Around China in 10 Days

My birthday was just around the corner, and I was excited about where I was going to celebrate it. My family and I went to China. We visited four cities: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, and Shanghai.

Everyone in my family was excited to go to China. We were 13 in the party, all from my mother's side of the family. Some of my relatives came from the US, while most of us came from the
Philippines.

Our first stop was Beijing. Beijing is the capital of China--breaking the word Beijing down, Bei means north and Jing means capital. So Beijing is the northern capital of China. The 2008 Olympics were held here, and some of the most popular must-sees in this city include the Bird's Nest stadium, the Watercube, the Tiananmen Square, and a part of the Great Wall of China. So if you are into going to tourist spots, this city is the place to go.

Our next destination was Xi'an--Xi meaning west and an meaning peace. It is the western capital of China and one of the oldest cities in the country. Here, the Terracotta Warriors are the must-see attraction. The farmer who discovered them is still alive, and he can be found at the site signing autographs for 20 Yuan. You should go to this part of China if you are in to cultural trips.

Shanghai was our last destination. It is the largest City in china and the most modernized one I have been to in China. Here you would see high-rise buildings, skyscrapers, and flashy cars. This is the place to go to if you are into shopping. For me, the best place to go shopping is the Yu Garden area. Just go around this square and you would see an abundance of different Chinese products. And when you leave the Yu Garden square, there are even more shops outside. We actually spent a whole day in the Yu Garden area for shopping. One side of the square looks like 168 here in Manila, but the other side contains a lot of branded stores.

If you decide to visit China, you won't run out of things to do--there are a lot of places to visit and sights to see. But my number one tip when you are in China would be this: learn to haggle! Shopkeepers will always start out by giving you steep prices for their merchandise, but you can counter their offer by giving an extremely low price, and if they don't agree with the price, just walk away. They instantly follow you afterward, and you should be able to close the deal at a price that satisfies both parties.