tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65906276285882687632024-02-08T12:07:51.008-08:00Cheryl's ChinaMy love affair with China began in the spring of 1984 when I took my first trip to China. I was fascinated by this mysterious, exotic country, and nearly 30 years later I am still going to China. I even moved to Beijing for two years where I worked as a copy editor for China Daily. Over the years I've self-published mini-guides to Beijing, and in 2007 published a coffee table book of my favorite photos taken over the years.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-31347816060677563372017-03-24T13:51:00.000-07:002017-03-24T13:51:48.235-07:00Chinese once an influential force in Sonora, Mexico
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ISJ2znpKJY/WNWFZ4e7k-I/AAAAAAAACgk/MjdxQd2fmbUx_YruQ-M8FssRRDQmvgmWACLcB/s1600/nogales%2Bchinese%2Brestaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ISJ2znpKJY/WNWFZ4e7k-I/AAAAAAAACgk/MjdxQd2fmbUx_YruQ-M8FssRRDQmvgmWACLcB/s320/nogales%2Bchinese%2Brestaurant.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<b><i>Chinese restaurant in </i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i>Nogales, Sonora, Mexico</i></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">When the
Chinese began immigrating around the world, many of them ended up in Mexico
where they became an important economic and social force to be reckoned with.
Many of them ended up in northwestern Mexico’s state of Sonora, which borders
the U.S. state of Arizona. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">By the
early 20<sup>th</sup> century, Sonora was home to more Chinese than any other
state in Mexico. But that changed a few years later when thousands were
expelled from Sonora. The Chinese worked hard at local trade and businesses and
set mew demands in these fields, according to Evelyn Hu-De-Hart who wrote a
<a href="http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/promise/hu-dehart.html" target="_blank">paper</a> on the Chinese in northern Mexico. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">Their
successes did not set well with the Mexicans, who felt they could not compete
with the industrious Chinese. Thus, the downfall of the Chinese began with the
Mexican Revolution of 1910 where new leaders promised the Mexican masses an end
to social injustices. The success and influences of the Chinese did not sit
well under the new regime, and eventually led to them being dispelled. The
Chinese never regained their influence.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">In an
ironic twist, when the immigrants newly arrived in China, they sometimes only
found menial work that paid wages of about one-third of what Mexicans were
paid. This, again, did not sit well with the Mexicans who said this led to them
being exploited in the work place.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;">Some new
Chinese immigrants were bankrolled by long-time Chinese residents to start
their own businesses. This was usually something low on the totem pole, such as
street vending. But they quickly grew into larger businesses, perhaps in truck
farming, retail or manufacturing. At one time, the Chinese owned 10 of the shoe
factories in Sonora.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-55943450327610274712017-01-10T14:10:00.000-08:002017-01-20T13:48:41.487-08:00Cock-a-doodle-do! The Year of the Rooster is coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWxzwpoZ6MQ/WHVaJd9_QcI/AAAAAAAACfQ/heq2cGStdS0PBrDJ1pwM_eTGjEl4E3QzwCEw/s1600/roster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWxzwpoZ6MQ/WHVaJd9_QcI/AAAAAAAACfQ/heq2cGStdS0PBrDJ1pwM_eTGjEl4E3QzwCEw/s320/roster.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">China
celebrates the Year of the Rooster in 2017 when the Lunar New Year begins on
January 28.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 1em 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">The
rooster is the 10<sup>th</sup> animal in the Chinese zodiac. There are 12
animals in the zodiac with each one celebrated every 12 years. The next Year of
the Rooster will be 2029; the last one was 2005. The number of days in a lunar
new year varies, and is not the traditional 365 days on western calendars. The
Year of the Rooster ends on February 15, 2018.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">This is a
special Year of the Rooster, one that happens only every 60 years. Lunar New
years are based on elements: gold, wood, earth, water and fire. This is the
year of the Fire Rooster. The last year of the Fire Rooster was 1957.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fire Roosters are considered responsible
workers, good timekeepers and trustworthy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">In general,
roosters are considered hardworking, self-confident and talented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re honest, outspoken and talkative. They
like to be the center of attention.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Gold is a
lucky color for roosters, but red, a traditional good luck color in China, is
not. This year is considered an unlucky year for roosters, but they are
expected to be lucky in the second, fifth and 11<sup>th</sup> months on the
lunar calendar.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div style="margin: 1em 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Famous
roosters include Barry Bostwick, Cate Blanchett, Brittney Spears, Caroline
Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt and Serena Williams. </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-59425045446277421562017-01-10T10:41:00.003-08:002017-01-10T10:41:33.351-08:00NYT: best places to visit in 2017Only one place in China made it to this year's<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/travel/places-to-visit.html?hpw&rref=travel&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0" target="_blank"> best places to visit in 2017 </a>list from the New York Times. In past years, several China destinations have been on the lists.<br />
<br />
Sanya, an island resort in South China, is known as the Hawaii of China. Located on Hainan Island, it's got tropical weather and super beaches. CNN singled out the many luxe resorts as one reason to visit. It was No. 20 on the list.<br />
<br />
