Backpacking Route Info – China from Shanghai to Vietnam

Usually when backpacking I would have a general idea on point of entry and exit. This is actually a requirement and whenever I hear backpackers tell me that they just follow the wind and change their plans as the go along and had no particular idea of where they were heading in general, I would internally call their bullshit.

Of course one can follow the wind and change their plans along the way and somehow detour to a new location or even a new country but the reason why I say that a general idea is always there is due to the fact we live in a sagregated world divided, by borders and Visa.

So the moment I enter a country, a clock will start ticking where I need to leave the country by xx days. Hence I usually have a general idea on point of entry and exit. Comprende ? This time round was no different, enter China via Shanghai (Flight) and exit via land to either Vietnam or maybe Laos. Vietnam was prefered as I would be able to continue travels by renting a motorbike.

I wont go through the iterations of the route that went through many micro changes along the way since its irrelevant, a route not taken was not taken anyway.

The route I took was ...

Shanghai (Entry) -> Suzhou -> Hefei -> Wuhan -> Yi Chang -> Zhangjiajie -> Fenghuang -> Hengyang -> Nanyue -> Guilin -> Yangshuo -> Xingpeng -> Guangzhou -> Hong Kong (Visa Run) -> Zhuhai -> Hailin Island -> Zhanjiang -> Beihai -> Dongxing (exit) -> Mong Cai (Vietnam)

Leg 1 of Backpacking China - Shanghai to Hong Kong

Leg 2 of Backpacking China - Hong Kong to Vietnam 

Shanghai
I dont think I need to introduce Shanghai. Its famous enaugh and a easy entry point for china to start. I choosed to start in Shanghai for a few reasons unrelated to tourism but more due to route planning and timeframe concern.

Planning wise, it was the cheap flight where other than Guangzhou or Shenzhen, every where else along the coast from Shenzhen to Shanghai would cost me the same as a direct flight to Shanghai. I did contemplate flying to Guangzhou but then the distance to make any sort of route loop would cost more on timeframe hence it was more economical to start in Shanghai.

Timeframe for Shanghai to Vietnam was more bearable. There was option of a few long distance bullet train but also gives enaugh time for a few small towns exploration. Generally a 1 month timeframe means to me if I were to spend an average of 3 nights in a place, I could only go at most 10 places. Someplace could be shorter granted but then some places could also be longer.

Shanghai turn out to be a great Icebreaker to China backpacking for me.

Suzhou
Easily my favarite cities in China for this trip. I cant imagine anyone skipping Suzhou if you are in the vicinity really. Great food, vibrant city, a tinge of touristic things to do in every corner and a subtle blend of all kinds of trades in every turn. I should have stayed here a week, but it was the start of my backpacking journey hence I hesitantly only extended one more night.

Hefei ... Strikeout
Hefei was a failed mission. I bullet train there from Suzhou, but never stayed and hopped back on the train to Wuhan ....

Wuhan
Young People everywhere in Wuhan. A metropolitan not easily explored really and one that I feel a hidden gem unknown to international tourist even now. I met a few people along the way in China that had plans to visit Wuhan for it is known for the origin of Covid-19. Wrong reason to visit Wuhan really for it has so much more to offer in terms of tourism.

Yi Chang
To visit the Three Gorge Dam. Thats all mostly but the city/town is big enaugh to get lost exploring for at least 2 nights. Supprisingly the locals ignores the tourist or rather the tourist usually dont bother with exploring Yi Chang and mostly hop to the Dam and run away.

Zhangjiajie
The highlight of this backpacking trip really. When I planned the route this was the key waypoint in deriving all alternate routes. If you are in the region and you missed Zhangjiajie, you should be ashame of yourself. Pure Raw nature work of art.

Fenghuang
Little minority town PACKED with tourist from all over China. Instaworthy and definately worth a visit. The overwhelming abundance of tourist visiting the place makes it a little turn off but try to ignore them and one would realized there is a reason why there are so many tourist in the first place.

