Hey everyone! We realized our mics were set up incorrectly, so you might have trouble hearing us if you’re using just one headphone. However, the audio should be fine with both headphones or without any at all. We’ve fixed the issue, so things should be all good moving forward. Huge thanks to everyone who brought this to our attention! 🥰
One day, China and the United States will become best friends. I believe that as long as both sides have sufficient competition and struggle, this day will come. There is a very high probability that it will come true.
As a SKorean, who just left Shanghai last week and flew back to Toronto, and now trying to look up some China content because I miss it a lot. I have always thought it would be easy to blend in, but that was not the case. However the moment people realize I am not a local but a Korean they were so excited and super welcoming. Too much to say about China, and I would love to go to China again in a heartbeat, I really really miss China and my world is not going to be the same.
Thousands of years of Chinese culture have made the Chinese people friendly. We have no caste discrimination, no skin color discrimination, no ethnic discrimination. China has always welcomed people from all over the world to come to China.
Haha, I love your take on this-it really does sound like something out of a Shakespearean comedy! 😂 I actually read an article from years ago that mentioned the environmental impact of cooking methods for Beijing roast duck, which is what sparked my comment. But you’re absolutely right-although the idea of Beijing’s air being filled with roast duck aroma sounds deliciously amusing. Thank you for sharing your perspective-it’s all part of the fun of learning and exploring! 😊
@@mikeandashley In fact, it has nothing to do with Peking duck, how can cooking affect the air in a city, it's like saying that the air pollution in Los Angeles is because you're barbecuing at home, and I saw your video on Chinese social media, and when you said that, everyone laughed
@@mikeandashley It's mainly industrial, transportation, sand storms, cooking yes only a little....It's already day and night comparing to...10 years ago.
China has been on our bucket list for years, and we’re so excited to share our first day in Beijing with you! What are your thoughts on Beijing? Any must-see spots or tips for first-timers? Drop them in the comments below-we’d love to hear from you! 🇨🇳
Nan shan Bamboo sea （南山竹海）江苏省 jiang su Province Nan shan Bamboo sea （南山竹海） 江苏省 Jiang su Province YI xing Bamboo sea （宜兴竹海） 江苏省省 Jiang su Province Ge tu he （格凸河） 贵州省 gui zhou Province Cable car ride in Nanshan Bamboo sea th-cam.com/video/jnwKYhe8e2I/w-d-xo.html The most famous attractions in Sichuan are SHU NAN Bamboo Sea （蜀南竹海） and CHUAN XI Bamboo Sea （川西竹海）, scenic spots SHU NAN Bamboo Sea （蜀南竹海） th-cam.com/video/RgrDBBXW0ag/w-d-xo.html CHUAN XI Bamboo Sea （川西竹海） CD1 th-cam.com/video/VKlIREiLEPU/w-d-xo.html CD2 th-cam.com/video/AeA-ebemrPw/w-d-xo.html Ge tu he （格凸河） th-cam.com/video/4H-x454r3fI/w-d-xo.html The Bamboo Sea in Nanshan, Jiangsu Province is near Shanghai You can reach Nanshan Bamboo Sea in 3 hours by car or train from the center of Shanghai. Nanshan Bamboo Sea is also known as China’s Little Switzerland, where many rich people from various countries live. th-cam.com/video/sRJyoLZBIPI/w-d-xo.html The Bamboo Sea is a scenic postcard of China. It is very shocking. The air is very comfortable, and you can also taste bamboo delicacies and ancient buildings. I have been to the Bamboo Sea, and the landforms and scenery are indeed very unique. It is the Chinese version of the Grand Canyon, but it is full of bamboo forests and rivers， caves and aerial cable cars,Hollywood movie shooting base... I suggest you go on-site to travel and explore instead of reading the critical comments of Taiwanese people online. The Bamboo Sea scenery is unique to China and is a unique scenery of China, while the bamboo forest is not. Sichuan culture is very Thick and so is its food. This is why it has fascinated Hollywood and Disney many times Disney’s new animated films, Come With My Youth（Turning Red） and The Elemental, both have a lot of Sichuan elements The MEI MEI that accompanies my youth（Turning Red）, MEI MEI is the red panda of Sichuan Elemental The fire element girl inside is Sichuan pepper culture SICHUAN style Disney animation MULAN Mulan Show in Disneyland Paris 2001 th-cam.com/video/vOhWUXqykOs/w-d-xo.html Mulan 2 - Groupe CGC 2017 th-cam.com/video/uBpdDs_2jI8/w-d-xo.html 1998 Mulan Parade 90S music th-cam.com/video/llhxjdCjfK0/w-d-xo.html Mulan 2 BGM music th-cam.com/video/g-aTLNL9Coc/w-d-xo.html Mulan 2 ICE SHOW 2010 th-cam.com/video/7Qf90d1vaig/w-d-xo.html Mulan 2 ICE SHOW 2011th-cam.com/video/ul4zHfxN_I4/w-d-xo.html Mulan II Lesson Number One Tai Chi Dance Tutorial th-cam.com/video/Y0tk-QT0sbw/w-d-xo.html Mulan Parade at Disneyland 1998 th-cam.com/video/q-mGGyyQWSU/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/thhGLUC9cVI/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/ZUI8Ts9i5ZA/w-d-xo.html 90s Songs similar to Mulan th-cam.com/video/rx5Yx9OFiHE/w-d-xo.html The Mundane World | 王竹夕｜Classic Chinese Wuxia music th-cam.com/video/R5GB_sMWmW4/w-d-xo.html Shanghai Disney th-cam.com/video/JSWJEL0Ms7s/w-d-xo.html 100% worth the experience! Many bamboo sea scenic spots in Sichuan have huge beautiful scenery, delicious food, ancient towns, ecosystems, complex landforms, and ancient culture and humanity. Bamboo Sea Scenic Area = China postcard, and so are the giant pandas inside Lea Salonga and Brad Kane - A Whole New World - 1993 Oscars th-cam.com/video/GyJI8kr0Qo8/w-d-xo.html Lea Salonga--Disney Medley (Hercules, Tarzan, and Mulan) th-cam.com/video/7Qep_FUksKk/w-d-xo.html 90s Songs similar to Mulan th-cam.com/video/rx5Yx9OFiHE/w-d-xo.html The Mundane World | 王竹夕｜Classic Chinese Wuxia music th-cam.com/video/R5GB_sMWmW4/w-d-xo.html 梅艷芳 Anita Mui - 夕陽之歌 (Official Music Video) th-cam.com/video/XnNIPXT9YvE/w-d-xo.html&start_radio=1 娃娃 - 春之祭 th-cam.com/video/5IT7FXZzvB0/w-d-xo.html 李麗芬-得意的笑 th-cam.com/video/qFIaHxpO8dY/w-d-xo.html 天與地1994 王菲 th-cam.com/video/Ir6Lr8dh3oo/w-d-xo.html 《多得他》1992 cover王菲 CD1 th-cam.com/video/CGBoMiG6OVQ/w-d-xo.html 《多得他》1992 cover王菲 CD2 th-cam.com/video/slqmtVpidIk/w-d-xo.html 《多得他》1992 cover 林憶蓮 th-cam.com/video/EPs8lta4rVM/w-d-xo.html China TV series th-cam.com/video/NjMVo3NlLCA/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/3CnknY2Td8g/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/uTZ4rRX_nbg/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/YaQKwCA81zw/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/wzeJcRbTorA/w-d-xo.html BEST BEACH IN CHINA | Is Sanya Worth Visiting? | Travelling in Hainan, China 三亚，海南 th-cam.com/video/ulgmCnJGhDg/w-d-xo.html Hong Kong Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung Bech CD1 th-cam.com/video/se_qYhmUeLs/w-d-xo.html CD2 th-cam.com/video/FtAH_XjhLb0/w-d-xo.html Shen Zhen 西冲 西涌 Beach 4K th-cam.com/video/5ZdYRK3QXcE/w-d-xo.html Travelling in Hainan,Sanya China th-cam.com/video/ulgmCnJGhDg/w-d-xo.html Weizhou SKY SEA island Guangxi Vlog CD1th-cam.com/video/EvC0qd-Svpg/w-d-xo.html CD2 th-cam.com/video/ozgJH6nnYSI/w-d-xo.html
If you will be going to Shanghai, please please go to the neighboring ancient town called Wuzhen, which is a water town with 1300 years of history kinda similar to Venice. It's such a breathtakingly beautiful place too good to be missed, I promise it will blow your mind away! Try to stay inside the town for at least one night, the whole place turns magical at night.
China has entered winter, please keep warm, especially as the wind from the north is strong and the temperature is low! If you go south to Guangdong and Hainan, it will be warmer. If you go west to Xinjiang and Gansu, the temperature difference will be very large. If I were to give suggestions, I would say go west from Beijing to Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu. Such a perfect counter-clockwise tour of China.
Welcome to China, you have made the right choice. If you want to experience a modern big city, you can go to Shanghai. If you want to experience technology, you can go to Shenzhen. If you want to experience a cyberpunk city, you can go to Chongqing. If you want to see the landscape, you can go to Guilin or Zhangjiajie. If you want to experience Muslims, you can go to Xinjiang. If you want to experience the culture of the ancient city, you can go to Xi'an or Lijiang. In short, no matter where you are in China, please rest assured that you will feel safe because the Chinese people are very enthusiastic..
