Two seniors in their 70s went on a free and easy holiday in China, covering Nanjing, Changsha and Guangzhou, total 8N/9D. No rush and moving around by high speed trains, taxis and DiDi and relying on Trips.com, Alipay and Wechat to get around.
The most expensive taxi fair was from Nanjing International Airport to our hotel, 60km and costing 423 Rmb or about S$80. We started to use more DiDi and the fare for 30km, about an hour ride is about 50 Rmb or S$9. Subway travelling was a big surprise. In Changsha, above 65 got to travel free, even for foreigners. This is not the case in Guangzhou, but a day ticket valid for 24 hours costs 20 Rmb or less than S$4. Tickets were booked through Alipay in the comfort of our hotel room using mobile phones. No physical tickets needed. Entry by scanning the passport. Please book at least 4 or 5 days in advanced as they are sold out quite early.
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Nanjing Train Station
Changsha Train StationSeniors have many privileges. We were able to gain entries to many tourist attractions for free. The famous Hunan Provincial Museum that housed the exhibits from Mawangdui, famed for a 2,000 mummy with very well preserved living tissues was very enlightening and educational. According to reviews online, entry has to be booked one week in advanced. As seniors, we could walk in on the spot with no advanced appointments, and free, just by showing our passports.
Canton TowerThe highly popular Canton Tower, rising to 488m and max 688m if antenna height is added, is also free or at half price. Above 75 years, one could go up to 107 floor, 408m for free. There are 4 more floors to top floor at 111 and accessible by stairs. I climbed to 108 floor and did not want to venture further. There are a few sets of oscillators to manage the swaying movement of the tower caused by strong winds and earth rotation. It was quite steady at 107 floor though one could still feel a light motion under the feet. 70 year old seniors have to pay 150 Rmb to reach 107 floor.
Young Mao and the continuous stream of visitors in a cold rainy day.
Sun Zhongsan's Mausoleum from half way mark, looking up.
Looking down from near the top of the Mausoleum Among the places we visited were Mausoleums of first Ming Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang and Sun Zhongsan, Old Ming Palace, also Palace for Hung Xiuquan of Taiping Revolution and turned KMT Presidential Palace, Mao's Hunan University in Yuelu Moutain, Mao's statue in Orange Island, Wuyi Square and Dufu Pavilion in Changsha. We were at Foshan to visit the old temple that housed items belonging to Huang Feihung and Ip Man. Foshan also has a long history dated to the Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Ming first Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang's Mausoleum, about 200m from the gateOur best restaurant meals were in Guangzhou and Foshan. At a famous 100 year old Guangzhou Restaurant in Shangxiajiu, we had a fairly large Guihua steam fish for 198 Rmb, about S$30. We had about the best roast goose in a Kejia restaurant in Foshan, better than what we had in Taotaoju in Guangzhou during out last trip. It cost 68 Rmb, the size of a big chicken. Thick and juicy with a good layer of fat, and crispy skin.
The Chinese people are having a good time, with the young out every night dressed in the latest fashion or in traditional dresses of different dynasties and make ups. The seniors formed about 50 percent or more of visitors in tourist spots. In the evening, on weekdays, as early as 4pm, they can be found in the parks playing with their grand children, if they are not in some group activities like dancing.
The Chinese people are living well, eating well, driving the best EVs at very affordable prices. Theere are also many Mercedes, BMWs, Porches etc on the road, but fading fast. The taxi we took to the airport was big, brand new, and the driver/owner paid 110,000 Rmb for it. That is about S$20k!
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