The magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡, YunNan province, in Ultra HD / 4K

Provincial capital of HeNan province. Fit for life ...

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With Sun Kissed Bucket List ... XiZhou Ancient Town Visitor Guide XiZhou Ancient Town is a gem of Yunnan Province, located approximately 20 kilometers from Dali’s old town. Nestled along the shores of the serene Erhai Lake, XiZhou offers a unique blend of rich Bai culture, stunning ancient architecture, and a tranquil environment, making it a must-visit for travelers seeking a more intimate and traditional experience. Overview Location: XiZhou is situated within the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture and is renowned for its well-preserved Bai minority culture. Famous For: Traditional Bai houses, ancient courtyards, folk performances, unique local cuisine, and vibrant markets. Getting There From Dali: You can take a bus or taxi from Dali Old Town (20-30 minutes). From Kunming: XiZhou is about a 5-hour drive from Kunming. Buses to Dali are available, and from Dali, you can take local transportation to XiZhou. Best Time to Visit: Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). Top Attractions in XiZhou Yan Family Courtyard (Yan Jia Da Yuan): The most famous ancient residence in XiZhou, showcasing traditional Bai architecture with beautiful wood carvings, white-washed walls, and murals. Bai Minority Culture and Houses: Explore over 150 well-preserved traditional Bai houses with intricate designs and courtyards. XiZhou Morning Market: A bustling market full of fresh produce, traditional snacks, and local crafts. Arrive early (7 AM – 9 AM) to experience the market at its liveliest. Erhai Lake: A stunning lake where you can walk, cycle, or take boat rides to enjoy the natural beauty. Shuanglang Town: A trendy nearby town famous for its artistic vibe and boutique guesthouses. A perfect day trip from XiZhou. Cultural Experiences Bai Minority Dress and Dance: Experience colorful traditional Bai clothing and catch performances of traditional dances during festivals or market days. Tea Culture at XiZhou: Enjoy traditional tea-tasting experiences in local homes or guesthouses. Local Delicacies XiZhou Baba (喜洲粑粑): A crispy, savory (or sweet) flatbread made from wheat flour. Try it fresh from street vendors. Dali Cheese (Rushan, 乳扇): A Bai specialty cheese, often grilled or fried, that you can find throughout the town. Erhai Fish: Fresh fish dishes prepared from the lake's bounty, best enjoyed at lakeside restaurants. Rose Petal Cake (玫瑰饼): A delicate pastry filled with rose petal jam. This treat is especially famous in XiZhou, where roses are grown locally. Its fragrant sweetness makes it a popular souvenir. Where to Stay Local Homestays: Family-run guesthouses, often in traditional Bai homes, offering an intimate experience of Bai culture. Boutique Hotels: For more luxury, boutique hotels combine modern amenities with traditional architecture. Tips for Visitors Language: Most people speak the local Bai dialect, but Mandarin Chinese is sufficient for communication. English is not widely spoken. Respect Local Customs: Dress modestly and ask permission before photographing people. Shopping: Support local artisans by purchasing handmade textiles, embroidery, and silverware from the markets. Nearby Attractions Dali Old Town: A larger, more developed town known for its old city walls, temples, and lively atmosphere. Cangshan Mountain: Offers hiking trails, cable cars, and panoramic views of Erhai Lake and Dali’s landscape. Conclusion XiZhou Ancient Town is an ideal destination for those wanting to immerse themselves in authentic Bai culture, ancient architecture, and the peaceful lakeside environment of Yunnan. Whether you're exploring ancient homes, tasting local delicacies, or enjoying the beauty of Erhai Lake, XiZhou provides a rich cultural experience in a relaxed setting.

