Cathy’s Travel Stories: Walkway alongside Guigu Cliff on Tianmen Mountain

Can you image a path suspends on a cliff more than 1,400m above sea level? We took a short trip to experience the road in the sky at the end of February, 2012. The road in the sky is also called the Plank Road along side Guigu Cliffs. It is located on the Shifou Mountain (also called Tianmen Mountain), Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province. Tianmen is the highest peak in the Wulingyuan Mountains and is regarded as the “soul” of Zhangjiajie city.

Here our hearts were agitated by the extreme shock and stimulation. The walk is totally awesome. We like actions slithered along the cliff wall and when we spotted someone coming in the opposite direction. And we hadn’t seen them in hope that they would be the ones to risk their life with polite offering of allowing the other to pass. It was an adventurous experience!

Kilometres of paths was built alongside Guigu Cliff on Tianmen Mountain.

Tianmen mountain literally means Heavenly Gate Mountain, standing at 1,500 meters above sea level. Tianmen cave is a natural hole half way up the mountain of a height of 131.5 metres. It is just like a gate to the heaven. Also, the mountain got its name “Tianmen Mountain”. The cableway from Zhangjiajie downtown towards Tianmen Mountain is considered to be the longest cableway in the world, covering a distance of 7,455 meters and with a height of 1,279 meters. An 11km road with 99 bends also reaches the top of the mountain and takes visitors to Tianmen cave.

Cable car, Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie city

In 1999, in an acrobatic show, three airplanes flew through Tianmen Cave.

Impressively, a 60-metre-long glass path has been built 4700ft high on the western side of Tianmen Mountain. The walkway is so high up that it allows visitors to looking down at the peaks of smaller mountains below.

Visitors tread nervously over the see-through "sky walk".

Discover the Idyllic Huangyao Ancient Town nearby Yangshuo, Guilin

Huangyao ancient town is situated in the northest of Zhaoping County, Guangxi, some 200 km away from Guilin and 90 km from Yangshuo. The town is just like a shy maiden, standing quietly by the low reaches of Li River. It has been relatively unknown until Hollywood filmed The Painted Veil a few years ago.

The idyllic Huangyao presents a typical Chinese scene - "small bridge over the flowing stream".

The history of Huangyao town can be traced back to Song Dynasty (960-1279). It was constructed again during the Wanli Period (1573-1620) of the Ming Dynasty, and boomed during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) of the Qing Dynasty. The family names of the townspeople were mainly Huang and Yao, hence the town got the name “Huangyao”.

Huangyao, with an area of 3.6 sq km, has long been known as a mini-Guilin for its typical karst landform. A river named Yaojiang passes through it, and the whole town is embraced by flows of winding water. So, according to Chinese fengshui, Huangyao is an ideal place for people to live. There are over 300 houses of Ming and Qing style, built in an array of Nine-Palaces and Eight-Diagrams. All the eight streets in Huangyao are paved with flagstone, and it is said that there are 99,999 flagstones altogether. Those houses along the streets have a functional design combining business and living into one unit. They are more than 20 small temples to visit, a number of pavilions and an old stage.

Ancient residences, with wooden doorways and tiled rooftops, along street in Huangyao

This gorgeous 900-year-old Huangyao, with its laid back lifestyle, can’t fail to wow visitors with its bucolic rhythms. Two 500-year-old banyan trees wind their way up from the river’s edge to the side of the town. Mountains go with water, water goes with bridge, bridge goes without pavilion, pavilion goes without couplet, and couplet can not go without stele, which forms a unique scene of the ancient town. Impressively, the local live as they did in old times –the old people sit gossiping on their doorsteps; young women wash vegetables or clothes by the riverside; children play games…

The locals wash vegetables or clothes by the ancient Well.

Home-made wines are sold along the street, and free for tasting.

Owing to its isolated location – surrounded by mountains and the inconvenient transportation, Huangyao always keep its half-closed condition. Thus, it makes the ancient house and cultural relics are well-preserved. With tourism development, more and more people from home and abroad visit Huangyao. And, the town, along with West Street in Yangshuo, famed as one of most valuable 50 places for foreign tourists in China.

Beijing Impression

"...the city remains an epicenter of tradition with the treasures of nearly 2,000 years as the imperial capital still on view—in the famed Forbidden City and in the city's lush pavilions and gardens..."
                                                       — National Geographic

Beijing is the capital of China, and also the nation's political, educational and cultural centre. Its history can dates back several thousand years. Stop-start capital since the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1271 - 1368), it has been the heart of China's history for centuries. The city name, from the Chinese characters 北 for north and 京 for capital, means literally the "Northern Capital". For travelers, Beijing is truly awe-inspiring with its epic imperial grandeur.

The Forbidden City - Fourteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368- 1644) and ten emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) lived and ruled China in this palace for as long as 490 years from 1421 to 1911.