As usual, luxury accommodations rate high as reasons to visit the newspaper's list of top destinations. newspaper's annual list of best places to visit.<br />
<br />
Other dstinations inAsia that made the list were in Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Nepal.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-39090065488658768062017-01-06T10:26:00.000-08:002017-01-06T10:26:35.523-08:00Pandas, spicy food shine in Chengdu<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mDEj-AaaKgU/WG_gL-4DPsI/AAAAAAAACfA/0ivfRwS_2rUvhqBCFTizXJ3f9E7m95l9wCLcB/s1600/panda%2Bpapercut.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mDEj-AaaKgU/WG_gL-4DPsI/AAAAAAAACfA/0ivfRwS_2rUvhqBCFTizXJ3f9E7m95l9wCLcB/s320/panda%2Bpapercut.png" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Panda papercut</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A city I southwestern China is the only Chinese city to make one <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/06/travel/best-places-to-visit-in-2017/index.html" target="_blank">list of the best places</a> to visit in 2017.<br />
<br />
CNN picked Chengdu because of its tasty Sichuan food and the opportunity to get up close and personal with pandas, a symbol of the Middle Kingdom. <br />
<br />
Chengdu is one of UNESCO's cities of gastronomy. If you like your food hot and spicy, you'll love the food here. When I visited Chengdu many yars ago, I had the best <em>gongbaojiding</em> (chicken in a spicey peanut sauce) I've ever had. It was also the spiciest and I drank four bottles getting to the last bite.<br />
<br />
No visit to Chengdu is complete without a visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Center. I visited there in the early morning, a time when they feed the pandas. There were no babies at the time I was there, but thee are usually panda cubs there a lot, due to the success of breeding this endangered species.<br />
<br />
Chengdu also has lots of other interesting things to see. Some of the places I visited during my week-long visit were Du Fu's thatched cottage (Du Fe was a famous poet); the Wenshu Monastery, the best preserved Buddhist temple in the city where worshippers burned red candles instead of incense whicks while "Happy Birthday" played in the background; and the old town.<br />
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-17198698295487699502016-07-28T13:42:00.000-07:002016-07-28T13:42:20.182-07:00Pingyao a top destination with European visitors<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOyopI6Qi1U/TZjDFwzInrI/AAAAAAAAAa0/OuRNIwUvI7ccSsa0S5MAoVEKGhbPmPUoACKgB/s1600/pingyao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOyopI6Qi1U/TZjDFwzInrI/AAAAAAAAAa0/OuRNIwUvI7ccSsa0S5MAoVEKGhbPmPUoACKgB/s320/pingyao.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Pingyao in 1997</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A recent <a href="http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/996874.shtml" target="_blank"><em>Global Times</em> article</a> lists Pingyao as one of the top 10 destinations in China for European travelers. <br />
<br />
This walled Ming Dynasty city in Shanxi Province was one of my favorites when I lived in Beijing. Oh, how it's changed since then. A picture accompanying the article showed the street filled with people., and foreigners so rare that a couple of toddlers ran away screaming when they saw me. One little boy was more adventurous and shyly followed me around and a couple of times acted as my "translator", even though he had no English. He did keep his Chinese simple enough that I could understand it, especially the lecture from an elderly gentleman about being a single foreign woman traveling alone in China.<br />
<br />
Back when I visited, Pingyao was just beginning to be discovered as a tourist destination. The streets were dirt, and I enjoyed wandering through them, looking at the old buildings. I then climbed to the top of the wall, walking around it and viewing the city below.<br />
<br />
Pingyao is considered the best preserved walled city in China. Many movies, including<em> Raise the Red</em> <em>Lantern</em>, and television shows have been filmed here.<br />
<br />
There weren't many surprises on the top 10 list, just the normal tourist destinations, such as Beijing, Shanghai nd Xi'an.<br />
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-64794997480216274002016-07-13T16:03:00.001-07:002016-07-13T16:03:44.309-07:00Shanghai, Hong Kong: top places to visit in Asia<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hFCrTLpbpxs/V4bHu-VZchI/AAAAAAAACcw/eQR8ZYf9Y2QfWXnav4izJN-f2dJKTC6OACLcB/s1600/Shanghai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hFCrTLpbpxs/V4bHu-VZchI/AAAAAAAACcw/eQR8ZYf9Y2QfWXnav4izJN-f2dJKTC6OACLcB/s320/Shanghai.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Shanghai's Nanjing Street at night</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Two cities in China have been named to<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/12/travel/lonely-planet-best-in-asia-2016/index.html" target="_blank"> Lonely Planet's list</a> of top 10 places to visit in Asia in 2016.<br />
<br />
They are Shanghai, No. 2, and Hong Kong, No. 5, both major international cities drawing millions of tourists each year.<br />
<br />
Shanghai is the financial capital of China and the country's largest city. It made the list because the first Disney resort in China opened there in June 2016. This metropolis is a bustling city on the Haungpu Rive, so a walk along the Bund is a prime activity for visitors. Shanghai also has some of the most innovative architecture I've ever seen. It's particularly spectacular at night if you're taking a river cruise.<br />
<br />
Hong Kong is famous for Victoria Peak and the Star Ferry, but the guidebook publisher picked it because of its great parks in the outlying areas. The former British colony reverted to Chinese ownership in 1997.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-1428616769698636322016-06-23T13:48:00.000-07:002016-06-23T13:48:11.400-07:00Jiading hosts Confucius temple, scholarly museum<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQ8hLRjNiXU/V2xHps6Q0hI/AAAAAAAACbU/zQSybGlLUNY49Wi3Zlev3YJwC9kgkxX0wCLcB/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQ8hLRjNiXU/V2xHps6Q0hI/AAAAAAAACbU/zQSybGlLUNY49Wi3Zlev3YJwC9kgkxX0wCLcB/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Scene at Jiading Confucius Temple</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
