I am still not completely confident that this trip happened. It was so unreal. Sometimes I can go a full week without thinking about the two months I spent here, and then at other times, vivid moments will randomly appear. China was a crazy good experience, and I wanted to share some of my favorite moments with you.

Jet lag who? No time for her when you climb the Great Wall, right after you get off a flight. Everyone should climb it at least once in their lifetime. I will never exercise again, and stairs permanently scare me.

Summer Palace in Beijing. If you are lucky you can ride on a dragon boat, watch a typographer draw hanzi characters with water on the sidewalk, and get a portrait done in ink on a ceramic plate. And did I mention there is a giant marble ship here to… — Summer Palace in Beijing. If you are lucky you can ride on a dragon boat, watch a typographer draw hanzi characters with water on the sidewalk, and get a portrait done in ink on a ceramic plate. And did I mention there is a giant marble ship here too?

Outside of Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square, also in Beijing. Almost everyday we saw wedding photo shoots, both traditional (like the ones above), or Western style mostly at beaches!).

A World Heritage site- Temple of Heaven in Beijing ( I saw a monk here)

Prayers tied to trees, sprinkled all over at Thousand Buddha Mtn in Jinan, China

The amount of foliage and vegetation continued to amaze me throughout the trip!

On the Manor of Confucius in Qufu, China

Courtyard of the Manor. Many students still come and pray before testing, and applying for schools.

On the burial ground of Confucius and his family cemetery.

The opposite view is the water and shopping stalls!

Italy? no, still Qingdao. Although sometimes called “Little Europe”.

Farm fresh lunch! (I had my first and last fish eye here).

A view from atop a bridge in Laoshan Mountain in Qingdao. The water here is from a natural spring and is known for medicinal properties (or so it goes).

I probably drunk more tea on this mountain than anywhere else in China.

There were lots of poems and characters carved all over in Laoshan.

TsingTao Beer Museum! What Qingdao is known for, thanks to German Occupation in the early 1900’s- you can buy it in the states!

the bane of my existence in China. Tea and also matcha ice cream — the bane of my existence in China.

Views from a rotating tower in Qingdao, pt1

In Beijing, I climbed the Great Wall, visited the Temple of Heaven in the rain, and learned the importance of moving swiftly.

In Jinan, I climbed mountains with Buddhas and tied a red wish to a tree.

In Qufu, I slept under the spirit of Confucius.

In Zibo, I learned that smiling isn't a sign of weakness.

By the time I got to Qingdao, I was eating fish eyes and crossing the street like a local.

I have never drunk so much tea in my life and I am filled to the brim with matcha ice cream. China, you've left me speechless, and yet I am armed with so many stories to take back.

So, if you ever get the chance, I challenge you: live somewhere in the world for two months. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Eat a fisheye or two. Watch all the sunsets you can. Walk through a tropical storm and become friends with the lady who makes your favorite sandwich. Let someone call you beautiful and believe them when they say it. Kiss a stranger on the mouth and dip your feet in freezing cold water. And when it's all over? Tell me if it was worth it.

Potential packing guide?

tips for traveling through China?

Cool Places to eat/shop/live?

Let me know for a future informative post?

On China

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