China, one photo every day

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.07



Yunnan


Erhai Lake (etymologically Ear-shaped Sea because of its effective shape) is an alpine lake in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan. Erhai Lake was also known as Yeyuze or Kunming Lake in ancient times.
Erhai Lake is situated at 1,972 m above sea level. In size, the North-South length of the lake is 40 km and the East-West width is roughly 7-8 km. Its area is 250 km², making it the second largest highland lake of China, after Dianchi Lake. Its circumference reaches 116 km, its average depth is of 11 m and the total storage capacity of 2.5 billion m³.
The lake is sandwiched between the Cangshan Mountains to the West and Dali City. It starts at Dengchuan at its northern extremity and finishes at Xiaguan city in the South, receiving water from the Miju and Mici Rivers (in the North), the Bolou River (in the East) and smallers streams from the Cangshan Mountains. Yangbi River is the lake's outlet in the South and eventually flows into the Lancang River (Mekong River).

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.08



Extra photo. Typical boats in Dong Hu (East Lake)



Zhejiang


Shaoxing is one of the famous historical cities in China. Although the city appears quite simple and peaceful, the economy here has been developing rapidly, especially with regards to the textile industry. Thanks to the advanced silkworm rearing over thousands of years, silk products from Shaoxing are famous all over China for their high quality as well as a large quantity.
Lying to the south of the Yangtze Delta and in the north of the centrally located Zhejiang Province, Shaoxing stands in the line between Hangzhou and Ningbo. Covering an area of 8256 square kilometers, Shaoxing has a population of 4,340,000. The city proper is 339 square kilometers with a population of 640,000. Two counties, three county-level cities and a district compose the whole of Shaoxing prefecture.
Although ancient history has left Shaoxing with abundant historical relics, the special landscape also forms an area of fascinating natural beauty like the East Lake, one of the three famous lakes in Zhejiang Province.
The East Lake is situated six kilometers to the east of the city. With a wonderful combination of a hill, grottoes, stone bridges, it might pass for a miniature landscape. Although it is quite small, its delicacy and elegance rank it among the best resorts in Shaoxing.
The crescent lake is hemmed in by a hill formed of bluestone, a kind of material widely used in building houses, bridges and roads.
It is great fun to sit in a boat, called an aquatic taxi in this area, and to glide silently along the cliffs and grottoes. These taxis tend to be small and exquisitely finished, a work of art in themselves. The cliffs look ominous in their ever-changing colors and hues, as one glides along. The grottoes vary in size and prominence.

[riasbaixas]

End of the 4th round

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.09



Extra photo. The archer's terrace at Mingjiao Temple



Anhui


Mingjiao Temple ( Mingjiao si ), built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), is one of China's state-protected Buddhist complexes. The present day temple has a sixteenth century architectural look, after the renovations that took place then, despite the fact that the temple was partially destroyed by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and restored in 1991. The temple is known for a number of reasons, including the fact that on the frequent windy days here, the bells in the eaves peal, and that the halls here house over 30 Buddhist statues . Visitors here would do well to try out the vegetarian restaurant that sits beside the temple.
The site is also alleged as the platform that Caocao , famously devious warlord and later king of the Wei Kingdom (220-265 AD), was to drill his troops before the battles against Sun Quan 's Wu Kingdom (222-280 AD) army. Caocao is known for many feats, but nowadays he is most famous as a major character in the book " The Three Kingdoms ", and for being the protagonist in the Chinese version of "Speak of the Devil" ( Shuo caocao, caocao jiu dao ).

