WORLD AMAZING PLACES AND FACTS: August 2012

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Most Beautiful Ancient Villages in China

You might have heard a lot about ancient towns (like Lijiang Ancient Town, Pingyao Ancient Town, and Huangyao Ancient Town) and ancient cities (like Beijing and Xian) in China. Here, we list several of the most beautiful ancient villages in China, where you can experience the local peaceful lifestyle, the ancient architecture, and the graceful landscapes.

These villages include ethnic villages with unique architectural styles and beautiful natural landscapes, and peaceful untouched villages with picturesque scenery.Photographing, hiking, and visiting local families are recommended things to do in these ancient villages.

If you are interested in them and plan to have a visit, you can consult us for details for free, and have us tailor-make a tour of China for you to include your favorite China highlights.

1. Tuvas Village in Kanas, Xinjiang

Kanas Tuvas Village is near mysterious Lake Kanas. The small village is located in a valley, and only has about 80 houses. These Swiss-style wooden houses are all surrounded by wooden fences, scattered among pine trees and birch trees.

Tuvas is an ancient minority group. They traditionally lived as hunter-gathers. It is said that the Tuvas people are the descendants of one group of Genghis Khan’s troops. Kumiss, yogurt, milk tea, and butter are special snacks there.

Accommodation: You can choose an inn or a local family for accommodation, but prepare for very basic conditions there.
Activites: You can visit a local family, go herding with the locals and experiencing the peaceful ancient village life.
Autumn: If you visit this ancient village in autumn (August – October), you can see Tuvas Village at its most colorful with red or yellow trees. However, it might snow in October, remember bring with warm clothes.
Transportation: Tuvas Village is about 2.5 kilometers south from Lake Kanas. Lake Kanas is about 902 kilometers from Urumqi (by road), and is about 200 kilometers from the nearest city: Altay City. Lake Kanas Scenic Area is one of the best places for autumn photography in China, bettered only byJiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province. Check out other China destinations with great autumn scenery.

2. Jiaju Tibetan Village, Danba, Sichuan Province

Jiaju Tibetan Village is known as the " Tibetan fairyland". Jiaju Tibetan Village is on a slight hill slope, and consists of about 140 houses. These unique houses are all built with crown-shaped roofs, red eaves, and white walls, which make the houses look like little castles among the forest.

Photography: This Tibetan village is a great destination for photographers, especially in spring (from February to April), when the ancient village is decorated with colorful wild flowers, white pear blossoms, and green grassland.
Transportation: The village is about 8 kilometers from Danba Town, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Kardze is 718 kilometers from Chengdu.

3. Baoshan Stone City, an Naxi Ancient Village Built on a Huge Rock

Baoshao Stone City was built on a huge mushroom-shaped rock, and only has about one hundred houses. The houses are laid out in and orderly way, built on the rock, and linked by stone steps. The locals often chisel the local rock into stone tables, stone benches, stone hearths, and stone water vats.

The Naxi people have cut rice terraces and planted crops (such as rice, wheat, and corn) on the hills around the mushroom rock. The Naxi people there still lead an original life; you can experience the colorful Naxi culture there.

October, when the fields around the ancient village are decorated with green wheat and gold rice, is the best month to visit the stone city.
Trip time: At least 2 days are needed for a visit to the city.
Lodging: There are family hotels in the village.
Transportation: Baoshan Stone City is in the canyon of Jinsha River (金沙江, the upper section of the Yangtze River), and is about 110 kilometers from Lijiang City. Though the bus can take you to the village directly, you may choose to get off at the nearest town, and then walk to the village (about 3 hours is needed) to see the beautiful landscape along the way.

4. Hongcun and Xidi, Two Ancient Villages Near the Yellow Mountains

These two ancient villages have been included in the list of World Cultural Heritage. Both of these villages have a history of more than 900 years. They are renowned for their peaceful rural scenery, well-kept ancient buildings: unique Anhui style dwellings, and profound culture. The mountains, the rivers, and the ancient dwellings, make two highly picturesque landscapes.

Location: Only about 40 kilometers from the Yellow Mountains, you can take a bus from Yellow Mountain Scenic Area to Xidi or Hongcun. The distance between Hongcun and Xidi is about 25 kilometers. You can hire a bike after you arrive at one of them, and then cycle to the other village.

For artists: When visiting these ancient villages, you might want to bring your sketch pad and join the art students and artists, who go out there to capture their beauty on paper.

5. Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village: the Largest Miao Village in China

If you are interested in the Miao Minority, Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village can be a great destination for deepening your understanding of Miao history and culture.

Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village consists of more than ten natural hamlets (including the famous Silversmith Hamlet), which are all built on hills. The Miao people are keen on silver ornaments, and their unique silver ornaments are all made exquisitely.