Modern cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzen, Guangzhou and others are a must visit for first time visitors but once you're done with those modern advanced cities while still maintaining those thousands of years cultural and heritage architectural, go out of cities towards those heaven-like mountainous landscapes, you'll be amazed for sure. Yunnan, the southern part has too many of them, places like Dali, Lijiang, Guizhou, Kunming, Zhangjiajie, Guilin and so many more. China is one country which could take years to explore if you really love to experience its 5,000 years of civilization with 50 over different Chinese ethnicity, it is unfortunate that majority of the people in the world thought there is only one ethnic Chinese in China. One tip before I forgot, wherever you go in China, always go out after sunset and film those colorful lights at night, they're unbelievably beautiful and worth experiencing. I'm from Malaysia and have visited China since the 90s till 2024 both for business and leisure and this year alone (2024), I visited twice and I would say I noticed the biggest developments and improvements ever in any countries from 2010 onwards in China. Not going to touch on sensitive side of things but all I'm saying is that we common people are looking forward to a secure, peaceful, safe, liveable lives with minimal crimes, friendly neighbors, tranquility ......... you know what I mean. For me China is up there providing all that for its people which I didn't see in many countries around the world and that's what made many countries around the world envious. Anyway, enjoy your trip and watch how much Chinese people enjoy their lives, I just hope to be able spend more time there myself.
Thank you so much for your detailed comment! We're considering applying for our ten-year visa so we can explore more of the country. It's so vast and we've already fallen in love with what little bit we've seen. 🥰
so true, actully there is no country like China with safe, clean, well-organized, advanced public transportation and affordable, the most important is diversity including the food and landscape. you can see all kinds of landscape from China.
It’s such a nice feeling. We’re happy you felt safe there. It’s such a nice feeling to be able to fully enjoy somewhere and not have to look over your shoulder, especially at night!
Out of all the couples visiting China, this one is my favorite. Especially the female blogger's smile feels like it warms the world. Every city in China will bring you a different experience feeling and culture, I hope you guys have the time and opportunity to visit every city and corner of China.😊
Can't agree more with every cities' difference. The difference between cities in different provinces are even larger than that between UK and Frence in tems of cultrue and custom. One typical example is the flavor debate between different parts of china. But all cities are quite unfamiliar to tourists , thus differences are relatively hard to recognize.
I am Chinese. First of all, welcome to my country. The people here are very friendly. We have a long history. These histories, like rivers, continue to deposit the sand and gravel of civilization. They educate us that we need to be warm and friendly to our guests. I believe in you. I feel it too, and I hope this trip to China can clear up many misunderstandings. China doesn’t need perfection, but it needs the truth. I hope you have fun and have a safe journey.
Thank you so much for your warm welcome and thoughtful message-it means a lot to us. We’ve been so touched by the kindness and hospitality we’ve experienced here, and your words beautifully capture the richness of China’s culture and history. Thank you for watching. ❤️🥰
@@mikeandashley I am honored and happy to receive your sincere reply. I hope that in the future, China will be full of delicious food and beautiful scenery. At the same time, I recommend that you go to Lijiang, Yunnan this season. Travelers should pursue the changes of nature and embark on a journey to find adventures. There you will see: White clouds flow in the blue sky like quiet fish swimming in broad ocean.
To be honest, I seldom leave comments, but your high-quality videos, excellent techniques and your beautiful smiles make me feel very happy after watching the videos. Welcome to China, I hope you have fun!
@@mikeandashley I visited biannually in my childhood, but then stopped for a while due to school and work, I finally visited again this year for a nice 2 months though! :)
You guys seem like an awesome and positive couple! Aside from the top cities like Beijing and Shanghai, I would definitely suggest checking out Chengdu, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Nanjing, Suzhou and Lijiang/Dali in Yunnan. China is literally like a world unto itself and I’ve always been impressed by the wide diversity of experiences I’ve had when visiting!
We're planning a return trip and have all of those places on our list. The country is so massive - it feels like it would take a lifetime to see everything. 🥰
@mikeandashley , see China with your own eyes to know how much you American people have been lied to by your MSM and the government of how bad China is. BTW, I'm Thai and have been to China many times. planning for the next trip soon.
Traveling has definitely opened our eyes to so many things. We left Thailand last month and are already missing it so much. We hope to return soon, but we'll probably head back to China before it gets too cold. Safe travels on your next trip to China! 😊
Big thumbs up for being respectful, embracing the cultural differences in China, and doing your travel research before arriving. I've seen many TH-camrs visit without any preparation, only to complain nonstop about things like not being able to enter an attraction because they didn’t know appointments need to be booked online. Not being able to pay for food because a lot of vendors only use digital payment. Love the positivity in your video.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment! We really believe that respecting local culture is such an important part of traveling. We’re glad that came through in our video-it means a lot to us! ❤️
Love videos like this! Going to places where you feel apprehensive due to what western media tell you, only to find its an awesome place. There really is no substitute to going travelling and seeing the real thing yourself.
Absolutely! We couldn’t agree more-there’s nothing like experiencing a place firsthand to challenge preconceptions and gain a deeper understanding. Thank you for being part of this journey with us! 😊
Hi.,welcome to China. BTW，u don't have to buy metro tickets .Ali pay has different codes for Metro and Bus,u can just scan the code at the machine. wish u have a great time here.
Thanks for the tip! We found that out when we learned how to use the bus for the first time! 😂 Now we know. Alipay is SO convenient and it makes travel and payments incredibly simple. 10/10 experience. Thanks for watching! We hope you enjoyed the video. 😊🫶
@@chynavirusakawuflu9961 There is never a Taiwan country in the world except in your dreams. Taiwan was, is and will awalys be an intepral part of China!
The ginger given to you guys at Din Tai Fung is not really meant for your hot water but meant for you to add vinegar/soy sauce to use as the dipping sauce for your soup dumplings. With that said, ginger in hot water works too haha
Thank you for being open-minded and enjoyful. You are always welcome to explore more in China. We are definitely no perfect but we are fun as the rest of the world!
in China，You can see yellow cabinets everywhere similar to cashiers. Scan the QR code above and you can get a charged mobile power supply to charge your device. You only need to charge it, then find any charging cabinet with space to plug in the mobile power supply and return it. The cost seems to be about 1 yuan for half an hour, which is very convenient and you don’t have to worry about battery issues.
@@mikeandashley just don't use it. it is a scam. sometime u can find any empty space to return it. so believe me. do not use it. now, we are avoiding it. otherwise it cost u a lot.
New subscriber here! I’m not sure what it is about the way you say or do things, but something in your video really got me hooked. Sure, not everything you said about Beijing is spot-on or perfectly accurate, especially since you’re both relatively new to traveling in China. But what truly stands out is the enthusiasm, humility, adaptability, and open-mindedness you bring to exploring Beijing and China as a whole-I really appreciate that. Thank you for putting so much effort into creating such inspiring and engaging videos and for showcasing the vibrant, dynamic, and trendy side of Beijing. In my opinion, the international metropolis of Beijing is the perfect place to either kick off or wrap up your journey in China. Wishing you an amazing trip across the country, and I can’t wait to see more of your videos. Cheers!
I am Chinese living in America. Americans think America have everything and don't bother to leave the country....yes in some sense but China is on different level. The scenery, landscaping are a lot more diverse; the ethnic foods, infrastructures.... and if you are into history, museums, archeology stuffs like that, China is your wet dream!
It's been an eye-opening experience leaving America two years ago and seeing things from the outside looking in. We love history and are very excited to discover more of China. 🥰
Haha, the ginger, conventionally, goes with vinegar for dipping the dumplings (to be eaten together with some vinegar coated ginger), (or dipping for the xiao long bao), both of which are staples at this restaurant chain Ding Tai Fung 20:37. The tiny white porcelain where the ginger is placed is a sauce plate, for your condiments such as soy sauce or vinegar
but I also think your way of using the ginger with the hot water as a drink is great way, a very Chinese way, and it helps not to waste the ginger. After all, bot everybody takes their dumplings with vinegar and ginger
@robintan502 Came here to say that 😂 To be fair though, the first time I ate at Din Tai Fung was at the original location in Taipei and they had little help cards plus the staff taught us about the ginger and the ratio of vinegar to soy sauce.
I am also not a fan of vinegar haha, so I just eat the ginger, as I like the kick of the ginger, and also ginger in hot water is heaven, esp if you have a cold. These days we can find powdered ginger for drinks in Asia too , if that's your thing Mike & Ashley
Seeing you guys getting through and spotting thr front gate of your hotel, it gets me a little bit emotional. It's like after a long journey and finally gets the destination. You're welcome and enjoy your travel in China!👍
Such a cute couple! Welcome to China!! I would recommend you to visit the National Museum of China actually. You could easily spend a whole day there. It’s packed with treasures from all over the country.
Thank you so much! We'll try to visit the museum the next time we're in Beijing. We love learning the history of the places we visit, so this sounds perfect. 😊
Thank you for sharing your Beijing China. Experiences and adventures greatly enjoyed the street scenes and the food looks delicious. Thank you for sharing all of this.
Hi guys, you both have got the right spirit, just loosen up and soak in the whole experience. I am glad all's gone well so far - there should be no issues. China is really a very safe and friendly country. If you are in one of those big parks, you can get your Starbucks etc etc delivered by a drone - a truly unique experience of technology and service.
The way to eat xiaolongbao is you sit them in your little plate of vinegar and ginger. The vinegar will cool down the broth enough so it won’t burn your mouth. Once the broth cools down, you can eat the whole thing in one bite. The “green thing” with the noodles is a pickled mustard greens that’s typically chopped and stir fried with rice wine and sugar. The tartness and crunch goes well with the savory beef soup noodle…
I’m crying, you guys walked right in front of my home in Beijing 🥹 I can’t believe I would see my condo in a random video that I opened. Loved your video!! Subscribed!