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.10



Extra photo. Night view



Beijing's location in China


The Monument to the People's Heroes (人民英雄纪念碑) is a ten-story obelisk that was built in memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the revolutionary struggles of the Chinese people during the 19th and 20th centuries. It was built in accordance with the resolution of the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference adopted on November 30, 1949. The monument was designed by architect Liang Sicheng, with some elements designed by his wife, Lin Huiyin.
The monument was constructed from August 1952 to May 1958 and is located to the north of Mao Zedong's mausoleum on the southern edge of Tiananmen Square.
The monument weighs over 10,000 metric tons and contains about 17,000 pieces of marble and granite from Qingdao, Shandong Province and Fangshan District outside Beijing.
On the pedestal of the tablet there are eight huge bas-relieves carved out of white marble covering the revolutionary episodes, which are depictions of Chinese struggle from the First Opium War in 1840 to the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. The relieves can be read in chronological order in a clockwise direction from the east: 1) Burning opium in the Opium War in 1840. 2) The Jintian Village Uprising in Taiping Revolution in 1851. 3) Wuchang Uprising (1911 Revolution). 4) May 4th Movement in 1919. 5) May 30 Movement in 1925. 6) Nanchang Uprising in 1927. 7) War of Resistance Against Japan between 1931 and 1945. 8) Crossing the Yangtze River Campaign, or Successful Crossing of the Yangtze River in 1949.
On the front of the monument there is an inscription in Mao Zedong's handwriting, which reads "Eternal glory to the people's heroes!"

[ChingBr]

Keep posting on the thread Riasbaixas . You're always showing so many beautiful places in China, I have a guide of the country here and I didn't know many of them.

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.11



Chongqing's location in China:


The best place to find out about the history and culture of Chongqing is "Chongqing Three Gorges Museum", which was founded in 1951 on the summit of Pipashan Mountain. Covering an area of 5,500 square meters (1.36 acres), the museum has over 40 exhibiting halls with about 100,000 pieces of relics, which spans 3000 years from the ancient Kingdom of Ba and the near-mythical Three Kingdoms Period to World War Two and the Chinese Revolution.
The Museum is situated opposite the Chongqing People's Hall. It is not only the largest monographic museum, but is also a public undertaking for the preservation, education, scientific research in respect of cultural relics and the natural environment of Chongqing and the Three Gorges area.
The exterior of the museum has cambered walls and vitreous dome, representing the historical culture of Three Gorges project and its origins. In addition, there are large-scale reliefs, bronze sculptures and an 'Ecological Corridor' that is one kilometer in length.

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.12



Fujian province location in China


Qingshan Bay is located in Chongwu Town, in Hui'An Area, Quanzhou City County, Fujian Province.
It's three hours North of Xiamen City, and three hours South of Fuzhou City.
The coast faces Taiwan, in the middle of the Strait.
Qingshan Bay is also well known as destination for surfers.

[bonivison]

Great job,
thank you very much
never went to such places
what a regret

[CybaSumo]

amazing pics indeed! i love the hanging temple and great wall!

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.13



Gansu's position in China


Bailongjiang Nature Reserve covers 142,265 hectares in the southern part of Gansu Province, bordering the southwestern province of Sichuan.
The place has long been known as a home to giant pandas. Panda's droppings are constantly seen in its mountains and dense forests, and the forestry monitoring network has detected wild pandas many times. Yet the exact population in the giant panda community is not available.

[cmoonflyer]

Sichuan Wenchuan and picturesque four-lady mountains

[riasbaixas]

Beautiful photos taken at Siguniang Park, Wechuan. A good tribute to the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.14



Guangdong position in China:


Xujialiao is located in the Leizhou Peninsula, in the southernmost part of Guangdong province in southern China.
Leizhou Peninsula is located on the southwestern end of Guangdong, with the Gulf of Tonkin to the west and the 30 km wide Qiongzhou Strait to the south, separating the peninsula from Hainan Island/Province.
The peninsula lies in tropical South China. The region is under the influence of continental northeastern monsoons and maritime southeastern and southwestern monsoons. Typhoons occasionally occur, both from the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea.

