Travel Tips --China
Make this the year to visit
this country of great contrasts.
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YANGTZE CRUISE
One ofthe wonders of the world. Your deluxe cruise guides you through the minor and major gorges from Chongqing to Wuhan. For 4 days and nights the sights of rural China are here accessible only by steamers on the great Yangtze River, the lifeline of this area of Central China. A visit is made to the valley of coffins in either the minor gorges or the Shennong River Valley. Coffins rest on ledges of the cliffs. The Shennong River Valley was explored on foot and in a small wooden boat by John Delp, president of Executive Travel, in preparation for its limited opening to tourism. Your cruiser passes through the massive locks in the dam at Yichang. The waters of the Yangtze here produce 25% of China's electrical supply.
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KASHGAR, CHINA
Two thousand years ago, in the days of the Silk Road, Kashgar was a major junction and stopover point for the camel caravans making their way from Xian, then China's capital, to Constantinople or south to India. Takings nearly 6 months from Xian or Europe to reach Kashgar, the traders rested here a month or more before proceeding onward. Today, hundreds of years later, every Sunday, thousands of traders come by camel, donkey and horseback to the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is divided into sections selling every imaginable item needed for life in the far west of China. Spices in burlap bags, donkey bells, carpets, hats, baby camels in season and even horses are traded here.
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XISHUANGBANNA, CHINA
Once one of the most inaccessible regions of China, Xishuangbanna is now only a short flight south of Kunming. This is one of China's most exquisite areas, with mountains rising out of forest canopies, graceful women in colorful printed skirts, and young boys in their golden robes of Buddhist monks. Twelve ethnic minority nationalities reside here in villages among the 34 valleys. Here in China, on the border of Laos and Myanmar (Burma), where the upper reaches of the Mekong River pass, is found an amazing variety of the world's flora and fauna, including, in the dense forests elephants, golden-haired monkeys, deer, leopards and peacocks. The diversity of the ethnic groups with their own traditions and a way of life distinguish the area and make it a fascinating place to visit.
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LIJIANG, CHINA
Until recently, a 15-hour, 2-day drive from Kunming; the newly-opened airport gives comfortable access to one of China's most interesting nationalities, the Naxi. In this matriarchal society, the women, by tradition, perform the tasks of labor and the men raise the children and keep house. The men often while away part of the day at a local tea house, watching the children and playing stringed instruments similar to a lute, and another like a banjo. The old part of the city is unique, with small streams running in the center of the green-shaded lanes, with a unique system of rounded stones forming the walkway that serves as a self-cleaning system when it rains. The unique culture and scenic beauty make a visit to Lijiang an event to be long remembered.
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DALI, CHINA
To the west of Kunnaing 415 km is the city of Dali, situated near the shores of Erhai Lake, backed by the snowcapped Cangshan Mountains. Once accessible only from Kumning, by an arduous 11-hour journey by car or bus, Dali is now a pleasant day trip from Lijiang, over a well-paved highway, passing through spectacular mountain scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Home to the Bai Nationality, an enchanting touch to an already enchanting scene is the Bai women in red velvet vests, blue aprons and flowery headdresses. Only a drive through the Alps or the Rockies can be as beautiful as the mountain scenery from Lijiang to Dali.
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