Something different – Space : the great silence

With ErMi ChuiYan ... Bonus film - kiwi wine ...

With Dr. Eric Berg ...

South China

With Li JingJing ... Visitor Guide to Kashgar, XinJiang Overview Kashgar, located in the XinJiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, is a city steeped in history and culture. It is known for its rich Silk Road heritage, bustling markets, and beautiful mosques. Kashgar is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, with a unique blend of Uyghur, Han Chinese, and other influences. Getting There By Air: Kashgar Airport (KHG) is the main airport serving the city, with regular flights from major cities such as Urumqi, BeiJing, and ShangHai. The airport is located about 10 kilometers northeast of the city center. From the airport, you can take a taxi or a shuttle bus to reach your destination. By Train: Kashgar Railway Station is connected to major cities in XinJiang and beyond. The train journey from Urumqi to Kashgar offers stunning views of the region's diverse landscapes. The railway station is located about 5 kilometers from the city center. By Bus: Long-distance buses connect Kashgar with other cities in XinJiang. The main bus station is located in the city center, making it a convenient option for travelers. Getting Around Public Transport: Kashgar has a local bus network that covers major areas of the city. Buses are an affordable way to get around. Taxis: Taxis are widely available and relatively inexpensive. Make sure to have your destination written in Chinese or Uyghur for ease of communication. Biking: Bike rentals are available for those who want to explore the city at their own pace. Main Attractions Id Kah Mosque The Id Kah Mosque is the largest mosque in China and a central landmark in Kashgar. Built in 1442, it is a place of worship for the city's Muslim population and a beautiful example of Islamic architecture. Visitors can explore the mosque's courtyards, prayer halls, and gardens. Kashgar Old Town Kashgar Old Town is a maze of narrow streets, traditional mud-brick houses, and bustling bazaars. It's a great place to experience the city's unique culture and heritage. Wander through the streets, visit local shops, and try some traditional Uyghur cuisine. Sunday Market The Kashgar Sunday Market is one of the largest and most vibrant markets in Central Asia. Held every Sunday, it attracts traders and buyers from all over the region. You can find everything from fresh produce and spices to textiles, handicrafts, and livestock. Abakh Hoja Tomb The Abakh Hoja Tomb, also known as the Xiangfei Tomb, is a beautiful mausoleum built in the 17th century. It is the burial place of the famous Uyghur ruler Abakh Hoja and his family. The tomb is renowned for its stunning architecture and intricate tilework. Karakul Lake Located about 200 kilometers from Kashgar, Karakul Lake is a high-altitude lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The lake's crystal-clear waters and stunning scenery make it a popular destination for trekking and camping. Historical Significance Kashgar has a long and rich history as a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was an important hub for trade and cultural exchange between the East and West. Over the centuries, Kashgar has been influenced by various cultures, including Persian, Indian, Greek, and Arab, which is reflected in its diverse architecture and cultural heritage. The city has also been a center of Islamic learning and culture in China. The Id Kah Mosque and other religious sites in Kashgar attract pilgrims and scholars from all over the Muslim world. Local Cuisine Uyghur cuisine is a highlight of any visit to Kashgar. Here are some must-try dishes: Pilaf (Polo): A flavorful rice dish cooked with lamb, carrots, onions, and spices. Laghman: Hand-pulled noodles served with a savory sauce made of meat, vegetables, and spices. Kebab: Grilled skewers of marinated lamb or chicken, often served with flatbread and salad. Samsa: Baked pastries filled with minced meat and onions, similar to samosas. Nan: Traditional Uyghur bread baked in a tandoor oven, perfect for accompanying any meal. Shopping Sunday Market: The best place to buy local handicrafts, textiles, spices, and souvenirs. Don't forget to haggle for the best prices. Night Market: Explore the night market for a variety of street food and local snacks, as well as traditional Uyghur music and dance performances. Local Shops: Numerous shops in Kashgar sell unique items such as silk scarves, carpets, pottery, and jewelry. Accommodation Luxury Hotels: Kashgar offers several high-end hotels with excellent amenities, such as the Radisson Blu Hotel Kashgar and the Yue Xing Jin Jiang International Hotel. Mid-Range Hotels: There are numerous mid-range options providing comfortable accommodations at reasonable prices, including the Seman Hotel and the Kashgar Old City Youth Hostel. Budget Accommodations: Budget travelers can find affordable guesthouses, hostels, and budget hotels throughout the city. Tips for Visitors Best Time to Visit: The best times to visit Kashgar are spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is mild and pleasant. Clothing: Dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites. Light, breathable clothing is recommended for the hot summer months, and warm layers for the colder seasons. Respect Local Customs: Be respectful of local customs and traditions, particularly in the predominantly Muslim areas. Always ask for permission before taking photos of people. Language: While Mandarin is widely spoken, knowing a few basic phrases in Uyghur can be helpful. English may not be commonly understood, so consider using a translation app. Plan Your Visit: Kashgar offers a rich mix of cultural, historical, and natural attractions. Plan your visit to include a variety of experiences to fully appreciate the city's diverse offerings. Conclusion Kashgar, with its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, offers a unique and unforgettable travel experience. Whether you're exploring the ancient streets of the Old Town, marveling at the architectural beauty of the Id Kah Mosque, or enjoying the breathtaking scenery of Karakul Lake, Kashgar promises a journey filled with discovery and wonder. Plan your visit carefully to make the most of your time in this extraordinary city in XinJiang.