Oh yea?! That’s so cool! Do you live in Dongsi? We LOVE that neighborhood. Such good vibes. We’re happy to have you as part of the family! Thanks for watching and saying hello. 👋😊
@@mikeandashley My parents live in the neighborhood just behind the 75th-anniversary sign, that is the entrance to the development. I moved to the U.S. 10 years ago, but that street and the restaurant you guys visited are filled with memories from my childhood. It felt so nostalgic and really brought tears to my eyes. I just watched many of your other videos and loved them all, especially when you guys get excited about the little things in China, it just makes me smile.❤
I think Mike was a bit careless. Beijing has entered deep autumn, and the temperature is relatively low. Ashley is already feeling cold walking on the streets. Mike should take Ashley back to the hotel to add suitable clothes, or buy some clothes at the nearby mall to keep warm. Welcome to Beijing, China. Wishing you a pleasant journey!
Haha, I completely agree! Next time, we’ll come better prepared for the weather. We’re currently in Vietnam, where winter clothes are super affordable, so we’re planning to stock up for our next visit. We hesitated to buy anything before since we spend most of our time in Southeast Asia, where winter gear isn’t really needed-but after this trip, we’ve decided we absolutely have to return to China! 😊
You need individual alipay for the bike. The blue ones are alipay's, the fee to rent is 1.5 yuan, but each bike has its limited zone, if you park outside of that you'll be fined 1 yuan. Some bikes are old, it uses manual lock, it won't lock automatically, it will ask you to lock once you decided to end the trip. I suggest you to pick the new ones, easier.You can leave it anywhere within the zone, you don't have to return it to where you took it.
Hey, I absolutely LOVE your video and content! Your smile is so contagious-I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time I was watching! Thank you so much for sharing this. I’ve been living in the States for 7 years now, first for school and now for work-time really flies! It’s been about 5 years since I last visited Beijing, my hometown, and I miss everything about it, especially my parents. Thanks again for this amazing video, and I hope you have a fun and safe trip!
Thank you so much for the kind words! It means a lot that our video brought a smile to your face and reminded you of home. Beijing is such a special place-we can see why you miss it! We hope you get a chance to visit your parents and reconnect soon. Sending you all the best! 🥰
I love you guys and loved your video. Absolutely gorgeous. And the pair of earrings, that beautiful detail, was so adorable. You two are so genuinely in love with everything you are experiencing, and I can feel that excitement too. I can't wait for your next video.
@@mikeandashley I watched your video from beginning to end. I wish your China series will be a complete success in terms of viewership and likes and subscriptions.
@@mikeandashley I can't wait until next Sunday, when your second China video will drop. I see from your channel that you will upload one video every Sunday. So, if you have 220 videos, that only means you've been on the road for close to 4 years. That's incredible.
Thank you for your kind words! We've actually only been traveling for two years, but we posted videos multiple times a week in the beginning, in addition to Shorts. We hope you enjoy the rest of the series! We had an incredible time making it. 😊
Do you know that many videos showing China by western media like BBC, CNN, ABC, NYT, Fox New and many more they intentionally filter the videos to make it look foggy like very polluted in China. Actually if you're in China to see with your eyes. You will know the differences between reality and lies.
The ginger slivers at Ding Tai Fung is actually for the vinegar dipping sauce to go with your Xiao Long Bao’s, but I love that you made it into a healthy and medicinal concoction to warm up yourselves,which I shall defo try myself 📝 lots of love and have a wonderful time in China ❤
It's really enjoy to see you guys being so pure and optimistic to embrace every moments no matter it's a up or a down. I think that's the magic of a traveling vlog that all the audience around the world are sharing the same feeling with you out there, and some of them can be definitely influenced somehow. Hope you a great trip for the rest of your stay in China. BTW, 8 is a lucky number in China, that make sense to all the numbers ended with 8. So, may the 8 with you all the time ~
Thank you so much for the kind words! It means a lot to know our vlogs resonate with you. We’re definitely trying to embrace every moment, and it’s amazing to connect with people like you through our travels. Loved the fun fact about 8 being lucky-may the 8 be with you too! 🥰
Thank you for visiting my hometown. I haven't returned home for five years, and the changes there have been so rapid that I, a born and bred Beijinger, wonder if I might feel like a foreigner when I revisit Beijing again. I'm planning to travel to Taiwan and Beijing this end of year. My husband is from Taiwan, and neither of us has visited where the other has lived. I hope to explore the differences and similarities between these two places.
I can imagine how much it’s changed. Even our town has changed so much since we left in 2019, and if we were to return it would feel like a new city! That’s so cool you and your husband will visit each others homes and get to experience the nostalgia together! Thanks for watching our video! We hope you enjoyed it. 😊
Welcome to my hometown, Beijing! Your video brought me to tears-it’s heartwarming to see how foreigners showcase the true essence of China to the world. Wishing you an amazing time in China!Ashley you have the most beautiful smile! 😊 Kat from NZ
Thank you, Kat! Your hometown is absolutely incredible, and we’re so glad our video resonated with you-it means the world to us. Ashley is smiling even bigger after reading your sweet comment! 😊
Just came your charming videos. You are a lovely couple! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures! 👍 On XLB, you put a tiny bit of ginger in your spoon, dip the XLB in the vinegar and place it in the spoon. Then bite off the top knot. This will allow the steam to rise . When the XLB has cooled down sufficiently, slide everything into your mouth. This way you get to taste everything: the wrap, the inner filling and, of course, the savory soup all in one bite. You can have as much or as little of the vinegar as it is used to cut the richness of the XLB. Finally, IMHO, it’s not that you allowed the XLB to cool down too long, it’s just that Din Tai Fung’s XLB isn’t all that great. Which just goes to show you that the Michelin folks haven’t the faintest idea of what a good XLB should taste like. 😊 I’ve tried Din Tai Fung in Sydney, Australia, London, and here in California and have been disappointed each time. So, it’s not your fault. Try XLB when you get to Shanghai.
Thanks so much for watching and for the tips! 😊 We are also not typically impressed about Michelin stars. We usually way prefer local experiences over fancy ones. We didn’t know what to expect with this. We just knew we wanted soup dumplings (our comfort food) after a very long travel day, and this is what was recommended by a food blog. To be fair, that blog led us astray and only to westernized places as you’ll see in our next video (not that we didn’t enjoy the food in our next video!) so we need to find a new resource! Though, we did have a lovely experience at Din Tai Fung, the staff was lovely. 😊 Thanks for your suggestion, and we’d love any recommendations of places or things to try on our adventures in China! Thanks again!
@ You are great travelers! Of course there are several ways to eat XLB. You could also just put the XLB on your spoon, bite off the top knot and put the ginger on top plus pour sone black vinegar on top. It has to be black vinegar which is somewhat like balsamic vinegar is different from the other vinegars. The way to judge a XLB is by three things: the skin has to be thin so that it doesn’t take over the entire taste of the XLB, the tastiness of the filling and the tastiness of the soup. Sometimes I’ve found that the skin is thin enough and the soup tastes great but the filling is tasteless. That’s a less than perfect XLB. Shanghai is where the currently most popular XLB originated. There used to be a place in Old Town Shanghai that was famous for its XLB. The name escapes me for the moment. XLB has to be distinguished from its cousin, the Tang Bao. “Tang” means soup, so a tang bao has a lot of soup in it. Ideally it should be served with a small straw so that you can sip the soup separately. The size of a tang bao is about 2 to 3 X the size of a XLB. I can’t recommend particular restaurants to you but suggest that you look at the Chinese food bloggers on TH-cam, such as DAWEN. Another interesting vlogger is “Blondie in China”. She’s also on TH-cam. Happy dining!
We would love to! We have a long list of places we want to visit in China. It's such a vast country with so much to see. We can't wait to explore more. 🥰
I have to praise you that you are so good in using chopsticks 🎉🎉 Btw, there is a better way to consume the Xiao Long Bao while it’s piping hot. Usually we make a small bite hole so the soup will flow out onto the soup spoon, so it won’t be too hot to consume. Also, once you dip the meat & skin into the sauce, it will reduce the temp as well 😊
Thank you! We’ve had some practice. 😊🥢 And that’s a clever way to eat them’ we’ve heard many ways and haven’t decided which is our favorite! 😊 Thanks for the suggestions and for watching our videos!
20:38 It's pickled ginger. It's not put into water to drink. It's an appetizer. Dingtaifeng's steamed stuffed bun is thin in skin, small in size and rich in soup. Besides, the seasoning of the stuffing is appropriate. People in the industry know that when eating Xiaolongbao, you should add a little shredded ginger and a little vinegar, When tasting Xiaolongbao, pour vinegar into a small dish, and then add a little ginger to help digestion. First, bite a small hole, suck up the soup, and then put the shredded ginger dipped in vinegar into the small hole, and eat it together. This is the most perfect way to eat Xiaolongbao
Beijing metro system is now supporting Visa/Mastercard, u don’t need to buy a ticket on the machine, just directly tap the card and u can enter the gate
Thanks for the sharing👍 And welcome to China🎉 20:43 The shred ginger is not for the tea (water). It is used to mix with vinegar as source for the Xiaolongbso… haha😂
Thoroughly enjoyed your video and looking forward to the next one! For translation of signs, I've seen other bloggers point their cameras at the sign (?take a photo also), and then use Google Translate to decipher it. Hi from New Zealand.
