One Day Huashan Tour

For centuries, Mount Huashan has been regarded as one of China's five sacred mountains, along with Songshan, Taishan and the two Hengshans (with different Chinese characters for the word Heng).

One-day tours of Mount Huashan from Xian used to be impossible until Asia's longest cable car system was built there a few years ago, taking visitors to the North Peak (1,615 meters high) in less than 10 minutes, saving two hours and important energy for lazy tourists in a hurry, like us.

From the North Peak, we set out to conquer the other four, East, South, West and Central peaks, which the guide Chen from topchina trip said could be done in just four hours.

It was winter and snow left from a few days ago was still on the ground. Fortunately, the stairways were mostly swept of snow but the snow, wind and the altitude made Mount Huashan much colder than Xi'an.

Jinsuo Guan (Golden Lock Gate) was the point from where one heads off to the other four peaks.

Nine of us, men and women, old and young, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, decided to tackle the peaks together. This made everybody feel more secure.

Tianti (Ladder to Heaven) and Canglong Ling (Dragon Hill) were the most steep and difficult part before Jinsuo Guan, but with the help of railings specially built for tourists, everybody felt much safer.

It was already one hour and 20 minutes before we sedentary city folks reached Jinsuo Guan. And we realized that we were not as fit as we thought and might only be able to go to the highest South Peak (2,160 meters) and the West Peak (2,038 meters) within the limited time left.

We headed towards the South Peak first. Most steps along the way were well paved making it an easier hike compared with the first hour.

The South Peak was truly the number one. Once you're on top, you have a stunning view overlooking every other peak and feel the might of Mount Huashan. You feel that you are very close to the sky.

In other seasons, some travellers spend a night in a hotel on the mountain and climb the East Peak before dawn to get the best look of sunrise, but almost nobody does that on freezing winter mornings.

It stays cold all day and managing a proper pace seems to be important, because sweat becomes uncomfortably chilly after a few minutes of rest and you are likely to catch a cold later.

Near the South Peak is a narrow plank path built along the vertical cliff for any daredevil seeking adventure and thrills. But we took a safer trail and increased our pace.

It was about 40 minutes before we arrived quite exhausted at our last destination - West Peak - also known as the Lotus Peak.

The Lotus Peak is the place where the Chinese tale "Baolian Lantern" takes place. Brave Chen Xiang cuts through mountains to save her mother. A Walt-Disney-like cartoon about the legend is now popular with Chinese children.

It is usually said that going up a mountain is easier than coming down. But on our descent, we felt the opposite was true. It took us only another 40 minutes to get back to the North Peak cable car station. Mount Huashan looked different now as it loomed in the dusk.

Dunhuang

Fascinating Dunhuang with a glorious history and culture For many years, Dunhuang has fascinated travelers with its 45,000 square meters of breathtaking murals and more than 3,000 painted statues. If the ancient Silk Road is splendid, then the 492 grottoes on the mountain cliff are sensational.

Located at the west end of the "hexi Corridor" in Gansu Province, Dunhuang has a glorious history and culture. Dun - means large, Huang - means prosperous. This large and prosperous ancient town is the center of various ethnical peoples and became an important trading and cultural center in Silk Road

Muogao grottoes are famous for the amazing art works that created about 2,000 years ago. It well represents the history of communication between west and east. For instance, the feature of Buddha's face has changed dramatically from time to time. In the early age, Buddha looked more Western feature in body structure.

In 366 A.D. a monk named Yuezun had a vision of the Buddha over the Sanwei Mountain opposite the cliff of the Mingsha Mountain,so the devout believer set to build the first cave on the cliff. Since then more and more caves have been excavated over a thousand year.

The caves range in size from small chambers of a few meters across to huge halls of tens of meters. Other than paintings they contain also sculptures, here mostly Buddha and his disciples, or a flying deity. One type of creatures depicted angels, who however do not carry wings, but fly amidst colored ribbons as if by their own lightness. The lightness and worldly beauty of the creatures remains fascinating. They capture the feeling flying, which many know from their dreams, in a painting.

The images floated around us in the twilight coming from the caves' entrances and the spots of our flashlight highlighted a face there, a horse there, a fish, a castle, or a daemon.

Serving as the westernmost fort of the early Tang Dynasty, Dunhuang was not only a key trading post situated on the "Silk Road" but also the military headquarters for the operations in the Western Regions. Foreign merchants and monks from the West as well as officials and soldiers from central China brought their own cultures to Dunhuang and made the trading center a cultural "melting pot."

However there are certain rules and regulations here. Certain items are not allowed to carry in such as cameras, any electronic recorders or even personal bags. This is a must though, English call it torch, American call it flashlight, Chinese call it Shoudian, you should have one too.

Dunhuang paintings were executed during a period of 600 years under several different rules for people of many different ranks and professions. The artists are not known by name and we did not have a chance to learn anything about their conditions of production. I would not remember any painting that could be called primitive or unskilled, all are the works of masters.

Even today, artists still following the traditional foot step of painting. The technique is mostly al fresco. One finds caves painted in dark tones of black, blue, and white, showing figures in vigorous motion executed in equally vigorous expressive strokes, jumping and dancing on the walls.

The Dunhuang grottos at one point gathered many ancient artists in the history. Today, a great number of anxious young artists in China still look up those wonderful art works and continue to develop its value through the study.

There are two significant exists from Dunhang to the west, they are Yangguan and Yumenguan. Guan means post or military station. Both passes were built in Han Dynasty before 111 B.C.

Out of the post, it is the secret place that locals call it 'the antique market'. In the past, there were so many military battles and territory negotiations had happened in this landscape. Therefore material evidence such as metal error head, copper coins from hundreds of years can be discovered on the ground if the visitor is lucky.

Millions of years ago this land was all covered by water. And now people call it 'The Devil's Town' since the stones and hills are all formed in horrified shapes.

Yadan, meaning Steep Mounds in Uygur, now refers to the special topography in this dry region. The clayish rock became a series of ditches and ridges aligned in the direction of the prevailing wind, as an effect of strong water and wind erosion. These marvelously shaped ditches and ridges, usually extending for many meters, even hundreds form a spectacular view.

It was not hard to find a lift took me to the downtown of Dunhuang. People are also very friendly to tourists.

Feitian dance performance in Dunhang hotel is a must-see program for first time visitors.

Night market is quite interesting; bargain is fun if you know how. However, antique is the common term that locals name all merchants.

Dunhuang Hotel offers guests special arrangement for breakfast. It started with camel back riding, sand mountain climbing, at the top of the mountain a fire was lighted up for warm up, then the waitress brought hot coffee and continental breakfast as the phenomenal. It was a completely four hours procedure, but it's an incredible experience.

Sha Jiao Mountain in East Han Dynasty (24-220), it is 800 square kilometers in size, stretching 40 km from east to west.

Within the Mingsha Mountain lies the Crescent Spring (Yueyaquan). It is so named because of its shape as a crescent. It received its current name in the Qing Dynasty (1644 –1911). The Crescent Spring has an average depth of 3.2 meters. The water is sweet and crystal clear. The sand never gets into spring, and the water is never muddy or dry up.

