text:
Wutaishan National Park

Mount Wǔtái (五台山 Wǔtái Shān), is one of the four Sacred Buddhist mountains of China, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shanxi Province in China.

Understand
"Wǔtái Shān" means Five Plateau Mountain. It is a popular pilgrimage destination for Buddhists, who regard it as the domain of the Bodhisattva Manjusri - an emanation of wisdom. Plentiful vegetarian food (素－sù). The weather is cool - wear long trousers in the evening in summer. The town of Táihuái at the center of the park offers many accommodation options.

Maybe worth a 3-day visit - 1 day for Táihuái town temples, 1 day for a plateau or five, and one day for some out-of-town temples.

Get in
Wǔtái Shān is in northeastern Shanxi, near the border with Hebei. It is about half way between Taiyuan and Datong, the two largest cities in the province. These two cities have the two nearest airports, and Wǔtái Shān can be reached by bus from each of these cities in 4–5 hours. The occasional train also stops at Shahe Town (labeled as Wǔtái Shān Station), about a one hour taxi or minibus ride from Wǔtái Shān.

Full price entry ticket is ¥168 (it doesn’t say - but students etc get half price, ie ¥84). On top of this you have to pay a compulsory ¥50 ‘green coach’ fee for travel within the park (no discounts). So, full ticket price plus bus ticket is ¥218.

Bus
A bus from Tàiyuán East Bus Station to Táihuái Village (in the centre of Wǔtái Shān) costs ¥78 and takes 5 hours.

From Dàtóng, 2 buses per day in summer leave at 08:30 and 14:10 from Dàtóng South Bus Station (新南站 Xīnnánzhàn) for Táihuái in the centre of Wǔtái Shān. ¥75. 4 hours.

By plane

 * Taiyuan is the nearest airport, which operates flights to/from Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.

By train

 * The train station called is not in Wǔtái Shān, but in Shahe, about 50 km (an hour) away from Wǔtái Shān.  The train stations that service this route are small and obtaining tickets may be difficult.  Major train stations in the vicinity of Wǔtái Shān are Taiyuan and Datong; buses and taxis run from either city.  Access to Wǔtái Shān is easiest from Xinzhou, the closest city of intermediate size.

Get around

 * Green coach/bus. The ¥50 ticket for this is compulsory and supplied on arrival with the general entrance ticket.  On the ticket it says it is valid for 3 days, which seems very short if like most people you arrive in Táihuái in the evening after 6pm, some sources say it is valid for the duration of your stay - others add that they never saw anyone’s ticket being checked on the buses - everyone is assumed to have one.  The green coach-bus runs every 5 minutes or so through town and some way out until about 18:30-19:00.  For some of the further out points (eg Báiyún Temple in the south) you have to change on to smaller, brownish mini-buses.
 * Minibuses to the Five Plateaus (五台顶 Wǔtáidǐng) start at 7:00AM from the foot of Dàiluó Peak in the centre of Táihuái Village. About ¥70 for one plateau, or ¥350 for an 8½-hour trip to see all five with a 30 minute stop at each. See details below.

See
Although most monasteries are free, larger ones charge up to ¥10 entrance, some of these offer half-price student discount.

Temple etiquette When stepping over the plank of wood at the foot of each door it is best to enter and exit on the right, and use your right foot first. “游客止步”and”闲人免进” both mean “no entry to tourists”. “禁止拍照” and "请勿拍摄“ mean “no photos”. For religious sites without such signs, it is strongly recommended to obtain consent from resident monks or managerial staff before you shoot, to avoid possible offence.

Beware of monks at shops offering to tell your fortune. Beware of monks at a small temple below Zhenhai Temple.

Eat
Various small restaurants. ¥10 for buffet breakfast at small restaurant is a common offer. On the street, yóutiáo at ¥2, and dòuhuā ¥3 are cheaper breakfast options. For lunch, noodles (刀削面 dāoxiāomiàn) a Shanxi specialty for ¥10 per person including sauce. Also fried noodles, soup noodles etc. for around ¥10 per serving. More regular rice dishes for ¥15-20 per person up. 台蘑 táimó (a mushroom) is the local delicacy. In practice this term seems to be applied to various different mushrooms. Comments vary from: “It’s just a mushroom with little real nutritional value” to “There is one type that is much tastier - but even locals pay ¥800 a kilo - or tourists pay 288 in restaurants for a small portion. This type really is much tastier - buying it is a way of offering a gift to your friends.” Try it in stews, or made into a sauce with 刀削面 (cheapest option - ¥10 - this won’t be the tastiest type). More typically ¥40+ for tourists with chicken/tofu, etc. (2011).

In theory, there is free food at monasteries (but you would leave a donation?). Rules such as separate areas for men and women, standing until the master has sat, not allowed to waste food, no talking (you indicate with chopsticks how much you want, and how dense congee you want).

Sleep
Lodging is concentrated in Táihuái Village in the centre of Wǔtái Shān.

Many rooms usually available, however rooms are scarcer on (Friday and) Saturday nights, and prices also rise at full and new moon, but otherwise there is an oversupply in the market and prices drop sharply.

Budget
There are temples offering guestrooms at ¥20 per person upwards, (Xiǎntōng Temple Tǎyuàn Temple and Kuangren Temple), but temples in the central area may refuse lodgings to foreigners (being fluent in Chinese does not seem to help, though being a devout Buddhist might).

At the bus station 招待所 zhāodàisuǒ there was a room for ¥50 ensuite, western toilet, kettle, TV with 24-hr hot water (but hard beds, no soap or towels) on a Sunday night in August 2011 (not full/new moon). The bus station is in the south of the village.

Mid-range
Most traveller's lodges range from ¥50 to ¥100 for a room for 2 persons.

20 mins walk north of bus station on the right of the river (or 2 bus stops) Jīnshān hotel (金山宾馆) with solar hot water looked good (near Miào Jí Xiáng 妙吉祥 health vegetarian restaurant bus stop and ABC Yinxin hotel) as did the nearby Cíyuán Inn 慈缘客栈 kèzhàn (modern rooms) which is slightly further down on Míngqīng street 明清街 (that runs parallel to the river) － both ¥100 for much nicer rooms. Around here there are various 宾馆 with more comfortable rooms at ¥80-100 during the week. Never believe rack rates - For example, after explaining the rack rates (eg ¥288) you ask if they can offer a deal, see the room, they will pull out a calculator and offer much cheaper (e.g. ¥100), then when you walk away to explore other options saying you might be back, it will drop to ¥80. Maybe on a Saturday full-moon night you will hardly get any discount, however. Further north still are cheaper options if you are willing to live with some lively Chinese tourists.

Go next
Last bus leaves from Táihuái Village for Tàiyuán at 1530hrs.

title: Wutaishan National Park


text:
Wuwei

Wuwei (武威; Wǔwēi) is a city in Gansu Province.

Understand
Gansu's most celebrated relic, the Flying Horse, was found in Wuwei on the grounds of Leitai Temple. The original relic is in the Gansu Provincial Museum in Lanzhou.

By plane
Wuwei does not have a commercial airport. The nearest airport with regular scheduled flights is the one in Jinchang, which is about an hour’s drive from Wuwei.

If you arrive at Lanzhou’s Zhongchuan International Airport, you can take a bus direct from there to Wuwei. The journey time is about 3 to 3½ hours.

By train
There are two main railway stations in Wuwei:

Go next

 * Minqin - oasis town three hours by bus where fortified mansions of local warlords who were charged with protecting the Great Wall of China still exist.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Wuwei


text:
Wuxi

Wuxi (无锡; Vu-sik in Wu, Wúxī in Mandarin) is an industrial city roughly halfway between Shanghai and Nanjing. With rich natural and cultural heritage, Wuxi is one of the top ten tourist cities in China. The typical features of the area is that of the regions of rivers and lakes. Wuxi occupies the most scenic part of Lake Tai and enjoys the beautiful scenery.

Understand
Wuxi has a history of over 3,000 years; its establishment can be traced back to the end of the Shang Dynasty.

There are hills, rivers and lakes in this area but most of it is flat and crisscrossed with canals and small rivers. It is a fertile area, the “land teeming with fish and rice”.

Wuxi is well-developed economically and has good transport connections. It covers an area of 4650 km². The city has a population of 7.5 million in 2020. Wuxi is bordered by water, with Lake Tai to the south and the Yangtse River to the north.

The cities of Jiangyin and Yixing are administered as part of Wuxi.

Climate
The climate is moist and temperate, sub-tropical with distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is 15.5 ℃ There are 250 frostless days and the average rainfall is about 1,000 mm.

Get in
Suzhou is nearby, under half an hour by bus or car.

By plane
In Shanghai you can take the G-Train to Wuxi. The journey will be about 50 minutes and it costs ¥60 (Oct 2022).

Otherwise you can take the normal D-Train which takes about 60 minutes and cost ¥47 (Oct 2022).

If you get off from Nanjing Lukou Airport, you can take intercity bus or taxi.

By train

The Beijing-Shanghai railway, Shanghai-Nanjing high-speed railway passes through the center of the city, while the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway passes through the city on its east.

By road
Nine highways join Wuxi with important cities like Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou. The Shanghai-Nanjing expressway passes through the city. It takes about 3 hours by car to get from Wuxi to Shanghai's Pudong Airport.

By boat
There are also water routes to various places in the country via the Yangtze River, the Grand Canal and Lake Tai.

Talk
The local language is Wu Chinese, often known as Shanghainese (although the Wuxi dialect differs significantly from that of Shanghai). It is not mutually intelligible with Mandarin, though as Mandarin is the official language and medium of education in China, almost all locals will be bilingual in the local dialect and Mandarin.

As with virtually elsewhere in China, English is not widely spoken, though staff at expensive hotels will usually be able to speak basic English.