That ginger is actually for the "sauce plate" where you pour the vinegar in and dip your Xiao Long Bao with that. But very creative of you guys to make ginger tea out of it ;) If you liked your Xiao Long Bao experience I would def recommend you to go to Shanghai, the birth place of that dish where they serve really authentic buns.
The circular metal sheet on the ground tells you that there are cables underground, so don't dig here, it's dangerous.The characteristic of Beijing is its historical architecture. According to regulations, in order not to destroy the historical sense of Beijing, it is not allowed to build too many high-rise buildings and other structures. If you want to liven up, you need to go to cities like Chengdu and Chongqing.
That's awesome that Beijing has regulations in place to maintain the character of the city. And we would LOVE to visit Chengdu and Chongqing. They may be our next stops. 👀
@@mikeandashley In fact, in the eyes of our Chinese people, Beijing is a food desert, and there are not many delicious foods. I think the southern roast duck is better than the Beijing roast duck, but the Beijing roast duck is very famous. Maybe because of the political center, many foreign guests arrive in Beijing for the first time. You must try southern roast duck, you can't miss it, it's definitely better than Beijing roast duck. You can eat Southern Roast Duck in any city in China. Southern roast duck has braised sauce, while Beijing roast duck does not have braised sauce.
beijing is one of the hardest cities for first time visitors to china. lots of major attractions in the city center means tons of tourists and lots of government buildings around the same area means tons of security checks. if you are patient then it's no big deal but I can see how it can be annoying for many western tourists. beijing is also one of the most expensive cities in china 😅. you can get away with $50 a day easily in most other cities but not beijing/shanghai. while there's plenty of good public transport in most chinese cities, one of the best ways to get around and see things in the process is using those share bikes. each of you just need tone of the apps installed on your own phones. also pollution in beijing can be bad during certain months. it's kind of in a valley surrounded by mountains so sandstorms from the north can push pollution in and it just gets trapped there somewhat like in california costal valleys. outside in smaller towns, people still use coal for heat during the winter so that also contributes. chinese culture is all about balance especially so with nature but china was very poor just 30+ years ago so sacrifices had to be made in its development. they are trying to clean things up in the past decade.
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and for watching our video! We really appreciate the thoughtful context you’ve added-it helps us understand and appreciate Beijing even more. 😊
Aw, thanks guys! 🫶🫶🫶 You are amazing too! We absolutely will! Hopefully we can head that way after the cold leaves and we can enjoy the beautiful spring/summer and escape the heat of SEA! 😅😂
Hey everyone! We realized our mics were set up incorrectly, so you might have trouble hearing us if you’re using just one headphone. However, the audio should be fine with both headphones or without any at all. We’ve fixed the issue, so things should be all good moving forward. Huge thanks to everyone who brought this to our attention! 🥰
中国被西方妖魔化了，打到帝国主义
One day, China and the United States will become best friends. I believe that as long as both sides have sufficient competition and struggle, this day will come. There is a very high probability that it will come true.
I'm from Taiwan Province, China. Welcome to my motherland. 😀😀
brother
your sister here to say hi
Brother
好一句祖国，兄弟妲妹....... 等你。
U wanna start a war in the comments section😭
As a SKorean, who just left Shanghai last week and flew back to Toronto, and now trying to look up some China content because I miss it a lot. I have always thought it would be easy to blend in, but that was not the case. However the moment people realize I am not a local but a Korean they were so excited and super welcoming. Too much to say about China, and I would love to go to China again in a heartbeat, I really really miss China and my world is not going to be the same.
因为中国人喜欢帮助需要帮助的人.
China is indeed a beautiful country with so much to offer. We're glad you had such great experiences! 😊
Thousands of years of Chinese culture have made the Chinese people friendly. We have no caste discrimination, no skin color discrimination, no ethnic discrimination. China has always welcomed people from all over the world to come to China.
Hi from Toronto😉! I’m from Beijing and living in Toronto. If u d like to know anything before you travel to my hometown, I’m happy to help!
@@feizhang4236 농담하니? 당장 필리핀 바다와 티벳 그리고 몽골을 괴롭히지마라. 360도 방향 모든게 중국꺼라고 말하는 미친 민족이잖아
This woman always has a smiling & friendly face, good to watch this video.
Thank you for watching! 🥰
关于北京烤鸭造成北京空气污染的想法真是太可爱了🤩，如果真是那样，那北京大街上空气中一定弥漫着挥之不去的烤鸭香味，这简直是只有莎士比亚才能构想出来的情节😋
笑死 我也没听说过 这得多少人天天吃烤鸭 不会又是什么西方媒体的propaganda吧
Haha, I love your take on this-it really does sound like something out of a Shakespearean comedy! 😂 I actually read an article from years ago that mentioned the environmental impact of cooking methods for Beijing roast duck, which is what sparked my comment. But you’re absolutely right-although the idea of Beijing’s air being filled with roast duck aroma sounds deliciously amusing. Thank you for sharing your perspective-it’s all part of the fun of learning and exploring! 😊
@@mikeandashley In fact, it has nothing to do with Peking duck, how can cooking affect the air in a city, it's like saying that the air pollution in Los Angeles is because you're barbecuing at home, and I saw your video on Chinese social media, and when you said that, everyone laughed
That's very sound logic when you put it that way. Hopefully people aren't being too mean at our ignorance. 😅🤣
@@mikeandashley It's mainly industrial, transportation, sand storms, cooking yes only a little....It's already day and night comparing to...10 years ago.
As an Aussie that has been to many countries - China is by far the best & most interesting
China is such an interesting country! What are your favorite areas and/or cities? 😊
For something different
I like
Qingdao 😎
Sounds awesome! We’ll see if we can make it there for sure!
@@chynavirusakawuflu9961indian toilet..😂😂😂
@@antruok4950Hey， I'm actually living in Qingdao!
What do you love most about Qingdao especially😂
China has been on our bucket list for years, and we’re so excited to share our first day in Beijing with you! What are your thoughts on Beijing? Any must-see spots or tips for first-timers? Drop them in the comments below-we’d love to hear from you! 🇨🇳
Nan shan Bamboo sea （南山竹海）江苏省 jiang su Province
Nan shan Bamboo sea （南山竹海） 江苏省 Jiang su Province
YI xing Bamboo sea （宜兴竹海） 江苏省省 Jiang su Province
Ge tu he （格凸河） 贵州省 gui zhou Province
Cable car ride in Nanshan Bamboo sea th-cam.com/video/jnwKYhe8e2I/w-d-xo.html
The most famous attractions in Sichuan are SHU NAN Bamboo Sea （蜀南竹海） and CHUAN XI Bamboo Sea （川西竹海）, scenic spots
SHU NAN Bamboo Sea （蜀南竹海） th-cam.com/video/RgrDBBXW0ag/w-d-xo.html
CHUAN XI Bamboo Sea （川西竹海） CD1 th-cam.com/video/VKlIREiLEPU/w-d-xo.html
CD2 th-cam.com/video/AeA-ebemrPw/w-d-xo.html
Ge tu he （格凸河） th-cam.com/video/4H-x454r3fI/w-d-xo.html
The Bamboo Sea in Nanshan, Jiangsu Province is near Shanghai You can reach Nanshan Bamboo Sea in 3 hours by car or train from the center of Shanghai.
Nanshan Bamboo Sea is also known as China’s Little Switzerland, where many rich people from various countries live. th-cam.com/video/sRJyoLZBIPI/w-d-xo.html
The Bamboo Sea is a scenic postcard of China. It is very shocking. The air is very comfortable, and you can also taste bamboo delicacies and ancient buildings.
I have been to the Bamboo Sea, and the landforms and scenery are indeed very unique. It is the Chinese version of the Grand Canyon, but it is full of bamboo forests and rivers， caves and aerial cable cars,Hollywood movie shooting base... I suggest you go on-site to travel and explore instead of reading the critical comments of Taiwanese people online. The Bamboo Sea scenery is unique to China and is a unique scenery of China, while the bamboo forest is not.
