Amazing Trip in Shanxi

Hanging Temple

I decided go to Datong during the China Spring Festival by High speed train. The first stop was the Hanging Temple near Datong, really amazing. The Hanging Temple is outstanding not because of its particular construction on a sheer precipice but also, maybe more important, it as homage to various religions, including Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. Very impressive to walk on these staircases and look down. The monastery is very well preserved because the cliff has a big overhang to protect it from sun and rain.

My second stop was the Yungang Caves, one of China's four most famous "Buddhist Caves Art Treasure Houses". It extends one kilometer from east to west and can be fallen into three major groups. And this makes this place very special, realizing how old these statues and caves are and still so beautiful despite the air pollution in the region from the mining industry.



Pingyao



After two days in Datong, I traveled further to Pingyao. Pingyao is an UNESCO World Heritage site! The little town (founded in the 14th century) is so well preserved and until this very day, the town looks much the same as when it was the county seat of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The best thing was riding bicycle around town. The city wall stretches for about six kilometers. The town is protected by a city moat. And Pingyao is the cradle for modern banking. The first bank was set up by rich merchants and traders and played a big role in the 19th and early 20th century.

I can write a lot about it but I think it's better if you just take a look at my pictures or maybe even better, come here and see for yourself!

If you could also travel in the fantastic Datong, you could find more in Beijing-explorer Beijing Datong Tours http://www.beijing-explorer.com/beijing-datong-tour.html. For more information on Pingyao and take a tour of the traditional city , you could find more in Beijing Pingyao Tours http://www.beijing-explorer.com/beijing-pingyao-tour.html.

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798 Art Zone

798 Space is a new rising, avant-garde and trendy space that hosts high-level cultural, artistic and commercial activities.

Mao-era propaganda slogans and contemporary art at 798. A former complex of 1950s factory buildings has been taken over by artists, galleries and cafés to form the 798 Art Zone.
Much of the industrial space has been left untouched, including Mao-era propaganda slogans painted on the walls, rusting machines and exposed pipes.
The cavernous industrial spaces are a great backdrop for contemporary Chinese paintings, sculptures and installations, as well as flocks of hipsters, eccentrics and blog-baiters (people who hope to be featured on blogs) that flood though. 
Even if contemporary art bores you, 798 has plenty of attractions.
The increasingly trendy neighborhood has atmospheric eateries throughout, such as Sichuan restaurant Tian Xia Yan. The Grace Beijing is a quirky-elegant hotel. Leng Yan tattoo studio is arguably Beijing's finest, if you're interested in taking away a permanent Chinese ink painting.

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One Day Beijing Art Tour
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Yunnan: A Colorful Dream

The Elephant Trunk Hill

I just returned from Yangshuo and Guilin for a week of travel. Our travel guide was Lisa Li. She is based in Yangshuo but can organize activities in the Guilin/Longji/Yangshuo area. She was extremely well organized and thorough.

Our first stop was the Elephant Trunk Hill, the Reed Flute Cave. The Elephant Trunk Hill was located on the western bank of Li River. I had to admit Guilin was greatly blessed by the Creator. Without getting near to it and appreciating from all directions, you could never image a hill could bore such a striking resemblance with a real elephant. It looked like an elephant drinking water with its long trunk. Tourist guide told us it was 55-meter high above the water, formed by the pure limestone from 360 million years ago. The Reed Flute Cave, which is praised as "the art hall created by nature" into the hole we were greeted by a variety of natural rocks in all shapes, together with colorful lights. We felt as if we were in the mythological world. The Fubo Mountain. Half of the graceful lone peak of the hill is in the river and the other half is on land. On top of the hill one sees exquisite scenery like a traditional Chinese painting.  



Longji rice terraces

The second day tour to We visited the Longji rice terraces, 60 square kilometers of terraced rice fields in southeast of Longsheng. The terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountaintop, with the highest place of an elevation of 885m and the lowest 380m.

The last site we take the Cruise of Li River and go to Yangshuo, the water was sparklingly clear so that one could see its gleaming pebble-paved bottom with lively fish and shrimp darting about. One could easily get a pebble and toy with it, and then brought it home. It was free souvenir. I disembark after 2 hours and our luggage were carried with car, we walk onto Yangshuo west street as we like fresh air. There are many café shop and local characteristic shop. You can learn Taichi and cooking here if you like.

The next day, we set out again on bikes this time following the river down towards Yulong Bridge. During the arduous three-hour ride along labyrinthine back roads, we saw a whole new countryside -- the land stretching ahead in endlessly beautiful fields framed by mountains on one side and a river on the other, the air becoming tinged with flower scents and breezes that rise easily off the water. 

You could find more Yunnan Tours, please click Colorful Yunnan Tour in China Holiday & Beijing-explorer .