A boat cruise along the Li River 漓江, GuiLin to YangShuo

With Ian Louis ... With Seiu Travel ... Visitor Guide to TaiHe River, TianJin Overview The TaiHe River, located in TianJin, is a picturesque waterway that offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Known for its serene landscapes and historical significance, the TaiHe River is a must-visit destination for those exploring TianJin. Getting There By Air: TianJin Binhai International Airport (TSN) is the nearest airport, located about 20 kilometers from the city center. From the airport, you can take a taxi, airport shuttle, or public bus to reach the TaiHe River area. By Train: TianJin Railway Station and TianJin West Railway Station offer convenient access to the city from major destinations across China. From the stations, you can take local transport to reach the river. By Bus: Long-distance buses from nearby cities and provinces also provide access to TianJin. The main bus stations in TianJin are TianJin Coach Terminal and TianJin West Coach Station. Getting Around Public Transport: TianJin has an extensive public transport network, including buses and a metro system, making it easy to navigate the city and reach the TaiHe River. Taxis: Taxis are readily available and relatively inexpensive. Ride-hailing apps like DiDi are also widely used. Biking: Bike-sharing services provide a convenient way to explore the riverbanks and surrounding areas. Main Attractions Scenic Walkways The TaiHe River features well-maintained walkways along its banks, offering beautiful views of the water and surrounding greenery. It's an ideal place for a leisurely stroll, jogging, or simply relaxing by the river. Historical Bridges The river is spanned by several historical bridges, each with its own unique architecture and history. These bridges provide excellent photo opportunities and a chance to appreciate the engineering marvels of the past. Riverside Parks Several parks are located along the TaiHe River, including TaiHe Park and Haihe Cultural Square. These parks offer lush green spaces, recreational facilities, and picturesque spots for picnics and relaxation. Boat Rides Boat rides on the TaiHe River provide a unique perspective of the city and its landmarks. You can choose from various types of boats, including traditional wooden boats and modern yachts, to explore the river. Night View The TaiHe River is especially beautiful at night, when the bridges and buildings along the river are illuminated. A night cruise offers a magical experience, with the city's lights reflecting on the water. Local Cuisine While visiting the TaiHe River, you can enjoy a variety of local and regional dishes. Here are some recommendations: Goubuli Baozi: TianJin's famous steamed buns, known for their delicate flavor and intricate folds. Erduoyan Zhagao: A traditional TianJin snack made of glutinous rice and red bean paste, fried to perfection. Jianbing: A popular Chinese street food, similar to a savory crepe, filled with egg, scallions, cilantro, and crispy wonton strips. Shopping Ancient Culture Street: A vibrant pedestrian street offering traditional Chinese handicrafts, antiques, and souvenirs. BinJiang Dao Commercial Street: A modern shopping area with a wide range of international and local brands, perfect for a shopping spree. HePing Lu Shopping District: Known for its department stores and specialty shops, this district is a shopper's paradise. Accommodation Luxury Hotels: TianJin has several high-end hotels offering excellent amenities and services, such as the Ritz-Carlton TianJin and the St. Regis TianJin. Mid-Range Hotels: There are numerous mid-range options providing comfortable accommodations at reasonable prices, including international chains like Marriott and local boutique hotels. Budget Accommodations: Budget travelers can find affordable guesthouses, hostels, and budget hotels throughout the city. Historical Background of TaiHe River The TaiHe River, also known as the "Peace River," has played a significant role in the history and development of TianJin. The river has been a vital waterway for trade, transportation, and cultural exchange for centuries. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the TaiHe River was an essential part of the Grand Canal, facilitating the movement of goods and people between northern and southern China. The river's strategic location contributed to TianJin's growth as a major commercial and trading hub. In modern times, the TaiHe River has become a focal point for urban development and tourism. Efforts to beautify and preserve the river have made it a popular destination for both locals and visitors, blending the city's rich history with its vibrant present. Tips for Visitors Best Time to Visit: The best times to visit the TaiHe River are spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is mild and pleasant. Clothing: Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers to accommodate changing temperatures. Bring a hat and sunscreen if you plan to spend time outdoors. Respect Local Customs: Be respectful of local customs and traditions, especially when visiting cultural and historical sites. Language: While Mandarin is widely spoken, learning a few basic phrases or using a translation app can be very helpful. Plan Your Visit: The TaiHe River offers a mix of natural beauty and cultural attractions. Plan your visit to include both leisurely activities and sightseeing to fully appreciate the area's offerings. Conclusion The TaiHe River in TianJin, with its scenic walkways, historical bridges, and vibrant parks, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Whether you're taking a leisurely stroll along the riverbanks, enjoying a boat ride, or exploring the city's rich history, the TaiHe River provides a serene and memorable escape. Plan your visit carefully to make the most of your time in this picturesque and historically significant area of TianJin.

With Gecko Walks ...

500 performers dancing in the sky ... The poster thumbnail is blurred but the video is clear : )

There is much more to beautiful Macau than casinos; there is also the historical legacy of Portuguese / Asian fusion ... 澳门 is actually ÀoMén ('Bay Gateway') in PinYin Chinese, but the Portugese name is most commonly used. In the first beautiful film are the following locations : In the video - the principal buildings and public spaces that form the Historic Center of Macau: A-Ma Temple (0:05), Lilau Square (0:39), Mandarin's House (0:50), St. Lawrence's Church (1:13), St. Joseph's Seminary and Church (1:36), Sir Robert Ho Tung Library (1:45), St. Augustine's Square (2:01), St. Augustine's Church (2:07), Dom Pedro V Theatre (2:17), Senado Square (2:35), Holy House of Mercy (2:42), 'Leal Senado' Building (3:12), Sam Kai Vui Kun (Kuan Tai Temple) (3:34), St. Dominic's Church (3:47), Cathedral (4:07), Lou Kau Mansion (4:12), Ruins of St. Paul's (4:29), Mount Fortress (5:01), Section of the Old City Walls (5:44), Na Tcha Temple (5:44), St. Anthony's Church (5:55), Casa Garden (6:06), Protestant Cemetery (6:20), Guia Fortress (including Lighthouse) (6:35).