Sichuan culture is very Thick and so is its food. This is why it has fascinated Hollywood and Disney many times
Disney’s new animated films, Come With My Youth（Turning Red） and The Elemental, both have a lot of Sichuan elements
The MEI MEI that accompanies my youth（Turning Red）, MEI MEI is the red panda of Sichuan
Elemental The fire element girl inside is Sichuan pepper culture
SICHUAN style Disney animation MULAN
Mulan Show in Disneyland Paris 2001 th-cam.com/video/vOhWUXqykOs/w-d-xo.html
Mulan 2 - Groupe CGC 2017 th-cam.com/video/uBpdDs_2jI8/w-d-xo.html
1998 Mulan Parade 90S music th-cam.com/video/llhxjdCjfK0/w-d-xo.html
Mulan 2 BGM music th-cam.com/video/g-aTLNL9Coc/w-d-xo.html
Mulan 2 ICE SHOW 2010 th-cam.com/video/7Qf90d1vaig/w-d-xo.html
Mulan 2 ICE SHOW 2011th-cam.com/video/ul4zHfxN_I4/w-d-xo.html
Mulan II Lesson Number One Tai Chi Dance Tutorial th-cam.com/video/Y0tk-QT0sbw/w-d-xo.html
Mulan Parade at Disneyland 1998 th-cam.com/video/q-mGGyyQWSU/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/thhGLUC9cVI/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/ZUI8Ts9i5ZA/w-d-xo.html
90s Songs similar to Mulan th-cam.com/video/rx5Yx9OFiHE/w-d-xo.html
The Mundane World | 王竹夕｜Classic Chinese Wuxia music th-cam.com/video/R5GB_sMWmW4/w-d-xo.html
Shanghai Disney th-cam.com/video/JSWJEL0Ms7s/w-d-xo.html
100% worth the experience! Many bamboo sea scenic spots in Sichuan have huge beautiful scenery, delicious food, ancient towns, ecosystems, complex landforms, and ancient culture and humanity. Bamboo Sea Scenic Area = China postcard, and so are the giant pandas inside
Lea Salonga and Brad Kane - A Whole New World - 1993 Oscars th-cam.com/video/GyJI8kr0Qo8/w-d-xo.html
Lea Salonga--Disney Medley (Hercules, Tarzan, and Mulan) th-cam.com/video/7Qep_FUksKk/w-d-xo.html
90s Songs similar to Mulan th-cam.com/video/rx5Yx9OFiHE/w-d-xo.html
The Mundane World | 王竹夕｜Classic Chinese Wuxia music th-cam.com/video/R5GB_sMWmW4/w-d-xo.html
梅艷芳 Anita Mui - 夕陽之歌 (Official Music Video) th-cam.com/video/XnNIPXT9YvE/w-d-xo.html&start_radio=1
娃娃 - 春之祭 th-cam.com/video/5IT7FXZzvB0/w-d-xo.html
李麗芬-得意的笑 th-cam.com/video/qFIaHxpO8dY/w-d-xo.html
天與地1994 王菲 th-cam.com/video/Ir6Lr8dh3oo/w-d-xo.html
《多得他》1992 cover王菲 CD1 th-cam.com/video/CGBoMiG6OVQ/w-d-xo.html
《多得他》1992 cover王菲 CD2 th-cam.com/video/slqmtVpidIk/w-d-xo.html
《多得他》1992 cover 林憶蓮 th-cam.com/video/EPs8lta4rVM/w-d-xo.html
China TV series
th-cam.com/video/NjMVo3NlLCA/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/3CnknY2Td8g/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/uTZ4rRX_nbg/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/YaQKwCA81zw/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/wzeJcRbTorA/w-d-xo.html
BEST BEACH IN CHINA | Is Sanya Worth Visiting? | Travelling in Hainan, China 三亚，海南 th-cam.com/video/ulgmCnJGhDg/w-d-xo.html
Hong Kong Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung Bech CD1 th-cam.com/video/se_qYhmUeLs/w-d-xo.html CD2 th-cam.com/video/FtAH_XjhLb0/w-d-xo.html
Shen Zhen 西冲 西涌 Beach 4K th-cam.com/video/5ZdYRK3QXcE/w-d-xo.html
Travelling in Hainan,Sanya China th-cam.com/video/ulgmCnJGhDg/w-d-xo.html
Weizhou SKY SEA island Guangxi Vlog
CD1th-cam.com/video/EvC0qd-Svpg/w-d-xo.html
CD2 th-cam.com/video/ozgJH6nnYSI/w-d-xo.html
If you will be going to Shanghai, please please go to the neighboring ancient town called Wuzhen, which is a water town with 1300 years of history kinda similar to Venice. It's such a breathtakingly beautiful place too good to be missed, I promise it will blow your mind away! Try to stay inside the town for at least one night, the whole place turns magical at night.
Welcome 🎉🎉🎉
China has entered winter, please keep warm, especially as the wind from the north is strong and the temperature is low! If you go south to Guangdong and Hainan, it will be warmer. If you go west to Xinjiang and Gansu, the temperature difference will be very large. If I were to give suggestions, I would say go west from Beijing to Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Jiangsu. Such a perfect counter-clockwise tour of China.
Welcome to China, you have made the right choice. If you want to experience a modern big city, you can go to Shanghai. If you want to experience technology, you can go to Shenzhen. If you want to experience a cyberpunk city, you can go to Chongqing. If you want to see the landscape, you can go to Guilin or Zhangjiajie. If you want to experience Muslims, you can go to Xinjiang. If you want to experience the culture of the ancient city, you can go to Xi'an or Lijiang. In short, no matter where you are in China, please rest assured that you will feel safe because the Chinese people are very enthusiastic..
Modern cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzen, Guangzhou and others are a must visit for first time visitors but once you're done with those modern advanced cities while still maintaining those thousands of years cultural and heritage architectural, go out of cities towards those heaven-like mountainous landscapes, you'll be amazed for sure. Yunnan, the southern part has too many of them, places like Dali, Lijiang, Guizhou, Kunming, Zhangjiajie, Guilin and so many more. China is one country which could take years to explore if you really love to experience its 5,000 years of civilization with 50 over different Chinese ethnicity, it is unfortunate that majority of the people in the world thought there is only one ethnic Chinese in China. One tip before I forgot, wherever you go in China, always go out after sunset and film those colorful lights at night, they're unbelievably beautiful and worth experiencing.
I'm from Malaysia and have visited China since the 90s till 2024 both for business and leisure and this year alone (2024), I visited twice and I would say I noticed the biggest developments and improvements ever in any countries from 2010 onwards in China. Not going to touch on sensitive side of things but all I'm saying is that we common people are looking forward to a secure, peaceful, safe, liveable lives with minimal crimes, friendly neighbors, tranquility ......... you know what I mean. For me China is up there providing all that for its people which I didn't see in many countries around the world and that's what made many countries around the world envious.
Anyway, enjoy your trip and watch how much Chinese people enjoy their lives, I just hope to be able spend more time there myself.
Thank you so much for your detailed comment! We're considering applying for our ten-year visa so we can explore more of the country. It's so vast and we've already fallen in love with what little bit we've seen. 🥰
I think you've summarized the China travel better than the local Chinese. I'll take your notes when I travel there in the near future. Thanks.
Wow great to hear! Just subscribed @@mikeandashley
so true, actully there is no country like China with safe, clean, well-organized, advanced public transportation and affordable, the most important is diversity including the food and landscape. you can see all kinds of landscape from China.
Welcome to china ，my bro😂
I had the same experience every time I go to China. I'm a girl and it feels like I'm truly free there since I feel so safe at all hours of the day.
It’s such a nice feeling. We’re happy you felt safe there. It’s such a nice feeling to be able to fully enjoy somewhere and not have to look over your shoulder, especially at night!
Great job Mike and Ashley - I'm so glad you saw China with open minds
我经常看你的视频😁
Thank you so much! We really appreciate your kind comment. 🥰
I know you, I watched your videos a lot ~
now China is visa-free for transition within 10 days, check it and welcome!
The excitement is so genuine and touching. China is like a different planet. Enjoy!🎉
Thank you! We were so excited to finally arrive in China after much anticipation. 🥰
Out of all the couples visiting China, this one is my favorite. Especially the female blogger's smile feels like it warms the world. Every city in China will bring you a different experience feeling and culture, I hope you guys have the time and opportunity to visit every city and corner of China.😊
Thank you so much for your kind comment and for watching! It means a lot. 🥰❤️
Cant agree more.
@@chynavirusakawuflu9961Indian toilet😂😂😂
是的，她的笑容可以感染到每一个人❤
Can't agree more with every cities' difference. The difference between cities in different provinces are even larger than that between UK and Frence in tems of cultrue and custom. One typical example is the flavor debate between different parts of china. But all cities are quite unfamiliar to tourists , thus differences are relatively hard to recognize.
I am Chinese. First of all, welcome to my country. The people here are very friendly. We have a long history. These histories, like rivers, continue to deposit the sand and gravel of civilization. They educate us that we need to be warm and friendly to our guests. I believe in you. I feel it too, and I hope this trip to China can clear up many misunderstandings. China doesn’t need perfection, but it needs the truth. I hope you have fun and have a safe journey.
I'm from Taiwan Province, China. Welcome to my motherland. 😀😀
cannot agree more, amazing china is not our purpose too, everything ,every country have its bad side.
Thank you so much for your warm welcome and thoughtful message-it means a lot to us. We’ve been so touched by the kindness and hospitality we’ve experienced here, and your words beautifully capture the richness of China’s culture and history. Thank you for watching. ❤️🥰
@@mikeandashley I am honored and happy to receive your sincere reply. I hope that in the future, China will be full of delicious food and beautiful scenery. At the same time, I recommend that you go to Lijiang, Yunnan this season. Travelers should pursue the changes of nature and embark on a journey to find adventures. There you will see: White clouds flow in the blue sky like quiet fish swimming in broad ocean.
@@sealtrader能看见承认台湾是中国一部分的台湾人越来越少了😊
Wonderful guys. Enjoy visiting China
Thank you so much! We are loving it so far. 😊
Cutest couple! Thank you for bringing the smile and warmth to the world.
Thank you so much for watching! 😊
To be honest, I seldom leave comments, but your high-quality videos, excellent techniques and your beautiful smiles make me feel very happy after watching the videos. Welcome to China, I hope you have fun!
Wow, thank you so much for your kind comment! We're glad you enjoyed our video. It means a lot to us. 🥰❤️
同感 博主的笑太迷人了 adorable couple
Love your energy! My parents are from Shanghai, China, and even though I was born in Europe, China will always be my motherland. Welcome to China! n_n
Thank you so much! Have you been able to China? We've been to Europe, but not since we were kids. We would love to visit again one day. 😊
@@mikeandashley I visited biannually in my childhood, but then stopped for a while due to school and work, I finally visited again this year for a nice 2 months though! :)
That’s awesome! Two months sounds like a nice trip!
Ashley's contagious smile. I loved that!