Hengyang
En-route to Nanyue, big city yet I have no idea what is there to describe. Its one of those many cities in China where we look on the map and think ah, its not a big city but when you are there suddenly it seams bigger than imagine and with lots of people too.

Nanyue
One of the five sacred mountain in China. If one would like to see Taoist monk, not buddist but Taoist monk and culture, here you go.

Guilin – Yangshuo – Xingping
The famous Guilin of China and actually its a loop of three places. Guilin – Yangshuo – Xingping.

I probabaly dont need to talk about this much but if there is one thing that I missed throught China, it was riding a bike. While they have electric bike for rent through their apps in all the cities in China, I had never managed to unlock the bike with the forigners Alipay account.

Yangshuo however had electric bike for rent from shops and it goes pretty cheap and fast too. Great loop to do within the vicinity with lots of things to see. The loop is about 60km and takes a whole day.

Guangzhou
To be fair, I did not see much of Guangzhou. Hence I cant really paint a proper short description. For some reason, I did however go on a Michilin Star cusine hunt and tried a 2 Star, a 1 Star and a Michilin Honour restaurant. Guangzhou feels a little bit like home, dont remember the city but more of the food. Only a little bit since is only a small part of Malaysian cusine.

Hong Kong
The visa run. I did Hong Kong purely for a Visa run. Dont hate me, but if you have been traveling China like I have, you would skip Hong Kong too. Its just way too expensive.

Zhuhai
Zhuhai was my sacrifical city in China. It was either exit HK to Zhuhai or to Macau. I had a bad feeling for Macau with all the casino around and a lack of touchstone. Dub as the romantic city in China it certainly feel that way with all the couples snugging around.

Hailin Island
The unexpected find was Hailin Island. These days with the internet, travelling has lesser and lesser supprises. So I was entirely thrilled when I found Hailin Island. Heck I did not even know what I would find and just decided to go since there was super cheap accomodation. The transportation to get there was tedious but I was dreaming of cheap accomodation by the beach hence the motivation to go out to Hailin Island where there was no recommendation whatsoever.

Zhanjiang
The forced stay I would say. Forced to stay in Zhanjiang for I could not find a way to get to Hainan Island. Train was sold out for days, bus was expensive and many hours, the ferry was also ambiguous. Hence while trying to get to Hainan, I ended up in Zhanjiang.

Beihai
Sleepytown as China town could get. Dont be fooled by Beihai on the map. Its a big place and totally not walkable at all. I spend the whole day riding electric bike to visit most of the places around and that was from sun-up to sun-set. Yep, the lucky find of a hostel that do private rent electric bikes. ^^

Dongxing / Mong Cai
Purely for border crossing I choosed Dongxing – Mong Cai. Main reason was that I could cross it by walking and not through a tour/long distance bus.

I may have been too worried for those busses where someone takes all the passport and go process it for you out of china and into vietnam and who knows what kinda mishap they will make without a care to the tourist once you are far far away across the border.

Traveled on: Nov-Dec 2023

Flying to Shanghai on a One Way Ticket

For all my travels in so many years, this was my first time ever flying into a country on a one way ticket. Previously most of the round the world trip was on a RTW ticket. So technically I had an outbound ticket albiet from another country through multiple land borders. 

It does however proves that I was having a plan to leave as I have a expensive ticket/plane to catch somewhere in the future. This time however I had nothing. Just a one way ticket to China/Shanghai.

My flight was also the cheapest one I could find. Air Asia with horrible timing where I fly in the evening and reach Shanghai just shy past midnight. Past Midnight ... * Internal Facepalm * but as this was the start start of a long backpacking journey, I figured roughing out the first night should be alright as I was still fresh.

My neighbour seat was a nice young guy from Shanghai which was only 15 years old and somehow studying in Kampar Malaysia. I have no idea how this conversation was working out but he was young, really young considering my age now. 

