LiJiang ancient town, YunNan province

Posted in respect to Iraq born architect Zaha Hadid, who sadly died today (31st March 2016). Galaxy SOHO opened in November 2011 as an office, retail and entertainment complex. An excellent example of a unique perspective, this building, in north east Beijing, with characteristic natural forms and curves, with futuristic outlook, opened in 2014. Her talent and bold vision will be missed by everyone. Thank you Zaha for all you did to help make this world a better place ...

With seiwoo ...

With Tucker Eats ... Welcome to Shangri-La, China Introduction History of Shangri-La Joseph Rock & His Influence Top Attractions Local Culture Local Cuisine Visitor Tips Introduction Shangri-La, located in the DiQing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, China, is a place of stunning natural beauty, rich Tibetan culture, and spiritual significance. Known for its snow-capped mountains, deep valleys, and pristine lakes, Shangri-La has become a popular destination for travelers seeking both adventure and tranquility. History of the Name "Shangri-La" The name "Shangri-La" originates from James Hilton's 1933 novel Lost Horizon, where it was depicted as a mystical, utopian valley in the Himalayas. The term has since become synonymous with an earthly paradise, a place of peace and perpetual happiness. In 2001, to promote tourism, the Chinese government officially renamed ZhongDian County in Yunnan Province to Shangri-La, claiming it to be the inspiration for Hilton's fictional paradise. Despite the debate over the true inspiration for Hilton’s novel, the renaming has significantly boosted the region's profile, transforming it into a major tourist destination. The area was already known for its Tibetan cultural heritage, and the new name further solidified its reputation as a place of mystical allure and natural beauty. Joseph Rock & His Influence on Shangri-La Joseph Francis Charles Rock was an Austrian-American explorer, botanist, and anthropologist who lived in China for more than 25 years during the early 20th century. He is particularly known for his extensive travels and research in the remote regions of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, where he lived among the Naxi people, an ethnic minority with a rich cultural heritage. Rock’s detailed accounts of the Naxi culture, their language, and the stunning landscapes of the region were published in various journals, including National Geographic. These writings brought the hidden beauty of the region to the attention of the world and likely served as an inspiration for James Hilton's depiction of the fictional Shangri-La in his novel Lost Horizon. Rock's base in Lijiang, which is not far from the present-day Shangri-La, became the center of his studies on the Naxi people. He documented their ancient Dongba script, rituals, and way of life, contributing significantly to the preservation of their culture. The influence of his work is evident in the detailed descriptions of a harmonious, isolated valley in Hilton’s novel, which bears striking similarities to the areas where Rock lived and worked. Today, Joseph Rock’s legacy lives on in both the scientific community and the popular imagination, where he is remembered as a key figure who bridged the gap between the mysterious landscapes of southwest China and the