Thank you! 😁
Blue bikes - Alipay
Green bikes - WeChat
Yellow bikes - MeiTuan
还有淡蓝色的哈罗单车
This is super helpful to know. Thank you! 😊
Yellow bikes also can be scanned by wechat.
@@mikeandashley
@@yuki-b1y哈罗就是支付宝😅
Oh my god，Your smile is so contagious, you guys are my favorite couple so far
Thank you so much! 😊
China is an incredible country! This video make me want to visit, Amazing trip! ❤😊
Thank you for watching! 😊
You guys seem like an awesome and positive couple! Aside from the top cities like Beijing and Shanghai, I would definitely suggest checking out Chengdu, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Nanjing, Suzhou and Lijiang/Dali in Yunnan. China is literally like a world unto itself and I’ve always been impressed by the wide diversity of experiences I’ve had when visiting!
We're planning a return trip and have all of those places on our list. The country is so massive - it feels like it would take a lifetime to see everything. 🥰
@@mikeandashleyIt sure would. You have long term international residents living in China for 20+ years and haven't visited 25% of the country.😅
@mikeandashley , see China with your own eyes to know how much you American people have been lied to by your MSM and the government of how bad China is.
BTW, I'm Thai and have been to China many times. planning for the next trip soon.
Traveling has definitely opened our eyes to so many things. We left Thailand last month and are already missing it so much. We hope to return soon, but we'll probably head back to China before it gets too cold. Safe travels on your next trip to China! 😊
Big thumbs up for being respectful, embracing the cultural differences in China, and doing your travel research before arriving. I've seen many TH-camrs visit without any preparation, only to complain nonstop about things like not being able to enter an attraction because they didn’t know appointments need to be booked online. Not being able to pay for food because a lot of vendors only use digital payment. Love the positivity in your video.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment! We really believe that respecting local culture is such an important part of traveling. We’re glad that came through in our video-it means a lot to us! ❤️
Love videos like this! Going to places where you feel apprehensive due to what western media tell you, only to find its an awesome place. There really is no substitute to going travelling and seeing the real thing yourself.
Absolutely! We couldn’t agree more-there’s nothing like experiencing a place firsthand to challenge preconceptions and gain a deeper understanding. Thank you for being part of this journey with us! 😊
Amazing and beautiful place
It really is! 🥰
China has 59 World Heritage Sites to date ,ranking second in the world.Italy leads with 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Aya… only 1 behind Italy. Nice to know though. Thanks.
Interesting! We love visiting World Heritage Sites, so we're in a good place it seems. Thanks for watching. 😊
如果联合国教科文组织总部在亚洲，中国世界遗产可以轻松增加三倍😂
@@chynavirusakawuflu9961 why ? to serfdom and be the west slavemaster
@@chynavirusakawuflu9961 why ?serfdom or be a west slavemaster ? NFSC in Singapore or CECA indian
I love your smile. it's true happiness. Enjoy your time in China.
Thanks so much! 🥰
Hi.,welcome to China. BTW，u don't have to buy metro tickets .Ali pay has different codes for Metro and Bus,u can just scan the code at the machine. wish u have a great time here.
Thanks for the tip! We found that out when we learned how to use the bus for the first time! 😂 Now we know.
Alipay is SO convenient and it makes travel and payments incredibly simple. 10/10 experience.
Thanks for watching! We hope you enjoyed the video. 😊🫶
@@chynavirusakawuflu9961 There is never a Taiwan country in the world except in your dreams. Taiwan was, is and will awalys be an intepral part of China!
The ginger given to you guys at Din Tai Fung is not really meant for your hot water but meant for you to add vinegar/soy sauce to use as the dipping sauce for your soup dumplings. With that said, ginger in hot water works too haha
Haha, we realized this when we were editing the video. It worked pretty well with the lemon water though! 😅
Thank you for being open-minded and enjoyful. You are always welcome to explore more in China. We are definitely no perfect but we are fun as the rest of the world!
Thank you for your kind words! No place is perfect, but that’s what makes travel so exciting-discovering the unique charm and fun everywhere. 😊
Absolutely loved the Latte pun! That’s my jam! Great video guys, we can’t wait to see your adventures here! 😍
Haha, thanks! I love a good pun. And a good latte! 😂 Thank you for watching. Hope you enjoyed it.
You have a positive tourist mentality, which is the best thing! Wish you have a nice trip in china!
Thank you so much! We had a lovely time in Beijing and are excited to explore more of China. 😊
in China，You can see yellow cabinets everywhere similar to cashiers. Scan the QR code above and you can get a charged mobile power supply to charge your device. You only need to charge it, then find any charging cabinet with space to plug in the mobile power supply and return it. The cost seems to be about 1 yuan for half an hour, which is very convenient and you don’t have to worry about battery issues.
Thank you for sharing this! That’s such a brilliant and convenient system. 😊
@@mikeandashley Don’t use it. Shared power bank is a scam. In the end, you will probably spend money to buy it, but it will not be worth the money.
Oh, really? How is it a scam?
@@mikeandashley just don't use it. it is a scam. sometime u can find any empty space to return it. so believe me. do not use it. now, we are avoiding it. otherwise it cost u a lot.
@@Deanissun 哈哈哈 你真可悲
15:19 PRC Founded in 1949, this year marks the 75th anniversary.
Thanks for letting us know! We have so much to learn. 😊
@@mikeandashley And National Day is Oct 1. Lots of celebrations during that time. Welcome to China and have a wonderful time ❤❤
New subscriber here! I’m not sure what it is about the way you say or do things, but something in your video really got me hooked. Sure, not everything you said about Beijing is spot-on or perfectly accurate, especially since you’re both relatively new to traveling in China. But what truly stands out is the enthusiasm, humility, adaptability, and open-mindedness you bring to exploring Beijing and China as a whole-I really appreciate that. Thank you for putting so much effort into creating such inspiring and engaging videos and for showcasing the vibrant, dynamic, and trendy side of Beijing. In my opinion, the international metropolis of Beijing is the perfect place to either kick off or wrap up your journey in China. Wishing you an amazing trip across the country, and I can’t wait to see more of your videos. Cheers!
Wow, thank you so much for your kind words! We're so happy you're enjoying the journey with us. 😊
It was fun, looking forward to your next one
Thank you so much! We're glad you enjoyed the video. 🥰
Your smile priceless❤❤❤
Thank you so much! 😊❤️
Such an Awesome trip! Would love to visit China! Keep it up! Would love to see more of it! ❤😊
China is a tourist paradise for foreigners
Thank you so much! We're already planning a return visit. 🥰
What a lovely couple, welcome to visit China more, there are more scenery and food waiting for you to discover
Thank you so much! We can't wait. 😊
I don't know guys, but your video really gives me fun, happy and really nice to watch. ❤❤
That makes us so happy to hear! Thank you for watching. 🥰
I am Chinese living in America. Americans think America have everything and don't bother to leave the country....yes in some sense but China is on different level. The scenery, landscaping are a lot more diverse; the ethnic foods, infrastructures.... and if you are into history, museums, archeology stuffs like that, China is your wet dream!
It's been an eye-opening experience leaving America two years ago and seeing things from the outside looking in. We love history and are very excited to discover more of China. 🥰
@@mikeandashley热爱历史的人，会很喜欢北京，西安等城市
Beijing is incredible and we can't wait to visit Xi'an! 😊
历史的，去山西和河北都不错
China is a great country! But no interest in visiting.
Haha, the ginger, conventionally, goes with vinegar for dipping the dumplings (to be eaten together with some vinegar coated ginger), (or dipping for the xiao long bao), both of which are staples at this restaurant chain Ding Tai Fung 20:37. The tiny white porcelain where the ginger is placed is a sauce plate, for your condiments such as soy sauce or vinegar
but I also think your way of using the ginger with the hot water as a drink is great way, a very Chinese way, and it helps not to waste the ginger. After all, bot everybody takes their dumplings with vinegar and ginger
Ah, that makes sense! Thanks for letting us know. 🥰
Chinese people do use hot ginger water to treat cold. So in a chilly day, drinking ginger water is not bad.🤣😂
@robintan502 Came here to say that 😂 To be fair though, the first time I ate at Din Tai Fung was at the original location in Taipei and they had little help cards plus the staff taught us about the ginger and the ratio of vinegar to soy sauce.
I am also not a fan of vinegar haha, so I just eat the ginger, as I like the kick of the ginger, and also ginger in hot water is heaven, esp if you have a cold. These days we can find powdered ginger for drinks in Asia too , if that's your thing Mike & Ashley
Seeing you guys getting through and spotting thr front gate of your hotel, it gets me a little bit emotional. It's like after a long journey and finally gets the destination. You're welcome and enjoy your travel in China!👍
It’s definitely a great feeling to arrive at your destination after a long trip, and we can't wait to explore more. Thank you for watching! 🥰
Hi Mike and Ashley, you couple are so sweet and welcome you guys to my hometown Beijing , enjoy your trip there and have a happiness journey!!!🥰
Thank you so much for your kind words! 🥰
Such a cute couple! Welcome to China!! I would recommend you to visit the National Museum of China actually. You could easily spend a whole day there. It’s packed with treasures from all over the country.
Thank you so much! We'll try to visit the museum the next time we're in Beijing. We love learning the history of the places we visit, so this sounds perfect. 😊
Thank you for sharing your Beijing China. Experiences and adventures greatly enjoyed the street scenes and the food looks delicious. Thank you for sharing all of this.
