First trip in China mainland during June 2025
So while me and C we were in Italy exactly in Gussago at my friend house we realized that I couldn’t get a job in Italy was talking way longer then was we imagined so we decided to go back to Australia which it always been the plan C and I really didn’t want it but I understood that was the only option for us. So on the way back to Australia after the Italian road trip we decided to stop in China which I always wanted to go to see the Great Wall of China and the Pandas in Chengdu. So we decided to did a little stop over and also Taiwan because I would not know when I ll be able to leave Australia due to my visa conditions so I wanted to travel as much as I could before getting stuck. It was very hard to plan China by ourselves due to the different websites, not able to use google maps, booking things with Trip.com and a bit of Booking.com plus paying everything and everywhere with Alipay and communicate with them via WeChat but luckily we made a decent plan even if it was too short for the amount of thing that we wanted to visit.
Xing Fu Tang- bubble tea company
Mixue ice cream & tea
DAY 1 – Wednesday 28.05.25
( Spent the night on the flight with Hainan Airlines )
( On the plane to China from Milan with Hainan Airlines )
Woke up at 6 am took the shuttle at 7 am from the hotel then at the airport we had breakfast there with the last Italian croissant and then we took the flight at 10:55 am departing from milan. On the plane me and C we watch : A captain and
A simple favor. Then at 4:20 am we arrive din Shenzen where suppose to be just a layover but actually we went through all the controls so luckily we had time so we didn’t miss our connected flight. Then the second flight was from 7:50 am to Shangai airport.
DAY 2 – Thursday 29.05.25
( Night at: Shangai Fish Inn Bund, Shangai )
( The view over the Peral )
Landing at 10:30 PVG we took Didi to the hotel which lucky we could checked in earlier at 12 pm and we slept a little bit very tired from the plane and then by 6 pm we went out to explore The bund for sunset and dark overlooking the oriental Perl tower which with took few pictures and it was absolutely amazing. Then we walked till the YU Garden whet we stopped for dinner at De Xing Guan to try same local steam dumplings amd other Chinese food and then by 10 pm they closed the park so we walked back to the hotel to sleep very exhausted but happy to be in a new city.
DAY 3 – Friday 30.05.25
( Night at: Shangai Fish Inn Bund, Shangai )
( Bund Bull, Shangai )
We woke up at 8 am got ready and we walked to meet our tour guide at 10 am at Exit 3 (Middle Xizang Road) in People’s Square, then we visited with the tour:
City Hall of Shanghai, People’s Park, The Shanghai Marriage Market, The Old Red Light District, East Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Local Food Street for Snack Break where thanks to her we discovered the chain Mixue ice cream & tea, The Bund Area, The Exotic Building Clusters, The First Cathedral in French Concession, Yuyuan Garden Bazaar. Ending the tour at Yu Garden which they weren’t that pretty during the day so we went to the Main Street Nan Jing Dong Lu to take few pics and then back to the hotel we got changed and then we walked for dinner at Da Hu Chun restaurant recommended by Michelin which we had really good dumplings and then we walked back to the hotel to sleep.
DAY 4 – Saturday 31.05.25
( Night at: Shangai Fish Inn Bund, Shangai )
( Walking along the canals in Suzhou )
We woke up at 4:45 am we got ready and we order a Didi to the train station at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station unfortunately there was a bit of traffic so we lost the train that we booked for 6:10 am to Suzhou. Luckily there was an other one going just at 6:52 am so we could get on that one but we had to stand lucky was just less then an hour. Once we got in Suzhou we decided to have breakfast at McDonald and then walk to the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan)
Explore Suzhou’s most famous classical garden with pavilions, ponds, and beautiful landscaping. Once we got out we stopped at Mixue Ice cream & Tea and Then we explore walking the Pingjiang Road which there were many girls wearing traditional dresses. We Stroll along the canals, admire the ancient bridges and houses. And then we took a Didi back to the train station to catch the train at 3:34 pm back to Shanghai. And from the station we took a metro directly to the Da Hu Chun restaurant of last night that we really loved it and then we walked back to the hotel and we went to sleep very tired from the day.
DAY 5 – Sunday 01.06.25
( Night at: Westlake 7 Service Apartment, Hangzhou )
( Jixianting, Hangzhou )
We woke up at 6:30 am packed everything and then by 8 am we were on a Didi on the way to the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station to catch the train to Hangzhou at 8:59 am and we got there at 10:10 am at the Hangzhou East Railway Station and from there we took the metro to our hotel West 7 Servive Apartment getting out at Longxiangqiao and from the metro we walked under the rain unfortunately and we struggled a bit to find the hotel but C lucky founded and we could check in even a bit earlier. Then we left the room and under the rain we went to search for a McDonald which was very near by since we were very hungry and then back to the hotel we took a hot shower and we chilled a little bit. Then around 6 pm we went out to get some food or a bubble tea and buy an hard disck at the shopping mall Hubin Yintai in77 but it was massive and actually we couldn’t find anything so we just went to Jixianting to see the sunset which it wasn’t great unfortunately so we just enjoyed the place by night that we the illuminating actually was very cool and we also saw the fountain game. And then we went back to the hotel we bought same instant noodles at the and we had them for dinner and then we went to sleep.
