I NEVER imagined that China would be the place where I could triumph over my vertigo.
Glass bridges, glass elevators, and mountain zip lines added to my experience with Wendy Wu Tours.
Irish passport holders can now travel to China without a visa and I was lucky enough to delight in how amazing Wendy makes a trip.
He started as an agent and now, 25 years later, he has built an award-winning empire, specializing in Asia.
Arriving in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province in central China, tallest skyscrapers stretched across the city.
The people at the Meixi Lake Hotel welcomed us with the warmest smiles, Chinese tea and a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
It’s a glorious welcome before we start our tour with a stop to see a 2000-year-old “Lady Xin Zhui” mummy at the Hunan Museum.
She is the wife of the Chancellor of the Kingdom of Changsha and is believed to have died in 168 BC.
It wasn’t until 1971 that his tomb was discovered containing his well-preserved remains and 1,400 objects.
Then, at a completely different pace, we went to dinner at an old-fashioned 90’s hotel, Wenheyou restaurant, a delight I’ll never forget.
The complex is complete with street stalls, restaurants, shops and a cable car.
The plates of food so as never to prevent it from reaching our table.
We ate crabs, highly spiced beans, tomatoes with sugar, and gelatin soup, among others.
For foodies who like to try spicy things, this is the ideal city to do so.
From “stinky tofu” to highly spiced crabs, there’s plenty to try.
Nicknamed “Star City,” Changsa is a magical place that will never cease to amaze you.
We enjoy the perspectives during a dinner cruise on Orange Island on the Xiang Jiang River.
As we sailed along the world’s longest river island, all the skyscrapers began to dim.
LED luminaires danced in the skyscrapers with bright colors.
A band led as we had a drink and admired the twinkling lights and beautiful scenery.
Another must-see is the Yue Lu Academy, a prestigious institution that is more than 1,000 years old.
Ranked as the third oldest functioning university in the world, it sits on charming grounds with intriguing Asian architecture.
I enjoyed walking down Pozi Street with its bustling street vendors, its motorbikes with their horns and their smells.
Our adventure continued with a high-speed exercise to the “Avatar Mountains” of surreal Zhangjiajie.
Located in the northwest of Hunan Province, it is one of the first World Natural Heritage sites in China.
Little did I know before I set out on this that Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (and with the help of Wendy Wu) was the place where I was going to overcome my preoccupation with heights.
Being surrounded by more than 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars, he sought to live every moment.
I went from tiptoeing down a glass walkway on the first day to ziplining through the mountains at the end.
Our adventure began with a ride in the world’s tallest glass elevator, the Bailong Elevator.
The glass box took us in 88 seconds 326 meters to the breathtaking perspectives of the mountains.
Being surrounded by more than 3,000 Zhangjiajie quartzite sandstone pillars, you feel like you’re on another planet.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the park offers countless sites to explore.
With so many outdoor activities on our agenda in Zhangjiajie, I felt like I was in an herbal theme park.
The next day, we enjoyed a cruise on Baofeng Lake, southeast of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
As we sailed along the mountain slopes of Wulingyuan Scenic Area, we were serenaded by folk songs by by boat.
On the third day our center pumped with a 7,455-meter cable car ride up Tianmen Mountain.
Known as the world’s highest mountain cable car, I felt like I was the most sensible thing in the world.
Then, it was time to take the glass walkway of Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain, at 1,430 meters above sea level, at the highest altitude.
I’m very happy to see that there is a small protrusion on the side to breathe.
Little did she know that the next day she would walk across the world’s tallest glass bridge, in the Grand Canyon of Zhangjiajie.
My preoccupation with heights won out for good, as I lay on the glass with the valley below.
Although the world’s highest bungee jump at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon wasn’t on my list, I survived a thrilling 300-meter zipline through the valley.
After all those adrenaline adventures, I made the decision to buy groceries on Zhangjiajie’s main street.
I was surprised to notice a bustling downtown with vendors in the market, lively shops, and lively restaurants, all lively at 9 p. m.
We were treated to some fabulous exhibits, the charming Xiangxi Acrobatic Theater, and the Disney-style Tianmen Fox fairy display that takes place in the mountains.
One of the best places to stop in for the evening is this upscale, 72-story hotel that features a variety of restaurants, gift shops, and theater shows.
Zhangjiajie brought more food options, adding salamander, more fish, and boneless red meat legs.
Changsa and Zhangjiajie are popular with Chinese tourists, and it’s no surprise that Wendy Wu puts them on the map for Western tourists.
Since March this year, Irish passport holders can enter China without a visa if the period does not exceed 15 days.
“Gems of China” by Wendy Wu Tours is a 16-day trip through China’s most iconic sites, priced at €4,724 per year.
The “Natural Treasures of China” of the 15-day Wendy Wu Tour showcase China’s natural wonders and cultural highlights, priced at €5,375 according to the manufacturer.
© Imaginechina/Corbis
Wendy Wu Tours’ ‘Gems of China’ tour is a comprehensive 16-day adventure through China’s most iconic sites, priced at £3,990 (€4,724) according to Whitson.
The itinerary includes Beijing, where you can stop at Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall. In Alexian, explore the Terracotta Warriors and the bustling Muslim Quarter. A cruise on the Yangtze River through the Three Gorges offers amazing scenery. The tour continues to Chengdu to see the giant pandas and ends in Zhangjiajie National Park, known for its remarkable sandstone pillars. The tour also includes a Tang Dynasty exhibit, an acrobatic display in Shanghai, and cultural experiences.
The package includes flights abroad, 14 nights in 4-star accommodation, daily meals, guided excursions, entry fees and visa fees for UK passport holders. This tour is designed to offer a combination of China’s historical, cultural, and herbal highlights. ensuring you have a whole experience.
For more details, www. wendywutours. co. uk
www. wendywutours. co. uk
Embark on an engaging 15-day ‘Natural Treasures of China’ tour with Wendy Wu Tours, for £4540 (€5375) according to her son.
This showcases China’s herbal wonders and cultural highlights. Explore the sapphire lakes and verdant forests of the Valley of the Nine Villages, the stunning scenery of Black Mountain, and the surreal Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, known for its towering sandstone pillars. who animated the movie “Avatar”. See Chengdu’s adorable giant pandas, walk the ancient streets of Fenghuang, and appreciate the intricate rock carvings of Dazu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Your adventure begins in Beijing, where you’ll observe a colorful mix of ancient and modern attractions. From there, travel to Chengdu, home to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, before venturing into the picturesque landscapes of Jiuzhaigou Valley and the Huanglong Scenic Area, known for its colorful pools, waterfalls, and lush forests.
The tour also includes a trip to Zhangjiajie, known for its stunning karst formations and glass bridge, which offers striking perspectives of the surrounding landscape. Explore the captivating ancient city of Fenghuang, with its well-preserved architecture and rich cultural heritage. Finally, marvel at the Dazu Rock Carvings, a series of Chinese sculptures and devout carvings dating back to the ninth century.
The package includes overseas flights, thirteen nights in 4-star accommodation, maximum meals, guided excursions, front fares and visa fees for UK passport holders. This carefully curated tour ensures an elegant and rewarding experience, combining herbal looks with cultural immersion.
For more details, www. wendywutours. co. uk
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