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Jindo

Jindo, also known as "Jindo-gun", (Korean: 진도군) is an island in South Korea, located in the southwestern province of Jeollanam. It is the third-largest island in the country, accessible from the mainland via the cities of Mokpo and Gwangju.

Understand
Jindo got its current name in 1001, having been named "Haeyangdo" from the year 995, and "Okjoo-gun" as one of the 14 Korean states. It was invaded by the Mongols and the Japanese. The island is now part of Jindo County, an archipelago of around 230 small islands, of which only 45 are inhabited by 4,855 people.

Jindo is known to Koreans for three things:

 * The Battle of Myeongnyang in 1597, where Admiral Yi Sun-sin achieved a decisive victory against the invading Japanese navy. The location was the Myeongnyang Strait (Korean: 명량해협), then known as "Uldolmok" for the roaring tidal forces in the channel separating Jindo from the mainland. The battle is the basis for the movie Roaring Currents. Today the strait is spanned by Jindo Bridge, opened in 1984, and a second bridge was added in 2005.
 * The Korean Jindo, a breed of hunting dog originating from this island. The breed has been used as guard dogs and military dogs for centuries, and is still a popular breed especially in rural areas. Many Koreans take pride in the breed as a national dog, so much so that the South Korean government certifies purebreds through genetic testing and keeps samples of "legitimate" Jindos.
 * The sinking of MV Sewol, where about 300 people (mostly high school students on a field trip) died from its voyage from Incheon to Jeju. The ship sank near the coast of one of the islands near Jindo, and a response centre for emergency personnel as well as families of the passengers and the press were established in Jindo Port (진도항) (then called Paengmok port / 팽목항). For months following the disaster the port was the site of national interest. While several of the crew membered have been convicted and sentenced, the disaster is still close at heart to many South Koreans.

Landscape
Jin-do is mountainous and coastal. The shores are mostly industrial or undeveloped.

Climate
Like Seoul, Jin-do experiences warm springs and rainy summers. Temperatures stay mild into the long autumn months, and the city is often sheltered from coastal winds by its mountainous surroundings.

By bus
The only express bus routes serving Jindo are Seoul (4 per day) and Incheon (2 per day). There are intercity buses from Mokpo and Gwangju about every hour, and will be the route most travellers take to enter Jindo. Both routes make multiple stops en route, with some more than others.

There is a flag stop at Nokjin, right after crossing the bridge into Jindo. This is a much better option for travellers planning on visiting Myeongnyang strait only. Look for a corner store with a green sign to buy tickets from Nokjin to other destinations. No buses to and from Seoul stop at Nokjin.

Get around
Bus routes within Jindo are few and far between, with the busiest lines running about 10 times per day. On top of that, lines are not numbered and make certain stops at only certain hours, so they can be extremely difficult to navigate. They are also unpredictable in terms of when they will pass certain areas. In general buses depart from the bus terminal where you will find a timetable of all the local buses, this is also the only place where the bus times are predictable. The local buses only take cash, and you can either pay on the bus or buy a ticket at the terminal (₩1,000).

There are few taxis on Jin-do, and the town centre is small enough to explore on foot. The coach bus from Mokpo does make stops on its route around the island. Ferries service the bigger islets. Timetables for the local buses and ferries can be found here.

Buy
Jindo's specialty spirit is Hongju (Korean: 홍주), a clear red liquor made from the goji berry, distilled to over 80-proof. Gift sets of traditional liquor are for sale throughout the region.

Eat
The island's specialties include miyeog (Korean: 미역), a brown seaweed (Japanese, wakame), and black rice. Seafood is common, as well as other typical Korean food. The town boasts a notable number of fried chicken and fast-food establishments. Chinese Matrimony Tea (Gugija) is grown in Jin-do and said to be good for your health.

Sleep
There are several motels in the centre of Jindo, close to the bus terminal and the taxi rank.

Go next
The bus terminal is in the center of town, and the coach bus back to Mokpo runs regularly until 20:30.

title: Jindo


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Jingdezhen

Jingdezhen (景德镇; Jǐngdézhèn) is a city in northern Jiangxi Province. It is the world capital of porcelain and the historic home of the Chinese ceramics industry. It is now not only a popular tourist destination but a center for education and workshops, drawing pottery students and artists from around the country.

By train
From Shanghai the 2182/2183 trains leave at 12:40 with a travel time of 16 hours. ¥117 for a hard sleeper. From Beijing there is a direct train to Jingdezhen (K645) that takes nearly 24 hours. ¥361 for had sleeper, ¥552 for soft sleeper. From Nanchang Railway Station there are three daily direct trains. But the trip takes almost 2 hours longer than the one by bus. There are connections to Tunxi.

From Beijing there are 5 daily high speed trains to Wuyuan (about 7 hours). It takes about 2 hours to get to Jingdezhen from Wuyuan, which can easily be combined with any Jingdezhen trip.

By bus
The long-distance bus station is in the west of town.

Licun bus station is on Shuguang Lu. From Wuyuan connections take 2 hours. From Hangzhou West station at 09:00 and 14:20. They cost about ¥140 and take about 7 hours. From Nanchang there is bus service that takes approximately 3 hours departing from Qingshan Road North Station. ¥79.

Get around
Taxis are the easiest way, the meter starts at ¥6 and is billed to ¥0.1 but rounded either up or down. ie. ¥4.3 = ¥4, ¥8.7 = ¥9. Do not be fooled into taking a fixed fare for ¥10 or more as almost everywhere in the city will cost less.

There is also a public bus service, with very frequent buses at least until 23:00. If you manage to get a route plan, it is a quite fascinating way to get where you want while having a better sightseeing than from a taxi, if you can stand being watched at yourself. Very low standard rate, like in Beijing, ¥1 in a box for each trip.

There are motor bike taxis, but judging by their propensity to laugh in the face of death, they probably are not a wise choice.

Do
Jingdezhen is a famous hometown of ceramics. Here, there are both ceramic products produced on assembly lines and purely handmade tableware. You can find many designer studios in Jingdezhen to experience the production of pottery and glass products.

Drink
There is a Chinese style disco/club across the street from the Kaimenzi hotel.

Go next

 * Wuyuan - Some of the most beautiful villages in China are also in northeast Jiangxi, just two hours away.
 * Fuliang County - The beautiful villages of this county undisturbed by the mass tourism of Wuyuan

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

title: Jingdezhen


text:
Jinggangshan

Jinggangshan is a city in Jiangxi.

Eat
Jinggangshan's famous dishes include heavily the emperor, Yongxin dog, home fried duck blood, glass fish, fried partridge, and the orange wire.

title: Jinggangshan


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Jinghong

Jinghong (Chinese: 景洪; Jǐnghóng, Lü: ᦵᦋᧂ ᦣᦳᧂᧈ) is the capital of Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan. It is a hub for Chinese package tourists as well as for travellers passing between China and Laos. A prime area for backpackers (see Banana Pancake Trail), its vibe evokes that of Laos or northern Thailand despite being in China, with most of its inhabitants being Theravada Buddhists and speaking a language related to Thai and Lao. It is an easy overland trip from Laos.

By bus
There are over a dozen sleeper buses from Kunming daily, from around 09:00 to 22:00. They cost ¥150-260, depending on the coach quality. The bus takes around 8 hours, and will travel over some bumpy dirt roads. It may be a "sleeper bus" (lying down) even during the day.

From Yuanyang coming down to Jinghong is a bit more tricky. First option is from Xinjie or Nansha you backtrack to Jianshui (3–4 hours) and take a sleeper bus to Jinghong from there (¥177, 12 hours, at 13:30 and 16:30). Second option, again from Xinjie city you can take a bus to Luchun (¥38, 5 hours), spent the night there and catch the one and only Luchun to Jinghong bus at 08:00 the next morning (¥120, 12 hours). Be aware that the second option will take you through very bumpy, rough and many times unpaved roads crossing endless mountains, rice terraces, banana plantations and little villages so its not for the fainthearted but the scenery is stunning. Landslides are often and many times small streams go through the unpaved road so its not recommended during the rainy reason, you might get stuck in the middle of nowhere due to a blocked road. Furthermore there will be a few police checkpoints where your passport will be checked but its very fast and hassle free.

This is the first big city for travelers coming from Laos, but most travelers will have to change buses in Mengla to get here. A direct bus from the border town of Mohan takes 3 hours.

By bus
The airport bus can easily reach the city from the airport, and the airport special line No. 1 also passes through the night market and temple attractions. The price is ¥4. The tourist route can choose ordinary bus and tourist line. Among them, ordinary bus No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and bus Z21 pass through many tourist attractions, and the price is ¥3. Attractions will have corresponding tourist bus lines, most of which are ¥5 for round trips. Payment methods can be credit card or coin.

By taxi
The starting price of taxis in Xishuangbanna is ¥7 (3 km), including ¥2 fuel surcharge.

Rent electric car
There are many places in Xishuangbanna where you can rent electric car (or a shared battery car parked on the side of the road). For many local residents, electric cars are one of the main ways to get around.You can also rent an electric car in Gaozhuang for about ¥35 per hour. A motorbike licence is not required for these rentals, but a deposit and identification information is required.

The few interesting parts of town are definitely walkable.

Down by the Nancang it may be possible to hire a boat for a bit of river cruising.

Buy
Bank of China with 24-hour ATM is available a few minutes walk from the bus terminal. Cross the road and turn right as you leave the terminal. There are other banks in the area as well.

The usual Chinese tourist gimmicks, somehow more here than anywhere else in China. Local Dai produced items also available.

Drink
There are many nice bars by the Mekong river on the left side of the New Bridge, a bit expensive but beautiful at night, they are worth a stroll even if you don't go inside for a drink.

Sleep
There are a number of O.K. options near the bus station, with the cheapest starting at ¥15 a night. For other, more expensive options, try the reservation booth at the bus station. They'll steer you to the city's four and five star options at a discount.

Stay safe
Pay attention to food safety When eating mushrooms, you need to pay special attention to food poisoning caused by overeating and eating undercooked mushrooms. It is recommended to ask the waiter to confirm whether the food is edible. Do not eat mushrooms from unknown sources without authorization.

When choosing to take a taxi as a means of travel, please choose a regulatory compliance taxi vehicle, preferably using a mobile phone app. Avoid taking non-compliant taxis and keep your belongings safe.