Xujialiao's location:

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.15



Extra photo. Detian, China on the right and Banyue Waterfall in Vietnam on the left



Guangxi location in China:


The Detian Waterfall in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it lies in a subtropical area along the Sino-Vietnamese border.
At the upper reaches of the Guichun River, there is the roaring Detian Waterfall ( Detian pubu ) that appeals to visitors because of its unique setting on the border of China and Vietnam. It is the second largest trans-national waterfall in the world, second only to the Niagara Falls on the US-Canadian border.
The Detian Waterfall is over 200 meters wide and has a drop of more than 70 meters. Its water rushes down a three-tiered cliff with tremendous force. The fall is awe-inspiring, and its thunder is audible before it even comes into view.
Water flows year around, but the best time to visit is during the spring, when the water levels at Detian are highest and when visitors are treated to the sight of bright red blossoming kapok trees. During the warmer seasons, pack a swimming suit so you can take a dip in the beautiful pools below the falls, then hire a bamboo raft to see the nearby Banyue Waterfall in Vietnam that connects with Detian – just don’t get too close! Detian offers everything you’d expect from one of the world’s best waterfalls, minus the throngs of tourists.

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.16



Extra photo. The tower and Fuyu Bridge



Extra photo. The entrance at Jiaxiu.



Extra photo. Inside Jiaxiu Pavillion



Guizhou location in China:


Jiaxiu Tower is a magnificent 3-level pavilion about 20 meters high. Its turnup eaves and white stone pillars are well carved and preserved. Located in water, connected by the Fuyu Bridge (Floating Bridge) at two banks, the tower has green tiles, red pillars, engraved windows and white stone parapets, which makes it superb and striking. Ascending the tower, visitors can get a good view of the surrounding scenery.
The tower has a long history. During the Ming dynasty (1573-1620), the local majesty, Jiang Dongzhi, ordered to build a causeway at where the tower locates today, linking to the southern bank of the Nanming River. Later a pavilion was built to honor the first scholar of the time and hoped that would encourage more scholars to follow the example. Thus the tower was named "Jiaxiu tower", which means "First Sholar's Tower". In 1621, the original pavilion was burnt in a fire and the stadholder of the time made it rebuilt. In 1689, it was destroyed again, and then, Majesty Tianwen rebuilt it again. So far, the tower has been reconstructed 6 times. For 400 years, it has become the symbol of the city, witnessing the history as well as the future of the development of the Guiyang city.
Inside Jiaxiu Tower, there is a good collection of authentic works and paintings from ancient calligraphers. Of them, the most famous one is the couplet written by Liu Yushang in the Qing Dynasty. This couplet consists of 206 words as a whole, with 87 words in the first and the second line respectively, which is 26 words more than the "Longest couplet" preserved in the Big Guan Tower in Kunming. This couplet is notable not only for its length, but also for its literatural value. Its choice of words is so delicate and magnificent that it looks into not only the history of the tower but also the universal life of human being.
Under the Jiaxiu Tower, is the Fuyu Bridge (Jade Floating Bridge). It is made of white stone and the parapets are well engraved. From distance, the bridge looks like a dragon floating in the river.

[riasbaixas]

2008.03.17



Hainan location in China:


Sanya is situated on the southernmost tip of Hainan Province. Possessing a number of excellent harbors, Sanya is an important port for import and export of trade with foreign countries. Therefore, Sanya is also named the 'South Gate of China' to stress its importance while it plays a vital role in the life of the southern part of China in areas of the economy and politics to transportation.
However, for most visitors, Sanya is a noted tourist resort with mountains, sea, river and city. The favorable climate is hot in summer but warm in the three other seasons so attracting large numbers of followers from both home and abroad every year. The whole of Sanya is related to the sea. Here you can enjoy a unique tropical oceanic landscape that is totally different from the other provinces of China. Sanya Bay, Yalong Bay and Dadonghai, all golden seaboards of Sanya, are some of the first choices for visitors to spend their holidays. Instead of a busy and exhausting journey, you can relax totally here by strolling along the beaches and breathing the fresh air. Additionally more than 20 ethnic groups including Han, Li, Miao, Hui inhabit Sanya becoming a wonderful place to appreciate the various cultures of China.