Sand skiing is a wonderful pastime if you are ready for a fast speed ride.

Inner Mongolia

A wild weekend in Inner Mongolia Next to Tibet, Inner Mongolia is one of China's most extraordinary places. You'll be fascinated by the mystique of its stunning grasslands, the Gobi desert, the energetic Naadam festival and the Mongolian way of li. The province is near Beijing, and you can easily go there and enjoy diverse cultures.

Inner Mongolia is suitable for travel in all four seasons. In summer, you head there to escape the hot weather and enjoy a windy night on the grasslands under a tapestry of shining stars. In the autumn, the leaves turn red and yellow and you can see the region's may "painted" forests. For more adventurous travelers, head there in winter to see snow-covered sand dunes and experience cold da with temperatures always 20 degrees Centigrade below zero. And if you're crazy, go in spring and lean what a real sandstorm is.

All jokes aside, the best seasons to visit are early spring and autumn, especially if bound for the desert, because summer is too hot and winter is too cold.

If your dream is a crazy weekend, far from Beijing, with lots of opportunities for cool photos and a low price-tag, Beijing Today's route to the Resonant Sand Gorge (Xiangshawan), a desert of echoing sands in Inner Mongolia, could be one ofyour best choices.

Day 1: Beijing - Baotou (12-14 hours by train)

There are more than five trains from Beijing to Baotou everyday. If you plan to leave on Friday evening, and want a nice train, take K263 from Beijing railway station to East Baotou station. The train leaves at 8pm and arrives at 8am the next day, with sleeper tickets under 200 yuan. Baotou has two railway stations, but the east one is more convenient because it is just opposite the Donghe bus station.

To get to the Resonant Sand Gorge, there are two buses from the Donghe station to choose from. One is from Baotou to Yimeng, and you can ask the driver stop in Wayao village, about 5,000 meters from the Gorge, and then walk or taxi to your destination. Another line is from Baotou to Daqi, where you can take a taxi from Daqi to the Gorge for about 50 yuan. Taking a taxi from Baotou directly to the George costs about 200 yuan, and a single bus ticket is about 25 yuan.

The Resonant Sand Gorge is located 50km south of Baotou, and it will take you less than two hours to get there.

Day 2: Enjoy a trip in Resonant Sand Gorge

The Gorge is a part of the vast Gobi desert that starts just south of Baotou and spreads over Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang. It gets its name from the echoing sound you can hear when you step on the sands. Strangely, the sounds stop when you bring the sands away from the Gorge.

The other strange phenomenon is the vast grasslands beside the desert, which stops as if someone drew a line to divide the "reen" and "yellow." You can't help but admire the power of nature, and will be at a loss for words to describe the scenerRecent development of The Gorge has only slightly damaged its natural beauty, and reduced some of its danger. There are numerous sand dunes that rise to levels of over 90 meters. To climb them requires a lot physical strength, because the sand under your feet is constantly sliding. At high noon, the sand is hot, and stepping on it can help your body to relax. You can enjoy camel rides, dune sliding or simply building sand castles in the Gorge. If that's not enough, try parasailing to get a bird's-eye view of the va desert.

There are many yurt-like hotels to help you enjoy an evening in the desert. If you are fortunate enough, you might have the opportunity to see a Mongolian wedding ceremony and join in.

Day 3 ...

If you have time to spare, there are many other sites worth visiting. The first one is Genghis Khan's Mausoleum (Chengjisihan ling). Genghis Khan' sign extended the empire from south China to the Caspian Sea. His mausoleum was constructed in 1954, with a main structure of three yurt-like halls, each interlinked with corridors. The halls are filled with various exhibitions, from the Khan's war clothing to Mongolian calligraphy works.Genghis Khan's Mausoleum is not far from the Resonant Sand Gorge. Take bus or taxi to Eerduosi, a small city, and the mausoleum is located just outside. It will take you about two hours to get there.

Baotou is another place worth having a look at. Known as the 'oriental Moscow'of Inner Mongolia, the city is divided into two parts which are as far remov from each other as from the capital of Russia. Many locals think it is more beautiful and modern than Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia. Baotou was founded during Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) on a Neolithic site, just north of the Yellow River and the Gobi Desert. It has another name, "the land with deer," because the hundreds of her there when it was founded.


Baotou is also an industrial city, and is China's biggest producer of iron nd steel. You can tour many factories there, and some historic sites, such as Wudangzhao Monastery, which is the only Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Inner Mongolia. It is well preserved and was once the home of 1,200 Buddhist monks. Now, there are many Buddhist paintings there.

The Cloth Drying Festival of Yao People in Longsheng on Sixth June

Longsheng isn't simply the home of Chinese most picturesque and well renown Longji Rice Terraces/ Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces, it's also home to a rich variety of ethnic minorities all living together. Longsheng is the home of not only the Zhuang people (in Ping'an Zhuang Village) but also a stronghold of the Yao people (in Dazhai Yao Village), two of China's most advanced and unique ethnic minorities. The Yao people are easily identifiable due to their unique red garments; this had led them to being called the "red Yao people". A unique custom of Yao people occurs every year on the sixth day of the sixth month, know as the "clothes drying festival", all the women within a Yao community take their most elegant, treasured clothing and then place it in the sun, this achieve the dual purpose of protecting the clothes from being damaged by worms but also adding passionate atmosphere to the Cloth Drying Festival. Despite an increase in living standards over the past decades the Yao people by virtue of their isolated geographic position are able to maintain their unique culture and customs.

The clothes drying festival and the solar flare festival both occur in June in Guangxi (the sixth of June In the lunar calendar), commonly referred as "The Half Year Festival". For these communities located in Longsheng in Guangxi these two festivals are even more important than Chinese New Year, the festival is held on the sixth day of the sixth month because it's believed that this is the day when solar light is most vibrant and therefore the most effective day to dry clothes to ward away insect plagues. The day of these festivals is far from normal within these communities, piles of beautifully embroided pink and red clothing can be lying at the front doors of houses, when the sun sets bamboo vessels filled with gasoline are lined up along the rice terraces and lit, leaving an amazing vista of burning lights dotted throughout the black warmth of the summer night, this amazing spectacle is accompanied by a extravagant fireworks display. Truly a unique and unforgettable experience!

Cotton weaving: A traditional and intricate cloth manufacturing method. The Yao people still use traditional wooden looms to create the most stunning pink and red clothing, although mass-production of clothing is more than common-place in China, now the Yao people in these isolated communities are still continuing producing the high-quality clothing which is a key part of their culture.

Grinding rice with a mortar and pestle: A test of masculine strength and a display of virility with the Yao community, while woman are left to weave and create delicate intricate artwork, men grind rice as a way of showing strength and character. Division of labor amongst men and women in the Yao community is still very prevalent.

Hair contest: This custom is localized to one small village of only two-hundred people in Huangluo Village, located between Ping'an Village and Dazhai Village, Longshen. The inhabitants of this village are obsessed with beautiful, long hair. The women in the village pride themselves on having long hair with the average length being between one to two meters, amazing the village in listed in the Guinness book of record for collectively having the longest hair length in the world! These women never use commercially available shampoo instead using a homemade recipe that is passed down through generations, in summer girls can be seen sitting outside platting each other's hair. Every year all the women in the village to up against each other to see who has the most luxurious, longest hair.