The Great Wall, one of the world's most popular tourist attractions, is 3,333 miles long and was built, section by section, between the 5th century BC and 16th century AD.

Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven, served as a vast stage for solemn rites performed by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, who prayed here for good harvests, and sought divine clearance and atonement.

Summer Palace - the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. it was once a summer retreat for Empress Dowager Cixi, combining palace temples, gardens, pavilions, hill and lakes.

Beihai Park is the capital's oldest imperial garden, with an 800-year history. It's a relaxing place to stroll around, or go boating on the lake.

Yonghe Lamasery - the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It was converted to a lamasery in 1744 after serving as the former residence of Emperor Yong Zheng.

Prince Gong's Mansion - one of Beijing's largest private residential compounds. It shows how the upper class lived during the Qing Dynasty.
Ming Tombs are the final resting place of 13 of the 16 Ming Emperors. At the gate of the tomb area stands a marble archway which leads to the Sacred Road linced by 12 pairs of stone animals followed by 6 pairs of stone civil and military officials on both sides of the way.

Old Summer Palace, known in China as Yuan Ming Yuan, was an extremely large complex of palaces and gardens next to Summer Palace. After it was torched by invading British and French forces in 1860, a melancholic array of broken columns and marbel chunks remain.

Importantly, a journey into the city's Hutong - the traditional living quarters of the locals; and pay a family visit to the old walled Siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard). From spring to autumn, Beijing residents collect outside their gates, drinking beer, playing chess, and... After a hutong tour, it is the time for you to enjoy local flavour snacks. Some of the cheapest and most delicious meals can be had on the streets. Whatever you taste, a Peking roast duck dinner is an essential part of your visit to Beijing - another one is climbing the Great Wall. Peking duck has the reputation of being the most delicious Beijing food. It is mostly prized for the thin, crispy skin, though the meat is fat, it is tender and tasty, not greasy. In the evening, a Peking Opera show would be a good choice to entertain you. The show combines singing, musical dialogue, martial arts and fantastic coustumes. It is widely regarded as the highest expressionof the Chinese culture.

Confucius museum to be built in E China

With an investment of 500 million yuan (79.4 million U.S. dollars), the museum, located in Confucius’ hometown, the county-level city of Qufu, which is administered by the city of Jining, will cover 56,135 square meters, according to the Jining Tourist Information Center.

Qufu's South Gate

Construction on a Confucius museum recently began in east China’s Shandong province, local authorities said Feb. 28, 2012.

A total of 110,000 pieces of cultural relics and 260,000 archived materials about Confucius and his families will be showcased when the museum is completed in three years.

Confucius was giving lecture.

Confucius (551-479 BC), an educator and philosopher, founded a school of thought called Confucianism that deeply influenced later generations. He was also the first Chinese person to set up private schools and enroll students from all walks of life.

Qufu is the hometown of the great sage – Confucious, and his ancestors – the Kong clan. The city contains numerous historic palaces, temples and cemeteries. Collectively, the principal sights – the Confucius Temple, the Confucius Mansion and the Confucius Cemetery – are now known as the ‘San Kong’ (Three Confuciuses). Together, these three sites have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Overall, Qufu is a testament to just how important Confucian thought once was in imperial China.

Courtyard of Confucius Mansion (Kong Fu), Qufu, China

Confucius Temple (Kong Miao),Qufu, China

Confucian Cemetery（Kong Lin） - the graveyard of Confucius and his decedents.

(Source from Xinhuanet.com)

Tibetan New Year Celebrations of Losar 2012

Losar is the Tibetan word for “new year”. Losar Festival in Tibet is the biggest event, just like the Christmas in the West. It marks the beginning of Tibetan New Year. The festival lasts for 15 days, from the 1st to 15th day of the first month in Tibetan calendar. Since most Tibetans practice Tibetan Buddhism, celebrations of Losar are permeated with strong religious atmosphere. They feature ancient rituals, stage fights between good and evil, chanting and passing fire torches.

Tibetan people are dacing for celebrating Tibetan New Year

DateHistorically, since the systematization of the Tibetan calendar in 1027 A.D., the first day of the first month became fixed as Losar – the New Year. The Tibetan calendar is made up of 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, thus an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year. Tibetan people follow a lunar calendar, so the date of Losar changes from year to year. In 2012, the Tibetan New Year begins on February 22.

Kasai - a special kind of fried curled dough sticks

PreparationActually, preparations for Losar start a month or days earlier. Tibetans buy food, clothing, furniture, and decoration materials for the coming celebrations. On the 19th day of the twelfth lunar month, tradition says that it is a day for cleaning. People would clean their houses very thoroughly to sweeps away bad luck.

