CHENGDU , SICHUAN PROVINCE

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in the southwest, has been the economic and cultural center of China's most populous province since 400 BC

During the Eastern Han Dynasty (35-330 AD), the imperial court appointed an official to supervise the fast-growing brocade industry in the town. It was then known as Jincheng, or Brocade Town. When it was discovered that the brocade turned brighter and fresher after being washed in a nearby river, the river was given the name Jin Jiang, or Brocade River.

During the Five Dynasties era (907-960 A. D.), it was for a time the capital of China, and hibiscus was planted all along the city wall. Because of this, it then became known as the City of Furong or Hibiscus. Today, flowers and trees grace the wide streets and its many parks. Agriculture and light industry are the mainstays of the region. Brocade is still manufactured along with other textiles and handicrafts. If you stay in Chengdu, you may be able to see an operatic production. The Sichuan Opera has been in existence for many years and is slowly winning nationwide fame.

Places of interest in the city include Du Fu Caotang, a small thatched hut in which the great poet, Du Fu, of the Tang Dynasty, wrote many of his 340-odd poems.

But more exciting sights can be seen on excursions to Mt. Emei, the Great Buddha Statue at Leshan, the Thousand Buddha Cliffs at Guangyuan and the Guanxian Dam.

MOUNT EMEI
Mount Emei rises sharply on the left bank of the Dadu River 135 miles south from Chengdu by road. Reaching a height of 10,337 ft., it is the highest of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China. There were once over 70 temples and monasteries that sheltered thousands of Buddhist monks. Pilgrims spent days climbing to the top of Mt. Emei to offer prayers to the Buddha. Most of the temples still remain, and you can see them on your climb to the summit. The climb is tiring and the path difficult to follow in places. At the summit you may see the sun rise over the famous Ocean of Clouds. Late in the afternoon, if you are lucky enough, you may also see the Precious Light of Buddha formed by the diffraction of light passing through moisture particles in the atmosphere.

GREAT BUDDHA STATUE AT LESHAN
Leshan, about 100 miles southwest of Chengdu, once known as Jiading or Jiazhou, is a 1,300-year-old city in southwestern Sichuan Province, where the Minjiang River and the Dadu River converge. It is a junction for land and water traffic in southern Sichuan.

On Lingyun Hill, an enormous Buddha, 331 ft. tall, sits erect with an armed guard standing at either side, a path with nine bends winds down the cliff from the top of the Buddha's head, at the crest of the hill, to the statue's feet. Legend has it the Monk Hai Tong of Lingyun Monastery, disturbed at seeing many boats capsized in the turbulent waters nearby, initiated the carving of this Buddha to subdue the waters and ensure the safety of the river folks. It was completed in 803, in the Tang Dynasty, after 90 years of work. The figure, not only a great work of art, incorporates the sophisticated technical features of hidden drains, which were skillfully cut through the body to prevent the surface from weathering.

THOUSAND BUDDHA CLIFFS AT GUANGYUAN
If you travel from Chengdu to Xi'an by train and are interested in Buddhist cave sculptures, it is worth stopping at Guangyuan, about 175 miles north of Chengdu and only 30 miles from the Shaanxi border. Not far from the town is the Thousand Buddha Cliffs, or Qian Fo Yan, where there are Buddhist sculptures comparable with those at Yungang (see Datong) and Long Men (see Luoyang). The carvings were begun in the early part of the eighth century. Of the original 17,000 statues, only a few hundred remain.

THE GUANXIAN DAM
This dam is located about 30 miles northwest of Chengdu. The Minjiang River splits into four tributaries near the town, two of which flow on either side of Chengdu.

Over the centuries, a series of water systems have been developed at Guanxian, the first as far back as 350 BC The water has been diverted from Minjiang River to the nearby plains, creating one of the most productive agricultural areas in China.

There are models at the dam site that illustrate the water systems, as well as inscriptions commemorating the scholar, Li Bing and his son, who began the task of diverting the waters more than 33 centuries ago.

Nearby is a Taoist temple, the Fulongguan, commanding a superb view of the river valley. A short drive away stands the Two Kings' Temple, built in honor of Li Bing and his son, who were both awarded the title of “King” after their deaths.

Xi'ning, Qinghai Province

Xining, capital of Qinhai province, was once a major stop on the Silk Road's southern route. Today it is one of the poorest provincial capitals in China, and has few sites of real interest to offer a tourist in the city itself. Yet some worthwhile excursions begin there.

TA'ER TEMPLE
Ta'er Temple, also known as the "Pagoda Lamasery," is one of China's largest Buddhist temples, and a sacred place of the "Yellow Sect of Tibetan Lamaism." Located in Lushaer, to the southwest of Xining, the temple is still used for worship by "Yellow Sect" believers.

