X Travel Notes

China tour, China Travel Information, China Map, China Business Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:32:00 +0000

China tour, China Travel Information, China Map, China Business Trip

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China Tours - China Travel - China Travel Tour - China Travel Guide - China Travel Service - China Custom Tours

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:31:00 +0000

China Tours - China Travel - China Travel Tour - China Travel Guide - China Travel Service - China Custom Tours:
"- Do I need China Visa?
- What type of visa do I need?
- When to apply the visa?
- Why must I have a full blank visa p
- What is passport-style photo?
- Can a visa be issued on a blank ame
- What are the fees involving visa pr
- What are the customs regulations?
- What do I do if I lost my passport
- What cautions should foreigners tak"

China Tour Service, China Travel, China Tours, Tibet, Yunnan, Yangtze River Cruises

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:30:00 +0000

China Tour Service, China Travel, China Tours, Tibet, Yunnan, Yangtze River Cruises

China Connection Tours is a reputable China travel agency and China tour operator specializing in providing individual and group travelers customized China tours, Yangtze River Cruises, Tibet tours and Yunnan tours with unparalleled values and caring services.

Piglet with two mouths, three eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:12:00 +0000

A woman specializing in raising hogs presents a newly-born piglet with one head, two mouths, two noses, and three eyes in Xi'an, northwest China's Shannxi Province on Tuesday, March 6, 2006.

Mirrors reflect the newly-born piglet has three eyes.

Both mouths of the newly-born piglet are capable sucking milk.

