The BeiJing Television (BTV) Spring Festival Gala, 2013

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. The town, with its cobbled streets, streams and bridges, features many crafts (embroidery, silverware, drums and more) plus a wide variety of street snacks and restaurants.

With Walk East ... SanHe ancient town ...

An extended version for the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China ...

Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton talk with economist Michael Hudson. Don't miss it ...

The beautiful LongQing Xia Scenic Area is located 90 kilometers (55 miles) north-west of Beijing. A great day trip from the city. Besides boating, there are also hiking trails, bungee jumping and zip lines.

Billions of life-viable planets; yet an eerie silence. Are we really alone in the universe ? Do civilizations always quickly self-destruct as (war) technology advances faster than (political) intelligence ? With Lemmino ... With Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell ...

ZhūJiāJiǎo is an ancient water town now situated in the outskirt of ShangHai municipality. The town has 36 beautiful bridges dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

YuánMíngYuán was the original Summer Palace in BeiJing and sometimes referred to as the 'Old Summer Palace'. YuanMingYuan lies 8 kilometers (5 miles) northwest of central Beijing, close to the (new) Summer Palace (YíHéYuán 颐和园). It was constructed during the 18th and early 19th centuries and was a wonderland of lakes and waterways, bridges, hills and pavilions. There were originally towers, terraces, pavilions, halls, corridors, pagodas and bridges with a total construction area of 150,000 square meters. Artisans were recruited from all over China to enact the exquisite settings. Many of the 160 scenic spots were reproductions of famous mountains, rivers and famous gardens in China. The various styles of architecture, standing encircled by hills and streams, presented a most picturesque view. In addition, hundreds of invaluable Chinese art masterpieces and antiquities were stored in the halls, including some unique copies of literary works and collections. YuanMingYuan was, indeed, a veritable museum of garden construction and horticulture. Known to be one of the largest museums in the world, a popular name in China was the 'Garden of Gardens'. In 1860 during the 'Second Opium War', YuanMingYuan was looted then burned down by imperialist British and French troops. So great was the devastation that a new Summer Palace was later built nearby.

HuangShan lies in AnHui province, east China, to the west of HangZhou.

ShangHai Silent Rainy Night Walk Tour in Brand New Fashion Lane 宁静的雨夜漫步在上海时尚新地标“今潮8弄”文艺街区|四川北路新面貌 “The Fashion Lane 8” is located on SiChuan North Road, HongKou District, ShangHai. 66 old buildings distributed in 8 old-fashioned lanes are completely preserved here. This is a gorgeously transformed old alley. Each space has its own historical story, allowing tourists to feel the deep history and culture. It is also a good place for people to feel nostalgic. There are various art exhibitions & shows, specialty restaurants, coffee shops and individual bars, which have injected a lot of fresh vitality into the old buildings. 今潮8弄位于上海虹口区的四川北路，这里完整保留了分布在8条老式里弄内的66幢老建筑，这是经过华丽变身的老弄堂，每一处空间都有各自的历史故事，让游客感受到浓浓的历史人文气息，也是人们怀旧的一个好地方。这里有各种文艺展览和演出，特色餐厅，咖啡店和个性酒吧，给老建筑注入了许多新鲜活力。 With Wei's Travel ...

One can see this distinction in the wider society too - East vs. West; cultures with different foundations - long term (family, infrastructure, community, the arts) versus short term (hype, sex, gossip, war). Mature versus immature. We versus me. The immature mind thinks 'me'; the mature mind understands that life is really about 'we'. Maturity is when one grows beyond the narcissism phase *. 'I' am just a small part of a bigger 'I' - humanity. With Dr. Robert Lustig ... One is controlled when one believes what one has been told (sold). Freedom is removing these mind chains and seeing reality. ----- * (footnote) At BB, we think that narcissism is a development phase that most transition out of; but some stay there and it can become exaggerated. The traditional views might also be true; likely, there is an interplay involved. ----- ----- Aside #1 : Q : Why does BB have so much content about health - nutrition and mental well-being ? A : Because it is fundamental to everything else; one cannot see the beauty of life if one's mind is mixed up; one cannot live life to the full if one is ill. ----- ----- Aside #2 : Confucius : One can grow from everybody one meets. On life's journey, one will meet wise people - learn from them; one will also meet foolish people - look deep within to see if one also has these follies.