Go next

 * Villages - Jinghong is the getway to the Xishuangbanna region. This is China's part of Southeast Asia, with several minority groups that are in many respects more Thai or Lao than Chinese. The city is quite close to a number of Dai Villages, which can be reached by local bus or through myriad tours available here or in Kunming. Note these villages are highly commercialised, and will disappoint many looking for an authentic experience.
 * Kunming - Sleeper buses take 8–9 hours and cost ¥235. First bus early morning and last bus 22:20. There's a military and police inspection points on the way where all passengers get off the bus and bags are unprofessionally inspected. They arrive at Kunming's new Southern Bus Terminal and from there to the city center you can take bus C71 (¥5) or walk to 3 minutes to reach a local bus terminal where bus 154 (¥2) will take you for about half an hour where you can change to bus 90 (¥1) that will take you to Jinbi Lu. Make sure you have exact change for the bus.
 * Mengla - the second last town (Mohan is the last, right on the border) before Laos, is five hours away. Buses leave from the Banna Bus Station two times an hour for ¥33. The station is across the street and about 100 meters south of the long-distance station. From Mengla there is one bus daily at 09:00 to Luang Nam Tha, the first town in Laos.
 * Vietnam - getting from Jinghong to Vietnam can prove to be a bit of a problem, with two imperfect solutions. The obvious one is to go back to Kunming and start from there. This can cause problems in that you may have to wait for a day or two to get a train or bus ticket to the border. The second, marginally preferable option is to take a sleeper bus from the North bus station to Mengzi. These leave every day at 14:00, cost ¥170 and arrive at Mengzi at 06:00 the following day. A taxi will be ready to take you to the town's second bus station where a minibus leaves for the border town of Hekou at 06:50 and gets there at 11:00. From there you can cross over the bridge into the Vietnamese town of Lao Cai. Alternatively one can enter Vietnam via Laos.
 * Luang Namtha: there is a direct bus to Luang Nam Tha. Get tickets at the new-ish northern bus station the day before. Leaves at 10:40. Cost is ¥70. It takes 8 hours, arriving in Luang Namtha just before dark (around 18:00). Be prepared for stops along the way. Best is that the bus crosses the border too, so you do not have to unload anything. The border formalities for foreigners are fastidious and potentially involve multiple queues: (1) pay tourist tax, (2) fill out and submit visa application with 1 passport photo, (3) pay for the visa, (4) then at last fill out entry form and get passport stamp. Careless bus drivers have left bureaucracy-burdened tourists stranded at this border, so make sure to keep other passengers in sight until you are safely through passport control. Otherwise a comfortable ride.
 * Huai Xai: direct bus to the Laos-Thailand border at 06:40, ¥120Y.

title: Jinghong


text:
Jingpohu National Forest Park

JIngpohu National Forest Park (镜泊湖国家森林公园) is in Heilongjiang province.

Understand
One of China's national scenic resorts, the Jingpo Lake sits  south of Mudanjiang City and, at an elevation of  above sea level, is China's largest alpine lake. Spring flowers, summer waterfalls, autumn leaves, and winter snows have produced 8 scenic spots around the lake.

Climate
我们的主页： www.jingpohu.org

Get in
Direct bus from Mudanjiang leaves in morning and returns in afternoon.

Do

 * Fishing season is from June to August

Go next

 * Dixia Senlin (Underground Forest)- away from the National Park, delicate ecosystem that survives on the fertile soil of 10 dormant volcanic craters

title: Jingpohu National Forest Park


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Jinguashi

Jinguashi (金瓜石) is in the Rueifang Township of Taipei County, the area became famous for its goldmines. It is between the mountains and the coastline, so the local scenery is exceptionally beautiful. With the abundance of historical relics from the mining days, Jinguashi has become a retreat in Northern Taiwan. Because of its historical significance, with the large influx of tourists into Jiufen, the neighboring Jinguashi township has had to rethink its sense of direction for the future.

Get in

 * Highway System: The No.2 Provincial Route is the main connection between Taipei, Keelong and Ilan, secondary connections includes route 102, 106, North 34, North 35, and North 37 county routes, most of which are double lane mixed vehicle roads.
 * Rail System: The main rail system is the Longitudinal Ilan Rail System (Taipei Padu- Rueifang- Ilan- Suao)
 * Mass Transportation: The main forms of mass transportation includes Taiwan Motor Transport Co. (Rueifang- Jiufen- Jinguashi) and Keelong Bus Co. (Keelong- Jinguashi), the service is available from 6:30AM to 9:30PM with one bus about every 30 minutes. Besides taking the bus from Taipei straight to Rueifang and Jinguashi, it is also recommended to take the train to Rueifang Station and then take the coach or share a taxi with other tourists (about NT$50 per person).

Get around

 * Road system:Includes Ruejing Highway (Route 102 + North 34), Jingshui Highway (North 34), the North 34 Provincial Road: Jiufen- Jinguashi Shuinan Cave connects to the No.2 Prvincial Road, Shuinan Cave is the connecting point between the outer area and inner roads.
 * Walkways:For the sake of developing tourism in the Jinguashi area, the construction and maintenance of walkways in special scenic areas of Rueifang has been one of the main focus points of the administration bureau. Walkways mountain climbing, light walking and scenic walkways will be constructed, along with pagodas, stone tables, benches and other facilities.

See

 * Bitou Cape. Announcing your arrival to the Northeast Coast, Bitou Cape occupies an area of 4-5 km², and is known for the sea-carved caves, platforms and other eroded landforms that can be seen along the cliffs of the cape. The cape is home to Bitou Lighthouse, which rises about 120 m. The lighthouse is at the end of a trail that offers spectacular views of the ocean and the eroded landforms. From the lighthouse you can see the waves of the East China Sea lapping against those of the Pacific Ocean.
 * Changren Tunnel No.3 flue pipe. Crossing the old coal transport tunnel next to the car park behind Cyuanji Temple, you will see three huge flues criss-crossing the hill looking like giant snakes. These were used to take fumes away from the copper refinery to where there were no residents in the hills above. The flues are about two meters high and one and a half meters wide. They were abandoned when Taiwan Metals Mining Corp. closed down. Inside the flue a large quantity of secondary minerals have accumulated making to unsafe to enter. It is claimed they are the longest flues in the world. They are imposing and are one of the unique sights of Jinguashi.
 * Changren Tunnel No.3 flue pipe. Crossing the old coal transport tunnel next to the car park behind Cyuanji Temple, you will see three huge flues criss-crossing the hill looking like giant snakes. These were used to take fumes away from the copper refinery to where there were no residents in the hills above. The flues are about two meters high and one and a half meters wide. They were abandoned when Taiwan Metals Mining Corp. closed down. Inside the flue a large quantity of secondary minerals have accumulated making to unsafe to enter. It is claimed they are the longest flues in the world. They are imposing and are one of the unique sights of Jinguashi.

 * Shuinandong Smelter. Located above Liandong Bay on the Coastal Highway, this was the ore sorting and smelting plant for the Taiwan Metals Mining Corp. It is built into the hillside and old miners and local people usually call it “13 stories.” The process of smelting ore at Jinguashi was split into mining, sorting, smelting and refining. Shuinandong Smelter (13 stories) was an important facility in the gold making process. Built in 1933, the Shuinandong Smelter (13 stories) now resembles another neglected Pompeii, bearing witness to the large scale of the mining industry in “gold mountain” in times gone by, an industry hoping for an opportunity to live again.

 * Jinguashi Shinto Shrine. The Jinguashi Shinto Shrine, also called the “Mountain God Shrine,” is dedicated to the three deities of “ôkuninushinomikoto, kaneyamahikonomikoto and sarutahikonomikoto. In 1933, after the Japan Mining Company took over the management of Jinguashi mine, it commemorated the event by building a Shinto shrine half way up the mountain below Siping lane. The original shrine included a main hall, prayer hall and pavilion for worshipers to wash their hands. There were also two walkways along the stairs, at either side of which were 3 torii (gate), 5 flag platforms and 1 bronze bull. During the Japanese era large-scale religious ceremonies and rituals were held here every year. Unfortunately, the buildings were damaged in the post-war period and today all that is left are 2 torii (gate), a few stone lanterns and the shrine’s original foundation, beams and pillars.
 * Teapot Mountain. Approximately 580 m high, Teapot Mountain is shaped like a handleless teapot, giving it the name “Handleless Teapot Mountain.” Looking from the Shumei or Cushih mountain direction, it also looks like a crouched lion ready to pounce, which also gives it the name “Lion Rock Mountain.” Teapot Mountain itself is an ore body. It is a breccia ore chimney, comprised mainly of silicified sandstone and shale.
 * Yin-yang Sea. As you travel along the coastal road you will see a strange scene - a bay where the sea is a mix of yellow and blue. This is Yin-yang Sea. It was initially believed that the sea color was the result of pollution from Taiwan Metal Mining Corp’s smelting activities but, over 10 years after the company stopped its activities, Yin-yang Sea still exists. Scholars say that the Jinguashi geology has a large amount of pyrite that, after millions of years has formed Fe3+ which does no dissolve easily in water. This forms iron ion floating particles when it flows into the sea, resulting in the strange sight of the Yin-yang Sea.

 * Gold Waterfall. The substantial Jinguashi rainfall seeps into the mine shafts through cracks in the surface rock, becoming acidulous water after interacting with the pyrite and enargite underground and undergoing oxidation reduction. A natural wonder “Gold Waterfall” has formed where the terrain drops sharply. This is one of the sources of the Yin-yang Sea.

