In Chengyang, a Dong Village near Sanjiang, Guilin region, China
We traveled the 30 days our visa permitted throughout China’s southwestern provinces in Mai 2008: Guangxi (Guilin, Yangshuo), Sichuan (Chengdu, Leshan, Emei Shan), Yunnan (Lijiang, Dali, Kunming, Yuanyang) & Xishuangbanna (Jingling). This was definitely not enough! Nevertheless, we now know it can be easily done without a common language. This introduction to China also was an immense eye opener and some of the negative concepts we had of this country we corrected or simply vanished!
Karst Landscape along Yulong River, Yangshuo, China
Karst Landscape along Li River, Yangshuo, China
Yan women, famous for their long, pitch-black hair that they whirl around their head like a turban, Ping’An, China
Yan women, famous for their long, pitch-black hair that they whirl around their head like a turban, Ping’An, China
Women in traditional dress, Ping’An, China
Rice Terraces of Ping’An, China
Rice Terraces of Ping’An, China
Chengyang Wind & Rain Bridge, Dong Village near Sanjiang, Guilin region, China
Chengyang, a Dong Village near Sanjiang, Guilin region, China
Inside the Drum Tower, in Pingtan Zhai, a Dong Village near Sanjiang, Guilin region, China
Inside the Drum Tower, in Pingtan Zhai, a Dong Village near Sanjiang, Guilin region, China
In the streets of Chengdu, China
Giant Pandas, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China
Giant Pandas, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China
Giant Pandas, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China
Giant Pandas, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China
Red Panda, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China
Baby Giant Pandas, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China
Baby Giant Pandas, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China
Emei Shan, the Holy Mountain, near Chengdu, China
Leshan, the Biggest Bhudda, near Chengdu, China
Leshan, the Biggest Bhudda, near Chengdu, China
Cobble-stone streets lined with traditional Naxi architecture in the Old Town of Lijiang, Yunnan’s number one tourist destination, China
Cobble-stone streets lined with traditional Naxi architecture in the Old Town of Lijiang, Yunnan’s number one tourist destination, China
Wenbi Monastery, Lijiang, Yunnun, China
Wenbi Monastery, Lijiang, Yunnun, China
Baisha, a village with well preserved old temples and some frescos from the 5th and 6th century done by Tibetan, Naxi and Han artists, Yunnan, China
Baisha, a village with well preserved old temples and some frescos from the 5th and 6th century done by Tibetan, Naxi and Han artists, Yunnan, China
In Lijiang, Yunnan’s number one tourist destination, China
Cobble-stone streets lined with traditional Naxi architecture in the Old Town of Lijiang, Yunnan’s number one tourist destination, China
In Lijiang, Yunnan’s number one tourist destination, China
Young Chinese partying in Lijiang, Yunnan, China
Traditional Bai dances, Dali, Yunnan, China
Traditional Bai dances, Dali, Yunnan, China
Traditional Bai dances, Dali, Yunnan, China
Traditional Bai dances, Dali, Yunnan, China
Batik Factory, a Dali specialty, Dali, Yunnan, China
Batik Factory, a Dali specialty, Dali, Yunnan, China
Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang (here in Duoyishu), Yunnan, China
Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang (here in Duoyishu), Yunnan, China
Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang (here in Duoyishu), Yunnan, China
Woman at the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang (here in Duoyishu), Yunnan, China
Market at a small Hani village near the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang, Yunnan, China
Market at a small Hani village near the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang, Yunnan, China
Market at a small Hani village near the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang, Yunnan, China
Working on the rice fields at the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang, Yunnan, China
Working on the rice fields at the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang, Yunnan, China
Working on the rice fields at the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang, Yunnan, China
Working on the rice fields at the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang, Yunnan, China
Working on the rice fields at the Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang, Yunnan, China
Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang at sunset, Yunnan, China
Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang at sunset, Yunnan, China
Jinghong, the capital of the Xishuangbanna province, seems like the Chinese Riviera, China
You have brought back so many fond memories for us. Western China was a big challenge for us also but was it one of the biggest adventures of our lives… hell yeah it was!!! Every time a post of yours pops up in my feed, I know I will be getting fantastic imagery with a deeper meaning. Thank you
Prue
Thanks, Prue & Becks.
Been re-editing many of them in the last months…
Communication was especially challenging, as well as the huge cultural gap between rural China and our lives.
But it was one of the most rewarding trips I ever did.
Glad you likely pictures
Cheers, Gilles