2015 was my first opportunity to visit the Far East, specifically The People’s Republic of China. My girlfriend (Yanan) was going back home to visit family and friends and invited me to join her. In fact I think I might have suggested that she invited me to join her!

I’d always wanted to visit China but the language barrier put me off. I’m not a linguist and even European languages where I recognise some words scare me. Chinese being totally unknown to me was a huge stumbling block.

With Yanan it would be much easier. She could translate for me, not just the language, but also the culture. As a ‘local’ she would be able to explain what we saw.

So on 24th July 2015, with our passports and my visa in hand we set off. Our itinerary was:

Flying Manchester to Guangzhou, via Dubai (and return) Guangzhou Laibin Shiling Liangshui Guilin Yangshou Jinxiu

We visited other places along the way but I didn’t always know place names. I can summarise them all in one word though…amazing!

Whilst in China I met loads of Yanan’s family and friends. I hadn’t known what to make of the Chinese people before my first visit. I’d met very few and they seemed nice, but I’d be meeting many who had never ventured outside the huge country. Would they be different? I’d grown up in the Cold War era where I was used to seeing what seemed to be a dour looking population all dressed in the same clothes, so I wasn’t sure what to expect!

I’m pleased to report that the Chinese people are fantastic! Very friendly, even without a shared language, incredibly generous with their time and hospitality, and not at all serious…they are great fun too.

We returned to the UK on 10th August and after an amazing trip I was hoping that wasn’t the last time I’d visit China.

This blog is part historical and, hopefully in future, a live update of our continued travels in China. I hope I can give you a feeling of the country, the sights, the people and the food and drink. I have enjoyed my time there and hope to enjoy more time there over the coming years. Maybe I might even persuade some of you to travel there too?

Some photos from 2015

Auto-generated description: A large, modern airport terminal with a curved, glass facade is bustling with activity on the tarmac.

Halfway there (or halfway back) - Dubai Airport

Auto-generated description: People are walking through an area under a large structure with a tall sign featuring red text in Chinese.

Guangzhou Railyway Station - This was my first time alone in China. Yanan had gone into the busy ticket hall to queue for our tickets and I sat in the shade outside. I was one of a tiny number of westerners among a huge number of locals. It was scary sitting and hoping nobody would come to talk to me!

Auto-generated description: Inside a train carriage, seats are lined with advertisement covers, and a passenger can be seen standing in the aisle.

High-speed bullet train - The speed isn’t too visible, but it was about 195 km/h. That was a slow section of track. The train reached over 300 km/h in places (just short of 200 mph)

Auto-generated description: A mountainous landscape with lush green hills in the background and agricultural fields with water in the foreground.

A view from the bullet train between Guangzhou and Nanning. I’d never seen karst mountains or rice fields before, other than on TV. This view showed me that I was in a very different environment to home.

Auto-generated description: A group of people are gathered around a dining table enjoying a meal in a warmly decorated living room.

One of many meals with Yanan’s family. Eating was one of the first things we did when we arrived in her home city - Laibin.