 * Cyuanji Temple Cyuanji Temple was built in 1896 and consecrated to what was the only golden-faced Guan Gong in Taiwan prior to Retrocession. The gold and bronze Guan Gong statue on the roof of the temple is the largest idol of that deity in the world, weighing more than 25 tons. Each year during Dragon Boat Festival, Cyuanji Temple holds the distinctively local Green Grass ceremony. On such occasions, believers carry a divinity sedan chair in search of herbs stopping whenever the sedan chair’s crossbars point in the direction of sought-after herbs. In addition to various herbs, local residents also collect stones and towel gourds and the ritual takes a whole day. The collected medicinal herbs are taken back to the temple and on the next day washed and dried. On the third day, they are ground into powder using a stone pestle, and then spread to dry, which depending on the weather can take as long as 7 days. Finally, local residents rub the ground herb residue onto balls that are roughly 3 cm in diameter, thereby completing the “100 Herb ball” ritual.
 * Chitang Old Street. Walking down the steps outside Jinguashi police station, passing the old Japanese hospital, through Tongshan settlement and up the steps and you reach Cyuanji Temple. This was the most prosperous and busiest street in early Jinguashi. The black asphalt roofs are different heights mixed together. Walking on this street is like taking a trip back in time. In its heyday there were numerous shops here and it was known as “Little Ginza.” Today the street still has long-established general goods stores with old style cigarette display cases. The hand made herbal grass sticky rice sweets they sell should not be missed.
 * The Residence of Mike Kikujirou. This is the bureau director’s house used by the second but last director of the Jinguashi Mining Bureau in the Japanese era, Mike Kikujirou (the last director was 戶田貢). It is a very typical Japanese-era detached single dwelling building. It is spacious and has front and back gardens.

Gold Museum
The Gold Museum is housed in the former offices of the Taiwan Metal Mining Corp. The first floor exhibitions include gold discovery journey, Benshan tunnels (1-9), ore seam display and old mining equipment, mining transport systems and cultural artifact display. There is also an introduction to the Japanese World War II camp for Allied prisoners (1942-1945). The second floor has gold as the theme, including gold characteristics, gold art works and a world-record 220 kg .999 pure gold ingot which is unprecedented. The Gold Museum takes us to trace the gold river of history and shows us the enduring gold legend that is over 100 years old.

The tourists should prepare comfortable shoes because this area is uphill and downhill and the Gold ecological park is connected to mountains and it is not a closed park therefore you should look the map carefully or you may walk too far from where you start.

To seek the remains of the mine pit:
 * The fourth pit: above “Shan Shen She”, about 417 m above sea level, inside the pit is already seriously collapse, during year of 1987 the pit hole was demolished by a typhoon called Lin En, covered by mountain torrents, silt and soil, is now out of existence.
 * The fifth Pit: about 319 m above sea level and above the fourth pit, the fifth pit is 200-300 m from the Jinguashi Station and the post office, the opening to the pit is in complete shape, in the early periods the area was the offices for the Taiwan Gold Company, what remains is a complete two story steel and concrete structure and a large and small air compressor, which is believed to be the most powerful air compressor at that time in south east Asia, today the machine is rusted and broken in many places but the air pipe remains intact, this machine was special to the locals as it symbolized the source of life. Today, the fifth pit has been earmarked as the site of the Gold and Copper mine museum, which opened in 2003.
 * The sixth Pit: At 188 m above sea level, The sixth pit was partially covered by mud and sand brought on by Typhoon Linen, there are mountain springs among the sixth pit. The cable path besides the sixth pit starts from Chuenchitand parking lot and still remains intact with the original cart still at the site. During the Hogong development period, the mountain region’s gold, silver copper and sulfur ore were transported through the sixth pit and pass the Wuji cable path, taking the ore to the Shinjien sifting factory, ore has to be sifted and smelted. Another point of interest is the stairway path besides the cable path, it is believed to have been used as the path for POWs to reach the sixth pit for work, as for the dynamite storage 200 m away, all that is left is rubble.
 * The seventh pit: 29 m above sea level above is part of the Sixth pit, the pit hole is completely covered by sand and all lot of water comes out the pit hole, parts of the path have caved in seriously.
 * The eighth pit: The seventh pit is 29 m below the sea level, the deepest is 156 m below the sea level, right now is all completely submerge in the sea.

Go next
金瓜石

title: Jinguashi


text:
Jingyuetan National Forest Park

Jingyuetan National Forest Park (净月潭国家森林公园) is in Jilin province.

Understand
Jingyue Lake National Forest Park covers 200 km², with over 4.3 km² water surface and 80 km² planted forest. Forestation coverage in the park is 58.6%. The lake is falcate, so it gets the name.

It is famous for its picturesque scenery, reputed as the sister of Sun-moon Lake of Taiwan Province. A vast sea of lush trees and chains of magnificent mountains form a rounded ecosystem with over 30 tree species. The whole scenic area consists of Jinyue Lake National Key Scenic Spot, Jinyue Lake National Park and Jinyue Lake Tourist and Vocation Area.

There is fresh air, pleasant climate, and picturesque scenery. The scenes there are different all the year around.

Jinyue Lake Ski Field is in Jinyue Lake National Key Scenic Spot. It is different from various ski fields for it is a ski field in the city; it is different from cities for it is with fresh air and beautiful landscape here. There are many colorful winter entertainment articles in the ski field.

Simple and ancient Northern Putuo Temple, which was built in 1996, is one of the famous temples. Although it doesn't have a long history, it is known far and wide. Whenever there is a Buddhist distinguished meeting, burning incense is always very thick and pilgrims come in an endless stream.

Sand bath beach that can hold 3000 people to play water at the same time is the largest man-made sand bath beach in Jilin Province. There are silver sand, sunshine, wooden houses and tents. You can go boating, play water and play beach volleyball to feel a romantic beach flavor without stepping out of Jilin Province.

After going boating and playing water, you can have a rest in Korean style tent and taste a delicious Jinyue fish feast. There are 18 odd chain bridges, crisscrossed. Passing through the odd chain bridges is breathtaking but not dangerous, so it has become a paradise for the brave. People enjoy everything here so much as to forget to go home.

Christmas Paradise is a park that reverberates with European flavor. It is the second park with "the homeland of father Christmas" as its theme in the world. Special-styled western architectures, childish cartoon characters and riotous atmosphere make you feel to go into a fairyland.

Stone Sheep and Stone Tiger Mountain is located in the southern bank of the lake. There is an ancient tomb in the Jin Dynasty on the mountain. It is a city-level protective unit. Deer park occupies an area of 30,000 m², with over 1,000 spotted deer raised here. At the same time there are large reindeers from the foot of Tianshan Mountains. Besides, there is a golf course, aquatic entertainment articles, etc. Newly built Jinyue Square is a place for relaxing, going sightseeing and bodybuilding.

Climate
It is cool in dense shades in summer; in winter the snow is over 30 cm and forms a natural ski field.

See

 * Badabu - (Eight Branches of Manchukuo) The buildings where the Manchuhuo (state council set up by the Japanese) governed from 1932 until 1945
 * Jingyue Tan - local people extol Jingyue (Clear Moon) Pool as "Sparkling Emerald Pearl" and regard it as a "sister" to Taiwan's Riyue (Sun and Moon) Pool.

title: Jingyuetan National Forest Park


text:
Jingzhou

Jingzhou (荆州 Jīngzhōu) is a city in Hubei Province on the banks of the Yangtze River (长江 Cháng Jiāng). It has been an important historical city for 6,000 years, and is particularly famous for being the capital for the State of Chu (楚国) during the Warring States Period, and for its importance during the Three Kingdoms period.

By train
Linked to the Chinese train network.

By bus
Linked to the Chinese bus network, including Wuhan and Xiangfan.

Get around
There are taxis and buses available.

Buy
Chu embroidery, Fish Cake (鱼糕 yúgāo), Steamed Marbled Meat (粉蒸肉 fěnzhēngròu), Miss Hu's duck (小胡鸭 Xiǎohúyā)

Eat
Traditional cuisine from the historic State of Chu is a must try while in Jingzhou. It has a unique flavor that is absolutely delicious. Ask for a place with Chu flavor (楚味) dishes. Various options of breakfast, most of them are all kinds of noodle or soup.

Go next

 * Danyang is two hours away by bus, and might be worth a day trip if you are a Three Kingdoms fan or a Guan Yu fan. It is the home of the mausoleum for Guan Yu's body (his head rests in Luoyang).  Also in town, look for a giant statue in the middle of an intersection en route between the mausoleum and the bus station - if you poke around nearby, there is a hidden little park up some stairs on a hill that is full of life sized painted statues of many of the main Three Kingdoms figures.

title: Jingzhou


text:
Jining

There is more than one place called Jining:

Shandong

 * Jining (Shandong) - A city in Shandong.

Inner Mongolia

 * Jining (Inner Mongolia) - A district / city in Inner Mongolia.

title: Jining


text:
Jining (Shandong)

Jining (济宁 Jìníng) is a city in Shandong. Geographical location: Jining City is located in the southwest of Shandong Province, at the northern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, adjacent to Jinan City, Tai'an City, Linyi City and other cities in Shandong Province.

History and Culture: Jining has rich history and cultural traditions. Qufu City is the hometown of Confucius and has important cultural heritages such as the Confucius Temple and the Confucius Mansion. Jining is also the hometown of Meng Jiao, a famous ancient scholar. Mengfu Ancient City is a well-preserved historical and cultural ancient city.

Economic development: Jining is an important economic center in Shandong Province, with agriculture, manufacturing and service industries as its leading industries. The city is famous for the production of soybeans, wheat, corn and other agricultural products, and is also the hometown of vegetables in China.

Convenient transportation: Jining City is located at the intersection of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the Beijing-Shanghai Railway, and the Beijing-Fuzhou Expressway. It has convenient transportation and is an important transportation hub connecting various cities in Shandong Province.

Tourist attractions: Jining has rich tourism resources, including Confucius Temple and Mansion in Qufu, Mengfu Ancient City in Jining, Dai Temple in Zoucheng, Jining Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Scenic Area, Mengzhou Sanxian Mountain Scenic Area, etc. These attractions showcase Jining's history, culture and natural beauty.

Cultural characteristics: Jining area has unique cultural characteristics, including Confucian culture, folk art, traditional handicrafts, etc. Confucius culture, Mencius culture and Mengzhou wood carvings are all representatives of Jining culture.

Education: Jining is home to some well-known higher education institutions, such as Qufu Normal University, one of China's leading normal schools.

Food: Jining’s food is famous for special dishes such as Mengfu stew, Mengfu brown sugar, Jining steamed fish, Jining chicken soup, etc. These delicacies reflect the local food culture.