Lamaism took root in Tibet in the seventh century as a new form of Buddhism. Over the centuries that followed, numerous sects developed. In the 15th century, a well-known Lama called Zongkaba founded a new reformed sect, which strictly observed Buddhist precepts. His followers were easily identified by their hats, hence the derivation of the name "Yellow (Hat) Sect." Their influence grew to such an extent that they eventually became the ruling sect in Tibet. They were also granted the patronage of the Ming and Qing courts, who built a grand "Yellow Sect" lamasery called "Yong He Palace" in Beijing.

Since Zhongkaba was born in Lushaer, numerous pagodas were built there to commemorate him. In 1560, a small lamasery was built around the pagodas. The lamasery was expanded over the centuries into a magnificent lamasery, which ranks closely in importance with the Dazhao Lamasery in Lhasa. There are many prayer halls, pagodas and priceless works of art such as sutras, porcelain from the 13th century, collections of embossed embroideries, carpets and superb statues.

China's Mystery Mountain

Nianbaoyuze, when translated from the Tibetan language, means the grand mountain of boulder. Located on the border of Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, it is composed of about 3,600 mountains and 360 lakes about 4,000 meters above sea level.

Though it is said Nianbaoyuze has 360 lakes, the local tourism bureau and local Tibetans said they are mainly 16 large lakes and about 300 smaller lakes dotting the mountains.However, because 360 is a lucky number in Buddhism, the Tibetans believe there are 3,600 peaks and 360 lakes in Nianbaoyuze.

Nianbaoyuze is said to be the birthplace of the local Tibetans on the Golok Grassland.

As the main peak on the southeastern section of Mountain Bayan Har, it is about three hours drive from the most beautiful county in Sichuan province, Aba, and 40 kilometers from the small Jiuzhi County.

Before the middle of last year,Nianbaoyuze was still largely unknown among most of the "outsiders" from Guoluo Grassland. However, its diversified landforms and various kinds of plants and wild animals have attracted not only adventurers but also numerous scientists and geologists.

By May 2006, Nianbaoyuze was appraised as a National Nature park,and is now being promoted by the local tourism bureau. Since then,the name "Nianbaoyuze" has been spread fast among tourists and backpackers.

Here you can find no lake more transparent or more clear. Being regarded as holy lakes, these waters are forbidden to be touched by people. Only two years ago, two monks from Aba County adventured to swim in t he lakes, yet later both were found dead in mysterious circumstances.It is said there is a god living in the lakes that protects the local Tibetans, and the local Tibetans said the monks' deaths were caused by t he punishment from this god.

Nianbaoyuze is also home for various plants and rarely seen wild animals. In t he sout heastern parts,there are virgin forests of pines and firs. The ravines are home to elusive snow leopards, brown bears and lynxes.

Climbing on the main peak of Mountain Nianbaoyuze is one of the dreams for many mountaineers. The mountain is covered by a gigantic glacier, and the main peak is 5,369 meters above sea level. The mountain is at a longitude of 101 degrees east and a latitude of 33.35 degrees north. Last year, Nianbaoyuze was named as one of the top 10 mountains "with great difficulties for climbing" in China.

Summer, with hundreds of flowers blooming and the slight changes in weather, is considered to be the best season to enjoy the beauty of Nianbaoyuze. And summer is also a good time to experience the holy rituals by the local monks.

Monks from Sege'er Temple in Aba County come here ever y July to hold rituals for those who have finished t he three-year ascetic practices, according to the doctrines of Buddhism. The monks will throw green branches wrapped with silk into the lake,which they believe shows respect to the Natural God.

So far, there is still no road in t his area, and a single trip to travel across this place will take at least seven days. But a local guide is a must to avoid getting lost in this vast land, and plenty of food and camping equipment is also essential.

For common visitors, the Fairy Lake and Siren lakes are most approachable. However, even to walk across the two lakes takes at least one day.

Covering an area of more than 10 square kilometers, the Fairy Lake is a freshwater lake teeming with non-squama fish (fish without scales). People cannot even touch t he swimming fish in the clean water, because the fish in the lake are also considered holy just like the lake itself. Therefore, Tibetans are forbidden from eating the fish.

(Shanghai Star March 23, 2007)

Bamboo Mountains Seas and Shoots

Early spring is the time to taste fresh bamboo shoots in Anji, a town dominated by bamboo forests in western Zhejiang, and have a Chinese poetic tour through one of the country's biggest seas of bamboo.


