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From Peking duck to scorpion skewers, China’s food culture is incredibly diverse. 🇨🇳🍜🦂

The food wasn’t really my cup of tea. It was fresh, but as a foodie, the flavors didn’t quite land for me. Sometimes I wasn’t even sure what meat I was eating. We noticed a huge difference in quality when spending more, and there are many delicacies that the rest of the world doesn’t typically eat. It feels like a very different food culture overall.

Which dish gets your yes—or your no? 👀

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Travel tips for China 🇨🇳

• Install WeChat + Alipay before you go. You basically can’t get by without them. Most foreign cards don’t work directly, but you can link them and pay via QR codes.

• Maps: Apple Maps (iPhone) works surprisingly well. On Android, use Amap. Google Maps isn’t reliable.

• Use DiDi (Chinese Uber) + Trip.com for trains and bookings.

• Install a VPN before arrival if you need Google, Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. Otherwise, some Western apps and websites won’t work.

• Phones: iPhones worked best overall for us. Make sure yours is unlocked (roaming, eSIM, or local SIM). Many Android users we met mentioned having issues.

Toilets: carry tissues and sanitizer. Many public restrooms don’t provide toilet paper ( or it’s not in the stall) and squat toilets are common. Some older ones can be... interesting 😅 You may also come across stalls that aren’t fully enclosed, have large gaps, or even missing doors, especially in older public toilets or rural areas.

Most people don’t speak English (I say English because it’s the language most travelers tend to use, regardless of where they’re from), but they were incredibly helpful. People were always ready with translators and often went out of their way to assist us🤍

China felt very safe, even late at night in big cities. We walked around in the wee hours on empty streets without any problems. Modern areas were very clean, older or rural areas less so.

Overall, China surprised me in a good way and I would definitely want to go back to explore more.
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#chinatravel #chinafood #foodadventure #foodietravel #chinatraveltips taken in China by @bacimkd

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4 months ago

Zhujiajiao is a water town on the outskirts of Shanghai, about 1–1.5 hours away by metro.

This ancient town has 36 stone bridges and numerous rivers, and is often referred to as the “Venice of Shanghai.” I wouldn’t quite call it Venice though. It feels more comparable to Xochimilco, CDMX, in terms of a local, boat-centric experience with traditional shops and food vendors. It sits somewhere between the two, but it’s really its own thing.

Zhujiajiao offers picturesque canals, Ming and Qing Dynasty architecture, and iconic arched bridges such as the famous Fangsheng Bridge. For someone who has already visited other water towns, it’s usually less of a must-see for the canals themselves and more worthwhile if you’re specifically interested in traditional Chinese towns and culture.

I enjoyed the architecture and the cat and dog cafés. Adorable😍There are also some nice tea houses worth checking out.
The town is good option for rest day.
But if you don’t have much time and you’ve already been in other similar places like the ones mentioned above, no FOMO. Skip it and use the time for exploring something else.
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#zhujiajiao #travelchina #watertown #explorechina #chinatravelguide taken in Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town by @bacimkd

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4 months ago

A few minutes after I set foot in Shanghai, I already liked the city🤩 Totally different vibe from Beijing.

There’s so much to do and see. Whether you’re shopping on Nanjing Road, exploring Yu Garden and Yuyuan Bazaar, strolling through the French Concession with its colonial architecture and historic houses, or getting lost in the alleys of Tianzifang, you’ll enjoy it.

From the rooftops overlooking The Bund, you get a spectacular view that splits Shanghai’s past and future right down the middle: futuristic Pudong on one side, historic buildings on the other, with the Huangpu River flowing below.

Nightlife is good too, definitely livelier than Beijing. If you want a more laid-back evening, Tianzifang is perfect for checking out local art studios, souvenir shops, and grabbing a drink. Best enjoyed in the early evening. Loved it!

Shanghai is also the birthplace of Chinese jazz. Some rooftops play Chinese jazz in the background, while others have live pianists or bands. During the 1920s and 1930s, the city was known as the “Paris of the East,” where Western swing blended with traditional Chinese melodies to create shidaiqu — the original Chinese jazz sound.

Shanghai is also an excellent base for exploring East China, with plenty of easy day trips. Transportation is world-class, Didi works like Uber, and getting around is super convenient.
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#shanghaitravel #yugarden #thebund #frenchconcession
#chinatravel taken in Shanghai. China by @bacimkd

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4 months ago

Beijing has been China’s political center for over 800 years, so history is everywhere. There is a lot to see here: the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, the Summer Palace…

It’s a massive city with over 22 million people, but it didn’t feel like the typical crowded mega-city because it spreads outward with huge open spaces instead of endless skyscrapers.

