Chengdu City, Sichuan Province
Chengdu City, Sichuan Province – of all the wonderful travels I experienced in China,
Sichuan Province simply must be a favorite. There is a special place in my heart for things
Sichuan. The people are so warm and friendly, the food is amazingly varied and spicy (very
spicy!), the small villages have charm and love, the cities, like the capital city of Chengdu
are vibrant and exciting. The Anshun Bridge in Chengdu crosses the Jin River and is a truly
remarkable piece of work. The restaurant and the shops are lovely. A truly inspiring
experience!
Chengdu hotpot
Chengdu hotpot – great food everywhere, but not enough time to enjoy it all! That is the main
problem of traveling through a country, especially China. Every region has its own take on
national dishes, as well as local specialties. Sichuan Province is a cooking and eating
wonderland. Of all the hotpot styles – Beijing, Manchurian, Cantonese, Hubei, Hainan and
Chongqing styles – Sichuan hotpot, with those insanely hot Sichuan peppers (flower
peppers) is my favorite. So good, so spicy!
Yunnan Province
Yunnan Province – traveling through China teaches one so many aspects of its cultures and
people. The food and drinks in every region are quite amazing, particularly the incredible
varieties of tea. Visiting Yunnan Province opened my eyes, and taste buds, to pu’er teas.
The Six Great Tea Mountains, near the Lancang River, have such an interesting history and
the perfect growing conditions for such different profiles of teas.
Cormorant fishing
Cormorant fishing – I grew up fishing: rivers, lakes, seaside, boat. But I have never tried
fishing with the help of a bird. A cormorant bird, to be exact. This thousand year old tradition has
fascinated me for a long time. Traveling to Yunnan Province, along Erhai Lake, near Dali City,
allows a traveler to see amazing natural beauty, as well as experience age old traditions like this
fishing style along the lakes and rivers. Let’s go fishing!
Sichuan Province
Sichuan Province – panda time – Sichuan is home to over 30% of the world’s giant pandas,
red pandas, snow leopards and clouded leopards. The mountain regions are home to seven
nature reserves and nine scenic parks – offering forests straight out of a long ago time.
Sichuan Province – Huanglong
Sichuan Province – Huanglong – located in the southern part of the Minshan mountain range,
the Huanglong scenic and historical area is mesmerizing, as well as just pretty darn cool! The
valley, shaped like a massive golden dragon, leads into the ancient temple and includes almost
mystical water colors. Amazing.
Sichuan Province
Sichuan Province – the amazing Buddha grottoes and sculptures found throughout China
( Yungang Grottoes, Longmen sites, Mogao caves) are breathtaking in scale, and mesmerizing
in their beauty. Sichuan is also home to amazing Buddhist sculptures and heritage sites. The
Leshan Giant Buddha, the Rongxian Giant Buddha and Oriental Buddha Park are worth a visit.
The incredible workmanship required to craft these massive, yet highly detailed, sculptures
defies logic.
Yunnan
Yunnan – people throughout China had told me that Yunnan Province was the loveliest of all
provinces in the country. The land, the people – all beautiful, and definitely worth a long visit.
Let’s go! And I soon found that these accolades were well founded – Yunnan is gorgeous. The
mountains and forests, the streams and rivers – all look like places out of a movie. The different
nationalities offer a variety of clothes and food and music. A real cultural hotpot!