Read Chinese in Computer with some software

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 10:43:00 +0000

Read2u

Download Address : http://www.skycn.com/soft/3100.html

NetParrot

Download Address : http://goodtv.cn/NetParrot/Home/NetParrot.htm

chinese dish

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 08:48:00 +0000

1、X.O.炒萝卜糕

Turnip Cake with XO Sauce

2、八宝饭

Eight Treasure Rice

3、白粥

Plain Rice Porridge

4、XO酱海鲜蛋炒饭

Stir-fried Rice with Assorted Seafood in XO Sauce

5、鲍鱼丝金菇焖伊面

Stir-fried Noodles with Mushrooms and Shredded Abalone

6、鲍汁海鲜烩饭

Boiled Seafood and Rice with Abalone Sauce

7、鲍汁海鲜面

Seafood Noodles with Abalone Sauce

8、北京炒肝

Stir-fried Liver Beijing Style

9、北京鸡汤馄饨

Wonton in Chicken Soup

10、北京炸酱面

Noodles with Bean Paste

11、碧绿鲜虾肠粉

Fresh Shrimps in Rice Flour Noodles with Vegetables

12、冰糖银耳炖雪梨

Stewed Sweet Pear with White Fungus

13、菜脯叉烧肠粉

Steamed Rice Rolls with Preserved Vegetables

14、菜盒子

Stir-fried Crispy Cake Stuffed with Vegetable

15、菜肉大馄饨

Pork and Vegetable Wonton

16、菜肉饺子

Dumplings Stuffed with Minced Pork and Vegetable

17、参吧素菜卷

Sweet Dumplings Stuffed with Cream and Mixed Fruits

18、草菇牛肉肠粉

Steamed Rice Noodle Rolls with Mushrooms and Minced Beef

19、叉烧包

Barbecued Pork Bun

20、叉烧焗餐包

Barbecued Pork Dumpling

21、叉烧酥

Cake with Barbecued Pork

22、炒河粉

Sautéed Rice Noodles

23、炒面

Sautéed Noodles with Vegetables

24、陈皮红豆沙

Minced Red Bean Paste with Orange Peel

25、豉油蒸肠粉

Steamed Rice Rolls with Black Bean Sauce

26、豉汁蒸凤爪

Steamed Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce

27、豉汁蒸排骨

Steamed Spare Ribs with Black Bean Sauce

28、春菇烧麦

Steamed Dumplings Stuffed with Mushroom

30、葱油拌面

Mixed Noodles with Spring Scallion, Oil and Soy Sauce

31、葱油饼

Fried Chive Cake

32、葱油煎饼

Pancake with Scallions

33、脆皮春卷

Crispy Spring Roll

34、脆炸芋头糕

Taro Cake with Preserved Pork

35、担担面

Sichuan Flavor Noodle

36、蛋煎韭菜盒

Deep-Fried Shrimps and Chive Dumplings

37、冬菜牛肉肠粉

Steamed Rice Rolls with Minced Beef and Preserved Vegetables

38、冻马蹄糕

Water Chestnut Jelly Cake

39、豆浆

Soybean Milk

40、豆沙包

Steamed Bun Stuffed with Red Bean Paste

41、豆沙锅饼

Pan-fried Red Bean Paste Pancake

42、豆沙粽子

Glutinous Rice Stuffed with Red Bean Paste Wrapped in Bamboo Leaves

43、翡翠培根炒饭

Stir-fried Rice with Bacon and Mixed Vegetables

44、翡翠烧麦

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings

45、翡翠水饺

Spinach and Meat Dumpling

46、蜂巢炸芋头

Deep-Fried Taro Dumplings

47、蜂蜜龟苓糕

Chilled Herbal Jelly Served with Honey

48、凤城煎鱼脯

Fried Fish and Egg

49、干炒牛河

Dry-fried Rice Noodle and Sliced Beef

50、高汤鸡丝面

Noodles in Shredded Chicken Soup

蔬菜类部分

1、XO酱炒海茸百合

Sautéed Lily and Green Vegetable in XO Sauce

2、百合炒南瓜

Sautéed Pumpkin with Lily

3、板栗白菜

Sautéed Chinese Cabbage with Chestnuts

4、白灼时蔬

Boiled Seasonal Vegetables

5、炒芥兰

Sautéed Kale

6、炒生菜

Sautéed Lettuce

7、炒时蔬

Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables

8、豉汁凉瓜皮

Sautéed Bitter Gourd Peel in Black Bean Sauce

9、葱香荷兰豆

Sautéed Snow Beans with Scallion

10、翠豆玉米粒

Sautéed Green Peas and Corn

11、冬菇扒菜心

Braised Vegetables with Black Mushroom

12、豆豉鲮鱼油麦菜

Sautéed Vegetable with Diced Fish and Black Bean Sauce

13、干贝扒芦笋

Braised Asparagus with Scallops

14、干煸苦瓜

Sautéed Bitter Gourd

15、海茸墨鱼花

Sautéed Diced Squid and Green Vegetables

16、蚝皇扒双蔬

Braised Seasonal Vegetables in Oyster Sauce

17、蚝油扒时蔬

Braised Vegetables in Oyster Sauce

18、蚝油生菜

Sautéed Lettuce in Oyster Sauce

19、红烧毛芋头

Braised Taro in Soy Sauce

20、红枣蒸南瓜

Steamed Pumpkin with Red Chinese Dates

21、猴头蘑扒菜心

Braised Vegetable with Mushrooms

22、虎皮尖椒

Sautéed Green Chili Pepper

23、琥珀香芹炒藕粒

Sautéed Diced Lotus Root with Celery and Walnuts

24、黄耳浸白玉条

Simmered Winter Melon with Yellow Fungus

25、黄金玉米

Sautéed Sweet Corn with Salty Egg Yolk

26、火腿炒蚕豆

Sautéed Broad Beans with Ham

27、鸡汤竹笙浸时蔬

Sautéed Bamboo Shoots

28、姜汁炒时蔬

Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables in Ginger

29、椒盐茄子丁

Deep Fried Diced Eggplant with Spicy Salt

30、辣椒炝时蔬

Sautéed Vegetables with Chili Pepper

中国酒部分 1、XO酱炒海茸百合

Sautéed Lily and Green Vegetable in XO Sauce

2、百合炒南瓜

Sautéed Pumpkin with Lily

3、板栗白菜

Sautéed Chinese Cabbage with Chestnuts

4、白灼时蔬

Boiled Seasonal Vegetables

5、炒芥兰

Sautéed Kale

6、炒生菜

Sautéed Lettuce

7、炒时蔬

Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables

8、豉汁凉瓜皮

Sautéed Bitter Gourd Peel in Black Bean Sauce

9、葱香荷兰豆

Sautéed Snow Beans with Scallion

10、翠豆玉米粒

Sautéed Green Peas and Corn

11、冬菇扒菜心

Braised Vegetables with Black Mushroom

12、豆豉鲮鱼油麦菜

Sautéed Vegetable with Diced Fish and Black Bean Sauce

13、干贝扒芦笋

Braised Asparagus with Scallops

14、干煸苦瓜

Sautéed Bitter Gourd

15、海茸墨鱼花

Sautéed Diced Squid and Green Vegetables

16、蚝皇扒双蔬

Braised Seasonal Vegetables in Oyster Sauce

17、蚝油扒时蔬

Braised Vegetables in Oyster Sauce

18、蚝油生菜

Sautéed Lettuce in Oyster Sauce

19、红烧毛芋头

Braised Taro in Soy Sauce

20、红枣蒸南瓜

Steamed Pumpkin with Red Chinese Dates

21、猴头蘑扒菜心

Braised Vegetable with Mushrooms

22、虎皮尖椒

Sautéed Green Chili Pepper

23、琥珀香芹炒藕粒

Sautéed Diced Lotus Root with Celery and Walnuts

24、黄耳浸白玉条

Simmered Winter Melon with Yellow Fungus

25、黄金玉米

Sautéed Sweet Corn with Salty Egg Yolk

26、火腿炒蚕豆

Sautéed Broad Beans with Ham

27、鸡汤竹笙浸时蔬

Sautéed Bamboo Shoots

28、姜汁炒时蔬

Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables in Ginger

29、椒盐茄子丁

Deep Fried Diced Eggplant with Spicy Salt

30、辣椒炝时蔬

Sautéed Vegetables with Chili Pepper

中国酒部分

§黄酒类

1、8年香雕绍兴酒

Xiang Diao Shao Xing (8 Years)

2、陈年彩坛花雕

Cai Tan Hua Diao

3、5年香雕绍兴酒

Xiang Diao Shao Xing (5 Years)

4、绍兴花雕10年

Shao Xing Hua Diao (10 Years)

5、绍兴花雕20年

Shao Xing Hua Diao (20 Years)

6、绍兴花雕及清酒

Shao Xing Hua Diao & Sake

7、三十年花雕

Hua Diao Shao Xing (30 Years)

8、绍兴加饭

Shao Xing Jia Fan

9、女儿红12年

Nu'er Hong (12 Years)

10、女儿红18年

Nu'er Hong (18 Years)

11、古越龙山

Gu Yue Long Shan

§白酒类 Spirit

12、北京醇

Bei Jing Chun

13、二锅头

Er Guo Tou（Superior500ml 56°）

14、精装二锅头 52度

Hong Xing Er Guo Tou(500ml 52°)

15、古钟二锅头

Gu Zhong Er Guo Tou（500ml 46°）

16、蓝花珍品二锅头

Lan Hua Zhen Pin Er Guo Tou

17、红星珍品二锅头(500毫升52度)

Red Star Zhenpin Er Guo Tou(500ml 52°)

18、牛栏山经典二锅头(500毫升52度)

Niulanshan Brand Jingdian Erguotou (500ml 52°)

19、青瓷珍品二锅头

Qing Ci Zheng Pin Er Guo Tou（500ml 46°）

20、京酒 38度

Jing Jiu（500ml 38°）

21、三品京酒(500毫升38度)

San Pin Jing Jiu (500ml 38°)

22、三品京酒(500毫升52度)

San Pin Jing Jiu (500ml 52°)

23、酒鬼 38度

Jiu Gui（500ml 38°）

24、酒鬼 52度

Jiu Gui（500ml 52°）

25、小酒鬼（250ml）

Xiao Jiu Gui（250ml 38°）

26、国酿（贵州茅台系列）

Guo Niang (Mao Tai Liquor Series)

27、茅台 38度

Mao Tai（500ml 38°）

28、茅台 53度

Mao Tai（500ml 53°）

29、茅台(三十年)

Mao Tai (30 years）

30、茅台(十五年)

Mao Tai (15 years）

猪肉类部分

1、白菜豆腐焖酥肉

Braised Sliced Pork with Bean Curd and Chinese Cabbage

2、鲍鱼红烧肉

Braised Pork with Small Abalone

3、鲍汁扣东坡肉

Braised Pork with Abalone Sauce

4、百页结烧肉

Stewed Diced Pork and Sliced Beancurd with Brown Sauce

5、碧绿叉烧肥肠

Steamed Rice Rolls with Barbecued Pork Intestine and Vegetables

6、潮式椒酱肉

Fried Pork with Chili Sauce Chaozhou Style

7、潮式凉瓜排骨

Spareribs with Bitter Gourd Chaozhou Style

8、豉油皇咸肉

Steamed Pork with Soy Sauce

9、川味小炒

Sautéed Shredded Pork(Carrots,Bamboo and Mushrooms) with Hot Sauce

10、地瓜烧肉

Stewed Diced Pork and Sweet Potato

11、东坡方肉

Braised Dongpo Pork

12、冬菜扣肉

Braised Sliced Pork with Preserved Vegetables in Casserole

13、方竹笋炖肉

Braised Pork with Bamboo Shoots

14、干煸小猪腰

Fried Pig's Kidney with Onion

15、干豆角回锅肉

Sautéed Spicy Pork with Dry Bean

16、干锅排骨鸡

Braised Sparerib and Chicken in Clay Pot

17、咕噜肉

Stewed Sweet and Sour Pork

18、怪味猪手

Braised Spicy Trotters

19、黑椒焗猪手

Fried Trotters with Black Pepper

20、红烧狮子头

Stewed Meatball with Brown Sauce

21、脆皮乳猪

Crispy Suckling Pigs

22、回锅肉片

Sautéed Sliced Pork with Pepper and Chilli

23、火爆腰花

Stir-Fried Pork Kidney

24、煎猪柳

Pan-Fried Pork Fillet

25、酱烧骨

Braised Spare Ribs with Spicy Sauce

26、酱猪手

Braised Trotters with Soy Bean Paste

27、椒盐肉排

Spare Ribs with Spicy Salt

28、椒盐炸排条

Deep-Fried Spare Ribs with Spicy Salt

29、金瓜东坡肉

Braised Pork with Melon

30、金元鲍红烧肉

Braised Pork with Small Abalone

31、京酱肉丝

Sautéed Shredded Pork with Sweet-Bean Sauce

Grand Sight of Huangshan Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 01:54:00 +0000

Huangshan (the Yellow Mountains) in China's Eastern Anhui Province is like a glittering green leaf viewed from an earth satellite high up in the sky; the Yellow Mountains are like a cluster of large, purple Spring Heralding Flowers in full bloom seen by tourists on the surface of the earth.

