Deep Exploration into Shambhala - Tibet, Yunnan

Tea Horse Inn is located on the hillside of the Haba Mountain. We arrived at the inn near in the evening. Tea Horse inn seemed much more famous to the foreigners than we Chinese, for there were many foreigners in the inn. Opened the window of the inn, the north peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain came into my sight.

Night fell quiet in the valley, and there was no trace of the hustle and bustle with a chilly wind blowing from the mountain. Looking up the stars in the sky, I was occupied with the feeling of peaceful and calm. I did not expect to actually come to the Tea Horse Inn, which was a windfall in this journey, we owed thanks to the recommendation of the Mr. Master Wang. We walked alone the Tea Horse Ancient Road from the upper Tiger Jump to the lower Tiger Jump.
Tea-Horse Ancient Road originated from the tea-horse trade in southwest border of China, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and thrived in Ming and Qing dynasties, during World War II, Tea-Horse Ancient Road achieved the most flourishing period, from the earliest tea stall shaky to the fur of horses and mules, medicinal herbs produced in Tibetan, Sichuan and Yunnan border Regions, as well as tea, salt, cloth and commodity swaps produced in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Tea-Horse Road is divided as in north-south roads, which the south road is Yunnan-Tibet Road, and the north road is Sichuan-Tibet Road.
Yunnan-Tibet Road, starts from the western tea-producing areas-Yunnan Erhai area, though Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Deqin, Mangkang to Changdu, then passes the Tibet, until Nepal and India.
Tea-Horse Road is a trade road, along the main trunk of the Tea-Horse Road, there are numerous small feeders scatted around to closely link the "Triangle" area Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet together, forming the highest and the most dangerous mountain road in the world and the most remote tea-horse trade route and ethnic migration corridors.

From middle Tiger Jump to the upper Tiger Jumped is on the slope, along the way, Tea Horse Road is Hutiaoxia Valley, halfway up the side of the Haba Snow Mountain. At the foot of the abyss, Jinsha River looked like a bent thin belt. The sun slowly rose from one side of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the clouds in the valleys constantly pouring out, it was really spectacular. We put ourselves in the embrace of the clouds.

The rugged, steep and bumpy Tea-Horse Road was simply formed by a number of caravans who stepped on the road day after day, year after year with their own feet and even life. We walked on the ancient road, feeling that the hardships and lonely of the caravans.
From generation to generation, caravans walked in the rugged mountain road, the heavy and tired food steps broke down the thousands of years of silence in the mountains and deep valleys. The ancient road has witnessed the hardship life of caravans that many of them dreamed of home but died in this ancient road. Without extraordinary courage, perseverance, patience and wisdom, they couldn’t walk on the Tea-Horse Road day by day. Tea Horse Road caravan was their way of existence, adventure and the road of life.
We left the Tiger Jump and went to Lijiang, on the way we witnessed the famous Yangtze River Bay. The road is close to the vertical cliffs, that was why we did not see the road when we looked down from the Tea-Horse Ancient Road.

6-Day Discover Tibet

Coming from Hong Kong, I experienced this easy and enjoyable tour pack to visit Guangzhou and Lhasa. I couldn’t forget this tour in my whole life for I experienced some impressing things and met some different people.
Day 1 and Day 2
Without doubt, the first day of our tour was spent in the train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. I was really impressed with the quality of the guide, Miss.li Ping. She always ready to help us and was there to meet our needs even when the schedule changed. She took us to the Hongfan Hotel Guangzhou after we arrived. We were told that the first day we could free arrange our time. Guangzhou is a fast-moving metropolis and sometimes we need to get under it’s skin. The next day, we visited Chen's Family Temple. Chen Ancestral Shrine is a cultural relic and an important site built during the reign of Guangxu Emperor with donations collected from Chen family members living in 72 counties in the Guangdong Province. It is also known as Chen Clan Academy, located at the Zhongshan Road. Miss Li Ping told us that the legend that during the late Qing Dynasty, a man called Chen stood third in the most important imperial examination. This provided him with a very distinguished office title, making the Chen family very well known in the area. Later someone suggested that all family members should raise money for building a temple for sacrificing to their ancestors as well as encouraging their children to study hard. We had no way to examine this legend but we were impressed by the legend. I couldn’t help thinking of the policy that scholars were well respected in the feudal society.

