China - Land of the Dragons

Re: The Stone Forest Of Kunming.....





Geologists say the Stone Forest is a typical example of karsts topography. Approximately 270 million years ago - during the carboniferous period of the Paleozoic era - the region was a vast expanse of sea. Over time, the movements of the lithosphere gradually caused a retreat of the waters and the rise of the limestone landscape. Due to constant erosion by the elements, the area finally developed into the present-day Stone Forest.

Re: The Ancient Town Of Lijiang,Yunnan,China...

theblackhole said:

<img src="http://m4.i.pbase.com/o2/99/776599/1/134862344.Rc9Kl3v5.97.jpg" width=120></img>

strolling through this ancient town gives you a sense of history ...

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dey shud take down dat "love lounge" sign ...

Re: The Ancient Town Of Lijiang,Yunnan,China...

po2wq said:

dey shud take down dat "love lounge" sign ...

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haha...me too wondered ..but modern couples have their own love nests....now all the ancient towns are earning tourist dollars....soon all these will give way.

the old town of Lijiang will be gone soon...and perhaps replaced by modern china.....:(

China's Jiuxiang - another wonderful geological miracle!!!



Jiuxiang

Jiuxiang is rich not only in varied scenic spots and minority customs, but also in special and precious animal and plant resources. Many things have been found in the nearby caves, including some ancient animal fossils of tens of thousands of years ago, the ruins of some ancients living caves of ten thousand years ago and the stone artifacts in the Old Stone Age. In the Alulong Valley in the west of Jiuxiang the cliff inscriptions of the Qin and the Han Dynasties have also been found. Jiuxiang, the birth place of the Yi people, has a strong minority custom color, a long cultural history, and widely spread old myths and tales. They include the Hunting Festival, the Worship of White Dragon Festival, love song contest, bullfighting, wrestling, minority plays, Sanxuan dance, Rattle Stick Dance,etc.

Re: China's Jiuxiang - another wonderful geological miracle!!!





Jiuxiang Cave - long history

Jiuxiang is one of the birthplace of human civilization. The historical and cultural background is very long. At Zhongkoudong Cave, the place where ancient people lived 10,000 to 50,000 years ago, or even earlier in the Paleolithic Period, forty-one ancient teeth and more than two thousand pieces of Paleolith were unearthed. It is the first time in China that so many stone artifacts have been unearthed. In addition, more than 1,000 fossils of ten kinds of ancient animals, including eastern stegodon, Chinese rhinoceros and panda, were found. In 1985, archaeologists found many primitive carvings on cliffs in Dabizhe and Alulong villages, the Alulong valley. These carvings of donkey, buffalo, plouph and symbols of character, were made by the forefathers of Yi people.

The geological beauty and magic in this cave is incredible...and there are still many new discoveries which are not made available.You have one massive under-world here with all the magnificient geological carvings.ONE BIG ANCIENT CIVILIZATION RIGHT HERE!!! The cradle of human civilization??? Millions and millions of years ago??? We are still searching and wondering...Happy Travelling...

Re: China's Jiuxiang - another wonderful geological miracle!!!

Thanks Kopi. Appreciates your effort

Longines said:

Why do you want to show us this? Nothing new whard. Is the exhibit still here?

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They are all there to share with the world - the high civilization of the Chinese people even in those ancient days.So advanced and so organised while the Europeans were still living in caves and on trees.

Re: China's Jiuxiang - another wonderful geological miracle!!!

Raiders said:

Thanks Kopi. Appreciates your effort

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thank you sir

What an amazing history. It's very sad to see the country now.

IMPRESSIONS LIJIANG....What do get when you combine 500 actors, 100 horses, a 360-degree open-air theatre stage at 10, 170 feet above sea level with Yulong Snow Mountain in the back? Simply awesome!!! Spectacular!!! Incomparable!!!

A cultural show demonstrating the traditions and lifestyles of the Naxi, Yi and Bai peoples of the area. The show takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park at 3500m in an outdoor theater specifically designed to showcase the mountain which is used as a backdrop. The production itself was designed by Zhang Yimou (director of Hero, House of Flying Daggers), Fan Yue and Wang Chaoge, a cast of over 500 people, and a number of horses. However, the show does not have a plot. Tickets cost 190 yuan and can be bought from the ticket booth in the Old Town (make a right at the water wheels and walk down the main street, the booth will be on your left). The ticket price does not include transportation to and from the theater (approx 1 hour drive) or the entrance fee for the park (80 yuan). There is also an Old Town Preservation fee that the park tries to charge as well, however, this can be avoided by claiming to have already paid at you hotel (and showing your hotel key). Bus 7 will take you to the theater for ¥10 and can be caught across from the Mao Zedong statue, but be sure to find out what time the last bus leaves the park.

