ChangSha 长沙 night walk and park tour

September 31st, 2010.

Mountain Hiking Trips in China Huangshan 黄山 (Huángshān): Embark on an unforgettable journey to the Yellow Mountain, known for its dramatic peaks, deep valleys, and mystical beauty. Huangshan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has inspired countless poets and artists with its ethereal landscapes. Visitors can hike along scenic trails lined with ancient pine trees, explore hidden caves and waterfalls, and witness breathtaking views of the sea of clouds that often shroud the peaks. Emei Mountain 峨眉山 (Éméishān): Explore one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, known for its stunning scenery, ancient temples, and diverse wildlife. Emei Mountain is home to the majestic Golden Summit, where visitors can watch the sunrise over a sea of clouds and admire the towering statue of Samantabhadra. Along the way, hikers can encounter playful monkeys, explore serene forests, and visit historic Buddhist monasteries. Jiuhua Mountain 九华山 (Jiǔhuáshān): Discover the beauty and tranquility of Jiuhua Mountain, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. Jiuhua Mountain is renowned for its sacred temples, including the Tiantai Temple and the Huacheng Temple, which house ancient Buddhist relics and offer stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can hike through lush forests, meditate in serene meditation halls, and immerse themselves in the spiritual atmosphere of this sacred mountain. Wudang Mountain 武当山 (Wǔdāngshān): Explore the birthplace of Wudang Kung Fu and the ancient Taoist culture at Wudang Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its magnificent ancient buildings, including the Golden Hall, the Purple Cloud Palace, and the Nanyan Temple. Visitors can practice Tai Chi in the peaceful surroundings, hike through scenic valleys and forests, and explore the rich cultural heritage of this historic mountain. Mount Tai 泰山 (Tàishān): Ascend the sacred Mount Tai, known as the "Eastern Mountain of the Five Sacred Mountains." Mount Tai has been a place of worship and pilgrimage for thousands of years and is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and cultural significance. Visitors can climb the 7,000 steps to the summit, visit ancient temples and shrines, and admire panoramic views of the surrounding landscape from the Jade Emperor Peak. Mt. Hua 华山 (Huàshān): Challenge yourself with a trek up the steep and rugged trails of Mount Hua, one of China's Five Great Mountains. Known for its precipitous cliffs, narrow plank paths, and breathtaking vistas, Mount Hua offers a thrilling adventure for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can hike to the famous Chess Pavilion, brave the spine-tingling plank walk along the cliff face, and enjoy panoramic views from the mountain's five peaks. Mount Gongga 贡嘎山 (Gònggǎshān): Explore the "King of Sichuan Mountains," known for its stunning glaciers, alpine lakes, and diverse ecosystems. Mount Gongga is one of the highest peaks in the Hengduan Mountains and offers spectacular scenery and challenging trekking opportunities. Visitors can trek through pristine wilderness, climb to high mountain passes, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, including the iconic Minya Konka. Haba Snow Mountain 哈巴雪山 (Hābā Xuěshān): Discover the rugged beauty of Haba Snow Mountain, located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Haba Snow Mountain is known for its dramatic landscapes, including towering peaks, deep gorges, and cascading waterfalls. Visitors can trek through alpine meadows adorned with colorful wildflowers, cross suspension bridges over rushing rivers, and summit the snow-capped peak for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山 (Yùlóng Xuěshān): Explore the stunning landscapes of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, known for its towering peaks, deep gorges, and alpine meadows. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas and is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Visitors can take a cable car ride to the summit, hike along scenic trails, and admire the views of the famous "13 peaks." Mt. Siguniang 四姑娘山 (Sìgūniángshān): Journey to the "Four Sisters Mountains," known for their towering peaks, alpine lakes, and pristine forests. Mount Siguniang is located in the heart of the Qionglai Mountains and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries. Visitors can trek through scenic valleys, visit Tibetan villages, and admire the stunning beauty of the snow-capped mountains, including the four distinct peaks that give the mountain its name.