Thank you for watching! We're glad you enjoyed it. We can't wait to share more adventures from our time in Beijing and China. ✨
Hi guys, you both have got the right spirit, just loosen up and soak in the whole experience. I am glad all's gone well so far - there should be no issues. China is really a very safe and friendly country. If you are in one of those big parks, you can get your Starbucks etc etc delivered by a drone - a truly unique experience of technology and service.
Coffee by drone sounds incredible! We'll have to try that out next time. Thanks for watching! 🥰
The way to eat xiaolongbao is you sit them in your little plate of vinegar and ginger. The vinegar will cool down the broth enough so it won’t burn your mouth. Once the broth cools down, you can eat the whole thing in one bite. The “green thing” with the noodles is a pickled mustard greens that’s typically chopped and stir fried with rice wine and sugar. The tartness and crunch goes well with the savory beef soup noodle…
That sounds like a delicious way to eat xiaolongbao. We'll try it that way next time. Thanks for letting us know! 😊
一个支付宝只能一个自行车。而且只能租蓝色车。你可以下载滴滴（打车软件），中国打车不贵。
Good to know. Thank you! 😊
Hope you enjoyed your trip in China ❤ it’s fantastic to see the truth of China with your own eyes 🎉
Thank you so much! We wholeheartedly agree. 🥰
I’m crying, you guys walked right in front of my home in Beijing 🥹 I can’t believe I would see my condo in a random video that I opened. Loved your video!! Subscribed!
Oh yea?! That’s so cool! Do you live in Dongsi? We LOVE that neighborhood. Such good vibes. We’re happy to have you as part of the family! Thanks for watching and saying hello. 👋😊
@@mikeandashley My parents live in the neighborhood just behind the 75th-anniversary sign, that is the entrance to the development. I moved to the U.S. 10 years ago, but that street and the restaurant you guys visited are filled with memories from my childhood. It felt so nostalgic and really brought tears to my eyes. I just watched many of your other videos and loved them all, especially when you guys get excited about the little things in China, it just makes me smile.❤
That’s awesome! So happy we could share this video with you. The park near that apartment complex is beautiful! 🤩
I think Mike was a bit careless. Beijing has entered deep autumn, and the temperature is relatively low. Ashley is already feeling cold walking on the streets. Mike should take Ashley back to the hotel to add suitable clothes, or buy some clothes at the nearby mall to keep warm.
Welcome to Beijing, China. Wishing you a pleasant journey!
Haha, I completely agree! Next time, we’ll come better prepared for the weather. We’re currently in Vietnam, where winter clothes are super affordable, so we’re planning to stock up for our next visit. We hesitated to buy anything before since we spend most of our time in Southeast Asia, where winter gear isn’t really needed-but after this trip, we’ve decided we absolutely have to return to China! 😊
You are very talented, you bring happiness to people, and your future is limitless！From Shanghai,China.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re very excited to visit Shanghai on our next visit to China. 🥰
You need individual alipay for the bike. The blue ones are alipay's, the fee to rent is 1.5 yuan, but each bike has its limited zone, if you park outside of that you'll be fined 1 yuan. Some bikes are old, it uses manual lock, it won't lock automatically, it will ask you to lock once you decided to end the trip. I suggest you to pick the new ones, easier.You can leave it anywhere within the zone, you don't have to return it to where you took it.
That’s super helpful to know, especially about the zones and picking the newer bikes. Thanks for watching! 🥰
Fantastic Couple. They are smiling and laughing all the time. Glad that China has made you happy!
Thank you! We we're so excited to finally be in China! It really did feel like a dream come true. 🥰
❤ Keep up living happily.
Just FYI…diced gingers are for Soup dumplings! You can add black vinegar with ginger as your dipping sauce for Xiaolongbao.
Haha, we’re always learning new things! Thanks for the tip. 😊
@@mikeandashley I'll try add some ginger to tea too next time :)
Hey, I absolutely LOVE your video and content! Your smile is so contagious-I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time I was watching! Thank you so much for sharing this. I’ve been living in the States for 7 years now, first for school and now for work-time really flies! It’s been about 5 years since I last visited Beijing, my hometown, and I miss everything about it, especially my parents. Thanks again for this amazing video, and I hope you have a fun and safe trip!
Thank you so much for the kind words! It means a lot that our video brought a smile to your face and reminded you of home. Beijing is such a special place-we can see why you miss it! We hope you get a chance to visit your parents and reconnect soon. Sending you all the best! 🥰
I love you guys and loved your video. Absolutely gorgeous. And the pair of earrings, that beautiful detail, was so adorable. You two are so genuinely in love with everything you are experiencing, and I can feel that excitement too. I can't wait for your next video.
It means the world to us that you can feel our excitement and love for what we’re experiencing. Thanks for following along on this journey with us! 🥰
@@mikeandashley I watched your video from beginning to end. I wish your China series will be a complete success in terms of viewership and likes and subscriptions.
@@mikeandashley I can't wait until next Sunday, when your second China video will drop. I see from your channel that you will upload one video every Sunday. So, if you have 220 videos, that only means you've been on the road for close to 4 years. That's incredible.
Thank you for your kind words! We've actually only been traveling for two years, but we posted videos multiple times a week in the beginning, in addition to Shorts. We hope you enjoy the rest of the series! We had an incredible time making it. 😊
try 奥林匹克森林公园 （Olympic Forest Park）in beijing if you guys like the parks, which is 3 times bigger than the Central Park in NYC
Oh, wow! Thanks for letting us know. 😊
Annarbor is my second home ❤welcome you two come to China 🇨🇳 wish all the best
Ashley lived in Annarbor, and we visited there together once! It’s such a cute little town! 🤩
Thank you! 🙏
Happy you both enjoyed your visit to China!
Thank you! We are also happy to be fortunate enough to visit! 🤗
It seems not pollution but like normal cloudy days based on your background at 18:30
You're correct! We realized we were wrong when it started raining later in the evening. 😅
明天应该就晴天了，最近这两天全国都在下雨。
Do you know that many videos showing China by western media like BBC, CNN, ABC, NYT, Fox New and many more they intentionally filter the videos to make it look foggy like very polluted in China. Actually if you're in China to see with your eyes. You will know the differences between reality and lies.
鼎泰丰给的姜丝是用来搭配醋或者酱油来吃小笼包或者饺子之类的食物，不是用来泡水喝的。不过你发明了姜丝泡水这样新奇的吃法😂
We're always unintentionally coming up with new ways of doing things! 😅🤣
My brain stuck for a while when I saw she put the ginger into her tea cup... why I didn't realize I can drink this way
@@mikeandashley姜丝泡水可以治疗感冒😂
the ginger slices is actually for the vinegar which is for dipping dumplings...
😛
Haha, oops. 😅🤣
Love it!
Thanks for watching! We're happy you enjoyed the video. 🥰
The ginger slivers at Ding Tai Fung is actually for the vinegar dipping sauce to go with your Xiao Long Bao’s, but I love that you made it into a healthy and medicinal concoction to warm up yourselves,which I shall defo try myself 📝 lots of love and have a wonderful time in China ❤
Haha. We found out it was for the sauce a bit later, but it was delicious in the water! Glad we can inspire you. 😉
It's really enjoy to see you guys being so pure and optimistic to embrace every moments no matter it's a up or a down. I think that's the magic of a traveling vlog that all the audience around the world are sharing the same feeling with you out there, and some of them can be definitely influenced somehow. Hope you a great trip for the rest of your stay in China. BTW, 8 is a lucky number in China, that make sense to all the numbers ended with 8. So, may the 8 with you all the time ~
Thank you so much for the kind words! It means a lot to know our vlogs resonate with you. We’re definitely trying to embrace every moment, and it’s amazing to connect with people like you through our travels. Loved the fun fact about 8 being lucky-may the 8 be with you too! 🥰
Welcome to China. Enjoy the great foods and fantastic landscapes.
Thank you so much! We're excited to explore more of the country. 🥰
From 1949 to October 1 this year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of P.R.China.😊
The founding of People's Republic of China to be more exact.
China has kinda always been there. 😆😆😆
@@yiluis1316
Also called New China!
@@yiluis1316 多谢，已修改！👍🏻
Thanks for letting us know and for watching! 😊
Thank you for visiting my hometown. I haven't returned home for five years, and the changes there have been so rapid that I, a born and bred Beijinger, wonder if I might feel like a foreigner when I revisit Beijing again. I'm planning to travel to Taiwan and Beijing this end of year. My husband is from Taiwan, and neither of us has visited where the other has lived. I hope to explore the differences and similarities between these two places.
I can imagine how much it’s changed. Even our town has changed so much since we left in 2019, and if we were to return it would feel like a new city!
That’s so cool you and your husband will visit each others homes and get to experience the nostalgia together!
Thanks for watching our video! We hope you enjoyed it. 😊
LMAO when I saw he put the soup dumplings ginger into his water. Omg u guys make my day. 😂
What?! It was delicious! 😅😋
The smile of the female blogger is so warm!🎉
Thank you! ❤️
@ Little red book is very useful as a guide! Young people in China use little red books!
