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by Jessica Marsden on August 21, 2009
Last week I mentioned that Picasa is down in China, thereby cramping my slideshow style. I’m still searching for a solution to that problem. In the mean time, I thought I would revisit the past 2 1/2 months of slideshows for my newer readers: Anhui’s Ancient Villages Hong Kong’s Bird and Flower Markets
Tagged as: slideshow
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by Jessica Marsden on August 14, 2009
Dalian is one of China’s premier beach destinations, outside of Hainan Island. But don’t expect to come back with a tan — even in July, Dalian can be cloudy and cool. (If you’re from Northern California, this may remind you of home.) At Xinghai Park, ostensibly the largest public square in Asia, you won’t even [...]
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by Jessica Marsden on August 7, 2009
Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Called China’s “coming-out party” by too many journalists, the Olympics brought heaps of new construction to Beijing. (Continuing the cliched metaphor, you might think of the new buildings as a deb’s new wardrobe.) The most famous examples of Beijing’s new architecture were, [...]
Tagged as: Beijing, Olympics, slideshow
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by Jessica Marsden on July 31, 2009
Ask an American kid what he knows about China, and you will probably hear about the Great Wall, potstickers and, of course, pandas. The lovable, cuddly image of China’s national mascot makes a visit to the Beijing Zoo quite tempting. So it may seem odd that I would suggest — nay, beg — that you [...]
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by Jessica Marsden on July 24, 2009
“In heaven there is paradise, on earth Suzhou and Hangzhou”: Ostensibly a Chinese popular saying, almost certainly the best possible advertisement for the tourism bureaus of Suzhou and Hangzhou. Especially among domestic tourists, Suzhou is one of the most popular destinations in China. After a few days in busy, bustling Shanghai, Suzhou makes a pleasant [...]
Tagged as: Shanghai, slideshow, Suzhou
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by Jessica Marsden on July 17, 2009
Varanasi was the first stop on my April trip to India. Located on the Ganges River, Varanasi (formerly Benares) is a major pilgrimage site for India’s Hindus. They come to Varanasi to bathe in the waters and cremate their dead. The riverbank is lined with ghats, each of which has a distinctive purpose, from cremation [...]
Tagged as: India, slideshow, Varanasi
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by Jessica Marsden on July 10, 2009
A cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo is supposed to be a highlight of a trip to Guangxi Province. On a January trip with my parents and brother, we were already planning to visit both Guilin and Yangshuo, and a river cruise seemed like a logical and pleasant way to get from [...]
Tagged as: Guilin, slideshow, Yangshuo
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by Jessica Marsden on July 3, 2009
Norway promotes the rail link between Oslo and Bergen as “the most beautiful train journey in the world.” Traveling across Norway from east to west, the train ascends to 1,200 m above sea level before arriving in Bergen, a port on the west coast. The scenery ranges from bucolic farms to spectacular mountains. Best of [...]
Tagged as: Norway, slideshow, train
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by Jessica Marsden on June 26, 2009
Beijing’s terrible summer weather is not a recent development. Just a few decades into the Qing dynasty, the emperors decided they needed a summer alternative to the Forbidden City. For their Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), they chose a site approximately 10 miles northwest of the city center. A 2.2 square-kilometer man-made lake was excavated to provide [...]
Tagged as: Beijing, slideshow, Summer Palace
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by Jessica Marsden on June 19, 2009
In 1570 in India, the Mughal Emperor Akbar decided to move his capital from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri, about 25 miles away. A huge mosque, the Jama Masjid, went up. Palaces covered in elaborate carvings and inlaid stone were built to house the royal entourage. But just 15 years later, the new capital was abandoned. [...]
Tagged as: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, India, slideshow
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Travel stories and advice from an independent traveler and expat in China. Full bio
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