A Tang dynasty (618-907) poem says, "You went to Yangzhou in a flowered March." For the thousand years since, Chinese people have used that quotation to refer to any earlspring travel. Here, "Yangzhou" refers to southeast ChinaSince ancient times, southeast China has been one of the best places to visit in spring. Light rainfall mixes with soft breezes and floral scents. It's also a convenient place to find a hotel, dine and travel. The locals are hardworking people, and operate many family hotels and restaurants. With its lakes, traditional Chinese architecture and the bamboo forest at Anji, western Zhejiang is a place you shouldn't miss. Zhejiang is the home of bamboo forests which are, in many people's eyes, better than Sichuan's. This is probably part of the reason that many films, includ Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, were shot there.

Su Dongpo, a renowned Song dynasty (960-1279) poet, said, "We could eat without meat, but couldn't live away from bamboo." In fact, bamboo is the symbol of Chinese cule, referring to a pure spirit. Years ago, that poem led my classmates and I, all Chinese literature majors, to the Anji bamboo forest to experience a life far from noise, without computers and air-conditioners.

Today, I still remember those days in the bamboo forest and hope to return again one day.

How to get there

Anji is 73 kilometers from Hangzhou. If you are departing from Beijing, there are seven trains to pick from. The Z9, which goes non-stop to Hangzhou, is the fastest. When you arrive, grab a bus to Hangzhou's northern bus station, which will take about half an hour. There, you can find many buses which depart from Hangzhou to Anji. Change uses at the station in Anji to visit the bamboo forest, about 40 minutes away.

Anji bamboo forest (Dazhuhai)

Anji was a small town built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (185) with a history spanning 1,800 years. The name of the town means "peace and luck.Before going there, we were worried about whether or not it could live up to the images we saw in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. As our bus reached the mountain, were were astonished by the scenery. Bamboo was everywhere!

The forest covers 60,000 hectares and has been designated as an ecological area. It produces 12 million commercial bamboo poles annually, ranking first in the nation.

We spent a whole day climbing the mountain and walking through the bamboo forest, the poles casting a shadow over us. The wind whispered through the bamboo. It was such a wonderful experience that every time I pull out my pictures, I'm instantly transported back to that moment in the thicket. I can even hear the whispering.Bamboo sprouts were plucked and cooked by the peasants all the way up the mountain. Usually, the bamboo was freshly picked and boiled in a soup. There were no set places that sold it - you could only find the soup by its fragrance, cooked by women with boilers out in the forest.If that's not enough, you can head to the foot of the mountain fo a bamboo banquet in a local restaurant. Nearly everything there was made from bamboo - from bamboo duck soup to dried bamboo shoots. The mountain also yields a lot of hickory nuts, which are difficult to find in other parts of China.

Of the family hotels in Anji, I recommend Shunfeng Shanzhuang, owned by Gu Shiyi. His rooms with two beds cost 50 yuan per day, with a 24-hour supply of hot water. You can see bamboo trees as soon as you pull open the door. Call the hotel at 0572-511 2315 or 138-192-660-36.


Canglong waterfall

Our next stop was the Canglong waterfall (Canglongbaipu), which is famous for its hundreds of waterfalls, the largest of which is 60 meters.

The falls are located in Tianhuangping, a small town in southeast Anji. Buses head there from the Anji bus station every day. Many valleys and rivers can be found there, which has earned it the nickname of "Jiu Zhai Gou" in China.When we pulled up, it was still a little rainy. The hills were covered in thick clouds, but the waterfalls could still be seen from far away. Their voice was heard everywhere, and they were clearly visible from the resort on Xiaoliang Mountain.

The mountain is famous for a great battle that took place there between the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) court and the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace (Taiping Tianguo) (1853-1864). The Taiping, aimed at overthrowing the Qing, created a new law code with many rules similar to modern China's. At its height, it ocupied one-third of China and promoted equality of the sexes and abolished foot-binding. In Xiaoliang Mountain, we saw many cavities with iron barriers, which, according to local peasants, were the military factories of the Taiping.

A small, stockaded village could be found in the mountain with about 300 peasants. According to the locals, the village was built over 200 years ago, and many of the people who lived there were children of Hong Xiuquan, the leader of the Taiping.

The Anji bamboo forest is a great place to relax, but the Canglong waterfall could test your strength. You need not only to climb the mountain to see the falls, but also to walk across some rocky bamboo bridges which hang over deep chasms. You can also take a bamboo raft down the rushing white water.

Suggestions:

There are two bamboo-related spots in Anji. Don't get them confused. One is th forest itself: its tickets are 20 yuan each. Another is a man-made bamboo museum (Zhuboyuan): its tickets are 75 yuan. The later contains a variety of manmade bamboo from all over China and Asia, and has been developed as research center. It is not as beautiful as the forest itself, but is still a choice if you want to see different the kinds of bamboos and learn their names.

