Bring a good pair of shoes, get in shape and get ready to walk!

If all this walking around Shanghai isn’t enough, just look at Beijing. I remember walking across Beijing and having to walk across multiple pedestrian bridges, up and down stairs and wrapping around intersections, just to cross a street. Shanghai is big, but Beijing is both big and sprawled out, meaning walking is even more daunting. In fact, Beijing might be a city where I suggest taking a taxi or subway more than walking, depending on what neighborhood you are visiting. By the time you walk to one of Beijing’s huge scenic attractions, you might be too tired to walk around the expansive parks within.

Then there’s the stairs. I have visited major attractions all over China and the cultural diversity has been incredible, but every site has one thing in common: stairs. Most of China’s scenic zones are hills or mountains. China’s actual attractions— the temples, pagodas and pavilions— are also mainly found on hillsides and mountaintops. Just think of the Great Wall – hundreds of miles of steps. Get ready to climb some stairs.

Despite the endurance requirements, we have to look at the bright side of walking around China. Traveling is a good hobby, and walking is a great way to stay in shape while walking. My wife’s grandfather is a walking pro. He lives at the top of a 7-story walkup and still bikes and walks around town at age 89, and he can still touch his toes and move furniture. He says he has a lifetime of walking to thank for this physique. Also, walking gives you a better excuse to have extra to eat as you sample local foods. And as I mentioned above, it’s the perfect pace to explore China instead of just scratching the surface from a taxi and bus. Play with the GPS navigation feature on your Yoyoor phone and see what you can find.

So bring a good pair of shoes, get in shape and get ready to walk.

Posted at 11:39AM Dec 03, 2008 by admin in China Travel  |  Comments[0]