LB's blog

Venice? China? Venice? China? Just a quick forty eight km. (29.8 mi.) away from downtown Shanghai, there is a little charming town called Zhujiajiao (朱家角镇; Zhūjiājiǎo Zhèn).Reputed as the Venice of Shanghai with its township houses built along rivers and lakes, it has become a mecca drawing large numbers of tourists from both inside China and around the world. As one of the four ancient historical and…

As the capital city of China, Beijing is not only known for its numerous tourist attractions, such as the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China, but also for its touristy shopping markets which showcase both the modernity and tradition of this time-honored city. Different from the commonly seen hustle and bustle of large commercial areas like Wangfujing Street and Xidan…

With its symbolic black and white fur and adorable roly-poly appearance, the giant panda is loved by people from around the world. The panda is honored as one of the national treasures of China and is well protected in several provinces including Gansu, Shanxi and Sichuan. A vast majority of giant pandas inhabit the Sichuan Province. But where exactly can tourists pay a visit to these cute and cuddly…

Located at No. 22 North Huanhua Road in the well-known Huanhua Culture and Scenic Area, the Chengdu Curio Art City, also called the Songxianqiao Curio Market, is the largest largest Arts & Crafts market in southwestern China. The market is also adjacent to many famous tourist attractions in Chengdu, such as Qingyang Palace, the Du Fu Thatched Cottage and Huanhuaxi Park, With its typical Ming and Qing…

Anyone who has ever visited Chengdu will probably tell you it's a city with a fast-paced lifestyle. Yet there are two places in Chengdu that are perfect for you to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy peace and quiet off the beaten path. They are called Jinli Street and Wide and Narrow Alley. You may ask yourself, "Which one is better to visit?" and "How does one differ from the other?"…

When thinking of western Tibet, you probably conjure up images of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in the Darchen, Ali region, two of the major hottest tourist destinations in Tibet. But if I were to plan a trip to this area, I'd opt for Pangong Tso, a stunning and unique lake for bird-watching in Ali, Tibet. Pangong Tso, which means "the long, narrow enchanting lake" in Tibetan, is located about 12km (7…

Having heard so much about Mount Qingcheng, an important center of Taoism (Daoism) in China, my friend Easter and I, along with another one of our classmates, Yang Jiaojiao, decided to spend our May Day holiday together, hiking and exploring Mount Qingcheng.Located in the northwest of Chengdu, 68km (41miles) from the city center, near Dujiangyan city, Mount Qingcheng is regarded as one of the most famous…

For the past two decades, tourists from both China and around the world have been traveling to Tibet, a paradise for people who are interested in traditional Buddhist culture and breathtaking scenery. The reason is simple: in the eyes of most outsiders, Tibet is not only a holy city for pilgrims but also a place for travelers to escape the hustle and bustle of big cities, to enjoy the unspoiled beauty and…

They are skilled mountaineers, strict Buddhists, colorfully adorned, and neighbours with China Tibetan peoples, yet absent from China's list of minority peoples. These remarkable people are called Sherpas.The Sherpas are a Himalayan ethnic group renowned for their ability to guide mountaineers to the peaks of some of the worlds highest mountains, including Mount Everest.  The most conspicuous Sherpa…

When it comes to Mid-autumn Festival (中秋节; zhōng qiū jié in pinyin), people old and young, will automatically think of the famous love story regarding the origin of the festival. Actually, no consensus has been reached on this issue since different versions of legend exist in different parts of China. But one of the most popular and widely recognized one goes like this:Long, long ago, there were ten suns…