Understand
Jining is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province. The city has around 200,000 inhabitants and a prefecture of around 8 million. The city is located right to the north of Nanyang Lake (南阳湖 Nányáng Hú) and is today the northernmost city reachable by navigation on the Grand Canal. The birthplace of Confucius, Qufu, is in the prefecture. Jining is known as the canal capital and the hometown of Confucius and Mencius. It is located in the hinterland of southwestern Shandong, at the junction of the Huanghuaihai Plain and the mountains of central and southern Shandong. It borders the beautiful Linyi area to the east, Heze, the hometown of peony, to the west, Zaozhuang City and Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province to the south, Tai'an City to the north, and Liaocheng City across the Yellow River in the northwest corner. It is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Shandong Province. , as of July 28, 2021, Jining covers an area of 11,000 square kilometers, with 11 counties and cities under its jurisdiction and 4 functional areas. As of the end of 2022, Jining City's permanent population is 8.2906 million; in 2022, the city's regional GDP will be 531.69 billion yuan, an increase of 4.4%, and the general public budget revenue will be 44.77 billion yuan, an increase of 8.6% on the same basis.

Jining belongs to the junction area of Taiyi low-mountain hills in southern Shandong and the Huanghuaihai plain in southwestern Shandong. In terms of geological structure, it belongs to the southwestern Shandong fault block depression area in North China. The city's terrain is dominated by plains and depressions, with the terrain high in the east and low in the west, and the landform is relatively complex. The city is located in the East Asian monsoon climate zone, a warm temperate monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. As of 2022, the city's total natural water resources will be 5.5 billion cubic meters. The city is rich in mineral resources. As of 2022, more than 70 minerals have been discovered and proven reserves.

As of the end of 2022, there are 3,626 schools of various types in the city, including 7 general colleges and universities, 2 adult colleges and universities, 20 secondary vocational schools (excluding technical schools), 54 general high schools, 289 general junior high schools, and 931 primary schools. , 13 special education schools, and 2,310 preschool education kindergartens. There are 7,148 medical and health institutions at all levels and types in the city, including 203 hospitals (7 tertiary hospitals, 52 second-level hospitals, and 78 first-level hospitals), and 6,876 primary medical and health institutions (43 community health service centers, There are 128 township health centers, 1,222 clinics, clinics and clinics, 5,302 village clinics), and 51 professional public institutions.

Jining is an important birthplace of Chinese civilization. It gave birth to the ancestor of humanities, Xuanyuan Huangdi, and the five great saints: Confucius, Mencius, Yanzi, Zengzi and Zisizi. Qufu and Zoucheng under its jurisdiction are national historical and cultural cities. They have two world cultural heritages: "Three Kongs" and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. There is Shuibo Liangshan, the birthplace of the Water Margin story, and Weishan Lake, the hometown of the railway guerrillas. Holy places, culture, and water towns complement each other.

By plane
There is an airport in Jining 28km from the city centre and with quite a few flights.

By train
There a six trains each day from Jinan to Jining with a travel duration of 2½-3 hours and costs of ¥14-45. There are two trains each day from Qingdao with a travel duration of around 8 hours and costs of ¥41-120. Also trains from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Harbin.

By bus
You can reach Jining by taking a bus from any place.

Zoning Overview
As of 2021, Jining City has jurisdiction over 2 municipal districts, 1 development zone, 7 counties, and 2 county-level cities.

Zoning details
There are 2 municipal districts: Rencheng District and Yanzhou District.

1 development zone: Jining High-tech Industrial Development Zone.

7 counties: Weishan County, Yutai County, Jinxiang County, Jiaxiang County, Wenshang County, Sishui County and Liangshan County.

2 county-level cities: Qufu City and Zoucheng City.

Do
Jining, Shandong is a city with a long history and rich culture and has many tourist attractions and historical sites.

Qufu: Qufu is a famous cultural ancient city in China and the hometown of Confucius. In Qufu you can visit the Confucius Temple (Confucius Temple) and the Confucius Mansion to learn about Confucius' life and Confucian culture. There are also a large number of ancient buildings, monuments, and cultural attractions waiting for you to explore.

Mengfu Ancient City: Mengfu is another ancient city with a long history in Jining, with many ancient buildings and cultural heritage. You can visit the city walls, ancient streets, temples, etc. of Mengfu and feel the historical atmosphere of ancient Jining.

Jining Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal: Jining is located along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, one of the most important canals in ancient China. You can visit the Grand Canal Scenic Area, enjoy the scenery along the river, and learn about the history and culture of the canal.

Zoucheng Ancient City: Zoucheng is a county-level city in Jining with a long history and rich cultural heritage. There are many ancient buildings and historical attractions in the ancient city, such as Dai Temple, Jining Guild Hall, etc.

Jining Museum: The Jining Museum is a good place to learn about the history and culture of Jining. It displays a wealth of cultural relics and artworks.

Mengzhou Sanxian Mountain Scenic Area: This is a natural scenic area with beautiful landscapes, streams, and waterfalls. You can hike here and enjoy the natural beauty.

Yanggu Huashan Scenic Area: There is a Huashan Scenic Area in Yanggu County, Jining, which offers opportunities for mountain climbing, landscape viewing, and nature exploration. There are Huashan temples and temples here, which is a place where culture and nature merge.

Buy
Jining Ceramics: Jining Ceramics has a long history and is famous for its unique craftsmanship and exquisite decoration. You can buy a variety of ceramic products, such as bowls, plates, vases, teapots, etc., which are often decorated with traditional patterns of landscapes, flowers, and birds.

Meng Mansion Wood Carving: Meng Mansion is a famous ancient building in Jining, famous for its exquisite wood carving craftsmanship. You can buy Mengfu-style wood carving crafts, such as screens, carved boards, tables, etc.

Jining Embroidery: Jining embroidery is famous for its exquisite craftsmanship and brilliant colors. You can buy a variety of embroidery products, such as embroidered fans, embroidered scarves, embroidered paintings, etc.

Straw products: The jining area is rich in plant resources, so straw products are also very popular. You can buy various handicrafts made of straw, such as straw mats, straw baskets, straw jewelry, etc.

Paper-cutting art: Paper-cutting is one of the traditional Chinese handicrafts, and Jining also has its paper-cutting tradition. You can buy a variety of exquisite paper-cut works, such as window grilles, stickers, paper-cut paintings, etc.

Bamboo woven products: Bamboo is very abundant in Jining, so you can buy various bamboo woven crafts, such as bamboo baskets, bamboo chairs, bamboo chopsticks, etc.

Mengzhou rattan products: Mengzhou is famous for its rattan products. You can buy various rattan products, such as rattan furniture, rattan baskets, rattan flower utensils, etc.

Eat
There are the usual western fast food restaurants.

Mengfu stew: This is one of Jining’s traditional dishes, famous for its unique stew technique. It usually uses local ingredients, such as pork, chicken, wild mushrooms, etc., and slowly stews it with various seasonings. The soup is delicious.

Jining Steamed Fish: Jining is located in the inland of Shandong and has rich aquatic resources. Steamed fish is a traditional dish loved by local people. It is usually steamed using fresh fish, adding seasonings such as steamed fish soy sauce.

Mengzhou Tofu Pudding: Mengzhou is a county-level city in Jining and is famous for its special tofu bun. This is a snack full of strong bean flavor. It is usually added with peanut butter, chili sauce, coriander and other seasonings. It is very delicious.

Jining Chicken Soup: Jining’s chicken soup is famous for its fragrance and deliciousness. Generally, local chicken is used, added with various herbs and seasonings, and stewed into a pot of nourishing chicken soup.

Mengzhou Beef Noodles: Mengzhou is also famous for its specialty beef noodles. This is a noodle soup with tender slices of beef and a variety of seasonings that are delicious.

Jining Fried Fish Cake: This is a local snack made of fish meat and starch. It has a crispy outer skin and a fresh and tender filling. It is usually eaten with a special sauce.

Jining Oatmeal Steamed Bun: Oatmeal steamed bun is one of Jining's traditional pastas. It is made from oatmeal noodles and is usually eaten with various dishes. It is one of the staple foods of the locals.

Sleep
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Go next

 * Qufu - the birthplace of Confucius with temples and museums honoring him. Buses from 06.40AM to 6.00PM at 20 minute intervals at the Jining North Coach Bus Station. The bus station can be reached by the city-bus No.4, 26, 30, 31, 36 and 102.
 * Zoucheng - the birthplace of Mencius, who was the most important interpreter of Confucius' thoughts. The Temple of Mencius and the Mencius Family Mansion are both here.
 * Yishan Mountain - a mountain resort 10 kilometers south of the Zoucheng with spectacular natural sceneries and historical relics, especially featuring the granite pebbly landscape.

title: Jining (Shandong)


text:
Jinja

Jinja is a city of 300,000 people (2020) in Uganda. The city is at the source of the Nile, and in Uganda more famously the source of Nile Beer. This is a popular destination for backpackers for its white water rafting.

Understand
Three main operators work the rapids, offering a range of options, including body surfing, kayaking lessons and a video or dvd of the experience afterwards. It is possible to arrange a day trip from any travel agent in Kampala. Be sure to use sunscreen!

Get in
Matatus from the capital Kampala to Jinja are USh 5,000 per person, although the price varies (USh 5000-7000) depending on passenger volume. Coasters (mini-bus) always charge the same as matatus. (July 2015). The Post bus comes from Kampala and Mbale. Get on and off the post bus at the clock tower on the highway.just before the train station. same place where the bus ticket offices are for buses from Kenya. the one way post bus fare from Jinja to Mbale is USh 10,000. and Jinja to Kampala port office USh 5000. From Kenya, Easy bus has 2 buses a day from Nairobi via Kisumu going to Jinja. The ticket office for the Easy bus is on the highway near the clock tower.

Jinja is on the East African Highway which links Mombasa to Uganda, eastern DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. 14-seat passenger taxis and 30-seat passenger coasters are available from Kampala. Buses from Kenya and Tanzania will drop you off on their way to Kampala. Road distances: Kampala 80 km, Entebbe 117 km, Kisumu 236 km, Nairobi 578 km, Arusha 854 km, Mombasa 1498 km, Dar es Salaam 1691 km.

The railway network in Uganda is under rehabilitation and passenger services from Kampala might return in 2023.

Get around
The town is quite spread out, if you intend to go shopping for gifts, etc., get a taxi to 'the source' and all of the touristy shops are within walking distance. If going further afield, boda-bodas or matatus are the best way. A Boda-boda any where in down town Jinja is USh 1000 per person (Nov 2015).

 * Hire a Car Uganda provides car hire services, and has branches in major cities such as Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja.

