Let me just start out with the fact that for four days I didn’t have Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat. While that shocking news sinks in, I can say that I’m finally back to Hong Kong which is starting to feel a little more like home. When we got back to our dorms I was excited to say that I had missed my left side of the road drivers, constant Wifi, and different vibe. We spent the weekend in Mainland China.

However, overall our 4 day excursion was interesting and eye opening experience. We visited Macau (technically not mainland China), Guangzhou, and Shenzen. Shenzen won’t be featured as it was more of a shopping/ driving day.

A Weekend in Mainland China

{ MACAU }

One of our first stops in Macau was for lunch at the Macau Tower. The tower, 1,109 ft tall, has the second highest bungee jump in the world. However, below the jumping point there was a restaurant called 360 Cafe. This restaurant is one of the only ones of it’s kind as it is on a rotating platform. As we ate we were moving and able to see the 360 degree view of the city (that’s where the name comes from, get it? ;P ) While I personally didn’t jump from that extreme point, I did watch classmates who did, and I’m not going to lie that looked like some scary stuff! While in Macau, we also visited one of their most important landmarks– the facade of the church on Rue de S. Paulo.

Our tour guide, an elderly cutie named Maria, told us the interesting story of this landmark. Originally it was a university that kept on burning down for no reason. Finally, the government determined that God did not want a school on the hill. Instead they replaced it with a church. However, due to a kitchen fire in a nearby building, the church also burned down, leaving only the façade. It was decided that it would not be rebuilt, but the façade would remain as an important landmark of the city.

You may notice in the photos that the streets and architecture look more European than Asian. It’s mainly because of Portugal’s occupation of the area for so many years. The interesting part about the city though, is that while you feel like you’re walking around Portugal, there are signs of Chinese architecture and culture.The most obvious display of the Portuguese-Chinese fusion was in the temple almost directly attached to the landmark. The temple below is dedicated to the child god of war in order to put an end to the extreme plague in the region.

After visiting the temple, we walked through the streets of Macau to try some different delicacies and get a feel for the area.

After roaming around the city (btw I was not the biggest fan of that jerky), we made our way to another temple, arguably one of my favorites of the trip.

When I entered the temple I could just feel the serenity and worship in the air. While not as large and grandiose as some of the other temples, I still appreciated the humility of the location.

{ GUANGZHOU }

Once we hit mainland China, things got a little cray cray (yes I know that phrase is so 2009). First of all there was NO Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, or Instagram. I know I previously mentioned this, but for reals, it was a very unsettling experience. As I only have service while on wifi, evenings are reserved for catching up with the USA world via social media. With none I felt a little lost. I survived though!

First stop: The Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family

I think that the most interesting aspect of this temple was the architecture of the roof. The intricate design was hand carved and extremely detailed. This was definitely the most detailed temple we’ve visited.

I’m kind of a sucker for gift shops. Just saying. And it’s not because I’m into the tacky souvenirs that they offer. It’s more because I’m always on the hunt for something I can’t get anywhere else. In the temple I purchased gifts with custom made calligraphy. As our guide told us, the art of Chinese Calligraphy is something that very few people know as it is passed down from teacher to teacher.

Second Stop: Lychee Bay Park.

Lychee Bay Park is reminiscent of Venice, with it’s historical buildings, bridges, and central body of river running through.

Our last stop for the day was the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. The Temple has a 1400 year old history. It is most famous for it’s Leaning Pagoda (much like the leaning tower of Pisa).

In this temple I was less interested in the architecture and more interested in the spirituality. I was enchanted by the incense burning and the actions. I was tempted to burn some out of respect, but decided not to when I realized I wasn’t sure how the practice went!