See

 * Xihui Park and Old Town (锡惠公园) — An old town pedestrian street with many souvenir and snack shops. Free but the individual residences cost extra (maybe ¥10 each). The main ticket is for several gardens and temples clustered together including the Garden of Ecstasy (Ji Chang Yuan) one of the leading gardens in SE China and Emperor Qianlong, who made seven visits, had a copy made of the garden at the Summer Palace in Beijing. The entrance ticket is also for the nearby park which is rather large if you spend the time to travel around the hill. You can pay extra for the cable car (might also be available as part of combined ticket) to get to the pagoda on the top of the hill. Xihui Park holds the Wuxi Flower - Rhododendron Festival exhibition from April to June every year. The opening ceremony of Wuxi Flower - Rhododendron Festival was held in Jiulongbi Square.
 * Lingshan (灵山) — The main attraction is Grand Buddha, one of China's largest Buddha statues at over 80 m tall. The whole Lingshan area is a tourist attraction built only in 2008 so there is no history to find here, with a musical fountain which plays out the story of the birth of the Buddha, as well as the Brahma palace (梵宫), a very grand palace with the pillars made of sandalwood, built to host the 2009 Buddhist conference. Entrance is ¥210 for a standard ticket excluding the electric buses. There is a show in one of the temples and you should get a free ticket when you buy the park fee (maybe not in peak season). It is only 20 minutes long and partly video thus not worth spending extra cash on if you did not get the ticket with your entrance ticket.
 * Lake Tai (太湖) — A very large lake with many scenic spots, famous for its fish and freshwater pearls. Nothing in particular to visit but Lingshan.
 * The Grand Canal is 1800 km long and travels from Beijing to Hangzhou. It is not really for sightseeing but it is there.
 * Yuantouzhu (鼋头渚) — It is a peninsula on the northwest coast of Taihu Lake. Because the boulder is surrounded by water on three sides, it is named "Yuantouzhu". Using the real mountains and waters, the garden is built to be three-pointed and seven-percent natural, making it the most ideal tourist attraction for viewing Taihu Lake.
 * Yuantouzhu (鼋头渚) — It is a peninsula on the northwest coast of Taihu Lake. Because the boulder is surrounded by water on three sides, it is named "Yuantouzhu". Using the real mountains and waters, the garden is built to be three-pointed and seven-percent natural, making it the most ideal tourist attraction for viewing Taihu Lake.

Do

 * Three Kingdoms City Water Margin Scenic Spot (三国城水浒城景区) It is a large-scale film and television shooting and tourism base, attracting a large number of tourists with its unique natural scenery, large-scale human landscape and complete film and television service functions. The ticket price is ¥90 for the Three Kingdoms City, ¥85 for the Water Margin City, and ¥150 for the Three Kingdoms City Water Margin combined ticket.

Buy
Wuxi is a city with a lot of shopping areas; It has a wide range of brands is available.

Eat
Traditional Wuxi food is very sweet and savoury. Local specialties include Wuxi-style xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) (小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo) which is sweeter than Shanghainese style, as well as Wuxi-style pork wonton (馄饨 húntūn). Wuxi-style braised spare rib (酱排骨 jiàng pái gǔ) is known throughout China; the pork ribs are braised in red sauce with star anise until they fall off the bones.

In some alleys there are different kinds of foods on a stick, it is very popular with the locals.

There is also a wide selection of western food.

Budget

 * Saizeriya, a Japanese chain of Italian restaurants where a decently-sized plate of pasta can be had for less than ¥20 and all-you-can-drink soft drinks available for an additional ¥7. Many kinds of pizza, pasta, soups, roasted chicken, lamb, fish, salads, seafood, seaweed, etc. Menus are available in English. Find it in two locations: Zhongshan Road No.328 in T12 Shopping Center and Guangrui Road No.399 in Lifespace.

Drink
There are numerous watering holes around Wuxi. While there are more expats to be found in some of them, you can expect a mix of locals in any pub or nightclub in Wuxi.

Sleep
Wuxi is home to a variety of accommodation catering to both foreign and local guests.

title: Wuxi


text:
Wuyuan

Wuyuan  (婺源; Wùyuán) is a city in Jiangxi Province. It is the central transportation hub to the many beautiful villages in the region.

By train
Wuyuan has a high-speed railway station where you can get trains between Wuyuan and many cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Xiameng, Hefei, Huangshang and Nanchang etc.

By bus
The nearest city is Jingdezhen, where there are regular buses from the Licun Bus Station to Wuyuan North Bus Station (2 hours). There are also buses from Nanchang, Huangshan, Hangzhou, Quanzhou, Shanghai, and various large cities in the general region. You may get dropped off at Wuyuan's new bus station which is bigger and caters for long-distance buses, but you must get to the old north bus station (taxi roughly ¥10 or try a local bus) for buses to some of the villages (especially the eastern villages).

If you come from Shangrao (Jiangxi) there are buses from the bus station that will take you to Wuyuan west bus station (3½ hr, ¥54). But now the most convenient way is by train which will take only 25 min and cost ¥40.

You can also reach Wu Yuan from San Qing Shan (from Shangrao) using local transportation and guides. These methods of travel might be more expensive but the thrifty traveler can also hitch a ride on buses that pass through places like Gin Shan (a small resort town just below San Qing Shan). A good understanding of the Chinese language is necessary or knowledge of Jiangxi culture if you don't want to get ripped off.

There are regular buses from the New Bus Station to Jingdezhen nearly every 45 minutes. There are also buses to Shangrao for good rail links, every hour at least (3½ hr, ¥54).

There are two daily buses to Shanghai, at 9:30AM and 6:45PM, they take approximately seven hours and cost ¥180. There is a 9:20AM bus to Hangzhou, it takes approximately 5 hours and costs ¥103. There are also buses to Nanchang, Huangshan, and other cities in the region.

Do not let your taxi or motorcycle driver help you with accommodation (or follow you after the ride) in the villages, or else the hotel will offer you a higher charge in order to give the driver a commission.

Get around
Public transportation is basic around Wuyuan region. Hub for most services is Wuyuan. The only local bus service we know about goes from Wuyuan New North Station (main for long-distance between cities) to Qinghua Village (¥6, 30 minutes). You can take public bus at ¥1 from New North Station to Old North Station where you transfer for short-distance bus between villages on the eastern line such as Small Likeng (¥5-15, 15 minutes), Wangkou, Jiangwan and Xiaoqi. There are other buses from Wuyuan to western villages: Sixi/Yancun, Qinghua, and from there onwards to Dazhang Shan mountain. They can take a long time though, so a driver to take you to a few places is way more efficient.

There are swarms of motorcycle taxis throughout the area, it is also possible to rent them for the day. They should typically charge ¥1 per 2 minutes of travel, make sure of the price before the ride. A trip by motorcycle from Wuyuan to Small Likeng should cost about ¥10. There are also a few taxis that cost four or five times as much as a motorcycle.

Guesthouses (e.g. Linda at Brook Hotel, Little Likeng) can help organise a driver (¥200-250 per minivan per day) to several of the sites. Especially if going further afield, this is the best option. But be aware the driver will expect you to pay for his lunch.

If you would like you can also travel from the San Qing Shan area to Wu Yuan. It takes about an hour or so. For example: you can have a driver drive you from Gin Shan (a small town located at one of the main cable car entrances to San Qing Shan) to Wu Yuan and back for ¥150 a person, if 3 or more people. They will take you from Gin Shan, drive you around the Wu Yuan tourists sites and drive you back to Gin Shan the same day. A hotel in Gin Shan can run you somewhere between ¥50-80. (You still have to pay for the entrance ticket into the tourists sites, but the price is not bad if you like the freedom to stop anywhere and escape from tour buses).

See
One important note before you begin: This area is one of "industrial tourism". Do not go here expecting pristine village life; it is an area well known among the Chinese, and they flock in tour groups. That said, there are still more "authentic" places to find, but probably not like you're imagining.

There are many small villages and temples throughout the region, and a number of scenic spots where it is rewarding just to stop and look around. The countryside is renowned throughout China, and if you have ever wanted to try your hand (and feet) out in a rice paddy, this is a place where you can wander up to a friendly farmer and ask to lend a hand. The people are genuinely warm, friendly, and unimposing everywhere. Even the hawkers seem not particularly bothered whether you buy or not.

Many of the villages charge an admission, with a large majority being operated by one company. ¥60 will grant only one entrance, ¥210 (5-day pass) grants entry to all the scenic spots (including Dazhang shan), except Big Likeng. Students can get half- price for the ¥210 ticket after showing identity. Almost all Chinese tour groups have left the villages by 6PM, and life begins to wind down. Dinner (and therefore food options) is eaten around 6-7PM. It can get difficult to find food (or spots in restaurants) as it gets later in the day. Life, and light (bring a torch) in the villages stops by 10PM.

 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
 * Wunvzhou Resort (婺女洲). Wunuzhou is a comprehensive Chinese Huizhou cultural tourism and vacation destination, with the core of the legend of Wunufei and the characteristics of the new Huizhou architectural style. It integrates six major business formats: live performances, parent-child play, cultural attractions, hotel exhibitions, food and beverage, and leisure shopping. It officially opened for business on July 17, 2022. The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.

Do
The rivers in the area have rafts that can be hired. There is also a very miniature version of this in the streams of Small Likeng.

Talk
Very little English is spoken, although most of the touristed villages will have signs in English, Japanese, and Korean, as well as Chinese. If you are not Asian, expect have people constantly yell "hello" at you and stare.

Eat
Wuyuan city does not have good restaurants. It is best to eat inside the villages. Brook Hotel, in Small Likeng, has nice food and an English menu (the only place in the whole of Wuyuan). Good food is also available at the Guangming Teahouse in Little Likeng, which has a nice location with a view down the river (walk up the canals to the "top"). In other villages, food can be available if you ask.

Drink
There are many teahouses dotted throughout the villages. Beer and rice wine can be bought at these or the few restaurants/guesthouse kitchens. There are no bars/cafes in the villages. And partying is definitely not an option as everything shuts down by 10PM.