The Miao Minority has many festivals, and the most famous two are: Miao New Year and Guzang Festival (牯藏节, an ancestor-worship celebration based on Miao culture).

Transportation: Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is about 210 kilometers from Guiyang City (the capital city of Guizhou Province), which is equivalent to a 3.5-hour drive.

6. Wuyuan in Jiangxi: the Most Beautiful Villages in China

Wuyuan is noted for having "the most beautiful villages in China". In fact, Wuyuan is a county, with many ancient Ming and Qing style architectural features, including 113 ancient ancestral halls, 28 ancient mansions, 36 ancient dwellings, and 187 ancient bridges.

Every village in Wuyuan is built with a river in front, and mountains behind. These villages with elegant buildings are all peacefully harmonious with the natural scenery. Hiking in the surrounding countryside is a popular activity there.

Transportation: Wuyuan is only about 90 kilometers from the Yellow Mountains, and buses linking these two attractions are available every day.

7. Ancient Hakka Villages with Unique Earthen Buildings

You might think these large round or square buildings are fortifications, not dwellings. In fact, they arethe Hakka people’s houses: earthen buildings, which are mainly built in flying-saucer-like shapes.

These ancient earthen buildings are mainly located in Fujian Province, especially in Nanjing Prefecture (南靖县) and Yongding Prefecture (永定县). Some of them have hundreds of years of history. If you want to have a visit, two ancient villages are recommended: Hongkeng Village (洪坑村) and Chuxi Village (初溪村) in Yongding Prefecture.

Both of these two villages have a history of hundreds of years, and are built among hills and by rivers. There, you can learn about the construction of earthen buildings, the history of the Hakka, and enjoy the peace brought by the natural scenery.

Transport: Yongding is about 307 kilometers (a 4-hour drive) from Xiamen (check out the transport between Xiamen and Yongding).

China best 10 places

1. The Great Wall

Location: Across North China, near Beijing
Tours: Great Wall Tours

The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest sights in the world. The longest wall in the world, it is an awe-inspiring feat of ancient defensive architecture. Its winding path over rugged country and steep mountains takes in some great scenery. It deserves its place among "the New Seven Wonders of the World" and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China.

2. The Yangtze River

Location: Across South China
Tour: Three Gorges with classic China Tour

The Yangtze is the third longest river in the World, but the longest river within a single country. The Yangtze River has a good case for being the most interesting and popular river in the world. It has thewidest variety of outstanding tourist attractions, scenery and culture along its length, all contained within China, and holds several world records.

3. Terracotta Army

Location: Xi'an, Central China
Tours: Terracotta Warriors Tours

The Terracotta Army has laid underground for more than 2000 years. However, in 1974, farmers digging a well uncovered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. In December 1987, UNESCO enrolled it as a World Cultural Heritage Site. It is significant because the hundreds of detailed lifesize models represent the army that triumphed over all other Chinese armies and who were the decisive factor in forming a united China.

4. The Bund

Location: Shanghai, East China
Tour: Shanghai and Suzhou Memories Tour

The Bund is one of the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai. Looking out on the river, various cargo vessels, speedier tourist ferries and other locally owned boats navigate. Towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower line the river, and the neon lights indicating the offices of top world brands and European architecture surrounding them.

5. Li River

Location: Guilin, Southwest China
Tour: Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Combo Tour

The 83-kilometer-long section between Guilin and Yangshuo is the most beautiful part. The landscape is decorated with startling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves and farming villages, and is lined with bamboo groves. As one of the most popular and picturesque scenic spots in China, the Li River was listed as one of the World’s Top Ten Watery Wonders by America’s National Geographic Magazine. Some world famous figures have visited the Li River, including former US President Bill Clinton, former US President George Bush, and Bill Gates.

6. Victoria Harbor

Location: Hong Kong, South China
Tour: Hong Kong Essence Tour

It is among the world's most beautiful skylines with a backdrop of Victoria Peak. Wonderful and stunning views of the city and harbor area can be had in the observation decks of the tallest buildings and from Victoria Peak. During the day or evening, and perhaps especially during the Symphony of Lights most evenings, the view is beautiful and memorable.

7. The Yellow Mountains

Location: Huangshan, East China
Tours: Huangshan Tours

The Yellow Mountains is one of the most famous and beautiful mountains in China. It was enlisted as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990. Outstanding natural beauty is Huangshan's number one feature. Yellow Mountain’s classic attractions could be counted as five natural wonders in the winter: the imaginatively named pines, oddly-shaped rocks, the sea of clouds, hot springs and winter snowscapes.

