Destination: China
There are [765] stories and [13485] photos from China
China isn't a country - it's a different world. Unless you have a couple of years and unlimited patience, it's best to follow a loose itinerary here, such as following the Silk Road, sailing down the Yangzi River, or exploring the Dr Seuss landscape of Guangxi Province.
From shop-till-you-drop metropolises to the desert landscapes of Xinjiang, China is a land of cultural and geographic schisms. It's not that it has completely done away with its Maoist past - it's more that the yin of revolutionary zeal is being balanced by the yang of economic pragmatism.
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Mon, 12 May 2008 | By avant-garde_chauvintist | Views [12]
If I knew how to say/read that in Chinese, I'm pretty sure I would see that phrase everywhere. Most of the city is currently under construction. Or renovation. Or refurbishment. Or somehow covered with scafolding and green netting. Attempting to ... Read more >
Sun, 11 May 2008 | By avant-garde_chauvintist | Views [27] | Comments [1]
A pretty unsubstantial weekend as the course of events go. After my couch surfer left on Saturday morning, I'd be hard pressed to find anything significant that happened in my life. I slept nearly all day Saturday (I woke up at 8 am to say goodbye ... Read more >
Sun, 11 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [13]
Water is scarce in all of China I have seen so far. You just don't see water being wasted. The worry is that water will be procured at any environmental cost. Cheap energy will also solve the water shortage that most of the world faces or will soon ... Read more >
Sun, 11 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [11]
You will see a lot of Chinese flags during the Olympics. That is not the everyday Chinese way. You don't see flags on cars, or houses, or non-government offices, or clothing, or advertisements. Ubiquitous flag-waving appears to be peculiarly American.... Read more >
Sun, 11 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [11]
I have read, variously, that Ningxia is China's 2nd, 3rd and 5th poorest province. To me it is indistinguishable from the others in that regard. Almost everyone wears clothes that make them look good. No matter how dirty the job they have to do, the ... Read more >
Sun, 11 May 2008 | By nomadnorrie | Views [21]
I boarded the train to find an empty 4 berth carriage just for me. Then half an hour later an English girl, Denise, travelling home on the trans-siberian railway came in. She was nice to talk to although it was very easy to see how much younger than me ... Read more >
Sat, 10 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [17]
I have now gone a week again without seeing another Westerner. I really don't mind being stared at by Chinese girls. I don't mind if, 10 seconds after I pass her, I turn and see she is still looking at me. I imagine that she exudes her that-is-what-... Read more >
Sat, 10 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [14]
Yesterday, for the first time in 2 weeks, Yinchuan could see Helan Shan, the mountains between the Yellow River and the Alax Plateau to the west. And so there was a sunset, and another biking photographer at the lake, who said to me, "Hello. Good ... Read more >
Sat, 10 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [11]
After 3 weeks in Ningxia, I have come to believe that the dogs here are indeed pets, primarily. I see people taking their dogs--usually miniatures--for walks, and they appear to be well taken care of. Still, I wouldn't want to be the family dog when ... Read more >
Sat, 10 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [16]
Half or more of the many massage parlors are fronts for illegitimate services. As much as I would like a real massage, I haven't gotten one because I don't know how to say, "Real massage only" in Chinese. And I would feel rather silly saying ... Read more >
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