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Xijiang

Xijiang (西江, Xījiāng) is a village in Eastern Guizhou, known as the largest Miao village in China. It bears the title 'thousand household village' (千户苗寨) and has a little over a thousand residential dwellings, which amounts to a population of over 5000, of which 99.5% are Miao.

It is often quoted by researchers as a living fossil for the study of the Miao people's history and traditional culture. It is host to a number of festivals, particularly around the Chinese new year, where Miao from surrounding villages gather.

The dark wooden houses are laid out compactly over two adjacent spurs, at the base of which a river flows. From the entrance gate on the opposing hill, there is a spectacular view of the entire village.

The village is situated within a deep valley in the protected LeiGongshan national park, and the surrounding countryside makes for hikes ranging from short to up to a few hours, into the surrounding rice fields and forested hills.

In the last few years, a good deal of money has been invested in restoring the houses to their original appearance, in an effort to designate the village as a tourist destination. As such, the main street and riverfront area are relatively new and host lines of stalls aimed at tourist revenue. A wander through the back streets and up the hillside, however, takes you into more authentically occupied spaces.

Get in
There's a new road here from Kaili, it takes under 1 hour.

Bus schedule: Kaili - Xijiang : 0900, 1030, 1230, 1430, 1630. Xijiang - Kaili: 0730, 0830,1000, 1300, 1500. Xijiang - Leishan: 0630-1730, regular buses.

From Kaili, it is also possible to take a bus to Leishan, and then onward to Xijiang. Not including waits, the entire journey should take no more than 3 hours.

At the gate, there is a ¥60 entrance fee covering your entire stay. The fee is officially ¥100, but there is an automatic discount. After the public bus drops you off to pay the fee, walk to the village to find accommodation.

Get around
The village is compact and may take 15 minutes to walk along the main road from one end to the other.

See

 * Daily performances - of Miao singing and dancing acts, each depicting a various tale, in the Bronze Drum dancing ground, the first at 11:30am and the next at 5pm.

Do
The village is situated within a deep valley in the protected LeiGongShan national park, and the surrounding countryside makes for hikes ranging from short to up to a few hours, into the surrounding rice fields and forested hills.

Choose from a selection of Miao traditional dresses and have your picture taken.

Buy
There are a range of items on sale, including local embroidery, Batik textiles, silverwork and other works of art.

Eat
At some guesthouses and restaurants, be greeted by an entourage of Miao women, who will hang a boiled egg enclosed in a cotton necklace, and demand that you drink a bull's horn full of 'Mijiu' or rice wine before entering the establishment.

Walking along the main road downriver, you will come to barbeque and snack vendors.

There are a smattering of restaurants, particularly at homestays. Around the two main squares, and along the main street one can easily enough find a restaurant.

Go next
Enquire the day before about bus departure times back to Leishan, from where it is possible to get southward transport onward to Rongjiang and Congjiang, or northward to Kaili, or by local public bus or minibus to one of the other Miao villages in Leishan county, such as Langde

title: Xijiang


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Xikou

Xikou (溪口) is a sleepy town in Zhejiang, nestled in the mountains of eastern China. Its name, also pronounced Qikou, means "stream mouth" in Chinese, referring to the town's position on the broad Shan River.

Understand
Xikou's claim to fame is that it's the hometown of Chiang Kai-shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo. Because of this, it is popular as a tourist destination domestically. Many Taiwanese also visit annually.

Get in
There is a daily bus service from Shanghai or Hangzhou. More frequent mini-buses are available from Ningbo.

Get around
You can get around the town by taking local three-wheeled bicycles rode by locals. The town itself is not so big and it's easy to take it all in by foot.

However, if you want to go further afield and explore the mountains you will need to find a minibus service. Most of these are marked in Chinese only.

See

 * Chiang Kai-shek's estate was the family house of Chiang before he fled to Taiwan in 1949. Taiwanese will find the pro-Mainland propaganda placed all around gaudy.
 * Yantai salt shop (玉泰盐), established in 1871, used to the Chiangs' family business. It stands as an example of traditional Chinese private enterprise.
 * Xuedou Temple is one of the great temples of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. It was almost burnt to the ground during the Cultural Revolution, but has since been substantially rebuilt.

Go next

 * About an hour's bus ride east is the East China Sea. On the coastline there are some ruined forts to explore, remnants of the centuries of war with Japanese pirates and local smugglers. These is also some fine seafood to be had.
 * Surrounding mountains provide good hiking for day trips. Mount Dalei (or "Great Lightning") is the highest peak in the area, reaching 809 metres above sea level.

