Three Gorges + Zhangjiajie/ Fenghuang Ancient Town---March 5-March14, 2008

6th Visit to China

长江---中国的母亲河

 

The Three Gorges Cruise (乘维多利亚五号轮漫游三峡)

Shennong Stream (神农溪)---a tributary of Yangtze River

Yangtze River (长江), the longest river in China, is one of the world’s busiest waterways.

From its source in Tanggula Mountain Range (唐古拉山) in Qinghai (青海) province to its mouth in  East China Sea, it flows through China for 6380 km.

The Upper Reaches of Yangtze River refers to the section above Yichang (宜昌) in Hubei (湖北) province.

The most impressive section of the Upper Reaches are the Three Gorges:  Xiling Gorge (西陵峡), Wu Gorge (巫峡) and Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡).

The Three Gorges stretch from Fengjie, in Chongqing to Yichang, in Hubei province.

  embarked for the Three Gorges Cruise in Yichang (宜昌)

Xiling Gorge (西陵峽)

Xiling Gorge (西陵峡), located between Badong (巴东) and Yichang (宜昌) in Hubei province, is the longest among the three gorges. 

It is known for its rapids and shoals.

Xiling Gorge (西陵峡).

The Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝)


The Three Gorges Dam was constructed in Xiling Gorge.

The mammoth project once envisaged by Dr Sun Yat Sen benefits millions of people. It had since been under consideration.

The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest hydroelectric
project which was started in 1994 and completed in 2009. 

The main purpose of constructing the dam is to improve flood control in the Middle and Lower Reaches---the economic hub of China, improve navigation on the river and increase electric power production in China.

Five-level locks were constructed. Large ships have to line up to sail into the locks, like climbing stairs to the Upper Reaches of the river.

In addition to the river locks, ship lift capable of lifting up smaller ships with capacity up to 3000 tons was also installed in the reservoir.

When completed, water of the reservoir will rise to 185 m. As navigation course has become wider and deeper, sailing along the Three Gorges will also be easier and safer.

However, the project has been controversial even before it was started. There have been concerns about resettlement of over 1.5 million people who were or will be resettled by the rising water and the loss of farmlands, endangered animals and historical relics.

Wu Gorge (巫山)

Wu Gorge (巫峡) is located between Wushan (巫山) in Chongqing and Badong (巴东) in Hubei Province.

The gorge is known for its deep valley and serenity, with Twelve Peaks lining along both banks of the river. The Goddess Peak (神女峰) is the most fantastic one among them.

 admiring the Goddess Peak in Wuxia

Wu Gorge  (巫峡)

In Wu Gorge, we transfered from the cruise ship to a small boat and explored the Shennong Stream (神农溪)--- a small tributary of Yangtze River, in Hubei province.

 a boat ride along the Shennong Stream (神农溪)

Along both banks of the Shennong Stream, there are relics of the ancient Ba (巴) people. 

One of the most mysterious relics is the hanging coffins (悬棺). It was the custom of the Ba people to hang the coffins in the crevices of cliffs.

Hanging coffins (悬棺)

Later, we were divided into smaller groups and transferred to "pea-pod boats".

took a 'pea-pod boat' ride on Shennong Stream

Our narrator was a Tujia girl (土家阿妹). She and the boat trackers

(纤夫) sang Tujia folk songs on board the "pea-pod boat" to entertain us.

  

She also shared with us some of their customs. One of the interesting customs was "weeping marriage" (哭嫁).

Tujia girls became very sentimental when they were going to get married. They weeped and sang for days before their wedding days. They sang to thank their parents for bringing them up as one of their ways to show their filial piety.

naked boat trackers

Towing boats upstream by the naked boat trackers was a unique spectacle in the Upper Reaches in the past. The trackers scrambled over the rocky mountain, tugging the boats with a rope.

  boat trackers in decent clothing

Gone are the days due to the rise of water level, boat trackers are now in decent clothing, mainly working to serve the tourists in Shennong Stream.

There are many scenic spots along both banks of the Three
Gorges such as White Emperor City (白帝城) and  Fengdu Guiyu--- Gost City (丰都鬼域).

Shore excursion to Fengdu Guiyu (丰都鬼域)

Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峽)

Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡), located between Fengjie (奉节) and Wushan  (巫山) in Chongqing,  is the shortest, narrowest and most magnificent one among the Three Gorges.

Kui Gate (夔门) in Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡)

At the entrance of the Qutang Gorge, stand two perpendicular cliffs facing each other. They look like a massive gate, hence the name Kui Gate (夔门).

The river rushes swiftly through the perilous entrance which is only over 100 m wide.

Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡)
                                                                       
                                                            

朝辞白帝彩云间

        千里江陵一日还

                 两岸猿声啼不住

                         轻舟已过万重山

                                                                                 ---李白

                                                       再见！三峡

arrived in Chongqing

                               滚滚长江东逝水

                   浪花淘尽英雄           

                       是非成败转头空

                青山依旧在

                几度夕阳红

                                            

                                       白发渔樵江渚上

                            惯看秋月春风

                                 一壶浊酒喜相逢

                         古今多少事

                          都付笑谈中

                                                 

                               
Chongqing (重庆)

重庆市人民大礼堂

解放碑商业街

                    Eling Park (鹅岭公园)





Zhangjiajie City  (张家界市)

Located in northwestern Hunan province, 

Zhangjiajie City is home to Wulingyuan Scenic and

Historic Interest Area (武陵源风景名胜区).