Due to its massive population, China has the largest domestic tourism market in the world, and Beijing was packed with local tourists. So many girls were taking pictures dressed in a traditional attire. The all looked lovely😍
We got asked for photos a lot 😅 Around the Forbidden City some people followed us around with cameras, but it felt more like curiosity than anything uncomfortable. They kept their distance, and it was way less intense than Egypt where we got swarmed for photos.

The Forbidden City is one of the most visited sites. It housed 24 emperors over 500 years and was built entirely out of wood without a single metal nail. Fun fact: it was designed with exactly 9,999.5 rooms because the number 9 symbolized supreme imperial power, while only heaven could have 10,000 🤯

This was the first time I noticed so many tall Chinese people. I know northern Chinese are generally taller, but I hadn’t really seen it elsewhere while traveling before I stepped in Beijing.

Nightlife felt pretty laidback and more table culture than actual partying. Not popping.
The food was much more savory than Shanghai cuisine, which I found to be pretty sweet. Btw, the Peking duck lives up to the hype 👌
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#BeijingDiaries #ForbiddenCity #WanderChina #TravelAsia #visitbeijing taken in Beijing, China by @bacimkd

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5 months ago

Scaling the Great Wall 🇨🇳

“ He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man.”- Mao Zedong.
So I had to do it 😉

The Great Wall of China is a masterpiece. It represents thousands of years of imperial history and the literal sweat and blood of millions of workers.

You can access it from many points.
Beijing is the main hub, but also Hebei and Shanxi. Jinshanling is called the most beautiful and picturesque, while Jiankou and Gubeikou are more raw and undeveloped. Hushan (Tiger Mountain) even lets you see North Korean farmland and guards.

Badaling is the busiest and easiest to reach (about 30 min by train from Beijing) mostly packed with local tourists.
We chose Mutianyu because we were already in Beijing + we wanted to do the tobogan slide.
It was pretty crowded between towers 14–20 (as you can see from the videos) and I can only imagine how wild Badaling gets 😬 We were told that the day we went it wasn’t that busy🤔
The last stretch is steep, but even families with kids made it 👏

Btw, there are small shops and individual vendors stationed on the wall, selling water, snacks and even 🍺

💡 Best route at Mutianyu: take the cable car to tower 14, walk fast to tower 20 to lose the crowds and take photos on the way back when it’s quieter. Continue down to tower 1 (those lower sections were almost empty and way more enjoyable). Then head back to tower 6 for the toboggan. There is a line, but totally worth it! 💯
That was cherry on the top of already great day👌
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#greatwallofchina #mutianyu #travelchina #beijing🇨🇳 #wondersoftheworld taken in The Great Wall of China by @bacimkd

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5 months ago

A tranquil escape from Hong Kong🌿

Most people think Hong Kong is just skyscrapers, but did you know it has 250 islands?
Many of which are uninhabited.

Lantau Island is the biggest, perfect for swapping city life for beaches, hikes, and mountain views.

Catch the Big Buddha via Ngong Ping 360 cable car for 360° views of mountains and turquoise waters (Pro tip: skip it if it’s foggy, save some money and take the bus instead!). From Ngong Ping Village, it’s 268 steps to the Buddha and Po Lin Monastery.

Hiking? Try the Wisdom Path for a gentle stroll. It’s a small trail lined with wooden pillars carved with verses from the Heart Sutra, and the path forms figure eight which represents infinity.
If you actually want to hike go for Lantau Peak, Nei Lak Shan, or the Lantau Trail.

Stopped by Tai O, a fishing village on stilts built by the Tanka people. It was scenic but honestly... just okay. No FOMO if you skip it.
Tasted a lot there, but only the deep-fried egg donuts (crispy outside, fluffy inside) were totally worth seconds.

My take: See the Big Buddha, do some hikes, and go to some of the Lantau beaches ( some of the best in Hong Kong).
Everything else can wait.
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#lantauisland #tiantanbuddha #ngongping #taiofishingvillage #hongkongtrip taken in Lantau Island by @bacimkd

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7 months ago

A Concrete Jungle 🌆

Hong Kong has the highest number of skyscrapers in the world, and it’s also considered the most vertical city in the world. Space is so limited that around 200,000 people still live in subdivided units, including tiny “coffin” or “cage” homes as small as 16–18 sq ft. Imagine living, eating, and sleeping all in the same tiny bed space😬

Public space is scarce too. On Sundays, thousands of foreign domestic workers transform sidewalks into picnic spots. At first, I thought it was a protest or homelessness situation, but locals explained that many workers live with their employers, and their one day off is about gathering with friends, speaking their own language, sharing food and claiming a little space for themselves.