ShaanXi province. Street food, Xiǎo Chī (small eats), 火锅 in the Muslim Quarter ... From film-maker Kevin Cook : For Xi'an, the old Silk Road trade route opened the doors to the culinary influence of other cultures, particularly Muslim culture, which is especially evident in the Muslim Quarter in the center of the city. This massive outdoor marketplace of roads and alleyways contains some of the most tasty, unique and interesting street foods in all of China. Shaanxi Sandwich 牛肉夹馍 (Niúròu jiā mó) - 8 RMB The first street food that I eat in this video is Nui Rou Jia Mo (beef sandwhich). Due to its origins in the Shaanxi Province, it’s often called the “Shaanxi Sandwich.” Mutton soup with bread 泡馍 (Pào mó) - 38 RMB This one isn't so much a street food as it is a full meal in a bowl. Pao mua is mutton soup with bread, and it requires a little bit of work to prepare. It's one of the hardiest dishes you can eat in Xi’an, and it’s absolutely amazing. For 38 Yuan, it’s more expensive than most dishes you’ll find around here, but it’s worth it. Street Yoghurt 酸奶 (Suānnǎi) - 8 RMB Sua nai, which literally means “sour milk,” is a sweet yoghurt drink sold in little white cups, and it’s especially satisfying on a hot day like today. Beef jerky 牛肉干 (Niúròu gān) Price varies per kilo Niu roy gan, or dried beef, is another delicious street snack available in all parts of the Muslim market place. Unlike similar looking beef jerky in the west, the variety that I bought in Xi'an has a much more distinct meaty flavor than any other beef jerky I’ve ever eaten. Bread 楠 (Nán) - 5 RMB Hailing originally from the XinJiang Province is a hardy flat bread that's sold all over Xi’an. The Uyghur people who bake this bread call it 'nan,' but Han Chinese call it 'nang.' Skewered mutton 羊肉串 (Yángròu chuàn) 10 RMB/2 skewers Thanks to vendors like the one in this video, the tempting aroma of juicy grilled meat permeates the entire marketplace. This snack is dripping with fat and seasoned to perfection, making this a rich, hardy Xi'an street snack. Peanut Candy 花生糖 (Huāshēng táng) - 20 RMB/box A few varieties of this sweet snack are available, and each requires an interesting method of preparation, such as pounding the candy with a mallet and stretching it out over a hook. The process of making this delicious street treat is even more fun to watch than it is to eat. The beautiful Xi'An Expo park and Hot Pot, huǒ guō, 火锅 ... Bonus film - hand-pulled noodles From the Food Ranger, Trevor James : Hand pulled noodles are found everywhere in China. These hand pulled noodles were so delicious, simply some of the best Chinese food you can have in all of China. They are featured in LanZhou LaMian restaurants everywhere. Lanzhou LaMian AKA LanZhou hand pulled noodles are everywhere, and each restaurant has a very similar menu. These restaurants are usually very good for foreigners in China because they often have a huge picture menu all over the walls, so you can just point at what you think looks good. In this video, me and my local friend try two very amazing dishes : the DaPanJi, also known as the XinJiang big plate of beef, and then my other favorite noodle dish, the lamb and cumin on top of hand pulled noodles. These two dishes combined made a massive meal for two people. So if you're a foreigner living in China or if you're just traveling in China for a short time, visiting a LanZhou hand pulled noodles restaurant is a MUST!

The MaiJiShan Grottoes are filled with thousands of Buddhist sculptures. These were carved from the Wei dynasty to the Song dynasty by Buddhist monks who first came here via the North Silk Road. The grottoes are close to TianShui, which is the second largest city in GanSu province in central China, with a population of approximately 3.5 milion. The city lies along the route of the ancient Northern Silk Road by the Wei River, through which much of the trade flowed between China and the West. The Qin state, the founding dynasty of China, arose in this part of China.

A charming micro movie that takes you to some of the many beautiful places in SiChuan province ...

The Animals - blues / rock from the 60s (blues music) ...

A film of beautiful Beijing by our resident photographer, plus more great films. 9 minutes to see the beautiful, blue sky city of Beijing ...

Beautiful ...

Mount Tai is one of China's Five Sacred Mountains and has been a place of worship for at least 3,000 years. Mount Tai (or TaiShan, though there is a city called TaiShan in GuangDong - a different place) is a mountain of both historical and cultural significance which is located north of the city of Tai'An in ShanDong province. The tallest peak is the Jade Emperor Peak which reaches a height of 1,533 meters (just over 5,000 ft). In total, there are 22 temples, 100 ruins, 820 stone tablets, and over 1,000 cliff-face and rock inscriptions, including the Wordless Stela that stands in front of the Jade Emperor Temple. Legend tells that the emperor who commissioned the stela was dissatisfied with the planned inscription and decided to leave it blank. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.