Thanks for the tip! We'll download it and see what it's like. 😊
Welcome to my hometown, Beijing! Your video brought me to tears-it’s heartwarming to see how foreigners showcase the true essence of China to the world. Wishing you an amazing time in China!Ashley you have the most beautiful smile! 😊 Kat from NZ
Thank you, Kat! Your hometown is absolutely incredible, and we’re so glad our video resonated with you-it means the world to us. Ashley is smiling even bigger after reading your sweet comment! 😊
wow ,have a nice trip in China ,welcome❤❤❤
Thank you so much! 🥰🥰🥰
Just came your charming videos. You are a lovely couple! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures! 👍
On XLB, you put a tiny bit of ginger in your spoon, dip the XLB in the vinegar and place it in the spoon. Then bite off the top knot. This will allow the steam to rise . When the XLB has cooled down sufficiently, slide everything into your mouth. This way you get to taste everything: the wrap, the inner filling and, of course, the savory soup all in one bite. You can have as much or as little of the vinegar as it is used to cut the richness of the XLB.
Finally, IMHO, it’s not that you allowed the XLB to cool down too long, it’s just that Din Tai Fung’s XLB isn’t all that great. Which just goes to show you that the Michelin folks haven’t the faintest idea of what a good XLB should taste like. 😊 I’ve tried Din Tai Fung in Sydney, Australia, London, and here in California and have been disappointed each time. So, it’s not your fault.
Try XLB when you get to Shanghai.
Thanks so much for watching and for the tips! 😊
We are also not typically impressed about Michelin stars. We usually way prefer local experiences over fancy ones. We didn’t know what to expect with this. We just knew we wanted soup dumplings (our comfort food) after a very long travel day, and this is what was recommended by a food blog. To be fair, that blog led us astray and only to westernized places as you’ll see in our next video (not that we didn’t enjoy the food in our next video!) so we need to find a new resource! Though, we did have a lovely experience at Din Tai Fung, the staff was lovely. 😊
Thanks for your suggestion, and we’d love any recommendations of places or things to try on our adventures in China!
Thanks again!
@ You are great travelers!
Of course there are several ways to eat XLB. You could also just put the XLB on your spoon, bite off the top knot and put the ginger on top plus pour sone black vinegar on top. It has to be black vinegar which is somewhat like balsamic vinegar is different from the other vinegars.
The way to judge a XLB is by three things: the skin has to be thin so that it doesn’t take over the entire taste of the XLB, the tastiness of the filling and the tastiness of the soup. Sometimes I’ve found that the skin is thin enough and the soup tastes great but the filling is tasteless. That’s a less than perfect XLB.
Shanghai is where the currently most popular XLB originated. There used to be a place in Old Town Shanghai that was famous for its XLB. The name escapes me for the moment.
XLB has to be distinguished from its cousin, the Tang Bao. “Tang” means soup, so a tang bao has a lot of soup in it. Ideally it should be served with a small straw so that you can sip the soup separately. The size of a tang bao is about 2 to 3 X the size of a XLB.
I can’t recommend particular restaurants to you but suggest that you look at the Chinese food bloggers on TH-cam, such as DAWEN. Another interesting vlogger is “Blondie in China”. She’s also on TH-cam.
Happy dining!
Thanks for sharing real China here Mike and Ashley! Go there and see for yourselves everyone.
Thank you for watching! 🥰
Welcome to China and hope you enjoy your time in China ❤peace
Thank you so much! We are blown away by China, and can't wait to continue exploring all this amazing country has to offer. ✨
thank you for your videos!!! hope more of your countrymen can visit China!!!
Thanks so much! 😊
China is more than just Beijing and Shanghai. If you can, visit other big cities in Central and Western China and as well nature and ancient towns.
We would love to! We have a long list of places we want to visit in China. It's such a vast country with so much to see. We can't wait to explore more. 🥰
I have to praise you that you are so good in using chopsticks 🎉🎉
Btw, there is a better way to consume the Xiao Long Bao while it’s piping hot. Usually we make a small bite hole so the soup will flow out onto the soup spoon, so it won’t be too hot to consume. Also, once you dip the meat & skin into the sauce, it will reduce the temp as well 😊
Thank you! We’ve had some practice. 😊🥢
And that’s a clever way to eat them’ we’ve heard many ways and haven’t decided which is our favorite! 😊
Thanks for the suggestions and for watching our videos!
20:38 It's pickled ginger. It's not put into water to drink. It's an appetizer. Dingtaifeng's steamed stuffed bun is thin in skin, small in size and rich in soup. Besides, the seasoning of the stuffing is appropriate. People in the industry know that when eating Xiaolongbao, you should add a little shredded ginger and a little vinegar, When tasting Xiaolongbao, pour vinegar into a small dish, and then add a little ginger to help digestion. First, bite a small hole, suck up the soup, and then put the shredded ginger dipped in vinegar into the small hole, and eat it together. This is the most perfect way to eat Xiaolongbao
Thanks for the tip! We’ve heard so many ways! It makes eating each dumpling so different and fun! 😋
Beijing metro system is now supporting Visa/Mastercard, u don’t need to buy a ticket on the machine, just directly tap the card and u can enter the gate
Thanks for the tip! We’ll do this on our next visit to China. 🥰
I enjoy watching this video so much. Look forward to your next one❤
We're happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching! 🥰
Thanks for the sharing👍 And welcome to China🎉 20:43 The shred ginger is not for the tea (water). It is used to mix with vinegar as source for the Xiaolongbso… haha😂
Haha, oops! Thank you for watching and for the warm welcome! 🥰
Lovely couple, nice smiles, hope you guys enjoy your time in China ❤
Thank you! We're really excited to explore more of the country. 🥰
You two are a very sweet and kind couple. I really enjoyed watching you explore China for the first time!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're glad you enjoyed the video. ❤️
Thoroughly enjoyed your video and looking forward to the next one! For translation of signs, I've seen other bloggers point their cameras at the sign (?take a photo also), and then use Google Translate to decipher it. Hi from New Zealand.
Thanks for watching! And good point about using our translator - we were so excited about all the 'newness' that we didn't even think about it. 🤣
Welcome to China. I wish you both an exciting adventure, making beautiful memories!
Thank you! We are so excited to explore China and hope to make many more positive memories. ✨
Your smiling faces bring us a happy day❤❤❤
Thank you! 🥰❤️
Welcome home!
Thank you! 🥰🥰🥰
OMG you guys are adorable, I want to friends with you❤and I saw the place I used to work at in your video. Miss my hometown Beijing
Aw, thank you! You can be friends with us! 🥰🫶
Glad we could remind you of home a little bit with our video. 🤗
What a lovely couple, hope you enjoy your trip in China!
Thank you! We're very excited to see more! 😊
Ở Trung Quốc có rất nhiều nơi xinh đẹp ❤
We agree! We can't wait to explore more of China. For now, we're soaking in the beauty of Vietnam. 🥰
welcome to Beijing！thank you for sharing ～
Thank you for watching! ❤️
That ginger is actually for the "sauce plate" where you pour the vinegar in and dip your Xiao Long Bao with that. But very creative of you guys to make ginger tea out of it ;) If you liked your Xiao Long Bao experience I would def recommend you to go to Shanghai, the birth place of that dish where they serve really authentic buns.
Haha, yeah. We realized that later on. 😅 We love Xiao Long Bao and can't wait to go to Shanghai! 🥰
Thank you for the video 🎉❤
Thanks for watching! 🥰
一个帐户通常只能租用一辆自行车，但有很多不同平台的自行车，不同颜色的自行车不是一个公司的，所以你可以选择一个帐户在两个的平台租用自行车
Good to know. Thank you! 🥰
The circular metal sheet on the ground tells you that there are cables underground, so don't dig here, it's dangerous.The characteristic of Beijing is its historical architecture. According to regulations, in order not to destroy the historical sense of Beijing, it is not allowed to build too many high-rise buildings and other structures. If you want to liven up, you need to go to cities like Chengdu and Chongqing.
That's awesome that Beijing has regulations in place to maintain the character of the city. And we would LOVE to visit Chengdu and Chongqing. They may be our next stops. 👀
@@mikeandashley In fact, in the eyes of our Chinese people, Beijing is a food desert, and there are not many delicious foods. I think the southern roast duck is better than the Beijing roast duck, but the Beijing roast duck is very famous. Maybe because of the political center, many foreign guests arrive in Beijing for the first time. You must try southern roast duck, you can't miss it, it's definitely better than Beijing roast duck. You can eat Southern Roast Duck in any city in China. Southern roast duck has braised sauce, while Beijing roast duck does not have braised sauce.
Interesting! We're excited to try it. Thanks for letting us know. 😊
beijing is one of the hardest cities for first time visitors to china. lots of major attractions in the city center means tons of tourists and lots of government buildings around the same area means tons of security checks. if you are patient then it's no big deal but I can see how it can be annoying for many western tourists. beijing is also one of the most expensive cities in china 😅. you can get away with $50 a day easily in most other cities but not beijing/shanghai. while there's plenty of good public transport in most chinese cities, one of the best ways to get around and see things in the process is using those share bikes. each of you just need tone of the apps installed on your own phones. also pollution in beijing can be bad during certain months. it's kind of in a valley surrounded by mountains so sandstorms from the north can push pollution in and it just gets trapped there somewhat like in california costal valleys. outside in smaller towns, people still use coal for heat during the winter so that also contributes. chinese culture is all about balance especially so with nature but china was very poor just 30+ years ago so sacrifices had to be made in its development. they are trying to clean things up in the past decade.
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and for watching our video! We really appreciate the thoughtful context you’ve added-it helps us understand and appreciate Beijing even more. 😊
Truly wonderful people, when you guys venture out of Asia and come see Eastern Europe let us know!
Aw, thanks guys! 🫶🫶🫶 You are amazing too! We absolutely will! Hopefully we can head that way after the cold leaves and we can enjoy the beautiful spring/summer and escape the heat of SEA! 😅😂