Sunday, March 27, 2011

the long way from Beijing to Shanghai

As our METP program is drawing ever closer to the end, we are now planning a trip around China, lasting almost 3 weeks (my father will join us for first 2 weeks).

For those that are interested, below you can find our schedule. The trip includes 4-5 train rides (2 night-trains) between cities (+ local rides). Chinese railway map can make it easier to follow (found here).

28.03.11 Mon

  • Beijing (北京)
  • Neeme and Elina arrive by plane from Shanghai: 12:10 → 14:40, duration 2:30
  • accommodation (5 nights): Happy Dragon Hostel

29.03.11 Tue

  • in Beijing, no plans yet

30.03.11 Wed

  • METP stuff:
    • METP Intercultural Training Workshop – 14:00 → 18:00
    • Networking Event – 18:30 → ...

31.03.11 Thu

  • METP stuff:
    • METP 5 Graduation Ceremony – 16:00 → 18:00
    • METP Closing Ceremony – 18:00 → ...

01.04.11 Fri

  • Great Wall

02.04.11 Sat

  • train: 21:42 Beijing(北京) → 07:50 Luoyang (洛阳), duration 10:08 (link)

03.04.11 Sun

04.04.11 Mon

  • Terracotta Army (兵马俑, ticket Y110), bus #306 last stop (~1h, ~Y10)
  • Huaqing Hot Spring (华清池, ticket Y70, bath Y30), 10min drive from Terracotta Army, later bus back to city (Y7, 45min.)

05.04.11 Tue

  • sightseeing in city, some options below:
  • Bell tower (钟楼) in old town centre & Drum tower (鼓楼)
  • The Great Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) & The Great Wild Goose Pagoda North Square (大雁塔北广场):large square with beautiful night scenes and fountains
  • Ancient City Wall (古城墙) around old town
  • Forest of steles/tombstones (碑林) & Shuyuanmen (书院门):antiques, chinese paintings, etc
  • The Great Mosque (清真寺) & Muslim Street (回民街): Food and shopping, Night Markets
  • Tang Dynasty Lotus Park (大唐芙蓉园): just Tang Dynasty style, popular in recent years
  • Famen Temple (法门寺) and Banpo Museum (半坡遗址) are great too, but a little far away.
  • Other:
    • West Avenue (西大街), South Avenue (南大街) and Luomashi (骡马市, night market) for shopping
    • Defu Alley (德福巷) for bars and cafes
  • train: 20:07 Xi’an(西安) → 12:54 Chengdu(成都), duration 16:47 (link)

06.04.11 Wed

07.04.11 Thu

08.04.11 Fri

  • Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (ticket Y58, english guide Y100, taking picture with giant panda Y1000 :-P, with lesser panda Y100), straight bus #902, taxi (Y30), 10 km. ~30min. drive from city
  • train: 15:38 Chengdu(成都) → 18:16 Emei(峨眉), duration 2:38 (link)
  • bus, transfer, taxi (Y15) → Baoguo Village (报国村)
  • accommodation at Teddy Bear Hotel (玩具熊酒店)

09.04.11 Sat

  • Mount Emei (峨眉山)
  • hiking in mountain : by bus from Baoguo (报国村) to Wuxiangang Park (五显岗车站), from there on foot to Qingyin Pavilion (清音阁) 1.5 km, from there on foot to Joking Monkey Zone (戏猴区) 1.5 km, from there back to Qingyin Pavilion (清音阁) 1.5 km, from there on foot to Wannian Temple (万年寺) 2km and from there either on foot 40min. or by cable-car 10min. (30Y) to Wannian bus stop (万年车场).
  • from there by bus to Jieyin Hall (接引殿) and night at Taiziping monastery (太子坪).
  • map of the mountain and one more

10.04.11 Sun

  • early rise to see the sunrise, Jieyin Hall (接引殿) cable car (5min.Y40) to Golden Summit (金顶, Y10), walk back Jieyin Hall (接引殿, 2km ~1h), bus to Baoguo Village (报国村, ~2h)
  • from Baoguo Village (报国村) bus to Leshan City (乐山, 40km, ~50 min, Y12), taxi to Leshan Port (乐山港, Y16), sightseeing ferry for Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛, Y70, ~1h) Leshan map
  • taxi to bus station, bus to Yibin (宜宾, ~1.5h) (or accommodation in Leshan)