See

 * The Jinja market is in the very centre of town, and consists of multiple acres of colourful shacks squeezed on top of each other selling everything from chicken hearts to motor parts. Definitely a must-see, even if you're in Jinja for one day.
 * The Jinja market is in the very centre of town, and consists of multiple acres of colourful shacks squeezed on top of each other selling everything from chicken hearts to motor parts. Definitely a must-see, even if you're in Jinja for one day.
 * The Jinja market is in the very centre of town, and consists of multiple acres of colourful shacks squeezed on top of each other selling everything from chicken hearts to motor parts. Definitely a must-see, even if you're in Jinja for one day.

The easiest and best way to see the town is to flag down the nearest boda boda driver (motorcycle which takes passengers) and ask him for a tour. Pay no more than USh 6000 however, for less than an hour tour.

Do
Jinja is marketed as the adventure capital of Uganda, offering everything from horse back tours to quad biking to placid kayak tours. There are a number of safe reliable operators, some of whom offer camping, dormitory, and (tented) accommodation. All companies offer half days, full days and extended trips.

 * Kayak the Nile, run kayak tours for the less adventurous, as well as guiding packages for those who want to learn the different channels down the river, and teach courses to learn to paddle on the lesser channels of the White Nile.

 * Nalubale Rafting is a rafting company based in Jinja offering daily trips on either Grade 3 or 5, for the more adventurous traveler they also offer a 2-day rafting trip. For families they offer low cost family float trips which allows people to cruise down the flat sections of the Nile taking in the breath taking view and wildlife.

 * Adrift is a rafting company that also has the Nile High Club, where you can bungee jump over a picturesque eddy of the Nile, and even get your head wet if you so desire.

Buy
Uganda is not a terribly touristy country. Jinja is one of the only places that sells 'African souvenirs'. A day of shopping is best started by the Source Café and the surrounding streets. It is possible to buy drums, Ugandan guitars, paintings, and many other things ideal as gifts. Remember that -- apart from a few locations in Kampala -- you are unlikely to find shops like this elsewhere in Uganda.

Tourist shops also sprung up around the NRE camp in Bujagali, but they'll be a little more expensive than in Jinja.

Eat
There are several restaurants and cafés in the centre of the town. Of which probably 'Flavours, Coffeebar, Restaurant,' Gately on the Nile, The Source café and 2Friends serves are the best in town. There are numerous Indian and Chinese restaurants close by. For cheap food, local vendors are a safe enough bet for most things, but maybe stay away from the meat. Samosas and "Rolex" (basically an omelette wrapped in a chapati) are done well here, are very cheap, and filling.

 * Flavours provides an exclusive Coffee Bar, Restaurant and Pub on Main Street. Flavours gives you the opportunity to have a nice cup of tea, coffee, fresh juice or any other refreshment in an inspiring environment. They also serve good food. Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays they host Brood Breads from Kampala where you can buy high quality breads and pastries.
 * 2 Friends, food is good, but be prepared to wait a long time for the food to be prepared. The couple that own the place are extremely friendly (as the name suggests), and will even let you make your own playlists from their extensive music collection.
 * Nalubale Tea House, is based on Kira Road and is well known for there high quality all day breakfasts, as well as the best steak pies in Jinja. They also do Fire Spinning Nights and Film Nights. They have a free high-speed wireless Internet connection and are open daily 9AM-4PM.
 * Flavours provides an exclusive Coffee Bar, Restaurant and Pub on Main Street. Flavours gives you the opportunity to have a nice cup of tea, coffee, fresh juice or any other refreshment in an inspiring environment. They also serve good food. Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays they host Brood Breads from Kampala where you can buy high quality breads and pastries.
 * 2 Friends, food is good, but be prepared to wait a long time for the food to be prepared. The couple that own the place are extremely friendly (as the name suggests), and will even let you make your own playlists from their extensive music collection.
 * Nalubale Tea House, is based on Kira Road and is well known for there high quality all day breakfasts, as well as the best steak pies in Jinja. They also do Fire Spinning Nights and Film Nights. They have a free high-speed wireless Internet connection and are open daily 9AM-4PM.

Drink

 * Nile Special beer produced here in Jinja.
 * Waragi - a spirit, (essentially banana gin) mix with bitter lemon, tastes awesome, potent.

Sleep

 * There are few budget hotels in Jinja with prices from USh 31,000.
 * Bellevue hotel Kutch West Road in the city center offers a/c double rooms with own bathroom. TV. From USh 60,000per night.
 * Bellevue hotel Kutch West Road in the city center offers a/c double rooms with own bathroom. TV. From USh 60,000per night.
 * Bellevue hotel Kutch West Road in the city center offers a/c double rooms with own bathroom. TV. From USh 60,000per night.
 * Bellevue hotel Kutch West Road in the city center offers a/c double rooms with own bathroom. TV. From USh 60,000per night.

Go next

 * Bujagali is a ten minute boda boda ride out from Jinja. It's a small tourist village, based on picturesque Bujagali Falls. Witness the locals swimming down the falls with nothing but a jerry can keeping them safe, as well as the odd rafter or kayaker who's made a mistake. Soft Power Health and the Allen stone charities work from Bujagali, and it's very popular with volunteers.
 * Mbale
 * Kampala

All buses passing through Jinja have to stop at the Traffic Police stand on the main road next to Ambercourt (the huge roundabout at the city entrance). There you can easily board a bus heading to Kampala or Mbale (buses going to either direction stop at the stand).

title: Jinja


text:
Jinjiang

Jinjiang (晋江; Tsìn-kang in Minnan, Jìnjiāng in Mandarin) is a mainly industrial city just across the river from Quanzhou in Fujian. Administratively, it is a county-level city in Quanzhou Prefecture, but for practical purposes it can be thought of as a suburb of Quanzhou. Population was about two million as of the 2010 census.

By plane
The usual way to fly into the region would be via Xiamen or Fuzhou, both of which have larger airports with a broader range of flight choices.

By bus
From Quanzhou, you can reach Jinjiang by city bus (801 and 802 are two of the numbers), or by taxi.

To get there by bus from Xiamen, take a Quanzhou bus and get off when it passes through Jinjiang.

Get around
Jinjiang shares city bus service with Quanzhou; in particular buses 801 and 802 go out to Jinjiang. However is a long narrow city, spread along a river valley, so half hour bus rides are not unusual even when traffic is light. Taxis are also readily available.

It is a good city for drivers, with lots of good new roads and some shopping areas with parking available. However, see driving in China for comments on traffic conditions.

See

Buy
Jinjiang is very much an industrial city, especially shoes and clothing. Naturally, there are quite a few shops for those items. Nearby Shishi, though, has better clothing markets.

The Filipino chain store SM have only a few locations in China. One is in Jinjiang, at the end of the 801 bus route furthest from Quanzhou. It is part of a very large modern mall.

Eat
Anhai Tushundong:

Anhai Caiguo:

noodle paste:

Shenhu fish ball:

pot rice:

Quantoumu:

beef soup:

Yingdu Ma glutinous rice:

pork meal:

Go next

 * Quanzhou
 * Xiamen

title: Jinjiang


text:
Jinju

Jinju (진주, 晋州), formerly Chinju, is in South Gyeongsang province, South Korea.

Understand
Orienting yourself in Jinju is easy. Jinju is a central city among the regions in the south of Korea. The town is cut in half by the Nam River (Namgang), with Jinju Fortress, downtown, most hotels, the commercial-residential sprawl and the intercity bus station all on the north bank. The train station and the express bus station lie on the south bank. Jinju is a small and medium-sized city with a population of almost 350,000 (2022), but it is an educational city with two colleges and three national universities.

By plane
Jinju's Sacheon Airport, 20 km away from the city in Sacheon, fields flights daily to and from Seoul's Gimpo Airport and twice a week to Jeju Island. Buses to the city center take 25 minutes and cost ₩3,000.

Alternatively Busan's Gimhae International Airport is one and a half hours away, and also serves international routes.

By bus
Bus is the easiest way of reaching Jinju. There are departures every ten minutes from Busan's Seobu (Sa-sang) terminal (1½ hr, ₩6,900) and from Masan (1 hr, ₩4,000), as well as every 20-30 min from Seoul's Gangnam Express Bus terminal (4 hr, ₩20,000). Check which bus terminal you will be arriving at as the Intercity Bus Terminal is centrally located within walking distance of Jinju Fortress while the Express Bus Terminal is located a bit further south, on the south side of the river.

There is a bus that goes directly from Incheon International Airport to Jinju. It takes 4 hours, and it costs about ₩36,000.

Buses from Busan Nopodong Bus Terminal to Jinju depart roughly every 50 minutes.

The main highway in Jinju is National Highway 10 or Namhae Expressway.

By train
There are daily 5 services to Seoul (6½ hr) and 4 to Busan (3 hr). Jinju is served by passenger service with KTX at Jinju Station along the Gyeongjeon Line. Jinju has two train stations. is near downtown, on the south side of the river (near Manggyeong-dong or Juyak-dong). A new train station is near Gyeongsang University, at the southern end of town. This new train station is functioning; you can get on and off the train there. Getting to and from the new train station: the city buses 126, 127, 131, 132, 134, and 135 go there.

By bus
Buses inside Jinju cost ₩1300 and go almost everywhere in Jinju. You can buy a reloadable bus pass at convenience stores like GS-25. These cost about ₩10,000 and may come with a bus ride or two already on them, depending on the kind you buy. Each ride is discounted to ₩1,250 as well.

Buses are available but you'll find it hard to use it unless you speak Korean, since bus stop signs are almost exclusively in Korean and your average bus driver won't speak English.

City bus routes that go to the KTX station: 126, 127, 128, 131, 132, 134, 135, 151.

City bus routes that go past the Intercity Bus Terminal (Shee-way bus terminal, 시외버스터미널): 120-124, 126, 127, 129, 144, 260, 261, 270-273, 280, 290, 291, 295, 340-343, 350, 351, 353, 354, 360-364, 370-377, 550, 551.

By bicycle or on foot
Highly recommended. Jinju is a small city, so if you have a detailed street map, you can simply get around on foot. If you’re touring the city, you’ll probably be walking, as there is no bicycle-rental system. If you live here, a bicycle is a nice investment.

The Nam River is lined with a lovely park that features outdoor gymnasiums, multiple-lane bicycle paths, and 24-hour restrooms. Cars are generally not allowed.