China is home to many temples devoted to the ancient
philosopher Confucius. One of the oldest and prettiest is located in a small
water town near Shanghai.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jiading isn’t on the well-known water town route that
includes Suzhou and Tongli, which makes visiting here a treat as it’s not
overrun by tourists. Jiading, though, was a flourishing town before Shanghai
was barely a gleam in anyone’s eye.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The Confucius temple here oozes peace and serenity, and
barely shows its age. Constructed in the 13<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century, it took 30
years to complete. It underwent 10 renovations by various dynasties, which is
why it is so well-preserved today.</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vIYtZHAXoG8/V2xJW9qMOtI/AAAAAAAACbg/PxDBY1IZns0Oi14pHU_csVjaVEM4p1bOgCLcB/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vIYtZHAXoG8/V2xJW9qMOtI/AAAAAAAACbg/PxDBY1IZns0Oi14pHU_csVjaVEM4p1bOgCLcB/s320/7.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Study hal</em></strong>l</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Three bridges, with the traditional lion heads, cross a
quiet canal into the main hall. A statue of Confucius surrounded by musical instruments
and documents stands in the center of the hall.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The temple is next to the Confucian academy, which turned
out nearly 200 imperial scholars over the centuries, thus earning Jiading the
title of “state of education.” As you wander the academy grounds, you can see
the doorless cubicles where scholars sat for their examinations. Today the
temple is home to the Shanghai Museum of the Chinese Imperial Examination
System. The examination system was used to select government officials.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The temple is a Shanghai Municipality Protected Historic
Site.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The temple and academy are located at No. 183 Nandajie
Street in Shanghai. Admission is charged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-whMVgrn6ZYo/V2xJl0V_VNI/AAAAAAAACbo/w7X69bQLONImndQEYPTISbYF8QZ6bqDswCLcB/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-whMVgrn6ZYo/V2xJl0V_VNI/AAAAAAAACbo/w7X69bQLONImndQEYPTISbYF8QZ6bqDswCLcB/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Scholar at study</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-71233115783788040532016-06-15T08:59:00.000-07:002016-06-15T08:59:55.325-07:00Three Chinese museums among world's most popularThree museums in China made the list of the world's most popular museums in 2015, but they're not the ones you'd imagine.<br />
<br />
Most people would put the Forbidden City, Great Wall of China, the Terra Cotta Warriors or, maybe, the Shanghai museum on the list of the 20 <a href="http://www.teaconnect.org/images/files/TEA_160_611852_160525.pdf" target="_blank">most popular museums</a> in the world. But you'd be wrong.<br />
<br />
According to the TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report for museums, the top museums in China are:<br />
<ul>
<li>No. 2: National Museum of China, in Beijing, with 7,28 million visitors;</li>
<li>No. 8: Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, with 5.948 million visitors; and</li>
<li>No. 19: China Science and Technology Museum, Beijing, with 3.36 million visitors. </li>
</ul>
For the fourth year in a row, the Louvre Museum in Paris was the most visited museum in the world. It drew 8.7 million visitors in 2015.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-76555814455975024672016-06-14T10:20:00.001-07:002016-06-14T10:20:53.024-07:00Shanghai restaurant named one of world's bestChina has racked up another international award, this time for restaurant food.<br />
<br />
Ultraviolet, a restaurant in Shanghai, was just named No. 42 on the list of the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/14/foodanddrink/2016-world-best-restaurant-awards/index.html" target="_blank">world's 50 best restaurants</a> It's also been named one of the best restaurants in Asia.<br />
<br />
On its <a href="https://uvbypp.cc/" target="_blank">website</a>, Ultraviolet describes itself as the first restaurant in the world to combine food with multi-sensorial technologies. This has resulted in dishes with such exotic names as Whales in Love and Scent of Seaweed Pacific Breeze in its 20-course meal.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-8904763778426183562016-05-27T14:21:00.000-07:002016-05-27T14:21:32.537-07:00Chinese theme/amusement parks among world's most popularFive amusement parks in China and Hong Kong are among the world's top 25 most visited amusement parks.<br />
<br />
More people than ever are visiting theme and amusement parks, with 2015 attendance up 5.4 percent over 2015. The <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/26/travel/worlds-most-popular-amusement-parks-2015/index.html" target="_blank">CNN article</a> was based on <span style="color: black;">the Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM 10th annual global attractions attendance report. Asian parks are seeing the most gain in attendance.</span><br />
<br />
The Chinese and Hong Kong parks on the list are:<br />
<ul>
<li>No. 25: <strong>Songcheng Lijiang Romance Park</strong> in Lijiang.</li>
<li>No. 18: <strong>Hong Kong Disneyland</strong>, which is no surprise since Disney parks get the most visitors anywhere. Toy Story is this parks top attraction.</li>
<li>No. 17: <strong>SongCheng Park</strong>. Located in Hangzhou, this theme park is dedicated to the Song Dynasty (960 to late \ 1200s). </li>
<li>No. 15: <strong>Ocean Park</strong>, a marine life park in Hong Kong.</li>
<li>No. 13: <strong>Chimelong Ocean Park</strong> in Guangdong Province. Visitors get close-up views of marine life as they walk through a transparent underwater tunnel</li>
</ul>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-24895076181688657772016-05-07T11:34:00.000-07:002016-05-07T11:34:16.086-07:00Chinese touches accent Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-otwQpNsL-JU/Vy0YdBWuOFI/AAAAAAAACYk/yHwbqQzH85oRSWe9mIAPT77QNdjb2Ny6gCLcB/s1600/taliesin%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-otwQpNsL-JU/Vy0YdBWuOFI/AAAAAAAACYk/yHwbqQzH85oRSWe9mIAPT77QNdjb2Ny6gCLcB/s320/taliesin%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Ceramic Chinese actors decorate posts</em></strong>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The central Arizona