Wulingyuan scenic area comprises: Zhangjiajie National

Forest Park (张家界国家森林公园), Suoxiyu

and Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve (索溪峪和天子山

自然保护区).

The scenic area has an unique landscape dominated by quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks, many over 200 m high.

Jinbian Stream (金边溪) in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park 

索溪峪十里画廊景点---采药老人

Wulingyuan is famous for its topography and rare flora 
and fauna species. It has been officially designated by

 UNESCO as Nature Reserves for the benefit of all
mankind. 

In ancient times, the site was remote, inaccessible and

seldom visited. It had remained almost unsettled by man,

until fifty years ago.

Now, it is a popular tourists' destination. Visitors come to

admire the natural beauty of the area. 

Tianmen Mountain (天门山)

Tianmen Mountain scenic area has been designated the

second national forest park in Zhangjiajie City. Tianmen

Mountain is the highest peak in Zhangjiajie.

       Tianmen Cave (天门洞)

Tianmen Cave is a water-eroded, natural opening in

Tianmen Mountain (天门山).

It is much like a gate towards the Heaven, hence

the name Tianmen---Gate to Heaven.

In 1999, a group of stunt pilots became the first to fly

through the cave.

     
                                  

Ancient Town Of Fenghuang (湘西凤凰古城)

Fenghuang, a small ancient town on the Tuojiang River( 沱江), is located in the Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (湘西土家族苗族自治州), south west of Hunan.

Over half of the town's population is the Miao and Tujia minorities.

Ancient Town of Fenghuang---a bridge spans across the river

The town was well-preserved with houses which local people called 'diaojiaolou' (吊脚楼), lining along both banks of the river.

                                                  

Jiuzhaigou---Sep10-19, 2007

5th Visit to China

Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟)

Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟)

Jiuzhaigou is located in Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (阿坝藏族羌族自治州), north-western Sichuan. It was so named because there used to be nine Tibetan villages in the area.

The main scenic spot consists of three gullies arranged in Y shape. The Rize (日则) and Zezhawa (则查洼) Gullies flow from the south and meet at the center of the site to form Shuzheng (树正) Gully. 

Jiauzhaigou is known for its many multi-level waterfalls and 108 colourful lakes.

Its altitude is about 3000 m above sea level.

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nuorilang Falls (诺日朗瀑布)

Nuorilang Falls are the widest highland waterfalls in China.

Pearl Shoals and Falls (珍珠滩瀑布)

Jiuzhai Paradise (九寨天堂)

Diexihaizi (叠溪海子)

Diexihaizi Lake was formed after the Diexi earthquake which 

occurred in 1911.

monument dedicated to the Long March (长征)

The statue is a soldier with a rifle in one hand and flowers in the other.

Songzhou (松州) 

Songzhou

During the Tang Dynasty, Songtsan Gampo (松赞干布), the king of Tubo (吐蕃), proposed marriage to a Chinese princess. However, his proposal was rejected by the Emperor Taizong (唐太宗).

Soon after that, Songtsan Gampo sent an army of 200 000 to attack Songzhou. It was known as the Battle of Songzhou between the Tang and Tubo (唐蕃松州之战) in Chinese history.

To pacify the Tubo and make allience with them, Emperor Taizong married Princess Wencheng (文成公主) to Songtsan Gampo.

Princess Wencheng was credited with bringing Chinese culture to Tibet.

Taoping Qiang Village(桃坪羌寨)

Taoping Qiang Village (桃坪羌寨) was built by Qiang (羌) people during Xi Han period.

It is a well-planned village which still maintains its origin state.

The houses and watch-towers in the village were built from stone, timber and mud.

Again, Taoping Qiang village survived the recent (2008) Sichuan earthquake.

  

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries 

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries is home to more than 30% of the world’s giant pandas.

The rare and endangered giant pandas are native only to bamboo forests on the mountain slopes of Central China.

Giant pandas usually live alone. They feed chiefly on bamboo.

Giant pandas are always presented by the Chinese gorvernment to other countries as a gesture of friendship.

Sichuan Giant Panda Sancturies is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Luodai Ancient Hakka Town (洛带客家古城)

  Luodai Ancient Hakka Town (洛带客家古城）

During the early Qing Dynasty, the Hakkas migrated to Luodai Ancient Hakka Town far away from Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi province.

Located in the eastern outskirt of Chengdu, Luodai Ancient Hakka Town (客家古城)  has the largest Hakka community in western China.

The residents in Luodai can speak the Hakka dialect fluently. They still retain their own traditions and customs.    

