Settling into Shunde: A Terrace of My Own
A room in Daliang with a private terrace, flip-flops in the heat, Shunfengshan Park and everyday meals: congee, rice rolls and claypot rice.
Notes from China
Places I’ve spent time in, food I’ve tried and the small moments I remember, in the order I travelled.
Shunde
Guangdong · Since Oct 2026
Inner Mongolia road trip
Inner Mongolia · Sep 2026 · 5 notes
Setting Off for Inner Mongolia: Four Friends and Eighteen Days
Four of us left Beijing in a rental car. My first night behind the wheel, the rocks of Keshiketeng and a grassland road with Xu Wei playing in the car.
Arxan in Autumn: River Mist, Stars and a Very Good Stew
A cold sunrise at the Budong River, stars I could not photograph and a small pot of stew four of us could not finish. Plus the paid lake stops I would skip.
From Grassland to Golden Forest: Erguna and Mordaoga
A good meal in Hailar, the winding Morigele River, work interrupting a wetland visit, and a four-stop forest train after an extra night in Erguna.
With the Ergun River Beside Us: The Border Road and Heishantou
The river keeping us company, Russia across the water, a missed sunset ride in Heishantou and an equestrian show at Ba’erhu Mongolian Tribe.
The Way Back: Barbecue, Harbin and the Road to Beijing
The route home via Qiqihar, Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, Jinzhou and Tangshan: barbecue, a university visit and eighteen days of learning to drive.
Three Gorges
Chongqing · Aug 2026
Going Home by Boat Through the Three Gorges
My first boat journey: a RMB50 ride from Fengjie to Wushan, a riverside concert, and a day downstream through the Three Gorges on the way home.
Xingyi
Guizhou · Aug 2026
Three Days in Xingyi: Wanfenglin Villages and Malinghe Canyon
After Fuxian Lake, three days staying among Wanfenglin’s villages: rice fields, changing light, Malinghe’s waterfall and the local fried rice I wish I’d tried.
Fuxian Lake
Yunnan · Jun–Aug 2026 · 5 notes
One look at Fuxian Lake, and I decided to stay
After a month in Kunming, clear water brought me to Fuxian Lake. I found a village room, generous hosts and a view over chrysanthemum fields.
A bicycle, a hammock and everyday life by Fuxian Lake
A second-hand bicycle, afternoons at Dahekou, lotus ponds, waterbirds and simple meals during my two months near Fuxian Lake.
Clouds, sunsets and a night of meteors at Fuxian Lake
White clouds, rain over the lake, several different June sunsets and two hours watching the Perseids: the skies I remember from Fuxian Lake.
Around Fuxian Lake: Luchong, Taiyangshan and the S-bend
Separate days along Fuxian Lake: clear water at Luchong, coffee vans near Taiyangshan and the views on the way to the S-bend.
My hosts, Xiaoman and the days we spent together
The couple who welcomed me to Fuxian Lake, a little dog called Xiaoman, a day in Kunming and a visit to Xingkong Town before I left.
Kunming
Yunnan · May–Jun 2026
Staying by Dianchi Lake in Kunming
Why I chose Kunming after leaving Liuzhou: milder summers, a pull towards Yunnan, and a stay near Dianchi Lake with wetland walks and memorable skies.
Liuzhou
Guangxi · May 2026
Ten days in Liuzhou: noodles, the river and a park I missed
Ten days near the Liu River: a food street downstairs, tiny electric cars, evening swimmers and an earthquake on the 19th floor.