Visiting Monasteries of China

Visiting Monasteries and Temples of China might be similar to visiting Churches in Europe.   You can only visit so many before they all start to look alike.  There are many monasteries and temples in China and some special ones that I like to show people during a tour if they are interested.   Some are empty today; but many exist that are special.  The one pictured here is in the remote area of the Sichuan mountains seldom visited by  foreigners.  This is a new one trimmed in 24 ct. gold worth a reported 6 million dollars.  at 12,000 feet above sea level it can be seen from miles around reflecting the sun.   The monks in this monastery preferred not to be photographed; however another monastery not far away, the monks liked to be photographed and were very hospitable and friendly.  Each monastery has its own rules and culture and you can inquire to your guide to ask what is and what is not proper.  I have had some rare experiences including visiting a secret library in one monastery that is locked and forbidden to enter by anyone other than a monk.  The books were hand written and many hundreds of years old.   China is a wealth of sights and experiences and in my 25 years of travelling through out China, I have had many of them.  I hope I will be able to share some of the same experiences with you on a tour too.

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10 Day Sichuan Mountains Tour

So many people ask me to put together a custom private tour to more remote areas of China rather than just the large cities.  Most of the requests come from people who have been to China in the past.  The mountains of Sichuan province mostly inhabited by Tibetans is one of my favorite areas.  Fresh mountain air, flowers, birds, small quaint villages and friendly people make up this area including some wonderful Monasteries that you can visit.  One has curved peaks on it with 24 ct. gold that shines in the sun for miles around.  If you want to stay with a family, there are family guest houses to experience real Tibetan hospitality.   There are some national parks, Pandas, Hot Springs and many other sights to enjoy in this area.  I call it the Danba Loop also known as the Tea Horse Road. In the old days, tea which was more valuable than gold was transported by horses and on the backs of porters through the mountains to Tibet. History, beauty, fresh air and culture is all part of this 10 day tour that can be fit into any other tours or as an extension to other tours.  My 25 years of experience in China will insure a great tour to your special interests.
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Taking a Taxi in China

You would think taking a taxi one would not have any difficulties except perhaps language.  Language is one problem as 99% of taxi drivers do not speak English.  When you wish to go some place, write down where you want to go in English and have someone in the hotel write it in Chinese to hand to the taxi driver.  A taxi taken from the hotel will usually be very honest and run the meter.  After you obtain your luggage at the airport you will leave through some doors to a waiting crowd of people....some of which may be people asking you if you want a taxi.  DO NOT go with them.  They charge whatever they can get and are usually private cars who do not wait in the taxi line and are illegal.   On the street when wanting a taxi you put your arm up and wave your hand up and down as if to wave goodbye.  Do not put a single index finger pointing up.   Most taxi drivers only know an area within 3 miles of where you are and do not like to go outside this area since they also can make more money on short hauls rather than long distance into areas that they are not familiar with and may have to stop on the street and ask people for directions. Taxis on the street do not like to go to the airport as they must sit in line for sometimes hours to get a fare.  Taxis are compact cars mostly Volkswagons holding three people at the most and limited space for luggage.  If you have more than three people you will need to take two taxis.   Taxi drivers make a very good income and it is not necessary to tip them other than to round off the meter to the next higher yuan if less than 1 yuan. Example:  5.20 yuan fare you should give them 6 yuan.  Coming from the airport there is a  toll fee which will be added to the meter fare.   For more information on China infrastructure differences contact us at    interlak@eskimo.com    My name is Dave and have traveled China for 25 years throughout the country.

Attending a Tibetan Wedding

In my years of travel in China I never get use to the fact that we are often invited to attend wedding receptions in the countryside.  Here you see a Tibetan Wedding couple celebrating their wedding reception.  Just walking down the street I have often have been invited to come in and attend the reception including a great meal.  I think it must be an honor to have a foreigner at their celebrations.  Do not expect this in large cities however where foreigners are common.  It has happened in mostly remote countryside villages and towns.  In one village I and a friend were invited off the street to attend the celebration. A few spoke English and wanted to sit with us.  They asked about weddings in the U.S. and I was giving them examples of what we do and many were interested until I mentioned that we can kiss the bride too.  They all laughed and said that the men would all take me and throw me out in the street if I did such a thing there.  In China a couple is not considered married UNTIL the banquet reception is held.  Couples must save up money to have the banquet as it is expensive; however it is also the custom for people to give money in a red or gold envelope rather than presents.  So the cost is not so great then.  The closer one is to the couple or family the more money is expected.  One young lady told me she must give half of her monthly salary to the couple since she was a worker with the new wife.   Customs are always interesting and in China you can often be invited to observe and participate in local celebrations of many kinds. Click on photo for full screen view!

The Beautiful Danba Loop

With my 25 years of travel throughout China I look for those out of the way areas of interest for my customers.  I and my Chinese associates were the first visitors through what we call the Danba Loop after they hard surfaced the road.  Before that time it was an old dirt road that often washed out during the rainy season.  It is also referred to as the Tea Horse Road.  Few western tourists find this area without help.  It is about an 8 day trip through the mountains which includes Pandas, National Parks, Hot Springs, friendly remote monasteries to visit, countless villages and home visits with lunch.  The people are of Tibetan decent and their homes are highly decorated in the style as you can see here in the photos.  We also have home stays in which you may participate in cooking with the family or just enjoy visiting with them and their family. The fresh air of the mountains and wonderful weather are best visited from July through September.  For a more detailed description of this area and tour please check my web site at www.intnerlakechinatours.com and click on Packaged Tours.

You will find the itinerary under Mountain's Tour.   As I do mostly customized private tours, you can take just part of that tour or have me put a tour together just for your interests and time constraints.

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Visiting Remote Villages in Yunnan Province

In my 25 years of travel through out China one of the most interesting provinces is Yunnan province.  In south central China just north of Burma, Laos and Viet Nam boarders Yunnan which is a very diverse province.  The North part is in the mountains and the south half is semi-tropical.  Kunming, the capital is in the middle and known as the Spring City because of its altitude and is fairly cool during the hot summer months. These photos of one minority village is just one of over 26 minority peoples in Yunnan province. Each has their own dress,

foods, and culture. It isn't often you can visit many cultures in such a small area and you will always find them hospitable and friendly.   It is the custom if you ask to visit them to open their houses and serve you tea or in the case of this village some of their great wine!!  Your guide just yells out to them "We have some foreigners here that would like to visit you".   There are no door bells of course.  As curious as you are about them, they are just as curious to know where you come from.  They may continue to do their work but you will see first hand what life is like in each small culture and village.  In one minority village, once married, the men retire and the women do all the work!  :-)   Learning about each culture is interesting and at the same  time you see wonderful back country China without hoards of tourists.
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