Nightlife has very Western vibes. The word on the street is that locals are polite, but reserved, however we met many locals at LKF, they were mingling and they were friendly🤝Staff in the clubs and bars was very welcoming. Cool rooftops and clubs everywhere🎉
The highest rooftop bar in the world, Ozone, is here, and the views are 🤩👌
Hong Kong Island (Central or Causeway Bay, near the MTR) and Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side are the best areas to stay as a tourist.

The street food was better than mainland China in my opinion. You have to eat dim sum while you’re in Hong Kong😋Public transport is clean, easy to navigate and super efficient. And honestly, Hong Kong feels very safe. Just basic pickpocket awareness in crowded areas like anywhere else. Otherwise, you can walk around anywhere and anytime, day or night, and feel completely fine.

The sky was pretty hazy when we visited, not sure if it was pollution or just the weather.

Note: From my experience so far I have to note that Hong Kong has one of quickest customs and immigration clearance🚀 We were done in less than 15 min on arrival and departure too.
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#victoriapeak #hongkongtrip #hongkongtravel #hongkong #chinatrip taken in Hong Kong by @bacimkd

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8 months ago

Thanksgiving isn’t even here quite yet, but Christmas is already calling ✨🎄
What started as a casual no-makeup, no-plans walk turned into a magical stroll through the Christmas market and fully decked-out bars. I didn’t plan to post, but the décor and vibes were too good not to share. I’m glad there are some more Xmas bars now vs years ago when we only had Frosty’s pop-up. Competition is good.
Let the festive season begin! ❄️❤️
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#thingstodoinchicago #christmasinchicago #christmasbar #chicagoholidays #christmasmarket by @bacimkd

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a year ago

Cold weather = perfect excuse to play indoors again.

I hit the pre-opening of this immersive museum and omg… full adult playground vibes 🤩
Interactive rooms, giant inflatables, lights + sound that make you feel like a kid again. And yes, there’s a bar on-site, so dates/friends can totally keep the drinks flowing 🍸😉
Great for kids + families too, but also such a fun switch-up from the usual bars.

They had a live DJ when I went and it was 🔥 Not sure if that’s always a thing, but every room has its own sound to accompany the visual art.
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#emotionair #balloonmuseum #balloonmuseumchicago #interactivemuseum #chicagoexibits #chicagofun #thingstodoinchicago #funtimes #chicagogrammers #funactivities #kidagain #chicagogram #ilovechicago #explorechicago #immersiveexperience #artinstallation #datenightideas #adultplayground #cityvibe #museumvibes #visualart #choosechicago #cityexplorer #discoverchicago #mychicago #thingstodowithkids #runtotiktok #instaworthy #photospot #viralplaces by @bacimkd

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a year ago

Martinique is definitely a beautiful island. 🌴✨

The south has some of the most beautiful coastal views, hidden coves, and dreamy beaches — Anse des Salines was my fave. It’s about 2 km of white sand, and the walk from Sainte-Anne through the mangroves feels like a secret adventure where you can stumble upon small natural beaches with almost no one around. You can drive directly to the beach, but in that case you’ll miss some very good views.

Most tourists here are French 🇫🇷 while St. Lucia had more English-speaking visitors — and honestly, the vibe felt a bit warmer there. Maybe it’s the language barrier, because most locals in Martinique don’t speak English… so bring your bonjour game 😉I was definitely struggling with my broken French, but I still made it work and had a good experience.
Interestingly, on all the French Caribbean islands I’ve been to (haven’t made it to Guadeloupe yet), I noticed that many French people live and work there, not just visit.

The food? French with a Caribbean twist — tasty, but mainland France wins this one when it comes to cuisine. 🍽️✨

To end the day, Anse du Diamant is a beautiful spot to unwind. The beach is not swimmable , but the views are stunning. Grab a drink with a view of the iconic rock, and visit the nearby Anse Cafard Slave Memorial, a powerful reminder of history.