Western world. Top Attractions in Shangri-La Songzanlin Monastery Often referred to as the "Little Potala Palace," Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province. Built in the 17th century, it is a stunning complex of golden roofs, ornate halls, and traditional Tibetan architecture. The monastery is an active religious site, home to hundreds of monks, and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Pudacuo National Park Pudacuo National Park is one of the first national parks in China to meet international standards. Spanning over 1,300 square kilometers, the park is known for its diverse ecosystems, including alpine lakes, wetlands, forests, and meadows. Key attractions within the park include Shudu Lake, Bita Lake, and the vast, undisturbed wilderness that is home to a variety of rare flora and fauna. Tiger Leaping Gorge Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest and most spectacular gorges in the world, is located about 60 kilometers from Shangri-La. The gorge is carved by the Jinsha River, a tributary of the Yangtze, and offers thrilling trekking opportunities. The dramatic scenery of steep cliffs, roaring rapids, and snow-capped peaks makes it a must-visit for adventure seekers. Napa Lake Napa Lake is a seasonal lake located about 8 kilometers from Shangri-La. Surrounded by mountains, the lake appears during the rainy season and turns into a lush grassland in the dry season, where you can witness yaks and horses grazing. The area is also a sanctuary for migratory birds, including the rare black-necked crane. Dukezong Ancient Town Dukezong Ancient Town is a well-preserved Tibetan town with a history of over 1,300 years. The town features traditional Tibetan architecture, winding cobblestone streets, and the largest prayer wheel in the world. Dukezong is a great place to explore local culture, enjoy Tibetan cuisine, and shop for traditional crafts. Local Culture Shangri-La is a region deeply rooted in Tibetan culture. The local population predominantly consists of Tibetan people, who practice Tibetan Buddhism and maintain traditional customs and festivals. Major festivals include the Tibetan New Year (Losar), the Horse Racing Festival, and the Gedong Festival, where you can experience colorful religious dances, horse racing, and other cultural events. The region is also known for its vibrant Tibetan art, including Thangka paintings, wood carvings, and intricate metalwork. Visitors have the opportunity to engage with local artisans and learn about the traditional techniques passed down through generations. Local Cuisine The cuisine in Shangri-La is heavily influenced by Tibetan and Yunnanese flavors. Key dishes to try include: Tibetan Yak Butter Tea: A traditional Tibetan beverage made from tea, yak butter, and salt. It’s known for its unique taste and high energy content. Tsampa: A staple food made from roasted barley flour, often mixed with yak butter tea to form a dough. Yak Meat: A common ingredient in local dishes, yak meat is often stewed or grilled, and served with vegetables or rice. Momos: Tibetan-style dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, similar to the Chinese jiaozi. Wild Mushroom Hot Pot: A Yunnan specialty featuring a variety of locally-sourced wild mushrooms cooked in a flavorful broth. Visitors should also explore local markets for fresh