11.04.11 Mon

  • Yibin (宜宾)
  • father flies back, plane: 12:50 Yibin → 15:35 Beijing
  • Yibin Nan’an Long-distance Bus Station bus to Changning (长宁, 1h, Y11.50) every 20 min. between 6:30-19:00
  • Changning bus to Wanling (万岭镇, biggest village in Bamboo Sea area, ~30min. Y4.50) every 20-30min. between 7:00-17:40
  • Bamboo Sea (蜀南竹海, Shunan Zhuhai)
  • accommodation “in the sea”

12.04.11 Tue

  • buses from Wanling (万岭镇) to Changning (长宁) stop at 17:00, from Changning to Yibin (宜宾) stop at 18:00
  • bus from Yibin (宜宾) to Chonngqing (重庆, 3.5h) every 50min. between 7:50-17:50
  • accommodation: Yangtze River International Youth Hostel

13.04.11 Wed

  • plane: 11:45 Chongqing (重庆) → 12:55 Guilin (桂林), duration 1:10
  • in Guilin: bus from airport to city (28km, ~40min. Y20) after every flight, first stop Railway Station, 200m from station is Guilin Couch Terminal
  • bus: Guilin → Longsheng County (龙胜, 100km, ~2,5h Y28) every 40 min, last bus at 18:00
  • bus: Longsheng County → Ping An Village (25km, ~2h Y7) 7.40am, 9.20am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm, or minibus (~2h), last bus at around 5pm
  • accommodation at terraces

14.04.11 Thu

15.04.11 Fri

  • somehow get back to Guilin.
  • Bus schedule from PingAn to Longsheng: 7.30am, 9.00am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm; fare: 7yuan one way.
  • Longsheng → Guilin 13Y/15Y, ordi/fast, 2h, 6:00-17:30 ++ 10mn
  • train: 15:36 Guilin (桂林) → 22:37 Changsha (长沙), duration 7:01 (link)
    Changsha (长沙):
  • accommodation (1 night): Changsha International Youth Hostel

16.04.11 Sat

  • bus Changsha → Zhangjiajie city (张家界, Y108, ~3,5h) every 1.5h between 8:00-19:00, minibus “张家界市-武陵源”
  • Zhangjiajie city → Wulingyuan bus station (Y10, ~40min.)
  • city bus #2 (5min.) / taxi Y5 ~3min. to hostel
  • (ticket to park Y248, valid for 2 days, includes free bus service inside the park)
  • Zhangjiajie (张家界)
    Huanglongdong e. Yellow Dragon Cave (黄龙洞)(Y82, takes approx. ~2h)
  • accommodation (3 nights): Wulingyuan Zhongtian International Youth Hostel

17.04.11 Sun

18.04.11 Mon

19.04.11 Tue

  • somehow get from Zhangjiajie to Changsha Airport
  • plane: 16:15 Changsha → 17:50 Shanghai Hongqiao, duration 1:35
  • plane back home:
    • 20.04.11 02:35 Shanghai Pudong → 08:40 Moscow SVO
    • 20.04.11 10:35 Moscow SVO → 11:20 Tallinn

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Rahvusvaheline naistepäev

Hiinas on naistepäev jätkuvalt riiklikul tasemel au sees. Eile saadeti siselisti selline kiri:
Dear colleagues,

Following the holiday regulation from the State Council of China, all female employees in China will be entitled to half day leave on the Women's Day, March 8th. Accordingly, all female employees in [company name censored] will be eligible to half day leave on the coming Women’s Day on tomorrow, March 8th, 2011.

Female employees may choose to take the half day leave either in the morning or the afternoon based on work and personal arrangement. Please apply for it with your line managers beforehand, in order to minimize the impact on business and team activities.

We wish all ladies a Happy Women’s Day in advance!

Best Regards
HR & Organization
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