Discover China

Dragon Boat Festival weekend tour

Bruce Boyes — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 06:42:06 +0000

On the weekend of the Dragon Boat Festival, 20-22 June, I was invited by Chinese friends to again experience the spectacular scenery around their village in southern Shanxi Province (you can see pictures from my earlier trip here). Dragon Boat races are traditionally a southern China event, but we did see races on a lake in Qin County as part of our travels. Other places we visited weekend included a 1000-year old cliff temple (Gaohuanyundong), Huangya Cave Arsenal (part of the Red Army resistance against the Japanese invasion), and Taiji Grand Canyon including an ancient cliff village.

Dragon Boat races, Qin County

1000-year old cliff temple (Gaohuanyundong)

Walking to Huangya Cave Arsenal

Huangya Cave

Taiji Grand Canyon

Ancient cliff village, Taiji Grand Canyon

The Spectacular TaiHang Mountains

Bruce Boyes — Tue, 19 May 2015 05:47:10 +0000

Last weekend, I visited the village of Chinese friends in WuXiang (武乡) County, Shanxi Province, about three hours drive south of provincial capital Taiyuan. It’s an area well away from the international tourist sites and where few other foreigners have been, with many fascinating and very friendly ancient villages. On Saturday we explored a spectacular section of the TaiHang Mountains east of the village. The TaiHang Mountains are a 400 km long range that runs north-south along the eastern boundary of Shanxi Province. As well as stunning natural scenery, a great surprise was to hear Buddhist chanting wafting through the valleys. Rounding a spur, we came across a remote Buddhist temple inside a cave with sacred spring and monks cabins along the cliff line. On Sunday we went to the nearby TaiHang Dragon cave, a local attraction, which was also impressive.

TaiHang Mountains

Buddhist Cave Temple, TaiHang Mountains

Buddhist Cave Temple and Monk’s Cabins

Interior, Buddhist Cave Temple

Sacred Spring, Buddhist Cave Temple

Entrance, TaiHang Dragon Cave

TaiHang Dragon Cave

One Day in Shenzhen

Bruce Boyes — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 05:15:10 +0000

Like to venture further into Shenzhen’s hidden history, and learn more about this exciting and dynamic city? Pick a day, head across to the One Day in Shenzhen blog, where “Mr. Shenzhen” James Baquet has collected his many fascinating articles exploring a great range of places, and go out and explore!

Happy Chinese New Year 2014!

Bruce Boyes — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 15:29:53 +0000

Wishing everyone “Gong Xi Fa Cai” – happy Chinese New Year – and the very best for the Year of the Horse. Find out more in the CCTV English Special Feature 2014 Spring Festival.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 2013!

Bruce Boyes — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 05:11:20 +0000

Today the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated across China and in many other parts of the world. People are enjoying the traditional mooncakes, and looking forward to this evening’s gala, which this year is being held in Meizhou in Guangdong Province. To find out more visit the CCTV 2013 Mid-Autumn Festival special feature.

China celebrates the Lantern Festival

Bruce Boyes — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:34:26 +0000

On Sunday people across China celebrated the Lantern Festival, the final event of the month-long Spring Festival. Find out about the different Lantern Festival traditions around China in the CCTV English Culture Express news story People celebrate Lantern Festival around China.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Bruce Boyes — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 06:01:28 +0000

Today is the eve of the Chinese New Year – wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and the very best for the coming Year of the Snake! Don’t forget to watch the web version of the Chinese New Year gala on the CCTV News website.

Little New Year (Festival of the Kitchen God)

Bruce Boyes — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:00:56 +0000

Today the celebrations in the lead-up to Lunar New Year continue with Little New Year (Festival of the Kitchen God).

Laba Rice Porridge Festival heralds coming Spring Festival

Bruce Boyes — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:15:42 +0000

Today is the traditional Chinese “Laba Rice Porridge Festival” celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th month in the lunar Chinese calendar, heralding the coming Spring Festival. The tradition has its roots in Buddhist practices, when on this day large Buddhist temples would offer rice porridge to the poor to show their faith to Buddha. find out more in the CNTV story “Laba Rice Porridge Festival” celebrated in China.

Chinese Pilgrimage – a fascinating journey

Bruce Boyes — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 11:18:41 +0000

In 1983 a list of the “142 key Buddhist Temples in the Han Area of China” was produced, and since 2009 James Baquet has been visiting them during his holidays. His fascinating website Chinese Pilgrimage features images and brief descriptions from his “epic” three-year journey to these sometimes exquisite, always interesting temples.

You can also read the stories of James’ visits to many of these temples and other sites in the travel section of the Shenzhen Daily newspaper.

James Baquet is an American living in Shenzhen and many of his great insights into Shenzhen and its history and Chinese temples have previously been featured in Discover China News.