蜀南竹海

丽娥盼望常来左岸里莎西餐厅用早点

Scenic Guilin---June 9-16, 2007

4th Visit to China

Li River (漓江)

漓江一日游，消尽十年愁

Guilin (桂林）

日月双塔

Guilin (桂林) is one of China's most picturesque cities. It has a history of more than 2000 years.

The city is located in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区), on the west bank of Li River (漓江). 

Its name means "forest of sweet osmantus", owing to the large number of sweet osmantus trees grown in the city.

Yushan Park (虞山公园)

渊明山庄

渊明山庄

Guilin and its surrounding areas are renowned for their karst topography. Deep erosion of the limestone formations has created numerous pinnacles. There are also spires of grotesque figures, caves with all types of stalactites and stalagmites and underground streams in the region.

Lipu (荔蒲)

有河就有山
        有山就有洞
                有洞就有石

 

Yinzi Cave, Lipu (荔蒲银子岩)   

Fantastic shapes of stalactites and stalagmites are formed in the cave.

              

Yangshuo (阳朔)

桂林山水甲天下

     
         阳朔山水甲桂林

Li River (漓江) as seen in Yangshuo (阳朔)

江作青罗带
山如碧玉簪

                                      －－－韩愈

Yangshuo is a county in Guilin. It lies in the southeast of the city.

Surrounded by picturesque karst peaks and  bordered on one side by the Li River, Yangshuo has the most beautiful karst scenery in the Guilin region.

West Street (西街), Yangshuo

   

West Street (西街), one of the main streets in Yangshuo, is lined with western cafes, bars, Chinese tea houses, restaurants and shops. 

Visitors take a stroll along West Street to experience a blend of Chinese and Western atmosphere in the town. 

Cruising along Li River (漓江)

Li River (漓江) winds its way from Mt Miaoer (苗儿山), through Guilin and Yangshuo, to Xi River (西江).

The section of the river between Guilin and Yangshuo is the most beautiful part of Li River.  

Spectacular karst landscape along the Li River has made the area the subject of paintings and poetry for many centuries.

Elephant Hill (象鼻山)

Elephant Hill (象鼻山), located at the confluence of Li River and Yang River (阳江), is the symbol of Guilin.

It was so named because of its resemblance to an elephant sipping water from Li River with its trunk.

on a Bamboo Raft

  
Fisherman and his trained cormorant on a bamboo raft

Cormorants have been tamed for fishing in Guangxi. 

Cormorants dive to catch fish for fishermen.They will return to the bamboo rafts after they have caught a fish.

As their necks are tied with a string, they cannot swallow the fish. Then, the fishermen will remove the fish from their throats and reward the cormorants with a smaller fish.

Zhuang (壮), Yao (瑶), Miao (苗) and Dong (侗) girls

The population in Guangxi is made up of the Han (汉), Zhuang (壮), Yao (瑶), Miao (苗) and Dong (侗).

The ancestors of the Zhuang were related to a branch of ancient Baiyue (百越) ethnic group who lived in South China. The Zhuang are the largest minority group in China. They have their own language.

 Zhuang people are good at singing. Boys (阿哥) and girls (阿妹) sing for each other to express their love. Then the girls would toss an embroidered silk ball (绣球) that they make by themselves to the boys they are attracted to.

Zhuang girl (in ethnic costume) and her embroidered silk balls

Zhuang people also sing to express their dissatisfaction. Legend has it, that there was a Zhuang girl, named Liu Sanjie (刘三姐), who was admired by the local people for her courage to expose the cruelty of the landowner in her songs.

Hezhou (贺洲)

Gupo Hill

Xiangu Waterfall (仙姑瀑布)

Xiangu Temple (仙姑庙)

Fang's Tea Farm (方家茶园)

  

Zhaoqing (肇庆)

Seven-star Rock (七星岩)

  

The arrangement of the seven peaks resembles the pattern of the stars of the Great Bear Constellation.

Wuzhuo (梧州)

Wuzhou

Guangzhou (广州)

Beijing Road (北京路)

Kast topography is a  barren limestone formation with abrupt ridges, caves, sinkholes and underground streams. They are shaped by the action of water.

Limestone dissolves relatively easily in slightly acidic water, which occurs widely in nature. Rain water seeps through cracks in limestone, dissolving some of the limestone.

Over the years, the cracks are gradually enlarged. Fantastic shapes are often formed.

As water flows along cracks underground, it continues to widen  the cracks. Eventually, the enlarged cracks become caves or underground streams.

After a cave has been formed, water continues to seep down from the surface and drips from the roof.

As each drop falls, it leaves a tiny deposit of dissolved limestone.The deposits gradually build down, and in time they are stalactites, hanging from the roof.

When a drop of water strikes the ground, it will also leave a tiny deposit of dissolved limestone. Over the years, these deposits build up stalagmites, rising from the ground of the cave.

If water drops from along a line, it may form a screen of stone.

Dripping water often contains dissolved minerals as well as acid. These minerals too will be deposited. They may give rich colouring to the deposit.

If a cave becomes large enough and the top extends close to the surface, the top collapses. This produces depressions called sinkholes.