China Religion Tour Blog

Considering that it was constructed for the purpose of keeping foreigners out of China, it’s ironic that the Great Wall has become China’s number one attraction for visitors from abroad.

If you’ve only done the chairlift at Badaling, however, you can hardly count yourself as a Wall veteran. Indeed, speak to any tourist visiting Beijing, and you may well get the impression that there are only three parts of the Great Wall to be seen in the country. Backpackers are especially quick to make fun of the Badaling and Mutianyu crowd, and speak in hushed tones of the “real” wall at Simatai.

Let’s be honest - all three of these sections are intensely marketed to tourists of varying persuasions - and while all of them are fine parts of the Wall to see, on a monument with sections scattered across the country there is certainly a lot more ground to be covered.

We may no longer be able to follow in the steps of William Lindesay - the Briton who journeyed the entire length of the Wall on foot in 1987 - but there are still numerous locations within reach of Beijing where visitors can enjoy features and designs unique to each particular section.

If you want to be able to stay a step ahead of those backpackers who assume they’ve seen more of China than you have just because they’ve climbed some stairs at Simatai, take a day off to see some of the less-travelled Wall and give yourself something really worth boasting about.

Don’t forget that much of the Great Wall in this part of the country climbs near-vertical mountain faces, so if the only exercise you’ve been doing is thumbing through boxes of DVDs, gird yourself to expend some effort. The Wall sections in most of these locales are rough staircases up mountainsides. The climb, however, is more than worth the effort.

If you’re making a weekend of it, you’ll usually be able to find a local farmer with a room to rent - they’re used to tourists coming knocking. In Xifengkou, however, you’ll need to go back to Qianxi to find a hotel, and in Jiumenkou and Laolongtou, head for the walled city of Shanhaiguan to spend the night.

Each March, the Dai minority, one of China’s 56 ethnic groups, finish their farm work and start preparing for their New Year’s ceremony, the Water-Splashing Festival.According to the Dai calendar, the sixth month, April on solar calendar, is the start of the new year. Water-splashing is an important ceremony to wash off the dirt of the past year and spread blessings for happiness and health in the new one.
This year, the International Water-Splashing Festival will be held by the government of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Region from April 12 to 15. Being splashed and blessed during the festival is an experience like none other.

April 13

Fanggaosheng

Fanggaosheng is an important event for the Dai people when celebrating their New Year. Gaosheng is a kind of firework made from bamboo and powder. The Dai people fill the bottom of the bamboo with powder and other materials and put it on the bamboo Gaosheng shelf. People usually fire Gaosheng at night. If sealed properly, the detonation of the powder will make a huge explosion, launching the bamboo into the sky like a rocket with white smoke before exploding.

The higher the Gaosheng flies, the happier the people feel. People hope the Gaosheng will carry away the diseases and disasters from the earth and bring a good harvest and safety.

Duisha (sand-piling) competition

Duisha is a traditional Dai activity with its roots in a legend about a widow asking for sons by piling sands and shaping them into children. Not long after, the widow gave birth to three sons who were talented and smart. The three boys went on to fight with cruel and filthy people when they grew up.

The Dai people celebrate Duisha wishing for happiness as they pile sands. They regard the competition as a way of communicating with others and strengthening friendships. If you go to see the Dai Water-Splashing Festival, don¡¯t miss the Duisha competition. You can bless your family and friends, and also reeive well-wishes from the Dai people.

April 14

Ganbai

Ganbai is the biggest and busiest event during the Water-Splashing Festival. In cities, towns and villages, there are various size fairs where Dai people go to buy and sell goods.

Each year in the middle of April, you can see Dai people everywhere near the villages and the river banks. Young people gather together, singing, dancing, and selling goods. You can taste traditional Dai food as well, or even sit down watching people firing Gaosheng.

April 15

Water-Splashing ceremony

At the climax of the festival, everyone is dressed in beautiful clothes and prepares for blessing and receiving wishes from others. Don’t be shy - just splash water on everyone no matr whether you know them or not. Don’t worry about your clothes being ruined either, the more wet you are, the more blessing you’ve received from othersToday is the Water-Splashing Festival and the main reason we came to Xishuangbanna. My wife and I got up early in the morning and bought a basin, filling it with water. As soon as we stepped out of the house, someone hit us with a barrel full of water. My wife and I defend ourselves by throwing water back. We were totally soaked even before arriving downtown for the festival.

We lost count of how many people splashed us with water and how many people we splashed. It was the coolest day I ever spent. At the grand plaza, government officials were paraded about on litters. Everyone tossed water at them from their basins. My wife joined in and splashed each official.

yushan blog–I got off the train in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Region, on the day of the Water-Splashing Festival. Coming out of the railway station, I saw crowds of people gathering in front of different hotels and restaurants, splashing water with small bowls and basins. The festival was still nowhere near its climax.

When I arrived at the cultural plaza, I was soaked by water hurled from every direction. I had no idea what had happened.

It was interesting and exciting to run through the street of splashing water. I could see some water splashed through windows; some off the tops of buildings; some tossed by people along the street; some splashed from barrels and basins; some shot by toy squirt guns. Some people were even lining up to splash water. Old and young, adults and children, everyone was happy.

Through out the 1980s, Robin Leach introduced the world to the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” showing us lavish homes and vacation getaways. While you might not be famous, you can live like one of Leach’s subjects during a weekend escape to Hong Kong.

Here’s how:

When spending endless sums on luxury, few places can beat The Peninsula Hong Kong. The suites are superb and the hotel offers almost infinite delights, if you can bear to leave your beautiful bathroom, like playing weekend admirals with the hand-carved wooden telescope keeping watch over the island.

Even the rich get hungry, and when they do The Penunsula knows how to wine and dine. Reserve your place behind the scenes (to be seen) at the Chef’s Tables at Gaddi’s or Spring Moon. These tables are inside the respective Western and Chinese kitchens, giving visitors a first-hand insight into the creation of a memorable meal.

Time your exploration of the hotel’s 80-some luxury boutiques in the three-level shopping arcade around reviving pauses in Hong Kong’s most elegant, historic setting-the hotel’s lobby. This has been a local institution for almost 80 years, where afternoon tea is a must.

From dining to shopping, the hotel forms a self-contained world unto itself, but it would be a pity not to enjoy a few more of Hong Kong’s many enjoyable diversions. Ask the concierge, the suave and all-knowledgeable Paul Quinn, for suggestions as to how to pack the most experience into what will end up feeling like an all-too short stay. And of course, Quinn can arrange your entree into the most exclusive venues around town: concerts, musicals, theaters and art shows are all just a phone call away for Quinn’s guests. One extravagance certainly not to miss are the helicopter flight-seeing tours, surely the most exciting way to get acquainted with Hong Kong if this is your first visit, run by one of The Peninsula’s sister companies.

After just 24 hours in The Peninsula you’ve most likely acquired a taste for the finer things in life, Hong Kong style. When you are ready to venture forth and explore the island, book the hotel’s vintage Rolls Royce, an impeccably maintained 1934 work of art. Getting there is more than half the fun as you glide from one glamorous destination to the next.

TOURISM Sunshine Coast has vowed to continue to fight to protect the diversity of the region in the face of council mergers.
The of TSC discussed the issue of amalgamation in their first scheduled meeting since the merger plan was revealed.

Tourism Sunshine Coast chairman David Aaron said TSC was one of the few regional representative organisations that works collaboratively with the four Councils of Caloundra, Maroochy, Noosa and Cooloola.

“Over the last several years, Tourism Sunshine Coast has received very strong support from all our local government and tourism partners.

“We are committed to continue to work with them to provide destination management and marketing strategies to benefit the entire region” Mr Aaron said.

“The result of our recent board meeting was a unanimous vote that irrespective of the outcome of the Local Government Reform process, Tourism Sunshine Coast will continue to support and promote the diversity of the destination, quality of experience and sustainability for visitors to the Sunshine Coast.”
All four Councils are represented on the TSC board along with members of the Sunshine Coast抯 tourism industry.

Mr Aaron said that TSC抯 focus would remain on destination management and marketing whether the organisation was working with one council or four.

“Whatever the make up of our constituent partners becomes, we are committed to continue to promote the unique qualities of the various tourism precincts and products within the region,” he said.

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