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

title: Xikou


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Xiling Xueshan National Park

Xiling Xueshan National Park (西岭雪山国家公园) is in Sichuan province.

Flora and fauna
From March to August, the land is covered with azaleas.

Climate

 * Snowfall starts around mid December and lasts till mid-March.
 * Best time for skiing is January and February.

Get in
Two and half hours by bus west of Chengdu. the buses start around 8AM in the morning till 1PM from Xinnanmen and Jin sha bus station. for return, buses are available at the entrance of Xiling Snow Mountain, which start around 11AM till 5PM for Chengdu. Private cars are not allowed to enter the resort and there is a big parking available at the resort entrance.

Fees and permits
Entrance fee is ¥160 in peak season and ticket for cable car costs ¥120. this includes bus ride from cable station to the top of resort.

Do

 * Skiing at the Chengdu Xiling Snow-capped Mountain Skiing Resort (ski resort is a part Xiling Xueshan Resort), largest resort in Western China. its only good for amateurs and beginners. Snow cover is very iffy and conditions range from bad to awful. skiing and snow boarding casts ¥120 for an hour, ¥200 for 2 hours, ¥260 for 3 hours and so on but the administration asks you to deposit ¥500. There is an additional ¥50 fee to use chair lift (cable way) inside the resort. Escalator is also available inside the Skiing resort.
 * In addition to skiing, snow mobiles, dog sledges, a beautiful track around the park are main attractions. The trip there is very scenic and a nice way to see the bamboo foothills west of Chengdu.
 * Take a lot of cash as there is no ATM in the resort. Few places allow Chinese Debit cards but don't rely on that.
 * There are 6 hotels on the top of resort and are completely booked during peak seasons. so it is good to make a reservation if you are planning for a night stay. One hotel has a Buffet Restaurant (which mostly has Chinese food) and it accepts Debt cards and Bar (just drinks are available). Room rent varies from ¥780-1400 for different types of rooms. Ask every detail about the hotel before booking the room, don't hesitate even if the hotel management hesitate to talk in English.

Lodging
There are 6 hotels in the resort and there details can be seen at www.xiling.cn

title: Xiling Xueshan National Park


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Xindian

Xindian (新店區), also known by its historical spelling Hsintien and alternative spelling Sindian, is a district in New Taipei where the apartment complexes of the Taipei metropolitan area meet the northern end of the Central Mountain Range.

Understand
New Taipei is generally less salubrious than the city proper, however the IT-industry center of Xindian is an exception. One of the county's newer municipalities, Xindian is a spacious suburb with good recreational facilities. In addition to the Bitan Lake, a widened part of the river and popular recreation spot, the city also boasts good hiking areas in the surrounding mountains.

The Hwa-yuan Xin-cheng (New Garden City) area was developed in the 1970s and 1980s with the aim of attracting artists and writers: the green hills, quiet environment and relatively inexpensive real estate still attracts the art crowd, and many Westerners have also settled there. New Garden City is about 20 minutes from downtown Xindian, off the road to Wulai.

By MRT
The MRT Xindian (Green) and Xiao Bitan (Light Green) lines serve the area.

By bus
Xindian Ke-yun buses criss-cross the city and connect it with Taipei and other cities in Taipei County.

From Taoyuan International Airport
From the Taoyuan International airport, take bus number 1968 (City air Bus) until its terminus at Xindian MRT Station. The bus from Xindian to Taoyuan runs every 20 minutes from 04:40 and 23:00. From Taoyuan to Xindian the bus start at 06:40 and runs till 00:40.

Get around

 * MRT stations in Xindian City on the Green and Light Green Lines (Xindian Line and Xiao Bitan Line): Xindian, Xindian City Hall, Qizhang, Dapingling, and Xiao Bitan.
 * Green 3 bus run by the Xindian Ke-yun bus company heads to Hua-yuan Xin-cheng (New Garden City) from Jung-shing Road and also near Xindian MRT station - one bus every 40 minutes.
 * Taipei Rapid Transport Coorporation.

