Beijing is a city of sharp contrasts, with an ancient past coexisting alongside futuristic looking buildings and modern structures. We were very excited to visit this hip, happening city immediately prior to the 2008 Olympics, when the city’s inhabitants were giddy with delight at the prospect of finally being selected to host one of the…Continue reading China – Beijing
Tag: China
China – Lhasa (Tibet)
Lhasa is the capital of Tibet, and at 3,650 meters, is one of the highest cities in the world. Located at the foot of Mount Gephel, the city is regarded as the holiest center for Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet, and once served as the traditional seat of the Dalai Lama. We had long dreamed of…Continue reading China – Lhasa (Tibet)
China – Xi’an
The historical importance of Xi’an cannot be understated. The starting point for the ancient Silk Road that extended from Asia to Europe, Xi’an played an enormous role in the cultural exchange between East and West. Having served as one of China’s seven ancient capitals, Xi’an was the capital city under 12 Dynasties spanning more than…Continue reading China – Xi’an
China – Guilin
Highly touted as one of China’s most scenic locales, Guilin boasts a handsome town with a meandering river flanked by spectacular limestone crops. Nearby, the Lijiang River has been described as the soul of Guilin scenery, flowing like a jade ribbon from Guilin to Yangshuo. Boating on the Li River is one of the region’s…Continue reading China – Guilin
China – Yangtze River
This section of our China trip gave us a brief introduction to the Three Gorges Dam (a controversial hydroelectric project that displaced over 1.9 million people in the attempt to become the world’s largest dam), Shennong Stream (a 60 kilometer tributary off the Yangtze River that is home to various Minority groups and is most…Continue reading China – Yangtze River