desert is about the last place I expected to see Chinese influences outside of
Chinese restaurants, But that’s just where I found them, at Taliesin West, an
architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the greatest American
architect of the 20<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The lines of his
winter home and school of architecture are clean and pure. Wright’s designs are
inspired by nature. Local rocks were turned into walls held together with
concrete. The surfaces are rough and coarse, yet seem elegantly in sync with
the desert surroundings. The Chinese decorative touches blend in perfectly, not
feeling out of place at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Scattered throughout
Taliesin West, beginning with the entrance, are 13 Chinese theatre scenes that
sit in the middle of concrete and rock posts. The scenes represent the various
dramas of the Chinese Imperial Theatre.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The scenes are
incomplete; our guide says they were broken when he bought them. Architectural
students pieced them together and glued them into the concrete. The glue they
used, however, didn’t make it through the wet season; pieces fell off and
broke. They were replaced. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6xTm-uy46E/Vy40D5-uk2I/AAAAAAAACZE/LvaYZbDZNQcVN88ga0-6hHVxvxiF95ckQCLcB/s1600/taliesin%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6xTm-uy46E/Vy40D5-uk2I/AAAAAAAACZE/LvaYZbDZNQcVN88ga0-6hHVxvxiF95ckQCLcB/s200/taliesin%2B2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Dragon head atop roof</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As you tour this
amazing facility, you’ll come across a dragon‘s head sitting atop a slanted
roof. The dragon is a symbol of China.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At another place,
you’ll find the traditional bright red door centered with an ornate gold door
opener. Just to the right of the door is a huge black gong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Frank Lloyd Wright
bought land n the desert and began building Taliesin West in 1937;
he was still working on it when he died in 1959.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The lines of his
house are sleek – and slanted. Clerestory windows let in light from the desert
sun. The buildings had features that were so architecturally advanced, it would
be decades before they become commonplace. The setting is magnificent, with a
backdrop of mountains behind and desert as far as you can see from the front.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Guided tours of
Taliesin West are given throughout the day. You may wish to reserve a time
before you arrive as tours fill up quickly on some days. Taliesin West is
located north of the intersection of Cactus Road and Frank Lloyd Wright
Boulevard.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I5rmZ5ajXac/Vy40MNqCNLI/AAAAAAAACZI/OvNtArj-KB485RdueU_Cv9AF0Y5YBQlnACLcB/s1600/taliesin%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I5rmZ5ajXac/Vy40MNqCNLI/AAAAAAAACZI/OvNtArj-KB485RdueU_Cv9AF0Y5YBQlnACLcB/s400/taliesin%2B6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Taliesin West</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><br />
<br />
</div>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-63776167854139382272016-04-27T17:46:00.000-07:002016-04-27T17:46:17.527-07:00Two Chinese bridges among world's most incredible bridgesTwo bridges in China are among 11 bridges that are considered the most incredible in the world.<br />
<br />
The bridges, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/27/architecture/spectacular-new-bridges-that-break-the-mold/index.html" target="_blank">listed in a CNN article</a>, are works of art as much as a way for people and vehicles to get from one place to another.<br />
<br />
Both Chinese bridges on the list have not opened yet, though one, Zhangjiajie Canyon Bridge is scheduled to open in May 2016. Designed by Haim Dotan, it will be the largest glass bottom bridge in the world. At 68 feet long and 718 feet high, the bridge will be used for bungee jumping as well as host fashion shows.<br />
<br />
The Lucky Knot Bridge at Changsha is scheduled to open later in 2016. Red knots are said to bring good luck in China. Designed by NEXT Architects, the bridge, which is red, resembles the decorative Chinese knots, only a whole lot bigger.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-55705385389749357262016-04-22T09:52:00.000-07:002016-04-22T09:52:35.038-07:00Chinese park among world's best national parksA park in China made the list of the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/travel/worlds-national-parks-irpt/index.html" target="_blank">30 best national parks</a> in the world. The list was compiled by Colorado travel writer Anne Dirkse. The article was originally published on CNN in 2014, but CNN recycled it for Earth Day 2016.<br />
<br />
The lone Chinese park on the list is Zhangjiajie Forest National Park in southcentral China's Hunan Province. The park is famous for its pillar-like rock formation that were formed by erosion.<br />
<br />
Spread over 50 square miles, some of the rock formations are topped by trees; some 500 species of trees can be found in the park, as well as a variety of wildlife, including monkeys and birds.<br />
<br />
The park started out as a tree farm in 1958 and became a national park in 1982. It is on the list of UNESCO's World Geoparks. Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-77644970281423686552016-04-04T11:01:00.000-07:002016-04-04T11:01:28.764-07:00Beijing's airport one of world's busiest<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gP831JR7468/VwKqmlyRGLI/AAAAAAAACXw/R2PVlGbYGU4Npr4-6rH99RR5LLA0-mf6Q/s1600/flying%2Binto%2Bbeijing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gP831JR7468/VwKqmlyRGLI/AAAAAAAACXw/R2PVlGbYGU4Npr4-6rH99RR5LLA0-mf6Q/s320/flying%2Binto%2Bbeijing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Flying over northeast China </em></strong><br />