They are not only mountains, but also a sea, a sea of mountain peaks, a sea of clouds, a sea of pine trees, a sea of flowers, a sea of light, a sea of poetry. It is a sea of paintings. No wonder, the mountains have also been called the Yellow Sea (Huanghai).

Beautiful are the mountains: they constantly change their appearance, graceful, wondrous, forever fresh and unconventional. There stand the towering peaks, but in an instant they will turn into islands above a sea of clouds, and the pine trees growing out of the crevices will look as if they had taken root in the clouds, reminding the tourists of the "jade foliage on golden branches" in the legend. As the year passes from one season to another, as the weather changes from rain to shine, as the sun sets and the moon rises, the mountain changes, continually taking on new looks. Even if you visit The Yellow Mountains a thousand times, each time you will discover new beauties and enjoy new experiences.

Beautiful are the mountains: they combine the real and the unreal. The peaks, rocks, pine trees, waterfalls and springs all bear descriptive names. The peaks are called by such names as Lianhua (Lotus), Tiandu (Celestial Capital), Yuping (Jade Screen) and Jiulong (Nine Dragons); the rocks by such names as "Golden Cock Crowing towards Heavenly Gate", "Squirrel Skipping to Celestial Capital", "Monkey Gazing at the Sea" and "Magpie on a Plum Tree"; the pine trees by such names as Yingke (Greeting Guests), Tianhai (Probe the Sea), Heihu (Black Tiger) and Wolong (Recumbent Dragon): and the waterfalls and springs by such names as the Jiulong (Nine Dragons)Waterfall, the Renzi (Inverted-V) Waterfall, the Baizhang (¨Thousand Feet) Spring and the Mingxian (Ringing String) Spring. If you compare these fancy names with what you see, you may find that they do not really match. But, set off by the mist and tinted by light, these scenic spots, seen from the right angle, will look more real than what their names signify. They will be more lifelike and more fascinating. The Lianhua Peak will be a lotus flower rowing out of the clouds high up in the sky. The golden cock will be ready to fly towards the gate leading to Celestial Capital. The pine tree by the name of "Yingke" will be extending its arms to welcome guests from afar. And the stone lute beneath the Mingxian Spring will send out enchanting melodies.

Beautiful are the mountains: though old, not old, they are eternally youthful. Resulting from cataclysmic crust movement about 100 million years ago and named Yishan in the ancient Qin Dynasty (221-207B.C.), and later renamed the Yellow Mountains in the Tang Dynasty (618-907A.D.), the mountains are very old indeed. Yet they are young and graceful. Not relying on artificial decorations, the scenery is simple and natural, manifesting youthful vigor and heroic grandeur. The peaks here vie with one another in thrusting into the sky. The rocks here vie with one another in being grotesque. The pine trees here compete with one another in elegance. The flying clouds here link up the mountain and the sky. The hot springs here, forever bubbling, give mankind an endless flow of warmth and fervor. Even the Magua trees that have comedown from glacier periods put forth new leaves every spring looking so beautiful and so young.

Thanksgiving Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 07:33:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is one festival that originated out of man's sense of gratitude. Shared joy of good fortune, of plenty in terms of basic commodity like food, an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness for nature's bounty and a recognition and acknowledgement of the power of providence over man are the feelings that lie behind the celebrations . It is a day set apart to thank the almighty for the bounties received during the year, usually symbolised by various crops. On Thanksgiving, people celebrate the results of long period of toil. This day is celebrated in the United States of America, on the 4th Thursday of the month of November.

looking for the real shangri-la

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 12:59:00 +0000

In the far east of Qinghai Tibet Plateau, there is a beautiful place, which is called Shangbala, where the real dreamlike Shangri-la is located.Step into Shangri-la, you will have a eye feast of the Oriental Alps---Four ladies Mountain, the Tibetan hamlets of Jiarong Tibetan group in Danba, Beauty Valley, Tagong Great Grassland--the paradise for photographers, the sacred Mountains and lakes in Yading, the shinning Bita Sea, the grandeur Tiger-jumping Gorges, the fantastic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the towering Diaos--the special lodgings for Tibetans and Qiang people, the splendid Tibetan Buddhist Temples, the ancient Sifang Square Street in Lijiang.
About Shangri-la
"Shangrila" is a French word which means the heaven or the place the God live. But that it is connected with Tibet is because of American Geologist Doctor Joseph . Lork and Britain writer James.Hilton . Doctor Joseph F.Rock had lived in south-western China for 27 years .He was deep in the study of the culture and geography of these area during his long standing research in the remote villages and primeval forest . Later he returned America and published serial reports about south-western China , which amazed the western world by the mysterial culture of the minority and the beautiful nature in this land .He gave this place a name as Shingri-la . Influenced by Lork 's report, in 1933 British writer James ., Hilton wrote a book named " The lost Horizon ", which was about Shingri-la . In the book , a terrible riots broke out in a Middle Asia country and 4 westerners boarded a plane in order to flee . But unfortunately , their plane was hijacked and it landed in a place they didn't know the name but in some Tibetan area in the Himalayan mountain ranges. In this land there were pyramid-shaped snow peaks , green-jade like lakes in high land , grand and pretty monastery and kind , pure people .They gave it a name of Shingri-la . Since the tale of the " The lost Horizon ", Shingrila became popular all over the world and more and more people desire to have a adventure in these area to look for the petty land described in the book . And the argument of where is the right place described in the book also started . Some of the people say it lay in Daocheng of Sichuan province, other people think it lay in Zhongdian of Yunnan province. But we think it should not refer some specifically place . Actually it means the join of Daocheng ,Muli ( in Sichuan province ), Lijiang, Zhongdian (in Yunnan province.). For these places have the features that described in both of Hillton's tales and Nike's serial report.
Brief description of Daocheng
Daocheng was anciently named "Daoba," meaning the openn place of the valley in Tibetan language. It didn't acquire its name till in 17th century , the people succeeded planting rice. They gave the name "Daocheng", meaning the place produce rice . Daocheng is located in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in eastern Tibetan--Qinghai plateau, nauboured with Muli county in south-east , Zhongdian county of Yunnan province in west, Litang county in north.. It covered 7323 square kilometers with the highest altitude of 6032 meters and lowest altitude of 2000 meters. The altitude of the town is 3740 meters, with 30,000 people in population, and Tibetan people take more than 96% of the whole population. And the Han,Naxi, Hui, Yi nationality etc take the rest portion. Daocheng are abundant in natural resource: wild animal, Chinese medicinal herbs, plant resource , among them many animal and plants are state protected .. The Haizishan Nature Reserve is located in the north of Daocheng , where is widen and endless with strange stones, alpine lake scatter everywhere. Nature scenery are abundant and beautiful. And there are a lot of temples in the middle of Haizi mountain, so the religion culture is profound here and folk custom is special. The Nubuchaka hot spring is just 4 kilometers from the county got the good fame all over the world. The highland scenery is bizzard. It is a good place to enjoy the nature and biology and alpine scenery. Within this place the altitude is from 2900meters to 6023meters which cover 840,000mu in area. The three snow covered mountains of Xiannairi,Yangmaiyong, Xialuoduoji were called as "Risonggongbu" in Tibetan Buddhism , which integrated with sacred mountains and holly lakes are called as one sacred place in Tibet area. So most of the nature fan experts call Daocheng as the "shangrila in the tale".