Later we walked along Shangxiajiu Pedestrain Street before lunch. The street was crowded with many shops and people, walking on the street, we were overwhelmed with a strong historical and traditional sense. That was the old lifestyle of old Guangzhou.
Day 3 and day 4
I was some kind of tired with the flight, because of I had to spent a whole day or half day to get some rest to recover. We flied to Lhasa for the third day. Even though I was eager to visit some places, but the other members of our team were so tired after the flight, and were anxious to have a rest. Thus, we stayed in the hotel to have a rest. The next day, we finally saw Potala Palace. Everyone who went to Lhasa would certainly visit Potala Palace because Potala Palace is a mark building of Lhasa and a huge treasure house of ancient materials and articles of Tibetan history, religion, culture, and arts. We got to the famous Jokhang Temple. The temple was built with Princess Wencheng’s suggestion in Tang Dynasty and constructed by Songsten Gampo. Princess Wencheng was a great woman who had contributed to the peaceful of Tang Dynasty and Lhasa. She brought with her a 12 year old, life-sized statue of Sakyamuni to Lhasa. We had lunch in a Tibetan-style restaurant in the afternoon. We bought Tibetan carpet, butter sculptures in Barkhor Street.
Day 5 and day 6
We were curious about how the monks live, so we visited someplace named “Drepung Monastery”, where used to be home of Dalai Lamas. Walking along the west stairs of Drepung Monastery, we found a 3-storied palace with flowered windows, which indicated the famous Ganden Potrang. Later, we went to Norbuilgka, the summer palace of the Tibet. The schedule of our tour was not include visiting the Tibetan family, but we were so curious about the life of Tibetan people, so our guide changed her mind and took us to knock a Tibetan’s door.

We left Lhasa for the next day. I didn’t want to leave but I had to, for I didn’t have a life there. Before I left, I looked at the blue sky and as far as I could see. I wanted to remember everything I saw and everyone I met. The flight took us home, but my heart still in Lhasa. Time can take away our age, but can’t take away memories that is deep in our mind.

Karst Mountains in China

Location and History

The Karst Mountains located in the Guilin area of South China provides a spectacular backdrop for a leisurely boating trip down the Li River. The tranquil beauty of the Li River has made this famous mountain area a part of the Chinese 20-Yuan note. Karst Mountains are reflected in the quiet waters of the rivers that run through the landscape and this scenic escape is a pleasant change from the bustle and noise of busy cities. The region is known for its archeological importance as tools and teeth of prehistoric man were also discovered in caves here. Archeological findings also included ancient pottery from as far back as 7 BC.

Description

The Karst Mountains closely resemble massive teeth of limestone and dolomite rock that have been eroded over millions of years. The Karst Mountains took roughly 70 million years in the making.
The Karst Mountains of China are known for their unique caves and natural underground structures that grew out of extensive bedrock erosion.
The spectacular Karst topography of Guilin is characterized by two distinct types: The ‘Fengcong’ (peak clusters) as well as what is called ‘Fenglin’ (peak forests)
The enchanting maze of interlinked rivers and caves makes Karst Mountains in China an appealing destination for visitors. The caves here have ancient inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty from as far back as 729 AD.

Visiting the Karst Mountains in China

Guilin is roughly one hour away from Shanghai. Visitors normally transfer to Yangshuo from Guilin and can opt to explore the Karst Mountains from Yangshuo.
Many tourists love renting bikes to ride upto the point where you need a boat. Bamboo boats or kayaks take visitors down the Li River for a panoramic view of the Karst Mountains.

Highlights

Elephant Trunk Hill

Standing at a height of 55 meters above the water, the Elephant Trunk River straddles the junction between the Taohuajiang and the Li Rivers. Its fanciful title comes from its unique shape that resembles a thirsty, massive elephant dipping its trunk right into the Li River. Elephant Trunk Hill dates back to 3.6 hundred million years. Atop the Elephant Trunk Hill is the well-known, 14-meter tall Puxian Pagoda. The pagoda appears to resemble the hilt of a sword arising out of the elephant’s back. The Puxian Pagoda was built by the rulers of the Ming Dynasty during the 14th century. The top of Elephant Trunk Hill commands a beautiful view of Guilin as well as the gently flowing Li River.



Other attractions on Elephant Trunk Hill include:

Moon Water Cave

The Moon water Cave is 3 kilometers long and stretches across three hills in the Karst Mountains. The cave is known for its dark maze of passages and tunnels. The cave was used during the world war by locals as a refuge from attacking Japanese troops. The cave is known for its sweet, clean drinking water as well as its beautiful waterfall pool that visitors love to take a dip in. There are also ancient Chinese inscriptions and fossilized bats and fish on the walls of the cave.

Fubo Hill

Fubo Hill stands alone in its regal glory and stands tall at 213 meters high on the West bank of the Li River. Waves from the Li River return after hitting Fubo Hill which is why it gets its local name of ‘Wave-Subduing’ hill. Fubo Hill lies about 1.4 miles away from Elephant Hill Trunk and is also famous for the Pearl-Returning Cave, the Sword-testing Cave and the Thousand-Buddha Cave.