<strong><em>en route to Beijing</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It should come as no surprise to anyone who's ever flown into Beijing that the city's Capital International Airport is one busy place. If fact, it's the second busiest airport in the world, handling nearly 90 million passengers in 2015.<br />
<br />
The label of world's busiest airport again went to the United States' Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, which processed more than 100 million passengers in 2915, according to a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/04/aviation/worlds-busiest-airports/index.html" target="_blank">CNN article</a> based on traffic data from the Airport Council International.<br />
<br />
No. 8 on the list is Hong Kong International Airport with 68 million passengers. Hong Kong also was named the world's busiest cargo airport. Shanghai was the third busiest cargo airport in the world in 2015.<br />
<br />
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-11608417690250617932016-03-31T10:42:00.000-07:002016-03-31T10:42:17.638-07:00China library among world's 'most exquisite'An ancient library in China was named one of the most exquisite libraries in the world. The Ningbo library ranks up their with libraries from mostly Europe and the United States. Only one other library in Asia, this one in South Korea, made <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/30/architecture/most-beautiful-libraries-in-the-world/index.html" target="_blank">the list</a> of 15 libaries.<br />
<br />
The list, which was featured in a CNN article, was compiled by Dr. James Cambell of Cambridge University from his book: <em>The Library: A World History</em>.<br />
<br />
The Tianyi Chamber in Ningbo dates back to 1561, making it the oldest surviving library in China. The library is dark inside; patrons were expected to choose a book and then take it outside to read.<br />
<br />
The Tianyi Chamber boasts 300,000 books, of which 80,000 are considered rare, though it had only about 13,000 books when the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. The books had either been stolen or destroyed. The collection, started by an official who liked books, has since been restored.<br />
<br />
The library is located beside Ming Lake in Ningbo, a city in East China's Zhejiang Province. The library is open to the public; an admission fee is charged.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-24674719250606908212016-02-02T08:21:00.001-08:002016-02-02T08:23:56.640-08:00Chinese cities draw millions of international visitors<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NOYOPlfXjhk/VrDWYSc1A7I/AAAAAAAACW4/SqGxfn8ZQEY/s1600/shanghai%2Bshopping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NOYOPlfXjhk/VrDWYSc1A7I/AAAAAAAACW4/SqGxfn8ZQEY/s320/shanghai%2Bshopping.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Shanghai shopping center</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
China may have strict visa require-ments, but they don't stop visitors from entering the Middle Kingdom. Tourism is a booming business there, with the country putting five cities on a CNN list of the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/28/travel/most-visited-cities-euromonitor-2016/index.html" target="_blank">world's most visited cities</a> in 2014. Travelers flocked here for both business and pleasure.<br />
<br />
Whether China will have that many visitors in the following years remains to be seen. Major cities are battling heavy pollution, a deterrent to pleasure travelers.<br />
<br />
Shanghai, the largest city in China and growing even larger, ranked No. 20 on the list. International visitors are up, too, to 6.4 million in 2014.<br />
<br />
Even more international visitors came to Guangzhou, once known as Canton. The city counted 8.2 million visitors in 2014, to rank at No. 16.<br />
<br />
Shenzhen used to be a small sleepy town back in the 1980s, CNN notes, but that's all changed today. In 2014, this economic hub welcomed 13.2 visitors.<br />
<br />
No. 6 on the list was Macau, the former Portuguese colony that returned to China in the late 20th century. It's known as Las Vegas of the East because of its over-the-top casinos. International visitors totaled 14.97 million in 2014.<br />
<br />
Leading the list is Hong Kong, with 27.77 million visitors making it the world's most visited city in 2014. This is 10 million visitors more than London, which ranked No. 2.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-71794136397967336722016-01-29T10:38:00.000-08:002016-01-29T10:38:06.704-08:00The Year of the Monkey is coming!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ej6hm_Rc_VU/VpvvuyNl02I/AAAAAAAACUU/DCLuryvKFys/s1600/monkey-md.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ej6hm_Rc_VU/VpvvuyNl02I/AAAAAAAACUU/DCLuryvKFys/s200/monkey-md.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="right">
<strong><em>Art from Aaron Hudson</em></strong></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong>
</strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Are you a monkey? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">You are if you were born
between February and the following January every 12 years beginning in 1908,
which is within many people’s lifetimes. This year is actually the 4713<sup>th</sup>
year that Chinese New Year has been celebrated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Year of the Monkey begins
February 8. According
to the zodiac calendar, the Year of the Money has started as early as January
22 and as late as February 20, in the last century. Chinese New Year starts on
the first day of the first lunar month, and generally falls between January 21
and February 20. It is the biggest holiday in the Chinese calendar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The monkey is the ninth
animal in the Chinese zodiac, sandwiched between the sheep and the chicken. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Each animal in the zodiac is
said to have special characteristics, and the money is no exception. People
born in this year are said to be clever and intelligent, but at the same time
they have strong tempers and are impetuous. While they are sociable, innovative
and enthusiastic, they can also be suspicious and arrogant, and look down on
others. When it comes to love, a monkey’s best matches are people born in the