He kinda hold up the whole burden of the conversation and I just listen and take some of the verbal abuse where some of his ideology went againts my better judgement. I did not bothered to correct him for it would be too much a hassle on my part and in a way listening to his point of view without prejudice was interesting.

Touchdown Shanghai and finally I am starting to feel a bit of the exitement. Its crazy how hard it is for an adventure to be exiting nowadays. First up was the self service kiost finger print recording but somehow mine was not taking and just had to walk all the way to imigration counter and hope for the best. I ask a few fellow Malaysian walking the same way and it was 50/50 where some was ok and some was not so I guess it was not too much of a concern.

Shanghai Airport walking to the Fingerprint Collection Kiosk

Arrival card filling time and I had to tick the no return ticket bought. I was honest, still very nervous and worried what kind of scrutiny I would suffer. Fingerprint did not take again at the immigration counter and they took me to another booth for a higher officer to inspect. 

Sir asked me a question which I translated as what is your surname. Seams like a dumb question since he as holding my passport but when I told him my surname, his face seam contorted which means that was not the question he asked ....

A few seconds after the frown they verified that the visa is valid and viola they stamped me in. No question asked on the missing air ticket out of China. Customs was breeze and I was really begining the journey. One O’Clock at Shanghai Pudong Airport and another 6 hours to kill before the meglev train opens. It was time to find a cosy spot in the airport to snooze.

To the Meglev Station

Traveled on: Dec 2023

Backpacking List to China Nov 2023

I thought it would be a good comparison to do another packing list since it was a long time since I backpacked (2015). This time around I also changed the bag and downsize it to a 35 liters instead of my previous 45 liters deuter backpack. I still have the backpack but these days I just dont want to pay for checked in luggage. 

Link to my old Backpacking List in 2014

I also did not refer to my previous packing list while deciding what to pack for this trip just to have a comparison.

The entirety of my stuff for a Backpacking Trip to China

1. Crumpler Competetive Eater 30 Liters x1

2. North Face Fleace Jacket (Medium) x1

3. Long Pants Jeans x1

4. Long Pants Tactical Cargo x1

5. Long Pants Thermal x1

6. Short Pants x2

7. Long Sleeve Shirt x1

8. Long Sleeve Thermal x1

9. Short Sleeve Shirt x5

10. Underwear x7

11. Socks x4

12. Bandana x1

13. Hat x1

14. Towel x1

15. Laptop x1

16. Water Bottle x1

17. Food Container x1

18. Spare Glasses x1

19. Belt x1

20. Mini Fan cum Power Bank x1

21. Wireless Earphone x1

22. Portable HDD x1

23. Shoes x1

24. Compression Bag x 4

25. Mini sling bag x1 (small enaugh for just wallet, phone and passport)

Interestingly, there was not much different from my initial packing list in 2015. (Link Here)

This time around I did have more electronic gadgets on me and the Food container has become a no brainer to the packing list.

My decision to Backpack China

Mom suffered a minor stroke back in late May 2023 when I was halfway riding up in Thailand on my way to China for a 10 day ride tour to Yading. Video call was hard but mom was strong and in good hands at the hospital. There was not much I could do and knowing the initial danger has passed and only the long recovery phase to come soon, I continue my scheduled tour to China in Jun 2023.

After that was a run back to Singapore, discharge Mom from the hospital and with that, Dad and me to take care of mom while she slowly recover back functions from stroke. The next four months would be a constant chore of cooking, laundry, excersize, physiothery, accupuncture and lazing around at home or at malls. Slowly but surely, mom got better with a steady sight every day having new functions unlocked. One day, somewhere four months later. I somehow lost the kitchen. Mom was cooking again without me.

Me testing out Mom's Wheelchair before discharge from Hospital and contemplating Life

It was this milestone that I felt it was a good time to start planning again. It was in October 2023 and too late to do a ride through China to central asia which has always been the main goal for this gap being unemployed. Hence with a hope to ride in 2024 spring, I had time to burn and also luckily, the second entry Visa into China was still valid till Nov 2023.

