looked like a crack head.
My first flight was seventeen hours. I always read about how Cathay Pacific is a great airline so I was excited to be flying them. They do not have individual air vents at your seats, or at least they did not on this flight. I did not like that. They also didn’t do regular beverage service on this flight. I am not sure if it was because it was an overnight flight or if that is normal. Yes, you can hit the call button and someone will come, but I felt weird after eight hours of nothing, asking for a snack. I don’t even know what kind of snacks they had. It was weird.
My row only had two seats. I was in the window and my seat mate had a seat’s worth of empty space next to her, until some woman decided to start jogging in place in it. I could not stop laughing. I understand the reasoning for the jogging in place on a plane. I do not understand why you would think it was okay to do so, so close to another person.
Booking a Trip to China? Here Are Some Helpful Hints
CHINA! I love China! Look at China! Yes, this is CHINA!
Booking my trip to China turned out to be Hell. Looking back though, I can see that there were so many things that would have been easier if I had just known what I can and what I cannot do, and how to get around the cannot part. Every single time I tried to book something, I just kept hitting road blocks. Then I would figure it out and hit another one. Then another one. To the point I could not take it anymore and I hated myself for ever wanting to go to China in the first place.
This is a guideline of sorts for anyone who needs help in booking a trip to China. If you follow everything below, you will be absolutely fine and suffer no pain. I promise.
Guilin, China: Fubo Hill
My last stop in Guilin is going to be Fubo Hill. Making it here will be an accomplishment as I have tried a couple of times now and ended up lost. By now I can kind of figure out how to walk here from my hotel, but I am not leaving from my hotel. Nope, I am leaving from Yao Mountain. Boy was this a production.
I want to take a cab to Fubo Hill from Yao Mountain. There are lots of drivers in the parking lot, none of whom will pay attention to me when I approach them. A couple walked away, one was sitting in his car and rolled up the window. I find a group of cab drivers all together. One keeps putting out a huge wad of cash and flashing hundreds at me to the point I wondered if maybe “taxi” or “Fubo Hill” sounded like “hooker” in Mandarin.
Guilin, China: You Can Ride a Bobsled Down Yao Mountain!
Today is my last day in Guilin and I still have lots to do! I do not want to leave this place at all. It is so beautiful here.
Guilin, China: Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces Day!
I am up early for my trip to the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces in Longsheng County, China. This is such a huge wish list item for me and I just cannot believe I am finally going to visit a rice terrace!
I booked the trip through my hostel in Guilin. It cost me 220 RMB ($35 USD) for the tour. This is considered a very expensive tourist attraction for China. I still think it was a bargain.
I had to meet my bus outside. While waiting, I met a guy who was staying in my hostel, who was also making the trip. Typical me felt like an asshole for not wanting to make a new friend.
I know there are a lot of shy people out there who find making conversation with strangers very painful. See, the thing about me is that I am not shy. At all. I just honestly prefer my own company. I don’t think talking to strangers is scary, I think it is exhausting. I have had so many people come in and out of my life that I am just honestly happier when I am all by myself. It is easier.
Fortunately, my new almost-friend did not sit next to me on the bus. I felt relief and again, felt like an asshole.