Heading to Baijiacun Hostel

After leaving Hubin Long Distance Bus Station,my next objecive was to find Baijiacun Hostel which was prebooked a week earlier.

Hubin Nanlu was infact near to the large Yundang Lake with an island in the middle.
The bridge road linking to the other northern section of the city is Bailuzhou Road but if you were to walk southward passing two traffic light junction,the next road will be Gong Yuan Donlu where the hostel is located.

Near the second traffic light junction is the BRT Station stop called Er Sze Zhan.

In the event you arrived by plane in Gaoji International Airport and choose to use the BRT,this location stop is also a good choice.

 A statue of Egret Goddess, who is the symbol of Egret Islet in the middle of Yundang lake being regarded as one of the best sculptures in Xiamen.

During the day,you may see lots of egrets ,a kind of white herons flying around. It will be very nice to take a walk here during the day or even at night and marvel the dazzling sceneries as well as watching the activities of the locals spending their time here.

 The annual Lantern Festival held yearly on the fifteen day of the first lunar year (Chinese New Year) or Hokkiens called it 'Chap Ngor Mei"is a very grand affairs on this islet.

The Bailuzhou(白鹭洲) Park was recently awarded the title of "National Key Park".
It is the 3rd "National Key Park" in Xiamen after Wanshi Botanical Garden and Yuanboyuan Garden.

 Established in 1997, Bailuzhou Park is the first large-scale open type urban central park in Xiamen, covering a vast land area of 400,000 square metres.

 Situated at the junction of the municipal government administrative centre and the Binbei Area, Bailuzhou Park is known as the magnetic core and green lung of Xiamen city for its superior geographical position and landscape design.





The park is very lively day and night with the locals spending their time relaxing and doing their regular workout activities such as dancing,physical exercises,tai-chi,martial arts training such as this 'Taijijian' which is part of the Wushu sports.

 The Bailuzhou Park is like a multifunctional urban living room with recreational facilities for children as well.

 In fact construction plans for a Disneyland type high tech family theme park called Fantawild is already in progress in the Tong'an mainland district which will then make Xiamen another family holiday destination.

 Meanwhile visitors to Bailuzhou Park can take buses number 8, 12, 15, 31, 86, 87, 506 and 812.
Bus fare is 1 Yuan while admission to the park is Free.
If you were to come at night,the musical fountain operates from 19:00hrs -21:30hrs.

 


If you were to walk out at the other end of the islet(East Gate) is this Huzhong Lu Bridge and turning right is the Siming District which is the southern part of Xiamen Island.

Near the East Gate is the Bailuzhou Sheying Square and the Pullman Powerlong Hotel while on the west gate near Hubin Nanlu is Trafalgar Square and the Swan Hotel Xiamen.

Xiamen is like a botanical city with superb greenbelt landscaping to balance the rapid development of urbanisation.

On the streets of Xiamen,civilian motorcycles were banned and in fact no new licenses have been issued.




  Kempinski Hotel just beside the Huzhong Lu Bridge overlooking the Yundang Lake.
A five star Swiss owned luxury hotel which also own the Hotel Indonesia - Kempinski Residences in Jakarta, Indonesia and Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok,Thailand.

 Huzhong Lu (Hu Bin Middle Road)湖滨中路,Bailuzhou prefecture also has many entertainment outlets like NASA nightclub and bar popular with foreigners.

The MASK,2nd floor Waimao Building,15,Hubin Bei(North)lu(Road)(北路),techno funky hip-hop disco.

 Zhansi Bar,10 Hubin Bei(North)lu(北路).

Sunset Avenue Bar,408 Hubin Dong(East)lu(东路).

Youfu(有福)Nightclub(城堡)near Bailuzhou Park on the islet offers KTV lounge,disco,pub.






An underground tunnel for pedestrian in Gongyuan Dong Lu linking the Zhonshan Park to the other side where Baijiacun Hostel is located.

 If you were to come by bus from the north part of the city,you will surely have to cross the road using this very quiet and eerie tunnel passage.

 Both ends have close circuit television linking the police station so you are secured.





Zhong(中) Shan(山) Gong(公) Yuan(园)(Zhongzhan Park)is a common name for Chinese parks, in honour of Sun Yat-sen, better-known in Chinese as Sun Zhongshan, who is considered by many to be the "Father of modern China".

