Before landing in China for the first time in my adult life, I had a lot of misconceptions and prepared for the onslaught of mainlanders I expected to elbow through. Instead, I discovered a modern, forward-thinking (but controlled) country full of generous and kind-hearted people who spoke my language. WHY did I wait all this time to visit the splendid immensity that is China?
Scroll on to see images of 3 very different cities linked with the #Airbnbs I stayed at during my trip.
>> Shanghai - Listing
A sprawling metropolis where I found a cute room with a million-dollar view of the Bund while spending USD 90 per night
>> Suzhou- Listing
Ancient water town of Tongli where I paid USD 65 for an adorable riverside suite. Although an easy day trip from Shanghai, I highly recommend staying a night or two in "The Venice of China." This allowed me to explore during less crowded times and a chance to dress up in Wuxia period costumes. It was seriously so fun!
>> Guilin- Listing
A vast area of karst mountains along the Li River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although a huge domestic travel destination, the Guilin area is very expansive. I avoided the touristy large ships that sailed down the river and stayed in a tiny traditional homestead. Every morning I enjoyed fresh soy milk for breakfast and spent my days exploring miles of scenic trails.
Read a quick story on how I almost missed my train from Shanghai to Guilin and don't make the same mistakes I did.
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