Yueyang -- Lakeside City

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 07:39:00 +0000

Yueyang Tower
Built over the west city gate of Yueyang, this tower overlooks the Yangtze River and Dongting Lake. It is one of China?s "three great towers south of the Yangtze River." During the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), it was used as a reviewing stand by General Lu Su of the State of Wu when he trained his navy. But it was Fan Zhongyan (989-1052), a noted scholar of the Song dynasty, who made the building famous when he wrote his masterpiece, Notes on Yueyang Tower. The three-level wooden structure is almost twenty meters high, with upturned eaves. At each side of the tower, there is an elegantly structured pavilion one is called Drunk Three Times Pavilion (Sanzuiting) and the other Celestial plums Pavilion (Xianmeiting).

Dongting Lake
Dongting Lake, China's second-largest freshwater lake, is located in northeastern Hunan Province. It is a large, shallow body of water surrounded by mountain chains. It is also known as 'eight- hundred Li Dong Ting Lake' (The Li is a Chinese length unit equal to 500 meters or about 1,640 feet). An impressive characteristic of the lake is it is inter-nested. Depending on the season, concentric ridges of land appear in the lake in many areas. This is because the lake acts as a flood basin for the Yangtze River. The appearance of Dongting Lake changes throughout the different seasons, sometimes even during the same day. Many ancient Chinese poems and stories were written about the beauty of Dongting Lake.
The climate of Dongting Lake is between middle and northern subtropical, so it is warm and humid, but there is also a 'draught window' from which cold air from the north sometimes enters. So in spring and summer, the temperature is variable, while in late summer and autumn, it's sunny and hot with a little rain. Occasionally in autumn, it's a little bit cold and windy. The area around the lake has tremendous agricultural production ability with a long history of development. Since the plain is graced with fertile soil, proper temperature and plentiful rain, Dongting Lake is also called 'a land flowing with milk and honey'.
Four streams including the Xiangjiang River, the Zishui River, the Yuanjiang River, and the Lishui River, all flow into Dongting Lake, and the lake is sometimes known as 'the holder of the four streams'. Because Dongting Lake acts as a tremendous natural reservoir or flood-basin, it plays an important role in adjusting the flow of the Yangtze River The Lake is sometimes known as 'the taker and sender of the Yangtze River'.

Mongolia,China

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 01:53:00 +0000

HunLunbeier Grassland of Inner Mongolia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 00:45:00 +0000