Numerous mountains with hiking trails can be found around the city.

By taxi
The basic fare for regular taxis is ₩2800, with a surcharge of ₩100 applied according to time and distance. In deluxe taxis, the basic fare is ₩4500 and the additional fare increases in increments of ₩200. Jinju is a small city, so you will rarely spend more than ₩7,000 on a taxi ride.

Deluxe taxis are black with a yellow sign and are more expensive than regular taxis although provide a better and more comfortable service. Regular taxis are silver or yellow.

Talk
As is true elsewhere in Korea, a grasp of basic Korean will be helpful. See South Korea for detailed advice.

See

 *

A few sights of minor interest are scattered elsewhere around town.

Movies
There are two movie theaters in Jinju. Lotte Cinema is located downtown. MBC Cinema is located on the east side of town.

Visit this site to check movie titles and show times. Select “Gyeongsang” Province. “CVG” is MBC and the other is Lotte Cinema.

If the movie is in English, it will have Korean subtitles. If the movie uses subtitles to communicate character dialogue from a different language, it will only be in Korean.

Korean language
Gyeongsang National University (GNU, Gyeonsang Daehak-gyo, 경상대학교) is located in the southern part of Jinju. They offer Korean-language classes each semester. For information, contact gnukorean@gnu.ac.kr.

Sports

 * Taekwondo, Korea's most popular martial art.
 * There are a variety of gyms in Jinju.
 * If you look around your neighborhood, you might be able to see PT signs. That stands for "personal trainer.” There are a few by Gyeongsang National University (GNU, Gyeonsang Daehak-gyo, 경상대학교). There’s a boxing gym in I-hyeon-dong (I-hyeon neighborhood), on the ground floor of the sports stadium.
 * Bellydancing. Location: The class occurs near the GNU Hospital, near 경상대학교 평생교육원.  The beginner’s class is Wednesdays, 19:00-22:00.  The intermediate class is Wednesdays, 10:00-12:00.   Bellydance =벨리 댄스 in Korean.  Beginner =초금 in Korean.  Intermediate = 중급 in Korean.
 * Rock climbing gym. It's a bouldering gym, there is no top-roping.  The gym is in the community center, downtown.  Directions: "Stand in front of Lotte Cinema. Get across the road, and walk to the left towards Angels and Us. Turn right into that road, walk past the first little street and the next building on your right is the community center."
 * Yoga. There are a few different yoga studios in Jinju.  There’s a yoga place across the road from Gyeongsang University, Gajwadong. There’s also a yoga place called “Bobby Hot Yoga” across the road from McDonalds in Pyeonggeo-dong.
 * Marathons. There are several marathons throughout the year in Jinju.

Work
There is a great demand for ESL (English as a Second Language) instruction in South Korea. See the main South Korea article for details.

Jinju is a university city with potentially many options for ESL work.

Souvenirs
There´s an excellent silk outlet across the street from the fortress (촉석루) towards the main bridge. The prices are good and the quality and selection are excellent.

If you want to experience a local traditional flea market, you could swing by Joong-ang central market ("Joong-Ahng-Shee-Jhang = 중앙시장". Come and get a glimpse into the daily lives of the people of Jinju at this market with over a 100-year-history. At Joongang market shoppers can browse through the medicine and hanbok (traditional Korean dress) street, restaurant street, and street vendor street. The central underground shopping mall, south of Jinju central intersection, offers an array of medicinal products, accessories, cosmetics, clothing and living products. Also, there are many little shops (가게/상점) throughout the city where you can buy goods.

Living in Jinju
Jinju now has three major department stores - E-Mart, Galleria and Homeplus, where you can purchase foods stuffs, including some western type foods, clothing, footwear, electrical goods, bedding and household goods. Both, also include a food court, where you can sit and eat western style take-away foods or a large variety of traditional Korean foods. Emart and Galleria are both close to the center of the city; Emart is a little to the west, and Galleria is a little north. Homeplus is on the east side of the city. Food/groceries are on the basement level of these department stores.

There are several Hi-marts, LG stores, and Samsung stores throughout the city, for your electronic/appliance needs.

Grocery stores are found everywhere in Jinju, from small family operated grocery stores, to the upmarket chain convenience stores like GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, etc. These grocery stores generally operate 24 hours for your convenience. At these stores you can purchase items like, milk, soft drinks, beer, cigarettes, snack foods and general grocery items.

If you are planning to set up house in Jinju, there are furniture shops in Jinju that can provide most of your requirements, whether you are looking for new or second hand furniture and appliances.Linen and bedding stores are also available and there is also two outdoor markets in Jinju where you can purchase all of these things. Personal gardens are pretty much non-existent in Jinju, however, there are plenty of shops where you can buy indoor plants and pots and all the tools to satisfy your green thumb.

There are a number of book stores in Jinju; however most only stock Korean literature. The bookstore, on the basement floor of the MBC building in Hotan-Dong, does have some English language and reading books. It is almost impossible to find English newspapers in Jinju, the internet being the only way to keep up with overseas news and current events.

Eat

Jinju has its own version of bibimbap (비빔밥), which is rice topped with all sorts of goodies. The Jinju style, also known as kkotbap (flower rice) or chilbohwaban (seven-color flower rice), is distinguished by using raw meat! (Not to be confused with the rather more famous Jeonju bibimbap.)

Another local delicacy is broiled eel (장어구이 jangeo-gui), eaten bulgogi-style with a dab of gochujang paste and wrapped in a sesame leaf.

Drink
See South Korea for general guidance to nightlife in Korea.

Jinju has a few bars and clubs. Pyeonggeo-dong (평거동, west side of town) has quite a few bars and clubs. For example, Umbrella Bar is quite popular. Umbrella Bar is called 우산 in Korean. Address: 우산, 평거동, 진주시. +82 55-745-9305

There are also many bars and clubs near Gyeongsang National University (GNU, Gyeonsang Daehak-gyo, 경상대학교), on the south side of town. Some people say that the tap water is drinkable, but others would recommend drinking bottled water, which is widely available.

Budget
If you are adventurous and need a really cheap place to stay, try one of the jjimjilbang (co-ed sauna rooms) around the city. Jjimjilbang typically cost ₩8000 and up, for which you get a pair of pajamas to wear, full use of the sauna, a locker to put your possessions in, and a floor to sleep on. One such jimjilbang is Theme Spa Land (테마건강란드), which has a good sauna.

Mid-range
There are lots of gaudy love hotels/yeogwan along the riverfront on both sides of the bus terminal. Rooms from ₩25,000. Among these, The Versace Motel (베르싸체 모텔) is recognisable for it's romanesque frontage, complete with pillars and small balconies. It's next to Jinju Bridge in the city centre. Rooms start at around ₩40,000, but are large, clean and offer the best views of the river - especially during the festivals.

Stay safe
Jinju is a very safe city. Pickpocketing is not very common and violent crime is minimal.

See South_Korea for more advice.

Connect
Internet cafes known as PC bang (PC 방) (pr: pee-shee-bang) are common, and usually cost anywhere from ₩800-2,000/hr. Most have printers at the front desk.

Post offices are sprinkled around Jinju, although many are hidden on smaller roads and alleys. Most post offices sell boxes and packing materials. They probably don't speak English, or if they do, they only speak a little bit.

If you want to buy an international phone card, you can look in stores like 7-Eleven, CU, or GS25. If the convenience stores don’t have any, then you can check the Asian food stores. Option 1: There’s a Chinese shop next to the Intercity Bus Terminal that has international phone cards. Option 2: there’s a Pakistani shop near City Hall. It's just off the road that goes past City Hall, in the Homeplus direction, down an alley, on the right. They’re cheap and last for about 4 hours.

Medical
Pharmacies are everywhere. While most are labeled only in Korean, the signage and Hangul character is easy to recognize; 약 (pronounced “yak”) means medicine. Most pharmacists speak some English.

Vaccinations/inoculations: the place to get vaccines is at the Public Health Center, on the second floor. The Public Health Center is across the street from E-Mart, in Insadong (인사동). They do not speak English there.

Hospitals:
 * Gyeongsang University Hospital +82 55-750-8282
 * Jinju Goryeo Hospital +82 55-751-2525
 * Jeil Hospital +82 55-750-7119
 * Bando Hospital +82 55-749-0200
 * Jinju Medical Clinic +82 55-740-8281
 * Hanil Hospital +82 55-750-1333
 * Emmaus Hospital +82 55-749-9000. Pan-mun-dong neighborhood.

Dentists: There are several good dentists in Jinju. The Korean word for “dentist” is치과 (chi-gwa).

Optician (Eye Doctors): there is an INOTI in Pyeonggo-dong (Pyeonggo neighborhood) which can help you with your glasses. The employees there speak enough English to get the job done.

Chiropractors. The nearest chiropractor is in Masan (마산), a one-hour-long bus ride away. Name: Taeg Su Choi, D.C. 최택수. Address: Woo sung B/D 4F, 84-30, Hapsung-dong, Masan City, GN (경남 마산시 합성동 84-30 우성빌딩 4층). If you copy-and-paste the address into Naver Maps, you'll get a good map of the area, and you'll see that it's really close to the Masan Intercity Bus Terminal. Phone numbers: +82 55-292-8279 / +82 55-292-8279. Email addresses: chirochoi@naver.com, www.chirochoi.com Hours: M-W F 09:30–18:00. Th 14:00-18:00. Lunch hour: 13:00-14:00. The chiropractor speaks English.

Thai Massage. In Pyeonggeo-dong (neighborhood on the west side of town), there's a Thai massage place. The ladies there don't speak English; it's called Thai Feeling 태국전통휠링센타. 010-6399-8882. If you know the Korean alphabet, you can sound out "sports massage", etc., on their list of offered massages. It's usually about ₩60,000 for an hour. Latitude and longitude: 35.171592, 128.063206. If you just copy-and-paste the latitude and longitude into GoogleMaps, it should pop up with the location. The massage place is on the same block as a 7-Eleven and a Paris Baguette. The massage place is on the second floor of the building. The outside of the building says "Chinese foot massage" and has pictures of people getting massages, but the inside of the building says "Thai feeling".

Some people with sensitive stomachs should use caution when dining in Korea as some of the local cuisine is heavily spiced with copious amounts of pepper and garlic.