Bargaining and Shopping in China

Whenever we go traveling overseas, we always want to take a little piece of that country home, something that goes beyond the two-dimensions of a photograph. You may just be looking something to give your close friend of relative, or perhaps something a bit more extravagant for ourselves. Irrespective of your goal or expectation, it pays to take care especially in Asia when bargain-hunting.

Grabbing something of the cheap is a great feeling; coming from a western country, it's always great to know that when you're in China, nothing is set in stone and the price of many items can ebb and flow like a length of Chinese silk. However, before throw our hand up and rejoice that the bargains are ours for the taking, we need to accept a fundamental reality: shopkeepers by and large are a lot smarter than us. Typically when shopping in a commercial marketplace in a major city, expect prices to be inflated by 1-200%, if you can knock 50-75% off the starting price, then you've already done very well.

The well known secrets to bargaining well, especially when language is a barrier, is effective body-language; initially alerting the shopkeeper to your interest in item, perhaps asking how much it costs, and then upon here the price withdraw and act aloof. It most likely that upon your withdrawal that the shopkeeper will ask what you consider a fair price to be, the ball is now in your court, pick a price and then stick to it, don't let your heart rule your head, the more weakness and flexibility you show, the more likely you're not going to get the price you want. Crucially don't get too emotional, just remind yourself than there are 20 other stores that will sell the same thing. Furthermore, never display your money until you've decided on a price. If many markets shopkeepers will try and give you change in the form of postcards or other low-value items, make sure you get the right amount of change; you may not even realize you've been had until you're well out of the store.

A quick word on the specialty items of electronics and pharmaceuticals. In China over 70% of electronics accessories outside the franchised store are fake; this includes MP3/4, headphones, batteries, speakers, USB keys and often mobile phones. So when purchasing these items, be aware that their lifespan and quality are significantly lower than their more expensive counterparts. A recent report published by the Chinese government has warned about dangerously high exposure to hazardous radiation through usage of counterfeit mobile phones. The same situation applies to medicines and pharmaceuticals which are a lot cheaper and more readily available, while a majority will work and work well. There is a large market in China for the propagation of unreliable pharmaceuticals.

Yangshuo Idyllically Beautiful Countryside Leisure Tour

Some staff from topchinatrip paid a visit to Yangshuo with two international students of Guangxi Normal University last week. And we were extremely attracted by the beautiful sceneries by the riverbank and in the countryside of Yangshuo. A different experience and impression of Yangshuo, I must say.

9:40-11:30 Guangxi Normal University-Yangshuo

We picked up the two international students from Guangxi Normal University: a handsome boy from Australia called Brett (Chinese name: 悠扬) and a Russian girl named "婉丽" in Chinese.

11:30-13:20 West Street / Li River

Arriving in Yangshuo, we walked along the West Street to the riverbank of Li River. There were lots of boats in the river. And we were told that the Li River rising in the Mao'er Mountain in Xing'an Country of Guilin. On the other side of the river, there was a small island, where some people are riding horses on the green grassland. The island was so beautiful that we decided to reach there by boat. Standing on the island, we had a relatively overall impression of Yangshuo: the West Street and grand mountains enhance each others' beauty, inverted reflection can be seeing in clear waters... A couple was taking their wedding photos. And we all admired the professional dedication of the photographer!

13:20-14:30 Lunch at Meiyou Restaurant

We chose to have lunch at Meiyou Restaurant in the sightseeing corridor on its second floor. It was quite near the entrance of the West Street and the Beer Fish there was authentic.

14:40-16:00 Visit the Idyllically Beautiful Countryside

Transfer: battery vehicle

Sightseeing: Aishan Village

After lunch, we went to the Aishan Village by battery vehicle. And we visited the old houses there. On our way to visit the local family, the beautiful idyllically sceneries there greatly tempted us.

After arriving in the destination, we paid a home visiting to a local family for about half an hour. The stone mill there seemed so special that we had a try to make soybean milk. The soybean and water should be put into the hole first. Through the grinning, the ground milk can flow to the ware under the outlet. And finally you will have natural soybean milk after boiling the raw milk.

In fact, it was not the first time that all of us went to Yangshuo, but definitely a distinctive experience, not relevant to the shopping stalls or the highly-concerned Impression Sanjie Liu. Trying to discover different aspects of life is wonderful. If you had chance, you can see thousands kinds of Yangshuo! more informations you can consult the China Travel agency.

Yangshuo Beer Fish

Guilin is famous in the world while Yangshuo is famous in Guilin. As a special cuisine of Yangshuo, Beer Fish has been heard by visitors for long. The Beer Fish of Yangshuo wins its reputation owing to its unique cooking method. As a result, Yangshuo Beer Fish becoming excellent symbols of Yangshuo with its beautiful natural landscapes.

Both the materials and cooking method of Pijiu Yu are well managed. The chose fish mainly weights 1 to 1.5 kilograms and the wild carp and Mandarin fish are good choices. Cut the fish into two halfs without scraping the scales first and then fried the fish till it turns golden on both sides and the scales roll up while the shape of fish is still well-preserved. Then put the cooked garnishes in the pot and cook the fried fish and garnishes with Liquan Beer (the beer is used as water) until only 20% of soup is left (to have the soup with rice is also quite delicious). The key point to make Beer Fish is the heat control: use high heat first and then low heat until the fish turns yellow gradually and becomes several big pieces.

Finally, it's time to taste the legendary Beer Fish (Pijiu Yu). The scales of fish are still connected after cooking. Grasping one piece of fish with chopsticks, you can see the white, fresh and tender meat under the scales, which taste tender and delicious. And you can not get enough of it! The adversities in the streets of Yangshuo are as many as its restaurants and the beer fish in Da Shifu(大师傅), Xijie Chuanren(西街传人), Yi Kuai Wa(一块瓦), Xie Dajie(谢大姐), Xie Sanjjie(谢三姐), Peng Dajie(彭大姐), Chen Dajie(陈大姐) Restaurant taste great. If you had the chance to Yangshuo, do not miss the chance to have a delicious Beer Fish dinner, which would never let you down!

Sichuan China Traveler

Sichuan Cuisine

I admit, I enjoy eating pig’s feet.

The pork embraced by a thick blanket of fat and barely clinging to an inner bone is some of the most tender meat your taste buds will ever encounter.

Prepared with boiled potatoes covered with sauerkraut, the meal is among my all-time favorites. It was one of my most requested birthday meals, and my Mother happily obliged. At least when she could find pig’s feet, a.k.a. pig’s knuckles. Supermarkets don’t always carry them.

Only one time can I recall ever seeing pig’s feet on a menu and that was at a German restaurant in Milwaukee. And they were delicious.

The second time I encountered pig’s feet was at the Bifengxia Panda Bear Base, about two hours from Chengdu in the Sichuan Province.

Among the 10 dishes I recall were deep-fried beans, sausage, a type of hashbrowns, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, a pork dish, a chicken dish -- and pig’s feet!

