how i'm preparing for my trip to china!

it's official - cefion and i are headed to china this march!

we found a killer groupon for a 10-day trek into beijing and shanghai, and we are so excited to finally head to asia - it's one place we both have always wanted to visit but never had the chance to do so.

since i'm a china/asia newb, i'm doing all the typical newb things:
+ pinning away on our #china2015 board (because pinterest knows all... duh. don't tell google...)
+ voraciously reading any china- and asia-related blogs and sites for cool little enclaves off the beaten path, avoiding tourist traps, and, of course, for yummy food!
+ looking up cool tutorials to make my iPhone pictures better since i won't be taking my obsolete dslr but still want enviable snaps for the 'gram
+ stockpiling orthotic-friendly hiking gear like these cool boots i picked up and some thick socks to conquer the great wall. plantar fasciitis, you shall not pass.
+ wishing everyday was departure day

i'm also stuck doing some of the not-so-fun stuff like applying for a visa which, as far as i'm concerned, is an overpriced admission ticket. it's like paying to get into disney world but with none of the disney. i fully expect to see daily fireworks and large stuffed animal-human hybrids. the associated costs and fees are just ridic for this grad student, but i am learning!
i can't wait to go and share my experiences with you!

any big trips coming up for you?
have you been to beijing and/or shanghai? do you have any suggestions???

in pursuit of:

scratching three destinations off of my travel list