China is big, and there was no way I could ride the whole of China on tour as it would cost too much money. Some places like cities are even not worth riding. It was back to the roots then, backpacking solo, but this time way way older than when I first started. China also did not scare me as much anymore, I could speak the languege althou I could not read and with that in mind, I really wanted to venture off the English tourist trail in China.

One month visa for China was still way too little to backpack the entire country, but we live and enjoy what we have. So here I am backpacking China and having a blast.

Traveled on : Nov 2023

Day 10 – Border Crossing from Mohan (China) to Boten (Laos) and Onwards to HuayXai

Day 10 in China, which was basicly a short ride to the border and process exit and re-entry into Laos. We tried to cross the Mengla-Boten border early in the morning and after much goodbyes to Bing and much photo taking it was time.

Last Group Photo before Leaving China

By our good fortune, somehow the immigration system in China was down. Or rather the system that is needed for vehicle to clear is down but the foot traffic was ok.

The three girls riding pillion crossing by foot did not know this and cleared nicely into Laos while all the boys with the bikes was stuck in quarantine zone waiting for the system to be back online. 

The long wait not knowing when the Customs system will be back online

At this point, Some wonder if we would get a free Day 11 in China 

A good 8 hours we waited and slept. Even negotiated with the officer to leave the bike in quarantine while we left the compound to get lunch and tapao for the girls where Bing did a shuttle passing food from the border fence.

The hold up was unfortunate but instead of staying a night at Boten, the crazy captain decided with the rest of the gang to push on riding through the night in Laos all the way to Huay Xai for the night. 

That was one crazy ride without clear light to see the f*cking potholed roads with slopes and ditch barely visible. I was last this time for real. No amount of speeding could I do to catch up. Visibility for me was poor with double glasses fogged up. Rain killed more visibility and cold drench gear made me even more tired and shivering.

Double Rainbow near Luang Namtha just before Sunset

My roomate Sea Pirate and Beno really helped me out once the sun set. They hung back and escorted me lighting up the way with their powerful PIAA lights. I could follow to a point and then Beno went too fast and I had to slow down terribely but Khairul stuck through ...

By the grace of god as the group like to say, we all made it in one peice ... I f*cking cursing under my skin for this was not a forced event but a choice forced upon us. Still a good shower and I let the momment pass just being grateful for the support from Sea Pirate and Beno and that we all arived well and good.

The next days was crossing back into Thailand and I part ways with the rest of the gang riding solo to Chaing Rai to rest up before the journey back to Singapore. I made a beeline down stright from Chaing Rai, but with significant stops to rest each day for I know my body fatigue was already too much built up from 10 days riding in China. The gang somehow ride like they were on steroids all reaching Malaysia way earlier than me.

Traveled on : Jun 2023

From Zhenyuan to Mengla Via Puer and Encountering Police Checkpoint along the way

The last day of riding in China. The solemn ride and in a way there was nothing much to experience in between. The road was the same one that we took going up north on the first day with the highway only on the opposite direction but the pace somehow was easier. Maybe it was the shorter distance from Zhenyuan to Mengla compared to from Jinghong to Kunming. I dunnu , but it was like a passing video clip that seams to go slowly.

Start the ride from Zhenyuan and just before we hit the highway we rode toegther along the country side road with the big bikes. Me, Azu, Jazz and Bing eventually lagged so far behind and had a smoke break when I saw a scene too beautiful to passed up stopping even on a one lane narrow street.

A View too beautiful not to pause and soak in. 

Single File, Roadside Pit Stop

Back on the trail and within no time we caught back up with the whole gang which was held up by the police in a small town. All bikes parked we took a break while Bing went through the procedures with the traffic police. It was a standard check and within moments got the thumbs up and we were ready to go but Bullet asked for a photo with the police which he obliged. We got a few photos with a small group and then others suddenly realized we were taking photos, started running from their bike to join in.