Churches
International English Church (Jinju Sungnam Church, 성남교회) meets on Sundays at 13:30 for English-speakers, including foreigners and Koreans. They host an American-style Thanksgiving dinner for the Jinju community every November.

Jinju Church (진주교회) is international and non-denominational. Worship followed by lunch is on Sunday at 11:00. There is also Bible study after lunch for all who want to stay.

Air quality
Air quality is fine. Jinju is a smaller city, so the air is clean. However, some Koreans sometimes wear different types of masks outdoors for allergies, smog and yellow dust storms (mostly in March–April). Mongolian yellow dust storms were regarded as dangerous long before industrialization began in Asia. Now these storms pick up trace amounts of toxins in the Chinese industry belt.

Other
Haircuts. If you go to Emart in Insadong, there's a hair shop in the Emart. Inside this shop, there is a person (James, or "제임스" in Korean) who speaks English. Address: Jinju Emart, 3 Insadong (in Korean: 진주이마트점. 경남 진주시 인사동 3번지 [이마트 진주점 1층]. Telephone: +82 55-747-8322.  James doesn't work on Thursdays. Open  10:00-22:00.

Mostly, Koreans are very curious about foreigners. Many will gawk and stare while others will practice their English. For the most part, Koreans are very friendly on the street and will take great pains to be helpful, despite the above attitudes. If working in Korea, one should do a little reading on Confucianism and how it translates into social standing.

Go next

 * Tongyeong is a beautiful port city to the south.
 * Busan for the big city life and beaches in this part of Korea

title: Jinju


text:
Jinotega

Jinotega is a city in the Northern Highlands of Nicaragua of 53,265 inhabitants. Located in a valley 142 km North of Managua, it is the capital of the municipality and department of the same name.

Understand
Jinotega is known as the "City of Mists", due to the magnificent wisps of cloud feathering the place as high as 1,010 m. The name Jinotega, according to linguists derives from "xiocahuilt", meaning "jiñocuabo" (tree existing in the city) and "tecatl", meaning "inhabitant or neighbor".

The city is located in a valley of cool climate of 25 - 27° C, with normal extremes of 13° and 33° C. It is surrounded by the Dariense Isabelia mountain ranges.

Between 1926 and 1927, the department was the scene of fighting between US troops and anti-imperialist fighters led by Augusto C. Sandino, known as the "war of banditry." In May 19, 1979, the Final Offensive of the Northern Front of the Sandinista National Liberation forces under Carlos Fonseca Amador began. It defeated the despotic regime of Somoza Debayle. In 1981, the department's mountainous area was the scene of many bloody battles in the civil war between the CIA-trained Contras and the national army, representing the Sandinista-led government.

Since the area around Jinotega produces 65% of the country's coffee harvest the city is said to be "the coffee capital" and is known for its high quality coffee that is mostly exported. Cocoa is also harvested in the northeast of the departamento.

When to visit
In December to February it is the coffee harvest season. You will see trucks moving in and out of the city on the north side, men hauling coffee in on their backs in a frantic scurry. Compared with cities like Managua and Chinandega, which can be very hot throughout the year, Jinotega's climate is relatively pleasant due to its elevation.

The weather is great from November (end of the rainy season) until May, when it begins to rain sporadically. After this, the rainy season really begins.

By bus

 * From Managua it takes about 3 hr on the direct buses that run several times a day. If taking a taxi, ask for bus terminal Mayoreo or simply for the terminal from where the Jinotega buses leave. At the Mayoreo terminal in Managua, there is a counter where you can purchase your tickets to Jinotega. Bus fare is C$82 (córdobas). The expressos are nice because they make fewer stops and you don't have to change buses in Matagalpa.
 * There are frequent services between the main terminal in Matagalpa and the Southern terminal in Jinotega.
 * Service from Estelí to the Northern terminal in Jinotega is infrequent. It might be easier to get on a bus to San Rafael del Norte and change there.

By car
Take the NIC-3 or NN-74.

Leaving the city of Managua you will be taking the NIC-1 motorway to reach the right take highway Sebaco NIC-3 continued NN74 find two highways (arrives in 30 minutes) and if it continues with the NIC-3 came in 1 hour passing by Matagalpa.

If you take the NN74 observe that you are winding down a slope which will continue up to the entrance of the city in which observed the valley town, down a slope and observed a police checkpoint in an interception where there is a left wing street to get to the city center, exit and if you continue straight on the road to climb a slope curves with another interception find where you take the left highway NIC-3 (or NIC-3 highway right to the city of Matagalpa) to take him to the center of the city of Jinotega (and output to their municipalities, the lake and the city of Esteli arrived in 3 hours). On your way down a slope into the valley of Jinotega and observe their surroundings Jiñocuabos trees and also a view of the city, continuing to find another interception, if you take the left will take you to the city center and the exit and if making the right motorway is the NIC-3 will take you to the central supply and output to the municipalities, the lake, the city of Esteli.

Leaving the city of Managua you will be taking the NIC-1 highway, through venues: Tipitapa, Ciudad Dario, to reach the right decision Sébaco NIC-3 highway highway there continue straight and then see that going up in a curved slope where you can see the valley from there, to continue you will encounter two highways: NN74 and NIC-3.

If you take the left highway NN 74 be there in 30 minutes in the city, continue to observe a valley in which there is another highway that you take to the left called NIC-3 which takes you directly to the city.

If you take the highway right NIC-3 is longer have to go through the city of Matagalpa, follow the road and then take the left highway provided by NIC-3 to the city of Jinotega and will be in 1 hour.

Get around
Taxis are common and cost C$10 (US$0.35) per person anywhere in town. Fares are around C$35 at night. It's best to agree on a price before you get in the cab, Jinotegans love to change their mind. But on the whole they are a very friendly bunch. It is very safe to walk around Jinotega even through some of the shabbier looking areas, don't be scared just give a big smile out, you'll be fine. Jinotega is a great place to explore.

In the city of Jinotega

 * Municipal Museum of Jinotega, 1ra. Calle Noroeste, next to the library. Presentations of archeology, history and antiques.

 * Church of Our Lady of the Angels (Nuestra Señora de los Angeles), near the school La Salle.
 * Catedral San Juan Bautista, Av. Central.
 * Central park, with track for skateboards and connection to wifi, which is in front of the museum, library, the mayor's office, hotels, restaurants, university, social club and San Juan Cathedral.

Do
You can join the locals in town for gyms, or karaoke or play a game of soccer or baseball fields or stadiums.

 * Fiesta de la Cruz on May 3, a festival that has been carried on for three centuries, that includes a pilgrimage to the top of Pena de la Cruz and imbibing the famous local drink Agualoja, a type of corn wine.
 * Apanás Lake, a reservoir about 5 km north of the city (20 minutes drive) with fishing and boating options.

Hiking and Ecotourism

 * Nature Reserve Neblinas Cerro Datanlí - The Devil - coffee farm and cloud forest tours, with Santa Maura and the La Bastille ecoresort and Hidden Paradise agricultural school nearby. Witness flowers in the mist and learn about the cultivation of coffee, called the "green gold".
 * More ecotourism in "La Fundadora" and La Finca Vida Joven located on the Jinotega - Matagalpa road.
 * Farm holidays in Santa María de Pantasma.
 * Nature reserve "Yalí" Volcano, north of San Rafael del Norte.
 * Bosawás Reserve, a Biosphere Reserve declared by UNESCO with six areas including the "Peñas Blancas" Massif (white cliffs).
 * La Bujona waterfall and hiking at the Cerro Kilambé (Wiwilí) Nature Reserve near the town of Kilambe.

Work
Of all of the places in Nicaragua to do volunteer work, Jinotega is perhaps the most worthy. Due to its problematic history Jinotega has suffered through a serious decline in infrastructure. Jinotega is a place largely forgotten by the outside world.

Buy
MaxiPali is the closest thing to a supermarket here.

The markets at the Mercado Municipal are excellent, really worth an afternoon wanderings, especially the "food court", authentic yet surprisingly flavorful local cuisine for C$30 and up. Also on the far side of the markets close to Paui, a few great cowboy bars with lots of great local personalities and with visiting street vendors.

If you like secondhand shops then you will love Jinotega, the place is full of secondhand American clothes, lots of people just sell them from their front room but there a couple of big shops, you can get lots of expensive labels here from C$30.

North of the city in a black ceramic manufacturing community. You can inform more in tourist offices in: INTUR, its address is in the station 1, 1 block north.

Eat

Sleep
Hotels run from US$4-100 a night and are easy to come by.

Connect
For a full Nicaraguan experience, you can try out some of the many Internet cafes located around the city. Many Nicaraguans don´t have Internet and have to utilize such cafes. Two recommended cafes are Llamadas Heladas and Ciber Centro de Llamadas del Rey. Both provide Internet as well as phone booths for cheap international calls and the latter one also provides English-Spanish translation.

Go next

 * To the east of the city: Cordillera Isabelia (tourist place Nature, Hiking, Nature Reserve Datanlí-El Diablo, Nebliselva tall, La Bastilla Ecolodge, La Cascada Bujona, Cultivation of Flowers).
 * West: The  'Peña De La Cruz'  (height: 800 meters, located at the top of the mountains, accessible by steps, Nature tourist spot overlooking the city, Lake, etc ..).
 * North: The Lake Apanás (Artificial Lake, Nature Tourism).
 * South: Telecommunications Antennae (on top of the mountains, Nature attraction overlooking the city, Lake, Momotombo Volcano Managua, etc).
 * To Estelí: The buses leaves at 05:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00AM, 13:00 and 15:00, C$50 (córdobas), every 2 hours.
 * To Managua: The buses leaves of 04:00 to 17:00, C$110 (córdobas), every 1 hours.
 * To Matagalpa: The buses leaves of 05:00 to 18:15, C$35 (córdobas), every half hour.

title: Jinotega


text:
Jinzhong

Jinzhong (晋中; Jìnzhōng) is a prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province in China. (Shanxi is abbreviated as "Jin"). It is a national-level cultural and ecological protection experimental area, which has formed a number of provincial tourism masterpieces, such as the World Cultural Heritage Pingyao ancient city, the Shanxi merchants folk culture tourism area, and so on, and is the cradle of Shanxi merchants' culture. Jinzhong is one of the birthplaces of Jin culture (Shanxi culture). In 1824, the first financial institution "Rishengchang" in Chinese history was born here.