(Beijing Today March 21, 2007)

3000 Year-old Jinsha Coming to Life

The archeological site of Jinsha located in the western suburbs of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province, is widely believed to have been the capital of the Shu Kingdom close to 3,000 years ago. After some burial grounds and sacrifice emplacements were recently discovered, a renewed effort was made to excavate Jinsha. This vigor has now revealed the outlines of the cemetery, living areas, palace remains and sacrifice grounds.
Lying only 50 kilometers away from the famed Sanxingdui, Jinsha rose to prominence around 1000 BC and shared similar origins with Sanxingdui as can be seen from similar burial objects although unlike its hallowed neighbor, Jinsha had no city wall. So far, artifacts made from ivory, jade, bronze, gold and stone have been found at the site.
Sanxingdui flourished from 3000 BC to about 800 BC, markedly earlier than Jinsha culture. Due to this, some historians have theorized that Jinsha's culture and influence succeeded Sanxingdui's after the latter was brought low by natural disasters.
Over 800 tombs found
So far, over 800 tombs have been found in the Jinsha ruins, stretching back from the middle of Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100 BC - c. 771 BC) through to the early Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC). Experts revealed the complete excavation of the 1,000-square-meter palace area lying to the north of the site, next to the religious ceremony ground to the northeast. The residential and cemetery areas took up the central parts of the site. The diameter of Jinsha, at its apogee, would have comprised 5 square kilometers and the individual functionality of different areas speaks of the fairly high level of development attained by the city.
Upon investigation, it was found that all the tombs faced a southeasterly direction and DNA testing has revealed that all the excavated corpses had been less then 30 years old at the time of their death, a fact attributed to frequent warfare.
Each skeleton was surrounded by potteries and jade objects. An oddity when looking in ancient funerary customs is the presence of a jade knife in each body's chest, a very rare custom for the time.
Another rarity was discovered when a tomb was found to contain two skeletons, buried side-by-side. Soil samples revealed that the area was turned from a living area into a cemetery although archaeologists are baffled as to why.
Special tomb No. M1901
According to specialists, the entire tomb area has been wholly excavated, with the exception of tomb M1901, on which excavation work began at the end of March.
Zhang Qing, director of the Chengdu Municipal Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute's Jinsha Site Archaeological Station, explained that "when we first found this tomb, we noticed it was different from the others -- it's larger than those surrounding it, being 2.5 meters in length and 1.4 meters in width. It contains peculiar articles, unlike those in other tombs. Most of the bodies in Jinsha were well-preserved but the one in M1901 was burned before burial, something very rarely seen." Zhang surmised that this represented an ancient sacrificial ceremony in which leaves and other objects were set ablaze on the body of the deceased.
With the knowledge they now hold and although they cannot pinpoint the person's identity, archaeologists can reveal that this tomb did not contain a commoner but is also too small to have contained the remains of a prince or nobleman. Thus, Zhang explained, the man may well have been an ancient sorcerer or respected artisan.
Sorcerers conducted all of Jinsha's sacrificial ceremonies and by the luxurious items found in the sacrificial areas of Jinsha, it can be seen that sorcerers were held in high esteem.
The other conjecture is that the unknown man could be a high-level craftsman, who were highly praised at the time for their unique skills, Zhang explained.
Experts will now use "carbon 14" dating test to determine the precise age of the M1901 skeleton and his tomb.
Rare bronzewares
Altogether 74 bronze items of high quality were uncovered in the No.M1901 tomb, the first such find during the six-year excavation of Jinsha. These items were all miniature weapons or tools such as knives, arrows, arrowheads, shovels, forks and axes, measuring about 10 centimeters in length.
Archaeologists were originally baffled as to whether these were ornaments, toys or served another purpose. For his part, Zhang held the belief that these articles were simply funereal objects which served as a status symbol for the deceased they accompanied.
Besides these miniature tools, other crossed bronze artifacts were unearthed, with the particularity of having been cast in a wholly original manner for the time.
"Ancient people of Jinsha had discovered a new method of casting bronze, known as piece-mould casting method. A model of the object to be cast was first made and turned into a mould. The mould would then have sections cut away from it to release the original model. The sections would then be individually strengthened with fire before being reassembled to form a solid mould ready for casting. If the object to be cast was a vessel, a core would be placed inside the mould to ensure the vessel's cavity," Zhang Qing explained.
Jade chisel
The excavation of tomb M1901 was to provide yet another interesting turn of events. As workers thought they had fully explored the tomb and were preparing to evacuate it, they moved an earthen jar revealing a transparent piece of jade beneath it. According to Zhang, the new item is a jade chisel, used to work on wood or bamboo, and was also a symbol of death used in sacrificial rites.
The jade chisel, measuring around ten centimeters long and in good condition, is the second of its kind in the Jinsha Ruins. Its discovery will be highly valuable in providing research on sacrificial vessels of the time.
3,000-year-old bark-roofed house
The ruins also revealed remains of houses. Ancient houses were worn down to their foundations when archaeologists arrived but the humid climate around Chengdu allowed the wooden frames and bark roofs to be partially preserved, explained experts.
One house had covered around 30 square meters, with a roof wholly made of bark measuring 7 by 3 meters. After analyzing the wood, the house was thought to have been built towards the end of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC - c. 1100 BC).
(China.org.cn by Chen Lin, April 3, 2007)2007-04-06 15:03:253000 Year-old Jinsha Coming to Lifejinsha,ruins,tomb1007Culture -- Newswww.china.org.cn/enpproperty-->