Lady and Genlenmen:
Welcome to HunLunbeier Grassland! First of all, I'd like to tell you why People call this bdautiful grassland Hulunbeier grassland. There is a moving legend behind it. A long, long time ago there lived a couple of lovers on the grassland. The girl was a Hu lun. The boy was Bei Er. One day a demon chief called Mang Gusi abducted HuLun and dried up the grassland. The grass withered and yellowed and domestic animals died one after another.In order to save the grassland and Hu Lun, BeiEr traved a great distance on foot, chasing after Mang Gasi day and night. Finally, he fainted from exhaustion. In his weakened state, he dreamt that the demon chief had magically turned Hu Lu,Bei Er traveled a great distance on foot, chasing after Mang Gasi day and night. Finally, he fainted from exhaustion.In his weakened state, he dreamt that the demon chief had magically turned Hu Lun into a flower which was and suffering from the windy dream in front of him. He immediately watered the flower and broke the spell. Hu Lun changed back into her former self. But the demon chief would not give up. He immediately watered the flower and broke the spell. Hu Lun changed back in to her former self. But the demon chief would not give up. He seized Hu Lun and took her away again. Hu Lun racked her brain for a way to escape. She succeeded in getting hold of the magic pearl on the demon chief`s head. On swallowing the pearl Hu Lun turned into a lake. In the meantime BeiEr had killed all of the other demons, but failed to find Hu Lun. Heartbroken, Bei Er jumped in to a lake to kill himself.All of a sudden the earth split open and formed two lakes, Hu Lun lake and Bei Er Lake, with the Wilson River closely connecting them. Later,people living on the grassland named the land hulunbeier Grassland in momory of them.
HuLunbeier covers an area of 250.557 square kilometers,with a totel population of 2.66 million. The Mongolian natiality is the dominant ethic group, and 35 other nationlities,such as Dawoer, Ewenke, Elunchun, Han, Manchu, Russian, etc. live in harmony with them on the grassland. Hunlunbeier is called ?green and clean land? because it is relatively free of pollution.
(Entering the grassland)
Now we're setting foot on Hunlunbeier Grassland. All of us have escaped from the city and its clamour and entered a place like a dreamland,Look! The grassland looks like asoft, green cerpet, Nowyou can enjoy the beautiful scenery in the distance; numeros kinds of wild flowers are in bloom, and wisps of smoke are rising continuously from the yurta scattered on the grassland. When the gentle breeze brushes against the grass, herds of horses and cattle and flock of sheep seem to be drifting from here ro there. What a beautiful picture!
(Visiting a yurt)
This is the yurt we saw from the bus just now. Look!The host and his family have come out of the to greet us. Of couse, this is not an arranged reception, to be sure. But before we enter the yurt, I'dlike to make a brief introduction on the folk costoms here. No matter which yurt you happen to visit, you will finethat on hesring your footsteps the Mongolian people will extend a warm welcome outsite the yurt, to do justice to their reputed hospitality. When greeting you, they will put their hands against their chests and bow slightly. With a ?how do you do,? They invite their guestsin. Male guests are invited to sit on the left and female on the right, while host sits in midle. The moment you take your seats, your host will have milk tea and various kinds of milk products pleaced in front of you. After a white, you will most probably probabyly be asked to help yourself to a special course called ?shouba lamd.? As a way of showing respct to his distinguished guest, your hast will prsent you with a ?hada?( a piece of silk used as a greeting gift), Together with a cup of lacal wine. Mongolians are well known for theirtalent in singing and dancing.Their beautiful songs are as entertaining and pleasant as the blue sky, white clouds, greengrass and fresh flowers, In folk culture, there is a saying that a feast is not a true feast without the company of songs. Every person in the grassland, man or woman, old or young, can sing folk songs. When proposing toasts to their guests, they will show their hospitality by singing folksongs and playing special fiddles. The Mongolian people have lived on the vast grassland for a long time, and they have refined their talent for sing and dancing. You can not only please your eyes with their traditional ethnic dancing but also with their mondern ones featuring merry rhythms and vigorous steps.Now let`s enter the yurt and take advantage of this opportunity to be guests in a Mongolian herdsman`s home.
(Stepping out of the yurt)
Under the blue sky and white clouds, you will see a vivid picture of flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, galloping horses and skillful herdsen on horseback brandishing horsewhips. Do you want to go for a ride ? If you are skilled at riding, why not ride a Mongolian horse for a while or wander about on camelback?If you are afraid of riding horses or camels,never mind. You still can enjoy the nomandic life by taking a special Mongolian vehicle called a ?Lele?.
(Briefing on the physique of Mongolians)
Now you have had a look at the grassland with your own eyes, but did you noticed that the Mongolian girls are graceful,elegant and vigorous, and the young fellow are robust, heroic and muscular? It is said that this has much to do with their life styles which are connected with horse sports,running and pursuing.Further,the important role played by milk tea and milk products in developing their muscles and bones canot be underestimated.
(Briefing on the dietary habit of Mongolians)
Let's start with milk tea,The host minces the tea and put it in a kettle to boil it. When the kettle starts boiling with a gurgling sound, the host pours the fresh milk into it. Thus the herdsman coming in from a snowstorm will warm up immediately after having such a cup of milk tea. A bowl of milk tea, stir-fried rice, several piece of a dry milk product and some lamb is regarded as a delicious meal by the ordinary Mongolian herdsman. Milk products include the skin of boiled milk, milk curd, milk wine, cheese, butter and so on. The formal meal may be served with meat and a flour-base product.
While you are here on the grassland, it will be a great pity if you do not try ?Shouba Lamb?(boil meat which is eaten using a knife and your hands).The lamb is first cut into big slices and then put into boiling water to cook.When it is half done, you cut it into smaller pieces with the Mongolian knife and eat it. TheMongolian people think that half-done meat contains more nutrients.
(Briefing on Mongolian clothing)
The Mongolian robe is unique to this ethnic group. The robe is often matched with a belt and head decorations.With its high collar and long sleeves, the robe protects people from mosquitoes. The middle part of the robe is made loose for the convenience of riding horses and is long enough to keep the knees warm. You can find all kinds of clothes here today, but the robe is the cultural heritage of the Mongolians and has become a symbol of their national conscience and identity.
(Briefing on Mongolian yurta)
You can see mongolian yurta here and there on grassland.But do you know the history and structure of the mongolian yurta?According to the historical records of the Xiongnu,an ancient ethnic group, their ancestors lived in the Northland long ago. Their living quarters were called yurta. In this sense Mongolians, as a ethnic group, can date to 4,000 years ago. So the Mongolian yurta are a symbol of the history of this ethnic group. Now let`s talk about the construction of a yurt are a symbol of the history of this ethnic group, Now let`s talk about the construction of a yurt. Herdsmen first build a round foundation with pieces of stones, Then they set up the structure with wodden wods and beams linked together with wollen or fur ropes,Lastly, they cover the structure with animal skins or felt blankets.The ceiling of the yurt is round. With such a structure, the yurt can withstand snowstorms and heavy rainfalls. The door of the yurt is small and down to the ground. The yurt can be easily moved and this is suitable for nomadic life.This accounts for the reason why the structure of the yurt remains unchanged till today. If the Mongolian yurt is seen as the home of the herdsmen, then the ?lele?carts can be viewed as their mobile homes. ?lele?carts move slowly with big noise. It is hard to tell when the history of ?lele?carts began. All the carts are made of birch, so they will reain in good condition even in wet weather. The wheels of the carts are tall and can easily roll across the uneven roads, lush bushes, thick snow and marshes. ?lele?carts are indispensable for herdsmen when they move cross snow-covered areas.
(Briefing on Mongolian festivals)
There are a lot of Mogolian festivals held every year on the grassland, but the most famous one is Nadam,the carnival the grassland. ?Nadam?in the Mongolian language means recreation or entertainment. When it comes, there will be a lot of performances,such as horse racing, wrestling, archery and some other special ethnic performances. The Nadam fair is a time-honored festival and was known world wide for 700years, Nowadays the Nadam fair is often held during the harvest season of the grassland, either in June or July.During that period, herdsmen often take the opportunity to sell domestic animals and livestock products and purchasse daily necessilties and livelihood-related goods.
Acturally, the herdsmen have few chances to get together on such a vast grassland, so Nadam also plays the role of a big trade fair for them, When we talk about Nadam, we should also talk about offering sacrifice at ?Aobao?.?Aobao ?in Mogolian means a pile of rocks or earth. On the vast and endless grassland, it is hard to tell directions, so people thought of pilling rocks or earth to mark them, In its long historical development Aobao has become the shrine to offer scrifices to the God of the Mountain and the God of the Road.During the sacrifice ?offering ceremony,people insert tree branches into the Aobao and put pieces of colorful cloth or paper flags with written scripture on the branches There are four types of memorial ceremonies, namely blood,wine,fire and jade. No matter what type it is, a lama will be invited to butn incenses, chant scriptures and pray for the blessing of the people and their livestock. Participants will walk around the Aobao clockwise three times.After the ceremony, the herdmen will not only enjoy horse races,wrestling and archery, but also singing, dancing and drinking to their heart`s content. Around that time, young lovers will probably leave the crowd to be in a world of their own.
Dear,distinguished guests,after this tour of this grassland I believe you must have a general idea of how the Mongolian pelple live here and may een feel reluctant to leave the beautiful hulunbeier Grassland. I belive the grassland and its people enjoyed your visit as much as you did and look forward to your next one.
Ladies and Gentlemen,I hope to have another chance to meet you again on this very land, the Hulunbeier Grassland. Goodbye and good luck.

Chinese Arch Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 15:54:00 +0000

This Chinese Arch Bridge was build two thousands years ago.

Arch bridges are one of the oldest types of bridges and have great natural strength. Instead of pushing straight down, the weight of an arch bridge is carried outward along the curve of the arch to the supports at each end. These supports, called the abutments, carry the load and keep the ends of the bridge from spreading out.