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.18









Hebei


The Mountain Resort of Chengde, a key national cultural protection unit, was listed in the World Cultural Heritage Directory in 1994. It was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and took about 90 years (1703-1792) to construct.
The Mountain Resort, also called Rehe Temporary Palace, is situated north of Chengde and 230 kilometers (143 miles) from Beijing. It covers an area of 564 sq meters (218 sq miles) and was originally built for the royal families to spend the hot summer months. When compared with the grand and solemn Forbidden City, the mountain resort is characterized by its simplicity and elegance. It is a grand architectural complex that consists of numerous palaces, the largest royal garden in China and wonderful scenery, combined with a pleasant climate.
The Mountain Resort is divided into four parts: the Palace Area, Lake Area, Plain Area and Mountain Area. The Palace Area lies in the south part of the Mountain Resort and is a concentration of palaces where the Qing emperors handled the political affairs and where the royal families lived. It covers an area of 100,000 sq meters (25 acres), consisting of four main complexes: the Main Palace, the Pine-Crane Hall, the East Palace and the Pine Soughing Valley. The Main Palace was the place where important ceremonies and events were observed but today it is used as the Mountain Resort Museum. The Pine-crane Hall was the residence built by Emperor Qianlong for his mother-the empress while the East Palace was damaged in a fire in 1945 with only the groundwork still visible today. The Pine Soughing Valley was the reading room of the emperors and the office where the emperors handled the political mandates.
The Lake Area lies in north of the Palace Area. Eight islets dotted in the lake, dividing the Lake Area into several fields of different sizes. In total there are eight lakes in the Lake Area, respectively called Cheng Lake, Mirror Lake, Ruyi Lake, Upper Lake, Lower Lake, Silver Lake, Half-moon Lake and Inner Lake. Cheng Lake is the deepest while Rehe Spring is famous for its crystal-clear waters.
The Plain Area is located at the foot of the mountain, north of the Lake Area. The plain is a vast area, and is covered with thick grass and trees. The plain area is broken into three areas: a garden populated by various trees in the east, a vast grassland for riding horses in the west and a group of temples in the north. Riding a horse over this broad plain leaves visitors feeling refreshed and relaxed.
The Mountain Area, located in the northwest of the Mountain Resort, accounts for 80% of the total area. The mountain area is formed by four valleys: Filbert Valley, Pine Valley, Pear Valley and Pine-cloud Valley, which run south to north. The mountain peaks surrounding the area form a natural curtain which impedes the cold winds blowing in from Northwest China. Various pavilions, temples and other structures dot the mountain slopes and valleys.

[redstone]

Beautiful!

[riasbaixas]

2008.05.19



Extra photo. The 1998 and 1957 flood levels



Heilongjiang position in China:


The Flood Control Monument (Fanghong jinian tang) is located on the bank of Songhua River at the northern end of Zhongyang Street (Zhongyang dajie). The Monument is the centerpiece of the popular Stalin Park, built in 1958 to commemorate the tremendous feat of the Harbin people in controlling the massive flood of 1957. The flood was the biggest flood ever recorded in Harbin until the summer 1998 disaster.
The 13m tall monument consists of one Roman style cylinder column topped with statues of the heroic people of Harbin and a 7-meter-long curving corridor surrounding the column. The water level of 11 small semi-circular pools near to the column marks the level reached by the devastating flood in 1957. However, the water level record was again broken by the summer 1998 flood in which the monument witnessed the devastating destruction of nature and the great courage of the Harbin people...many paid with their lives. A new monument has been added on to the old to commemorate these new victims.
Stalin Park (Sidalin gongyuan) was built in 1953 and, as its name suggests, the park is evidence of the friendship, sometimes strained, between the two biggest communist countries at that time. The park is characterized by Russian style flower beds and a series of theme statues and is lavishly vegetated with flowers and trees. The river beach in the park serves as an ideal place for viewing the Songhua River and a natural swimming place for the Chinese, although the water is a good example of the state of China's rivers: less than clean. This place is very popular on the weekends.

Harbin location: