To my surprise, I was invited to go on the Beijing and Great Wall Camping with students for the second year in a row. I couldn’t say no….great food, great company, and camping was all I needed. Last years trip was so much fun, I decided to go again. The itinerary was almost exactly the…

If you like a place (like the abandoned island) then you keep going back. This would mark my last group trip with the Shanghai based travel group Dragon Adventures and one of my last trips in China. What is there to do here? Relax at the great hotel (with a massive buffet), kayak, hike, hang…

As this was my last photo walk with my photography club students, we decided to go back to a place we have already been to decide how much it has actually changed since we took our photo walk in October. Laoximen like mentioned before is one of the older neighborhoods in Shanghai that is still…

Goqui Island a part of the of the Shengsi which is an archipelago of islands (only 18 that are inhabited). Most of the islands are known for their fishing and tourism. But one island stands out above the rest and that is Goqui island. In the 1980s this village was a place where most fishermen…

Macau, which is known as the Las Vegas of China is a special administrative region, much like its neighbor Hong Kong, located in southern China. It boasts one of the highest population densities in the world, and is a playground for many people wanting to escape the mainland of China to gamble. What is interesting…

The West Bund is an up and coming area of Shanghai opposite the city from the East Bund which is where the iconic Pearl Tower is. Years ago it served as an army airport as well as a fuel station for those planes. Today all the hangers are being renovated for art galleries. The old…

If you are looking for a good escape up away from a bustling city, then just 4-5 hours out of Shanghai in LinAn of the Zhejiang province is a perfect escape for a 2-3 day weekend. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and rivers, this place is a hidden gem for anyone living in China and will…

从 Before we get to the 1933 Slaughterhouse, the walk from the metro is amazing!!!! You go through a lovely little neighborhood that is remnants of what Shanghai used to be in times past……these neighborhoods unfortunately are disappearing at a rapid rate with the gentrification and modernization of Shanghai:

Yu Gardens was built in the 1500’s by the Ming Dynasty. Located in the central part of Shanghai, it is one of the major tourist attractions in the city, with people lined up early to get a glimpse of this beautiful place. Being about 5 acres big, you will need a couple of hours to…

The country of New Zealand known for Rugby (The All Blacks), Sheep, and the ever so famous Haka Dance, is a country that boasts so much more and should be proud of it.  As it is way DOWN UNDER, located below Australia, it is separated by North and South Islands.  As I have talked to…

The famed land down under is a place I have always wanted to go to but has always been one of those places that is to far out of the way. Living in China I decided this may be the closest I may get in the near future to get down there. Plane flights straight…

Zhejiang Province with Photography Club             Before I leave China, I have always wanted to go to see the Graffiti Village which has street art on the buildings in this small quaint village. I decided to take some members of my photography club there on a weekend excursion in which we stayed in an old small…

Terracotta Warriors and the best street food in China Xian is one of the bucket list places that people visit while they are in China along with the Great Wall and Beijing sites, Shanghai, and Chengdu (among just a few major places. Among the sites to visit here are of course the Terracotta Warriors and…

As Shanghai is a pretty international city, you can find almost anything to do here on any given day at any given hour. Tianzifang is always an area of the French Concession I have wanted to go to, but just have never made it, however on a rainy Friday, I decided to go down there…

Minghe Ancient Watertown has over 1200 years of history, though most of it was built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  Walking around here gives you a sense of traveling back in time with its narrow streets and Buddhist Temples.  Sure enough it is not a huge tourist attraction to westerners as it is about…

    People have talked about Hong Kong for ages.  From the gleaming skyline of big buildings to part of the city that is old but quickly transforming, no wonder why this place is a photographers paradise.  As compared to other big financial centers in Asia (Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), this city is definitely…

As this neighborhood is disappearing into the city scape of Shanghai, it will not be long until nothing is left but modern buildings in this area. I decided to take my photography club at school there along with 6 parents in order to do a photo walk.  I first noticed that it had already begin…

I have always said if you like a place, then there is not anything you wouldn’t do in order to return to it.  This is my third time on Goqui Island and while this small place may get boring from some people, I am completely happy here with the ambiance and the relaxing atmosphere.  It…

The Bund When people around the world think of Shanghai, usually images of the Bund pop up in their heads or on google images.  The Bund is the place that separates Puxi from Pudong which is East and West of the River.  You can go there on any given day and thousands of people will…

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of the busy city of Shanghai, there is an park that offers many people an oasis to the busy city.  Fuxing Park is located in the French Concession area and is a popular park for people to take their kids, practice yoga or Tai Chi, dance, or…