The Hong Kong ‘protests’ in context

With Fragrant Mandarin ...

What is called 'democracy' is elite rule; money buys power / fool the people that they have significance. 'Democracy' is the subterfuge that is capture / takeover by other means. In the West, you don't have any real say, other than which side of the same coin is to 'represent' you. To keep one from seeing the bigger picture, and a sense of being part of humanity, the West focuses you on personal identity (misdirection), and that you are 'free'. This is the mix of 'divide and rule', plus mental chains (beliefs) over physical chains, as the new slavery. Anyone who opens their eyes can see it, right in front of them; how one is constantly programmed. Another aspect of the control is money; that is what limits your real freedom; and refocuses your life on the material / survival. The walls and bars of our prison are internalized. To add to the confusion, these elements are projected onto the 'others'. The bigger picture, the full reality, is kept hidden, while the focus remains on endless little bits that are easily construed a certain way. Once one sees reality, the purpose behind all the little steps that make up the 'news' becomes clear. In the end, the West's elite can only rule with the acquiescence of the vast majority. With The Gravel Institute ... In China, the people are family. In the West, the people are livestock. Hence, China is a 'threat' to the Western elite; the threat of a good example. On how the US rules Taiwan ... On Iran - sanctions and the 'nuclear deal' ... On the Laos - China high speed rail link ...

Mind control is not only very real; it is everywhere. It is simply controlling what you 'know'. With MagnatesMedia ...

Relaxing With Chinese Bamboo Flute, Guzheng, Erhu - hours of great music ...

Between GuiLin and YangShuo, GuangXi province.

Xi'An is the provincial capital of ShaanXi, central China. August 13th 2016 : high heat alert - over 40C is seriously hot so take plenty of water (and some salty food). Xi'An is one of the oldest cities in China and was known as Chang'An prior to the Ming dynasty. Indeed, Xi'An is the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, having held this position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui and Tang. Xi'An was the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road trade route. Xi'An is also home to the Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang, who became China's first emperor after the Qin (dynasty: 220 to 210 BC) conquered / unified all of the other Warring States. Rather than maintain the title of 'king' borne by the previous Shang and Zhou rulers, he created the title of 'emperor' (皇帝, HuángDì), which would continue to be borne by Chinese rulers for the next two millennia.

A fascinating, hour plus documentary by CCTV's Travelogue (from the English language CCTV9 channel). Dali is a four and a half hours drive from KunMing, the provincial capital of YunNan in south China, or forty minutes by air. By rail it is also connected to nearby LiJiang. We haven't posted a Travelogue for a couple of years, but are very happy to say that it is back to its best - intelligent presenter and beautiful cinematography. Highly recommended. Inhabited predominantly by the Bai and Yi ethnic groups. 1 : Dali Old Town 1/1 In this segment, presenter Katrina Yu tours the artistic cobblestone streets of the Old Town, meeting adventurous travelers along the way -- and shows where you can party with musical locals at night. 1/2 Katrina sails across the serenely beautiful ErHai Lake, enjoying a taste of ethnic Bai culture along the way. She also gets a lesson in an ancient handcraft and peeks inside a luxurious lakeside guesthouse. 1/3 Katrina strolls through the surrounding grounds of Dali's iconic Three Pagodas, and shows audiences the breath-taking view from the top of the soaring CangShan Mountains. 2 : The outskirts of Dali 2/1 Katrina hikes the holy paths of JiZu Mountain, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in China, and discovers the historic temples which have given the area the nickname of "scented wonderland" 2/2 Katrina visits the traditional ethnic Bai village of XinHua. Join her as she is treated to a colorful 'Eight bowl' Bai banquet and gets a lesson in an age-old handicraft from a master silver maker. 2/3 Katrina wanders through the ancient town of ShaXi. Join her as she savors the sights and tastes of the bustling weekly market, and finds out how this age-old center has succeeded in becoming a modern tourist destination while maintaining its old-world charm. 3 : The 'thousand year old' village of NuoDeng, deep in rural Dali 3/1 Katrina and the crew arrive at the hillside village. They get a taste of Nuodeng's famous salted ham and meet a local man whose character is just as interesting as the temple he guards. 3/2 Katrina visits a unique family museum, and has her pulse checked at a guesthouse where the owners offer holistic health treatments as well as accommodation. 3/3 Katrina plays teacher and student for a day, getting a lesson in local culture at Nuodeng's lively primary school.