Understand
Jinzhong is in the east-central part of Shanxi Province, about 32 km southeast of Taiyuan, the provincial capital. It borders Grand Taihang Canyon in the east, Fen River in the west, intersects with Changzhi City and Linfen City in the south, connects with Yangquan City in the northeast, and borders Luliang City in the southwest. Jinzhong City has jurisdiction over 2 municipal districts, 8 counties and 1 county-level city, with a total area of 16,400 square kilometers.

Culture
The commercial activities of Jin merchants created the commercial culture of Jinzhong. From business philosophy, value orientation, and professional ethics to business mode, organization and management means, and even bookkeeping, abacus, secret and other technical methods, a whole set of ethical culture and institutional culture has been formed. This is the most essential meaning of Jin Shang culture. In addition, due to the mainstream status of Jin merchants in all walks of life, the existence and development of Jin merchants led to a series of cultural phenomena.

Since the ancient city of Pingyao was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in 1997, the international influence of Pingyao International Photography Exhibition has continued. From the movie "Raise the Red Lantern" to the popular TV drama "Qiao's Yard" and the drama "Start of Autumn" sensation, they have carried the rich connotation of Jin Shang culture of the "four cities" (Taigu City, Pingyao Ancient city, Qixian historical and cultural city and Yuci Old City), "six courts" (Yuci Changjia manor, Qixian Qiaojia courtyard, Qujia courtyard, Lingshi Wang courtyard, Taigu Caojia courtyard, Taigu Kong Xiangxi House).

Festivals
Jinzhong is also home to folk and non-material culture: the Cold Food Festival originated in Jiexiu and spread throughout the country; the legend of "The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl" originated in Heshun; and the legend of Shouyang County is the hometown of the birthday boy, the Zuoquan Xiaohua opera, Qitai Yangge, Yushe Bawangbian and other folk traditions nourish people living and working on this land.

The two days before the Qingming Festival on the lunar calendar were called Cold Food Festival. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Jie Zitui, a leading official of the State of Jin, was burned to death in Mianshang (now Jiexiu). Duke Wen of the State of Jin was deeply grieved and ordered the whole country not to cook with fire on this day, and to use dry food or cold food to satisfy hunger. After the Qin and Han Dynasties, it gradually became a local custom and spread outward. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, there were many literati and bachelors who used the Cold Food Festival to eulogize Jie Zitui's "do not speak of Lu". At the same time, because the two days before the Qingming Festival coincide with the "150" (105 days after the Winter solstice), while common folk also regarded the Cold Food Festival as a ghost festival for ghost marriage, dry funeral, or temporary house burial. Yao He, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, once wrote in Cold Food: "At present one hundred and fifty, the rain begins to clear up." During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, people would maintain the custom of eating cold food, to remember Jie Zitui. On this day, people can start work and earth at will. When they tear down houses or build bridges and roads, they must dig the land and shovel the walls on this day in advance to show that the project has begun. When the work is officially started in the future, other gods will not interfere.

Climate
Jinzhong City is located in the mid-latitude inland Loess Plateau, a warm temperate continental semi-arid monsoon climate zone. The basic characteristics of the climate are: four distinct seasons of the year, dry and windy in spring, hot and rainy in summer, clear and crisp in autumn, cold and snowless in winter, short in spring and autumn, and long in winter and summer.

By plane
The nearest airport is Taiyuan's Taiyuan Wusu International Airport, which lies just outside Jinzhong's muncipal boundaries. Buses operate about 8 times a day between the airport and the city centre. The bus fare is ¥3.

By train
There are two main railway stations in Jinzhong:

By bus
Due to Jinzhong's close proximity to Taiyuan, there are a number of public buses based in Taiyuan that cross over into Jinzhong. Bus no. 901 for instance can take you from Taiyuan Railway Station to the center of Jinzhong.

Get around
A special tourist bus operates from Yuci Old Town. Stops on the route include Yuci Old Town, Chang Family Compound, Qiao Family Compound, Pingyao Old Town, Mianshan and Wang Family Compound.

Movie theaters
There are many cinemas in Jinzhong.

Jinzhong Cinema is located in North Dao Street, Zhongdu Road, Yuci District, Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, China. Many movies can be watched in this cinema.

Shehuo Festival
On February 28, the highlight of the China (Jinzhong) Shehuo Festival was held in the urban area of Jinzhong City. 14 teams and nearly 3,000 performers from various counties (cities) of Jinzhong City showed the new look of Jinzhong land. This year's Shehuo event features a large lantern show and street art performance. The "large-scale Lantern Exhibition" was exhibited in Yingbin Square, Yuhu Park, Yingbin Green Square, Yuci Cultural Center Square and Yuci Old Town of Jinzhong City, focusing on showing the "moving" style of Jinzhong colored lanterns.

Buy

 * Taigu Guilingji: Taigu Guilingji is a specialty of Taigu County, Jinzhong City, Shanxi province. Turtle Age set has been sold to Hong Kong, Macao and other regions, and even exported to Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe,  and other 21 countries. In order to meet the needs of drug diversification and export, Taigu people used good wine fenjiu as base wine, and made Guilingji into a rare medicinal liquor guilingji with unique flavor.
 * Pingyao paper-cut: Traditional Chinese paper cutting decorations. The Pingyao style of paper cutting comes in three rich and diverse forms, close to life, with profound meaning. In ancient Ming and Qing streets, every three to five steps is a home, has become a unique folk culture scenery line. Paper-cut works, emitting a rich flavor of life and rustic flavor, as an expressive folk custom, gently touch the hearts of visitors.
 * Liu He tai pillow: The Empress Dowager Cixi is said to have travelled west to Pingyao，she was suffering from internal and external troubles, so she could not sleep for a long time. The Pingyao officials who were waiting for him outside hurriedly presented the "Six-pillow" that was unique to Pingyao at that time, to put Empress Dowager Cixi to sleep. The next day, Empress Dowager Cixi was so happy that he asked the pillow why it was called "Liu He". She learned that "Liu He" was a finger pillow with six holes in it, and that each hole was connected to the other, representing the upper and lower parts, the east and the west, and the north and the south, it means peace and harmony in the world. Empress Dowager Cixi was so pleased that she blurted out, "The world is at peace, the country is at peace, the people are at peace!" and she gave the name "Tai".
 * Shanxi lingshi embroidery: Shanxi lingshi embroidery has a unique form of expression unique form, complement element, simple, refined. Shanxi is the representative of rural embroidery. There are three types of embroidery, clothing, daily necessities and ceremonial decorations. Typical embroidery works for the pillow, some design into two tiger head, a human face tiger head, a fish tail tiger head or a frog. Today, embroidery is more widely used in cushions, insoles, wallets and tourist souvenirs.
 * Six tunes of fragrant wine: Qi County, in Jinzhong Province, has fertile soil and rich water resources. It is rich in grains such as wheat and sorghum, and is suitable for making wine. According to the Qi County Annals, people have the custom of "Making wine on the day of the spring equinox" and "Making music on the 6th of June.". Lutian fragrant wine of Qi County was named a famous wine of Shanxi province in 1974. It has pure fragrance, mellow and refreshing, soft and sweet, and has an aftertaste.

Eat

 * Pingyao bowl holder: Long-standing Pingyao characteristics of the flavor of pasta snacks, with gluten texture, smooth and delicious characteristics.
 * Guanxian: Also known as filling sugar, Shanxi Jiexiu characteristics of the traditional sugar, Jiexiu eight precious one of the precious, but also one of the top 10 Shanxi special food. It is a kind of food with crispy and sweet bite, which is highly praised by the majority of consumers. Jiexiu Guan Tang has a long history. According to county records, as early as the late Ming and early Qing sold nationwide, has a high reputation.
 * Pingyao beef: A specialty of Pingyao County Province, this is a Chinese National Geographic product and the Qing dynasty imperial palace tribute.
 * Baked cake by hanging stove: Well-made, exquisite materials, crispy outside inside tender, crispy delicious, beautiful appearance, because of its utensils, workmanship, modeling, appetite and other“Pasta” different, it was named“Traditional famous food” by the industry and Commerce Department.
 * Pearl porridge: One of the traditional snacks in Shouyang County province. Pearl porridge is a common Xiaomi mung bean porridge in Shanxi province.
 * Shouyang County tea: A famous traditional snack in Shouyang County, Shanxi province, it is a combination of pancakes and mooncakes for breakfast. This kind of food, crispy on the outside and crispy on the inside, is shaped like a small pastry moon cake. According to legend, the name “Tea Food” was given by Tang dynasty great writer Han Yu.

Sleep
Not many hotels to choose from if you are not Chinese

Emergency numbers
110 - Police, 119 - Fire, 120 - First aid, 122 - Traffic accidents

Go next

 * Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province.

title: Jinzhong


text:
Jinzhou

Jinzhou (锦州; Jǐnzhōu) is a city in Liaoning Province.

Understand
An industrial city on the western shores of Liaoning Gulf, Jinzhou is visited mainly for its storehouse of Jurassic period fossils.

Get in
Take either the three-hour express train from Beijing or the six-hour regular train. A car drive is also six hours from Beijing via the eastbound Jingshen Expressway. From Shenyang, a bus ride takes three hours via the westbound Jingshen Expressway.

Go next
Just over 100 km from Jinzhou lies another city known for its fossil discoveries, Chaoyang. Shenyang, the provincial capital, is 225 km away, while further to the south, Dalian rests 380km from Jinzhou.

title: Jinzhou


text:
Jiri

Jiri is a town in the Middle Hills region of Nepal, and the nearest roadhead for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp.

Understand
Jiri has no outstanding attractions, and as the bus from Kathmandu usually arrives in the early evening and most trekkers set out for the first day of their trek just after sun rise, many people spend their time here. Jiri is an amazing place to visit.

As it is about a five-day trek to Namche Bazaar, which many consider as the gateway to the Everest Region, only a small percentage of trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp begin their journey here, with most preferring to fly to Lukla, a two-day walk to Namche.

Get in

 * Jiri is the nearest roadhead for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp. It is about 184 km from Kathmandu - a journey that meanders through winding roads and takes between 5 and 6 hours.

Sleep
There are many similar lodges located along the main street. The Sherpa Guide is a longstanding favorite.

Go next

 * Most trekkers walk to Bhandar on the first day. However, it is a long and arduous trek. Shivalaya is a closer option.

title: Jiri