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

Zide guqin Studio was set up in 2014, it is a creative and versatile team gather the 80s and 90s young artist. Our goal is to promote the excellent traditional culture of Guqin by holding up concerts, making speeches, teaching online, and so on. Since 2017, as the concept of rigorous and scientific teaching methods, Zide has made excellent courses for global guqin lovers in the most economical and convenient way. At present, Zide has served thousands of students from all over the world including the United States, Japan, Australia, and other countries. On the other hand, we have successfully held a series of performances in many countries. The Tianzhen Zide Concert Series is the most popular. All of our videos are produced independently, we sincerely wish the art of Guqin can get into people's lives, and bring peace and happiness. ‘A Ballad in the Moonlight’ - the Story of a Cat Elf on an ancient DunHuang mural ... Sun Quan, the Emperor - rock style, with electric GuQin ... Legend of the Journey to the West 青春同路相伴 一生所爱无悔 ... 'Birdsong in hollow valley', court music style宫廷雅乐风 宋代装束 秦时明月 ... “Daxia2049“- 2021 Zide New Year Concert (live) ... Take you on a magical journey - ShaHaiQiXiaZhi (ZiDe new music) ...

A citrus fruit native to east asia that is related to the grapefruit. With DianXi XiaoGe ... Bonus film - the versatile Chinese onion ...

Geopolitics with Li JingJing, Lee Camp, George Galloway ... Bonus film with Judge Napolitano and Larry Johnson ...

