User Comments - bodawei

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

'big dogs'

I couldn't say with certainty, but I like the title 'mountain dog'. Those photos in Wikipedia look like they are going for best in show - I guess those I have seen are possibly mongrels (eg. there are a lot of German Shepherds in China) - although it would be a brave dog to propose to one of the animals I saw. My experience was in N Sichuan, I haven't been to Tibet yet. And I was concentrating mostly on the length of the chain, and the mouth, rather than taking mental pictures of the more holistic dog.

The impact of these dogs is more powerful because my impression of city dogs in China is that they are generally quiet and placid (by comparison to their cousins in Australia). A mystery waiting to be solved.

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

'Chengdu is a great city.' [I omitted the smiley.]

I am wondering these days about what is a great city. The Doo has 2,000 years of history and is emerging as one of the economic powerhouses - one of the dominant cities out west. Many people spend their whole day playing mahjhong, eating, socialising .. watch out when the time comes to get serious. I don't know ... it is a long way from the beach.

I'm going to leave CD before long and come back when the building is finished - then it will be a great city.

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

They look rather like a wolf to me - maybe they are somewhat domesticated, but closer to the dog's ancestors than our own breeds.

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

"the food there is not so good"

This is said by all Chinese about any province other than their home province. But here they might have a case in that it is largely Tibetan food - not to the taste of the Han Chinese. Hmmm - butter tea for breakfast (the first time I had it I thought that they had accidentally given me a cup that had not been washed properly.) I had trouble getting gluten-free food and once had a whole chicken served up to me - just for me. That was all they had (they said) that I could eat.

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

'"American-style" security screeners '

I'm wondering what you mean by this? Do the Americans have a better screener than the rest of the world (suitable for screening people out of Tibet)? Is it obvious that it is American by looking at it? I've been in the Tibet line and it looks to me like any other security measures in China, but that is a superficial look of course.

I guess the Americans are the security kings - just look at their embassies and consulates all over the world!

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

'What we have in common here is that we're both looking for something different'

I can see this .. I might have discouraged a trip to Xin Jiang for the wrong reasons though. It is a very large desert - that is what reminds me of my time living in the Centre - would still be different for most Australians. It also has the hottest region in China right near some snow-capped mountains. There is an Arabic culture there - music, clothing, food, art, religion, language of course - but all Chinese citizens. I'm not sure if you'd call it quintessentially Chinese, if by that you mean Han Chinese culture, but it is still China. The view of many Chinese is that these different cultures are quintessentially Chinese, an essential part of the Chinese nation.

'the dogs'

Tibetans like to keep large fierce dogs, fortunately tied to heavy chains - but I have been scared to death near these things.

Posted on: Excuse Us!

' received the same way ... or even equally expected'

In my experience there are no special expectations in relation to foreigners. (Except some difficulty in communication maybe.)

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

'I'd love to hear your reasons'

新疆 Xin Jiang (covers a lot of territory)

Strangely enough this is one part of China that reminds me of Australia (the centre). I lived in the Alice and loved it - I am invigorated by that clear desert air (as long as it is not 48 degrees), and the expanse that makes you feel so small and insignificant. Also, sights and sounds that are so different to the rest of China.

虎跳峡, 高路 (Yunnan, Tiger Leaping Gorge, high track)

I've been three times so far and plan another trip - again clear air, sheer rocky snow-capped mountains, and the wilderness. I also enjoy the hospitality at the various houses along the way.

九寨沟 (Sichuan, Tibetan semi-autonomous region)

Clear air (is this getting monotonous?) - strange Lord of the Rings scenery with a little imagination, and Tibetan fortress villages (I don't go for their dogs though.)

张家界 (NW Hunan)

The one in this 5 I haven't been to - it has been on the agenda since 2007. Karst upthrusts like Guilin. Has pangolins - sounds exotic and never seen them.

长白山 (NE China, border with N Korea)

An adventure to get there, and then the excitement of being on the N Korean border, and in a crater. Curiosity of Korean culture in this part of China.

A couple of themes in all 5 - minority cultures, and mountain country. (Actually Xin Jiang has everything - desert to mountains.)

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

Hey, John, we agree on three out of five of my 'limited time available' top 5 - BJ, SH and Hangzhou. GMTA.

Posted on: Terracotta Warriors

Ha ha - good on you getting Chengdu in the top five, and Kunming in there at #6 (so misses the cut) - 我肯定当导游，好吧？

I have a problem narrowing it down to five (as you did) but my five let's say recommendations would be:

新疆 Xin Jiang (covers a lot of territory)

虎跳峡, 高路 (Yunnan, Tiger Leaping Gorge, high track)

九寨沟 (Sichuan, Tibetan semi-autonomous region)

张家界 (NW Hunan)

长白山 (NE China, border with N Korea)

My shortlist:

黄山 (Yellow Mountain)

西藏 (Xi Zang)

If you've never been to China and you have limited time I would include Beijing, Guilin, Hong Kong and Zhejiang 西湖 (West Lake) - the fifth place would have to go to 成都 (Sichuan, Chengdu).

I have a 'food' travel guide already prepared for you Baba, hee hee. Oh, Shanghai is included in my travel guide - substitute for Hong Kong if you like.