This is a fantastic open-air show and it is a MUST SEE when you are in Lijiang. Of course, there are critics who accused Zhang Yimou for profiteering from this massive high-budget show. IMHO, it is worth every cent! It is the BEST show and it is definitely better than all the rest of Zhang Yimou's spectacular open air shows.

China's famous Flaming Mountain....






One of the hottest places in China....and YET it produces one of the sweetest grapes for the world!!! How did the people do it??? How did they get the water in such a dry and arid mountainous area?

The Legend of The Monkey God....

The Flaming Mountain is very popular thanks to a classical novel, The Journey to the West by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) writer,
Wu Cheng'en and its charming hero - the Monkey King.

In the Han account of the legend, it is said the Monkey King stirred up trouble in Heaven and kicked off the oven for making immortal pills. Charcoals fell from the sky to where the Flaming Mountain now lies-- in the middle of Turpan Basin.

According to the Uigur version, a vicious dragon lived in deep Tianshan Mountain and ate little children. A Uigur hero fought gallantly against the dragon for three days and three nights and cut the dragon into eight parts. The remains of the dragon turned to a scarlet mountain colored by its blood. The eight scars turned into the eight valleys in the Flaming Mountain, including the famous Grape Valley.

peppertail said:

What an amazing history. It's very sad to see the country now.

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What is so sad about China now?

According to the Uigur version, a vicious dragon lived in deep Tianshan Mountain and ate little children. A Uigur hero fought gallantly against the dragon for three days and three nights and cut the dragon into eight parts. The remains of the dragon turned to a scarlet mountain colored by its blood. The eight scars turned into the eight valleys in the Flaming Mountain, including the famous Grape Valley.

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First time I read of "dragon" as a symbol of viciousness when narrating China's pre-history, or in this case, the Uigur, which is not truly pure Han. In China mythological description for the dragon, it is always benevolent. This Uigur version is eerily similar to European and Western depiction of the dragon.

Sinkie said:

What is so sad about China now?

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This:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Adq-1C9Cdlw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I don't think thats a culture people will be proud of a few thousand years later. They will still struggle to live with the consequences instead.

China - shouldnt it be land of urines?
just saying

peppertail said:

This:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Adq-1C9Cdlw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

I don't think thats a culture people will be proud of a few thousand years later. They will still struggle to live with the consequences instead.

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What is this video all about? Animal protection? C'mon, in America, they go hunting, killing bears, deers, rabbits, etc, all for game. This is alright?

Sinkie said:

What is this video all about? Animal protection? C'mon, in America, they go hunting, killing bears, deers, rabbits, etc, all for game. This is alright?

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Watch the whole video. It's about the environment they create for themselves.

peppertail said:

Watch the whole video. It's about the environment they create for themselves.

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In a country with 1/5 of the Earth's population of humans, China has EVERYTHING, the good, the bad and the most ugly.

See this picture below? It is the world's LARGEST PARLIAMENT.
Which country has such a large representation? You tell me.

If you are in Hunan ,China, this beautiful ancient town [ Fenghuang or Phoenix Town ] is a MUST!!!

'Fenghuang' is Chinese for 'Phoenix', the mythical bird of good omen and longevity that is consumed by fire to be re-born again from the flames. Phoenix Ancient Town is so called as legend has it that two of these fabulous birds flew over it and found the town so beautiful that they hovered there, reluctant to leave.

The town is situated on the western boundary of Hunan Province in an area of outstanding natural beauty where mountains, water and blue skies prevail. Upon entering the town the visitor will be impressed by its air of mystery, elegance and primitive simplicity. This is a world that is dominated by the colour green. The mountain slopes are covered with green foliage, the fields are green and even the Tuo Jiang River reflects the greenery. The bridges over the water and unique houses built on stilts display a harmony that is so often portrayed in traditional Chinese paintings. This is particularly true when mist pervades the scene in the early morning or after rain. It soon becomes apparent that the claim to being one of the two most beautiful towns in the whole of China is more than justified; the other town is Chang Ting in Fujian Province.