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Background: For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.

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By Sue Treadie
May 9th 2007

# 62 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College- Xiahe- Burbs & Beyond

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

View over Labrang
Starkly beautiful in the dry season.

While in Xiahe on my first visit in May (as indicated by the date on this blog), I went on many walks out and around the edges of town just to explore and also get great views and a different perspective of the impressive Labrang Monastery and the locals' everyday life. In May, much of the area was dry, brown and dusty as the summer rains had not yet arrived. The locals were preparing the dry, infertile-looking soil for the summer crops of rape seed and barley. I wondered how on earth they irrigated effectively, as the Daxia River at this [View Full Entry]

By Sue Treadie
May 7th 2007

# 61 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College-Xiahe- Sanke Grasslands

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

On the way to Sanke
"Big" Sanke, that is! Here we stop for a photo shoot with "Little Sanke" in the background.

Surrounding Xiahe are vast areas of grassland used by local nomads as pastures for herds of yak, dzo (bull crossed with female yak), Tibetan cattle, sheep, goats and even pigs. The more famous areas are Sanke (about 13km away), Ganjia (about 34km away) and further away still, Takkar ( famous for its enormous rock formations). Ganjia Grasslands (not a joke, by the way!) were my first choice as they are supposedly less developed/commercialized and they can be combined with a visit to an ancient town, a cave, and a monastery of the less well-known Black Hat Sect of Buddhism to make [View Full Entry]

By Sue Treadie
May 5th 2007

# 60 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College-Xiahe- The Children

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

Cheeky new friends
These young Tibetan boys followed me for ages before they were brave enough to "make contact". Then it was full steam ahead!

One of my favourite activities whenever I arrive anywhere new, is to wander (often aimlessly) through back streets and up trails to get a feel for the "real life" experiences of the locals. It also affords me many opportunities to meet the locals and at least make an attempt at effective communication! My wanderings in and around Xiahe provided me with innumerable opportunities such as this. In particular, I was trailed by curious groups of children of varying ages (and confidence!) wherever I went. I spent many happy hours conversing with these children, taking photographs and showing the [View Full Entry]

By Sue Treadie
May 3rd 2007

# 59 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College-Xiahe- The Locals

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

Daily life on the main street
Daily life on the main street is always a colourful mix of the modern and traditional.

The present residents of Xiahe consist of about 45% Tibetans, 45% Han Chinese and 10% Hui Muslim, providing an interesting mix. As development continues, with road-widening projects, rumours of an airport, the tearing down of traditional housing and the erecting of ugly, bright new hotels and ever more souvenir shops, it is obvious that this mix is rapidly changing. The local Tibetans and Hui are being squeezed into a smaller and smaller area of town, or, in the case of the Tibetans, being moved further west. Mass resumptions have been common and the displaced people are usually offered "peanu [View Full Entry]

By Sue Treadie
May 1st 2007

# 58 Teaching at Taizhou Teachers College-Xiahe - Sacred Labrang Monastery

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

Labrang Monastery
Labrang Monastery was founded in 1709 by a local monk from the neighboring town of Ganjia. He later became the first Living Buddha.

Xiahe is a small, but rapidly developing town in the SW of Gansu Province near the border with Qinghai. It is nestled in a beautiful mountain valley and is the location of famous Labrang Monastery. Labrang Monastery is second in size to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, so Xiahe is visited not only by increasing numbers of tourists but also by innumerable Tibetan pilgrims, many of whom have travelled vast distances to do so. My first visit here was during the Golden week in May (as indicated by the date on this blog). Although not a religious person or a [View Full Entry]

By Noa Amir
April 4th 2007

Xiahe - The holy hole

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

monks running for the morning cermony

[url='/Videos/2506.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/2506.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'] monks in the snow It was very cold when we got to Xiahe. We found a nice hotel, with tibetian paintings (tangka) in the room. This time the hot water are only in the morning, 8-9. So in order to take a shower we walk up at 8am. Must say it was a good one, except they stopped the hot water at 8:50, when Amir still had some shampoo on his head. we were heading to the monastary - there supposed to be a guided tour in English at 10. We were looking fo the tour/ office/ anyone [View Full Entry]

By the traveller
February 1st 2007

Xiahe, Gansu Province, China

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

I went to Xiahe last summer and absolutely loved it! It is really a magical place, full of good humoured Tibetans. They all look so fierce but they are a so sweet! I took the 07.30 direct express bus from Lanzhou South Busstation. After 3 hours the bus stops in Linxia and you can eat some noodle soup. Then another 3 hours and you have arrived in Xiahe. Tibetans call this place Labrang. I spent my first day here to explore the Labrang monastry. At 10.00 in the morning and 15.15 in the afternoon, there are guided tours, guided by an [View Full Entry]

By fraybentosdoesasia
January 6th 2007

Pie dented but safe....

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

tea with the monk
just add some green leaves to the ever constant hot water supply

Oh.. the rigours of travelling has meant that the pie has not gone unscathed in the last few months, but is still intact & very much enjoying notching up miles on the piedometer... Hello all …… a VERY happy new year to you. Sorry this blog entry has been a while in coming. A few of the places we have visited have limited internet capabilities and I simply did not have the patience to upload the new piccies up to the site - and obviously I’m so busy these days time just cannot be wasted in internet cafes! Anyway, hope you [View Full Entry]