WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !

On April 9, TotalAdventure returned to China for the first time in 12 years.

Cathay Pacific is the best route from JFK New York to Hong Kong.Because it’s a Chinese airline it’s permitted to fly though Russian airspace, saving several hours of travel time and making it un necessary for West Coast layovers.

Economy Plus is a pleasant and not so costly way to travel. On this return flight I had no one next to me. Food is good and Chivas is available upon request.

Over the Danish Colony of Greenland. The flight left New York at 2 AM Wednesday April 8 and arrived in Hong Kong at 5 AM on April 9, a total of 15 hours and a 12 hour advance in time. Dark on either end, with about 5 hours of Arctic Midnight Sun in the middle.

Irkutsk near Lake Baikal. First time seeing Russia in 2 years, when I was on the Georgia-Russia border. TotalAdventure was in Irkustk in 2014.

From Chep Lap Kok ,it’s another 2.5 hours to Chongqing. Immigration is fast and efficient. TotalAdventure haas a 10 year unlimited entry visa.

DIdi is right on the Alipay App.

Alipay is used for everything. Payment, car, train, plane, All charged to your credit or debit card. Hardly any need for cash. I exchanged US 100 on arrival and only used it up buying trinkets at the airport when leaving.

Chinese Yuan, known as RMB is 6.77 to the US Dollar. Prices in China are significantly lower than the USA and Europe.

The 4 following stories cover TotalAdventure’s return to China. From Chongqing to Chengdu, to the mountains of Sichuan – East to Shanghai and back West to Enshi and then Chongqing to Hong Kong. BE SURE TO WATCH ALL THE VIDEOS !

The TotalAdventure 2026 Return To China focused mainly in Central and Southwest China . Towards the end of the trip I went to Shanghai for about 72 hours to take meetings and explore an automated machine tools trade show at the Shanghai Expo and Convention Center.

2 AM Arrival from Chengdu on Air China. At PVG Pudong.

The Bund is Wedding Central Or Wedding Selfie Central.

There are many photographers setting up paid shoots for aspiring models.

Old Shanghai. Zhonghui Building.

Fresh Meat Mooncakes. Use camera translation to read characters.

The Bund By Night.

While sunny skies were prevalent in Central China, Shanghai was cool, foggy and rainy, making it difficult to visually capture the skyline, greatly expanded since my last time there in 2013.

TotalAdventure dined at Michelin Starred Yidao Restaurant. I had three tasting courses and beer for about 600 RMB, about US $92. Above is Braised Duck’s Foot on Quinghai Lake Fish Head. A well deserved Star.

TotalAdventure went to explore interational trade first hand at the China Machine Tool Fair at the National Exhibition and Convention Center – the world’s largest at 500,000 m2 in 16 halls.

With Trade War challenges worldwide, China has pivoted to new markets and expanded current ones, as other nations extend free trade agreements to China. The US had a pavilion also.

Inside the very cool 1930s hotel the Z Hotel.

Deco Bar. Great breakfast also.

From my balcony overlooking overlooking Guangdong Rd, The room was 700 RMB, about $ 103.

Shanghai has several of the Top 10 world’s highest buildings. Here, on the plexiglass floor of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower one can peer 1000 feet below into the streets of Pudong.

There is a sensation of stepping over thin air.

Shanghai Tower , the world’s second tallest building has just topped out at 2073 feet , 638 meters – 125 Floors !

FOR ADVENTURES IN CHINA, CLICK HERE

What’s For Dinner Tonight ?

Before

After

Any thing that walks, flies,swims or slithers is considered food.

A Muslim Uigyr Restaurant in Shanghai featuring the cuisine of Xinjiang.

Drunken Venison .

Delicious Pigeon Head at Bao Lu in Shanghai.

Giant Crab at Norman’s Seafood in Shanghai – RMB 4000 – about $ 600 each.

Delicious Duck Tongues.

FOR ADVENTURES IN CHINA, CLICK HERE

Shanghai had changed a lot in the 14 months since ArcticTropic had last visited. There were 3 new buildings , all taller than the World Trade Center, all built in two years or less.

THe 120 mile ( 190 km ) trip from Hangzhou to Shanghai took 45 minutes on the Bullet Train -at 343 kph – 212 mph.

Crossing the Huangpu River from the Bund to Pudong.

Just completed – building on right –  the Shanghai World FInancial Centre , at 429 m ( 1614 ft.) the 3rd tallest building in the world.

View from the top – last year’s tallest structure – the CCTV Tower. ( See March 2010)

No matter how high – windows always have to be washed – especially in smoggy Shanghai.

Vertigo sufferers need not apply for this job.

FOR ADVENTURES IN CHINA, CLICK HERE

ArcticTropic attempted this post last week, but photos would not upload properly in the People’s Republic, even with, or perhaps because of, the proxy server. The purpose of this trip was not exploration, but rather business meetings taking place in office towers in major cities. This morning hike in Huangzhou, one of China’s secondary cites – smaller – meaning New York sized at about 9 or 10 million people was one of few outdoor excursions .

WIthin the city limits are large forested expanses surrounding West Lake. In the hills above the lake is a pagoda surrounded by shrines the Buddha – which were smashed with sledgehammers by fanatical Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution in 1967.

The brick pagoda – about 200 years old. It was probably too difficult to destroy with sledgehammers.

A sloping staircase through the mountain.

A peddler’s village.

The thoughts of the Chairman are always with us !

FOR ADVENTURES IN CHINA, CLICK HERE

On April 3rd I will return to China , for the first time in a  little over a year. This time, the focus will will on South China, entering from Hong Kong and finishing in Shanghai.

After a short flight from Miami to Newark, I will board Continental Flight 99 – the 9th longest flight in the world. Flying time is 15 hours and 50 minutes for the 8055 mile / 12980 km distance. Leaving at 3:45 in the afternoon,  the 777-200ER  will fly northwest over New York State, Quebec, Hudson’s Bay,Baffin Land , and across the Arctic icecap within about 200 miles of the North Pole. Continuing in the same direction, due south, the plane will travel over Siberia,Manchuria and East China, before landing at 7:45 the NEXT night.Because the northern Arctic is in 24 hour daylight by April, all but the last hour or two of the flight should be  sunny – hopefully with few clouds – to enable aerial shots and videos.

ArcticTropic will be meeting with many South China adventure travel providers. If you would like to meet with us between April 4th to 14th please email  – travel@arctictropic.com

Newark is also home to the world’s longest flight – to Singapore – 9535 miles/15345 km at 18 hours 50 minutes !