PinYin - English : pronunciation. ~ is used where there are two sounds in one syllable. Ou[ch] means use the first sound of the word 'ouch'; same sound as ow[l]. *** Greetings Nǐ Hǎo - Hello / Hi (literally, you good?) : nee how Zài Jiàn - Goodbye / bye : z~eye jee~ann HuānYíng (GuāngLín) - Welcome ! (You'll often hear this when enter a restaurant) DaJia Hao ! - Hello everybody ! *** Introductions Nǐ - you / your : nee Wǒ - I / my : woh What is your name? - Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì? : Nee j~ou[ch] shen mer ming zuh? My name is ... - Wǒ de míngzì shì ... : Woh der ming zuh sh ... *** XièXiè - : Thanks : shee~air shee~air (second is a little softer/quieter) XièXiè Nǐ ! - Thank you! : shee~air shee~air nee! *** DuìBuQǐ - Excuse me / sorry : der boo chee BúKèQì - No problem / you're welcome : boo ker chee Mei guan xi - No problem / you're welcome : may goo~ann shee Qǐng - Please : ching Mei / MeiHǎo - Beautiful : may / may how *** Interations DuWei - That's right : doo~way (quickly, and often said twice) Yes and no have no direct translations in Chinese, but the following will be fine is answer to common questions, although they are more like 'to be' and 'not to be' if translated literally; however, these are real colloquial uses. Bú shì - no : boo shh Bú shì can also be used in reply to 'Thank you !' with the meaning 'you're welcome' / 'no need to say' / 'it's nothing' Shì de - yes : shh der E.g. LàJiāo ? - lah jee~ou[ch] (chillies ?) : Shì de / Bú shì *** Wǒ - I / me : woh Nǐ - You : nee Tā - He / she : tah *** Shopping and restaurants Wǒ Yào - I want / would like I would like one of these : Wǒ yào Yī ge Zhè ge (woh yow ee guh jay guh) *** ZhèGe - This : jay guh NàGe - That : nay guh *** Yī Ge - One (of) : ee guh Lian Ge - Two (of) : lee~ann guh (Two as a simple number is Er, pronounced 'are') Sān Ge - Three (of) : san guh *** Duō Shǎo Qián? - How much? (price) : doo~or sh~ow[l] chee~ann? Zhège duōshǎo qián? - How much is this? : jay guh Nàgè duōshǎo qián? - How much is that? : nay guh Tài Guì Le! - too expensive! : tie gwee ler! *** nǐhǎo ma? - How are you? : nee how mar ? Hǎo De - ok : how der Hěn Hǎo - Good : hen how Bù Hǎo - Not good : boo how *** ShénMe? - When? : shen mer NǎLi? - Where : nah lee? Nǎr - There (gesturing) : nah Qĭng wèn - Excuse me (before asking a stranger a question) : ching wen Qĭng wèn, weì shēng jiān (zài) nă lĭ? - Where is the restroom? : Ching wen. Way sheng jee~ann z~eye (nah) lee? Qĭng wèn, dìtiě zhàn (zài) nǎ lǐ? - Where is the metro station? : Ching wen, dee tee~air z~eye (nah) lee? You might hear zai nar in norther China (e.g. BeiJing) *** 小 Xiǎo - Small : sh~ow[l] 大 Dà - Big : dah Tai - Too : tie *** Bin De - Ice-cold : bin der Lian De - Cold : lee~ann der Rè de - Hot : rer der Rè chá - hot tea : rer char Bīng píjiǔ - Cold beer : bing pee jee~oh *** La - Spicy : lah Bu La - not spicy : boo lah Xiao La - a little spicy : shee~ow[l] lah Da La - Very spicy : dah lah Tai La! - too spicy! : tie lah! *** Noodles - Miàn : mee~ann Dumplings - JiǎoZi : jee~ow[l] zuh Rice - MiFàn / Fàn : mee fan / fan Eggs - JīDàn : jee dan Beef - NiúRòu 牛肉 : nee~you row Lamb - YángRòu 羊肉 : yang row Chicken - JīRòu 鸡肉 : jee row Pork - ZhūRòu 猪肉 : joo row Fish - YúRòu 鱼肉 : yoo row Tofu - DòuFu 豆腐 : doh foo (See BeijingBuzzz's food cheat sheet for much more) (Wo) Chī bǎole! - (I'm) full! : Woh ch b~ou[ch] ler! (Ni) Chī bǎole ma? - (Are you) full? : (Nee) ch b~ou[ch] ler maa? Ma is appended to change a statement into a question. *** ZhōngGuó - China : jong goo~woh YīngGuó - England : ying goo~woh MěiGuó - America : may goo~woh ZhōngWén - Chinese nationality : jong ren YīngWén - English nationality : ying ren *** Hótel - Hotel FànDiàn - Hotel / Restaurant : fan dee~ann Wǒ Bù ZhīDào - I don't know : woh boo juh~dow Tīng Bù Dǒng - I don't understand : ting boo dong ZhèGe Duōshǎo Qián? / DuōShǎo Qián? - How much is this? : doo~or sh~ow[l} chee~ann? Tài guìle ! - Too expensive ! : tie-gwee lah ! Wo Yao ... - I would like ... : woh yow ... Wǒ Yào ZhèGe - I want this one : woh yow jay~guh *** 5 yuan (kwai) / 2 pieces (items) 5元 / 2个 or 5元 2个 8 折 (bā zhé), which directly translates as '8 discount'. This means that the discounted price is 80% of the original price (20% off). 人 Rén - Person : ren 5元 / 2人 - 5 yuan for 2 people *** For toilet doors / WCs : 男 - Man 女 - Woman *** BúShì - No : boo shh ShìDe - Yes : Shh der Hǎo de - Okay : how der MéiYǒu - none / out of stock : may~oh *** Wǒ ài ... - I love ... : woh eye ... - I love this! : woh eye jay-guh! Wǒ ài ZhōngGuó - I love China : woh eye jong goo~woh *** Hǎo Chī - Delicious (literally good eat) : how ch Bú Hǎo Chī - Not tasty : boo how ch One can think of 'Bú' as meaning 'not' *** Wǒ Bù LiǎoJiě - I don't understand : woh boo lee~ow[l]~jee~air *** Chi - eat : ch Wǒ Xiǎng ... - I would like ... : woh shee~ang ... Wǒ Xiǎng Chī ... - I would like to eat ... : woh she~ang ch ... *** Directions Bei - North : bay Nan - South : nan Xi - West : shee Dong - East : dong *** DìTiě - Subway train : dee tee~air Dìtiě nali ma? - Where is the subway? : dee tee~air nah~lee ma Zhan - Train station : zahn Men - gate : men Yuan / kwai - rmb (currency) : yoo~ann / kw~eye (more common) Gong yuan - Park : gong yoo~ann *** KāFēi - Coffee : kah fay Chá - Tea : chah kěLè - Cola : ker ler PiJiou - Beer : pee jee~oh Shui - Water : shway Wo yao liang ge pijiou liande - I would like two cold beers : woh yow[l] lee~ann guh pee jee~oh lee~ann der *** Jia Yo! - Let's go! / Go! (encouraging) : jee~ah yoh! Wǒ Bù Shuō Hànyǔ / ZhōngWén - I don't speak Chinese (huh?!) Or simply Bù ZhōngWén : boo jong wen *** Numbers Numbers are easy (there are finger position numbers too, but that's not so easy) : 1 - Yī : ee 2 - Èr : are 3 - Sān : san 4 - Sì : si (the sound is the first half of 'soot') (short sound) 5 - Wǔ : woo~oh 6 - Liù : lee~oo 7 - Qī : chee 8 - Bā : bah 9 - Jiǔ : jee~oo 10 - Shí : shhh (longer sound) Example of 11 - 99 : 73 - Qi Shí Sān (7x10) + 3 : chee shhh san (7 10 3) 70 - Qi Shí (7x10) : chee shhh (7 10) 100 - Bǎi : buy Example of 101 - 999 : 357 - Sān Bǎi Wǔ Shí Qī (3x100 + 5x10 + 7) : san buy woo~oh shhh chee (3 100 5 10 7) 300 - Sān Bǎi (3x100) : san buy (3 100) One small complication - two (of) - rather than the number two) is liǎng ge : lee~ang ger *** Cheers! - GānBēi! : gan bey!