Ni Hao Beijing, Ni Hao Shanghai
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Travelogue of a Journey through Beijing and Shanghai
(22 May 2026 – 2 June 2026)
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"What? You're going to China? Do you have an extra kidney? They'll remove one and keep it!"
That was the typical reaction whenever I mentioned that I was planning to visit China.
Nevertheless, a group of sixteen of us decided to travel to China through TripADeal for A$1,586 per person, including flights, hotels, breakfast, and internal travel. Frankly, even we found it hard to believe that such a tour was available at that price.
Our friend Ajay, who had travelled extensively overseas but had never visited China, invited us to his home for a get-together featuring pav bhaji and shared some useful advice. He recommended downloading the Alipay app, arranging international roaming data, and, most importantly, practising once again the use of traditional Indian-style squat toilets! After living in Sydney for years, we had lost that habit. Our condition was such that once we squatted down, getting back up seemed like a challenge. So that part sounded particularly difficult.
We were going to be travelling from place to place for twelve days with little opportunity to do laundry. Therefore, we packed enough clothes for the entire trip. Some of the vegetarian members of our group, worried that they might be forced to eat lizards, scorpions, or other exotic delicacies in China, packed plenty of food from home as well.
After all these preparations, we departed Sydney on 22 May 2026. Flying with China Eastern Airlines, we landed at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and then took a connecting flight to Beijing, arriving there late at night. At the airport, we were welcomed by our Beijing guide, Vicky.
As our bus carried us to the hotel, she taught us two important Chinese expressions:
Ni Hao — “How are you?” / “Hello”
Xie Xie — “Thank you”
The following day, we visited Tiananmen Square, one of the most significant locations in Chinese history. It was here that the People's Republic of China was proclaimed, and it was also here that tanks were used against students demanding democratic rights.
Vicky had already advised us:
"Once you are in this square, do not ask political questions."
Walking across this vast open space, which covers about 440 hectares, felt exhausting enough to make one's legs ache.
From there, we proceeded to the Forbidden City, the magnificent residence of the Chinese emperors. Since ordinary people were once forbidden to enter, it became known as the Forbidden City. This luxurious palace complex contains nearly ten thousand rooms. To preserve the sanctity of the palace, no toilets were provided within its inner precincts. The emperor maintained a harem of three thousand women, though only a fortunate few were ever chosen to receive his attention.
The next day, we set out to visit one of the wonders of the world—a place I had dreamed of seeing all my life: the Great Wall of China.
Stretching from the shores of the Yellow Sea to the fringes of the Gobi Desert, this immense fortification was built across mountainous terrain to protect China from Mongolian invaders, a 5,600-kilometre-long wall built to protect the country from invaders. We were taken to the Great Wall at Juyong Pass. The weather that day was overcast and misty, though it was not raining. Our guide, Vicky, had already warned us that descending the Wall is often more difficult than climbing it, so we should think carefully before deciding how far to go.
After climbing the steep stone steps and negotiating the winding pathways, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Wall snaking across lofty mountain ranges, wrapped in a blanket of mist. It made one want to shout aloud, “I have seen it! I have seen the Great Wall of China!” It is impossible to imagine how such a massive structure could have been built at such heights in such ancient times.
After completing our sightseeing in Beijing, we travelled to Xi’an by a bullet train running at a speed of 300 kilometres per hour. Xi’an is famous for its Terracotta Warriors. These clay soldiers were created to protect the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. An army of 8,000 soldiers, 500 horses, and 100 chariots stands guard, while the emperor himself rests in his mausoleum elsewhere.
A living person fears death, but after death, what death remains to be feared? Is not death itself one of life’s greatest mysteries?
Our guide in Xi’an, Bruce, explained this extraordinary defensive arrangement by assigning honorary ranks and roles to some members of our group.
After bidding farewell to the Terracotta Warriors, we flew to Shanghai the following day.
Shanghai! Once a quiet fishing village, it is now the modern face of China and the superfast engine of the country’s economic progress.
Our guide in Shanghai was Lily. At the Jin Mao Tower, the lift reaches the 88th floor in just 45 seconds, offering a magnificent panoramic view of the entire city.
In the evening, we enjoyed a cruise on the Huangpu River. The dazzling skyline of Shanghai, illuminated with countless lights, was truly a feast for the eyes. We also attended an acrobatic show. I had previously seen a single motorcyclist riding inside the “Globe of Death,” but here there were eight riders—including a young woman—speeding around inside the sphere at the same time. It was absolutely breathtaking.
No visit to China can be complete without shopping. We visited various shopping centres and purchased pearls, jade, silk, green tea, and many other items from small shops that reminded us of Pune’s famous Tulshibaug market.
After purchasing a considerable amount of traditional medicine at a Chinese Health Centre in Xi’an, Ajay remarked, “These medicines may detoxify the body someday, but right now they have certainly detoxified my wallet!”
Bargaining in China is essential—prices often come down to less than half of the printed amount. One challenge, however, is that very few people understand English. We had to rely heavily on Google Translate wherever we went.
Among the other experiences not to be missed were seeing giant pandas at the Beijing Zoo, travelling at 300 kilometres per hour on a wheel-less Maglev train, taking a Grand Canal cruise in the Old City, enjoying a cycle-rickshaw ride through the Hutongs, and savouring traditional Chinese meals in local homes. Everything felt different and memorable.
At the beginning of the tour, Vicky had told us:
“Compare what you were saying about China before coming here with what you will be saying about China when you leave.”
Her words proved absolutely true.
On 2 June, saying “Xie Xie Beijing, Xie Xie Shanghai” (“Thank you, Beijing; thank you, Shanghai”), we returned to Sydney carrying countless wonderful memories in our hearts.
(A book based on this journey will soon be published by Snehal Prakashan, Pune.)
