Edinburgh Christmas Season｜Waiting for a century sunset on Calton Hill

Edinburgh is a city full of magic, it's the kind of romantic that no matter how many times you come, you still want more. This is my third time in Edinburgh, and Calton Hill gave me the most explosive sunset of 2023!! · I happened to catch the Christmas market in Edinburgh, the streets are full of Christmas atmosphere, the whole city looks more vibrant. Edinburgh city is not big, basically you can have a lot of fun just by walking, take this 2-day citywalk route, while exploring the city don't forget to go to the Christmas market to experience the local lifestyle! · Day1️⃣ Edinburgh Castle (How can you not see the light of Scotland, you can overlook the whole Edinburgh from the castle. The castle is very big, if you visit carefully, you can stay for half a day)➡️Rose Street Butter Beer (Potions Cauldron on Rose Street is a very famous butter beer store, Harry Potter fans must not miss it)➡️George Street Christmas Market (In addition to Prince's Park, there is also a Christmas market on George Street in Edinburgh city, with fewer people, this year's carousel is on George Street)➡️Calton Hill (A must-go in Edinburgh! The sunset never disappoints) · Day2️⃣ Dean Village (A small village on the edge of Edinburgh city, with a very British retro taste, about 20 minutes walk from the train station)➡️Victoria Street (The colorful facades are very recognizable, the shop fronts are various styles, full of Christmas atmosphere)➡️W.Armstong & Son Vintage Shop (One of the most famous vintage shops in Edinburgh, I always find something every time I come, this time I got a saddle bag)➡️Prince Street Garden Christmas Market (You can see the skyline of Edinburgh from Prince's Park, with a magical attribute, with the addition of the Christmas market, it's even more fairy tale, dinner was solved at the Christmas market, I love hot dogs + hot red wine, it's the taste of Christmas)➡️Waverley Station (Waverley Station is really full of industrial flavor, Christmas lighting is also very ceremonial) · The winter days in Edinburgh are short, which is very suitable for citywalk, not tired and you won't feel too cold if you move around. If you have time, I highly recommend you to squat a sunrise at Arthur's Seat. · The best way to go to Edinburgh is of course by train. It only takes over 4 hours to take the LNER train from London to Edinburgh, it's very convenient to buy tickets from the self-service machine at King's Cross Station. I stayed in York for an extra 2 days, it only takes over an hour from York to Waverley Station in Edinburgh, scanning the QR code to enter the station saves a lot of time. First class seats come with catering service, LNER has launched a special Christmas catering, the taste is not bad (also got a lot of chocolates and candies)~ I didn't expect there to be charging devices on the LNER train, no more anxiety about phone battery · PS: It's recommended to stay near Waverley Station in Edinburgh, it's convenient to go anywhere, you can have a lot of fun just by walking, if you haven't decided where to go for Christmas, why not come to Edinburgh for a romantic sunset~~~ Edinburgh·UK

Two gardens into one

Princes St Gardens Edinburgh Made out of two gardens divided by The Mound of Edinburgh. It is the best known parks in Edinburgh a popular spot for tourists and local residents #meetlondon

Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh 🌿🌺🌳🌼

Princes Street Gardens is a large public garden in Princes Street, Edinburgh. It is right in the city centre, you can enjoy the stunning picturesque view from afar to the Old Town, including some iconic landmarks like The Scott Monument and Royal Scots Greys Monument, especially the Edinburgh Castle on top of the hill, absolutely instagrammable spots! Yay...the garden also a lovely place to stop over and relax. Open daily from 7am to 9.30pm. #spooktaculartrip#tripblazers#fallingforfall#urbanexplorer#passionpassport#nationalpark