Outside China you have one at Carrall Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

A river and the bridge in Zhongshan Park has some legendary stories,it's about Jade Emperor or Heavenly Godfather(天公 Tiān Gōng) which is used by commoners.

He made sure that everyone in his kingdom found peace and contentment.
Every day the Jade Emperor's daughter Zhinu descended to earth with the aid of a magical robe to bathe.

 One day, a lowly cowherd named Niu Lang(牛郎)spotted Zhinu as she bathed in a stream. Niu Lang fell instantly in love with her and stole her magic robe which she had left on the bank of the stream, leaving her unable to escape back to Heaven.

When Zhinu emerged from the water, Niu Lang grabbed her and carried her back to his home. When the Jade Emperor heard of this matter, he was furious but unable to intercede, since in the meantime his daughter had fallen in love and married the cowherd.

As time passed, Zhinu grew homesick and began to miss her father. One day, she came across a box containing her magic robe which her husband had hidden.
She decided to visit her father back in Heaven, but once she returned, the Jade Emperor summoned a river to flow across the sky (the Milky Way), which Zhinu was unable to cross to return to her husband.

 The Emperor took pity on the young lovers, and so once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar(around August), he allows them to meet on a bridge over the river.

The seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar is a holiday in China called Qixi Festival, which is a day for young lovers much like Valentine's Day in the West.

 




Mini-zoo inside Zhongshan Park covers an area of 6,800 square meters.

Opened to the public for free since August 24th,2011 thus becoming the first zoo which offers free entry to visitors in Fujian Province, even in China.

Visiting hours from 8:00-18:00, no entry after 17:45.

To reach here take Bus: No. 3, 4, 8, 12, 18, 19, 21, 27, 32, 51, Xia59, 87, 507, 517, 532, 533, 534, 809, 812, the nearest bus stop is Zhong Shan Gong Yuan (中山公园)
Interesting animals like lesser pandas and red-crowned cranes can be seen in the zoo.

Bai(百)jia(家)cun(村)Youth(青年) Hostel(旅舍)along Liao Hua Road,off Zhongshan Donglu.

 The shophouses along this road were very old buildings with some having very small built up area.

Towards the left were a few seafood restaurant. View of hostel's beautiful garden landscape.

Hostels in China are always heavily booked so it is advisable to book online one week in advance.

If you feel like extending your stay in the same hostel,you have to try your luck but no guarantee otherwise the front office staff will still allow you to spend a night at the inhouse restaurant's sofa for free.







Six beds male dormitory to a room.
Individual rates from 50 Yuan per night with refundable security deposit on checking out.

 If you have booked two nights,then a 100 Yuan deposit is needed and don't just take it for granted that you can extend another two night stay just to utilise the deposit without informing.

 You'll be booted out from the room and on standby list as from my experience here.
 Checkout time is midafternoon..



  From the hostel walking duration to Zhongshan park(5 minutes),Botanical Garden(15minutes),Overseas Chinese Museum (15minutes) and Gulangyu Islet Ferry terminal(35minutes).

 Direction Map







Strange sculpture in front of condominium garden terrace.






 
Truck with loads of fresh peaches behind Baijiacun hostel which is very close to a morning market. Price Per kati(斤)is 4Yuan.
The problem with traders who do not have licenses is that the local municipal police have tough laws and will usually come in big groups to confiscate their goods.
This part of road leading to the market has high chances of police raids.







Morning wet market behind Baijiacun Hostel. There were many stalls selling fresh seafood.
Every morning had my porridge with fresh oysters fillings  for just 3 Yuan in one of the stalls inside here.
Another of my favourite is the rice dumpling(sio Bak Chang) costing 4 Yuan which act as my snack just in case feeling hungry.

Some posters on International Youth Hostel in China.

Pingyao (平遥); 715 kilometres (444 mi) from Beijing and 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the Shanxi provincial capital, Taiyuan.

 One of the best preserved ancient cities in the known world and is renowned for its well-preserved ancient city wall, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The main cross-streets are lined with shops built in the 17th-19th centuries which effectively preserve the historic townscape.
Place to Stay:ZHENGJIA HOSTEL Tel:+85-3545684466,13133214498 Address:#68 Yamen Street,Pingyao email:hostelpingyao@yahoo.com.cn msnhostelpingyao@hotmail.com




The popular Chinese saying 桂(Gui)林(lin)山(shan)水(shui)甲(jia)天(tian)下(xia),means ‘Guilin’s mountain and water scenery is the best under heaven’.