Do

 * Hike up Wufeng Shan (Five Peak Mountain). This pleasant walk passes through forests, offers views over Xindian and Taipei, and along the way takes in a Tibetan style temple in the Nyingma Tradition (there are no resident monks, but at weekends there are occasional ritual ceremonies) and a Tibetan style stupa. Start from Wufeng Road, entered from Zhongxing Road, Sec. 1 (near the junction with Zhongzheng Road).
 * Lion's Head Mountain offers a short, but steep hike to its peak. At the top, hikers are rewarded with wonderful views over the northern end of the Central Mountain Range. There are two main paths leading from the base: from Zhongxing Road, Sec. 1, the path begins from next to the Old Postal Hall bus stop (across the road from property number 101), and from Wenzhong Road, Lane 64, the path begins from next to the rather attractive Zhulin Chan Sz (Bamboo Forest Chan Monastery).
 * The main Taiwan center of Penor Rinpoche, the head of the Nyingma school of Buddhism, is in Xindian. While rinpoche only visits occasionally, there are several resident monks and the center hosts a full schedule of activities. 3 Floor, 135 Minquan Road (nearest MRT station: Dapinglin). Tel:2218-2486~7
 * Watch the colorful Dragon Boat races at Bitan (see Taipei festivals for more information). The races are held on the 5th day of the 5th month according to the lunar calendar.

Buy
There are three large shopping complexes, and the bustling downtown.

Vegetarian
See Taipei 'Eat' section for information on the various kinds of vegetarian restaurants in Taiwan.

Connect
The area code for Xindian is the same as Taipei City: 02

Go next

 * Explore the southwestern part of New Taipei further by heading to Sanxia

title: Xindian


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Xingping

Xingping (兴坪) is a town in North Guangxi, China. It is on the Li River, about 27 km upstream from Yangshuo and 60 km downstream from Guilin. Like Yangshuo, Xingping is surrounded by great examples of Karst scenery, with one particularly prominent peak overlooking the village from the southern end of the shoreline against the Yi River, which is topped with a lookout which can be climbed to with relative ease by those with an adventurous spirit and a head for heights. Certainly, not as clean or developed as neighboring touristy Yangshuo, it nonetheless has a nice authentic feel to it, complete with a few intact historical buildings and easy access to the Li River.

The town was initially settled in 265 AD, and was the regional centre for Yangshuo County until Yangshuo was settled in 590 AD.

By train
There is now a high speed train station called Yangshuo but it is actually very near to Xingping. From there you can get a bus for ¥5 to Xingping.

By bus
Even though it is in between Yangshuo and Guilin, buses to Guilin always go to Yangshuo first. There are no buses that go directly to Guilin from Xingping. Bus fare to Guilin via Yangshuo is ¥28.
 * Minibuses from Yangshuo can take you into Xingping for ¥10 (Oct. 2018). These buses leave the south bus terminal in Yangshuo up until 6PM. There is a good bus service within Yangshuo (green and yellow buses) and they take you for ¥1 from main (west) to the south bus station.

 * Tourist boats visit Xingping from Yangshuo regularly, and passage can be arranged on one of these boats, if you prefer a more scenic route.

Get around
The majority of Xingping is relatively flat, with the exception of the peaks surrounding, and can be easily accessed on foot. This is the preferred option within the town itself, and it can be transversed in about fifteen minutes.

Alternately, some stores in town can arrange bicycle hire if you would prefer to cycle around and see the area. However, the few places to rent bicycles (there is one place across the street from the bus station, and a few hotels, and the hostel, This Old Place), often rent out bikes in bad shape. All bikes should be checked before renting. Beware of wild driving habits in the countryside!

Trails and country roads are difficult to navigate on the measly land cruisers offered.

See

A peninsula in the other side of Xingping town. Take a ferry to cross the river at the Xingping pier, ¥1. It is a small angler village, with the charming of the countryside in China. Walk around the orchards, vegetables gardens and the trails around the village. Listen nature she have something to tell you. Enjoy the countryside, expend some time with the local people. The local people make life by planting fruits, driving bamboo boat.

Buy
There are a number of semi-permanent market stalls near the waterfront, all selling quite similar goods - pashmina scarfs, jade sculptures, books with photos from the Yi River, etc. As tourist traffic from Yangshuo increases, expect these savvy marketeers to start inflating their prices to match. Good bargains can be had, as with most of China, but only by those who educate themselves on the real value of the goods, and who have the skill and experience to haggle for the right price.

Drink
Local Guangxi Liquan beer should cost ¥4-5 in local stores.

Go next

 * Yangshuo - A very popular town on the Li River, full of foreign and Chinese tourists, bars, restaurants and in the middle of some beautiful karst scenery.

title: Xingping


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Xining

Xining (西宁; Xīníng; Tibetan: Sulang) is the capital of Qinghai Province and the capital of Xining City District, a prefecture of Qinghai. It has a population of around 2,200,000.