We just needed boiled potatoes and sauerkraut.

None of these dishes were what you’d call traditional Sichuan Cuisine, those hot and spicy dishes that create red faces and produce columns of steam from the ears. At least none that I tried.

In case you didn’t know, spicy is synonymous with Sichuan in the culinary arts.

Some people actually enjoy eating something that is so spicy hot it numbs their palate. Me, I’ve had root canal and I don’t particularly care to have water dribbling down my chin because my mouth was too numb to notice.

The spicy hot cuisine that Sichuan Province is famous for remained untouched by my chopsticks, which, like my taste buds, adapted quite nicely to Kung poa chicken.

Such was not the case for Rex Viehman of Houston. He came to Chengdu and the Sichuan Province specifically for the Sichuan Cuisine. He is among those who enjoy third-degree-burns of the taste buds.

“I love the combination of the fiery and numbing sensation,” Rex told me. “What I learned...is that you don’t go to a high-end restaurant to get Sichuan, you go to the stalls (on the streets) where there’s people with the skewers and they’re just deep heating the grilled meat in those flavorings.

“As a culinary tourist, I found actually going low end is better than going high end.”

Rex truly was in culinary heaven.

Mind you, I’m not a picky eater. I’ll try everything once. But I admit I didn’t try the hot stuff, or the chicken feet or duck’s tongue that I saw for sale by street vendors. Neither did I opt to order the slithery snakes that were crawling around in an aquarium ready to be plucked out and BBQ’d. I bravely tried rattlesnake in Phoenix once. It didn’t taste like chicken. It was very salty and needed lots of cold beer.

In Ya’an, my palate got its most challenging test at one of the many “Hot Pot” restaurants that line the Qingyi River, next to that cool bridge.

Hot Pot is when they bring out a boiling pot and set it in the middle of your table over a flame. All the ingredients are put into the boiling water. Ours was duck soup ( video ) .

I tried the bamboo shoots. Not sure what panda bears see in bamboo. Yuk. I tried to try the mushrooms (I’ve never liked fungi, my family can attest), but they were large and so chewy I couldn’t break off a piece and I finally gave up. The seaweed was, well, I forget. I’ve tasted dry seaweed in Japan and it was OK. The pork meatballs were especially tasty, as was the beer -- I enjoyed seconds and thirds on both.

And of course, I tried a piece of the boiled duck, which was put into the pot in its entirety -- neck, head, beak and all. It wasn’t bad, but like a divining rod, my chopsticks kept going for the pork meatballs.

Xian

The story is almost like a fairy tale: In March of 1974 some local farmers wanted to dig a new water well. While raising buckets of soil, they suddenly found all kinds of terracotta fragments in the shape of body parts. Soon thereafter archeologists and historians discovered this must be the site of the famous terracotta army of the first Qin dynasty emperor. Although the existence of this army had been described in ancient chronicles, it had up until then been considered nothing but mere legend.

By the late 1970s the excavation site proved to be gigantic. The national government built massive halls over some of the pits; as protection for the frail earthen soldiers and also to facilitate the growing number of visitors. During the 1980s the Terracotta Army's importance and fame spread over the world and more and more international leaders and stars visited the site, all expressing their awe, frequently in very lyrical words. The most oft-quoted one, is that of France's former president Chirac who allegedly called it “the most marvelous thing I have ever seen and definitely the 8th world wonder"

Popular exhibitions in leading museums around the world (like the one currently being held in the British Museum in London) were even more important to make the Terracotta Army known to the world public, and it is currently one of the most popular tourist sights in the whole of Asia.

I have visited the Terracotta Army on three different occasions. And I have to say; my honest opinion about the whole site is a little different then that of president Chirac. However, before I will talk about my personal experiences, first some more details about the history of these unearthed warriors

A little bit of Terracotta history

The soldiers, horses and carriages that you can now see at the Terracotta Army excavation site near Xi'an, are part of an enormous army that was created as a component of a tomb complex for Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi who lived at around 250BC. The soldiers were expected to help this emperor rule another empire in the spirit world. According to information given on the site itself; the construction of the whole mausoleum began in 246BC and it took around 700,000 workers 38 years to complete this incredible task. A morbid side of this story is that a considerable amount of these craftspeople were buried alive with the completion of the crypt, in order to preserve the secrets of the riches of the mausoleum.

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi died in 210BC and was buried inside an earthen pyramid that rises 76 meters into the sky and is surrounded by fields full of the afterlife army. This tomb pyramid is located near the current Terracotta Army sight and can also be visited.

The terracotta figures itself are all incredibly life-like. Their uniforms, hairstyles and -most notably- their facial features and expressions all are different. It is hard to imagine this was all created over 2200 years ago; and of course it can be seen as one giant testimony of the power of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi and -more generally- as an eternal proof of the level of the Chinese civilization at that time.

However fascinating this history on itself may be; the tourist sight that can be visited today certainly doesn't do anything to let its visitors be enveloped by this kind of enthrallment.

A sight full of 'buts'

Do you know that feeling of slight disappointment, of some kind of disenchantment when you finally visit a world famous sight for real? You have read about it, you have seen countless pictures of it in books and magazines, you watched images of the place on television or even in the movies. And then you are finally there yourself, and.....it is a lot less magical then you had expected it to be.

This feeling came over me very strongly the first time I visited the Terracotta Army. All those magnificent pictures of long lines of earthen soldiers with their delicate features, and all those stories about the vastness of the excavation site and the work in progress that is going on there as more and more treasures are unearthed; they all fail to warn you for the true look and feel of the place; one of pompous early eighties communist architecture combined with recent waves of Starbuckish commercialization.

This may sound negative, but these indeed were my true feelings upon first entering the area. Instead of having the idea of stepping onto grounds of historical significance were you are about the see a grand archeological treasure; it seems you are entering a dated government area full of huge office-like buildings in that robust and official looking communist style or architecture that also can be found in cities such as Berlin and Moscow. The three excavations pits are covered by huge structures that take away all the magic and mystery of the displayed warriors, horses and carriages. Information about everything is given by signs and several exhibition areas that lack any fantasy or creativity. And in between those three excavation pits you can find some other 'treasures' such as a movie theater that shows an incoherent and hopelessly outdated film about the history of the Terracotta Army and a mall with pricy restaurants and coffee shops that particularly flourish (as one of the shop keepers smilingly told me) because of American senior citizen tour groups.

I think it is pretty clear now; I was really disappointed when I visited the Terracotta army. I understand that a famous sight like that can not exist without malls and souvenir shops and I also comprehend that huge numbers of visitors require proper facilities; yet this could have been done a tad more subtle: with more respect for the historical importance of the area, without making it look like a state office district and with less in-your-face commercial exploitation. All of which badly distract from the terracotta statues itself -which are indeed beautiful!-

So when you visit the site, the trick is to lower your expectations (mine were proven too high) and try to focus solely on the unique artifacts that are showcased. Perhaps you'll do a better job then me and will be able to enjoy the place a lot more than I did. And remember that –all the 'buts' taken aside- the Terracotta army absolutely is a must-see when you are visiting this part of China.