DAY 6 – Monday 02.06.25
( Night at: Zhong an hotel, Beijing )
( Temple of Haven, Beijing )
Woke up at 5:20 am got ready packed everything and check out, bought a quick breakfast downstairs and then took the metro to go to the Hangzhou east railway station to catch the train at 6:50 am Beijing. But unfortunately we left the room a bit later and we didn’t make it to the train station on time so we lost the train for two minutes. Then I got stopped at the controls due to the perfumes that I had in the begs, which it was a disaster then I left the train station Carmel checked for an other train but it was too expensive so we decided to fly to Beijing. So we ordered a Didi to the airport and from there we did all the controls and At 11:50 am the flight depart and landed in Beijing at 1:50 pm landed we collect the luggage and we waited for the bus that would took us to Beijing Railway Station at 3:15 pm which it was very near to our hotel. We check in at the hotel at 5 pm we fresher up we supposed to visit Tiananmen square from 3-5 pm we had the tickets without payment only the entry. So we decided to visit instead Temple of Heaven taking a Didi there and exploring only the park because unfortunately the temple actually was closed, but still it was quite nice and then we took a Didi back to the hotel we went to the little supermarket we bought same grapes and instant noodles to have a quick dinner and then we went to sleep tired from the exhausting day.
DAY 7 – Tuesday 03.06.25
( Night at: Zhong an hotel, Beijing )
( Great Wall of China, Mutianyu )
We woke up at 6:30 got ready and then we order a Didi to the meeting point at Regent Beijing and the tour was departing at 8 am to go to Mutianyu (we choose this section of the wall because is known to be the one less crowded ) which we got there around 10:30 am after taking the shuttle and the funicular up to the wall. And then we walked a little bit around the wall and different sections and take few pictures. Then we took the funicular down and then the shuttle it was very hot and we stopped to buy some cherrys, bubble tea at Mixue ice cream & tea , and sandwiches at Subway. Then we meet up again we meet up with the guide and we got on the bus on the way back to the city. They dropped us off at Lama temple subway line and from there we took the metro to the hotel where we got there at 5 pm, and luckily we had the metro station really near by the hotel. For dinner we had Peking Duck and some traditional noodles at the restaurant of the hotel and then we went to sleep.
DAY 8 – Wednesday 04.06.25
( Night at: Holiday Inn express ancient town west by IGH, Xi an )
( The forbidden city, Beijing )
We woke up at 7 am struggling and being very tired from the previous days. Then by 7:30 am we called a did and got at Tiananmen Square around 8 am but the queue to get in was crazy so we decided to walk to the forbidden city immediately which it opens at 8:30 am hoping to find not to crowded. Then at 11 we got a Didi back to the hotel, we packed everything and then we checked out at 12 pm and got an other Didi to the Beijing West Railway Station where we catch the train at 1:46 pm train to Xi An North Railway Station and arriving 19:43 pm. Those hours on the train they turned into a nightmare because the hotel messaged me that I forgot the laptop and the hard disk in the bedroom. So I didn’t know what to do I panicked the all way to Xi A trying to chat with them and organizing a delivery to Xi An on time without losing too much money and being not able to follow the itinerary. They told me yes that they could deliver it, so I kept staying on the train, crating the all way basically and then finally we got into Xi An. Where we took Didi to the hotel we checked in and we ask the staff to track the delivery and see if it was all good, unfortunately the express delivery wasn’t available so I will arrive on the 6th of June instead of tomorrow so I ll lose the flight to Zhangjiajie. I’m very upset about the situation but I can’t do anything I just need to go to sleep.
DAY 9 – Thursday 05.06.25
( Night at: Holiday Inn express ancient town west by IGH, Xi an )
( Terracotta Army, Xi An )
We woke up at 7 am got ready went for breakfast and then check with the receptionist for the laptop delivery and then we took the metro to Fangzhicheng and then the bus 306 to the Terracotta Army which we had the ticket at 10:30 am. It was very interesting and unique actually so I really like it but once we got outside it was very very hot. The we grab same watermelon and bubble tea and we catch the bus and the metro back to the hotel around 3:30 to refresh ourselves. Later we supposed to catch up K&N our Canadian and American friends from the group tour in Africa, we booked the same hotel or well we supposed to but we made a mistake so they weren’t in the lobby and once we realized we took a Didi to their hotel and from there we went for lunch at Yuanji fresh home made dumpling eating dumplings and catch up on life and things that happened. Then we walked around Muslim quarter and the street looked very pretty by night and around 9 pm we order a Didi again from their hotel back o ours and we immediately went to sleep very tired from the day.
