Summer Palace in Winter

Friday 17th November

The hostel is still lovely, heating in the rooms which is great – apparently it only came on the other day – the government regulate it so its a good job i didn’t come any earlier.

Today I ventured out to the Summer Palace. I bused it for 4yuan each way – thats about 24p – the price of what I paid for a bottle of water – and paid more for a cup of tea believe it or not! Still prices are so low.

Summer palace was stunning – its huge. I had read somewhere that it would take a good 2 hours on public transport but I thought I would try it as I could have got a taxi back. It only took an hour in the end and I got a seat. The summer palace is an archetypal Chinese garden, Kunming lake is so surreal, it was hazy with the sun shining through a little which put a real mystical vibe onto the lake. Some three or four hours later I headed back on the bus again, which this time only took just over half an hour and was half empty.

Handy tip for this trip, keep your outward ticket as then you can show it to the bus conductor on the way back no you dont get a free ride but it means that you are charged the same, as its difficult to say where you are staying to a bus conductor. So cost me 8y overall to get there and back – that’s about 50p.

Tomorrow I am off trecking on the great wall – waahhhh!