Best of the Tibet Amdo Losar New Year Gala 2016 ...

With Pascal Coppens ... YT comments : As an ABC, I have traveled to China over a dozen times over the last 40 years. The changes over this period have been breathtaking, but the biggest change has been the deliverance of nearly 800,000,000 citizens out of poverty. Gob-smacked Americans are agape but have gone out of their way to minimize and demonize any Chinese accomplishments. It is getting tiresome hearing racist, biased Western politicians cry about "potential national security" risks. I just returned from another phenomenal trip to China (Shenzhen and Chengdu). Based on my interactions with friends and relatives in China, they are not preoccupied with Anti-American sentiment. America's hysteria about all things Chinese is rooted in unadulterated racism and the inability to accept that China could EVER be a formidable rival." "The following article is written by Ismail Bashmori, he is an Egyptian China watcher. The truth is that China is the greatest country on the face of the earth. It makes all other countries look insignificant and contemptible. It is the most brilliant, most industrious, most ambitious, most educated, meritocratic and technocratic, most modern, sophisticated, and civilised, and best-governed by far. . It is the first non-white, non-Western country to reach this status since the 1600s. The determination of this country is indescribable. Supernatural. There is no force that can stop it from accomplishing anything it wants to do. It doesn’t matter who we are. Egyptians, Syrians, Pakistanis, Indians, Africans, even Americans. Next to the Chinese, we are pathetic. We can’t do what they do. We would have a mountain, an Everest of changes to make, and we would whine and bicker and fail at every one of them. China’s story since the 1980s has been one of an almost divine metamorphosis. Next to China the entire Western world from Alaska to New Zealand has stagnated. Next to China the entire developing world from Brazil to Madagascar has progressed only at a crawl. China is the mother of all gargantuan bullet trains. Every day it manages to create something new and astonishing. And unlike the United States, unlike the British Empire, unlike the French, Dutch, Germans, Spanish, Portuguese or any other Western nation that had its turn at being a superpower in the past four centuries, China doesn’t need to run anybody over or take something from somebody else, to rise majestically. China is also standing up to the West all by herself. The West can’t believe their four-hundred-year-old global supremacy is being challenged. They hoped that the more China developed, the more it would submit to their influence, interests, and leadership. That didn’t happen. So now they will do anything possible, short of a nuclear war, to make China end. Their goal is to destroy this country. That’s why, although the United States has killed several million people and turned several regions of the earth into hellscapes. China is the worst fear of our planet’s Western masters. They want you to despise and dread a country that’s done nothing to you, that hasn’t invaded anyone, bombed or sanctioned anyone, that hasn’t overthrown any foreign government, or used its military on anything since 1979. China is the only major country in the nonwhite developing world, to stand up to the West. To look it in the eye when challenged or threatened. The Global South are simply Western puppets who submitted long ago. Even the most powerful ones. Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India. The 1500s—1000s BC were Egypt’s time. Antiquity belonged to the Greeks and Romans. The 1700s belonged to France, and the 1800s to Britain. From 1945 to the present, the world has been under American overlordship. And they call it the Pax Americana but there isn’t much Pax in it. There’s plenty of Pax if you’re in Europe or Australia. But the Middle East? Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Iran and Yemen in the past 20 years. Latin America? They’ve destroyed that part of the world beyond any hope of recovery. Africa? It’s only been spared because of disinterest. The US sees Africa as nothing. The whole West does. But in the twenty-first century, we are witnessing the rise of China. We are decades away from China becoming the greatest power on earth. This will be China’s time, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Attack China all you want, curse her and monger rumours and hysteria — but the truth is that none of your accusations are backed up by evidence. The Western press is under the thumb of Western governments that want to stay on top of the world for eternity. And the truth is that China is not affected by the noise and maneuvers of her enemies. For her first thirty years, from 1949 to 1979, China was basically blockaded and isolated economically and politically by the West. It didn’t even have a seat in the UN General Assembly. And it was dirt-poor in those days, barely a speck of the global economy, a tiny fraction of Japan’s or Germany’s GDP — not even able to prevent famine. And it still didn’t submit to pressure or take any orders. Why on earth would it do that now? China will be the next global power. There’s nothing that can be done about that. The first stage is that its economy only needs to grow at 4.7 percent per year to become the world’s largest by 2035. That means the usual, historical bare-minimum of 6 percent is already overkill. The US can build as many bases as it wants, slap as many sanctions as it wants, recognise whatever bogus genocides it wants. That’s what it’s been doing all along. Has any of it made a difference? China can adapt to any situation. It took China a mere ten years to go from being barred by the US Congress from participating in the “International” Space Station, to building its own Space Station from zero.

A natural heritage 5 star scenic area ...

With CGTN ... Trade versus coups and invasion. Long term benefits (for all) versus short term profits (for some). Bonus films - on MSM propaganda : With FridayEveryday ... With Jerry's Take on China ... When people come first ... How 4% of the world's population keeps trying to suppress the 96% - with Garland Nixon ... China is the true government of the people, by the people, for the people. If only the West would learn from China the way that China learns from the West.