My China Adventure: Chongqing, Shenzhen & Travel Tips
This autumn, my hubby and I travelled to China, where we celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) in my hometown of Xichang (nicknamed the Moon City) and explored some wonderful destinations, including Hong Kong (香港), Chongqing (重庆), Chengdu (成都), Dujiangyan (都江堰) and Shenzhen (深圳), during China's National Day Golden Week holiday.
It was lovely to reunite with my parents, sister and our adorable dog, Fatty (小胖)! We enjoyed plenty of outdoor activities together, including hiking, cycling and boating. I also had the chance to catch up with relatives and friends, attend festive Mid-Autumn celebrations and watch some amazing cultural performances.
Our journey began in Hong Kong (香港), where we spent three days before heading to mainland China. We had a fantastic time everywhere we visited! In this blog, I'd love to share our experiences in Chongqing (重庆) and Shenzhen (深圳), along with some practical travel tips to inspire your own trip to China! 😊
Exploring Chongqing 重庆 – A City of Mountains, Rivers and Incredible Culture
Chongqing was definitely my favourite destination on our trip to China! From its delicious food and affordable prices to its convenient transport, fascinating cultural experiences and breathtaking city views, there was so much to love about this place. The city is especially magical in the evenings, when its skyscrapers, bridges and riverside buildings light up in spectacular colours.
Chongqing is nicknamed 山城 (Shān Chéng), meaning "Mountain City", because it is built across steep hills and mountains. Located at the meeting point of the Yangtze River (长江) and Jialing River (嘉陵江), the city is home to both modern skyscrapers and charming traditional architecture.
During our visit, we explored some of Chongqing's most famous attractions, including Hongya Cave (洪崖洞), Chongqing Raffles City (重庆来福士广场) and People's Liberation Monument (解放碑). We also experienced the Yangtze River Cableway (长江索道) and took an evening boat cruise to admire the city's stunning illuminated skyline.
One of the most spectacular natural attractions we visited was the Three Natural Bridges (天生三桥) in Wulong District, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed South China Karst.
These three enormous natural limestone arches, known as Heaven Dragon Bridge (天龙桥), Green Dragon Bridge (青龙桥) and Black Dragon Bridge (黑龙桥), were formed through natural erosion over millions of years.
Hidden among the dramatic rock formations is Tianfu Official Post Station (天福官驿), a traditional-style courtyard complex inspired by an ancient post station dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The present-day buildings were reconstructed for the famous Chinese film Curse of the Golden Flower (满城尽带黄金甲).
We also particularly enjoyed visiting Ciqikou Ancient Town (磁器口古镇), a charming historic area in Chongqing's Shapingba District. Its name means "Porcelain Port", reflecting its history as an important centre for porcelain trading. Today, it is famous for its traditional architecture, narrow streets, delicious local snacks and colourful shops.
We loved exploring its lively streets and watching some fascinating traditional Chinese cultural performances, including:
Sichuan Opera Face-Changing (川剧变脸)
An incredible traditional performance where artists switch between colourful masks in the blink of an eye!
Chongqing was historically part of Sichuan Province before becoming a directly administered municipality (直辖市) in 1997, so the city shares many cultural traditions with Sichuan, including its famous spicy cuisine and Sichuan Opera.
Lü Bu Flirts with Diaochan (吕布戏貂蝉)
This performance is inspired by the famous Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义). The story tells how the beautiful Diaochan becomes part of a clever plot to turn the powerful warrior Lü Bu against his adoptive father and superior, Dong Zhuo. Blinded by love and jealousy, Lü Bu eventually kills Dong Zhuo.
I actually included this fascinating story in my book Chinese Stories for Language Learners: Intermediate 1
Yu Ji's Sword Dance (虞姬舞剑)
This beautiful performance comes from the tragic Chinese love story Farewell My Concubine (霸王别姬).
Xiang Yu (项羽, 232–202 BC) was a famous Chinese military leader, and Yu Ji (虞姬) was his beloved consort. According to the traditional story, after Xiang Yu suffered a devastating military defeat, Yu Ji performed a final sword dance before taking her own life, hoping to encourage him to escape.
It's a deeply moving story of love, loyalty and sacrifice, which you can also discover in my book Chinese Stories for Language Learners: Intermediate 2
Watch my Chongqing travel vlog to discover the highlights of our journey, experience some wonderful Chinese cultural traditions and explore this incredible city with us.
Exploring Shenzhen 深圳 – China's Futuristic City
We also spent a couple of days exploring Shenzhen (深圳), one of China's four first-tier cities and one of the world's leading technology hubs!
Compared with other major Chinese cities, Shenzhen feels incredibly new and modern. In 1980, it became China's first Special Economic Zone (SEZ), marking the beginning of its remarkable transformation from a small border town into the global technology centre we see today.
For me, Shenzhen is also one of the cleanest cities I've ever visited! As a major technology hub, innovations such as drone deliveries, service robots and self-driving taxis are becoming increasingly common.