Traditional Goods Favorites Among Foreign Travelers in Beijing

According to the latest statistics from the Beijing Tourism Administration, travelers arriving China spent US$1,033, or about 8,000 yuan, per person last year in Beijing. In addition, the income of foreign exchange from tourism surpassed US$4 billion for the first time.

According to the Beijing Evening News report, Ms. Li, An English tour guide with considerable experience, revealed that silk, pearl and cloisonne are the three favorite goods purchased by foreigners who come to Beijing.

In previous years, tourists used to be taken to traditional arts and crafts stores, but they now ask to be taken to the Silk Market in the central business district or Hongqiao Market near the Temple of Heaven.

Many foreign travel agencies arrange tours to the Silk and Hongqiao Markets as part of their packages. The tour guide revealed they are becoming better known globally and the reports of reasonable prices and quality goods there help boost their profiles. Many foreign travelers have become more interested in shopping at these traditional places for locals and always have a lot of fun there.

In addition, other favorite clothing markets for Beijingers are also becoming popular with foreigners, including the Yaxiu Market near the Workers' Stadium and Jiayi Market opposite the Kunlun Hotel.

Olympic Tours Set in Shanghai

Some Shanghai travel agencies have started setting up tours for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and the earliest travel group is expected to head to the capital at the end of this year.

Spring International Travel Service said it is now setting up an itinerary for the Olympic tours and tour groups to Beijing before the Game's curtain rises, which includes stops to the stadiums and other facilities newly built for the Games.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games officially kicks off from August 8 to 24 next year.

The traditional scenic spots of the capital will also be included, such as the Palace Museum and the ancient relics of Yuanmingyuan, said Yu Xinying, an official with the agency.

"We're also thinking of opening up more options for the tours around and during the Games, and we'll even book the tickets for the tourists or groups," said Yu.

However, Yu said the agency is still taking a wait and see type of attitude over the Olympic market, since the prices in Beijing hotels will allegedly be eight times higher during the Games.

"This is what our Beijing counterparts told us," said Yu. "But the hotel quotes for the Olympic period haven't been released yet."

Another problem is that the government may take over hotel resources during the Games, and distribute rooms to overseas officials and spectators, according to Shanghai Holiday Tour Agency.

"The Olympic tour is on our schedule, but so many factors are yet to be determined," said Hu Xin, the agent's public relations manager.

Enimen Su, a local foreign trade company employee, said the probable price rise of hotel stays is acceptable and understandable.

"If I had enough money and time, of course I would take the Olympic tour into consideration," he said. "After all, it's really a rare chance to watch the Olympic Games on my homeland."

(Shanghai Daily March 7, 2007)

Looking at Fish and Resting Your Soul

Wangyu is a small town located south of Ya'an in western Sichuan. Located upstream the Zhougong River, Wangyu was built on a huge rock on Wawu Mountain in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Since the rock looked like a cat eagerly staring at fish in the river, the town was named Wangyu, which means "looking at fish." In those days, it was an important post on the ancient Tea-Horse Road.

With its noisy barber shop, tea house, which also provides accommodations and tour services, famous "Ya" fish in the nearby Zhougong River, bluestone path and traditional wooden houses, the town is like a time capsule.

The huge stone

Under my friend's guidance, I traced the big stone at the base of Wangyu. Crossing a narrow alleyway from the primary school behind the main street f the town, I found the huge rock sat amidst villagers' houses. Some parts of the main bluestone path were even laid on top of the rock.The noisy barber shop

There are more than 50 families, around 200 residents, living in Wangyu, with a grocery store selling salt, vinegar, cigarettes, wine, towels, toothpaste and laundry powder, a barber shop and a newly opened teahouse and hostel.

The barber shop was the noisiest place. The barber Yin, 60 years old, has lived here and worked as a hairdresser since his teenage years.

"Some of tools in the shop are even older than me," he said.The surface of the old wooden barber chair had taken on a shine from years of use; old pictures of magpies and plum blossoms painted in red were slightly visible on the surface of the big mirror on the wall; the blade's age was marked by half-moon shape tracesalong its hone left by grinding razors.

