A trip to beautiful ZhangJiaJie 张家界

Filmed in August 2010. Includes the famous 'plank walk' at the end; this is perched precariously on a cliff face that is well over 1000m above the valley below, in a sheer drop. The plank walk is on the east peak, which is about a 15km walk / climb from the north peak. HuaShan ('Flower Mountain', or 'Splendid Mountain') lies in southern ShaanXi province, about 120km east of Xi'An; it is one of the five sacred Taoist mountains, with four main peaks. There are hiking trails to all four peaks and a cable car to the north peak. The south peak is highest at 2155 meters. There are a number of hotels and hostels around the base.

A fascinating documentary, in English. Discover how this place embodied the quintessential Chinese garden arts, and how it came to be destroyed ...

China's meritocracy versus Western Elite rule (with a 'vote' of which brand of the same thing can be made every 4 or so years). Is the Western 'vote' simply a way to get one's complicity into a governance that will never really be your side ? Spoiler - the Western model 'wins' the debate - but it is an audience of long brainwashed Westerners - lol ; ) * Try to play. Google doesn't like to play ball with China related videos unless they are clearly anti. No thumbnail or bad sound, etc (plays ok as of 26th August 2020) ... Bonus video, with Professor Zhang WeiWei & Professor Timothy Ash (a Munk debate). Which one works for an elite and which for the common people ... Looks like the video version has been 'black-holed' : (

Hot pot dining is a communal and interactive meal enjoyed by many in China and beyond. A hot pot meal consists of a simmering broth into which fresh ingredients are cooked, then dipped into a sauce before eating, bit by bit. Meats are thinly sliced and can cook in just 20 seconds (be sure to cook only one slice at a time). One can have tomatoes or cucumber as a side dish to eat raw. Typically, the dipping sauce is sesame sprinkled with chopped spring onions though one add add various condiments such as chopped garlic. Spicy (Hot) Broth (麻辣汤 - Má là tāng): This broth is typically made with a combination of chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, ginger, and various spices. It's known for its fiery and numbing flavor, characteristic of Sichuan cuisine. It adds a spicy kick to the ingredients cooked in the hot pot, offering a tingling sensation on the palate. Non-Spicy (Not Hot) Broth (清汤 - Qīng tāng): This broth is a milder option compared to the spicy broth. It's often made with a clear or lightly flavored base, such as chicken, pork, or vegetable broth. It allows the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine through without the overpowering heat of spices. It's a popular choice for those who prefer a more subtle and refreshing taste. Two-in-One (Yuan Yang) Broth (鸳鸯锅 - Yuān yāng guō): The two-in-one broth offers the best of both worlds by dividing the hot pot into two sections, allowing diners to enjoy both spicy and non-spicy options simultaneously. One side typically contains the spicy broth, while the other side contains the non-spicy broth. It caters to groups with varying preferences, providing a versatile dining experience where everyone can find something they enjoy. Meat: * Beef: Niú Ròu (牛肉) * Lamb: Yáng Ròu (羊肉) * Chicken: Jī Ròu (鸡肉) Pork: Zhū Ròu (猪肉) Sausages: Xiāng Cháng (香肠) * Fish / Shrimp/Prawn Balls: Yú Qiú / Xiā Qiú (鱼球 / 虾球) Seafood: - Shrimp: Xiā (虾) - Fish: Yú (鱼) - Shellfish: Háimǔ (海蜇) - Mussels: Gēn Mǔli (蚌肉) - Squid: Yóu Yú (鱿鱼) Vegetables: * Coriander: Xīng Cài (香菜) Potato slices: TǔDòu (土豆) Tomatoes: Fān Qié (番茄) Cucumber: HuángGuā (黄瓜) Bean Sprouts: Dà Suàn (大蒜) Lotus Root: Lián'ǒu (莲藕) Bamboo Shoots: Zhú Sǔn (竹笋) Cabbage: Xīng Cài (白菜) Spinach: Bō Cài (菠菜) Mushrooms: - * Enoki Mushroom (long thin white): Jīn Zhēngū (金针菇) - * Shiitake Mushroom: Xiāng Gū (香菇) - Oyster Mushroom: Mù Ěr (木耳) - Wood Ear Mushroom: Xīng'ěr (杏鲍菇) - King Oyster Mushroom: Xìng Bàogū (杏鲍菇) Tofu: * Iced Tofu: Dòng Dòufu (冻豆腐) * Tofu Skin: Dòu Pí (豆皮) Firm Tofu: Làn Dòufu (蓝豆腐) Silken Tofu: Dòufu Rǔ (豆腐乳) Bean Curd Sheets: Dòu Piàn (豆片) Noodles: * Clear (bean) Noodles: Tāng Fěn (汤粉) Rice Noodles: Mǐ Fěn (米粉) Udon Noodles: Wǔdūn Miàn (乌冬面) Other Ingredients: * Dumplings: JiǎoZi (饺子) Eggs: Jī Dàn (鸡蛋) Fried Dough Sticks: Yóu Tiáo (油条) Sauce Bowl: * Sesame Sauce: Zhī Málà Jiàng (芝麻麻辣酱) Peanut Sauce: Huā Shēng Jiàng (花生酱) Condiments one can add to sauce bowl: * Scallions (chopped spring onions): Cōng Jiàng Yóu (葱酱油) Soy Sauce: Jiàng Yóu (酱油) Vinegar: Cù (醋) Chili Sauce: Làjiāo Jiàng (辣椒酱) Garlic Sauce: Sào Jiàng (臊酱) Sesame Oil: Zhī Yóu (芝麻油) Well known hot pot chains include XiaoBu XiaoBu and HaiDiLao but one can also enjoy many one-off independent restaurants.

Too many things to cover, but one is the attempt to portray China as 'hiding something' and that according to 'reports' (never cited, but no doubt intel fronts) things are 'really bad' ('trust us' - lol). This is a good example of where 'news' is not really news at all, but the attempt to instigate uprising by pedaling false information. In one of its latest salvos, it notes one young death of a celebrity and then adds some more, all of which were over 80. One could explain why this is so absurd, but it is obvious. That is one reason why BB recommends Chinese people to not travel to, study in, or invest in, the UK (a small US puppet island off the west coast of Europe). Still want to go to the UK ? Remember that if you get stabbed (common), you could be waiting over 24 hours for an ambulance, spend many more hours lying in it before being off-loaded onto a trolley in a hospital corridor, before maybe being treated (if still alive). That's how it is there; just so you know. See the BBC ; ) No wonder they need to try and divert one's attention with smoke and mirrors (lies) ... So, which country really has the health crisis ???

The best; only in China. Reality vs propaganda. With JM WORLD ... You don't know China, till you've been there. Bonus film - ShenZhen Talent Park ...

Sticker Travel visits the delightful NanLuoGuXiang street in the hutongs of BeiJing ...

Meanwhile ...

Still searching for the Bolero, but these two clips are also awesome. 16 years ago already. Magic moments ...