← Older revision
Revision as of 15:37, 7 May 2015
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Departing from [[Seoul]]:
Departing from [[Seoul]]:
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* [[South Korea]]: [[Incheon]]. From here we can get a ferry to Qingdao, or we can fly.
We should look around the actual city, though, to see if there is anything interesting. In particular, since we’ll probably be in and out of here a lot, we might want to look for cheap, comfortable places to stay if our travel plans ever change suddenly and we find ourselves here.
+
* [[South Korea]]: [[Incheon]]. From here we can get a ferry to Qingdao, or we can fly.
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* [[China]]: [[Qingdao]].
Beaches, parks, and especially beer. In August there is a beer festival. There is no need to explore much our first time because hopefully we’ll be back many times. Instead, our priority should probably be exploring places to stay on our future trips. Lao Shan is very close, and we can go to Qufu from here by train or bus.
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* [[China]]: [[Qingdao]].
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* China: [[Lao Shan]]
(Mt. Lao). This has been one of the most important places for Taoism, so there are lots of interesting temples here, including the “Great Purity Palace” or “Temple of Supreme Purity.” I can imagine spending several days visiting the temples on this mountain
.
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* China: [[Lao Shan]].
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* China: [[Qufu]].
This is where Confucius was born. There is a big temple to him here, and a big party on his birthday in late September. If we can find an affordable place, we could hang out here for a week or two and read the Master! From here we can go by bus to Zouxian.
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* China: [[Qufu]].
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* China: [[Zoucheng]] (Zouxian).
The birthplace of Mencius (맹자). Less popular than Qufu, with quieter temples. Reading Mencius here could be fun too.
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* China: [[Zoucheng]] (Zouxian).
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* China: [[Zhengzhou]].
There are only a couple of sites and museums here, but it is on the way to Songshan National Park. I’d prefer to go to Dengfeng and from there go around the park ourselves, but we might have to get a bus from here.
+
* China: [[Zhengzhou]].
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* China: Songshan National Park
. The Shaolin Monastery is here… I should have some Kung Fu lessons! There are some other temples here as well, several buildings recognized as UNESCO sites
.
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* China:
[[
Songshan National Park
]]
.
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* China: [[Tai'an]].
We come here to get to Tai Shan, but the Lingyan Temple (one of several temples with that name) is also nearby. It has an 11th-century pagoda and 167 stupas. This is basically at the foot of Tai Shan, so we might get here on the way to there.
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* China: [[Tai'an]].
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* China: [[Tai Shan]]
(Mt. Tai). A UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the “five sacred mountains” of China. We “climb” it by walking up the steps. We could stay in a hotel at the top to see the sunrise. I guess there are several peaks, and the tallest one is Jade Emperor Peak. The Dai Miao is the temple of the god of the mountain, a replica of the imperial palace, and we definitely want to see that. There are dozens more temples, including the Azure Clouds temple, which might be where the stairs up the mountain are
.
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* China: [[Tai Shan]].
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* China: [[Jinan]]
. A major city; we’ll usually get to Qingdao from Jinan so we’ll probably be here several times. We’ll want to go shopping (or at least pretend to) on Water Lily Street, spend a day visiting the Thousand Buddha. There are lots of springs and lakes to visit (such as Five Dragon Pool, and the Baoto Spring Garden, where there is a memorial to Li Qingzhao, whose poems we could read here), some interesting museums, and the Sacred Heart Cathedral looks interesting. Nearby is the Four Gates Pagoda (Simen Ta)
.
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* China: [[Jinan]].
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* China: [[Tianjin]]
. The main city between Jinan and Beijing. There are several interesting temples, museums, and parks here, as well as European colonial architecture. We might try to see an opera here, as this is one of the centers of Beijing opera. I don’t know if we’d be able to appreciate xiangshang (a traditional form of comedy that is popular here), but we could check it out
.
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* China: [[Tianjin]].
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* China: [[Beijing]].
How long can we stand the pollution? Because there is a lot of stuff to see and do in and around Beijing: the Forbidden City with Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace; the Hutongs (from Bei Hai Park), a trip to the Great Wall. We can see the “nine dragon walls” in Bei Hei Park and the Forbidden City. We have to eat Peking Duck at Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant! Also, the Fang Shan Restaurant for the theater and the Family Li Restaurant, supposedly with reservations necessary 2-months in advance. We should apply for our visa extension here.
+
* China: [[Beijing]].
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* China: [[Datong]].
The 11th-century Shanhua Si (Shanhua Temple) and the Huayan Temple (the ancestral temple of one of China’s imperial families) are here. There is also a “nine dragon wall” here. Nearby are the Yungang Grottoes (the Cloud Ridge Caves), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with giant Buddha statues and temples; the Hanging Temple (Xuankong Si) in Hunyuan County; and the Wooden Pagoda (Mu Ta) of Fogong Temple at Yingxian.
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* China: [[Datong]].