Sleep
Wuyuan has a number of hotels near the Wuyuan bus stations (but Wuyuan is uninspiring, get out to the villages asap). Any of the villages have simple and cheap accommodation easily available. There are many signs, generally with English. Small Likeng's teahouses do not have signs out, but have private rooms that can be rented. Off-season prices are in the range of ¥100-120.

You can also check C-trip.com, but note that the pictures and facilities are not actually as advertised.

AD: There is an accommodation in Small Likeng, Brook Hotel (傍溪居; Bang Xi Ju), the only one in Wuyuan you can also book online from Hostelworld or Hostelbookers, telephone 13879349519. A good place to stay and eat in Small Likeng. Friendly family, good rooms (roughly ¥120) with a patio area on the top floor. Hot showers, double with private bathroom and air conditioner, free Internet access. Clean and good value. Food is also available at a couple other places in the village, but restaurants will close by 8PM. Try the local fish, red carp, very delicious in this hotel. Food is reasonably priced. What is more, the son of the owner can speak good English and is very hospitable. By the way, they can get you a discount for the ¥210 ticket at ¥180 through travel agency if you contact them in advance.

Go next

 * Huangshan
 * Jingdezhen
 * Fuliang County

title: Wuyuan


text:
Wuzhishan

Wuzhishan (五指山; Wǔzhǐshān; formerly known as Tongzha or Tongshen) is a city in Hainan's central highlands. It is a scenic town with very few tourists, lively markets and exceedingly cheap food.

Get in

Take the bus from Sanya or Haikou or indeed almost any other city on the island (except Dongfang). Buses from Sanya leave from the main bus station (三亚车站) approximately every 30 minutes to 1 hour and cost ¥25 to ¥35 (2021), taking 2 hours to arrive at Wuzhishan. The first bus leaves at 06:30 and the last bus back to Sanya departs Wuzhishan at 18:30. You can buy tickets on the Hainan Bus Company website (Chinese only).

Get around
A public bus service operates within the main urban area. The fare on most routes is ¥1. Bus nos. 5 and 6, however, charge a variable rate that depends on distance.

Motorcycle taxis are also available but have become much less common than they used to be. If you can find one, they will take you most places in the city for about ¥2. Auto taxis hang about by the bus station, and most don't have meters. They seem to charge about ¥10 or less for a trip within the city.

Towns outside the main urban area such as Maoyang and Shuiman are accessible by long-distance bus from the bus stop outside Wuzhishan Bus Station. Buses heading to Maoyang depart from the same side of the road as the bus station. If you're going to Shuiman, you will need to cross the road to get a bus.

See
Just walk around the town and its surroundings. The scenery is beautiful, and the town has an interesting market section, though it does resemble market sections in a lot of other small Chinese towns. Walking or motorbiking on the road past the Wuzhishan Shanguan (see below) takes you quickly into quite rustic quarters. You can then deviate off the road onto one of the small footpaths that leads out into the jungle. Try to get back to the main road before dark, as it can be easy to get lost on these paths.

Eat
Wuzhishan abounds with ridiculously cheap noodle and dumpling shops. Even the "upscale" dining at the hotels is quite inexpensive.

Sleep

There are also hotels in Shuiman, some within walking distance of the bus station.

Go next
The Wuzhishan Bus Station has more or less hourly buses to Haikou, and Sanya until about 18:30. There are also buses to other places on the island. The nearest destination is Baoting.

title: Wuzhishan


text:
Wuzhou

Wuzhou (梧州; Wúzhōu) is a small city in Central Guangxi at the conjunction of Li River and Xijiang River.

By plane
Wuzhou's new airport is Wuzhou Xijiang Airport.

Buses to Wuzhou are available from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The fare is ¥130 and the journey time is about 210 minutes.

Expressways
Nanwu Expressway

Highways
China National Highway 207 China National Highway 321

Zhu Hill
Zhu Hill Park (珠山公园 Zhūshān Gōngyuán), also known as the Zhu Hill (or Zhushan) Scenic Area (珠山景区 Zhūshān Jǐngqū), lies in the central part of the city, on the west bank of the Gui River. The Wuzhou Museum is there, along with several notable historic sites. Visitors to the park have a choice of either walking up the hill or taking the elevator on Daxue Road (大学路). The eastern part of the park is officially known as Hebin Park (河滨公园 Hébīn Gōngyuán).

Eat
It is famous for Beggar's Chicken (Wuzhou Jiaohuaji), a stuffed and roasted bird with soy and ginger. Various versions of the recipe are found all over Eastern China.

Go next

 * Mengshan

title: Wuzhou


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Wyckoff

Wyckoff is a township in Northwest Bergen County in the state of New Jersey, 27 miles from New York City. It has a population of approximately 17,000 (2019).

Understand
Though there is no solid historical evidence for any of the various theories, the most commonly given origin for the name Wyckoff, which was the origin accepted by the township committee when the municipality was established, is that the name is from the Lenape word wickoff, meaning "high ground", or that it is from wickok, meaning "water". However, similarly named Wyckoff Heights in New York City is named after the Wyckoff family, who settled in the New York/New Jersey area when both states were part of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands. Other sources ascribe the name to Wicaugh in Malpas, England.

By plane
Wyckoff is close to four airports including; Newark International Airport, Teterboro, JFK and LaGuardia.

By train
There are no operating stops in Wyckoff but there are stops nearby in Ramsey, Ridgewood and Allendale.

By bus
Aside from Coach Express busses travelling to Manhattan, there are numerous NJ Transit bus stops all travelling through out the county, state and to New York as well. Both local and express busses run on these schedules and routes.

By car
The Garden State Parkway via Exit 160

George Washington Bridge (12 miles) via Rt 4 to Rt. 208

Rt. 287 exit 59/Franklin Lakes-208 South

Get around
There is no public transportation around Wyckoff but everything is with in a ten-minute drive and all shopping centers offer a great deal of parking for customers. Taxi and car services are available though if needed for travel purposes.

See

 * Environmental Center
 * Gardens of Wyckoff
 * Zabriskie Pond Park
 * Larkin House Park
 * Wyckoff Community Park

Do

 * Wyckoff YMCA, Parisis Speed School
 * The 208 Russell Ave. exit in Wyckoff was the former ‘home’ to the Midnight Walker, a weird New Jersey legend.
 * The Ramapo Reservation is Bergen County’s largest park area offering numerous hiking trails and is only a 15-minute drive from Wyckoff to its Ramapo Valley Road (Route 202) location.
 * Get your nails done in town at one of the many nail salons or take the quick trip down 208 to the 16 theater cinemas at the Garden State Plaza.
 * Darlington County Park: Darlington Avenue, Mahwah. 2 swimming lakes with sandy beaches, changing rooms, snack bar, picnic areas, sand volley ball courts, fishing lake, tennis, handball and basketball courts.

Buy
Wyckoff Shopping Center
 * Boulder Run: Kid’s Stuff, Marshall’s, Super Stop and Shop
 * Cedar Hill: Drugfair, Center Stage Dance Supplies
 * There are other major shopping centers in most towns in the Northern part of Bergen County all less than twenty-five minutes by car including shops in Ho-Hokus, Ridgewood, Ramsey, Waldwick and Midland Park as well as the Garden State Plaza, Paramus Fashion Center and Bergen Town Center.

Eat
Chains in the area include Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robins, Starbucks Coffee, McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Luciano’s Pizza, Giovanni’s Pizzeria, Wyckoff Deli, 3-Chicka’s Mexican Restaurant, Sakura.

Go next

 * Ridgewood. 10 minutes away. It has numerous bars and a few spots known for their nightlife.
 * Ramsey. 10 minutes in the opposite direction for great happy hour spots.

title: Wyckoff


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Wycliffe Well

Wycliffe Well is a tiny settlement in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory in Australia. It is usually visited as a stop-over on the road between Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

Understand
Although Wycliffe Well only has a few permanent inhabitants, many travellers can't miss it while driving on the Stuart Highway from or to the Red Centre. In Australia, a small settlement like this is known as a roadhouse, a service stop for petrol, food and accommodation for long drives through the Outback.

But Wycliffe Well is not just another roadhouse — it is the self-proclaimed UFO Capital of Australia. According to its own brochure, "UFO sightings are so common, that if you stayed up all night looking, you would be considered unlucky not to see anything, rather than lucky to see something". It's unbelievably cheesy, but the local restaurant is filled with newspaper clippings and images to persuade sceptical visitors. For its remote location, it is remarkable that it also boasts one of the largest selections of beer in the Northern Territory.

Climate
The summers in Wycliffe Well are known for their intense heat. Expect temperatures to be around 35°C at daytime and around 21°C at night time. Fortunately all the rooms have air-conditioning! The winters are easier to comprehend with daytime temperatures around 20°C, but it doesn't cool down much at night with temperatures hovering around 15°C.

By car
There are two ways to get in: either from the north or from the south on the Stuart Highway. From the north you will come from Tennant Creek, while from the south you will come from Alice Springs in the Red Centre.

By bus
Greyhound Australia, (Australian phones only) offers bus services between Wycliffe Well and other places in Australia. Every day the bus from Alice Springs leaves at 7:30PM to arrive about 5 hours later at Wycliffe Well. From Darwin, the coach leaves exactly at noon, passes Katherine at 5:25PM and arrives at Wycliffe Well around 4:45AM.

Get around
Walk. The roadhouse area is so small, distances can easily be bridged on foot.

See

As many previous sightings have 'proved', this is your best bet in Australia to see UFOs. In fact, according to The Sun Herald, it is ranked fifth for top reported UFO activity in the whole world. It all started during World War II, when servicemen who stayed at Wycliffe Well kept records in an old bindered book of nightly-seen unidentified objects. This book used to be on the front counter of the local restaurant for everyone to see, but was stolen. Since then a new book is kept which includes possible sightings from the early 1990s. It's quite fun to browse through the logs filled with details of claimed sightings.