Original flight : Xi an to Zhangjiajie flight at 20:25 get there late 21:55
DAY 10 – Friday 06.06.25
( Night at: Yijingju Humanistic Inn, Zhangjiajie )
( Biang biang Mian restaurant, Xi’an )
We woke up at 7 am packed everything did the check out and unsure that the delivery would be sent at the hotel, we had a little breakfast and then K&N our friends they came at the hotel and we walked to the West gate planning to walk on the wall and visit it but unfortunately once we were to getting the ticket we got the notification that the box couldn’t be delivered due to my phone number not Chinese so we walked back to the hotel, ask help to the receptionist and then waited in the lobby for the delivery. Luckily everything went well, I received my laptop back. And we took a Didi to meet K&N at the South Gate and we went for lunch at Biang biang Mian where they do the fresh home made big noodles, it was very nice the lunch and then we walked to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda to explore the park and then me and C we took a Didi back to the hotel to pick up our luggage’s and then we took an other Didi to go to the airport. We got there around 6 pm did all the controls and then by Xi an to Zhangjiajie flight at 20:25 get there late 21:55, the flight went well and luckily even if it was late we could get a Didi to the hotel we did the check in and then we immediately went to sleep just took a quick shower.
DAY 11 – Saturday 07.06.25
( Night at: Chengdu Local Tea Hostel )
( Avatar Mountain at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China )
We woke up at 6 am we got ready, luckily we already have the tickets for the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park because the lady of the hotel helped us to book it. From where we were staying was just 12 minutes walk, it was already busy but we didn’t have to do any queue luckily. Once we got in is very hard to navigate but our friends they helped us to make an efficient itinerary to see as much as possible and the important thing. So we took the elevator up and we went to visit the Avatar mountain then we took two shuttle or more and we did the scenic train and we visited an other area. Then we catch a shuttle and we stopped to have some local food trying the fried rice and some chicken on a stick. Then we caught the funicular and we went where we started at the East gate we get a Mixue ice cream & tea and chilled a bit and then some local peach on the way back to the hotel and there we charged the phones and we ordered a Didi to the airport which it took around 1 hour and got there at 20:15 pm and our flight was at 22:40 pm landing at TFU Chengdu at 00:15. Once we landed we were exhausted we ordered an other Didi to the hostel and by the time we got there since it was an hour ride ish plus checking in we went to sleep around 2 am. Very tired from the day.
DAY 12 – Sunday 08.06.25
( Night at: Chengdu Local Tea Hostel )
( Face changing show, Shufengya Yun )
In the morning we decided to sleep a bit because since we landed we haven’t rest anything so we wanted to sleep in a bit. We woke up at 12 pm we went downstairs getting a Mixue ice cream & tea then we walked to the center we explored a little bit around till find a McDonald where we had lunch. Then we went back to the hostel to do a bit of my visa since is a very long process. And then we got ready to attend at the Face-Changing Show at Shufengya Yunwhich it was very nice I actually like it a lot and we got a VIP ticket so we get a fruit platter and also a lot of traditional snacks, once it finished we basically took immediately a Didi back and we tried to go to sleep early.
DAY 13 – Monday 09.06.25
( Night at: Chengdu Local Tea Hostel )
( Pandas teddy bear, Chengdu )
Woke up at 6 am got ready and by 6:50 am called a did to go to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. It was amazing in the morning they are active so we saw them interacting and play I totally loved it. And also we saw the Red panda. After we took a Didi to the McDonald same as the day before for our last day in the city in Yigou fashion plaza and then we walked around the city a bit a bought few souvenirs since it was our last day in China. Then in the noon we walked back to the Hostel before stopping at Mixue ice cream & tea for an other bubble tea. We spent the rest of the noon organizing our stuff, packing and submitting the form for the visa in Australia.
DAY 14 – Tuesday 10.06.25
( On the plane ready to take off to Shangai, China )
We woke up at 5:40 am packed everything checked out and then got downstairs a at Mixue ice cream & tea a bubble tea called a Didi and we went to the airport to do all the controls. We had breakfast at McDonald and then at 9:00 am we departed to Shangai with China Eastern Airlines, landed at Shangai SHA at 11:35 am and then we board for the next flight at 14:15 pm and landing at 16:15 pm once we landed we got a sandwich at Subway and the we took an Uber to the hotel we checked in and then we went out visiting the Ximen Night Market and we went to Xing fu tang to try the bubble tea and the we went back to the hotel to sleep.
bc travel blogger 