"I used to help people clean their eyes with razors, but had to give up because of the government's ban-it was too dangerous.Yin has never traveled to a distant place, but he's the most knowledgeable man in town. Although the barbershop is small, its bench remains packed full of people waiting for their haircut and sharing stories with Yin.Most of the residents didn't wan me to take their picture, except for a young man Gu Yong, the owner of a tea house.

Tea house hostel

The tea house was more a hostel. Its second and third floors were all for visitors to live in. The walls were decorated with bamboo.

Gu was a local, but didn't live in the old town. He bought the old house to run his tea and hostel business. His hostl also provides tour guide services for visitors.

Gu bought a camera for more than 6,000 yuan (US$775) to take pictures of the town's beautiful views and put them on his website. He worried only the old street and townwere attractive, and worried one day, the environment of the town could be destroyed by tourism. "Though tourism is developing, the visitors might stop coming if the environment here loses its quaint appeal," Gu said.

Ancient town perched above a modern village

A spring afternoon witnessed my visit to Wangyu Town. Because part of the road from Ya'an City to Wangyu was under construction, the journey almost ruined my happy mood, but the pictuesque town I saw on the Internet gave me the drive to push on.

I eventually arrived at a small town. To my disappointment, the town was full of modern buildings, far different from what I expected. Locals told me it wasn't the old town, but newly constructed. "The ancient town is halfway the mountain," I was tolI counted 118 steps on my way up, and at the top, the old town was in sight.

The ancient town continues even spite of developments further down. I felt like I was walking in an ordinary village only minutes before, but soon after, I was in a town which carried me back to centuries ago.

The buildings sit alongside the main bluestone path, and all were constructed in ancient style. Wooden beams and black tile roofs were everywhere. It was the same as other ancient villages in China, and delicate details were everywhere. The wood window frames were carved in animal shapes; the stone supports were polygonal or octagonal pillars, each carved different patterns.

The newly built village below obviously attracted residents of the ancient town. Some has moved to the new town, leaving their empty houses behind.

The bluestone street was silent except for the slight clapping of my shoes. The elders sat under their roofs, sunning themselves, and students strolled by and yellow wars of corn hung from the rooftops.

Transportation

Wangyu Town is 35km from Ya'an city. Go to Chengdu, Sichuan, first and then take a bus from Xinnanmen or Shiyangchang bus station to Ya'an. The direct ticket is 48 yuan per perso Outside the Shangba Medical school in Ya'an, you can take a mini bus to Wangyu for eight yuan.

Accommodation

Accommodations are sparse in the ancient town. There are two tea house hostels-the rest are in the ew village. The price is generally five yuan per bed. Some of the restaurants there also provide accommodations. There are around seven to eight beds in each hostel.

Wangyu Hostel

Tel: 0836-231 4275

(Beijing Today March 9, 2007)

China to Begin Grand Canal Restoration Project

A national organization will be established this year to better protect the world's longest and oldest canal, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, making it a top candidate for a world heritage site, a senior official said.
Shan Jixiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said at a press conference during the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference that the organization will coordinate protection efforts from different governmental departments and provinces along the canal.
Shan admitted that the 2,400-year-old canal, approved by the State Council as a national key cultural relic in 2005, is facing a series of problems because of inadequate protection efforts.
He said it lacks legislative support, good planning, a coordinating mechanism, and funds.
Shan criticized some places for damaging the canal's ancient look and original style by constructing numerous city squares and grasslands along the waterway.
"The canal is more than a tourist attraction," he explained. "We should combine the protection work with economic development to benefit people's lives."
Shan disagreed with the idea of making the whole canal navigable again.
The canal is now navigable between Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province and Jining in Shandong Province. Because of inadequate water and a narrow course, most of the canal's northern section (from Beijing to Jining) is inaccessible to boats.
Zhou Liang, an official with the Ministry of Communications, said the canal remains important to the economy in addition to its cultural value.
More than 100,000 vessels use the canal and carry 260 million tons of goods every year, three times as much as the Beijing-Shanghai Railway, Zhou said.
"The canal connects major coal bases in the north and serves as a cheap and convenient channel to transport coal to the fast developing Yangtze River Delta," Zhou said.
To improve its transportation capacity, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces will invest 20 billion yuan ($2.56 billion) on dredging the waterway by 2010.
On completion of the project, the canal will have at least a level-3 navigational ability, allowing 1,000-ton vessels to sail from the Dongping Lake in Shandong Province to Hangzhou, and increasing its transportation capacity by 40 percent.
At present, the section south of the Yangtze River has only a level-4 navigational ability.
The 1,794-kilometer-long Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal links five major rivers: the Haihe, Yellow, Huaihe, Yangtze, and Qiantang.
With parts of the canal dug in the 5th century BC, the canal has served as a major south-north transport artery since it was completed in the 13th century during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).
(China Daily March 15, 2007)2007-03-15 16:11:45China to Begin Grand Canal Restoration Projectcanal,grand,protection1007Culturewww.china.org.cn/enpproperty-->

The fact so many of Beijing's natural tourist destinations are located in its suburbs has given birth to a new kind of tourist phenomenon folk custom tourist villages. These villages started off providing food and lodging for tourists visiting nearby scenic spots. But visitors soon realized that the experience of staying in these villages was an experience in itself.