If you get tired of all the alien encounters, you might want to appreciate the stunning sunrises and sunsets. The sky of the Northern Territory is known the world over, and Wycliffe Well proves no exception. Get up early or stay up late and you'll be able to make beautiful pictures of the sun. Owing to the small amount of lighting at night time, you can see an amazing number of stars in the sky (but the front lights of the occasional road train might ruin your view).

Another sight is the Wycliffe Well Railway. This sugar cane train originally from the state of Victoria has been relocated to Wycliffe Well in 1998.

Buy
There's not much for sale in Wycliffe Well beyond walls of UFO-related souvenirs — this settlement basically exists for buying basic amenities. So fill up your car with petrol, water, food and drinks, because you still have a long way to go through the Outback.

Drink
Wycliffe Well's local restaurant boasts some of the largest selections of beer in the Northern Territory — about 300 different labels when fully stocked. Just try some brands you've never had before and have a chat with the locals. The nightlife usually consists of a free country and western sing-along, so you better prepare your singing skills while driving down here...

Sleep
There is only one accommodation in the settlement:

Connect
The settlement is completely covered by Wi-Fi access.

Go next
There are only two ways out: either north or south on the Stuart Highway:
 * Alice Springs — surrounded with natural beauty, south
 * Davenport Range National Park — 4WD required to explore this national park, only north
 * Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve — most important sight of the Barkly region, only north
 * Tennant Creek — some nice Outback pubs, north

title: Wycliffe Well


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Wyndham (Western Australia)

Wyndham is a town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The Kimberley's oldest town has had a turbulent history of boom and bust that, along with the striking surrounding landscape, has shaped it into a destination more interesting than many think. Though it's in Western Australia, the town is over 3,000 km northeast from the state capital, Perth.

Understand
Wyndham sits on the Cambridge Gulf near the confluence of five rivers; the Durack, Pentecost, King, Forrest and Ord Rivers. Spreading itself around the base of the Erskine Range (known to locals as The Bastian) on the edge of an expansive mud flat, the town is split into two main areas, the historical portside township and the residential Three Mile. Excepting the grandiose landscape, its attractions are decidedly low key, but anyone with an interest in history will find many relics connecting with West Australia's pioneering past.

The nearby East Kimberley Coast is one of the most remote and least discovered areas of the Australian coastline. Beautiful white sandy beaches, magnificent river gorges with cascading waterfalls and creek systems which are ideal for barramundi fishing. There are saltwater crocodiles in the Kimberley region. Always observe crocodile warning signs.

History
The town was established in 1885 as a major port for the East Kimberley to support gold mining at Halls Creek. Wyndham quickly boomed as ships brought in waves of miners heading off to the Halls Creek goldfields to seek their fortunes.

By 1888 the gold at Halls Creek dwindled and with it, the fortunes of Wyndham. The town became a minor service centre for the growing pastoral industry around the Ord river. By 1912 Wyndham's economy was virtually non-existent.

In 1913 the government began building the Wyndham Meatworks to restart the town's economy. World War I disrupted construction and it was finally completed in 1919. The meatworks was the lifeblood of the town's economy until its closure in 1985. With it many businesses departed to nearby Kununurra.

The sinking of the Koolama
In 1945, near the end of World War II, the port became the site for one of WA's most curious naval incidents. The MV Koolama, a one time cruise ship requisitioned to transport soldiers into Indonesia and East Timor for the battle against the Japanese, was struck by Japanese bomber planes as it sailed from Broome toward Wyndham. Mangled by three bombs, it was beached off a remote part of coast, far from any town, where some of the ships 160 passengers and crew bailed into lifeboats and headed to a sheltered cove onshore to make camp. After a few days under the roasting Kimberley sun, and with little food or prospect of imminent rescue, the group fractured into two camps and quickly flared into conflict. One group set off with a party of Aboriginals sent from Kalumburu Mission and trekked over 150 km to the Drysdale River Mission, while a small crew loyal to the captain stayed back to repair the ship. Diving underwater to plug the gaping cavity while crocodiles lurked nearby they restored it enough to limp 300 km into Wyndham port. Within 24 hours the bombers returned and put in a few finishing blows from which the Koolama lurched on its side and settled into the mud at its present resting place.

From Kununurra
Wyndham is about 100 km from Kununurra by road. The smoothest way is to head west on Victoria Hwy then north on Great Northern Hwy into Wyndham. A bumpier but more scenic way is on the 4WD only Parry Creek Rd, though it may be closed in the wet season if the water level at Ivanhoe Crossing is too high or the road is submerged by flooding.

By bus

 * From Broome. A daily Greyhound bus to Kununurra can let you out at the Great Northern Hwy turn off but you will need to cover the remaining 60km into town on your own.
 * From Kununurra. Same as for from Broome but in the other direction.

By plane
Few planes fly directly to Wyndham. The closest airport is at Kununurra from where you can hire a car and drive.

Get around
The town itself is quite small and easily traversed on foot, as long as the heat doesn't deter you. Some of the outlying sights are on graded unsealed roads that can get quite rough at times. A sturdy 2WD vehicle might make it but a 4WD would be better.

Drink
The pub is hard to miss, it is a bit of a feature of the town. Expect a cold beer and a chat, but not much in the way of nightlife.

Connect
As of March 2024, there is no mobile signal in Wyndham or on its approach highways.

Go next

 * Kununurra - comfortable base from which to explore the many natural attractions and eat a decent meal.

title: Wyndham (Western Australia)


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Wynyard

Wynyard is a rural and fishing town on the North West Coast of Tasmania. It has amazing coastline and views, especially around Table Cape and into Boat Harbour.

By plane
Burnie Airport (BWT) is located in Wynyard, around 2 minutes from the village centre. Rex Airlines flies four times a day in and out of Wynyard. The fares are usually for around $160 per person, each way but can get up to $350 if you get caught out with a full plane. Plane services also operate to and from King Island with Sharp Airlines.

By car
Wynyard is around a 15-minute drive from Burnie and around a 50 minute drive from Smithton. Cars can also be hired from Wynyard Airport.

Get around
Wynyard has one of the four interstate airports for Tasmania. Also at the airport are hire cars and scenic flights.

Metro Tasmania busses and Redline busses operate in and around Wynyard. These busses connect to other towns such as Somerset and Burnie but also larger towns such as Launceston and Hobart (this is on the Redline service). However, like most of Tasmania, travelling by car is the fastest, easiest and most convenient form of transport.

See
There are many amazing places to go that are located within and very close to Wynyard.
 * Table Cape Tulip Farm and Lighthouse: A picturesque drive around Table Cape and up the Tulip Farm and Lighthouse is a great way to spend an afternoon. The Tulip Farm is best in early spring, around the time of the tulip festival, when the flowers are on full bloom. The lighthouse tour is also informative and gives stunning views of the ocean and surrounding coastline.
 * Fossil Bluff: A pretty beach within Wynyard. Is has stunning geological formations of layered sedimentary rocks and fossils. There is also a lookout that provides stunning views from a small, yet uphill walk.

Do
Goldie Street is the main street of Wynyard. It has most of the shops and services of Wynyard. Banks and a supermarket are located on Goldie Street, as are many small coffee shops and small retails shops. Some of these shops feature local produce and products. Other services such as doctors clinics, schools and churches are located on the adjoining streets.
 * Tulip Festival - A wonderful festival located in Gutteridge Gardens. October each year. Showcases local art, music, food, drink and tulips. Usually amazing (if the weather holds up!). Many shops in town hold a tulip sale to coincide.
 * Wynyard Foreshore Market - 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month. Old fashioned outdoor country market, vintage, handmade, food & drink, beside the beach on Old Bass Highway.
 * Wynyard Christmas Parade - Christmas Eve each year, main street (Goldie St) is closed for the Wynyard town Christmas parade, which is well worth watching.
 * Wynyard Golf Course - Play the nine-hole sea-front golf course, located on a peninsula between the Bass Strait and Inglis river.
 * Wynyard Penguin Tours - Take a twilight penguin tour to see the penguins come ashore to nest. Bookings essential. Run from April to September.

Buy

Eat
There are many good places to eat and have drinks in Wynyard. Most of them are located in Goldie Street. The three pubs offer good food and sometimes have live music. Some other eating options in Wynyard include:

Drink
Wynyard's three main pubs, The Wharf Hotel, The Federal Hotel and Wynyard's Top Pub (referred to by locals as the bottom, the middle and the top pubs) are all located in Goldie Street. The pubs all offer good food and the bottom and middle pubs offer accommodation. Top pub is temporarily closed in 2023.

Connect
Wynyard Library is located on Exhibition Link Road and has free WiFi and computer access. A street little library is located in the plaza next to Noah's Coffee Lounge on Goldie St. Cafe Umami also offers wi-fi to patrons.

Australia Post is located at 33a Goldie St and offers banking services. There is a Telstra phone box (free to use) at 35 Goldie St, next to the park with the cow statues.

Go next

 * Burnie
 * Devonport

title: Wynyard


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Wyoming

Wyoming is a state in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. Known as the "Equality State" or the "Cowboy State", it is the country's least populous state, with the second-lowest population density after Alaska.

Not many people visit Wyoming but know that the state is best known for its great scenery and immense outdoor opportunities – it's sometimes considered to hold the last pristine wilderness in the Lower 48 states. The world-famous Yellowstone National Park is even situated here.