years of the ox and rabbit, but won’t have happy relationships with those born
in the years of the tiger and pig.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Moneys won’t have smooth
sailing this year. They need to be cautious and prudent, especially with
investments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Famous people born in the
year of the monkey include Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, the Tang Dynasty’s
Empress Wu Zehan, Celine Dion, Charles Dickens, Annie Oakley, Eleanor
Roosevelt, Mick Jagger and George Lord Byron.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-73298727953122950542016-01-10T13:37:00.000-08:002016-01-10T13:37:42.413-08:00China gets two spots on NYT's annual travel list<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o2TOBpgVbhc/VpLOUnB8cLI/AAAAAAAACTs/NRT2yAlLXV0/s1600/chinese%2Broof%2Btiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o2TOBpgVbhc/VpLOUnB8cLI/AAAAAAAACTs/NRT2yAlLXV0/s320/chinese%2Broof%2Btiles.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Traditional Chinese tiled roofs</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Travelers planning to visit China in 2016 may want to consider Hangzhou and Guizhou. two places that made the <em>New York Times</em> annual list of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/07/travel/places-to-visit.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0" target="_blank">places to visit</a> in the coming year.<br />
<br />
Hangzhou, home of the very scenic West Lake that inspired painters and poets, made the list for a number of reasons. including its booming economy. The city is home to several e0commerce biggies, such as Alibaba. More importantly, it is the first city in China to host a G20 summit. The city is adding new hotels and museums. One, the Folk Art Museum, is built on a former tea plantation. It features thousands of traditionally-styled roof tiles,as shown in the <em>Times'</em> accompanying photograph. Hangzhou ranked 16th on the newspaper's annual list.<br />
<br />
Guizhou Province is just now being discovered by tourists, according to the <em>Times</em>, which notes a new high-speed train from Guangzhou reduced travel time from 20 hours to four. But it's a place that I fell in love with when I visited it 20 years ago. A visit to a minority village is a must; the Miao one I went to in the mountains was in the middle of rice harvest. (The photo of rice fields the <em>Times</em> used is stunning.) The village was rustic, set on hillsides. While there, I watched a man bath a water buffalo in a creek, which also served as a source of drinking water for the village. It's No. 44 on the list, but had I been making the choice, I would have put it much higher.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-11091333402597250422015-12-14T09:28:00.001-08:002015-12-14T09:28:39.435-08:00Beijing offers beautiful ice skaing<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B6h1rksCRIk/Vm77rKVQHzI/AAAAAAAACQo/yRan4wkAuCE/s1600/houhai%2Blake%2Bin%2Bsummer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B6h1rksCRIk/Vm77rKVQHzI/AAAAAAAACQo/yRan4wkAuCE/s320/houhai%2Blake%2Bin%2Bsummer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Shichahai Lakes in the summer</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The three lakes in central Beijing have been named one of the 10 most beautiful places to ice skate during the winter in the world.<br />
<br />
CNN recently compiled a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/26/travel/beautiful-ice-rinks/index.html" target="_blank">list</a> that includes Red Square in Moscow and Lake Louise in Banff, Alberta, Canada.<br />
<br />
The article notes the lakes --, Houhai, Qinghai and Xihai, known collectively as Shichahai -- offer ice skating in a rink that is surrounded by historical architecture. The phoeo they used with the brief explanation shows the Drum and Bell towers, two Beijing landmarks, in the background.<br />
<br />
While the lakes are bluely serene in the summer, they freeze over in the winter. Many people ice skate wearing every day shoes,, while others wear regular ice skates. They also push each other around on metal chairs.<br />
<br />
If I were compiling the list, I also would have included Kunming Lake at Beijing's Summer Palace on the list. It's another popular place with ice skaters who can look up to Longevity Hill while they're on the ice. Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-28471210337105297102015-07-11T16:40:00.000-07:002015-07-11T16:42:22.587-07:00Site in China joins UNESCO World Heritage listChina landed one site on UNESCO's World Heritage list for 2015; 24 sites from around the world were added to the list this year.<br />
<br />
The international organization recognized the Tusi in the mountains of southwest China. The area is noted for its form of tribal government that existed from the 13th to the 20th centuries. The Tusi were hereditary rulers from several tribal or minority domains. The Tusi system can be traced back the third century BC.<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Its purpose was to unify
national administration, while allowing ethnic minorities to retain their
customs and way of life," <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1474/" target="_blank">UNESCO says</a>.</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Laosicheng, Tangya and
Hailongtun Fortress are included in the new World Heritge site that was announced on July 4.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-19598538600156676482015-06-05T12:09:00.000-07:002015-06-05T12:09:33.813-07:00Chinese food experts: what's this?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g7sSHjeQwas/VXHyf5_y3aI/AAAAAAAACIM/fS0bvzvO6-Y/s1600/what%2527s%2Bthis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g7sSHjeQwas/VXHyf5_y3aI/AAAAAAAACIM/fS0bvzvO6-Y/s400/what%2527s%2Bthis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>What is this food?</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I love visiting night food markets when I'm traveling in China. sometimes I even sample a few foods IF I know what they are.<br />
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This picture shows a pile of something that's been cooked and sliced. In its whole form, it looks like a humongous egg shell, Does anyone know what it is and what it tastes like?<br />