Practical stuff

Most tourists visit the Terracotta Army either as part of a package tour arranged by a travel agency, or book a one day tour at one of the many, many, many local travel bureaus that often have desks in bigger hotels as well as in popular backpacker hostels. A tour which includes the entry fee usually costs about 150RMB. But you can save some money by just taking the regional bus yourself. The most convenient one is bus line number 306 which leaves from the East Square of the Xi'an Central Train Station and goes to the sight directly. It will take you about 50 minutes to get there and the bus ticket is only 8RMB. If you buy your ticket entrance ticket for Terracotta Army, don't forget to show your student- or senior citizen card. Cards from all over the world are accepted and the entrance price will be 45RMB. If you don't have a card like that then you'll have to pay the standard rate of 90RMB.

Some last tips. Take some snacks and drinks yourself, cause prices inside are sky high. A small terracotta warrior figurine is of course a great souvenir but the on-site gift shops depend -as told above- on the naivety of rich Westerners. But we are not that kind, now are we! Haha. So save your money and buy some souvenirs from one of the vendors that you will encounter on the parking area, or in some shops along the main road that passes the area. And lining that same road are several pleasant restaurants to have your lunch, instead of in the mall that is built within the site-area.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place Luoyang

Under normal circumstances nobody wants to find themselves between a rock and a hard place. But about 2,300 years ago an ancient art form developed and began spreading East, putting artisans, craftsmen, monks and politicians in exactly that position.

And they liked it.

For the past 1,700 years, we’ve had a reason to do it to ourselves, too—and it’s well worth it. Many liked the rocks so much and thought they were so valuable that they stole some from their hard place and absconded with them to countries far beyond the Chinese border.

Who would put themselves in such a place?

I’m speaking of a little river valley of grottoes in southwestern Henan province, just a stone’s throw from the city of Luoyang. I’m speaking of the Longmen Grottoes.

Brailled Hillside

And truly, they are between a rock and a hard place. All that’s in front of you is a steep stone cliff hewn from the mountainside. Step back too far and you’ll be swept away by the Yi River. But overcome your fear of heights, and discover one of history’s truly remarkable artistic feats.

The Longmen Grottoes comprise 1,300 caves along a 1 kilometer stretch of cliffside where 2,800 steles and over 100,000 statues have been carved. The first artisan brought his chisel and hammer to stone in the year 493 during the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the caves were continually carved out through the Tang dynasty and into the Song, over a period of 400 years.

At the time, Buddhism had taken hold in China, its practices and art forms woven into Chinese society and philosophy. Eventually the consuming, devotional art of cave temples, which began in Eastern India in the 3rd century B.C., spread to China as well. Today, the Dunhuang Caves of Mogao along the Silk Road and the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi along with those at Longmen together display the history and tradition of cave temples in palimpsest. The carvings at Longmen are said to exemplify the height of the carving tradition, unlike the others in their detail, character, size and quality.

And, seriously, when’s the last time you looked at art that was genuinely centuries old (and not just ‘rebuilt’ in a centuries-old style)?

Visual Chronicle

It doesn’t quite strike the onlooker at first that they’re standing there; bearing witness to the same benevolent brow of Buddha that was shaped by a human hand at a time when the crack of Pangaea splitting was still resonating on the airwaves. Or that it was even possible to scale sheer cliffs and hang out for hours on end, sloughing off the stone to reveal the divine shapes beneath.

And then it does hit: and everyone reacts to the awe differently. But most just find themselves happy to be there, between that mountainside stretch of rock and the narrow, hard place you stand on to view them.

But Longmen Grottoes is not only distinctive for its age or its refinement. It’s a visual chronicle of the ebb and flow of power, politics, religion and social values over the 400 hundred years that they were being carved. Emperors and nobles who favored them and councilors who favored the nobles and monks who were in favor by the nobles and Emperor would all commission sites at Longmen. Artisans developed their own creative style, carving methods changed; a realism unknown before in stone carving breathed life into the limestone rock. It’s even rumored that some of the Tang statues are created in the likeness of notable figures of that time. Not to mention that women who held positions of esteem or power exercised their artistic eye and left their mark.

A Kilometer of Carving

About one third of the Longmen Grottoes were carved during the Northern Wei dynasty and two thirds were done during the Tang dynasty, from 618-907 AD. Upon passing beneath the bridge which serves as entrance gate to Longmen, the first grottoes reached are those from the Northern Wei. As the hillside unfolds southward, Wei recedes to Tang. Across the river perches the stately XiangShan Temple, or the Fragrant Mountain Temple and Bai Garden, the garden villa and tomb of the great Tang Dynasty poet, Bai Juyi. Additional grottoes freckle the eastern side of the river, though they’re not as distinctive and evolving as the tale that unfolds on Mt. Longmen on the western side of the River Yi.

Guyangdong grotto was the earliest cave completed at Longmen, and though it’s the first, it is found nearly in the middle of the cliffside. Sponsored by the Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Buddha Sakyamuni and two bodhisattvas next to him are slender and emaciated, the mark of Northern Wei carving style.

Lianhua Cave

Lianhua Cave, or Lotus Cave, gets its name from the distinctive Lotus flower carved in relief on the ceiling of the 6 meter high cave. The archway of the cave entrance is decorated with carved flames and is guarded by a fearsome warrior in fine detailed clothing. The lotus on the ceiling, though carved centuries ago, still maintains its shape and detail, a testament to the lasting symbolism of the lotus flower not only in Buddhism but in the deep roots of Chinese culture. The disciple on the left side of the cave was carved with a high-bridged nose, deep eyes, a wrinkled forehead and worn-out clothing to evoke the image of an old Indian monk. As is the unfortunate tale with several statues at Longmen, the disciple’s head was stolen in the 1930’s and sold to France. It was not until the People’s Republic of China was founded that the grottoes at Longmen received full protection from the state.

Wanfo Cave

Wanfo Cave, or Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, is a marvel in its detail. More than 15,000 palm-sized sitting Buddhas are etched out on the north and south walls of the cave. They surround one giant Buddha flanked by two disciples, two bodhisattvas, two heavenly kings, two warriors and two lions. The statues in this cave reflect not only representations of the Buddhist order but the social order of China at that time. The cave was created in honor of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, visually spelling out the edict that the ruler of heaven is incarnated as Emperor on Earth. Two nuns were in charge of the cave construction. Later, they became famous for their technical skills and artistic eyes.

Yaofang Cave

One of the most historically valuable caves is Yaofang Cave. 140 medical prescriptions from the Tang Dynasty are recorded on both sides of its walls. Begun in Northern Wei, the Cave was not completed until the Tang dynasty, spanning almost two hundred years. The prescriptions list ways to treat over 40 diseases covering everything from internal medicine to neurology to surgery and pediatrics. There is even a prescription for treating Malaria. After the 10th century the prescriptions spread to Japan, where they have been found in one of the oldest Japanese medical journals listed under ‘Longmen Prescriptions’.