produce, Tibetan bread, and artisanal cheeses made from yak milk. Visitor Tips Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Shangri-La is from May to October, when the weather is mild and the landscapes are lush and green. During this period, the region is also alive with festivals and cultural events. Altitude: Shangri-La is located at an altitude of about 3,200 meters (10,500 feet). Visitors should be aware of the potential for altitude sickness and take it easy during the first few days of their visit. Getting There: Shangri-La can be reached by air via DiQing Shangri-La Airport, which has flights from major cities like Kunming, Chengdu, and Lhasa. There are also bus connections to Lijiang and Dali. Language: While Mandarin is widely spoken, many locals speak Tibetan. Having a translation app or a basic knowledge of Mandarin phrases can be helpful. Respect Local Customs: When visiting monasteries and other religious sites, dress modestly, remove your hat, and ask for permission before taking photographs. It’s also customary to walk clockwise around religious sites.

These elements are commonly used in various combinations to form place names throughout China, reflecting geographical features, cultural aspects, and historical significance. Tiān 天 - Heaven: TianAnMen 天安门 - TianAnMen Mén 门 - Gate: DongMen 东门 - East Gate Sì 寺 - Temple: ShaoLinSi 少林寺 - ShaoLin Temple Shān 山 - Mountain: HuangShan 黄山 - Yellow Mountain Hé 河 - River: HuangHe 黄河 - Yellow River Jiāng 江 - River (large): ChangJiang 长江 - Yangtze River Hú 湖 - Lake: XiHu 西湖 - West Lake Hǎi 海 - Sea: QingDao 青岛 - QingDao Zhōu 州 - State or Prefecture: GuangZhou 广州 - GuangZhou Shì 市 - City: ShangHai 市 - ShangHai City Zhèn 镇 - Town: ZhouZhuang 镇 周庄镇 - ZhouZhuang Town Cūn 村 - Village: ZhouCun 周村 - Zhou Village Miào 庙 - Temple: WenMiao 文庙 - Confucius Temple Qiáo 桥 - Bridge: LuGouQiao 卢沟桥 - Marco Polo Bridge Dòng 洞 - Cave: YunGang ShiKu 云冈石窟 - YunGang Grottoes Bǎo 堡 - Fort or Castle: ZhangJiaJie 张家界 - ZhangJiaJie Tái 台 - Platform or Terrace: DongTai 东台 - DongTai Lǐng 岭 - Ridge or Mountain Range: WuLing 五岭 - Five Ridges Gǎng 港 - Harbor or Port: XiangGang 香港 - Hong Kong Yuàn 苑 - Park or Garden: YiHeYuan 颐和园 - Summer Palace Quán 泉 - Spring: JiNan 济南 - JiNan Wān 湾 - Bay: ShenZhen Wan 深圳湾 - ShenZhen Bay Dǎo 岛 - Island: HaiNan Dao 海南岛 - HaiNan Island Chéng 城 - City or Town: NanJing Cheng 南京城 - NanJing City Guǎngchǎng 广场 - Square: TianAnMen GuangChang 天安门广场 - TianAnMen Square Gōng 宫 - Palace: GuGong 故宫 - Forbidden City Yuàn 院 - Courtyard or Compound: BeiJing DaXue 北京大学 - Peking University Cūnzhuāng 村庄 - Village: ZhouZhuang Cun 周庄村 - ZhouZhuang Village Qū 区 - District or Area: ChaoYang Qu 朝阳区 - ChaoYang District Lù 路 - Road or Street: Chang'An Lu 长安路 - Chang'An Road Jiē 街 - Street: WangFuJing Jie 王府井街 - WangFuJing Street Fāng 坊 - Lane or Alley: NanLuoGuXiang 南锣鼓巷 - NanLuoGuXiang Běi 北 - North: BeiJing 北京 - BeiJing Nán 南 - South: NanJing 南京 - NanJing Dōng 东 - East: DongGuan 东莞 - DongGuan Xī 西 - West: Xi'An 西安 - Xi'An Zhōng 中 - Central: ZhongShan 中山 - ZhongShan Wài 外 - Outer: WaiTan 外滩 - The Bund Nèi 内 - Inner: NeiMengGu 内蒙古 - Inner Mongolia Xīn 新 - New: XinJiang 新疆 - XinJiang Jiù 旧 - Old: JiuJinShan 旧金山 - San Francisco Shàng 上 - Upper: ShangHai 上海 - ShangHai Xià 下 - Lower: XiaGuan 下关 - XiaGuan Qián 前 - Front: QianMen 前门 - QianMen Hòu 后 - Back: HouHai 后海 - HouHai Cháng 长 - Long: ChangChun 长春 - ChangChun Duǎn 短 - Short: DuanShan 短山 - DuanShan Gāo 高 - High: GaoXiong 高雄 - KaoHsiung Dī 低 - Low: DiCun 低村 - DiCun Dà 大 - Big: DaTong 大同 - DaTong Xiǎo 小 - Small: XiaoZhen 小镇 - XiaoZhen Lóng 龙 - Dragon: LongYan 龙岩 - LongYan Fèng 凤 - Phoenix: FengYang 凤阳 - FengYang Fú 福 - Fortune: FuZhou 福州 - FuZhou Ān 安 - Peace: Xi'An 西安 - Xi'An Qìng 庆 - Celebration: QingYang 庆阳 - QingYang Xīng 兴 - Prosperous: XingHua 兴化 - XingHua Jí 吉 - Lucky: JiLin 吉林 - JiLin Xiáng 祥 - Auspicious: XiangFu 祥符 - XiangFu Guāng 光 - Light: GuangZhou 广州 - GuangZhou Míng 明 - Bright: MingGuang 明光 - MingGuang Hékǒu 河口 - River Mouth: HeKou 河口 - HeKou Qiáotóu 桥头 - Bridgehead: QiaoTou 桥头 - QiaoTou Shānjiǎo 山脚 - Foothill: ShanJiao 山脚 - ShanJiao Hǎibīn 海滨 - Seaside: HaiBin 海滨 - HaiBin Mǎtóu 码头 - Wharf: MaTou 码头 - MaTou Gǔ 古 - Ancient: GuZhen 古镇 - GuZhen Wén 文 - Culture: WenHua Cun 文化村 - WenHua Village Chāng 昌 - Flourishing: ChangPing 昌平 - ChangPing Cuì 翠 - Emerald (green): CuiHu 翠湖 - CuiHu Jīn 金 - Gold: JinShan 金山 - JinShan Yín 银 - Silver: YinChuan 银川 - YinChuan Qīng 青 - Blue/Green: QingDao 青岛 - QingDao Hóng 红 - Red: HongHe 红河 - HongHe Huáng 黄 - Yellow: HuangShan 黄山 - HuangShan Bái 白 - White: BaiYun 白云 - BaiYun Hēi 黑 - Black: HeiLongJiang 黑龙江 - HeiLongJiang Yáng 阳 - Sun: LuoYang 洛阳 - LuoYang Yīn 阴 - Shade: YinShan 阴山 - YinShan Xīng 星 - Star: XingZi 星子 - XingZi Yuè 月 - Moon: YueLiang Wan 月亮湾 - Moon Bay Huā 花 - Flower: HuaDu 花都 - HuaDu Cǎo 草 - Grass: CaoYuan 草原 - Grassland Shù 树 - Tree: ShuCun 树村 - ShuCun Lín 林 - Forest: LinHai 林海 - LinHai Yuán 园 - Garden: YuanLin 园林 - YuanLin Nóng 农 - Agricultural: NongChang 农场 - NongChang Gōng 工 - Industrial: GongYe Qu 工业区 - GongYe District Shāng 商 - Commercial: ShangYe Jie 商业街 - Commercial Street Xué 学 - Learning: XueYuan Lu 学院路 - XueYuan Road Yī 医 - Medical: YiYuan Jie 医院街 - YiYuan Street Zhàn 站 - Station: HuoChe Zhan 火车站 - Train Station Shì 室 - Room: BanGong Shi 办公室 - Office Lóu 楼 - Building: GaoLou 高楼 - Tall Building Qū 区 - Area/District: ShiQu 市区 - Urban Area Yuánqū 园区 - Park/Zone: GongYe YuanQu 工业园区 - Industrial Park Jīdì 基地 - Base: KeJi JiDi 科技基地 - Technology Base Jiēdào 街道 - Street: Gu JieDao 古街道 - Ancient Street Xiǎoqū 小区 - Residential area: XiaoQū 小区 - Residential Area Zhōngxīn 中心 - Center: Shi ZhōngXīn 市中心 - City Center Chinese city names and their meanings : BeiJing 北京 - North Capital ShangHai 上海 - Above Sea ChongQing 重庆 - Double Celebration TianJin 天津 - Heavenly Ford GuangZhou 广州 - Expansive Prefecture ShenZhen 深圳 - Deep Ditch ChengDu 成都 - Become Capital Nanjing 南京 - South Capital Xi'An 西安 - Western Peace HangZhou 杭州 - Hang Prefecture Wuhan 武汉 - Combined from WuChang (武昌) and HanKou (汉口) SuZhou 苏州 - Su Prefecture Shenyang 沈阳 - Rising Sun Dongguan 东莞 - East Pass Ningbo 宁波 - Tranquil Waves Qingdao 青岛 - Green Island Guiyang 贵阳 - Precious Sun Haikou 海口 - Sea Mouth Kunming 昆明 - Bright Merits Xiamen 厦门 - Door of the House

Zhu Ni ShengRi KuaiLe (Happy Birthday to You) 祝你生日快乐 🎂 ! You rock 🎵 MiuMiu GuitarGirl's eighth birthday song. "I didn't expect that !" Thank you for the music :) 🎸 Awesome shredding - don't miss it ... Bonus film - SunnyDay (cover, Jay Chou) 周杰伦 晴天 翻唱 ... Plus - L'Internationale 国际歌 ... 'And this is my flamenco guitar masterclass' ... Guitar factory visit (fascinating) ... A Soft Heart ｜ MiuMiu's MV 心太软 华语经典 ... Receiving a YouTube silver plaque ...

With China Central TV (CCTV) ...