China in the world – past, present and future

The ancient town of LiJiang, in YunNan province, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over 800 years of history. It was an important hub of the South Silk Road, along which many items were traded, including tea. It is home to the NaXi ethnic minority. LiJiang has lots of boutique hotels and cosy hostels in traditional architecture.

XiShuangBanNa located in the south of YunNan province, south China, is a charming international eco-tourism resort on the reaches of the Mekong river (known as the LanCang river in China), bordering with Laos and Myanmar, and adjacent to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Esteemed for its captivating tropical landscapes and exotic cultures of the 13 native minorities, this land is home to China's largest tropical rainforest and abundant biological resources, and the Dai Water Splashing Festival (which lasts for three days from April 13 to 15).

Sung by Alu Azhou and the Mountain Wind Group 阿鲁阿卓, 山风组合 生如夏花. Inspired by Stray Birds by famous Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, 1916 (生如夏花之绚烂，死如秋叶之静美 --飞鸟集, 泰戈尔, 1916). Lyrics and Music by PU Shu (朴树). "In this life, we can not stay so long ..

A hike along many sections of the Great Wall of China near BeiJing.

What started supposedly as a protest over a mundane and non-controversial bill (now long abandoned) that would only truly concern serious criminals, HK is now gripped by violence. But would real protesters seek to destroy their own city and its international reputation, even targeting tourists, and raise foreign flags ? It is very clear that there is much more to it, and the non-violent 'protestors' are being used.

The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show has become a classic that has been running since 1982 and has also toured many countries. Xi'An, formerly known as Chang'An, was the imperial capital during 13 dynasties. Of these, the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) was perhaps the most glorious of all. The Tang was open to outside influences, taking in the best of various art forms of not only past dynasties but also the ethnic groups in China as well as central and western Asia, including a wide range of unusual musical instruments and a variety of techniques in painting, sculpting, patterns, costume design, poetry, singing and dancing.

Including Mount ShiRen.

A delightful garden within a garden. New HD version; filmed in August 2010.

"There's a century-old walnut tree growing in JiuFang, YunNan province, which can yield more than 1,500 kilograms of walnuts a year. Each year during the harvest season, I would go and get some walnuts for later use. Compared to newly grown trees, its walnuts are more fragrant and tasty. They are the perfect ingredients for making porridge or cold salad dish.

Near LuoYang, provincial capital of HeNan, central China. There is a LaoZi Cultural Park near the foot of the mountain and a cable car is available to reach the top. The ancient sage LaoZi (in modern PinYin though one will still also see Lao-Tse or Lao-Tzu) who started Daoism (Taoism) and authored the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching), is said to have gained inspiration here around 550 BC.

Beginning with the Potala Palace in Lhasa, which lies at an altitude of 3,700 meters / 12,000 feet. Construction began in 1645. The second video shows Jokhang Temple, said to be the most sacred; it dates from the 7th century.