Author: bamboocompass
Travel to Tibet: a how-to guide to travel permits
The month of March marks the third anniversary of anti-government riots and unrest in the troubled region in 2008, themselves an anniversary of the failed uprising in 1959. In light of this, Beijing has decreed (through a some somewhat botched PR spiel laying the blame on cold weather and overcrowding in the TAR) that foreign…
China Travel Photo of the Day: Om panamana om
These two smiling monks were snapped by photographer Lhasa in Tibet. We love their rich crimson robes against the green mountains draped in the background and the blue Tibetan sky, what an awesome shot. If you recognize Sarah’s name, that’s probably because we recently featured her in our China Through My Lens series where the…
A Tibetan journey
Monastic student, Ganzi Roger Jones teaches English at Sichuan University, in Chengdu, Sichuan. A resident of China since 2006, he has survived culture shock, language difficulties, and midlife crisis. Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA, he gained an M.A. in art history before moving to Los Angeles, California. After many years as an employee of…
China Travel Photo of the Day: The early bird (gets a free Freedur VPN account!)
Keeping songbirds in China is a tradition that dates way back to the Han Dynasty. All over the country, at 7:00 a.m. visit to the local park rewards early risers with a cacophony of delicate bird song from the teems of caged songbirds, whose owners bring them for a morning outing. Shamian Dao in Guangzhou.…
Unite the China Blogs
Ever stumble across a China blog that had stunning pics, great writing and a dedicated webmaster? Ever wonder how in the heck that blog only had 2 comments over 10 years—all from family?Well a lot of that has to do with the exploding number of China-related blogs and content sites out there run by people…
Shenyang’s Manchu Mukden Palace: The other Forbidden City
When one thinks of the Forbidden City, the image of the palace in Beijing comes to mind. However, few know of the other Forbidden City that lies in the city of Shenyang in Manchuria, also known as Mukden Palace. As an ethnic Manchu myself, I decided to go visit this historical site…. Shenyang’s Forbidden City,…
China Travel Photo of the Day: Lake Yamdrok’s photogenic black yak
Unearthly blue of Lake Yamdrok-tso behind and below, one very photogenic yak shows off in its Tibetan finery. Lake Yamdrok (Jade Lake) is one of Tibet’s three largest lakes. About 100km south of Lhasa and 4400m above sea level, it’s not the easiest place in the world to visit, but its astonishing beauty and purity…
Top 10 Things to See & Do on China’s Ancient Tea Horse Road: Traveling China’s Tea Horse Road
Long a backpacker favorite, the ancient trade route known as the Tea Horse Road connects southwest China with Tibet, Southeast Asia, and India. And as domestic and international tourism boom throughout China, points along the old trail are becoming increasingly popular destinations, both with trekkers willing to bed down in local guest houses and hostels,…
Dunhuang: The gorgeous edge of the Gobi
Dunhuang desert The sand dunes of Dunhuang were one of the most incredible sights I’ve ever seen in my life. Where is Dunhuang, you ask? Dunhuang is a town in the north west of Gansu province, 15 hours by train from Lanzhou. It’s definitely quite a trek out to Dunhuang, and once there, even further…
The Silver Dragon: The Qiantang tidal bore hits Hangzhou (and surfers hit the bore)
Qiantang tidal bore, hangzhou, silver dragon 2010 Yesterday I encountered a mythical beast. A beast so powerful it has been feared for two millennia. A beast that in the last ten years has claimed the lives of Zhejiang, engulfing everything in its path. Ok, ok, enough of the melodrama… what I am in fact referring…