I experienced this firsthand at our hotel. One evening, I ordered some cold medicine online, and just 20 minutes later, I received a phone call from a robot announcing its arrival. When I opened the door, there it was—my little robot delivery guy, bringing me my medicine! 😃
We visited Shenzhen Bay Park (深圳湾公园), a beautiful waterfront park with lovely walking and cycling paths, open green spaces and stunning views across Shenzhen Bay towards Hong Kong. The scenery is particularly beautiful in the evening, when the sun sets over the water and the surrounding skyscrapers begin to light up.
Nearby, we explored Shenzhen Bay MixC (深圳湾万象城), a modern shopping destination surrounded by impressive architecture. One of the most eye-catching buildings is China Resources Tower (中国华润大厦), affectionately nicknamed 春笋 (Chūnsǔ), meaning "Spring Bamboo Shoot", because of its unique shape resembling a bamboo shoot emerging from the ground.
We also visited OCT Harbour (欢乐海岸), also known as Happy Coast, a lively waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Nanshan District (南山区). There are plenty of restaurants, shops and lovely places to explore, and this is also where my hubby Phil bought his new drone!
One of our absolute favourite attractions in Shenzhen was Splendid China Folk Village (锦绣中华·民俗村), a fascinating cultural theme park where you can experience the beauty and diversity of China in just one day!
The park features more than 80 miniature replicas of China's most famous landmarks, mostly built at a scale of 1:15. You can explore miniature versions of the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army and the Forbidden City, along with many other famous historical and natural attractions.
It also features traditional ethnic villages, where visitors can learn about the customs, architecture and lifestyles of China's different ethnic groups. What impressed us the most, however, were the spectacular cultural performances, particularly the large-scale evening shows!
Dragon and Phoenix Dance of China (龙凤舞中华)
This magnificent theatrical production brings together traditional Chinese dance, acrobatics, colourful costumes, music and impressive stage effects. Through a series of beautifully choreographed performances, it celebrates Chinese history, mythology and cultural traditions.
Emerald Lake Fantasy (翠湖幻境)
Another breathtaking performance, a spectacular nighttime show performed on the lake. It combines traditional Chinese cultural performances with modern technology, including dazzling lights, water effects, fire displays and dramatic visual illusions.
We also explored Gankeng Hakka Town (甘坑古镇) in Shenzhen's Longgang District (龙岗区), a charming historic village that offers a completely different side of this futuristic city.
Once a traditional Hakka settlement, the area has a history stretching back several centuries. Today, it features beautifully preserved and restored Hakka-style buildings, narrow stone-paved streets, traditional courtyards and charming little shops.
Shenzhen can be more expensive for tourists than some other destinations in China, but I definitely think it's worth visiting, especially if you love technology, modern architecture and convenient city life!
Useful Travel Tips for Visiting China
Travelling in China is more convenient than ever, especially thanks to its excellent public transport system, including high-speed trains and modern subways, which often feature signs and announcements in both Chinese and English.
In some major cities, you can even use your international bank card to tap directly at subway gates, without needing to buy a ticket!
If you're planning a trip to China, here are some useful tips I've put together based on our experiences:
Plan your journey and book in advance. You can easily book hotels, flights and high-speed train tickets online. We used Trip.com for our bookings, which made everything very convenient! For train journeys, your ticket is linked to your passport or ID, so you generally don't need a paper ticket. Just bring the same travel document you used when booking.
Always carry your passport. Many major tourist attractions and scenic spots require identification when purchasing tickets or entering, so it's best to keep your passport with you when sightseeing.
Download WeChat (微信). It's free and incredibly useful for messaging, mobile payments and accessing countless everyday services. You can even use its built-in mini-programmes (with multiple language choices) to book taxis, order food and much more! Although cash is still accepted, mobile payments are far more common in China, so having WeChat Pay set up can make your trip much easier.
Use Alipay (支付宝) as an alternative. Alipay is another popular mobile payment app. Both WeChat Pay and Alipay support eligible international bank cards, so you don't necessarily need a Chinese bank account.
Get mobile data with an eSIM. For short visits, I recommend purchasing a travel eSIM before arriving in China. It's convenient and can be activated as soon as you arrive, provided your phone supports eSIM. Alternatively, you can visit an official China Mobile (中国移动) store to purchase a physical SIM card with a plan that suits the length of your stay.
Be adventurous with Chinese food! In my experience, Chinese food abroad can taste quite different from what you'll find in China, so don't be afraid to explore authentic regional dishes! China is traditionally known for its eight major cuisines (八大菜系): Sichuan, Hunan, Cantonese, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui and Shandong. Each has its own unique flavours and specialities, so there's always something delicious to discover!
Practise speaking Mandarin! There's no better way to improve your Chinese than using it in real-life situations. Don't be shy or afraid of making mistakes! You'll notice that many locals speak Mandarin with regional accents or influences from their local dialects, so there's no need to feel pressured to speak perfectly. What matters most is communicating and enjoying the experience. Be confident, start conversations and practise as much as you can!
Travelling to China is not only a wonderful opportunity to improve your Mandarin skills, but also a fantastic way to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese life, traditions and culture.
I hope these tips help you plan your own adventure. Happy travelling, and enjoy discovering China!
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