Geopolitics update – August 2024

Tropical Hainan Island to Harbin in China's north east The Harbin Snow and Ice Festival (every January) Beijing - the Forbidden City ZhangJiaJie HuangShan Snowboarding at NanShan, Beijing 'My Shangri-la - a trip through Yunnan province 'One can never forget LiJiang' - Yunnan province 'Beautiful snow county is my home' - HeiLongJiang province

With Walk East ...

With See World ... The landscape around GuiLin and the Li River is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, featuring unique karst formations, lush greenery, and picturesque waterways. This area, often celebrated in Chinese art and poetry, offers some of the most iconic scenery in China. Here are the key highlights of this beautiful region: ### Karst Mountains 1. **Unique Karst Topography**: The landscape is dominated by karst mountains, which are characterized by their steep, rugged limestone peaks. These formations were created by millions of years of erosion, resulting in a landscape that appears almost otherworldly. 2. **Famous Peaks**: Notable peaks include Elephant Trunk Hill, shaped like an elephant drinking water, and Fubo Hill, which offers panoramic views of Guilin city and the surrounding countryside. ### The Li River 3. **Li River Cruise**: The Li River (LiJiang) is famed for its breathtaking scenery. A popular activity is taking a river cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. The cruise passes by some of the most picturesque landscapes, including towering karst peaks, bamboo groves, and traditional fishing villages. 4. **Scenic Highlights**: Key scenic spots along the river include the Nine Horse Fresco Hill, which resembles a mural of nine horses, and the Reflection of Yellow Cloth Shoal, which is famously depicted on the 20 yuan banknote. ### YangShuo 5. **Yangshuo Town**: Yangshuo, a small town located at the end of the Li River cruise, is surrounded by karst mountains and is a popular destination for tourists seeking outdoor activities such as rock climbing, cycling, and hiking. 6. **West Street**: Known as the oldest street in Yangshuo, West Street is lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops, offering a mix of traditional and modern experiences. ### Outdoor Activities 7. **Cycling and Hiking**: The countryside around Guilin and Yangshuo is ideal for cycling and hiking. Visitors can explore the scenic beauty up close by biking through rice paddies, along the river, and into the mountains. 8. **Rock Climbing**: The karst formations provide excellent opportunities for rock climbing. Yangshuo has become a hotspot for climbers from around the world. ### Rivers and Caves 9. **Yulong River**: A tributary of the Li River, the Yulong River is less crowded and offers serene, beautiful views. Rafting on bamboo rafts is a popular way to enjoy the tranquil surroundings. 10. **Caves**: The region is home to numerous caves, such as Reed Flute Cave and Silver Cave, known for their impressive stalactites and stalagmites illuminated by colorful lights. ### Cultural Heritage 11. **Traditional Villages**: Alongside the natural beauty, the area is dotted with traditional villages where visitors can experience the local culture, architecture, and way of life. 12. **Impression Sanjie Liu**: An outdoor night show directed by Zhang Yimou, set against the backdrop of the Li River and the karst mountains. It features traditional songs and dances performed by local villagers and fishermen. ### Eco-Tourism 13. **Sustainability Efforts**: There is a growing focus on eco-tourism and sustainable practices to preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region while providing meaningful experiences for visitors. ### Conclusion The landscape around Guilin and the Li River is a masterpiece of nature, with its dramatic karst mountains, verdant valleys, and clear waters. This region offers a mix of breathtaking scenery, outdoor adventures, and cultural experiences, making it one of the most beautiful and iconic destinations in China. Whether cruising down the Li River, exploring caves, or cycling through the countryside, visitors are sure to be captivated by the serene and majestic beauty of Guilin and its surroundings.

HeBei province more or less surrounds BeiJing municipality. ShiJiaZhuang lies about 260 kilometres (160 miles) south-west of BeiJing city.

Over an hour of beautiful photographs taken throughout YunNan province ... Plus wonderfully relaxing music :)

惊人的太湖古镇旅游城！中国湖州. TaiHu Ancient Town is located in HuZhou City, ZheJiang Province, China. It is the core area of ​​TaiHu Lake Dragon Dream Paradise, with a total construction area of ​​about 660,000 square meters. Theater, 10 small theaters, with a total of about 20,000 performing arts seats; an old street with a total length of 9,000 meters that integrates intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, shopping, street performances, etc.; an area of ​​50,000 square meters, including more than 100 restaurants, about LiYuMen dining area with 20,000 seats; a bar street with 20,000 seats; a large water dancing fountain show with a water area of ​​35,000 square meters; and 62 inns with different styles, with a total of 4,266 rooms. The three temples and one pagoda (Dao Temple, Confucian Temple, Ten Thousand Buddha Pagoda) will become the most popular area of ​​TaiHu Dragon Dream Park after they all open. 太湖古镇位于中国浙江省湖州市，是太湖龙之梦乐园的核心区域，总建筑面积约66万平方米，分东西两个片区，东侧叫童家村、西侧叫江夏村，包含10个大型剧院，10个小剧场，合计约20000个演艺席位；集非遗展示、购物、街艺表演等功能于一体，总长度达9000米的老街；面积达50000平方米，包含100余家、约2万个餐位的鲤鱼门餐饮区；包含20000个座位的酒吧一条街；水域面积达35000平方米的大型水舞喷泉秀；以及62家风格各异的客栈，合计4266间客房。三庙一塔（道庙、寺庙、孔庙、万佛塔），全部开业后将成为太湖龙之梦乐园最聚人气的区域。 With Wei's Travel ...

Plus, BeiJing in timelapse ...

Picturesque DaLi is located in YunNan province, south China, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) northwest of the provincial capital, KunMing. DaLi is surrounded by the CangShan mountains to the east, west and south, with ErHai Lake to the north. In this part of YunNan one can find 25 ethnic minorities (primarily the Bai people), which has created a unique cultural heritage bringing a charm to everyday life and a wide range of festivities. Famous attractions include the Butterfly Spring and the Three Pagodas of ChongSheng Temple. DaLi is also known for its highly prized marble, known as DaLi Stone. The old town is quite separate from the new city (called XiaGuan) and many buildings here, including the city walls and moat, date from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). DaLi is a 20 minute flight from KunMing (75 minutes from ChengDu and ChongQing). There are also flights to ShangHai, BeiJing, ShenZhen, GuangZhou and GuiYuan. By rail, DaLi is connected to KunMing and LiJiang. 风景如画的大理位于云南省南部中国，约300公里的省会，昆明西北（185哩）。 大理是由苍山群山环绕，东，西，南，与洱海北部。在这部分云南人能找到25个少数民族（主要是白族人），这创造了一个独特的文化底蕴带来的魅力，日常生活和各种庆祝活动。 著名景点包括蝴蝶泉和崇圣寺三塔。大理也以其如获至宝大理石，被称为大理石。 老城区，距离新城区（称为下关）和许多建筑在这里，包括城墙和护城河，日期从明朝（1368-1644）完全分离。 大理距离昆明有20分钟的飞行（从成都和重庆75分钟）。也有航班到​​上海，北京，深圳，广州和桂圆。通过铁路，大理连接昆明和丽江。