Summary: A father son trip with some business days in between. We will start off from Amsterdam through Shanghai to Xian to stay there 4 full days. We will then continue to Chengdu where we have 2 full days. Then we continue onwards to Vietnam, Hanoi where we will have 4 full days (of which 2 will be at Halong Bay). After this side trip we continue onwards through Beijing to Qinhuangdao where we will stay full day and the day after we return to Beijing to have 2 more full days there. Last day we fly back to Amsterdam from Beijing.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites visited: The Imperial Palace (forbidden city), Temple of Heaven (see all UNESCO sites here)
Day 1 through 16 – Xian, Chengdu, Hanoi, Qinhuangdao & Arrival
For the previous days check these posts:
CHINA – Xian (2014.04.17 – 2014.05.05)
CHINA – Chengdu (2014.04.17 – 2014.05.05)
VIETNAM – Hanoi & Ha Long Bay (2014.04.17 – 2014.05.05)
CHINA – Qinhuangdao / Shanhaiguan (2014.04.17 – 2014.05.05)
Day 17 & 18 – Beijing
As myself explored Beijing in previous trips extensively I decided to show my son two important sites and the rest of the time relax before going home. First day we went to the Temple of Heaven. Build back in 1420 for the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The temple was used at the winter solstice on the highest terrace of the alter (heaven, the others two being earth and humans). The big road only to be used by the Emperor himself mainly dressed in yellow colors. From the alter along the echo wall to the temple for good harvest.
The second day we visited the Forbidden City one of the two Imperial Palaces. The palace of the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty (the Imperial Palace of the Qing dynasty lies in Shenyang). Home for the son of heaven, it runs from south to north one can see the hierarchy of the Chinese society. We also looked through the jewelry museum which is inside the palace.
Day 19 – Departure
Today a flight at 10:55 AM to Amsterdam, back home after almost three weeks travel with my son. A great time and lots of things seen!
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