A Journey to the East: Ellie's China Adventure
Iglu Cruise’s Partnerships and Planning Manager, Ellie, recently visited China as part of a familiarisation trip with Wendy Wu Tours. In this blog, she’ll take you through where she visited, the hotels she stayed at along the way and some top tips that are invaluable for those planning a future getaway to this spectacular country. Full to the brim with travel inspiration, you'll want to book your China holiday as soon as possible.
Keep reading to find out more!
China wasn't on my radar as a destination to explore, however after going on this familiarisation trip for work I feel very lucky to have experienced the diverse cities China has to offer. Along with a group of travel agents from the UK, Australia and New Zealand we spent 7 days in the Hunan Province and then 3 days in Beijing with a smaller group, courtesy of Wendy Wu Tours.
Changsha Days 1-3
After our 10-hour flight with Hainan Airline from London Heathrow we had arrived in Changsha. I had never flown with Hainan Airlines before, but the staff were attentive and the seats were comfortable with lots of English-speaking entertainment.
In Changsha, we were greeted by the friendly Wendy Wu team who escorted us to our accommodation, the Meixi Lake Jinmao Hotel, where we were welcomed with some beautiful flowers native to the region. The hotel was stylish and had a luxe feel about it with large rooms, a comfy bed and a good view of the city scape. We were all understandably exhausted so just got a bite to eat and then headed to bed.
Throughout our time in Changsha we explored a city and regions ancient past. With visits to the City Museum and Hunan Museum, home of the 2000 year old mummy of ‘Lady Xin Zhui’. It was really interesting to learn about the region's history and wandering around the Yue Lu Academy, the third oldest operating university in the world.
We also spent time in this amazing market hidden inside a shopping mall that takes inspiration from 1980s décor. This bustling market is full of local cuisine, such as sugared fruits, dried meats and more. Changsha is known to like a bit of spice in its dishes, but don't worry if you are not a spice lover there are other options too. It's also known for a local dish called stinky tofu, which is actually very nice and not as smelly as its name would lead you to believe.
At night we took a spectacular river cruise along the Xiang Jiang River. The dazzling lights of the high rise buildings change colour and create a light show along the river bank. During the cruise, we stopped off at one of the most popular attractions of Changsha- Orange Island, which stretches in the centre of the Xiang Jiang River and is home to a giant headstone of Chairman Mao. The river cruise was the perfect way to relax and unwind before heading to our next destination.
Zhangjiajie Days 4 -7
We then took the bullet train from Changsha to Zhangjiajie, where we stayed at the modern Sunshine Hotel & Resort.
In Zhangjiajie we visited a variety of hotspots, exploring the natural wonders by day and the buzzing nightlife when the sun set. Our first night we visited the 72 Qilou, designed like a mini street filled with food, drinks and trinkets.
When the sun set the entertainment started with performers dancing and hyping everyone up to dance; we all joined a massive conga line to the music - which was so much fun! After all the dancing, the show continued into the streets with a short play which we followed around as they interacted with the audience.
We spent most of our days at Zhangjiajie National Park, a truly breathtaking place and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. On our first day here, we spent our time at the Hallelujah Mountain, where you can take a glass lift up to the top and are immediately thrown into some of the most awe-inspiring views of the mountains.
These mountains are said to have inspired James Cameron’s epic film Avatar. Throughout the day we strolled through the mountains taking in the beautiful view and stopping at the many convenience stops to top up on water and ice lollies.
One morning we had a relaxing river cruise down Baofeng Lake, which winds around the tall mountains. Drifting on the emerald waters was the perfect way to start a day and take in all the glorious landscapes that surround.
Another stop we had in the national park was the heavenly Gate Mountain, also known as Tianmen Mountain. To get to the top of the mountain we got on the world's longest cable car route offering panoramic views of the mountains and the surrounding area. Once you reach Heavenly Gate, you can choose whether to walk down 999 steps down or take the lift.
Our last national park stop was Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, known for incredible adventurous activities in the mountains. But first to get there you walk across a glass bridge so you can look underneath you and look at the forest lying beneath the mountains. Some of the activities in the mountains include bungee jumping, zip lining and slides as your way of getting down the mountain. If you aren't up for these, there is a glass lift that takes you down, so you can still enjoy the views. I chose the slides which were really fun and unique.
Whilst in Zhangjiajie we spent the evening watching two incredible shows. One was a traditional Chinese show full of singing and dancing of old stories passed down from generation to generation and included some audience participation. The other was outside called Fox Tale show, against the backdrop of the stunning mountain ranges.
After the Fox Tale show, we said goodbye to our Australian and New Zealand friends and a good night's rest ready for our flight to Beijing.
Beijing Days 8-11
After our flight, we arrived at Empark Prime where we stayed during our time in Beijing. Some of us were still awake so headed down the street to the lively High Street which was full of local and global shops as well as small night food markets.
The next day we headed straight to the Great Wall of China, which was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Walking along a 3000 year old wall and seeing it sprawl for miles and miles was very special.
There is a local shop that sells delicious ice creams with a picture of the Great Wall on them - so cute and very tasty. I went for the strawberry one which was delicious. At night we set sail on a Liangma river cruise, with a live saxophonist and violinist playing as we drifted down the river taking in the views with immersive light shows along the way.
On our last day, we headed to the forbidden city and Tiananmen Square. My favourite part of today was learning tai chi in a park with the locals. I found it very relaxing and interesting to learn all about the Ancient martial art.
The End of my Chinese Adventure...
This was just a truly once in a lifetime experience and hard to describe how unique it really was. The Wendy Wu team were outstanding and so helpful throughout the whole trip and a massive thank you to them for hosting and creating this experience.
Book Your China Adventure with Iglu Cruise Today
If you’re looking for an extraordinary getaway, look no further than a cruise around China. Stopping off at a variety of incredible destinations, from Beijing to Hong Kong, a cruise around this spectacular country will create everlasting memories. Book your China cruise getaway with Iglu Cruise today and get ready for a holiday that you’ll never forget.
Alternatively, discover our vast selection of other Far East Cruises and Asia Cruises.