China, photos every day

[riasbaixas]

2008.02.24






Chongqing province's position in China:


Chongqing (重庆) is the largest and most populous of the People's Republic of China's four provincial-level municipalities, and the only one in the less densely populated western half of China. Formerly (until 14 March 1997) a sub-provincial city within Sichuan Province, the municipality of Chongqing had a registered population of 31.442.300 in 2005.
The boundaries of Chongqing municipality reach much further into the city's hinterland than the boundaries of the other three provincial level municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin), and much of the municipality, which is roughly the size of Austria, is rural.
The population of the urban area of Chongqing proper was 4.1 million in 2005. Its abbreviated name, 渝 (Yú), is derived from the old name of a part of the Jialing River that runs through Chongqing and feeds the Yangtze River.
The city is home to one of the largest public assembly buildings in China, the Great Hall of the People, built in modern times but emulating traditional architectural styles. This is adjacent to the densely populated and hilly central district, with narrow streets and pedestrian only walkways.

[riasbaixas]

2008.02.25



Hubei's position in China:


Starting from Xiangxi (Fragrant Stream) Kou of Zigui County in the west and ending at Nanjin Pass in the east, Xiling Gorge (西陵峡), zigzagging about 49 miles, is the longest gorge among the three gorges (三峽) of the Yangtze River. Because of numerous reefs and odd-shaped stones existing in rapid shoals, the gorge is also well known for its danger.
Scenery along the Xiling Gorge is spectacular. Some renowned streams, springs, stones and karst caves can be found along this section.
The Xiling Gorge, around half the length of the Three Gorges, is actually a series of four different gorges: Precious Sword, Horse Lung & Ox Liver, Soundless Bell, and Shadow Play Gorges.

[riasbaixas]

2008.02.26



Hebei's position in China:


Zhangbei or Changpei, Hebei, is a county formerly in the Chahar province. It is 40 km north northeast of Zhangjiakou. The city of Zhangbei is the seat of the county government.
In 1937, it was declared an open war between China and Japan. On December 8, 1937, Prince Of Mongolian Wang declared the independence of the remaining part of Inner Mongolia (the provinces of Chahar and Suiyuan) with the name of Mengkiang or Mengkukuo and signed some agreements of rapprochement with Japan and Manchukuo, Inner Mongolia doing a puppet of the Japanese Empire. The capital was established in Zhangbei (currently in Hebei) extending the control of the puppet government of Hohhot to the region. In August 1945, Mengkiang was taken by Soviet troops in Outer Mongolia in Operation Storm in August.
At the end of the Second World War, the Communist Party of China took practically all of Manchuria with Soviet support and established the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 1947 following the Soviet nationalities policy. Initially the autonomous region only included region Hulunbuir.
Nowadays, Zhangbei belongs to Hebei province.

[riasbaixas]

2008.02.27



Shanxi's position in China:


Pingyao (平遥) is a city and county in central Shanxi province. It lies about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. During the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao was a financial center of China.
It is now renowned for its well-preserved ancient city wall, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pingyao is located on the eastern banks of the Fen River, and is in the southwestern edge of the Taiyuan basin. Pingyao's economy is largely agricultural and the region is famed for its beef.
In 1986, the People's Republic of China designated Pingyao as one of the Chinese Historic and Cultural Cities. It became a World Heritage Site in 1997, included also the outlying Zhenguo Temple and Shuanglin Temple.

Pingyao's location within China:

[oliver999]

thanks for your hard working. nice photos. please keep coming.

[riasbaixas]

2008.02.28



Shandong's position in China:


The Jiaozhou Bay was a German colonial concession which existed from 1898 to 1914. It was located in the imperial province of Shandong on the southern coast of the Shandong Peninsula in northern China. Jiaozhou was romanized as Kiaochow, Kiauchau or Kiao-Chau in English and Kiautschou in German. Qingdao (Tsingtao) was the administrative center.

[riasbaixas]

2008.02.29



Henan's position in China:


Zhengzhou (郑州), formerly called Zhengxian is the capital of Henan province. Located just north of the province's centre and south of the Yellow River.
The name of Zhengzhou came from Sui Dynasty (AD 581), albeit it was located in Chenggao, another town. The government moved to the contemporary city during Tang Dynasty.

[hzkiller]

加油 很不错 超喜欢

[ChingBr]

Riasbaixas this is the best thread of the entire forum! For how long do you lived in China? Keep the pictures coming!

