July 2011 – China (1) – Beijing

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  Hi ! This summer we went to China once more at the invitation of our good friend Prof. Li Daoliang and visited the Western Regions of Xinjiang and Qinghai. After two weeks of visits we travelled to the Eastern province of Henan, cradle of Chinese civilisation. At our arrival in Beijing we visited three interesting sites in the surroundings: the Zhinshanling Great Wall, the aromatic herbs farm in the Tang village and the Tanzhe Temple, older than the City of Beijing. Our good friend Ms Xu Liying and her husband organised these visit and reserved us all their warmest hospitality.

July 2011 – China (2) – Xinjiang

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Xinkiang is the largest Province of China ( 1.600.000 sq. km !) with an important Huygur population and several Central-Asia etnic groups in addition to the Han majority. Thanks to our excellent guide, Li Guohao, we visited the modern City of Urumqi, we went to Turpan and its splendid fruit production through incredible desertic and windy landscapes, the ancient city of Jiahoe, grape gully amusement park and the flaming mountain.  We visited also the Tianshi lake and a forest of petrified trees. Great impressions, extraordinary hospitality, a splendid vacation !

July 2011 – China (3) – Qinghai 1°

 

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In Qinghai we visited the Kumbum  Monastery, an historic  Buddist spiritual and artistic site which hosts 500 monks, and the Qinghai Lake, more than 3000 metres above the sea level, surrounded by astonishing landscapes. In Xining we met the local education authorities in an interesting event which allowed a wide exchange of views and information. Then we visited two school premises both extremely modern and very well equipped: in the first one the children performed dance, painting, modelling, artistic writing and music activities; in the second one we visited some classrooms and we could speak with the students and reply to their questions.

July 2011 – China (4) – Qinghai 2°

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Just outside Xinang we visited the Tu Village where the local community welcomed us with ritualsongs and a dance show. Then we visited the  Dongguan Mosque, the Longwu  and the Renkong Buddist Monasteries and the ancient city of Dangaer on the silk road.

July 2011 – China (5) – Henan

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Henan is the birthplace of Chinese civilization with over 5,000 years of history, and remained China’s cultural, economical, and political center until approximately 1,000 years ago. Numerous heritages have been left behind including the ruins of Shang Dynasty capital city Yinxu, the Yue Fei Memorial, the Tangyin Youli Castle with memories of King Wen, the Museum with the oldest examples of Chinese writing and the Shaolin Temple. Modern Hebi hosts a huge economic development zone.The visit was organised by our good friends Mr Li Yong, Ms Yuè Chùn Xiù and their son Li Qian Chuan.