Blogs from Chengdu, Sichuan, China, Asia - page 106

nach den vielen natur- und dorferlebnissen. ging es in die grosse 9.2 millionen stadt chengdu. die metropole ist unglaublich faszienierend. nicht nur das es ueberall wahnsinnig voll ist, es gibt hier auch keinerlei einzelhaeuser, sondern es spielt sich alles in riesigen hochhausblocks ab. ueberall spuert man die staetige veraenderung. dazu gibt es weder u- noch s-bahn sondern die meisten sind mit fahrraedern oder elektrofollern unterwegs. nach ein paar tagen relaxen und stadtluft einatmen, teilweise auch im fluss der menschen massen mit dem fahrrad, sind wir zu dem heiligen buddistischen 3099 m hohen berg "emeishan" gefahren. hier war jetzt trekking angesagt. da wir zielsicher zu der langen, schwierigen route gingen, wurden daraus ganze 3 tage. emaishan ist ein abgefahrener hoher geheimnesvoller berg mit 20 aktiven tempeln und kloestern verbunden mit ueber tausenden von treppen. es wa... read more

We wanted to get away from the mayhem of New York, just for a little while on this trip, but somehow flashes of it continue to appear. Is it the harrowing traffic or the guy taking a dump on the street? (I've SEEN it under the Willliamsburg bridge). No, it's the rat-bastard who preys on naive marks like us who swipes your personal property the minute you turn your head. In the 24 cities we've covered in China, we've rented bikes in nearly all of them- the Sanford & Son class, rusty chain, springs piercing through the seat, stop with your heels quality-- which usually only runs us 10 yuan a day (about a buck fifty). You can leave them outside a restaurant with a sign that reads "Take Me" and no one would consider taking ... read more

I liked Chendgu without really knowing why. It is seriously polluted; the air is thick and grey, and obscures everything from view further afar than 200 metres, including the sun - which we havent seen for six days now! However through our haphazard christmas shopping tour, a visit to the theatre, and night walks, we saw quite a lot of the city and were kept entertained for the four days we were there. Closeby, we went to see some Giant Pandas. They have an enviable lifestyle - waking at eight they eat for three hours (whilst lying on their backs), then sleep, thats it! Not bad, eh? We also took a day trip to Leshan where we saw the worlds biggest Buddha, before darting off to Chonqing on a six hour bus journey from hell, driven ... read more

The bambu forrests of Sichuan province is one of the last refuges of the Giant Panda. Spoting one in the wild is rare and a better option for the tourist in a rush is the breeding center near Chengdu. Since I was runing out on my Chinese Visa (got ony four weeks to reach Laos) I went to this place. Togther with Raul I spent an evening walking around the different enclosures to find a Panda which is not sleeping... we found one. Supprise, supprise, he was eating instead, his second often 'activity'. Also in the breeding center, we saw a red Panda, something I didn't even know exists. As for me, he doesn't really look like a Panda though.... read more

Right folks, The last time we left off we were heading on a train overnight to chengdu, that was about a week ago. Or was it 10 days? No Idea anymore, just faint recollections of temples and steps. You'll soon learn why. Sitting in an internet cafe trying to kill 3hrs before our bus leaves. (so You's know what that means)   Already been on a bus today for 5hrs, China is huge, and starting to piss me off. Why do they have buses that leave at 7 in the eve and take 8hrs? Leaving you at your next destination at some ungodly hr of the morning when nothing is open and no-one around? Whats the point?   Anyway, our train from xi'an to Chengdu did much the same, it left late in the evening on ... read more