FengXian Grotto

The signature cave of Longmen Grottoes Fengxian cave, lies at the southern end of the river valley and boasts the largest of the Tang stone sculptures. Completed in 675 and carved high up the cliffside, two long flights of stairs were created just to reach the cave. Ascending the steps is a (literally) breathtaking exercise in anticipation. At first the statue is completely hidden from view until, step by step, a colossal representation of the seated Vairocana Buddha, or Shining Light Buddha, unfolds before you until you stand upon the top step, still hundreds of feet away from the Buddha, craning your neck to take in the whole statue.

A Stunning Likeness...

The grotto contains a total of 9 giant statues: the Buddha, two disciples, two bodhisattvas, two heavenly kings and two warriors. The Buddha, over 17 meters tall, and its attending statues, display the height of Tang carving style. The faces are etched in human likeness, not rigid lifelessness, portraying different personalities, facial expressions, postures and movement. The resulting effect creates a connection between the onlooker and the statues—a reverence—that other carvings at earlier times (or at other sites) lack. The scale of Fengxian cave, its artistic design and life-like portrayals show the innovative skill and craftsmanship the Tang carvers reached almost 600 years before Giotto made the Virgin Mary reach out with a mother’s tenderness toward the baby Jesus in 13th century Italy.

Fengxian Grotto was commissioned by the first Empress of China, Wu Zetian, of the Tang Dynasty. It is rumored that the sculptors of Vairocana Buddha used a realistic life as creative inspiration for the statue’s soft features. Is the first Empress of China immortalized in stone?

To be continued...

Romantic and charming Chongqing Night

Myself and my wife travelled to Chongqing for yangtze cruise, so I had no expectations of having so much fun at Chongqing as a transfer city. As arranged in the China travel plan, we have to stay one night in Chongqing for our flight is so late. After have picked up and checked in local hotel, the local guide left us. Sleepless for the next day’s yangtze cruise, so we decided to explore this riverine city at night by ourselves.

Surprised, that night in Chongqing is the most romantic and charming place that I have ever visited. My wife and myself held hands and walked to the riverside where many restaurant boats are waiting to be boarded. We didn't use these restaurants but they looked fantastic and many people were using them. On the way to the riverside I was approached by a young boy of about 2 years of age, he held onto my leg and wanted me to buy flowers from his mum. I bought these flowers for my wife and he gave myself and my wife a kiss on the hand. What a lovely child he was and I will never forget that moment. Many people dance in the Square at Chongqing and many people are willing to join in and also teach others how to dance. We lit a lantern and it elevated high into the night sky and joined with many other lanterns that people had lit. It was something I always wanted to do. At the bank of the river there are coloured lights and in the square there are more lights which make Chongqin at night look so Romantic. I would recommend any young lovers to go to Chongqin and enjoy the night life. It is truly remarkable and I will certainly go there again in the future.

Trip to Tibet

Lhasa is one of the most featured and mysterious cities in the world.As remoteness and high altitude at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet), it means unaccessibility. However , it’s cultral and holy history has created mysterious and romantic .when I got to there ,for the first time ,it so wonderful, and left me an impressive appearance . Lhasa is a place with it’s own charming ,attracted many travelers to there .In my days in Lhasa ,I met quite a lot travelers who came from other countries .such as ,France ,America,Swiss,Australia,and so on .my guide told me that Lhasa is the center of Tibet's politics, economy and culture. The word “Lhasa” means the Holy Land or the Buddha Land. The city has also been appointed as one of the 24 historical and cultural cities of China.Lhasa is a really beautiful city . Lhasa is situated in the South Central part of the region, on the North bank of the Kyichu River (Lhasa River) in a mountain-fringed valley. It covers 30,000 square kilometers (11,583 square miles), with a population of 400,000, of which 87 percent are Tibetans. The local tibetan people are kind and friendly . they helped me a lot . Just as carrying luggage .one day , I met a tibetan guy who speaks well English .He told me that he is a student of Tibet University .He liked travelers to visit his home town –Lhasa . He wanted outside friends to know more of their culture and history . but he seemed melancholy .he told me that he hoped foreigners to love this place ,don’t throw rubbish anywhere .

During the days I visited Lhasa ,the weather is mild, not hot nor cold , and comfortable for travel . you know that Lhasa enjoys 3,000 hours of sunlight annually, well ,sometimes is called the "sunlit city" by Tibetans. Potala Palace is a worthwhile place to visit. for it is known as the bright pearl on the roof of the world . Potala Palace was built on the hill site. I believed that It is a miracle in the world . when climb Potala palace ,it was breathtaking ,for need rest a lot .

I ‘d like to recommend you that there are three options for travel to Tibet, by plane, by road and by train.for me , I took train to tibet ,I thought that it’s a fabulous option ,for I have many chances to seen the rarely mountain views .I just forgotten the most important thing. you need tibet permit and a reliable travel agency .if you choose a trust travel agency TopChina Trip ,you can as lucky as I .and hope you enjoy a nice journey . hope it can help those who want to take a travel in Tibet

Yellow Mountain(HuangShan) Anhui

Today, I want to talk about The Yellow Mountains (Huangshan) visited last month with topchinatrip trip arrangement. I will simply introduce it first, but the main part of my presentation is about the luck I got for visiting the “Huangshan in cloud” and some of my feelings about it .

Huangshan is located in the Southern part of Anhui Province of China. It is also my hometown. It is one of the most famous scenic spots in China with its most attractive “the fantastic pines, the grotesque rocks, the sea of clouds and the hot springs”.

I had been to Huangshan for several times and its steepness and picturesque landscape left a deep impression on me. But the most unforgettable was the cloud there and even so far, I still think its could was so touching, magnificent and brilliant. Every time when I recalled my trips there, those clouds would always burst out from my memory.

It is not every time you visit Huangshan that you can see the sea of clouds there and I was the really lucky one. I still remembered that time when I went there for a business meeting. I started my “walking in the cloud” after then. When I climbed up, the shower just stopped. Walking along the little path with the thick fog and clouds on both sides, you could feel the damp brought by the breeze. It seemed that you had walked inside a cloud or been surrounded by them and made you feel like in the fairy land. When the clouds were floating around me, I really had a desire to reach out the hands to hold one of them. The cloud in Huangshan was always changing without stop. Sometimes, it was so active and vivid and sometimes it could become so serene and charming. Huangshan could never leave the clouds because they always relied on each other and only the tight combination of them could form that uniquely poetic picture of Huangshan.

As a matter of fact there are marvels everywhere especially in the following scenic areas: Wenquan(Hot Spring), Yupinglou(Jade Screen Tower), Xihai(West Sea), Beihai(North Sea), Yungusi(Cloud Valley Temple), and Songguan(Pine Valley Nunnery)

China's Time Machine: Pingyao's Old City

It was well past midnight when my wife and I stepped off the sleeper bus onto the side of a very long and dimly lit highway. As the bus’ red tail lights disappeared into oblivion and our eyes began to readjust to the lack of light, our bodies registered the fact that it was a chilly evening and we were happy to be wearing out jackets. Being dropped off in the middle of nowhere could be scary in any country, especially in this weather, but for some reason here in China, I felt both confident and prepared. Next to us on the road was a large sign barely visible in the moonlight. It read: “Next Exit: Pingyao”.