Pear Returning Cave

This cave is situated on Fubo Hill and travelers sail into the cave on boats from the Fubo River. The caves are known for their valuable Buddhist statues dating back to the Tang rulers as well as spectacular stalactites in the cave. The enigmatic name of the cave originates from a legend that General Fubo poured all his pearls into this cave.

Sword-Testing Rock

This is a peculiar rock with a broad base and tapering end that appears to slice through the water. It hangs just about 1.5 inches above the water level but appears as though it’s slicing the water from a distance.

The Thousand Buddha Cave

The enchanting cave of the Thousand Buddha’s is hidden deep within Fubo Hill and covers an area of nearly 154 square yards. The cave is made of three levels that contain about 239 ancient paintings of the Buddha which all date back to the period of the Tang Dynasty. The artwork is also well-known for the intricate carvings of the Tang era.

Interesting Activities

Tours to the Karst area begin from Yangshuo and include exciting options such as kayaking, biking, canoeing and ballooning. Bamboo rafting along the Li River is another enjoyable way to view the unique Karst topography. The rafts and kayaks take visitors through the panoramic mountain views and rice paddy fields to view the multiple attractions in the Karst Mountains. It is advisable to take long rainproof wear as the trip to Karst Mountains and the surrounding areas takes about 2 to 3 days to explore.

What to buy

Local Chinese scarves and wraps are a great buy in Yangshuo town.

Hangzhou

Location and History

Hangzhou is a popular Chinese city situated on the Yangtze River delta region roughly about 125 miles Southwest of Shanghai. The city of Hangzhou is contained between the West Lake and the Qiantang River. Hangzhou is the fourth largest city in China and currently has a population of 3.6 million people living there and is famous for its scenic attractions and natural beauty. Hangzhou came into existence about seven thousand years back when areas surrounding it were used for rice cultivation by the Liangzhou culture. Hangzhou was built by the Qin rulers back in the 6th century. Hangzhou was one of the seven ancient capitals of China and had enchanted Marco Polo with its beautiful west lake and he described Hangzhou as a paradise on earth. Hangzhou is known for its rich, vibrant culture and economic prosperity that makes it a competitor to other well-known Chinese cities like Shanghai. Hangzhou attracted scholars, kings and hermits with its unique temple architecture and arts. Hangzhou is visited by more than 20 million tourists annually.

Attractions of Hangzhou

There are several exciting attractions for visitors to enjoy at Hangzhou.

West Lake

The well-known West Lake of Hangzhou began as a lagoon several thousands of years ago but its access to the sea was finally cut off by a deposit of silt, turning into a lake. The West Lake has always been a retreat for China’s royalty as well as an attraction for local people over many centuries. In 2011, West Lake in Hangzhou was established as a World Heritage Site. Its spectacular natural environs as well as architectural splendors make West Lake one of the most attractive destinations of Hangzhou. West Lake is only 5 feet deep and is split up into five different parts.

The Island of Little Oceans

This is a manmade island consisting of four small lakes that are known for their reflections of ‘three moons’’. At night, small lamps are lit in traditional stone lanterns and the lakes appear to reflect the light of three moons; a truly enchanting sight.

Solitary Hill

This natural island is located 125 feet above sea level and stands in its own lonely space on West Lake. Solitary Hill is a wonderful spot to enjoy a panoramic view of West Lake and is also known for interesting architectural attractions. Temple of Soul’s Retreat This is another unique attraction that is located northwest of the West Lake in Hangzhou. According to legend, an Indian Monk by the name of Huili visited there several hundreds of years ago and was entranced by the beautiful region and thought the place was fit for immortal life. The temple is famous for its ‘Hall of the heavenly Kings’ whose walls stretch up a massive 60 feet in height. The ceiling is covered by exquisite paintings of dragons as well as phoenixes. The Hall of the Great Hero has a massive statue of camphor wood of ‘Sakyamuni’ along with 20 saints and 12 guards which makes a spectacular sight.

Running Tiger Spring

This spring in Hangzhou is also called Hupao Spring and lies at the bottom of Daci Mountains. The spring was said to have been dug there by two tigers and hence the spring got its name as ‘’Running Tiger Spring’. Recently, the attractive surrounding of Running Tiger Spring has developed into Running River National Park. The site also houses a striking memorial to Li Shatong, a well-known musician, dramatist and calligrapher.

Six Harmonies Pagoda

The Six Harmonies Pagoda was built over the Qiantang River to quiet its rolling waters. The statuesque pagoda stands on the Yuelun Hill and directly overlooks the waters of the Qiantang River. An imposing 196 feet in height and octagonal in shape, the Six Harmonies Pagoda has seven uniquely painted ceilings to view. The paintings include images of flowers, animals and birds. Other unique features of the Six Harmonies Pagoda include a zigzag corridor and a dual appearance of light and shade; the upper layers appear to be bright while lower layers appear to be darker. The overall effect is that of perfect harmony between light and dark.

