Mountain Camping in Guizhou

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Up the mountain The plan was to go camping outside of Guiyang – I have no idea where exactly and what amenities the campsite would afford, if any. Mandy picked me up at my hotel and we headed to a noodle joint for lunch. On the menu… well…. I’m not quite sure of the specifics,Read more

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon

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Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge 30 minutes to the east of  Wulingyuan is Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. Once a side attraction of natural space, it is now one of the premiere tourist destinations in the world, and construction is not yet complete. Covering over 23 square miles, the valley (much of it flooded by downstream dams) is a mixRead more

Another Rainy Foggy Day in Zhangiajie

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Another great breakfast at the hotel, this time with some pork noodles. It’s still raining, unfortuantely. A 15 minute walk to the east gate of the park… …and then a very long creepy ride up the cable line up to TianZi Mountain. Much longer and higher than the previous.     More of these lacqueredRead more

Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge

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 Leaping Tiger Gorge Tour – Part 2 Finally we make it into the gorge, with the driver refusing to slow down. Don’t worry though, the occasional 6cm tall cement block will prevent us from a deadly plummet.   The guide points out the “old” trail on the other side. This was used up through theRead more

South Silk Road

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Leaping Tiger Gorge Tour – Part 1 A hastily-purchased tour pass in the Old Town led to an early morning pork bun breakfast around the corner while waiting for a group bus. My expectations were a casual stroll up the paved path of this renowned gorge. Video: waiting for early morning pickup.     TheRead more

Mt Emei and Chengdu Hotpot

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Day Two Plan: With the weather seeming  pleasant, so I was looking forward to heading to Mount Emei, the highest of the 4 sacred Buddhist mountains of China. Once there, I would explore the giant gold elephant-styled temple, and probably come back with an amazing pics like this one to the right (not my pic). Meanwhile, I would enjoyRead more

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

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Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山 The dominant feature of the Lijiang Valley, is actually a massif (range) of which the highest peak reaches 18,360 ft. Although easily seen from all corners of the city of Lijiang, I had no idea how massive it really was until we hired a driver to take us to it.Read more