Regions
Wyoming's geography includes wide-open plains, swaths of high desert, and sweeping mountain ranges. To help visitors get oriented and navigate around, the Wyoming Office of Tourism divides the state into five distinct regions:

Cities

 * – The seat of Wyoming politics, Cheyenne is the state capital and host to the annual Frontier Days, one of the largest rodeos in North America.
 * – Full of historic buildings, Buffalo sits at the base of the Big Horn Mountains and is a convenient base for exploring the region.
 * – Wyoming's second largest city, Casper offers the state's largest concentration of museums and art galleries, numerous performing arts groups and easy access to nearby outdoor activities.
 * – Named after Buffalo Bill Cody; Cody is a gateway to Yellowstone National Park to the west and the Bighorn mountains to the east.
 * – Known as the "Home of the Jackalope", Douglas hosts Wyoming's State Fair each August.
 * – A haven for fishing, canoeing and kayaking and a base for exploring Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Also the start point of the John Wesley Powell expedition down the Green River into Colorado.
 * – Surrounded by the Tetons, Jackson is the gateway to Teton National Park and some of the best skiing in North America.
 * – A quaint college town, Laramie is the home of the University of Wyoming and sits at the foot of the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains.
 * – A mix of Old West and Victorian architecture, golf courses and the nearby Cloud Peak Wilderness.

Other destinations

 * — Geologic forces have distorted and bowed once-level layers of rock into 1,000-foot (300-meter) cliffs that loom over the Bighorn Lake.
 * — The Black Hills straddle South Dakota and Wyoming and stand in contrast to the prairies, rolling from 5,000-6,000 feet (1,500–1800 meters) in elevation.
 * — A sacred place for many Native American tribes this natural wonder was also made famous by Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the 500-foot (150-meter) monolith is the core of an ancient volcano.
 * — The canyon surrounding this giant reservoir was named by explorer John Wesley, who upon first looking at the red gorge, believed that it was on fire.
 * — The monument contains 8,198 acres and protects a portion of the largest deposit of freshwater fish fossils in the world.
 * — This jagged range in the Rocky Mountains is a wondrous playground for climbers, hikers, skiers and all outdoor enthusiasts.
 * — The nation's first national park was set aside in 1872 to preserve its geysers, hot springs and thermal areas, as well as the area's incredible wildlife and rugged beauty.

Understand
Wyoming is a great place to discover the American West. With many unspoiled mountain vistas, vast blue skies and the awe-inspiring scenery of the high plains and Rocky Mountains, Wyoming offers much of what travelers to this region seek. Unlike other states in the Rockies, Wyoming's demographic growth has been restricted to a few areas of the state where mineral extraction has expanded in the recent past. While mining and drilling have expanded (and very notably in some regions), Wyoming is still relatively unspoiled compared to other parts of the region.

Wyoming is the least populated U.S. state, with slightly more than half a million residents, the majority of whom cluster into a handful of cities and towns. Of these, Cheyenne and Casper are the largest and are home to more than a quarter of the state's citizens. For visitors, this means that the distance between towns is often vast, requiring more planning and self-sufficiency than travel in more densely populated parts of the country. It also means that travelers will have the chance to experience first hand the feeling of being all alone in vast, wide-open spaces.

The state offers a wealth of outdoor recreation and sightseeing opportunities, including the nation's first national park, mountain ranges, vast forests, crystal-clear rivers and wilderness areas. The state's attractions include archaeological treasures, such as those at Castle Gardens in central Wyoming, as well as ghost towns dating from the early frontier days (Atlantic City) to the 1980s. Native American culture has left a significant mark on the state and region. The Wind River reservation, home to the Arapahoe and Shoshone tribes, offer visitors excellent opportunities to experience contemporary Native American culture and to learn about the past.

Nearly half of the state is designated as public land, so visitors will not lack for opportunities to get out and experience wide open spaces. As visitors might expect, Wyoming's economy is closely tied to these public lands, used for mineral extraction, tourism and ranching, making land-use policy one of the state's most hotly debated issues.

Wyoming observes all the federal holidays, except Columbus Day. However, some cities and towns that have a large population of federal workers or military personnel might observe Columbus Day anyway.

Tourist information

 * Travel Wyoming website

By car
Most visitors will enter and exit the state by car. The majority of these will stick to the Interstate highway system, which is fast and well maintained. I-80 crosses the state east to west in the south; I-25 cuts through north to south on Wyoming's eastern side; and I-90 loops through the northeastern corner.

The most interesting routes through the state are on two-lane federal, state and local highways. Since it's not uncommon to see snow late in to May in much of the state and in higher elevation areas throughout the summer, you should pay special attention to weather when traveling by car. For those unfamiliar with the state (and for those who are), travel is safest when your gas tank is full, you've got detailed maps to find alternate routes and you have stashed some snacks and water in your car.

No matter where you're headed, there's almost always a scenic route. The state offers some spectacular drives on federal and state highways, including 20 byways and backways. See "Byways and Backways" below for more details.

By plane
Getting to and from Wyoming by air can be tricky, expensive or both. Understanding the situation and alternatives can help you get the most out of your visit.

Jackson Hole Airport is the state's busiest and is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Skywest Airlines and United Airlines, which fly to Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Some services are limited to peak seasons. Most travelers who fly into Jackson Hole visit the nearby national parks or ski at nearby resorts. Flying into Jackson and renting a car is an option, albeit expensive, in summer months. In winter, travel outside of the immediate area is regularly disrupted by weather-related closures of the passes to the east and southwest and the seasonal closure of roads through Yellowstone National Park (closed October-May).

Other airports in the state are served by regional carriers. Of these, Casper/Natrona County International Airport is the busiest, with flights to Denver, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas. Sheridan County, Riverton Regional, Rock Springs - Sweetwater County, Worland Municipal, Gillette - Campbell County, Laramie Regional, Yellowstone Regional (Cody) and Cheyenne Regional all provide commuter airline service to Denver and/or Salt Lake City. Service to these cities is on propeller aircraft, or regional jets (to Casper). Airfares tend to be expensive and services for travelers may be limited outside of Casper. Car rental is available at most of these airports but may be geared toward business travelers with expense accounts.

A reasonable alternative to flying into one of Wyoming's airports is to fly to Denver, Salt Lake City or Billings and rent a car to drive to the state. Fares to these cities are typically less expensive and all are well served by car rental agencies and other services for tourists. Salt Lake City is approximately 90 minutes from the Wyoming state line; Billings is 110 miles (180 km) north of Sheridan, Denver is 90 miles (140 km) south of Cheyenne. The drive from Billings to Yellowstone is especially scenic. The drive from Salt Lake City to Evanston crosses some beautiful mountain scenery. The drive from Denver north to Cheyenne is largely unremarkable except for the view of the Rocky Mountains to the west.

By foot
For the dedicated long-distance hiker the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (in short Continental Divide Trail) is a United States National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles (5,000 km) between Mexico and Canada. It follows the Continental Divide of the Americas along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states; Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

By bus

 * Greyhound Lines runs a route from Utah and Colorado into Wyoming, serving Rock Springs, Rawlins, and Laramie
 * Black Hill Stage lines has some routes serving Wyoming from Montana and Colorado, connecting Billings – Casper – Cheyenne – Denver, with additional connections to Pahaska Tepee at the entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
 * Salt Lake Express serves Jackson in western Wyoming

Get around

The distances between towns in Wyoming are great and should not be underestimated. Road travel in Wyoming requires more planning than in more densely populated parts of the country. Inquire locally about driving conditions and travel times, which vary as much by weather and terrain as by road condition. In some parts of the state, four-wheel drive vehicles may be advisable or even required for travel. Car rental agencies are located in Casper, Rock Springs, Cody, Jackson, Cheyenne, Sheridan and Laramie.

State information centers run by Wyoming Travel and Tourism can offer directions, restrooms and other services. Find them in Cheyenne, Sheridan, Beulah (northeast Wyoming) and Laramie.

By car
Wyoming is served by three interstate highways. Interstate 80 runs from east to west along the path of the transcontinental railroad; I-25 runs roughly north-south from the Colorado border south of Cheyenne to just north of Buffalo; and I-90 extends from the South Dakota border west to Sheridan and then north to the border with Montana. These roadways are designed to get you where you're going as quickly as possible, but they do not follow the most scenic routes in the state. Interstate 80, especially, follows a rather bleak path for much of the distance across the state. If you have more time and the weather is good, it's well worth the effort to get off the Interstates and see some of the beautiful scenery along the state's secondary highways.

Visiting the state's national parks by car will mean driving on one or more of the federal and state highways, mostly two-lane roadways that can become clogged with traffic during peak visitor season. These roads follow more interesting terrain, but are slower than the interstates. The highways that run through the Bighorns from Sheridan or Buffalo to Cody are a much more interesting than taking I-90 to Billings or Bozeman (both near entrances to Yellowstone), but they require a bit of preparation and effort. These highways are more subject to weather conditions because they cross mountain passes and because they are secondary highways. If you're unsure of weather conditions, be sure to phone ahead and inquire, even in summer months. Snowstorms can occur in higher elevations through June.

Keep in mind that the distances between towns and cities can be vast and that in some parts of the state, you may travel great distances without seeing another soul. Be prepared: keep you gas tank full and carry water and some basic provisions, especially in winter. If you're unsure of weather or road conditions, consult Wyoming's Department of Transportation by dialing 511 (within the state) or 1-888-996-7623 (1-888-WYO-ROAD) from anywhere in the US. You'll need a map or some knowledge of highway numbers and locations to use this service.

By plane
Air travel between points within Wyoming will likely require a change of plane in Salt Lake City or Denver. Fares are prohibitively expensive for leisure travelers - a two-week advanced purchase airfare from Casper to Jackson Hole cost more just over $1,000.00 as of May 2012, involved an eight hour trip and a change of planes in Salt Lake City. The same trip takes no more than five hours by car in good weather. In practical terms, driving is the only real way to get around the state, with air travel an alternative only when weather won't allow travel by car.

By bus
Information on transit can be found from APTA.

National Parks & Monuments
Located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are places everyone should see at least once in their lifetimes.

Guides and outfitters in nearby towns, such as Jackson and Cody, can help visitors explore the parks' mountains, lakes, waterfalls, forests, wildlife and geysers.

Yellowstone National Park
Since its designation as a national park in 1872, visiting has been an iconic American adventure. Yellowstone's more than 2 million acres boast the most and widest array of geothermal features anywhere in the world. Visitors flock to its geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots, and its legendary wildlife includes grizzly and black bears, gray wolves, buffalo, elk, pronghorn and eagles.

