Baxianju Hostel Lijiang

... though!

The role of women in China is interesting. In true Communist spirit these women cart out the rubble on their backs, hump the bricks and stone and wheelbarrow loads of cement. I doubt if any of the labourers get well paid but I do hope there is equal pay.

Spectacular mountain scenery, fertile plateau, blue skies, sunshine and wonderful walks would certainly make this an alternative candidate for Hilton's mythical paradise.

... of the canyon, framing the
nine-mile (15 km) trek as amazing scenes of rugged natural beauty
emerge around each of the many switchbacks. The two-day hike isn't
particularly difficult, but ...

... played on original instruments, some of which were buried during the Cultural Revolution lest they be smashed. Local historian of note Xuan Ke speaks for the group at performances and at the end gives his autograph to anyone who desires so. Ticket prices are 120, 140 and 160 RMB and the show starts at 8pm until about 9ish every day.

All of the members were colorful traditional robes and play a variety of old instruments. Two lovely ...

... br>we walked some of the way but the heat was intense and we had to turn back but we had a good 6 hour walk. the scenery was amazing and being so high up was a new experience for me.

Jane's guest house was a nice place to stay but Jane is a bit annoying. as our visas are running out, we decided to go the next morning to Dali, on the bus for 5 hours.

... We had been walking with 2 chinese lads from our hostel but they wanted to carry on and get to the next guest house. I'm so glad we stayed there though because the view was amazing. It's famous in China because it's supposed to have the toilets with the best views! In the evening we met 2 english blokes from London - both mid-thirties and made of money it seemed. In the morning we trekked with them to the end which included crossing waterfalls with ...

... we gathered for some yummy sandwiches with Chinese mushrooms, chicken schnitzel, goats cheese and salad. It then off for our return journey where I had the distinction of being the first to come off his/her bike. I was so busy admiring the scenery and thinking of a photo that I didn't notice a big pile of gravel in the middle of the road and down I went. Ended up with some bad gravel cuts which took a while to stop bleeding ...

... leggenda narra che una tigre scavalco' con un balzo la Gola, e siamo pronti a tornare a Lijiang. Non prima di trovare un passaggio su un minibus che ci riporta all'inizio della Gola lungo una strada sterrata: un viaggio di mezzora a pochi centimetri dal baratro e da morte certa e un autista con una strana tendenza a stare troppo vicino al bordo della strada. Vi confesso che in un paio di momenti stavo per farmela addosso. Doveva essere una gita di un giorno, invece si e ...

We jetsetters have now flown into Lijiang, probably the smallest place we'll visit but one that has been heartily recommended by all the travellers to China we've met. Its lure is based on the old town which is a maze of old alleys, lanes or hutongs each with high walled sides, far too narrow for vehicles, with a myriad of small canals and channels of water running through or alongside them. At night there are lots of lanterns and all the ...

... des velos et on part vers le village de Baisha au nord, puis vers les lacs jumeaux et enfin on s est arrette au temple du pic de jade, ou l on peut voir le camelia aux 10.000 fleurs. Cest un bel arbre de 500 ans. Le chardin et les maisons sont tres jolis, malheuereusement il semble qu il n y ait plus un moine tibetain en activite et que le site est juste un lieu de visiste touristique. Sur le chemin du retour, nous avons ...

... by two girls who asked if they could sing for us (for money of course). Since it was our 6 month wedding anniversary we thought why not! Then to cap it off, we lit some candles, made 3 wishes and then floated them down the river - apparently a traditional thing to do in ...