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If you know, please leave a comment below.<br />
<br />
<strong>Are you going to China?</strong><br />
<br />
If a trip to china is in your future, please check out my website, <a href="http://cherylschina.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Cheryl's China</a>, for tips and suggestions. If you have any questions about travel in China, please feel free to <a href="mailto:cherylschina@yahoo.com" target="_blank">email me</a>.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-4461231805718293512015-02-07T12:47:00.000-08:002015-02-07T12:47:07.010-08:002015: the Year of the Sheep<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E5_QIO9el7U/VMQvfd1oSOI/AAAAAAAAB7g/EVO1w7HiRUA/s1600/sheep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E5_QIO9el7U/VMQvfd1oSOI/AAAAAAAAB7g/EVO1w7HiRUA/s1600/sheep.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Sheep at a county fair</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Are you a sheep? If you are, then 2015 is your year. <br />
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Chinese New Year, which is February 19, will honor the
sheep. The featured animal in the Chinese zodiac changes every year, operating
on a 12-year cycle. 2014 was the Year of the Horse.</div>
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Chinese New Year, known as Spring Festival, is the biggest holiday of the year in the Middle Kingdom. It's comparable to a Western Christmas celebration, when people return home to spend the holiday with their families. Hundreds of millions of Chinese will travel during this time.</div>
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The sheep is among the most popular of the animals in the
Chinese zodiac.</div>
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<strong>Sheep personality traits</strong></div>
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If you were born in the Year of the Sheep, your personality
traits will include being gentle, compassionate, determined and creative. You’ll
also have a tendency to be pessimistic and moody, and would rather run away
from your problems than stick around and face them.</div>
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You are most compatible with people born in the years of the
horse, pig and rabbit, and least compatible with those born in the years of the
dog, rat and ox, </div>
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If you’re superstitious, you should avoid the numbers 6, 7
and 8, as they won’t bring you luck. Numbers 3, 4 and 9 are considered
auspicious for sheep.</div>
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Celebrities born in past years of
the sheep include Michelangelo, Mark Twin, the Tang Emperor Li Shimin, the
Empress Dowager Cixi who embezzled funds from the Chinese Navy to build the
Marble Boat at Beijing’s Summer Palace, and Chinese actors Chow Yun-Fat and
Zhang Ziyi.</div>
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<strong>Predictions for a sheep's year</strong></div>
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The year of one’s birth animal
usually means that person will have good luck for that year. That might not be
the case in 2015 for sheep, according to fortune tellers. No matter how hard they work, sheep shouldn’t
expect a promotion or salary raise this year; they will be lucky to get through
the year in their job, though some months working will be easier than others,</div>
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Fortune tellers also say when it comes to wealth, sheep
should be cautious about investments and should reduce expenses to make it
easier to make ends meet. Buying a house would not be a lucky move this year.
2915 is not a good year to get married; already married sheep will need to work
hard to maintain the relationship with their spouses. To maintain their health,
sheep should stay away from sharp objects, exercise regularly and avoid greasy
foods, which is good advice regardless of which animal is featured.</div>
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</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Are you going to China?</span></strong></div>
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If a trip to China is in your travel plans in 2015, be sure to check out my website, <a href="http://cherylschina.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Cheryl's China</a>, for tips and suggestions of things to see and do. Please feel free to <a href="mailto:cherylschina@yahoo.com" target="_blank">email me</a> if you have questions about travel in China.</div>
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-52248974830704162212015-01-29T18:39:00.000-08:002015-01-29T18:39:56.963-08:00Five Chinese cities among world's most popular with touristsFive cities in China were among the most popular cities for international tourism in 2013. CNN recently published a list of the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/29/travel/gallery/most-visited-cities-euromonitor/index.html" target="_blank">top 25 cities</a> in the world that received the most international tourists.<br />
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Hong Kong was the world's most visited city, with 25.6 million travelers going there in 2013. The former British Colony reverted to Chinese rule in lavish handover ceremonies in 1997. It's a shopper's paradise. with golden sand beaches and a harbor teeming with traffic.<br />
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Macau took sixth place behind London, #4, and Paris, #5, for most visitors. The former Portuguese colony, which also has reverted to Chinese governance, received 14.3 international visitors in 2013. Macau has opulent casinos that are only a short boat ride away from Hong Kong, making it popular with day-trippers.<br />
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Shenzhen, a special economic zone just across the border from Hong Kong, took eighth place with 11.7 international visitors.<br />
<br />
Guangzhou, formerly known as Canton in Guangdong Province, landed in 16th place on the list of the top 25 cities getting the most visitors. Famous for its trade fairs, Guangzhou welcomed 7.6 million international visitors.<br />
<br />