To experience the park's grandeur, visitors can choose day hikes, backcountry camping excursions, bus tours, guided horseback and wagon rides, boating and fishing, snowmobiling, cross-county skiing and other activities.

Keep in mind that tourist capacity in the Park is limited and crowds are often large. Back country permits are required if you intend to explore the Park's vast and interesting interior. If you want to stay in one of the hotels or lodges inside Yellowstone, you may need to book your rooms far in advance. Camping spaces are similarly limited and must be reserved well in advance.

Grand Teton National Park
Just south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton rises from the relatively flat valley into a towering spine of 12,000-foot (3,700-meter) peaks that dominate the horizon. Its high-alpine backcountry makes it a paradise of outdoor activities and adventures: more than 250 miles (400 km) of hiking trails; gorgeous waters that beacon kayakers, canoers, sail boaters, waterskiers and float trippers; world-class fishing in Jenny, Jackson and Phelps lakes; and peaks that lure climbers and mountain bikers.

As with Yellowstone, lodging and other facilities within Grand Teton National Park are limited. Camp sites, hotel rooms and climbing permits should be secured well in advance of your visit.

Devils Tower National Monument
This one-of-a-kind natural wonder near the town of Hulett in northeast Wyoming looms more than 1,200 feet (350 meters) above the eastern plains and the Belle Fourche River. The volcanic rock formation is popularly known for its scene in the climax of Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The tower is considered sacred by many American Indians, who leave colorful prayer cloths tied to trees near its base. Several campgrounds near the park's entrance offer views of the tower.

Fossil Butte National Monument
Just west of Kemmerer lies a prehistoric limestone lake bed that's home to fossils dating up to 50 million years ago. The visitor center has thousands of them on display, including a 13-foot (4-meter) crocodile and a giant slab of limestone encasing 356 fish. In summer, you can hike to the fossil research quarry and assist park staff as they collect specimens.

Outdoor Adventures

 * Dude and Guest Ranches A Wyoming dude ranch vacation is a quintessential Western experience. Some are working ranches where guests participate in cattle drives and perform daily chores. Others provide a completely different experience, one with less labor involved. No matter what type of dude ranch you choose, there is sure to be a range of fun activities: horse riding for people of all abilities, overnight fishing trips, archery, cookouts, swims, nature walks, trail rides, square dancing, etc.
 * Fishing With 4,200 crystalline lakes sand 27,000 miles (43,000 km) of blue-ribbon, fishable streams, Wyoming is a fishing and fly fishing destination. Expert anglers and eager beginners alike can explore the clear waters scattered across the state.
 * Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding Several ski areas offer everything from expert terrain to beginning slopes, ensuring everyone in the family gets to enjoy Wyoming's light, fluffy powder. In the northeast, there's Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Resort and Grand Targhee Resort. Near Cody, there's Sleeping Giant Ski Area; White Pine Ski Area and Resort is located near Pinedale; Hogadon Ski Area in Casper; and Snowy Range Ski Area is a short drive from Laramie.
 * Snowmobiling Wyoming has more than 2,000 miles (3,000 km) of groomed and ungroomed trails for snowmobilers, including the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail System, which is consistently ranked among the best snowmobiling in the country.
 * Camping Wyoming has more than 18 million acres of public land and numerous wilderness areas perfect for camping. From backcountry adventures to RV adventures to campgrounds with plenty of amenities, there's a spot for everyone.
 * River Rafting Wyoming is home to canyons with stretches of whitewater perfect for thrill-seeking rafters. There are also mellow rivers that offer relaxing, mellow floats through some of the nation's most scenic country.
 * Rodeo Rodeo is more than a sport in Wyoming — it’s a way of life that stresses the importance of ranching while giving prominence to an American hero and icon, the cowboy. Spectators can feel the raw emotion and see the athleticism and passion in every rodeo event.
 * Golf Nearly 100 courses are scattered throughout the state. The high altitude of Wyoming allows the shots stay aloft almost 10 percent longer than the same shot made at sea level.
 * Wildlife Watching The state is home to more than 600 species of wildlife, which inhabit sagebrush plains, mountain ranges and alpine forests. Look for bison, moose, elk, coyotes, bighorn sheep, mule deer, river otters and trumpeter swans.

Eat
Wyoming is known for its steakhouses, which often offer elk, bison and other local game on their menus. While you're not likely to see many chain restaurants outside of the state's larger cities, most towns have several quaint, locally owned restaurants, and asking a friendly local is the best way to find them. Jackson boasts the widest range of dining choices, including everything from sushi to Thai food to fresh seafood.

Drink
A saloon dubbed the "Cowboy Bar" is nearly ubiquitous in every Wyoming town. Most of these are friendly establishments where jeans and cowboy boots are the outfit of choice, and fancy cocktails are not often on the menu. However, several larger cities, including Cheyenne and Jackson, offer more nightlife opportunities, such as wine and martini bars, live music venues and brew pubs. There are several craft breweries and even a winery in Wyoming as well.

Sleep
Accommodations options in Wyoming include upscale resorts, name-brand hotels and motels, historic inns, homey bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds and RV parks. Nationally recognized chain accommodation is concentrated in Cheyenne, Casper and at points along I-25 and I-80; in the rest of the state, accommodation will likely be very local.

Ranging from deluxe to dicey, roadside motels are by far the most common type of accommodation in the state. If you're traveling in parts of the state with oil and gas fields or near mines, be aware that motels may serve as temporary worker housing and rooms may be hard to come by. As it's hard to tell great places that are off the beaten track from establishments catering to a rougher crowd, a quick look-up on a review site like Yelp or Tripadvisor may help you find the former and avoid the latter.

Stay safe
Pay special attention to the weather when traveling on highways in Wyoming. If the snow gates are down, do NOT ignore them. Be aware that at higher elevations (including most of the state's mountain passes) snow can fall in June and even July. There are large expanses of land between towns that are wholly uninhabited, and getting stuck out on the interstate in whiteout conditions is an extraordinarily hazardous predicament to be caught in to say the least! If you must travel in winter, keep your gas tank full and carry some snacks - just in case you get stuck. If stuck in a blizzard, do not leave your vehicle.

The state's abundant wildlife is a big attraction but may also pose a hazard to visitors. While you're unlikely to be stalked by mountain lions or grizzly bears, there is a reasonable chance that you may encounter antelope, moose or deer on the state's highways. When you see signs that say "open range", be especially cautious, as cattle may enter the roadway along with the usual assortment of four footed creatures.

Wyoming's prairies are prime habitat for rattlesnakes. If you intend to get out and explore the historic trails throughout the state, a pair of sturdy hiking boots and a healthy awareness of the presence of rattlesnakes will serve you well. Do not explore the back country of the state's National Parks, forests or wilderness areas without basic knowledge of how to handle an encounter with bears or wild cats.

Wyoming is largely safe and crime rates are low. Locking your car and keeping valuables out of view makes sense anywhere in the state, but especially in town and cities, some of which are contending with epidemics of crime related to meth and alcohol. It's unlikely that you will experience anything bad, especially if you take reasonable precautions to keep yourself and your possessions safe.

Drunk driving is another hazard in Wyoming. Penalties for drinking and driving are severe for first time offenders. Some cities have taxi service (Casper even has a "Tipsy Taxi" that will take you home from the bars), but others do not. Public transportation is unheard of in most of the state, and the towns that have transit systems do not cater to late night revelers. You should plan to have a safe ride home before you start drinking.

Though Wyoming is a ferociously republican state, locals are perfectly friendly with all types of people, so long as you don't proselytize or show off.

Go next

 * Montana - Wyoming's northern neighbor is often called Big Sky Country for its famed big, blue skies, but the amazing natural landscape varies from the flat regions in the East to the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the West.
 * South Dakota - Wyoming's northeastern neighbor is home to such natural and cultural wonders as Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park and Mount Rushmore.
 * Nebraska - The state's southeastern neighbor has a rich agricultural heritage, offering visitors a glimpse into America's heartland.
 * Colorado - The Rocky Mountain state borders Wyoming to the south and offers a mind-boggling array of outdoor activities.
 * Utah - Wyoming's southwestern neighbor is worth visiting for the mind-blowing rock formations found in places like Arches National Park and Zion National Park, as well as the winter recreation opportunities found around Salt Lake City, host of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
 * Idaho - Wyoming's western neighbor is a rugged state, with snow-capped mountains, whitewater rivers, forests, high desert, and plenty of wilderness.

title: Wyoming


text:
Wyoming (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Wyoming:

Australia

 * Wyoming (New South Wales) - A town in New South Wales, Australia.

United States of America

 * Wyoming - one of the United States.
 * Wyoming (Ohio) - A town in Ohio.
 * Wyoming (Michigan) - A suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
 * Wyoming (Minnesota) - A town on the outskirts of the Twin Cities, Minnesota

title: Wyoming (disambiguation)


text:
Wyoming (Michigan)

Wyoming is a city southwest of Grand Rapids in West Michigan.

Get in
Interstate 196, M-6, M-11, and U.S. Route 131 all serve Wyoming.

Do

 * - located in Wyoming
 * Hager Park in Jenison has Discovery Area, the largest wooden playground in the Midwest.

Go next

 * Grand Rapids

title: Wyoming (Michigan)


text:
Wyoming County (New York)

Wyoming County is in the Niagara Frontier region of New York.

Villages and hamlets

 * Warsaw — the county seat
 * Arcade —
 * Attica — much more than just the prison
 * Castile —
 * Perry —
 * Pike —
 * Portageville — the southern gateway to Letchworth
 * Silver Springs —
 * Varysburg — and its Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
 * Wyoming — the historic Gaslight Village

Other destinations

 * Letchworth State Park — the "Grand Canyon of the East"
 * Silver Lake State Park —

title: Wyoming County (New York)


text:
Wytheville

Wytheville is a city in Southwest Virginia.