8. West Lake

Location: Hangzhou, East China
Tours: Hangzhou Tours

West Lake is man-made and created after the Chinese love for garden style parks for recreation. West Lake is a place of tranquility where urbanity becomes a silhouette on the northeast horizon and mountains near and far surround it on the other three sides. The occasional pagoda and Chinese-style arched bridge add atmosphere to the tree-lined walkways, verdant islands and hills.

9. The Potala Palace

Location: Lhasa, Tibet, Southwest China
Tour: Lhasa Essence Tour

In 1994, the Potala Palace was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. It is a huge treasure house of materials and articles from Tibetan history, religion, culture and art. The palace is widely known for the precious sculptures, murals, scriptures, Buddha statues, murals, antiques, and religious jewelry housed within.

10. Yungang Grottoes

Location: Datong , North China
Tours: Datong Tours

Enrolled as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2001, Yungang Grottoes represent the excellent achievement of Buddhist sculptural art of ancient China, and it is the largest among the four most famous ancient grotto complexes in China. Yungang Grottoes with 252 caves and 51,000 Buddhist statues are the classical masterpieces of of Chinese Buddhist art in the 5th and 6th centuries. The whole grotto complex is magnificent with delicate carvings. All the statues are precious and vivid, representing the development of art, architecture, music and religion at that time

Friday, August 17, 2012

google980cb50fb9a10315.html

google-site-verification: google980cb50fb9a10315.html

Saturday, August 11, 2012

50 Amazing Buildings of the World

1. The Crooked House (Sopot, Poland)

Construction of the building started in in January 2003 and in December 2003 it was finished. House architecture is based on Jan Marcin Szancer (famous Polish drawer and child books illustrator) and Per Dahlberg (Swedish painter living in Sopot) pictures and paintings.

Image via: brocha

2. Forest Spiral – Hundertwasser Building (Darmstadt, Germany)

The Hundertwasser house “Waldspirale” (“Forest Spiral”) was built in Darmstadt between 1998 and 2000. Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the famous Austrian architect and painter, is widely renowned for his revolutionary, colourful architectural designs which incorporate irregular, organic forms, e.g. onion-shaped domes.

The structure with 105 apartments wraps around a landscaped courtyard with a running stream. Up in the turret at the southeast corner, there is a restaurant, including a cocktail bar.

Image via: Kikos Dad

3. The Torre Galatea Figueras (Spain)

Image via: manuelfloresv

4. Ferdinand Cheval Palace a.k.a Ideal Palace (France)

Image via: Mélisande*

5. The Basket Building (Ohio, United States)

The Longaberger Basket Company building in Newark, Ohio might just be a strangest office building in the world. The 180,000-square- foot building, a replica of the company’s famous market basket, cost $30 million and took two years to complete. Many experts tried to persuade Dave Longaberger to alter his plans, but he wanted an exact replica of the real thing.

Image via: addicted Eyes

6. Kansas City Public Library (Missouri, United States)

This project, located in the heart of Kansas City, represents one of the pioneer projects behind the revitalization of downtown.

The people of Kansas City were asked to help pick highly influential books that represent Kansas City. Those titles were included as ‘bookbindings’ in the innovative design of the parking garage exterior, to inspire people to utilize the downtown Central Library.

Image via: jonathan_moreau

7. Wonderworks (Pigeon Forge, TN, United States)

8. Habitat 67 (Montreal, Canada)

Expo 67, one of the world’s largest universal expositions was held in Montreal. Housing was one of the main themes of Expo 67.

The cube is the base, the mean and the finality of Habitat 67. In its material sense, the cube is a symbol of stability. As for its mystic meaning, the cube is symbol of wisdom, truth, moral perfection, at the origin itself of our civilization.

354 cubes of a magnificent grey-beige build up one on the other to form 146 residences nestled between sky and earth, between city and river, between greenery and light.

Image via: ken ratcliff

9. Cubic Houses (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

The original idea of these cubic houses came about in the 1970s. Piet Blom has developed a couple of these cubic houses that were built in Helmond.

The city of Rotterdam asked him to design housing on top of a pedestrian bridge and he decided to use the cubic houses idea. The concept behind these houses is that he tries to create a forest by each cube representing an abstract tree; therefore the whole village becomes a forest.

Image via: vpzone

10. Hang Nga Guesthouse a.k.a Crazy House (Vietnam)

The house is owned by the daughter of the ex-president of Vietnam, who studied architecture in Moscow.

It does not comply with any convention about house building, has unexpected twists and turns, roofs and rooms. It looks like a fairy tale castle, it has enormous “animals” like a giraffe and a spider, no window is rectangular or round, and it can be visited like a museum.