Shanghai,, the biggest city in China, received 6.1 million international tourists to occupy 22nd place. Shanghai, famous for its riverfront, the Bund, is the financial capital of China.<br />
Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-5290170035930442472015-01-11T11:06:00.000-08:002015-01-11T11:06:56.068-08:00Two Chinese cities make NYT's annual list<br />
Two places on China made the <em>New York Time's</em> annual list of places to visit in the coming year. Chengdu, in southwest China, made the list at No. 44, and Shanghai, the country's largest city, was No. 46 on the paper's annual list, which featured <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/11/travel/52-places-to-go-in-2015.html?hpw&rref=travel&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0" target="_blank">52 places to go in 2015</a>.<br />
<br />
I've been to both cities before. I spent almost a week in Chengdu in 1997, and loved it. I visited Shanghai on my first trip to China in 1984, and have been back twice since then, most recently in 2008, when we spent 10 days there. The changes between the first and last trips have been mind-boggling. We're contemplating a return trip in 2015.<br />
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<strong>Chengdu</strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HHyVCYyRknI/VLLIZEe90qI/AAAAAAAAB0w/69T2xjIH8lg/s1600/panda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HHyVCYyRknI/VLLIZEe90qI/AAAAAAAAB0w/69T2xjIH8lg/s1600/panda.jpg" height="320" title="picture of panda bear" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Pandas are popular in Chengdu</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chengdu is well known for its pandas, so any visit there should include a trip to the panda breeding center. Besides the pandas, the paper picked Chengdu because of its firey food scene and new sophisticated boutique hotels.<br />
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I can attest to the spiciness of the food. Generally, if cooks in small neighborhood restaurants, like we favor, know they're cooking for foreigners, they'll tone the food down. Apparently the waitress at one restaurant forgot to tell the chef the <em>gungbaojiding</em> (chicken cubes in a spicy peanut sauce) was for me. The dish was loaded with chili peppers. I screamed for more water with every mouthful. It was the best <em>gungbaojiding</em> I've ever eaten!<br />
<br />
<strong>Shanghai</strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2VmPNz-0zM/VLLIj0yWW0I/AAAAAAAAB04/DpAwa-8cWME/s1600/shanghai%2Bmuseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2VmPNz-0zM/VLLIj0yWW0I/AAAAAAAAB04/DpAwa-8cWME/s1600/shanghai%2Bmuseum.jpg" height="159" title="old boat exhibit at Shanghai Museum" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>An exhibit at Shanghai Museum</em></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The paper picked Shanghai because of the new art museums that have opened recently in the financial capital of China. The museums are the Long Museum, located on the west Bend; the Yuz Museum, which opened in a remodeled airport hanger, and the 21st Century Minsheng Art Museum, which is housed in the former French pavillion at the 2010 World Expo site.<br />
<br />
One of the best museums in China is located in Shanghai: the Shanghai Museum. It's not totally full of fine art, as are the above museum, but contains artifacts and art from thousands of years of Chinese history. I've been there twice and each time come away fascinated by the museum's wide variety of contents. The museum is so popular, it limits the number of people who visit daily to 8,000 people, so go early. Admission is free.<br />
<br />
<strong>Are you going to China?</strong><br />
<br />
If a trip to China is in your plans, check out my website, <a href="http://cherylschina.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Cheryl's China</a>, and feel free to <a href="mailto:cherylschina@yahoo.com" target="_blank">email me</a> if you have any questions about travel in China.<br />
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<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590627628588268763.post-31076045240398746402015-01-04T09:56:00.000-08:002015-01-04T09:56:26.394-08:00Four spots in China among world's most colorful landscapesFour scenic spots in China made the list of the 15 most colorful
landscapes in the world. The <a href="http://four%20scenic%20spots%20in%20china%20made%20the%20list%20of%20the%20most%20colorful%20landscapes%20in%20the%20world.%20the%20list%20was%20compiled%20by%20cnn./" target="_blank">list</a> was compiled by CNN.<br />
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The spectacular landscapes can be found in China at:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<ul>
<li><!--[endif]--><strong>Danxia Landform in Gansu Province</strong>. The colorful hills look almost surreal, as if they were a modern art painting, rather than the world of Mother Nature. Sandstone and minerals created the colors millions of years ago. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><strong>Rice fields in Yunnan Province</strong>. Located in Yuanyuang County, the terraced rice fields are separated by dikes of earth in geometric patterns. The Hani minority people created the terraced paddies more than 1,000 years ago for growing red rice. When the paddies are flooded, the water is like a reflection pool, mirroring the blue sky, clouds and a red sunset. Later, they’ll turn to green as the rice shoots up. </li>
<li><!--[endif]--><strong>Luoping Basin, Qujing Prefecture</strong>. Each March, the fields, which are punctuated with conical mounds, glow yellow when canola plants bloom.</li>
<li><!--[endif]--><strong>Red Beach, Panjin, Liaoning Province</strong>. Seaweed in the Liahe River delta turns a bright red in the fall, thus giving the beach its name.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Are you going to China?</strong><br />
<br />
If a trip to China is in your plans, please check out my website, <a href="http://cherylschina.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Cheryl's China</a>, for tips and suggestions. Please feel free to <a href="mailto:cherylschina@yahoo.com" target="_blank">email me</a> if you have any questions.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10644439662368364569noreply@blogger.com0