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* China: [[Wutai Shan]]
(Mt. Wutai). A UNESCO World Heritage Site with many temples. The village at the top of the mountain is Taihuai (Taihuaizhen), and many of the temples and the budget places to stay are here
.
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* China: [[Wutai Shan]].
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* China: [[Taiyuan]]
. Several old temples, such as the Jinci Temple, Twin Pagoda Temple, and the Chongshan Temple; also, the Chunyang Palace, the Old Mosque, and a museum
. The Longshan Grottoes and the Tianlongshan Grottoes are nearby.
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* China: [[Taiyuan]]. The Longshan Grottoes and the Tianlongshan Grottoes are nearby.
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* China: [[Pingyao]].
A UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its old town and wall; one of the highlights is staying in Ming or Qing Dynasty buildings converted into hotels. There is a “nine dragon wall” here. Among several interesting sites nearby are the Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple. About halfway between Pingyao and Xian is Yanan (Yan’an), an important site for Chinese communists.
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* China: [[Pingyao]].
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* China: [[Yulin]].
An old city on the Great Wall. Probably a nice “off the beaten path” stop between Pingyao and Xian. Shenmu, another old city on the Great Wall with a temple complex, is nearby.
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* China: [[Yulin]].
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* China: [[Yan'an]]
. An important site for Chinese communists, “the cradle of the revolution.” It was their main base after the Long March. For foreign tourists, this is well off the beaten path
.
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* China: [[Yan'an]].
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* China: [[Yichuan]]
. For China’s biggest waterfall: Huanghe Hukou Pubu National Park
.
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* China: [[Yichuan]].
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* China:
Xi’an (
[[Xian]]
)
.
One of the highlights of China. We could easily spend a month here, so I’d like to try to find work here. This is the ancient capital of China (known as Chang’an in history). The famous terracotta warriors of Qin Shi Huang are here, as well as other temples, tombs, mosques, the relics of Nestorian Christians, the Lingyuan Pavillion with Tang Dynasty era paintings…. Among the books that might be interesting to read here is Journey to the West, which began here. Nearby is Hua Shan (Mt. Hua), one of “the five great mountains” of China, where we want to spend at least one night. If we’ve properly taken our time to this point of the trip, it’s likely that our visas will expire while we’re here and we’ll have to do a visa run, perhaps back to Seoul; we could fly back after getting new visas, or take a train directly from Qingdao. We should also strongly consider taking the “Silk Road” as far as Almaty and back (perhaps flying back) as a visa run, because we aren’t planning actually to take the Silk Road trip for many years. Also, if we do the “Tibet to Tibet” trip through Golmud and Kunming, we’ll go through here on our way.
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* China: [[Xian]].
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* China: [[Shiyan]]. Wudang Shan (Mt. Wudang) is here
, with several buildings that are UNESCO sites. There are some nice hikes. Perhaps we will have a little trouble finding a cheap place to stay
.
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* China: [[Shiyan]]. Wudang Shan (Mt. Wudang) is here.
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* China: [[Hanzhong]]
. On the way from Xian to Chengdu. A museum about paper making, and a temple. If we’re here in the spring, the rapeseed fields surrounding the town will be in bloom
.
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* China: [[Hanzhong]].
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* China: [[Jiuzhaigou]] (Jiuzhai Valley) National Park (Nature Reserve)
. A beautiful park with a Tibetan village inside. We could stay here several days; we could also return to see it in various seasons
. The Huanglongsi National Park is a short bus ride away. On the way out, we could stop in Songpan and see the remnants of its old city.
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* China: [[Jiuzhaigou]] (Jiuzhai Valley) National Park (Nature Reserve). The Huanglongsi National Park is a short bus ride away. On the way out, we could stop in Songpan and see the remnants of its old city.
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* China: [[Langmusi]]. Sort of on the way between Jiuzhaigou and Chengdu
, a town with some Tibetan temples
.
(To get
there
, we might have to go from Jiuzhaigou to Songpan. From Songpan we go to Langmusi and back, and then on to Chengdu.)
+
* China: [[Langmusi]]. Sort of on the way between Jiuzhaigou and Chengdu. (To get
here
, we might have to go from Jiuzhaigou to Songpan. From Songpan we go to Langmusi and back, and then on to Chengdu.)
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* China: [[Chengdu]]
. “Xanadu.” Lots of temples, several museums, old town things, the Sichuan opera, Also famous for panda breeding
. I wouldn’t mind finding work here.
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* China: [[Chengdu]]. I wouldn’t mind finding work here.
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* China: [[Leshan]]
. A giant Buddha statue, which is a UNESCO site, and some temples are here
. From here we climb Emei Shan. Also nearby is Jiajiang with the Thousand Buddha Cliff.
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* China: [[Leshan]]. From here we climb Emei Shan. Also nearby is Jiajiang with the Thousand Buddha Cliff.
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* China: [[Dazu]].
Rock carvings that are a UNESCO site.
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* China: [[Dazu]].
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* China: [[Chongqing]].