It all seemed like a dream when we woke up the next morning in a small guesthouse somewhere – we weren’t sure where - within the city. I vaguely remember a small motorized rickshaw finally picking us up near the highway exit and transporting us to our beds through the heavy darkness that shrouded the countryside, making it impossible for us as passengers to see where we were headed. I distinctly remember entering Pingyao’s old city, passing under the wall that protects it on all sides, and thinking about how it felt like we were back in Xi’an entering the gate of its walled city. No sounds and very few lights greeted us as we moved our bags from the tiny rickshaw to the guesthouse where we paid our room fee and almost instantaneously fell asleep upon hitting the bed.

As we began to walk around that next morning, however, we realized that this city was more than a dream, it was our chance to travel in time through China’s history and experience life as it was in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Our research prior to arriving in Pingyao told us that this city was founded in the 14th century by the Ming Emperor Hongwu and became well known as the financial and banking center of China. Fortunately for many tourists today, Pingyao has managed to avoid vast modernization for the 600 years since it’s founding by retaining most all of its ancient buildings, narrow stone-cobbled streets, and city wall, but as the city becomes a popular travel destination such preservation has been difficult to maintain. No less than three decades ago this city was virtually unknown, but in 1986 the city was designated a Chinese Historical and Cultural city by the PRC and later in 1997 was given full honors as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Our preliminary walk through the city was quiet, pleasurable, and surprisingly short. From one side of the city wall to the other was never more than 300 meters and to completely walk around its perimeter was only a quick 6.4 km. Although the architecture of the surrounding buildings is mesmerizing, what really caught my eye was the feeling that I was a suddenly part of a black and white movie. I couldn’t help but notice how grey and colorless the city looked having used stone to cover or build every imaginable structure. Cars were noticeably absent from the narrow streets, replaced by trotting donkeys and the occasional motorcycle, giving my ears a moment of relief from the city noise I had become so accustomed to hearing here in China.

After scouting out the area we decided it would be a good idea to begin visiting the museums and sites that Pingyao had to offer. We only had one day to spend in the city, but really that’s all the time that we needed. We slowly meandered down Nanguang Dajie, the main street running north and south, window shopping to our heart’s content until we arrived at the South Gate. Just outside the city wall at the South Gate we found a small booth selling the general admission tickets for most every city attraction we wanted to visit in Pingyao, thus starting our journey.

Many city walls still exist in China – some old and ruined (like Kashgar) and others beautifully restored (as in Xi’an). Pingyao is unique in that its city wall is the earliest and most intact city wall in China. It rises 12 meters high with an average width of 5 meters and is surrounded by a small moat no wider than 4 meters. Very little restoration has been required throughout the years, meaning that what you see now is very close to how it was hundreds of years ago.

Having just arrived from Xi’an, I was first struck by how small this wall seemed. Obviously it wasn’t built with large trucks in mind, so the South Gate is quite narrow to pass through and I loved seeing the carriage-car indentions in the stone road. Being on top of the wall doesn’t feel as high as in Xi’an, yet Pingyao’s small size and tiny buildings allowed me to see the entire city and even the other side of the wall – something I couldn’t do in Xi’an. We had the option to rent a bike to ride around, but we decided it would be more enjoyable to walk the uneven stones on foot. It was along this wall we were able to see the most ancient parts of Pingyao, its homes, as well as the countryside which surrounded the city.

Ri Sheng Chang Exchange House, established in the early Qing Dynasty, became a financial powerhouse in China, boasting numerous branches throughout China, and a financial system which would be the foundation of China’s banking future. Even though I have no real interest in banks, I was not disappointed by the time I spent looking around this fascinating museum. If you’re a fan of architecture, as I am, you’ll love the courtyards, offices, and buildings. If you admire ancient furniture you’ll find yourself eagerly anticipating each new room and what treasures it might hold. If you love old coins and money you’ll find more than you can handle. Finally, if you have any interest in Chinese history whatsoever you’ll be drawn in by how a small city could have a profound impact on such a large empire.

All signs throughout the museum had been translated, although not always correctly, into English, but there were some things I just didn’t care to read. This bank had closed in the early 1900’s after a long and successful history, but they didn’t leave without a tiny bit of bitterness. Almost every sign made the clear accusation that the bank’s failure was a direct result of western competition or interference. The more I read and walked around the more I felt like I was on trial for the murder of this banking system, regardless of the fact that it was before my time and I had paid money to enter the museum. Thankfully this wasn’t enough to ruin my experience.

County Government Office and Jail

Not much is written about this place in travel books or internet sites, but since it was included in the general admissions ticket we decided to take a look. Again we were pleasantly surprised by the simple beauty and great amount of history here. At this Government Office you’ll be able to see a proper court of law as well as experience what a Chinese jail cell is like while walking around beautiful ponds, grand courtyards, and large trees.

Although all of this history was staring us in the face, we were unfortunately not able to soak most of it in because very little sign direction or literature was found to guide us. Even still, taking pictures in a Chinese jail cell was plenty enjoyable.

A Travel to Shaolin Temple

Shaolin Temple was established in 495 during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), in honor of an Indian monk called Bodhidharma (known to the Chinese as Da Mo), who is founder of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism or more popularly known as Chinese Chan (or Zen) Buddhism. Shaolin Temple is therefore regarded as the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism. The present Shaolin Temple is not only famous for its ancient Buddhist culture, but is more renowned at home and abroad because of its Sholin Martial Arts (Kung Fu).

After reaching the Shaolin Temple, the first structure I saw is the enormous entrance gate. Hung on its top is a tablet reading 'Shaolin Temple', which was inscribed by the Emperor Kangxi (1622-1723) during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Under the stairs of the hall crouches two stone lions made in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Behind the gate is a corridor paved with inscriptions on stone steles made during several different dynasties

Tian Wang Hall (Hall of Heavenly Kings)

After entering the entrance gate of Shaolin Temple, you will see the Tian Wang Hall (Hall of Heavenly Kings). It is characterized by double eaves flanked behind by a Bell Tower (this tower holds a great bronze bell) and a Drum Tower (this tower holds an artistic drum). The hall gates are guarded by two colored clay figures of Vajras. Inside the hall are statues of the four Heavenly Kings, each standing divinely while holding his distinctive weapon.

Daxiong Bao Hall (Mahavira Hall)

Daxiong Bao Hall (Mahavira Hall) is the main hall of Shaolin Temple. The original was built in the Jin Dynasty but destroyed in 1928. The present structure was restored from the original in 1986. In the hall are the statues of the Trinity Buddha - Sakyamuni, Amitabha (Emitofo) and Bhaisajyaguru (Yaoshifo, God of Medicine). There are 18 smaller golden statues at the left and right side, the arhats. In the Daxiong Bao Hall the morning ceremonies of the monks take place long time before the Shaolin Temple opens its gates for the tourists.

Cangjing Pavillon (Sutras-keeping House)

The Cangjing Pavilion is one of the most important buildings in Shaolin Temple because the old Buddhist Sutras are kept here, the basics of the Buddhist religion. The monks meet there to pray. There is no permission for tourists.

