Author Archives: madiebree

Harbin: Eating Our Way Through Zhongyang Street

Today, we are time-traveling back to December of 2022 as I continue to slowly (slowly) catch up on my adventures since moving abroad. After Michael and I both got sick in early December (as did the rest of Shanghai – pandemic restrictions lifted in late November and we had no herd immunity…) and had aContinue reading “Harbin: Eating Our Way Through Zhongyang Street”

Midnight in Shanghai: The Paris of the East

When you’re young, there are some things you just take for granted, you assume are no-brainers. You don’t yet understand the way that life twists and turns and throws your no-brainers off in ways you never could have anticipated. I never, ever, ever could have imagined a world where I would not be present atContinue reading “Midnight in Shanghai: The Paris of the East”

Ningxia: Into the Desert

As we continued on our end-of-summer adventure through Ningxia (click HERE to read Part 1!) our next stop would have us once again hopping back and forth throughout time as we learned about the incredible depth of history in this area of China. (Seriously, there’s just SO MUCH.) We prepared for another hot day outsideContinue reading “Ningxia: Into the Desert”

Ningxia: The Lost Xixia Dynasty

After heading back to Shanghai from Hainan (we’re time traveling back to August of 2022 for this post as I continue to work towards catching up!), we assumed our holiday travels were done for the summer as restrictions and limitations due to the pandemic were still pretty prevalent. But then, with a few weeks leftContinue reading “Ningxia: The Lost Xixia Dynasty”

Summertime in Sanya 2: Return Visit

Hello again! It has been… a while. Unsurprisingly, I have once again fallen rather behind in keeping this blog updated with my travels and adventures while living abroad. (Turns out having a time-consuming job and chaotic brain chemicals will do that to you.) I’ve not posted in over a year, and am two years behindContinue reading “Summertime in Sanya 2: Return Visit”

Yangshuo, From Below

(To no one’s surprise, it’s been nearly two months since I’ve last posted and I am approximately 10 months and 20+ blogs behind schedule. Thank you for your patience and I promise I have so many amazing things to share with you, it’ll just take me a while to get them all out there! Also,Continue reading “Yangshuo, From Below”

Yangshuo, From Above

(Click here to read the first part of this trip!) After our first few days in Guilin, we couldn’t imagine finding anywhere more beautiful. And yet, as is a common saying here in China, Guilin may be the most beautiful natural scenery in the world, but Yangshuo is the most beautiful part of Guilin. SoContinue reading “Yangshuo, From Above”

Guilin: By Water, By Mountains, Most Lovely

After a 65-day lockdown that took our spring away from us, my boyfriend and I were very anxious to get out of Shanghai and do some traveling over the summer. As you can probably assume, if you have not yet witnessed the madness yourself, I am the master of hypothetical itineraries. Before Lockdown (B.L.?), IContinue reading “Guilin: By Water, By Mountains, Most Lovely”

Xishuangbanna Pt. III: A Cuppa Pu-erh with the Great Stone Dragon(s)

(To read the first part of my trip to Xishuangbanna, click here! To read part two, click here!) If there’s one thing I’ve learned about traveling, especially traveling in China, and ESPECIALLY especially traveling in China during a pandemic, it is this: you have to be flexible. You have to bounce. If your plans comeContinue reading “Xishuangbanna Pt. III: A Cuppa Pu-erh with the Great Stone Dragon(s)”