Get in
Wytheville is located at the intersection of two interstate highways. I-77 and I-81 provide access from the neighboring states of North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. I-81 also connects Wytheville to the larger metro areas of Northern Virginia.

title: Wytheville


text:
Xaghra

Xaghra is in Gozo. It's an attractive village of 4,900 people (2014) that houses the Ġgantija temples, and is a 5-minute drive or a 30-minute walk to Ramla i Hamra beach and to Rabat, so if you don't have too much time to explore the island, this is a good place to use as a base.

Understand
Pronounced Shara, this village is centrally located on the island.

Get in
There are some buses from Rabat, a taxi from the ferry terminal at Mgarr should set you back €13-15; from Rabat, a bit less.

Xaghra is serviced by bus routes 307 (Rabat-Xaghra) and 322 (Mgarr-Marsalforn). The fares are cheap, the service is reliable, and comfortable (air conditioned).

Get around
There is no public transport inside the village, only to and from it. As it's quite small everything is pretty much within walking distance: Allow 15 minutes from one edge of town to the other (going from the hotel to the temple, for instance).

See

 * The attractive village square with its classical baroque church, locals and chickens enjoying the afternoon sun.
 * The attractive village square with its classical baroque church, locals and chickens enjoying the afternoon sun.

Do

 * Go down to the Ramla i Hamra beach. Walking there will take half an hour but is pleasant through the fields.

Buy
If you are short of fuel, the Cini station will sort you out. During normal house the fuel is served but out of hours you can serve yourself with your card. Not just a petrol station but inside you will find a selection of most things you could need from bicycles to houseware.

Victor's just off the square will provide almost anything needed in the home. He only charges €1 for video rental.

Eat
Them main square has a number of good restaurants and cafes. Give the pea pies and the cheese pies a taste. They are a local speciality and almost everyone will have a couple in the morning.

 * Oleander on the picturesque village square (Pjazza Victoria) is a very good little restaurant which among other things serves typical local dishes.
 * The Cafe Royale is certainly worth a few visits. It is run by a quality pastry chef and the pastries are out of this world. Plenty of room inside but outside you can enjoy the world (village) pass by.

Drink
There are many places to get a drink in the village square.
 * The Olympic Bar serves really good food and drink at affordable prices both inside and out on the square. Service is friendly and efficient.

Go next

 * Għajnsielem
 * Victoria

title: Xaghra


text:
Xai-Xai

Xai-Xai is a city in Southern Mozambique.

Get in
Xai-Xai is on the main EN1 road on the northern side of the Limpopo river. It is an easy 3 hour/200km drive from Maputo. There is a toll gate just before entering the town at the bridge. The toll charge is MT 10 for cars.

See
Most visitors will be heading to the beaches (Praia do Xai-Xai), where there and some basic hotels and reasonable camp sites. To get to the beach, turn right 400m after the BP fuel station as you head away from Xai-Xai and Maputo.

Connect
English (and some Portuguese) language radio transmissions are available from BBC World Service on 100.9MHz.

title: Xai-Xai


text:
Xalapa

Xalapa is the capital of Veracruz in Mexico. Xalapa is a college town that enjoys some fine colonial architecture as well as a nice climate in the highlands above the hot and humid Veracruz coast.

Understand
Xalapa is known as the "Athens of Veracruz" because of the strong cultural influence of its major university, Universidad Veracruzana (the main public university in the State of Veracruz). General Enriquez is known for policies encouraging the educational system in Xalapa.

Culturally, Xalapa has a wide variety of events associated with its theatres, museums, and street art. Many musicians and dancers frequently perform in the center in the nights, especially on special occasions and events of celebration or commemoration; they often dance the fandango.

Art has a keen following in Xalapa. The Pinacoteca Diego Rivera is a large art museum, located near the City Hall and Parque Juárez in downtown, it has the largest collection of Diego Rivera's paintings in all of Mexico.

In 2010, Xalapa was home to 425,000 people.

By plane
The Lencero Airport is a very small airport. It is situated outside the city but it is used only for helicopters and very small planes. The closest airport is the Veracruz international airport. It's about 2 hours from Xalapa.

By car
Xalapa lies about midway between Puebla and Veracruz on federal highway MEX 140D (toll road). It is just under 2 hours to Veracruz and about 2-1/2 hours to Puebla.

By bus
Almost-hourly buses go from Mexico City to Xalapa in several bus lines (ADO, AU), departing from TAPO station. The trip takes 4 hours approximately.

Get around
Hilly, densely constructed Xalapa is one of the world's great scooter cities. Rent one and the back areas of the city really open up for exploration.

See

Eat
Xalapa is the place of origin of the famous Jalapeño peppers. Dishes made with maize: gorditas, tostadas, pasties, enfrijoladas, and chicken are common. The desserts that are consumed in the region are typically sweet such as cake and cocadas and craft candies like candied fruit, dulce de leche and jamoncillo.

Budget
Xalapa has a wide choice of budget hotels. The city should really be a lot more popular with backpackers than it is. The fact most stay on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts is their loss and can be your gain.

 * Los Lagos +52 228 818-2000. 13 de Septiembre No.23. 22 rooms.
 * Mision de las Americas +52 228 814-1145. Av. Xalapa No. 172. 15 rooms.
 * La Moderna +52 228 817-3586. Leona Vicario No. 21. 39 rooms.
 * El Arebe +52 228 817-1777. Av. 20 de Noviembre No. 535. 13 rooms.
 * Limon 817-2204. Revolución No. 8. 49 rooms.
 * Yalta +52 228 815-0833. Av. Lazaro Cárdenas No. 696. 60 rooms
 * Araucarias +52 228 818-9038. Av. Avila Camacho No. 60. 16 rooms.
 * Oasis +52 228 815-0360. Av. Xalapa No. 1120. 25 rooms.
 * Bugambilias +52 228 814-5863. Av. Miguel Aleman No. 277. 20 rooms.
 * Atenas +52 228 812-8944. Av. Lazero Cárdenas No. 1181. 49 rooms.
 * El Mirador +52 228 815-1655. Av. Xalapa No. 1106. 44 rooms.
 * Tecajetes +52 228 812-4973. Bustamante No. 24. 43 rooms.

Go next
Naolinco - Traditional village famous for leather goods and for Día de los Muertos

Xico - Village known for having huge bullfight every Summer and near impressive waterfalls

Veracruz - The largest city in the state

title: Xalapa


text:
Xanthi

Xanthi (Greek: Ξάνθη) is in Western Thrace. It's the capital city of Xanthi Prefecture.

History
The perhaps overly exciting history of Thrace, characterized by attacks by neighboring peoples, catastrophes, ethnic conflicts and civil wars, prevented a normal development of villages into cities. The city was conquered by the Ottomans in 1361. Unlike other parts of Greece that were affected by the population exchange between Turkey and Greece, Western Thrace was exempt from this agreement. Hence there is a higher proportion of Muslim population in this part of Greece.

By plane
The closest airport is "Alexander the Great" airport in Kavala, about 20 km away. Planes, mostly tourist charters, fly all over Europe.

Aegean (Flights to/from Athens daily)

By regional coach
The Interurban coaches ("KTEL" buses) are by far the most convenient way to travel around Greece, as well as for intra-regional travelling. There is frequent bus service from Athens Kifisos Station to Xanthi, as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Xanthi.

By train
- Trains OSE connect Xanthi to other cities in Greece. Travelling with ordinary trains can be cheaper, although a little bit slower, whereas choosing a fancy faster Intercity train will cost the same amount of money, or even more than a KTEL bus.

Get around
As Xanthi is a small town, it's easy to explore it on foot.

See

Outside the city:

Buy

 * Kariokes - A tasty praline with walnuts and chocolate, one of Xanthi's specialties, which can be found in all the sweets shops around the old town.

Drink
Because of the relatively high proportion of young people through the university, Xanthi has a good nightlife relative to its size. In and around the old town is the center of the nightlife. Many very nice bars are either directly in the streets or in backyards.

Connect
Most pubs and restaurants in the old town have free WIFI

Go next

 * Nestos: natural reserve area of special beauty in landscape, and archaeological site such as Abdera.
 * The villages and ancient ruins, such as Anastasiopolis (Peritheorion), around lake Vistonida
 * Stavroupoli - Traditional village set on a scenic valley among forests and waterfalls. Some 30 km northwest of Xanthi by scenic Drama road or by train and gate to the Rhodope Mountains
 * Kavala: one of the most beautiful towns of Greece
 * Komotini: provincial town with strong influence of Muslim architecture
 * Alexandroupolis: Harbour town with ferries to Samothrace Island

title: Xanthi


text:
Xcalak

Xcalak is a small sleepy fishing village on the Costa Maya, it is at the southernmost point of the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, near the Belize border. Xcalak is known for its spectacular beaches, clear turquoise waters, sport fishing and scuba diving on the offshore reefs.

Understand
Just offshore of the Caribbean coast lies a 700 mile long reef called the Great Mesoamerican Reef. It is the second largest barrier reef in the world and streches from the tip of Cancun all the way down the coast of Honduras. The Xcalak reef is part of the Great Mesoamerican reef.

The reef protects the shoreline and creates the long, wide strips of soft, powdery sand that make the beaches so popular. It also ensures that the waters are generally calm with low waves, making them ideal for swimming, snorkling and other aquatic activities.

By plane
Xcalak has a small airport that can accommodate small, private aircraft. The nearest cities with available commercial flights are Cancún, Tulum, and Chetumal. Buses are available for travel to Xcalak from both cities. However, many tourists rent a car for the trip to Xcalak. Xcalak is approximately a 6-hour drive from Cancun and a 2.5-hour drive from Chetumal.

By bus
There are two Caribe buses to Xcalak from Chetumal daily:
 * The first leaves from the second-class bus station in Chetumal at 05:40, passing through the first-class bus station at around 06:00.
 * The second leaves at 16:10/16:30. The bus goes from Chetumal to Mahahual, and then along the beach road for around 10 km towards Xcalak. At this point it turns off onto the surfaced interior road for the rest of the trip. It's the bus to take if you're staying at one of the hotels between Mahahual and Xcalak.

