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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 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]

By cosimovaga
November 7th 2006

A day worth the trip, by itself.

Asia » China » Gansu » TianShui

A day worth the trip, by itself. Asia » China » Gansu » TianShui By cosimovaga November 7th 2006 cosimo [View Full Entry]

By cosimovaga
November 1st 2006

Back to "China"

Asia » China » Gansu » Lanzhou

RECOVERED

Back to "China" Asia » China » Gansu » Lanzhou By cosimovaga November 1st 2006 cosimo [View Full Entry]

By katjaontour
October 27th 2006

Xiahe 27. -29.10.2006

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

Xiahe

Bin in Xiahe irgendwann spaetnachmittags angekommen. Vollkommen erschoepft und muede, aber doch rastlos. Die ganze Fahrt hierher liess mich nicht zur Ruhe kommen, wuehlte mich auf. Hab dann einen langen Spaziergang gemacht und war schon wieder so ueberwaeltigt von dem was ich sah, das mir die Traenen in den Augen standen. Xiahe ist eine kleine Stadt in der ueber 50% der Einwohner Tibeter sind. Die Stadt liegt ueber 3000m hoch, und anfangs hat ich mit dem Schnaufen echt Probleme. Es gibt eine riesige Tempelanlage, mit einem Pilgerweg darin, wo sich 1174 Gebetsmuehlen zum drehen bringen lassen. [View Full Entry]

By Clayton and Megan
October 20th 2006

Tibetan Grasslands

Asia » China » Gansu » Lanzhou

Great wall

Hi all The great wall was very very impressive. Very steep in some areas so quite a lot of exercise that day.The weather had that China haze thing happening so we couldnt see very far into the distance. We then had the joy of overnight train from Beijing to Xian which is one of the oldest cities in China (?3000Yrs). The train was brand new so it caught on fire just a little which was a bit exciting fo r a while. However we survived but with very little sleep. Xian has a 36km wall around it which in some ways [View Full Entry]

By katjaontour
October 19th 2006

Lanzhou

Asia » China » Gansu » Lanzhou

Lanzhou

Raus aus der Stadt X'ian, nach einer Woche. Im Schlafbus 9,5 Stunden holterdipolter richtung Lanzhou. Kaum geschlafen die ganze Nacht, weil es richtig eng war, und wie gesagt ziemlich unruhig. In dieser Nacht hab ich die Sterne so nah wie selten gesehen, anfangs dacht ich das sind Strassenlichter, aber es waren Sterne zum greifen nah und soviele davon. Das hat die fast schlaflose Nacht zu etwas ganz besonderem gemacht. Um 5.00 Uhr sind wir dann aufgeweckt worden, und man hat uns an irgendeiner Kreuzung in Lanzhou rausgeschmissen. Sind zum naechsten Hotel gelaufen haben ein paar Stunden geschla [View Full Entry]

By Falkor
September 9th 2006

Xiahe

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

Xiahe main street

9/9 - After 20 sleeper bus from Xian to Lanzouh, we have arrived to Lanzouh at 0600 in the morning and took another bus to Xiahe at 0730. (44.5 Y, 4.5 hours). Xiahe is little Tibetan village at the Tibetan hilly region. It’s a green place, surrounded with grasslands, and it has the largest and most important Tibetan village outside of Tibet. 11/9 - we mention the 9/11 events with little bicycle adventure to the nearest grassland which was nice until rain struck us back to town. The grassland is 14km south to Xiahe, and it cost 5Y to cross the [View Full Entry]

By VictorT
September 2nd 2006

Going west

Asia » China » Gansu » Dunhuang

Around Mogao Cave
Feels like in Star Wars doesn't it?

Thursday August 31st We arrived in Xian train station in the morning but there was still 8 hours to go. I had noodles again and passed the time by reading my LP India. We arrived in Lanzhou about 10 minutes late at 3:40. The sleeper bus to Dunhuang left at 5PM so I ran to the bus station but the tickets were sold out. The lady told me "Please take me to the train station" to get a train to Dunhuang. She was cute so I was more than happy to take her out but she wouldn't move. I went to [View Full Entry]

By VictorT
August 21st 2006

"I'm 75 and I have no teeth, my son is 40 and he has no teeth so you should listen to me!"

Asia » China » Gansu » Xiahe

Xiahe Mosque 3
Minaret

Sunday August 20th Another way-too early morning bus. We said goodbye to Fany and went outside as we heard the bus honking like crazy to warn travellers that he was about to leave (in 30 minutes! better hurry) and wake up the whole town. Our next destination was Xiahe, a town with the biggest tibetan monastery outside Lhasa. Most people who come to Langmusi went to Xiahe before so we knew somewhat what to expect. Most people prefered Langmusi but we decided to give Xiahe a shot anyway. The bus didn't go directly to Xiahe though so we had to transfer [View Full Entry]

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