In 2003, the Beijing Tourism Bureau started to promote tourist villages as part of the capital's tourist industry. In 2005, it released a list of 40 of these villages along with the names and contact details of those villages ready to receive tourists.

Now, visitors get not only the chance to live with local people, but also to taste locally produced food, pick fruit from their orchards, and enjoy traditional dance and singing performances.

With spring in the air it is not long before Beijing's countryside really comes to life, with trees turning green and wild flowers starting to bloom. If you want the chance to get to know local people, this is it.

Below, we list 10 of the most scenic villages in Beijing.

Gaobeidian Village

This village in Chaoyang District is 8 kilometers from the city center, on the eastern extension of Chang'an Avenue. The village provides a destination for tours, sightseeing, food, lodging, shopping, as well as performance and entertainment.

At 2.7 square kilometers from the city center, this village is one of the easiest to get to, and it has a history of more than 1,000 years. Five of the village's highlights are the Beijing-Tianjin ancient dock, traditional Chinese furniture street, Chinese folk cultural garden, international folk custom reception area, and an opera theater.

The dock was built in 1291, a place where officials and cargo would dock after arriving from South China via the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The furniture street is 1,500 meters long, with 300 shops selling Ming and Qing dynasty-style furniture, as well as genuine antiques, jade, and carvings. The cultural garden has a display of the works of national-level handicraft masters, as well as nearly 100 shops selling ancient style furniture, antiques, calligraphy, paintings and jade.

The international folk custom reception area is open to tourists who want to live at villagers' homes and experience the life of ordinary Chinese villagers. The Yunhecun opera theater can accommodate 300 people and stages regular shows including classic dance, operas, kungfu and acrobat performances.

To get there: 928, 742, 728, 363, 725, 312, Gaobeidian station, or city metro Batong line to Gaobeidian station. 8575-5556.

Chuandixia Village

This village in Mentougou Village is known for its well preserved 689 Ming and Qing dynasty-style houses owned by 76 families. These houses are built on the side of a hill, surrounded by mountains and forests. Steep stairs and lanes paved with rocks are simple and unadorned. The village was rated as a village of great tourist value and has been placed under national level cultural relics protection. It is a great place to take photos. Almost every family at the village now receives tourists.

The village is also near spots like Shuanglong Gorge, with its rivers and falls, the Pearl Lake and the Longmenjian grand canyon.

To get there: take bus 929 from Pingguoyuan subway station to Chuandixia village. Drive: Fushi LuMentougou Shuangyu traffic isle109 National RoadCuandixia. 6981-9333.

Jiangjunguan Village

Located just to the north of the beautiful Jinhaihu Lake, this village in Pinggu District is named after the "general's barrier," the only part of the Great Wall built with rocks in Beijing. It is the eastern furthest part of the Great Wall in Beijing, built 600 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. As well as the part of the Great Wall, there is a former ancient village, a gold mine, mountains, gorges, a river and a lake. Cherry picking is available from May to July.

To get there: take bus 918 at the Dongzhimen bus stop to arrive at the terminal in Pinggu , and change to bus No 9.

Chadao Village

This village at Badaling Township, Yanqing County, 1.5 kilometers from Badaling Great Wall, is the former site of a Ming Dynasty military camp 450 years ago. The ancient city has a great number of Ming and Qing dynasty cultural relics, and is under Beijing city-level cultural protection. The central street is built from granite slate, and the town's god temple, Temple of Guan Yu, ancient post house and courtyard houses are currently being renovated. The village turns a beautiful shade of red in the autumn when the leaves change.

To get there: take 919 at Deshengmen to arrive at Badaling . 6912-1460.

Che'erying Village

This village in Haidian District is at the southern part of Fenghuangling (Phoenix Mountain Range), within the western hills of Beijing. As well as the mountains, there is a stone Buddha which dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Cave of Lu Zu, Temple of Guan Yu and a diamond stone pagoda. There are plenty of local foods to try, including red trout, corn cake with vegetable stuffing, and free range duck and chicken. The local fruit orchard produces peaches, cherries, apricots, grapes, apples, Chinese dates and chestnuts. Apricot flowers are about to bloom, and the area is home to hundreds of thousands of apricot trees.