Zhouzhuang,Shanghai,China

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 15:44:00 +0000

Travel in Shanghai,China

Today we arrive the Zhouzhuang the time probably are noon 11 o'clock, we first will dine in xx hotel, 12 we must start today climax - Zhouzhuang to swim, we will about for need the about three hours to carry on the tour in the Zhouzhuang, moreover I will be able to arrange for an hour to engage in the free activity for everybody, four times we punctually in the parking lot set, everybody will coordinate. Now I Zhouzhuang's origin and the important scenic spot to everybody one-roomed introduced, we can hold the key point like this in the tour time. The Zhouzhuang is has more than 900 years historical Chiangnan region of rivers and lakes Guzhen, it by the distant tradition, the simple and honorable common social practice, the ancient construction, the character which the clear river water and fills the legendary color, becomes a piece to have ??? extremely the tourist attraction. Renowned historic building expert Luo Zhewen said; "The Zhouzhuang not only is a Jiangsu Province's treasure, moreover is a national treasure." The Taiwan latitude and longitude magazine highly praises the Zhouzhuang is "Chinese first region of rivers and lakes". Also had many people after to tour the Zhouzhuang, like this said: "On has the heaven, gets down has Suzhou and Hangzhou, among also has a Zhouzhuang." Everybody preserves the so multitudinous Ming and Qing Dynasties for the Zhouzhuang to construct but acclaims, is "the bridge, the running water, others" the fine pattern but is led astray, for everywhere may draw, have the poem the character and style but to be infatuated with at times, thought the Zhouzhuang is beautiful region of rivers and lakes which is unable to rebuild. The Zhouzhuang is by the Guzhen which the small bridge over the flowing stream but is famous, it can maintain the original condition today, but also must depend on the water, why? On century 780 ages, when the Chiangnan rural economy rapidly develops, the Zhouzhuang because the water is cut off the development to be slow, the small town original condition has only then preserved down. Zhouzhuang earliest time calls loyally abundant in, in this has a surname Zhou in 900 years ago to enlighten the court attendant to contribute completes the entire lucky temple 200 Chinese acres, the native for commemorate he, will be loyal abundantly in renames as the Zhouzhuang. Certainly, the Zhouzhuang is prosperous is popular in the Chiangnan rich and powerful people Shen Wanshan, the Shen Wanshan makes the foreign trade using Zhouzhuang's river course and the foreign merchant, only then caused the Zhouzhuang the economy rapidly to develop. Zhouzhuang's main scenic spot has Chiangnan rich and powerful people Shen Wanshan the housing Shen hall, has "the ship from the family" a hall, has the writer to compose a poem makes music confuses the building, has Zhou Dilang to contribute the entire lucky temple which but makes and so on, my above said several places are the Zhouzhuang most have the representative place, has because a Chen Yifei picture famous Twinbridge and most has the Chiangnan construction style the bridge house --- phuyen bridge and so on, everybody after has certainly had to appreciate well. Said the scenery, we must said has eaten, in the Zhouzhuang, everybody may certainly have to taste the Zhouzhuang special product 13,000 hooves, moreover, Zhouzhuang's mother-in-law tea also very much has the characteristic, I simply said, the mother-in-law tea is in the town the mother-in-law sisters-in-law one public relations way which drinks tea in turn in various. The Zhouzhuang people all are called eat the mother-in-law tea but drink the mother-in-law tea, that may really be eats. Because is fastidious richly compared to the tea, is Qin Chashi chats the time snack, has the characteristic is the salt vegetable heart, is salty, the sour acid, is the early spring oil vegetable heart installs in the seal bottle the salt system but becomes. Because has the characteristic very much, has become Zhouzhuang's main traveling local product commodity unexpectedly. Good, I gives everybody on the vehicle to talk about first to here, do not be first mouth-watering, how you has wanted to eat to the Zhouzhuang how eats. (Arrived the Zhouzhuang) [ to arrive in front of loyal abundant flooded land memorial arch ] we already to the Zhouzhuang, here was the stone decorative archway, was gorgeously towering ? in this new old township intersection point, was the Guzhen Zhouzhuang's symbol, the above engraves has "the loyal abundant flooded land" four characters, wrote for renowned calligrapher Shen Peng. I already had said on the vehicle Zhouzhuang before is called loyally abundant in, this "loyal abundant" was refers to the Zhouzhuang the old name for to be loyal abundantly in, "the flooded land" refers to all around the surrounded by water place. We now arrive the decorative archway the other aspect to go, everybody looked, here has the horizontal tablet to submit a written statement to "the Tang wind survivors". The meaning is in the Zhouzhuang, ancient times the outstanding national culture, the ancient customs lost the rhyme also to be able to see to some. This is the renowned calligrapher spends newly my venerable in old age advanced age time superscription with the left hand, the left bottom also has his inscription! Everybody may carefully identify, is "newly my left pen" four characters. The Zhouzhuang is the typical Chiangnan region of rivers and lakes, everybody knew, the Yangtze River delta is the water resources extremely rich place, since the ancient times, here village may not have the path, but cannot not have the rivers, the water is Chiangnan others and the outside exchange most convenient way. Not only the Zhouzhuang so, with in, the angle straight even Suzhou all is such. Front has an ancient bridge, is called too the level bridge, constructs in the Qing Dynasty. Unfolds at present in everybody is moving Chiangnan ???, in the Shen hall exhibit room, may see to the Japanese famous female painter bridge conscience spring take it as main background named "the Zhouzhuang Some One Day" oil painting F $. . This ancient street is named a step of street, because it is very narrow, step may bridge over, both sides the street opens a shop the shop owner ?? ??, may shake hand mutually or hand over the thing to express the friendship, therefore calls the friendship street. Above also has a day, among is the building projecting over a street or lane, this kind of building in the big city is very rare, has actually in the Zhouzhuang many. Now, we already arrived Twinbridge, tours the Zhouzhuang Twinbridge was has no alternative but to look. Everybody looked that, this bridge floor one horizontal one is firm, an aperture of bridge side circle, the appearance very picture is a key which ancient times people uses, therefore the native then calls it "the key bridge". These two bridges beginning constructed in is bright ??? (1,573 ~ in 1619). This bedstone arched bridge is called the virtues passed down from one's ancestors bridge south, stretches across the north market river, the length 16 meter, the width 3 meter, the span 5.9 meters. This bedstone beam bridge calls Yongan the bridge, even frame in money creek mouth, length 13.3 meter, width 2.4 meter, span 3.5 meters. Twinbridge most can manifest the Guzhen the charm, waits a while everybody to be possible to photograph in here accepts as a memento. Why can Twinbridge such become famous? That was in 1984 the spring, Shanghai famous stays in America painter Chen Yifei to ride the boat to arrive the Zhouzhuang, saw to Twinbridge, had thought oneself returned to in the memory childhood as if. Thereupon, take Twinbridge as a background, has created an autograph is "Hometown Recollection" oil painting. Afterwards this oil painting company.

Joyfrosh.com Joy Freshman

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 11:39:00 +0000

Joyfrosh.com Joy Freshman

Podcast Media - Copycat

Return to Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 05:55:00 +0000

Beautiful Thailand, my potos list:

ge ta King in Thailand

Thailand is a pivotal country in Southeast Asia. From a traditional monarchy in the 19th century to one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Thailand was also the staging base for the U.S. war in Vietnam. Thailand is a country of contradictions: a country with ?exotic? temples and palaces, and the seedy nightlife of sex tourism (the country?s largest industry), and factories of new industrialization. Thailand is a microcosm in which to study the issues of most developing countries: the impact of globalization, regional inequalities, rural migration, government corruption, a booming megapolis (Bangkok), and vigorous NGO?s working for social change.
This study tour is a look at Thailand from the inside, beyond the reach of tourists. It will include visits to Bangkok (temples, universities, street markets, slums and the infamous Patpong bars), Chiangmai (in the north), hill tribes on the Burmese border, Pattaya (a seaside resort for R & R); with an optional tour to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. There will be prior reading, onsite lectures on historical and contemporary issues of social and economic development of Thailand, meetings with social activists, government officials, visits to factories and slums, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the tasty Thai cuisine, and to shop in the street markets.
Dr. Peter F Bell teaches political economy at Purchase College (SUNY); he is the Director of the Westchester Center for Economic Education and has conducted in-service workshops for high school teachers for the past 20 years. He has bee a regular visitor to Thailand since the late 1960?s and has conducted research and published articles on many aspects of the country?s development. He is able to provide a view of the country that tourists never see.
Costs:The tuition for 45 hours instruction is $500.Graduate credit (3 credits) is available for an extra fee of $280 per credit payable at the conclusion of the trip. Lodging (hotels for 17 days), transportation within Thailand, museum and exhibition entrance fees, etc. is an additional $2,300 (double occupancy; single occupancy extra). This does NOT include all meals (breakfast IS included and Thai meals are very reasonable), nor transportation to and from Thailand (group travel possible at approximately $1,200).