Qianfo Hall (Thousand Buddhas Hall)

The Hall of Thousand Buddhas, which is called in Chinese Qianfo Hall. The stone stairs, which were made from only one big stone, were allowed to be touched only by the emperor in the Ancient time. All other persons had to use the 'normal' stairs in two sides. At the inner walls many hand paintings with the 500 arhats can be seen. This hall is one of the oldest and holiest in the Shaolin Temple. There the Shaolin monks trained Shaolin Kung Fu over centuries. Each deep hole in the stone ground tells a story of very hard training.

Talin (Forest of Pagodas)

Lying to the west of the temple, the Forest of Pagodas is a must see for each visitor. The forest features 250 pagodas from different dynasties. The oldest one was from the Tang Dynasty. The pagodas are the tombs of the celebrated Shaolin monks. The sizes of these pagodas range from seven stories (14.6 meters) to just a meter in height. All are built in either stone or brick. The exquisite stone and brick carvings are of great value in the study of Chinese carving.

Dharma Cave

This is the place where Dharma patiently faced the wall and meditated for 9 years. In the end, he reached the immortal spiritual state and created the Buddhist Zen. The cave is seven meters deep (about 23 feet) and three meters high (about 9.8 feet). In the cave, many inscriptions are carved on the walls.

Martial Arts Training Center

The Shaolin Wushu (Martial Arts) Training Center comes last. It is a good place for practicing Chinese Sholin Kung Fu. Shaolin monks have been practicing Kung Fu there for over 1,500 years.

In conclusion, The Shaolin Temple, which is located in beautiful scenery and surrounded by mountains and rich vegetation, is worth a visit. It will give you a better understanding of Chinese Buddhism and the martial arts. Besides, if you take a chinese travel agency, such as China Travel as I did, it will be easier to go and understand China in depth. For the guides there are really good at history.

Special place in my mind

As we know, there're so many great places with beautiful scenery, interesting cultures, friendly people, delicious food...in the world.

Is there any place special enough in your mind that can last for a long time in your life, or can make your heart beat much more faster when you get there or just think of it?

I'm not the kind of person who likes to travel to the same place twice, but one special place in my mind which is common to others is an exception. I have one which is Beijing.

I traveled to there during this october vacation again out of a happy story happened last October. It's kind of trip seeking for good memory, I think.

Yes, it's kind of sad to find you dream place changed when you visit there again, although maybe it has changed into a better one in others' eyes. Just feel regretful that its original taste that you had set for it disappeared in you life forever. The feeling lost in the second trip created a hole in your heart that nothing can fill it up.

But if the place just keeps calling you to visit again, will you like to accept the old place with a new viewpoint?

Hao han

I went to Beijing on the same time last year, but didn't get chance to visit the Great Wall out of my tight training schedule then. That's why my friends like to tease me that my trip to Beijing even excludes climbing the Great Wall., which also let them make a conclusion that I'm not a good guy. ('coz of an old Chinese saying goes that, “if you don't go to the Great Wall, you're not a good and brave guy”.) My reasonable excuse of responding to their teasing in the past was that, “I'm not interested in being as a good GUY, I think being as a woman is good”. Haha…

But I did climb the Great Wall this Oct with my guide Cindy from top china. I can announce loudly that I'm a good and brave…… Woman, still! Haha…

Last Day in Beijing

Rich and I had a great night sleep and thankfully I didn't wake up with a head the size of Texas. My back now was just itchy and still a little sore. Rich once again affirmed, yup I had gotten bit.

We were excited to for our private tour today to see the Lama Temple, Hutongs, Drum Tower and to have a ride on a Rickshaw. We were to meet Jenny in the lobby at 10am. Sure enough she was there waiting for us. We proceeded out to our driver and we were on our way.

I had told Rich so much about Jenny I was excited for him to meet her. She had become more like a friend then a tour guide. Rich was enjoying talking with her as we drove and he was asking some general questions. She laughed and said, "are you a journalist?" In reality the people in China are leery about saying too much about their country and having their names associated with it. Rich immediately assured her he was not and apologized if he had frightened her. Honestly, his questions were very general in nature so I was somewhat surprised by her reaction.

Our first stop was going to be the Lama Temple. The temple is Beijing's most visited religious sites and one of the most important functioning Buddhist temples. Only about two dozen monks live in this complex today, but the temple once was home to as many as 500 monks. We were dropped off at the entrance and the first thing you smell and see is the thick spicy smoke of incense. There are five main halls to visit. One of the halls houses a 85 foot Maitreya Buddha carved from a single sandalwood block. Unfortunately you are not allowed to take pictures inside any of the halls. The entire open courtyard is full of people burning three sticks of incense and bowing to the Buddhas. Jenny explained to us, even those that are not practicing Buddhist in China come here to ask for a wish and light the incense. If your wish is granted you are supposed to come back and thank the Buddha. She also said during one of the Chinese Holidays celebrated on January 1st the entire area is covered in smoke and the line to get into the Temple is very long. Outside of the temple are shops after shops selling incense. We wonder how they all stay in business.

After our visit to the Temple we proceeded to go to a restaurant for lunch. We went to a restaurant that was Sichuan style. We had some wonderful food that tasted much more like Chinese food in the states. After lunch we headed on to the Hutong area where we would have our first Rickshaw ride and a tour of a typical Chinese home. Hutongs are alleyways that are living museums of the old city. They are still used streets of courtyard houses and shops. They are full of life: washing is strung out from windows and telephone poles, vegetable and flowers are planted where ever space is available. Old folks sit playing chess, drinking beer or tea. Jenny pointed out that all the houses are painted grey or are grey brick, she explained this is because in ancient times the only house that could have colors other then grey were in the Forbidden City. I cannot imagine why they have stayed to this rule as it looks pretty sad to me. Especially since the sky seems to always be grey as well. We enjoyed a Rickshaw ride through some of the area and then proceeded to tour a typical Chinese home. This seemed a bit touristy to us although it was interesting. The gentleman that owned the home sat across the street and waved to everybody as they went in to his home and paid the fee. Jenny did explain this home had been in his family for many years and this would be the only reason he still had it today. It was a typical courtyard home where four small individual rooms all opened up into a small courtyard. Each room was for different members of the family based on age or gender. She also explained to us that the number of posts over the door symbolized the importance of the family that lived there. She said most of the people that had lived in these homes during the time of the Dynasties were members of the government.

We then went on to our final stop which would be the Drum Tower. Until late in the 1920's this tower housed 24 drums and was Beijing's timepiece. Sadly all but one of the drums was destroyed and the one remaining is in need of renovation. The climb to the tower consists of 67 stairs that are straight up, I figured this would be a piece of cake after the Great Wall but it actually took my breath for a few minutes. We were lucky that when we reached the top we would be able to hear the drum ceremony that they perform a few times a day. It was wonderful. We then headed downstairs to meet our driver and proceed back to our hotel. We said our good byes to Jenny, swapped emails and went back to our room. It is hard to explain but just being out for the day in China seems to make you feel dirty. I am not sure if it is the dust, the smog or justthe amount of people. Once we were showered we decided that we would have a quiet night in the hotel...........or so we thought!
Tomorrow is our last day in China and Kathrine will be taking us shopping to the Silk and Pearl Market !!