To get there: take bus 346 from the Summer Palace and get off at the west of Niegezhuang , Fenghuangling . Or take the train from Xizhimen or Beijing Railway Station and get off at Fenghuangling. Or drive on Badaling Expressway and off at Bei'anhe exit , turn left at Xinzhuangqiao , head west on Beiqing Lu , pass Niegezhuang Village and go north. 6240-5084.

Mayufang Village

This village at Changling Township, Changping District, is located 4 kilometers northwest of the Ming Tombs, and close to the Duijiuyu natural beauty spot to the west. It is encircled by mountains and the air is fresh. There will be plenty of wild flowers in the spring as well as some fantastic mountain views. There are fishing ponds, bonfire parties, fruit picking, and village foods.

To get there: take bus 345 at Deshengmen, get off at Changping Nandajie , change to bus No 5 to get to Mayufang Village, or drive on Jingchang Expressway to get out at exit 13C (13C), and go further north for another 30 minutes. 8972-1728.

Shifosi Village

This village in Yanqing County is located at the southeast corner of Badaling Township, close to Badaling Expressway's exit to the water pass of Badaling Great Wall . There is an architect's corridor, Chinese railway technician Zhan Tianyou's tomb, and more than 10 famous scenic spots.

To get there: take bus 919 at Deshengmen to reach the Yingchengzi exit of the Badaling Expressway , turn right and go for 500 meters. 8118-1475.

Xishuiyu Village

Located at the northwest of Jiuduhe Township of Huairou District, this village is close to Huanghuacheng Great Wall. There is Haominghu Lake, mountains, and a part of the Great Wall that is underwater, as well as a big orchard of ancient chestnut trees planted during the Ming Dynasty.

To get there: take bus 916 at Dongzhimen, get off at Huairou International Convention Center , change to minibus to get to Xishuiyu. 6165-1277.


Hexi Village

This village is located at Gubeikou Township, Miyun County. The Panlongshan part of the Great Wall is known to be well preserved. Another part of Great Wall inside the village is the oldest part of the Wall from the Northern Qi Dynasty.

To get there: Jingcheng Expressway 101 national road (101)Gubeikou Township Feishui exit , head west, reach the crossroads, turn south. 8105-1291.

Qingshiling Village

The village at Liulimiao Township, Huairou District is located at the foot of Yunmeng Mountain of the Yanshan Mountain Range. With a river passing it and mountains encircling it, the village has large patches of crops and river banks of sand. Wild flowers bloom. The closest natural scenery is the Longtanjian natural scenic area. Here, visitors can fish, ride horses, drift on the river and pick fruit.

To get there: take bus 916 at Dongzhimen to get to Huairou bus station , change to minibus to get to Liulimiao Township , change bus to arrive at the village, or drive from Dongzhimen via Jingshun Lu and go on to 111 national road (111). 6161-8483.

(China Daily by Ye Jun March 16, 2007)

Chongqing Named Hotpot Capital

China's southwestern municipality Chongqing has been awarded a signboard naming it, in gold letters, the "Hot Pot Capital of China," at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Hotpot Festival.

The China Cuisine Association announced the results on Monday at a press conference for the festival in Chongqing.

Chongqing hotpot

Xiao Jianhua, from the Chongqing Commerce Commission, said it was not easy for the municipality to earn the honorable title of capital for hotpot, since Chongqing and the capital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, have competed for the title for over 10 years.

Xiao Jianhua said eight experts from the China Cuisine Association visited Chongqing early this year and made a report on giving the title to Chongqing.

Chairman of the China Cuisine Association, Su Qiucheng, said only Chongqing has the scale and number of hotpot enterprises to qualify it for the title.

The history of Chongqing hotpot dates back to the Daoguang (Emperor) period of the Qing dynasty, around 180 years ago.

At the end of last year, over 50,100 hot pot restaurants were occupying over 62 percent of food service outlets and employing 430,000 workers, over 60 percent of all food service workers, in the city. The cuisine's annual profits reach 7.8 billion yuan, about 40 percent of the total income of the entire food industry.

Chongqing hotpot even occupies 70 percent of the market in Chengdu.

(CRIENGLISH.com March 21, 2007)
2007-03-21 11:20:48Chongqing Named Hotpot Capitalchongqing,hotpot,restaurant1007Travel -- Newswww.china.org.cn/enpproperty-->

Tea festival in Hangzhou

Xinhua, Mar. 23, 2007 - Women sit in formation to play Chinese traditional musical instrument zither (Guzheng) during the opening ceremony of a tea festival in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province March 22, 2007. The festival will attract thousands of visitors from home and abroad.