Edinburgh, a fairy-tale world

During the short day and a half I spent in Edinburgh, I used a day pass to ride various buses through the streets and alleys by the ancient castle under Calton Hill and along Princes Street, where in the misty rain I felt as if I had entered a fairy-tale world. In the autumn of 1986, I first arrived at the University of Edinburgh's English department to study for a master's degree in modern linguistics. This is a prestigious European university with a history of over four hundred years and alumni like Darwin. At that time, my English proficiency was limited to listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and I knew very little about modern linguistic theory. It was at the University of Edinburgh that I gained the ability to analyze language style and was exposed to the works of some famous British and Irish writers. Among the many teachers, the one who left the deepest impression on me was Professor Black, who drove from Glasgow twice a week for her tutorial-style classes. Now, 38 years have passed, and I have long since taken to the lectern at foreign universities, explaining different styles, rhetorical contexts, and rhetorical analysis to my students. This brief return to Edinburgh was not only a return to the place where I had lived for a year, to see the familiar streets, castles, and statues of famous people on the sidewalks, but also a reminiscence of my busy student life, absorbing knowledge like a sponge. In the mid-1980s, China was still very poor. I remember that at that time, China's foreign exchange earnings were mainly from exporting shoes, selling soy sauce, and small commodities. There were very few Chinese students abroad. I recall that once on Calton Hill, a local Scot asked me if I came from Tokyo. I encountered similar assumptions in Paris on a Seine river cruise, where I was also mistaken for Japanese. At the same time, I also remember that Chinese people, including Chinese students abroad, suffered quite a bit of discrimination. I once met a Scottish father and son on the street; the boy, about five or six years old, pointed at me and said, 'He is a China man,' while the father, holding the child's hand, remained silent. In English, this term is equivalent to pointing at a black person and calling him a 'black X.' Even worse, at a celebration of the friendship between Xi'an and Edinburgh held at the city hall, a Scot publicly mocked a young pianist from Shanghai, saying he played the piano as if he were hitting the keys with bricks, and the distinguished guests below laughed without care. A professor from Taiwan who taught in the East Asian department at the university mocked the mainland Chinese students' use of words, saying, 'Isn't the term 'lover' that you use just another word for mistress?' Nearly 40 years have passed, and China has risen. There are now large numbers of Chinese students and tourists all over the world, and the era of casually belittling and mocking Chinese people and China is gone forever. As the afternoon progressed, the fog grew thicker, and the drizzling rain added a lot of mystery to the city. Some pedestrians opened their umbrellas, but many more seemed to enjoy walking in the misty Edinburgh. People slowed down, some even sat on the benches at the edge of the Princes Street Gardens lawn, admiring the beautiful rain-soaked scene before them. And in my heart, there was an impulse; since I had already entered this fairy-tale world, why not let myself blend into this beautiful scene and become another splash of color?

Walk down cobblestone lanes

Edinburgh's streets exude a unique charm, blending historic elegance with vibrant modern life. The cobblestone lanes of the Old Town, such as the Royal Mile, are lined with medieval buildings, quaint shops, and hidden closes that tell tales of centuries past. In contrast, the Georgian architecture of the New Town offers broad, symmetrical streets with stylish boutiques and cafes. Strolling through areas like Grassmarket, with its lively pubs and markets, or the serene Princes Street Gardens, provides a delightful mix of scenery. Each corner of Edinburgh reveals a new facet of its beauty, from the imposing Edinburgh Castle to the picturesque Dean Village, making every walk an enchanting experience. #solotravel

#2024wish I wish to visit Thailand,China,Japan, Egypt or Vietnam, with my family❤

I thought London was beautiful enough! Until I went to Edinburgh

I thought London was beautiful enough! Until I went to Edinburgh The magical city of Harry Potter in Rowling's pen, the scenes that have appeared in countless movies, here hides a medieval romance - When you come to Edinburgh, don't miss these places, with photo spots Calton Hill Overlooking the panorama of Edinburgh, climb the mountain before sunset to wait for a medieval sunset, the shooting location of Jay Chou's 'Ming Ming Jiu' mv; Recommended photo location: the viewing platform at the top of the mountain, you can shoot the entire panorama of Edinburgh, the steps up the mountain can shoot the entrance road of the magical world; Princes Street Gardens Recommended photo location: Waverley Bridge, the intersection to Princes Street, this intersection can see the classic position of the top of St. Giles Cathedral; Victoria Street The prototype of Diagon Alley in Harry Potter, between the Royal Mile and George IV Bridge Royal Mile The bustling old city street connecting Edinburgh Castle Town and Holyrood Palace, bustling, good for shopping and photography Elephant Cafe: Rowling's place to write Harry Potter Arthur's Seat Overlooking the position of Edinburgh, check in with Holyrood Palace Edinburgh Castle At the end of the Royal Mile Other tips: : Basically no cash is needed in the UK, just bring a little spare, it is recommended to bring 2 credit cards, generally visa is more practical; One card is universal around the world, the network is stable and fast, you can use it very conveniently by inserting the card on the ground; Transportation: London to Edinburgh can drive/train/airplane, the train is about 5 hours Passport/ID

Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh

Beautiful Gardens which stretch the whole length of Princes Street, Edinburgh. This gorgeous green space, in the middle of the city, is a must to do on your Edinburgh visit. It seperates the New town from the Old town and was originally a loch (Google Nor Loch for grisly tales about this). There are many seats here, where you can sit and enjoy the scenery or people watch. During The Edinburgh Fringe Festival there will be many buskers to enjoy. #princesstreetgardens #Greenery #park

Princes street gardens is one of the most important urban parks situated in the heart of Edinburg. The gardens is 150000 metre square and are divided into two parts by the Mound an artificial hill that connect Edinburg new town and old town, where the Scottish national gallery is located. You can a beautiful view from below to see Edinburg castle. Ross fountain is a cast iron structure install in 1872 and restored in 2018. Much more to see, like the parish church of st Cuthbert, floral clock, Norwegian memorial stone and etc. Located near Princes Street Tram station.