[riasbaixas]

2008.03.01



Tibet's position in China:


Gyantse (江孜镇) is a town located in Gyangzê County, Shigatse Prefecture. It is 3,977 metres (13,050 feet) above sea level, and is strategically located in the Nyang-chu Valley on the ancient trade routes from the Chumbi Valley, Yatung and Sikkim, which met here. From Gyantse, routes led to Shigatse downstream and also over the Karo La (Pass) to Central Tibet.
The fortress guarded the southern approaches to the Tsangpo Valley and Lhasa.
Gyantse is the fourth largest city in Tibet (after Lhasa, Shigatse and Chamdo). It is often referred to as the "Hero City" because during the British Younghusband expedition of 1904, the 500 soldiers of the Gyantse fort resisted in a siege of several weeks, before they were overcome by the superior equipment of the British.
Gyantse is notable for its magnificent tiered Kumbum of the Palcho Monastery, the largest chörten (stupa) in Tibet. The Kumbum was commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427. This religious structure contains 77 chapels in its six floors, and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals, many showing a strong Nepali influence which have survived pretty well intact. They are the last of this type in Tibet. Many of the restored clay statues are of less artistry than the destroyed originals - but they are still spectacular.
The town was nearly destroyed in 1954 and was largely emptied of people by the Chinese in 1959. During the Cultural Revolution the monastery and Kumbum were ransacked or destroyed.

[riasbaixas]

2008.03.02



Inner Mongolia's position in China:


Xilin Gol (锡林郭勒盟) is one of 12 prefecture level divisions of Inner Mongolia. The capital is Xilinhot, the area is 202,580 km². The economy is based on mining and agriculture. In 2000, there were 975,168 inhabitants.
Xilin Gol Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, about 600 km north of Beijing. It was established as China’s first grassland biosphere reserve in 1987 to protect the biodiversity of a typical steppe ecosystem and to develop models of sustainable grassland resource use for improved well-being of the local people. The area is extensively grazed by wild herbivores and domestic livestock managed mainly by sedentary herders.

[riasbaixas]

2008.03.03



Tianjin's position in China:


Shuishang Park is a famous scenic spot in Tianjin. Its location was called "Qing long tan" – the black dragon's pool. The vigor-overflowing greens – green trees, green grass, green lotus, greet the eye everywhere. If getting a bird's eye view, one may see that pieces of emerald greens are floating on the dragon's pool. Therefore, Shuishang Park gains the elegant name "Longtan Fu Cui".
Shuishang Park is located in the southwest of Tianjin and features lakes, islands and pavilions. It has an amusement park and paddle boats may be hired.
Given the incomparable beauty of this park, Tianjin's largest, it is difficult to comprehend that this was once a brick-making site. Opened in 1951, the park features three lakes (West, East and South), all perfect for floating about in rented rowboats. A constellation of 13 islets dot East Lake and are connected by a series of pedestrian arch bridges. Ornate pavilions and towers occupy each islet. The park also houses a kid's amusement center.

[ChingBr]

Keep the photos coming!

[riasbaixas]

End of the 2nd Round

Thanks for your comments!!

[riasbaixas]

2008.03.04



Anhui's position in China:


Chao Lake (巢湖) is located at the juncture of Chaohu and Hefei cities in the middle of Anhui Province and is one of the five largest fresh-water lakes in China.
The lake is named for its resemblance to a bird's nest. According to legend, the site of the lake was once a prosperous city named Chaozhou. Because of sins of its people, it was cursed by the heavens and ordered to be destroyed by flood. The task was to be carried out by a white dragon who was only able to find one good person, an old lady ('Lao' in Chinese) surnamed Jiao. After the destruction of Chaozhou, only the old lady and her daughter were saved. They became the two islands emerging from the lake. This legend may in fact be rooted in geological history, since Lake Chao is located on the intersection of several major faultlines, of which the most famous is the Tan Lu Fault which caused the great 1976 Tangshan earthquake in its northern section.
Covering an area of about 750 square kilometers (290 square miles), Chao Lake is a national key scenic spot. The lake is dotted with many tourist sites, such as Laoshan Island, Zhongmiao Temple, the three famous hot springs - Bantang, Tang Pool and Fragrant Spring, four national forest parks and five water-eroded caves.

[hzkiller]

woooooo!your pictures so new!

[riasbaixas]

2008.03.05



Beijing's location in China:


Beijing is one of the very few cities to possess multiple ring roads (or beltways).
Beijing's 5th Ring Road (五环路) is a ring road encircling the city about 10 kilometers away from the city centre and links the suburban areas of Huantie, Shigezhuang, Dingfuzhuang and Ciqu. It also passes through the Beijing Development Area. It navigates through very barren land in the south before heading west toward the Fragrant Hills.
Due to its proximity to future Olympic venues, it has been nicknamed the "Olympic Avenue".

[riasbaixas]

2008.03.06



Chongqing's position in China:


Chongqing Arhat Temple (罗汉寺), an ancient Buddhist temple and monastery, is situated in the busiest downtown area of Chongqing. Originally built about 1,000 years ago, during the Song Dynasty, it was rebuilt in 1752 and again in 1945. The present clay arhats were molded in the spring of 1986. More recently, the construction work of the Depository of Buddhist Texts and the Meditation Room has been completed, and the carving and molding are underway.

[sebvill]

Beautiful country. Soem pics are really stunning.

[khangu]

I can't believe you've been to so many places to take so many beautiful photos.

I would need to have won lotto and take a whole year off to get to these kind of diverse locations and take the photos you did.

Good job, loking forward to more. This is the definitive guide to China's landscapes.