With Lulu's Daily In China ... Humble Administrator's Garden Visitor Guide Overview The Humble Administrator's Garden, located in SuZhou, JiangSu province, is one of the most famous classical gardens in China. Built in the early 16th century during the Ming Dynasty, this garden is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design, featuring beautiful pavilions, serene ponds, lush greenery, and exquisite rock formations. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit destination for anyone interested in traditional Chinese garden art. History The garden was originally created by Wang XianChen, a retired government official, who sought to design a peaceful retreat for himself. Over the centuries, the garden changed hands multiple times, undergoing various renovations and expansions. Despite these changes, the garden has retained its original layout and classical elements, reflecting the aesthetics and philosophical principles of traditional Chinese gardens. Main Attractions Central Garden The Central Garden is the heart of the Humble Administrator's Garden, featuring a large pond surrounded by lush plants, winding paths, and elegant pavilions. Key highlights include: Lotus Pavilion: A beautiful structure overlooking the pond, offering a tranquil spot to enjoy the view of blooming lotus flowers in summer. Hall of Distant Fragrance: Named after the lotus flowers whose fragrance can be smelled from afar, this hall is one of the garden's main buildings, known for its elegant design. Eastern Garden The Eastern Garden features a series of smaller ponds, rockeries, and pavilions, creating a more intimate and secluded atmosphere. Notable features include: Small Flying Rainbow Bridge: A charming stone bridge that arches gracefully over a small pond. Hall of 36 Mandarin Ducks: Named after the mandarin ducks often seen in Chinese art, this hall offers picturesque views of the surrounding landscape. Western Garden The Western Garden is characterized by its open spaces and carefully arranged rockeries and plantings. Highlights include: Hall of the Thirty-Six Mandarin Ducks: Featuring beautiful carvings and a serene ambiance. GuanYun Peak: A striking rock formation representing a mountain peak, showcasing the garden's sophisticated use of stones. Architecture and Design The Humble Administrator's Garden exemplifies the principles of traditional Chinese garden design, which seeks to create harmony between nature and human-made structures. The garden's architecture and layout incorporate the following elements: Water Features: Ponds and streams are central to the garden's design, reflecting the sky and surrounding plants, and adding a sense of tranquility. Rockeries: Carefully arranged rocks and rock formations symbolize mountains and add a dynamic visual element to the landscape. Pavilions and Halls: These structures provide spaces for relaxation and contemplation, offering various perspectives of the garden. Plantings: A diverse array of plants, including bamboo, lotus, and seasonal flowers, enhance the garden's beauty and symbolize different virtues and qualities. Visiting Tips Best Time to Visit: The garden is beautiful year-round, but spring and summer are particularly lovely when flowers are in bloom. Autumn offers stunning foliage, and winter provides a peaceful, serene atmosphere. Opening Hours: The garden is open daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM (hours may vary seasonally). Getting There: The garden is located in the heart of SuZhou and is easily accessible by public transportation or taxi. The nearest metro station is Lindun Road Station (Line 1). Guided Tours: Consider hiring a local guide or joining a guided tour to gain deeper insights into the garden's history, architecture, and cultural significance. Photography: The garden offers countless photo opportunities. Be sure to bring your camera and take your time capturing the beauty of the landscape. Respect the Environment: Help preserve the garden by not picking flowers, climbing on rocks, or littering. Respect the tranquility of the space and other visitors.

Because health is the foundation for everything else. With Dr. Sten Ekberg ...

A 70 minute feature length film. Starting at MuTianYu Great Wall, Beijing.

Including YunNan and GuangXi provinces ...

A mild-flavored winter radish usually characterized by fast-growing leaves and a long, white, napiform root. It is similar in appearance to fresh horseradish but packs a lighter peppery punch similar to watercress. Unlike other radishes, it is as good cooked as it is raw. A very beautiful film and culinary masterclass with LiZiQi 李子柒. Dishes include SiChuan pickles, NorthEast sauerkraut and several types of XianCai, salty side-dish, and SuanCai, sour cabbage, with spice and without. Similar to Korean kimchi - Korean is one of the 56 ethnic groups in China. Don't miss it ... Rimo Z : 0:23 Rapeseed flowers 2:50 White Radish 3:37 Carrot 4:31 Chinese Cabbage 6:03 Mustard, then dehydrate the vegetables 7:58 Smear chilli sauce 8:28 Sealed for 1 month 8:51 Pine leaves for smoking the meat (Bacon) 9:03 Orange or clementine 9:10 Pomelo on the tree 9:22 Start smoking the sausage and meat 9:30 Add the pomelo and orange peel to enrich the flavor 10:16 Add salt and chilli powder, start pickling the dehydrated radish and carrots 10:36 Dried fish 11:58 put the dried fish, sausage and meat (or bacon) for boiling before eating or further cooking, this step helps to clean the food and reduce the salt 12:47 stir fry with ginger and then start stewing with green onion and orange peel 13:34 Fermented pickle cabbage (non-spicy) 13:49 Fermented pickle cabbage (spicy) 14:06 Minced meat with oil, spice powder, green onions, soy sauce, ginger and 14:14 hot oil to increase the aroma 14:26 Chop the pickle Chinese cabbage 14:38 Mix the minced meat and pickled cabbage, start making dumplings 15:53 Cut the salted meat, stir fry with green onion and stew with the dried vegetables 15:52 Add spicy pickled cabbages 16:16 Add some hot oil on top of the pickle dishes to excite the fragrance 16:42 Cut the boiled sausage, salted meat etc. 17:49 Looks like rose tea 17:55 Just white congee 米老鼠 : Kimchi first appeared in the book of songs. It was interpreted as sauerkraut in China. Korean kimchi originated in the Tang Dynasty. Tang Dynasty general Xue Rengui was assigned to Korea (today's Korea) by the government to settle down in Korea. Many of his entourage were from Jiangbei County, Chongqing, who could make kimchi in his hometown. Since then, Chongqing kimchi has entered Korea. Several wars in Korea have brought this kind of dish into Korean civilian families. Kimchi went through several stages before it became the real Korean kimchi. The first stage is the Three Kingdoms period, when the pickled dishes or radish, cucumber, etc., introduced to South Korea after adding leeks and other fresh vegetables. In the second stage, in the Korean period, the production methods began to be enriched, and the raw materials were added to the base. The third stage is that cabbage has become the main raw material, which is what we eat now.

A special culinary treat ! Trevor James, the 'Food Ranger', explores the dining scene in ChengDu, SiChuan province ...