The outbound Caribe buses leave from beside the lighthouse at 05:00 and 14:00, and return to the second-class bus station only. You can also board the bus from the south end of town just before the Tourist Information Office.

Get around
Walk, boat, swim.

This is a small village and the people aren't really hung up on addresses or street names. Just ask a local and they'll point you the right way. Just because you hear of a business with no address or phone number doesn't mean it's not real or legit. Again, just ask. It's the way things are done.

See

Do

 * SUP (stand-up paddleboard) - the warm, calm waters around Xcalak are ideal for SUP

Scuba diving
There's a great reef offshore and it's also close to the Chinchorro Banks, which is a great dive spot some 30 km offshore. There are a couple of dive operators north of Xcalak:
 * Costa de Cocos - part of a full service resort.
 * XTC Dive Center - Good equipment, great staff and divemasters. XTC has the only marine park trips to dive or snorkel Chinchorro Banks.

Snorkeling
Snorkeling is an excellent opportunity to have the reef virtually to yourself, which makes Xcalak a great destination for travelers. Local fishermen can provide a boat trip out to the reef for a few dollars. Escorted snorkeling tours are available from the XTC Dive Centre.

The main snorkeling areas are to the south and to the north of the town and about 200 to 300 meters off shore. In some places, the reef breaks the surface and is easily visible. Inside the reef there is abundant sea life in 1 to 3 meters of water with many tropical fish, the occasional ray, turtle and small nurse shark.

On the ocean side of the reef, easily accessed through numerous channels, the reef extends from the surface down 5 to 10 meters to a sandy bottom. There are a wide variety of larger reef fish.

Eat
The restaurant at Costa De Cocos is the best restaurant in Xcalak. The fish is always fresh, and the pizza is excellent.

By boat to Belize
You can arrange a boat to Caye Caulker in Belize at one of the dive shops or with one of the captains in town. The crossing is smooth and relatively quick.

Immigration can however be a problem. There are no banks in XCalak (the nearest is in Chetumal) and so you would need to pay your Tourist Card (FMT) before arriving in XCalak. There also doesn't appear to be an active immigration office in XCalak (as of 2009); the closest is in Mahahual.

title: Xcalak


text:
Xenia

Xenia (Pronounced: Zeen-ya) is a city in Southwest Ohio, near Dayton.

Understand
Xenia is the county seat of Greene County Ohio and was founded in 1803. The name stems from the Greek word for hospitality, and is the largest city in the United States whose name begins with the letter X with over 26,000 residents as of 2017.

By car
Xenia is connected by US 35, US 42, and US 68.

By bike
All of the following bike paths connect at Xenia Station, and are part of the Ohio to Erie Trail project.

In Wilberforce
Wilberforce is a small community next to Xenia. Named after William Wilberforce who helped abolish the slave trade in the British empire, this community was an important stop on the Underground Railroad.

Go next

 * Cincinnati
 * Dayton
 * Columbus
 * Cedarville

title: Xenia


text:
Xhosa phrasebook

Xhosa (isiXhosa) is a language of South Africa.

Vowels

 * a : like hard
 * e : like in red
 * i : like in seen
 * o : like in all
 * u : like in moon

Consonants

 * d, f, h, j, l, m, n : Pronounced as in English
 * s, sh, v, w, y, z : Pronounced as in English
 * dl : Similar in sound to hl (see below)
 * g : always like g in go
 * hl : Place your tongue to the side of your mouth and expel the air (like Welsh ll sound)
 * ts : A hissing sound made by placing your tongue just above your teeth and ejecting air.
 * tsh : similar to dge in judge
 * ty : similar to dge in judge
 * r : pronounced like "ch" in Reich

Clicks

 * c : Place your tongue at the back of the teeth and suck in, like when expressing annoyance.
 * q : Place your tongue on the roof of the mouth and suck in, like imitating a clock's ticking.
 * x : Place your tongue on your upper right jaw and pull it down, as if urging on a horse.

Basics

 * Hello. :Molo. (singular) :Molweni. (plural)
 * Hello. (informal) : Kunjani.uphilile
 * How are you? :Unjani? (singular):Ninjani? (plural) ndiphilile/siphilile
 * Fine, thank you. : Ndiyaphila.Nam
 * And how are you? : Unjani wena? philile
 * What is your name? : Ngubani igama lakho?
 * My name is Khanya Ngedle . :  Igama lam ngu Khanya Ngedle.
 * Nice to meet you. : Ndiyavuya ukukwazi.
 * Please. :Ndicela.
 * Thank you. :Enkosi. :Ndiyabulela.
 * You're welcome. :Wamkelekile.
 * Yes. : Ewe.
 * No. : Hayi.
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) :Ndicela uxolo.:Uxolo.
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Uxolo andivanga.
 * I'm sorry. :Ndixolele.
 * Goodbyes:Uhambe/Usale kakuhle.:Hamba kakuhle. (go well) (singular)
 * Hambani kakuhle. (go well) (plural)
 * Sala kakuhle. (stay well) (singular)
 * Salani kakuhle. (stay well) (plural)

 * I can't speak Xhosa. : Andithethi isiXhosa.
 * Do you speak English? : Uyasithetha isingesi na?
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? :Ukhona apha umntu othetha isiNgesi?
 * Good morning. :Molo. (singular):Molweni. (plural)
 * Good evening. :Molo. (singular):Molweni. (plural)
 * Good night. : Ulale kakuhle.
 * Good night (to sleep) :
 * I don't understand. : Andiqondi.
 * I don't know. : Andazi.
 * Where is the toilet? :Iphi indlu yangasese?

Problems

 * My ... have been stolen. :I ... yam ibiwe. :I ... yam ibiwe.
 * I've lost my ... : Ndilahlekelwe yi ...
 * handbag :isingxobo:ibhegi
 * passport :pasipoti :ncwadi yokundwendwela
 * luggage : mpahla
 * wallet : spaji

Numbers

 * 0 :-unothi
 * 1 : zinye
 * 2 : zimbini
 * 3 : zintathu
 * 4 : zine
 * 5 :zintlanu
 * 6 : ntandathu
 * 7 : sixhenxe
 * 8 : sibhozo
 * 9 : lithoba
 * 10 : lishumi

Time

 * English expressions for telling the time commonly used by Xhosa speakers

Duration

 * in the morning : kusasa
 * during the day : emini
 * in the evening : ngokuhlwa
 * in the afternoon: emvakwemini
 * at night : ebusuku
 * yesterday : izolo
 * today : namhlanje
 * tomorrow : ngomso

Days

 * Sunday : iCawa
 * Monday : uMvulo
 * Tuesday : uLwesibini
 * Wednesday : uLwesithathu
 * Thursday : uLwesine
 * Friday : uLweshlanu
 * Saturday : uMgqibelo

Months

 * January :  Eyo Mqungu
 * February:Eyo Mdumba
 * March : eyoKwindla
 * April : uTshazimpunzi
 * May : eyoCanzibe
 * June : eyeSilimela
 * July : eyeKhala
 * August : eyeThupha
 * September : eyoMsintsi
 * October : eyeDwarha
 * November : eyeNkanga
 * December : eyoMnga

Colors

 * black : mnyama
 * blue : zuba
 * brown : mdaka
 * green : luhlaza
 * orange : orenji
 * red : bomvu
 * white : mhlophe
 * yellow : mthubi
 * Purple : msobo

Taxi

 * How much is it to...? :Yimalini ukuya e...?
 * Take me to this address. : Ndise kule dilesi.
 * Please stop here. :Ndicela ume apha.

Lodging

 * I need a room.:Ndifuna igumbi.
 * One room : Igumbi elinye
 * Two rooms : Amagumbi amabini
 * Single room : Igumbi lomntu omnye
 * Double room : Igumbi labantu ababini
 * Per person : Umntu emnye
 * Bed and Breakfast :
 * A meal : Isidlo
 * Beaverages or Drinks : Isiselo
 * Supper : Isidlo sangokuhlwa
 * Lunch : Isidlo sasemini
 * Dinner : Isidlo sasemvakwemini
 * Kitchen :Igumbi lokuphekela :Ekhitshini
 * Sharing :Kunye :ukwabelana

Money

 * Money : Imali
 * In cash : eziinkozo
 * Cheque :itsheke
 * Postal order :
 * Coins : imali eziinkozo
 * Notes : imali engamaphepa
 * Expensive :ixabisa kakhulu :iyabiza :iyadura

Eating
Inyama Inkukhu Inkomo Amanzi Andiyityi i.. Ndihluthi, enkosi ndicela i... Isiselo
 * Meat
 * Chicken
 * Beef
 * Water
 * I'm allergic to..
 * I'm full, thank you
 * Can I please have..
 * Drink

Driving

 * Turn: jika
 * Left: ekhohlo
 * Right: ekunene
 * Stop the car:misa:yima
 * Go: hamba
 * Forward: phambili
 * Go forward: bheka phambili
 * Straight ahead: phambili
 * Back:emva
 * Gravel road: indlela yomhlaba

Emergency

 * Help! : Nceda!
 * Look out! : Qaphela!
 * Call the police! : Biza amapolisa!
 * Get a doctor! : Biza ugqirha!
 * Go away! : Hamba
 * I'm ill. : Ndiyagula.
 * I'm lost. : Ndilahlekile.
 * Leave me alone! : Ndiyeke!
 * Stop thief! : Yima sela!

Communication

 * Telephone : Umnxeba
 * Telegram : Ucingo
 * Mobile or Cellphone :makhal'ekhukhwini:nomyayi
 * umnxeba wasesinqeni

 * Make a call : tsala umnxeba
 * Give ... a call :tsalela u ... umnxeba
 * Mail : Iposi
 * ngeposi (by post)

 * Fast mail : iposi engxamisekileyo

title: Xhosa phrasebook