This actually spooked the police and one of them bailed out of the photos saying it would not be appropriatte to take them as we would post them on social media. Hence no group photo with the police ... only partial group photo with one police which confidently kept his mask on while we took photos.

The Happy Group .... All Legal in China

Eventually we split up again riding south to Puer but with little persuasion, I detoured the moped group and two big bikes to Puer downtown for proper lunch instead of sticking it out by the roadside. Simple lunch but a good stop while the crew played with an enthuiastic kid and his granpa. Azu and my plan to buy tea at Puer vanish as Bing told us we could get it anywhere in Yunnan even at Mengla where we were headed so there was no need to hunt a tea shop in Puer.

At the hotel, we arrived with good time for Dinner. While registering at the lobby, Jazz heard some flute melody and walked towards a door which led us to a tea shop right inside the hotel itself. The backdoor was inside the hotel and we stumble upon a local family which the father was playing a bamboo flute.

The mother presented the tea ceremony, while the two daughters who could barely speak english did their best to translate and explain the meaning and rituals. I had a twinkle in my eye the moment they uttered a few words in english and that was my que to shut up and enjoy tea while Azu fumbled to communicate his queries and the girls fumbles to answer.

Azu happy with his Tea Purchase from a Family Tea Shop in Mengla

In a way I did not wan to translate too much, for this was a rare opportunity for Azu to experience and connect with the locals. He knew this too I suspect since he did his best to talk to the girls and not once did he ask me to translate directly. I only intejected when I feel the depth of explanation is impossible for the girls to explain at that stage.

Azu, happy with his purchase of Tea and enjoying the flute performance by the father, I shared the video to the group chat where all the rest were having dinner. Almost immediatly I got a call from Din’s wife. ....

Ed ... buy me two piring of the tea ...

What the hell ... do you know which type of tea you wan ?? or how much the tea cost ??

Nvm she said, just buy two first and she would pay me back later she said .

I could only laugh and told her to have her dinner slowly and I would keep the shop open for her.

I requested the family which was kind enaugh to oblige. When Din’s wife came in, I left the family to do all the translation and demonstration as me and azu had to go for the bikers brifing. Within 20 minutes she came out with a bag of tea and a big smile on her face. I guess the second time was easier for the girls to explain.

That night Bing opened up a Kareoke room for the last night of the trip. Kareoke without alchohol as no one drinks. So weird.

Traveled on: Jun 2023

China Day 8 – Hutiauxia – Nanjian - Zhenyuan

Journey from Hutiauxia to Zhenyuan was uneventful. Wake up, ride and hit the highway going stright to Zhenyuan. We met one local solo rider along the way that was riding a vstrom 250cc as well and he just came back from Tibet. The more I ride in China , the more I keep meeting people on a road trip to Tibet. 

Like the sticker says, MUST GO IN YOUR LIFE !!

We had one planned detour stop today which was at Nanjian soil forest. Interestingly it was the moped suggestion to skip the muslim lunch place and head stright for the soil forest. 

Nanjian

They could eat along the way with the food they brought and me and Bing could eat at any shop nearby since we were not restricted to Halal restaurant.

It was a good plan and a plan that would save us some time since todays journey was nearly 600km. This idea would avoid leaving the highway to find the muslim restaurant and only exit to go for the detour stop at Nanjian Soil Forest. We ended up having no lunch until we reach the soil forest as we did not see any suitable rest stop once we exit the main highway. At the soil forest we catch up with the big bikes gang.

Nanjian Soil Forest 

Nanjian Soil Forest

Solo Climb .... Nanjian Soil Forest ^^

A round of applouse was given as they were there not long and we manage to catch up for the first time on highway roads. The fact was the big bikers went to the muslim restaurant but it was unfortunately closed. So they headed to the soil forest and did a picnic similar to what the moped gang planned. That short 30 minutes that they had to detour to find the restaurant allowed us to catch up.