The Li River, Guilin's most popular scenic area, was selected by National Geographic Magazine as one of the world's top ten watery wonders.

Guilin is China's most picturesque region and has long been one of the world's most famous travel destinations.

 It's breathtaking scenery has attracted many famous poets and artists for thousands of years.

Artists are able to find inspiration from the Karst mountains and the unsurpassed beauty of the Li River.
Place to stay:WADA HOSTEL 212,Huanchengxi 1 Road,Quilin, Tel:86-773-2154888,2154999 email:wada-hostel@yahoo.com







From Guangzhou to Xiamen,the public toilets should be rated as 5-stars in terms of cleaniness and user friendly.

In Xiamen the public toilets are all free and open for 24 hours.

This public toilet is infront of Baijiacun Hostel is a typical format of the modern public toilets of China and among the best in Asia.

Way back in the early 90's when I first step foot in the capital city,Bejing the toilets were deplorable and free for all sexes to use.

The worst part is there weren't any doors to each compartments so most female tourists never leave home without an umbrella whenever making a trip to China.




  Zhejiang borders Jiangsu and Shanghai to the north, Anhui to the northwest, Jiangxi to the west, and Fujian to the south; to the east is the East China Sea.

Zhejiang consists mostly of hills, which account for about 70% of its total area and the highest peak of the province, Huangmaojian Peak (1,929 metres (6,329 ft)), is located in the southwest.

 Countries with towns as the sister cities(twin cities) were: Kurashiki, Japan;Tempe, Arizona, United States;Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, Canada ;İzmit, Turkey;Londrina, Brazil;Iksan, South Korea and Mannheim, Germany.

Place to stay:Hostel Zhejiang - Mingtown Ningbo International Youth Hostel. 77 Gong Qing Road Hai Shu District Ningbo Zhenjiang( 鎮江)
 Tel: 0574 87327018 Email:mingtown@foxmail.com








Dalian (大连) is the second largest city in Liaoning Province, Dongbei (North East), China and the largest port in northern China as well as a major destination for Chinese tourists.

 Place to stay:MERRY INTERNATIONAL YOUTH HOSTEL Address:No.8 Mid Summer Garden, Bayi Road, XiGang District, Dalian
Tel:+86 411 8247 0837 0411 - 82470837 E-mail:1172372434@qq.com



  
Suzhou (苏州)is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality.

Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East" or "Venice of China" and most of the classical gardens in Suzhou were added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997 and 2000.

Place to stay: MINGHANTANG INTERNATIONAL YOUTH HOSTEL
Address:No.61,Guangji Road,Shantang Street.Yonggui Bridge,Suzhou
Tel:0512-65833331
Email:minghantang@126.com




Chengdu (成都),the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China.

Chengdu was also the birthplace of the first widely used paper money in the world (Northern Song Dynasty, around A.D. 960).
During the Chinese Civil War, Chengdu was the last city on the Chinese mainland to be held by the Kuomintang-controlled government. R.O.C.

 President Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo directed the defence of the city from Chengdu Central Military Academy until 1949, when the city fell into Communist hands.

 The People's Liberation Army took the city on December 10 and the remnants of the Nationalist Chinese government fled to Taiwan.

Place to stay: MIX HOSTEL Tel: 028-83222271 / 83222236 Add: 23#, Ren Jia Wan, Xing Hui Xi Lu, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
E-mail: mixhostel@hotmail.com




Xi'an (西安),the capital of the Shaanxi province.
 One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty.

Xi'an is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army.

Place to stay:BELL TOWER YOUTH HOSTEL
Tel : +86 29 - 87233005 87231203 / +86 29 -87218222 Add : No.1 North Main Street Xi'an, China email:btcs_05@yahoo.com.cn




Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang province,only 180 kilometers from Shanghai.
 Much of the ancient city that had been the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion in the mid-nineteenth century.
The city is widely known for its waters and mountains and that is one of the reasons why the most important leisure resources are the outstanding natural landscape.

Place to stay: TOUR AN BACKPACKERS HOSTEL Address:Hangzhou West Lake District Hubo Road on the 3rd Siwenjing Tel:+86-0571-86094311 Tel:(0)13634119099 Email:tour.an@163.com