We are Jasper and Barbara. This website is out little window on the world and the countries we have visited. The unpretentious café where we had lunch, antique shops, a cute dog, beautifully tiled floors. Small things that are generally thought to be commonplace.
A mountainscape is where we find our inner peace and a city with brutalist architecture, book shops and a foodmarket is where we come alive again.
about us
4 weeks
09.02.2025 ---- 10.03.2025
THE IDEA OF travelling along the Silk Road has been sitting in our minds for quite some time. China’s visa exemption cleared the last (financial) hurdle.
More than any other country China has surprised us. Even though every sight we visited is disneyfied and commercialised, the country has infinite beautiful places, much better food than Chinese restaurants we know and lovely people.
A little less enjoyable, but just as surprising was all the smoking. Still not sure if the ‘No Smoking’-signs in train carriages mean the same thing in China as in the rest of the world. Even with all these clouds of second hand smoke hanging around our head, our journey along the Silk Road couldn’t have started better.
china
5 days
Beijing
4 days
Shanghai
2 days
Suzhou
3 days
Yangshuo
2 days
Xi'an
3 days
Dunhuang
4 days
Turpan + Ürümqi
3 days
Kashgar
itinerary
01
Capital
Beijing
02
Population
1.411 billion
03
Location
East Asia
04
Area
10 million km²
highlights
Mingsha mountain in Dun Huang
Although the Chinese like to turn their sights into theme parks, it is still really spectacular to see the huge sand dunes pop up in the distance.
Cycling between the karst mountains
The seemingly never-ending karst mountains in Yangshuo are the backdrop of many beautiful stories and with good reason. Well-constructed cycle paths lead you away from motorised traffic and alongside the beautiful Yulong River. You truly find yourself in a fairy tale.
Great Wall at Mutianyu
A slight miscalculation in time meant we had to rush to get to the wall before closing. A stroke of luck as it turned out, as there was really no one to be seen on the wall and sun was just setting. Truly breathtaking, although that could also be due to our rushing.
Qipao shopping at South Bund Fabric Market
You better know what you want because you will not get the time to find out on the spot. If the shopkeeper feels too pushy do go to another shop because they usually all have the same fabrics and skills available.
While I was really happy with the quality of the qipaos, the seams of the chiffon skirts were very sloppy.
food
In general
Glazed eggplants
Lotusroots
Peking duck
Porc, sweet pepper and yuba
Xi'an / Shaanxi
Biangbiang noodles: Thick noodles
Rou Jia Mo: a Chinese hamburger. Essentially this is a braised pork belly bun
Liang Pi: a cold noodle dish that is chewy, slippery, and incredibly flavorful.
Pao Mo: a bread soup with lamb, thin vermicelli noodles, and veggies.
Hot and Sour Lamb Dumplings
Luzhi liangfen: rice jelly noodles with chili oil and mustard
Xiaosurou: thick lamb stew
Fenzhengrou steamed beef with rice flour: steamed beef with chunks of rice flour with some spices served with a soft bun
Dunhuang
Donkey with yellow noodles
Lamb with thick noodles
Cold sour noodles
Meat sandwich
Xinjiang
Samsa: crispy pastries stuffed with lamb meat
Laghman: hand pulled noodles. We had the most delicious bowl at Mr. Bayi in Turpan
Naan: huge flat breads
Fresh fruits: the region is known for it's grapes and melons
Dried fruits: Turpan has the best raisins
architecture
Beijing
Red-brick Art Gallery 红砖美术馆
UCCA Center for Contemporary Art 尤伦斯当代艺术中心
Shanghai
1933 Old Millfun
Rockbund Art Museum
Henderson cifi tiandi
Tian'an Sunshine Plaza
Pocket Plaza
Shanghai Library Xujiahui
Long museum
Shanghai Soap Co., LTD
Suzhou
Suzhou museum
analog