Chinese National Silk Museum

The huge exhibition hall located in Hangzhou houses the interesting 5500 year history of Chinese silk manufacture and trade. Silk specimens from every part of China and from every Chinese Dynasty are on display here. Entrance is free and there are wheelchairs available for disabled visitors. You can also opt for an audio guide to explain the various exhibits on display.

Shopping in Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the perfect place to pick up local Chinese goods such as silk and tea. Hangzhou silk comes in 14 different types and is known for its unique texture and quality.

Silk umbrellas (Xihu silk)

Xihu umbrellas are made of bamboo and silk and can double as a parasol as well as a decorative ornament for your home.

Wangxingji paper fans

These are exquisitely decorated hand fans that Hangzhou is particularly famous for. In the past, these fans used to be exclusively made for the members of the royal household.

Longjing tea

Longjing green tea is known for its excellent taste, energizing properties and delicate texture.

Arriving at Tiananmen Square located in the center of China's capital, I behold the majesty of the massive building that once housed emperors, their concubines and thousands of eunuchs who were at their beck and call. Now, swarmed with international tourists who visit the capital Beijing throughout the year, the Forbidden City was in the past sealed off to the commoners. Only special permission from the emperor guaranteed access to and from this huge architecture. I gaze at the yellowish gold lion-like guardians and the yellow glazed roof as well as bricks and realize that in my bright yellow T-shirt, I could easily blend in with my environment. On the other hand, yellow was thought to be the royal color and worn only by Chinese emperors. So if I lived back then, I guess the imperial guards would have dragged me off to be beheaded!

The Forbidden City is a literal translation from Zijing Cheng in Chinese, which means purple forbidden city. However, I cannot make out any physical features that are in purple. Did the ravages of time remove them? The ancient Chinese astrologers believed that Polaris, called Ziwei or the Purple Star, was the center of heaven. The heavenly emperor lived in a purple palace and similarly the emperor on earth should live in a purple city or purple palace.

I admire its beauty and am astounded by the ancient Chinese who were so intelligent and skilful to have built this Forbidden City in just a period of 14 years from 1406 to 1420. In my mind's eye, I can almost see the millions of workers who slogged and slaved everyday to make this miraculous structure possible. Their blood, sweat and tears accomplished this feat without any modern tools or technology.

The entire rectangular complex comprise 980 buildings and span 7,800,000 square feet (720, 000 m²). At the end of the Yuan Dynasty when China was under Mongol control, Emperor Zhu Di or Yong Le, the second emperor of the succeeding dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, moved the capital back from Nanjing to Beijing. This was after his father, Emperor Hong Wu, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, burnt down the Mongol palaces in central Beijing and moved the capital from Beijing to Nanjing. I mean talk about being rebellious against your parents. This Yong Le was definitely a rebel at heart.

There are 980 buildings with some 8,886 rooms, not including other internal chambers. Surrounding the Forbidden City is a moat measuring 171 feett
(52 m) wide and walls at some 32 feet (10 m) high. The City is also gated on its four sides, starting with the main gate at the southern end, the Meridian Gate, followed by the Gate of the Divine Might at the northern end. The other two gates are named East Glorious Gate and the West Glorious Gate. Another tourist that has already seen the East Glorious Gate and tells me that it is the only door that has eight rows of nine golden doornails each, while the other three have nine rows.

From the Meridian Gate, I walk along that central gateway that is part of the Imperial Way. This gateway formed part of the ancient city of Beijing and only the Emperor was allowed to walk or ride on this path. I felt quite honored strolling on the same path. Besides the monarch, only the Empress on her wedding day and students from the Imperial Examination could ever step on this pathway.

In addition, this massive complex is divided into two, the Outer Court and the Inner Court. The ceremonial events were held in the Outer Court while the Emperor and his extended household resided in the Inner Court. No wonder, UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Today, it comes under the purview of the Palace Museum, which was established in 1924. The Palace Museum currently holds a vast collection numbering nearly one million, of mostly from the Qing Dynasty, which consists of ceramics, bronze ware, timepieces, jade and imperial artifacts. Part of the collection can also be found in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.

With China opening its gates to international visitors and investors, how has the Forbidden City withstood the influx of Western culture? A Starbucks coffee chain outlet that opened in 2000 was closed seven years later due to local protests. Coffee? Come on people, the Chinese simply love drinking tea too much!

The City was also the site of the oscar-winning movie, Last Emperor by Bernardo Bertolucci. This epic film commissioned by the Chinese government used Forbidden City as the setting for the story of Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty.

This impressive complex has been the home to 14 Ming Dynasty emperors and ten Manchurian emperors of China's last dynasty. What secrets do the walls of the Forbidden City hold? The secrets will probably remain hidden.