Me and Bing survived on chocolat bars and nuts while they ate their pre packed lunch which consisted of rice, hard boil egg taken from the hotel breakfast and kicap manis. If I would say, it was not really a meal but more of a survivor touring meal. Not much different than the chocolat bars for me and Bing.

They decided to have their prayers at the rest stop and I proceeded to climb the stairs to see the soil forest. Upon returning they said we could go.

Don’t you wanna go see the soil forest ?? Its just there and only a 5 minute walk up the stairs

Tak pa la ... You take photos already rite ... ?

Looks like everyone of them was tramautize from the Tiger Leaping George stairs climb.

Later when we all gathered at Zhenyoun, what I realized was non of the big bike group also went up to see the soil forest. Everyone made the detour out of the highway just to arrive the soil forest entrance and sat at the rest area eating, resting and moving off ... “ Facepalm “ ....

We reached Zhenyuan and this was a new town even for Bing. New highway, hence a new pitstop else previously the detour to Zhenyuan with old national road would make a long time consuming journey. Zhenyuan by 8pm and I could not reisist the temptation to explore. With some persuasion I dragged my roomate Sea Pirate to look for muslim restaurant.

Everyone else seamed to have dug into their rooms without leaving. I decided to leave Bing out of the hunt, thou I gave him a message to let him know where we were headed. Only 750 meters I told Sea Pirate base on google map directions ... walk ? Taxi ? Ride ? ... I always prefer walk within the 2km distance and so he was persuaded to walk with me. At 750 meters .. there was no such restaurant in sight ....

I had two back up restaurant ... and the second one was another 750 m away making the total journey from hotel 1.5km. Sea Pirate started cursing then, but I persuaded him to carry on. Zhenyuan was a big town proper once we spot some goldsmith shops and departmental store, almost no tourist and beautiful landscape all round the river park. There was even a museum but we were too late to explore other than the natural life of its people in the city center.

Halal Muslim Chinese Restaurant in Zhenyuan

At 1.5km we found a restaurant but I had no way of verifying if it was muslim or not. Snap a photo and send to Bing with a location pin. Bing confirmed it was a muslim restaurant. Chinese word at the signboard says halal which me being a banana cant read. We walking in and I asked if this was a muslim restaurant and they said yes, no beer .

Sea Pirate gave the international greeting of Asalammalaikum and was replied the correct phrase of Malaikum Salam. Ok we made the hunt and now we get to feast ...

Deep Fried Fish with spicy tomato sauce - Omellete with long bean - Stir Fried Sweet Potato Leaves 

Two minuts later while still trying to decide the menu, Bing showed up in taxi ... perfect ... now we have three stomoc power and I could really order the food proper. Fish , omlette and a vegatable ... Sea Pirate was appreciative of the food and for him, the first time eating fish in China ...

Traveled on: Jun 2023

Yading to Hutiaoxia and when we Lost a Fellow Rider

To be honest we did not really think much starting out today for its was the begining of the loop to head back to Laos and back home. The idea that small backyard roads were more scenic and beautiful than the mainroad had already set in.The day before we came from the smallest one, the type that looked beaten and utterly dangerous but with amazing fantasy like scenary.

So today when Bing said we would go through a longer but main road instead of the mountain cliff pass road due to the rainy season and safety concerns of landslide, we all just agreed but did not think much on it.

The day started nice and easy and I lagged behind the crew when I saw a beautiful monastry that was too pictursquare to pass up. Just a few turns ahead I catch up with the moped crew all stopped in the middle of the road as they took pictures of snow capped mountain. Yep we saw snowcapped mountain without paying and it was awesome.

A Monastry Near Yading

It was cold as hell and I was about to stop for a wee and some sneakers bar boosters as my whole body was chattering inside. What we would find out later was that it was nearly 2 degrees and we were so high up, nearly 4500m elevation and thats why we could see the snowcaps.