Offerings on household shrine

Traditions & CelebrationsTraditionally, the celebrations begin on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, that is, the day before the Tibetan New Year’s Eve. The custom that day is to make a traditional noodle soup called “Guthuk”. It is made from nine different ingredients including dried cheese and various grains. This dish is served with small dumplings. The dumplings are stuffed with one of various things such as chilies, salt, wool, rice and coal. The ingredients one finds hidden in one’s dumpling are supposed to be a lighthearted comment on one’s character. Wool means “good-heartedness”, and coal “black heart”. It is a good way of merrymaking. After dinner, people let off firecrackers and torches are used to rid the homes of evil spirits which may be lurking. On the last day of the year, Homes are freshly painted, families dress up in new clothes, good food and special dishes are cooked. People then honor the gods in their household shrines and place offerings before them. Also, Monasteries are all deckled up in the finest decorations and a Blessing Ceremony is performed on the first day of Losar.

"Night of Guthuk" on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month

By tradition, the most important thing on the first day of Tibetan New Year is to seek “holy water”. In the morning, Housewives would get up very early, and cook a pot of barley wine for the family. When dawn breaks, they head for a nearby river, or well, to fetch the first bucket of water. For the “holy water”, the family would be blessed with good luck for the New Year. Also, family member will greet each other with well-meaning wishes – “Tashi Delek”. In the coming two weeks of celebrations, Tibetans will also exchange New Year’s greetings, worship gods and horse-racing.

Horse-racing for New Year's celebrations

China nominates Tianshan Mountains for UNESCO heritage bid

Tianshan Mountains (or Celestial Mountains) in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of Northwest China, with their spectacular glaciers and diverse wildlife, have been nominated for inclusion on the U.N.’s World Heritage list, local officials said on Feb. 13.

Snow-covered peak and spectacular glacier within Tianshan Mountains range

Green and boundless glassland with beautiful natural scenery

The government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region recently submitted an application to the UNESCO World Heritage Center for review and evaluation, said officials from the Tianchi Administration Committee, a body that oversees preservation efforts for the Tianshan Mountains.

The Tianshan Mountains stretch for 2,500 km in Xinjiang, bordering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The range is home to 15,953 glaciers, the most of any mountain in the country, as well as the endangered snow leopard. About 66 percent of the world’s 2,500 remaining snow leopards live in Xinjiang.

Vanishing Snow leopards in Tianshan Mountains

Bogda Peak, one of the snowy peaks within the tianshan mountain range, is covered with snow all the year round and thus nicknamed “the sea of snow”. On the mountainside of Bogda Peak, there’s a lake called “Tianchi” (meaning “heavenly lake“). It is 1,900 meters above sea level and as deep as 90 meters. The crystal-clear lake water is made up of melted ice and snow. The lake is like a big mirror reflecting the snow-white peak and emerald-green spruce trees. The picturesque spot is a famous tourist attraction.

Tianchi or Heavenly Lake on the mountainside of Bogda Peak

(Source from: Xinhuanet.com)

Incredible Chengdu - Native Land of Pandas, China

Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan province in Southwest China. Its name literally means "becoming a city", and dates back to the city's founding over 2,300 years ago. For Chengdu, it is perhaps best known outside of China for lovely Giant Pandas and spicy Sichuan cuisine. Actually, it is a tourism paradise for travelers, with enchanting natural scenery, amazing historical sites, unique cultural ambience, and leisurely lifestyle. It is also called 'a city where one would not think of leaving once there'.

Like many major cities in China, Chengdu is a place of contrasts - modern and ancient. Traditional wooden architecture and tree-lined streets are giving way to flashy malls and glassy high-rises. New western style buildings can be found everywhere in the downtown. However, the city still boasts a long glorious history and rich culture that can'be rivaled. Among many historical sites in and around Chengdu are Wuhou Memorial Temple, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Sanxingdui Ruins, Leshan Giant Buddha, Emei Buddhist Mountain, Qingcheng Taoist Mountain, and... Whatever one's interests, there is always plenty to do.

Impressively, Chengdu has the reputation as a very "laid-back" city for its carefee lifestyle. Something is still present in the city's teahouse where locals will spend the day relaxing, drinking tea and playing mah-jong. Traditional teahouses in Chengdu feature bamboo chairs and wooden tables, and jasmine tea is served as the local staple. They can be spotted on almost every city corner, and are a focal point of Sichuan culture. Besides, Chengdu people clearly know how to enjoy their colorful nightlife, from dinner party at hotpot restaurants, tasting snacks at night markets, singing KTV, to dancing at night clubs.

And of course, no visit to Chengdu is complete without going to see the pandas. As China's national treasure, the giant panda is one of the rarest animals in the world. For protection, a breeding center for giant pandas was founded in the north suburbs of Chengdu. It offers a good chance to go eye to eye with cute pandas.