Tibetan & Southern China

#22 - 15.09.2009, Jinghong, China:

Visa circumstances force us to change our plans again. In view of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the ‘New China’ we heard it might be difficult to obtain a new visa. Fed up with the constant insecurity we opt for the safe choice of leaving the country on the day our existing visa terminates. We cut straight south from Chengdu through subtropical China, by crossing the Yangtze we enter the endlessly hilly southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan. The heat and humidity, but most of all the mosquitoes, get to us as we push south covering more height in this section than ever before on the trip. Frustrated at our road disappearing into the jungle we cover a significant stretch on the expressway. Kunming is a pleasant intermezzo before we head into tropical Xishuangbanna, a colourful region bordering onto Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar full of different hilltribes. The main city of Jinghong, sprawling on the shores of the Mekong, serves as our jumping point into South-East Asia with our first papaya shake symbolizing the beginning of this new chapter on our journey.
>> Read more

#21 - 27.08.2009, Chengdu, China:

For our first wedding anniversary we are awarded with three days of mostly good weather in the wonderful surroundings of the small Tibetan village of Langmusi. From there we cross the vast expanse of the Zoige grasslands before we climb a final pass that forms the watershed between the Yellow and the Yangtze Rivers. What follows are 400km of descent through a dramatic valley changing from Tibetan highland to alpine forest and finally into lush subtropical vegetation. This area was also hard-hit by last year’s heavy earthquake, the remains of which are still very visible. Down in the plains we make our way into the metropolis of Chengdu, capital of the Sichuan province, and lie low for a few days in one of the most comfortable guesthouses in the world.
>> Read more

#20 - 15.08.2009, Langmusi, China:

From Xining we choose secondary roads for our onward travel, taking us directly into the rural life of this central Hui and Tibetan part of China. We cross high mountain passes, follow the course of the young Yellow River for a couple of dozen of kilometres before we venture into the Gu-chu valley. A number of Tibetan monasteries are scattered around the city of Tongren set against a beautiful backdrop of red rocks. Unfortunately it rains, but when we start the ascent into yet some more red and green mountain scenery it clears up and we enjoy wonderful weather when visiting Labrang Si, one of the six large monasteries of the Gelugpa Sect of Buddhism, which is the main direction practiced in China. Finally we reach Langmusi, a small Tibetan village beautifully set amongst grasslands and high mountains where we toast to our first wedding anniversary and take three days off.
>> Read more