I’m kinda sore about the photos I lost though 😩 iCloud did me dirty and didn’t save so many from recent trips. Had to rescue what I could from my stories… but hey, the memories are what truly stay💛📸
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#martinique #ansedessalines #plagedessalines #ansedudiamant #ansecafard #southmartinique #gomartinique #martiniquetourisme #martiniquemagnifique #tropicalvibes🌴 #damestravel #caraïbes #martiniquebeach #sainteanne #frenchantilles #antilles #frenchcaribbean #caraibes #ig_martinique #visitmartinique #discovermartinique #ig_caribbean #caribbeanvacation #caribbeantravel #caribbeanislands #gomartinique #mangrovewalk #caribbeanviews #caribbeanbeach #caribbeandestination #caribbeanescape taken in Martinique, French Caribbean by @bacimkd

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a year ago

~ The iconic St. Henry Church, which is one of Martinique’s most photographed sites~

Les Anses-d’Arlet is a picturesque #village in southwestern #martinique . The area is famous for its diverse beaches, including the long, white-sand beach of Grande Anse (my fave in this area), Petite-Anse, the charming Anse Dufour, and the unique Anse Noire.
The beaches in the south of Martinique have light sand. On the other hand, black lava sand covers the northern beaches.
#ansenoire is covered with black sand of volcanic origin and it is the only black sand beach in the entire south of the island. What a contrast compared with #ansedufour which is only 100m away and has a golden sand.

Public transport is neither comprehensive nor reliable. They have ferries and local buses, but they are not running often and service can stop early in the evening. No uber. Taxis can be expensive and they charge more at night time, on Sundays and public holidays. Hey, you are in the #caribbean so that’s kinda expected💶If you have enough time on the island you can use public transport and hike/ walk, but if you want flexibility it’s better to rent a car for at least few days, unless you are taking tours.

Locals were nice, offering us lifts whenever they saw us walking in areas where most tourists don’t walk. They were probably wondering if we were lost 😃 Yeah, I often tend to wander off the beaten path just because. That being said, I wouldn’t recommend hitchhiking anywhere unless you have no other choice. I don’t think other tourists here would give anyone a ride. Locals would. Just be careful like anywhere else, especially if you are solo traveler. We all have done it at some point, but we all know that there’s a risk involved. We got lift few times in Martinique, but as I said, be cautious and listen to your intuition. The #island is generally safe. We were warned by locals to be careful at night at certain areas in Fort-de-France, but that’s about it.
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#frenchantilles #antillesfrançaises #antilles #lesansesdarlet #gomartinique #discovermartinique #visitmartinique #martiniquetourisme #martiniquebeach #caribbeantravel #caribbeanisland #caraibes #ig_martinique by @bacimkd

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a year ago

The French Antilles (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy and the French side of Saint Martin) are part of France and the EU, use the euro as currency, and share a blend of French and Creole culture, cuisine, and language.

About Martinique: You can get there by flying or if you are at the nearby islands of Guadeloupe, Dominica or St. Lucia just take a ferry. The ferry crossing between St. Lucia and #martinique (1.5 hrs) can be rough, so be ready for potentially bumpy ride🤢⛴️🌊
Martinique has great variety of beaches and lash #rainforests . The #volcanoes and forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons du Carbet are even inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

A day trip to #saintpierre , assuming you won’t be staying in that part of the island, can include Fonds-Saint-Denis, visit to the beautiful Balata garden or the sublime Sacré-Coeur basilica, driving the scenic Route de la Trace, exploring the historic ruins of St. Pierre, visiting a rum distillery like Depaz, and enjoying the black sand beaches, such as Anse Turin or any beach on the way back to Fort-de-France.

We stopped by Cascade du Saut Gendarme. It’s right off the road, easily accessible. There are steps to get to the waterfall and you cross a creek by rocks. Make sure you wear no slippery footwear. Once again, I didn’t wear appropriate attire, but that didn’t stop me🙂I took a dip and even stood under the #waterfall . It’s only 32ft. Plenty of small ones along the road. None very impressive, but the lash forest will make up for it.

Saint-Pierre, also known as the “Little Paris of the West Indies”, was founded in 1635 and it was the capital of Martinique until 1902 when volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée destroyed much of the capital. According to various records, only three inhabitants survived. About 30,000 people lost their lives.
Now it’s very quiet town. If you go for a hike in #mountpelée while there, make sure you check the weather because it can very foggy.

#mornerouge #fondssaintdenis #saintpierremartinique #cascadedusautdugendarme #ig_martinique #caribbeanescape #caribbeantravel #martiniquerainforest #visitmartinique #martiniquewaterfall #caribbeanvolcano #caribbeanisland #caraïbes by @bacimkd

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a year ago