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noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 05:23:00 +0000

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Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 10:44:00 +0000

Jiuzhaigou's entrance gate was built shortly after Jiuzhaigou was listed into the World Natural Heritage Catalog in 1992. The gate reflects the features of Tibetan remote areas. The bark of logs wraps round the whole gate that appears primitive, but also displays the flavor of thew modern arts. It seems to tell us that you will find yourselves in the world's most exciting and unspoiled nature. As you know, Jiuxhaigou has been crowned with several titles: The World Natural Heritage, The World Bio-sphere Reserve, the Green Globe 21 and The State 4A-Level Scenery. Besides,each site and each image shows something more-the true essence, the spirit, and the magic of Jiuxhaigou, Jiuxhaigou's wonders inspire the country's top photographers and artists because the best of their work is here. Others express their feelings through words, and there are numerous quotes from writers or visitors. However, many others articulate this land that seems indescribable. As the saying goes, it is better to see once than hear a hundred times. I think Jiuzhaigou's reputation attracts all of you to come here for a vidit. I believe, whether you are a frequent visitr or someone who simply enjoys beautiful places, the visit to Jiuzhaigou will be a perfect way to remember the unique sites and beauty of jiuzhaigou in days to come.

??Jiuzhaigou scenery is licated in jiuzhaigou County, the ASbe Tibetan and Qiang Nationality Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. Jiuzhaigou literally means nine Tibetan village gullies, which are all scattered in the scenic area. The names of the villages are Heye, Shuzheng, Zech awa, Heijiao, Panya, Yala, Jianpan, Rexi and Guodu.

??Jiuzhaigou scenery has taden shape due to the geographic movement in glaciations, earthquakes and calcification. However, there is some folklore that vividly describes the formation of Jiuzhaigou. Here is a story. A long tome ago, a male and female hilly deities fell in love with each other. The man is called Dage and woman Wonuosemo, who decided to reside in Jiuzhaigou because they deeply loved Jiuzhaigou's birds and animals, and forests and mountains. Unexpectedly a devil called Shemozha found out that the female deity was so beautiful that ho fool in love with her, too. Two devil didn't like the male deity to live here in Jiuzhaigou. Therefore the devil waged a war in orser to drive the male deity out and marry the female deity. A fiere battle occurred between the deity and the devil. During the battle, the female deity was snatched away by the devil. Bewildered, the female deity dropped down to the ground her precious mirror given by the male deity. The mirror was broken into over a hundred pieces, which immediately turned into over hundred high mountains and beautiful lakes. The battle continued, and the male deity and the devil fought all the way from inner Jiuzhaigou to the entrance. Despite that, there was no sign indicating who would win the battle. At this critical moment, Zhayizhaga, the king of multi-mountains arrived to join the fight on the side of the male deity. The king first put a huge screen-shaped cliff behind the devil and then crashed the devil beneath the cliff. The devil was buried there, eith his head off the cliff. Afterwards lical people called the cliff the Devil Cliff. Now ot os called the Precious Mirror Cliff. Since then Jiuzhaigou returned to peace and looked more beautiful due to the newly added over a hundred colorful lakes and mountains. The man and womand lived together in Jiuzhaigou forever as the important deities to safeguard jiuzhaigou.

??Jiuzhaigou is 47 km long from the south to the north, 29 km wide from the east to the west, covering an area of 720sq. km. In 1990 Jiuzhaigou became one of 40 best scenic spots in the country; in 2000 Jiuzhaigou was evaluated as one of the first atate 4A-level sceneries in China; in 1992 Jiuzhaigou was listed on the World Bio-sphere Reserve.

??In Jiuzhaigou scenic area there are three gullies that seem to be in the shape of y. There distributed 108 lakes, 47 splashed waterfalls, 12 tirbi;emt screa,s. 5 shoals and 3 Tibetan villages. All these scenic sites create a unique landscape of jiuzhaigou, to China and the rest of the world.

??If you get closer to view the cliff that is over a thousand-ren cliff, you may see a bizarre figure image on the cliff. What does it look alike? It is a devil's face, and it is now called the Precilous Mirror Cliff. Down the cliff is a gully called Zharugou, where stands Zharu Monastery. In Sichuan Tibetan areas local Tibetan people believe in what can be properlyu described as "Lamaism", an ancient strain of Tantric Indian Buddhism, coupled with Tibetan Shamanism. It flourishes in regions inhabited by the Tibetan and Mongolian people. During the reign of Songzan Gapu in the 7th to 9th century, monks from India crossed the Himalayas through Nepal and arrived at Tibet to spread Tantrism. Tantrism, Mahayana and Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet, intermingled and developed into Lamaism that strongly believes in reincarnation. Lama means "teacher" or "superiorbeing". A lama must be a monk, but not all monks can become lamas. Lamaism has several sects: the Yellow, the Red, the Black and others. The YellowSect, founded by Tsong kha pa in the early 15th century, and rapidly grew into the dominant sect thanks to the support of the Qing government. The Yellow Sect perfected the Tibetan Buddhism and greatly promoted the evolution of the mergence of govetnment administration with religion the Tihetan a Buddha in your present lifetime. The monks in Zharu monastery believe in the Black Sect Buddhismthat is also called Bon. The religious activity of the Black Sect, much more influenced by the indigenous religilon, has centered on the primciplkes that everything has spirit; the Black Sect followers pray to gain happiness and drive out disasters.

??Yoy may be aware of the dense forest growing along the sides of the road. it mirrors together thescenic sites of main plants in Jiuzhaigou. The evergreen plants consists of Chinese pine, hemlock, fir and dragon spruce; the red-leaf plants are maple, little tiller, smoke tree and others; the yellow-leaf plants are birchm, golden-rain tree, elm, larch, poplar mix together in harmony, offering a rainbow of natural pictures that easily please to our eyes, It is commonly believe that the colerful plant scenery is one of the main features manifested in Jiuzhaigou. As autumn arrives, the plants keep changing their colors. As colorful leaves and forests are mirrored on the lakes around, the stunning color images seem to allure viewers into a dreamlike world because it is too beautiful to absorb all of them during a time-limited tour.

??As you enter into Shuzheng scenic site, and start walking through it, the garden-patterned landscape might inspire your passion to write poems or paint pictures. Here is the Reed Sea. If you close your eyes, you may feel as if you were in the region of rivers and lakes in southern China. Actually the sea is a kind of moisture land that suits the growth of varied water plants. Some fiah swims in the shallow sea, and they have a strange name, called"naked carp"or they has no scales, but belong to the family of the carp.

