FAR AS CHINA

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to the stories of Marco Polo several centuries have passed, no matter whether China is now easily accessible with just 10 hours of flight ... the land of a thousand faces and a thousand splendours continues to fascinate and remains, despite its new and ruthless industry and modern, the cradle of a millenary civilization, fascinating and mysterious.

A trip to China to be opened in Beijing. Indeed Beijing.
I prefer his original name, which translated in Italian is "Northern Capital" and is opposed to Nanjing (Nanking), "Capital of the South"

Beijing is a city poised between antiquity and consumerism. Still very far from the unbridled growth of Shanghai but heavily westernized and crowded one thousand stores.
A Beijing China are still of the Hutong, its ancient streets and messy, filled with carts and emporiums that sell cooked food at the moment. Just cross the street and the urban landscape changes ... no more chaos and noise lanes but elegant semi-deserts with restored buildings, restaurants and tea.
The cold of January seemed to have discouraged any human activity in the most chic of the capital.
A Beijing should go at least 4-5 days. The city alone is worth a visit and quite accurate, not only for Tien'Amen square and the huge red portals of Forbidden City, but also simply to wander aimlessly on foot or going up and down from the crowded metropolitan and modern.

Badaling is probably the entry point to the most famous Wall of China.
A seven wonders of the world and one of the places that everyone in life, sooner or later, we have dreamed of visiting.
Walk on the slippery ground of the wall is a unique feeling but it requires a physical effort does not matter ... continuous descents, climbs and steep staircases, made even more inaccessible from the cold winter.
Certainly out of season travel has its positive sides. You can enjoy the landscape without being disturbed, tourists are few and you can also make sitting for recovering from fatigue, to stay in a perfect and "surreal" silence.

Another unmissable attraction in and around Beijing is the beautiful Summer Palace, a collection of buildings scattered on the shores of an artificial lake (which we saw completely frozen) and connected by bridges in white marble by harmonic forms and capricious.

The journey continues by train, in a comfortable berth at night at a time of Xi'an.
I needed 11 hours to arrive in the foggy city made famous by the discovery, which occurred just in 1974 the army of terracotta, an opera on the fringes of insanity, desired by the Xi Huang Quin as funeral outfit. The soldiers should be buried more than 8000, for the time they were brought to light and renovated 500 ..
perfection and attention to every detail with which they were achieved is nothing short of impressive, from weapons to the hair, the expressions, every soldier is an individual part and has some unique features.
Xi'an but still has much to offer ... the important thing is to have patience and continue to look for ... until you reach the chaotic but irresistible Islamic market in the district of the city. Wonderful sweet shops, antique and curiosity each other without stopping in this place lit and animated.
To round off the evening ... nothing better than a nice plate of ravioli with shrimp cooked in the steam in one of the many local specialists. Full menu of ravioli only .... if you like you are spoiled for choice.

With a bag full of handmade sweets green Xi'an (remember that a little 'taste of chestnuts mooooolto but are undecided about what his real ingredients) ... we embark on the first morning flight to Guilin, leading up to the south of the country and hoping for a better climate.
In reality we suffer the cold more than in Beijing and Xi'an put together ...
We hoped in the cotton mesh and we have found frozen !!!!!!
But certainly the scenery of Guilin is really wonderful and, despite a detour to the South has been quite risky given the few days available, we remain quite pleased with the choice made. Lost a place would be a pity.
During navgazione along the Li River, you can see the profiles of mountains of stacked rock bizarre karstic forms arranged in an unusual symmetry.
Not to mention the extraordinary colors of the campaign and its peaceful and hospitable villages.
Furthermore you can take advantage of the stay to Guilin to visit at least one day a Longshen, a village built near the mountains, famous for its terraced agricultural nicknamed "The backbone of the dragon."

Last stop: Shanghai.
City site and in constant transformation (to host the international expo in 2010 and is planning a significant restyling) ...
characterized by the Bund, via anni'30 historic buildings overlooking the bay and a view of the futuristic Pudong district, where stands the Oriental Pearl Television Tower, the most photographed in the world.
Day and night, the Bund is constantly populated tourists, people passing, souvenir vendors with the most unusual and unnecessary ever seen (I confess to not having to recall resisitio Kitsch crazy!)

But the six and a half I remember back in the hotel waiting for me because my favorite .... a great gangster movie titled "Shanghai Bund", made with care for the effects and cinematography.
The last days of the trip, I almost passed them to rummage in every store looking for a dvd copy appearing in Italy. Departure from Garden of being a director Souzhou, I suddenly come across a pack of "Shanghai Bund" well exposed ... and, although it is not subtitled in any language except the Chinese .. I can not escape me !!!!!
By the way: some of you know Chinese and can help me trace the name of his great hero?

The start ... always difficult and tedious, especially when environmental fantastically immediately, despite the language problems and cultural differences.
With the bags full, and encumbered by my shopping wild tea, textiles and strange relics.
And a cabinet full of biscuits
(As pretty heavy)
I've brought back the first day, (not found its brilliant .. I admit).