Who: Kelly Ladyga of Vail and her mother, Luella Ladyga of Denver.
Where: Atop the Great Wall, just outside Beijing. We traveled from Beijing to Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province, and then on to Guangzhou in Guangdong Province.
Best meal: In Nanchang. Jiangxi is known as the “Spicy Province” for its hot cuisine. Nanchang is a smaller city and not frequented by Westerners, so whichever restaurant you choose will feature very local dishes – minced chicken and spicy peppers in a hollowed wheat roll, spicy pork with vegetables – all family-style on a lazy Susan in the middle of the table.
Best deal: Custom-made clothing. Ask your guide or even the staff at your hotel for a local shop that will make traditional garments at very affordable prices.
Best time to go: This would be around the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) in mid-January to experience one of the most important cultural events in China. This two-week celebration focuses on family and tradition. As we were leaving China, elaborate decorations were going up everywhere; 2006 is the Year of the Dog.
Best travel tip: If you are trying a restaurant off the beaten path where it’s unlikely the menu will have English translations, then ask your guide or hotel staff to jot down a few dishes that you would like to try or things that you would like to avoid.