Riding Along the Snowline

Snowcap Peaks

Snowcap Peaks 

Melting Snow but still .... We Malaysian go so Crazy with Snow .. 

The Last 3 Riders ... the Slowpokes 

Few hundred meter in front and another stop for photos. Riding along the snow line ... it was an experience even I had not expected in this trip. Continuing on the journey, I blared my horn to Bing in front. We were losing the snowcap view so we had to double back to take more photos. I could not pass up when we ride and seeing melting snow on the ground that we could pick up. More photos, amazing view .... a great smoking stop and it was time to move on downhill.

We came across this arcade like circuit with a view point from above. I could not reisist and asked Bing to help us take a video as we ride down the circuit. Initially I though we could go as fast as possible to make the video amazing, but as Azu and I started the decent, it was impossible to go fast as it was sooooo cold. We could only go soooo slow else the wind chill bite through all 5 layers of my clothings to numb and kill any nerve left available for control of the bike.

Windy Road Downhill 

Windy Road Downhill

So cold and so slow it was going down. The video still came out amazing.

Downhill after the circuit and just out of the clouds, were the only altitude marker we had seen in the whole trip. 3995M altitude, hence the approxiated 4500m elevation that we were riding along the snow line.

Altitude Marker 3995m Above Sea Level

Downhill downhill and the scenary changed to those like barren hills which I view them like the dessert mountian road in chile and Peru. So beautiful but then we reached low enaugh to ride beside the emerald river waters. I really dunnu how to explain beautiful 10 times but it was the feeling at every turn. It cant get better than this ... and boom ... another stunning view.

A little Village in the Mountains 

Jade Coloured River 

At the first rest stop we saw going down from Yading, we found another Nomad Van selling coffee. This time it was a guy travelling solo across China and he has been on the road for 2 years. His setup was amazing, having a full coffee barista setup with even an aiscream softcone maker.

Reststop 

Coffee Is the Alchohol of the Daytime ... The Van's Motto

We were running late now after all the stops and the distance to the next stop was huge with little sunlight left. Bing rode into the fog, rain, overtaking bus, trucks and everything climbing through another mountain pass for all that downhill we went through and finally around 3pm he relented and made a stop at the side of the road once we were out of the rain and fog.

The moped crew immediately jumped on the opportunity to cook lunch!! ... I for once also cooked lunch and instant noodle never tasted so good. I was about to cook for Bing as well but he just walked into someones house and bought a cup noodle from them.

Leaving the Mountain Peaks and back into the Valleys 

Cooking Lunch Somewhere along the way

Main road but still national road makes it very chaotic to follow people. Somewhere along the way I saw Azu stopped at the junction , I gave him a beep and overtake him while Bing overtake me to lead the way. On my mirror I saw azu follow for a few meters then stop and made a u-turn to turn right to the other junction. Blaring my horn at Bing we stopped and when Azu did not surface after a few minutes we decided to make a turn to find him.

Weather was foggy and also raining, me and Bing went for a hunt looking for Azu till we ran out of road. There was a few forks and we tried all of them but no Azu. Pray I told bing ... we go ... and once out of this fog hopefully we will see them at the first petrol station. An hour later me and Bing were at the petrol station and no sight of the moped gang.

Live GPS position put Wan and Jazz in front of us but Azu did not on his gps. He and me was always together at the back and we never bothered with GPS as it drain the battery. Many frantic calls were made to no answer. Later we found out Azu batt was flats and gone. By chance I made a few calls to Wan and Jazz as well. Wan finally picked up after an hour and confirmed that Azu was with thim in front. How in the world that happen .... guess it must be all that time me and Bing finding Azu in the wrong road that he must have made it back to the right one to continue on.