??The water in Jiuzhaigou is a big attraction, and is commonly considered the soul of Jiuzhaigou because ot remaons much less touched by human beings. Ginerally the water is so clean that youy can see to the bottim even at 30m in depth. Now we wrrive at the first lake in Jiuzhaigou called Shuanglonghai. You can dimly see two calcified lower banks in the shape of tibbon. Once waves in the lake surges, the two banks seem to wriggle. The local dlegend says that they are two swimming dragons. It is said that there are four dragons in Jiuzhaigou. The dragons in the laks here are two of the four, who take charge of raining and hail. Maybe because they have no strong sense of their duty responsibility, they often make mistakes, and therefore there is no rain when it should rain; there is no hail when ot should hail. Therefore Geshaer, the Tibetan hero has subdued the two evil dragons and imprisoned them at the bottom of the lake.

??The water here is closely related with calcification. The water from the Rizegou Gully has rich content in the ion of calcium and magnesiu,. Due to the suitable temperature in the water hee, the flowing ion easily turns into particulate matters, which stick to plankton or tiny sediments, and depisit on the lower earth bank. narrow mounds, trunks and tree branches in the bottom. Gradually calcified segments have fully covered the objects, forming unique natural phenomenon.

??Shuzheng Waterfall, one of the main scenic sites, is 11m in height and 62m in width. It is an unseen stream from the high terrace meandering among the forests down to the edge of the cliff. As it approaches the edge, trees, bushes and rocks there devert the unseen stream into may sub-ones. The sub-streams fall downwards, presenting a splendid huge waterfall and hanging off the cliff. Down below the cliff grow rich trees and bushes and protruding rocks, and the water keep splashing off these objects in varied shape.

??Beyond the waterfall is a smooth terrain. Near the road is the Xiniu Lake that is 2km long and 18m deep, the largest one in Jiuzhaigou. Toward the southern end of the lake is a forest where there is a simple bridge spanning across the lake. Nearby is a stream, and the water from the streamoffersw sweet and refreshing tastes. The local Tibetan residents think that it is a stpernatural stream, for it is said that the water from the stream can stop diarrhea and quench a thirst. The legend had it that a long time ago, ja lama from Tibet arrived here on a rhinoceros. He was so sick that he couldn't walk further. So he drank the water from the stream.

shangri-la-flower grassland and milch cow

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 05:53:00 +0000

Beautiful shangri-la, Heaven in our world.

Red Flower, Grassland and milch cow... My tour is amused and valuable.

shangri-la-mountains

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 05:52:00 +0000

shangri-la photos

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 05:48:00 +0000

Confucius

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 04:22:00 +0000

??located in qufu, shandong province, the tourist area, which includes the mansion, temple and cemetery of confucius(1), enjoys a worldwide fame as a traditional chinese cultural site. they attract numerous tourists from both home and abroad annually. in 1994, they were listed as world cultural heritage sites.
??the mansion of confucius is the living quarters of the first grandson of confucius, a great philosopher, educator and a founder of confucianism. it is also known as master yansheng's mansion because in 1055, or the second year of the reign of song emperor zhaozhen, kong zongyuan, the 46th generation male descendant of confucius was given the title "master yansheng". the title was passed down to kong decheng, the 77th generation male descendant of confucius.
??with an area of 160,000 square meters, the mansion has nine courtyards with 463 rooms along the east, west and middle routes. the main part of the mansion centers the houses along the middle route . the first four yards contain offices and the other five serve as residences. at the rear it is a garden. the mansion stores more than 9,000 volumes of files from 1534 (the 13th year of the reign of ming emperor jiaqing) to 1948 and great quantities of rare and precious cultural and historical relics.
??the temple of confucius served as a place for worshipping confucius in various dynasties. in 478 b.c., the second year after confucius' death, the ruler of the state of lu converted confucius' former residence, the three-room mansion, into a temple and made it a place for worshipping confucius. the temple was constantly renovated and expanded to its present size by emperors of the western han dynasty and the following historical periods. it covers an area of 218,000 square meters and is 1,120 meters in length from south to north. there are nine courtyards and 466 rooms along three routes in the left, right and middle. the temple has an outer wall, with four corner towers, which shelters ancient pines. the main buildings along the middle route are kuiwen pavilion, thirteen stele pavilion, xingtan pavilion, dacheng hall, hall of confucius' wife and shengji hall. dacheng hall stands out and is the main hall where confucius was worshipped.
??the temple houses some 2,000 tablets dating from the western han dynasty right up to the founding of new china. they are one of the largest collections of tablets in the country. there are now three exhibition halls displaying tablets from the han dynasty and six kingdoms of wei, stone statues from the han dynasty and calligraphic carvings on yuhonglou tablets. the 17 tablets of han dynasty are the largest collection in the country in term of quantity reserved in one place.
??the cemetery of confucius is about 1.5 kilometers north of qufu and is the confucius family cemetery. it takes up 1.998 million square meters and around it there is a seven-kilometer-long hedge. the pavilions, towers, halls and archways built in various historical periods are set in a forest. behind the zhushui bridge is the graveyard, dating from the eastern zhou, which houses the tomb of confucius, the tombs of his son kong li and grandson kong ji. the tomb of confucius is 6.2 meters high and has a circumference of 88 meters.

shangri-la

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 04:05:00 +0000

??in the year 1893, james hilton described an eternally peaceful and quiet place among mountains in the east?? "shangri-la" in one of his novels for the first time. in the novel "lost horizon", an english diplomat conway and his brother gorge scattered the english citizens and helped them leave the dangerous region. on their way home, their plane was hijacked?and fell down into the mountain in the tibetan region. some lucky survivors were taken to shangri-la where conway found lots of fantastic things in such a state founded nearly 200 years ago, in which the local people lived up to more than one hundred years old and lived peacefully and harmoniously with the other people, animals and everything here. the place was called "shangri-la" by the local folks.
??james hilton located "shangri-la" in a mysterious valley which was surrounded by snowcapped mountains; near where there were snow-clad peaks, blue lakes, broad grassy marshlands, and lamaseries, buddhist nunneries, mosques, catholic church, the human beings and the nature were in perfect harmony, several religions and varies of nationalities exited at the same time; the temples looked splendid in green and golden; though people contacted the outer world by caravan for a long time, many foreign experts and scholars had come here to investigate and remained much relics??
??obviously, that is not only a beautiful scenery, but also a kind of artistic conception.
??with the novel and the film coming out, shangri-la became very famous in western countries. later, a chinese named guo huonian used the name of this place and set up "shangri-la" hotel group which has become one of the most successful hotel group in the world.
??at the same time, people didn't give up looking for the legendary shangri-la. up to the end of this century, they finally have found??
??after inspecting and proving on many aspects, people found that diqing prefecture, the only tibetan region in yunnan, china, has striking similarity with what's described in the tale regarding either on natural scenery or people's way of living. therefore, the name of "diqing??shangri-la" spreads worldwide.