One of the biggest cities in China--and one of the dirtiest in the world, so we won’t hang out long. There are things to see, and it is the
beginning of the Yangtze River voyage: from here to Yichang (the Three Gorges) and Wuhan, though we could go all the way to Shanghai.
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* China: [[Chongqing]].
The
beginning of the Yangtze River voyage: from here to Yichang (the Three Gorges) and Wuhan, though we could go all the way to Shanghai.
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* China: [[Yichang]]
. The Three Gorges Dam is here
.
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* China: [[Yichang]].
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* China: [[Wuhan]]
. A historic city with several temples and other sites to see
. Instead of taking the Yangzte all the way to Shanghai, we should get off at Wuhan to go to Changsha.
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* China: [[Wuhan]]. Instead of taking the Yangzte all the way to Shanghai, we should get off at Wuhan to go to Changsha.
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* China: [[Changsha]]
. An old city, some pretty old buildings and parks, and a great museum. The tallest building in the world will be here if its construction continues. We should eat “steamed fish heads in chili sauce” here
. From here we go to Zhangjiaje for Wulingyuan, and from there we return to here.
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* China: [[Changsha]]. From here we go to Zhangjiaje for Wulingyuan, and from there we return to here.
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* China: [[Wulingyuan]]
. Amazing landscapes; a UNESCO World Heritage site. I don’t know how much hiking we can stand here because of the dropoffs, but a boat trip through the canyon would be fine
. We get in from the town of Zhangjiaje.
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* China: [[Wulingyuan]]. We get in from the town of Zhangjiaje.
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* China: [[Nanchang]].
Especially for the Tengwang Pavilion (Pavilion of Prince Teng) and Poyang Lake
.
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* China: [[Nanchang]]. .
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* China: [[Lushan]]
(Mt. Lu). A very beautiful mountain that is also a UNESCO World Heritage site
.
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* China: [[Lushan]].
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* China: [[Tunxi]]. From here we climb Huang Shan
(Mt
.
Huang), another UNESCO World Heritage site--an incredible climb that I’m really looking forward to!
Nearby is Shexian (She County)
, a historical city;
and Yixian (Yi County), with the village of Hongcun
, also a historical city and a UNESCO site, where Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed
. A little further away is Jiuhua Shan
, a mountain with Buddhist temples
.
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* China: [[Tunxi]]. From here we climb Huang Shan. Nearby is Shexian (She County) and Yixian (Yi County), with the village of Hongcun. A little further away is Jiuhua Shan.
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* China: [[Nanjing]]
. Xuanwu Lake and Purple Mountain (Zijin Shan); Ming tombs (which are UNESCO sites), Jiming Temple; Linggu Temple; gardens; Kunqu (a variety of opera or theater); lots of museums; the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum; parks. This would be a good place to read Spence’s book on the Taiping Rebellion, and something about “the rape of Nanjing” or the Sino-Japanese War more generally
.
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* China: [[Nanjing]].
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* China: [[Suzhou]].
A huge city and center of the silk trade in the ancient world, with gardens such as the Garden of the Humble Administrator (I should read The Dream of the Red Chamber as we visit this), the Garden of the Master of the Nets, the Lingering Garden, the Lion Forest Garden, the Surging Wave Pavilion, the Retreat and Reflection Garden, the Garden of Cultivation, the Couple’s Garden Retreat, the Tarrying Garden, the Garden of Pleasure, the Former Residence of the Poet and Scholar Yu Yue, the North Temple Pagoda, the Ding Hui Temple, the Cold Mountain Temple, the Temple of Mystery, the Confucian Temple, the Suzhou Museum, the Panmen city gate and the Changmen city gage, Shantang Street (many tourists), the Tiger Hill Pagoda, Balta Road, Ping Jiang Road (running from the Humble Administrator’s Garden to the Suzhou Museum), the back streets off GuanQian Street. There are canals, so it is “the Venice of the East,” and for a fee we can take a boat ride through them, starting at Renmin Bridge. At the Suzhou zoo we might, if we get there in time, be able to see the last living Yangtze softshell turtle. We might visit the Bookworm for some relaxation and hanging out with the local expats. One thing we’ll be sure to eat is Song Shu Gui Yu (squirrel-shaped mandarin fish).
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* China: [[Suzhou]].
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* China: [[Zhouzhuang]]
. “The Venice of the East” because it is built on canals. Probably not a place we stay very long because of high prices and crowds
.
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* China: [[Zhouzhuang]].
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* China: [[Shanghai]]
. My college roommate's family, the Bund, overnight boat to Putuoshan Island; the Shanghai Museum. I’d like to read books like Shanghai 1937 here. Nearby is Wuzhen, where I got the blue and white cloth we use as a wall hanging
. We’d probably just stay here until our visas run out; we could go back up the coast by train to Qingdao.
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* China: [[Shanghai]]. We’d probably just stay here until our visas run out; we could go back up the coast by train to Qingdao.
=== Southeastern China ===
=== Southeastern China ===