Bing and me lost much time but I was just releived that everyone was ok. We rode late into the night through the rain to reach our hotel at hu-tiao-xia town. Once it was darkfall, I became even slower with the rain with almost no visibliity due to fogged up windshield and foged up glasses. We arrived late, drench, exhausted but glad everything went well that day.

Still in a dazed from the ride down from Yading .

Traveled on: Jun 2023

Border Crossing: Dongxing (China) to Mong Cai (Vietnam) with a Malaysian Passport.

These last few days in China was more routine than anything else. Travel from one town to another, take a walk around exploring and photos food and sleep. Nothing extra ordinary yet it was a travel without much hiccups.

I dunnu if i prefer these types of travel sometimes and I feel a bit guilty for I tend to travel too fast moving on as it can get a bit boring without ave spectacular sites and culture to visit. Non touristy places does not make you exhausted running to see things after things but at the same time makes you exhausted, as due of boredom you just start jump hopping cities to cities faster.

My contemplation of staying in Dongxing for the night also went out the window that way. I was bored and the idea of hopping over the border to Vietnam earlier to have a change of pace was begining to apeal more and more although at the back of my mind I knew that once I cross the border it wont be relaxing anymore as it was a new playing field that I would have to learn again and get acustom to.

Walking Around Dongxing

Walking Around Dongxing

Walking Around Dongxing

Thou I have been to vietnam before, I have yet to do it alone so I knew this was still going to be a slightly new adventure.

The bus from Beihai reach Dongxing after 4 hours. At 4pm in Beihai I decided to cross the border immediatly instead of spending the night. A 2km walk to the border and accross we go. I knew there was a 1 hour difference so even if I crossed by 5pm ... it would be 4pm in Vietnam hence I would cross it and take my chances.

Border Crossing from Dongxing to Mong Cai

The border crossing point was fairly easy to find with all the directional signpost. Google map however was failing me as the GPS seams to run far far away. Luckily the China AMAP gps was still on point.

Lots of Information Signpost in Dongxing

Dongxing Border Crossing Point Entry

Just at the entrance for China Border exit there was lots of people hanging around asking if one needed to change money and from my guess, they were also offering service to apply permit to exit China or enter Vietnam. 

I would not know really as Malaysian dont require anything of that sort so I just change some CNY to VND just so I am not cashless once over. Still as expected of a border town with China, everything in Mong Cai could still be paid in CNY thou the change might come back in VND with poor exchange rate.

To be honest there is not much to write about this border crossing espescially with a Malaysian Passport. No permits required, no visa ... just stamp out of China then stamp into Vietnam. 

Cleared China Dongxing Exit Imigration & Customs 

Walk Across the Bridge from Dongxing (China) to Mong Cai (Vietnam)

The only question I got asked was at the China side which was why I was going to Mong Cai which I replied as holiday. They further asked if I would go home to Malaysia from Vietnam and I just said maybe. My only suppicion is that if I tried to do a U-turn to extend Visa for China that would be a red flag to them but as I was genuinly going to Vietnam to travel, so I guess we would never know.

Walk Over to Mong Cai -Vietnam Immigration & Customs 

Over at the Vietnam side of the border, for some reason was more expensive than China. Hotels was nearly double the price, food was the same as well and I could not imagine the other items. One thing I spotted thou was the Casinos. There were huge large casinos in Mong Cai ... a few of them in fact but I only entered one. Casino were purely for forginers and no Vietnamese could enter.

The Casino was fully Mandarin friendly and zero English such that I had no idea how to read the gameplay. I reconized a few of them but it was still dounting to play without understanding the rules. Gambling money was in CNY, not USD or VND but CNY. 

Hong Van Grand Hotel Casino

Hong Van Grand Hotel Casino

I somehow can understand the bad exchange rate now from CNY to Dong and vice versa in Mong Cai. It was a Border Town where Chinese Nationals comes to splurge hence making everything more expensive than Dongxing which seams very docile when I was there briefly.

Traveled on: Dec 2023