Understand
Xining is one of the major gateways to the Tibetan Plateau. It is an ancient highland city on the Yellow River which offers many scenic spots and historical sites. Although the city has a strong Islamic flavor, as it is home to many Hui people, you will start getting a more Tibetan feel as you move away from the city.

By plane

The airport bus makes a run the long distance bus station next to the train station at regular intervals and heads back to the city centre whenever a flight lands. The return bus stand is directly in front of the airport exit door. The 30-min ride to/from the airport ¥21.

By bus
Long Distance Bus Station is on Jianguo Road, on the other side of the river in view of the train station.

From March 2016, buses from Yushu was leaving passengers at another bus station, in the west of the city. So make sure to ask the driver where is the bus going to terminate, or you may find yourself quite lost.
 * Lanzhou - takes about 5 hours
 * Tongren - takes about 4 hours
 * Xunhua - takes about 5 hours
 * Yushu - takes about 14-18 hours
 * Zhangye - takes about 9 hours
 * Dunhuang - takes about 20 hours
 * Jiuquan - takes about 10 hours
 * Kanbula - takes about 2.5 hours
 * Huatugou - There's a direct bus to Huatugou, but the town is closed to foreigners.

There are also buses for Golmud, Lhasa and Yinchuan at the western end of the square in front of the train station.

Nanchuan West Road Bus Terminal 南川西路客运站

If you are headed to any of the regional towns south of Xining, including Guide (贵德) and Guinan (贵南) there are regular buses from the West Bus Station (汽车西站). You don't need to book ahead, so an easy day trip might be to jump on a bus here and see a regional city before catching the last return bus.

If you are headed to Maduo 玛多 there is a bus that leaves at 8AM (there may be other times) it leaves from Nanchuan West Road Bus Terminal. You can buy tickets in advance from either bus station.

By bus
There are plenty of buses that get you around town. The most useful is bus #1 that runs through the centre of town along Dajie to the train/bus station. All fares are ¥1 regardless of distance.

By taxi
Taxis run on the meter (¥8 flagfall) but some drivers are open to negotiation, especially late at night.

Buy
Xining is home to numerous factories making Tibetan carpets.

Eat
Xining's main minority groups provide a large portion of the food on offer. The Hui, a broad term for Chinese Muslims, serve up spicy noodles, lamb kababs and flatbread (bing). Tibetan food choices are concentrated around the train station, mostly small places the serve momos and noodles and seat guests on small coaches.

Local food
There is a restaurant area right next to the Shuijing Xiang Bazaar, in the center of the city, and throughout the evening and into the night there are many street stalls serving good food around Ximen and on the western side of Jianguo Road.

Western food
Western food options are very slim, but not bad for a city so remote.

Coffee
The city is littered with small coffee shops, especially around the newer apartment complexes that are being developed. See below for some of the better ones.

Alcohol
A number of bars are located at the end of the city's main snack street. These tiny places each have only a dozen tables, and all offer extensive drink specials. Beer starts at ¥6 for a Tsingtao, but expensive imported liquor is also available. There is usually no cover charge.

Budget
There are dozens of small guesthouses near the train and long distance bus station. Look for the characters "招待所," which in this part of town are on every other building. Most places seem aimable to taking foreigners, and prices range from ¥10 in a grimy four-room bunk (expect the other occupants to smoke in the room all night long) to ¥100 for a deluxe double. More guesthouses can be found around the town's West Gate, or Ximen.

Go next
The new train has two useful locations either side - one is the local bus depot, the other the long distance bus station. The long distance bus station has a Tourism Information Desk and is geared up to help tourists - the staff are very helpful. Don't count on anyone speaking English however.

From the long distance bus station next to the train station you can purchase tickets for a direct tourist bus which will take you to Qinghai Lake, Kanbula Forest Park and Kumbum Monastery in one day. This government run service is around ¥100. Site admissions are extra. First bus leaves at 8:30AM with others put on with demand. Centre opens at 6:30AM and closes around 6PM (!)

 * Kumbum Monastery (塔尔寺 Tǎ'ěrsì) - one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist sites in China, in the village of Huangzhong.
 * Tongren
 * Tu Minority Village - located at Weiyuanzhen (威远镇) Old Village, 32 km from Xining
 * Qinghaihu National Park (青海湖 - also called Lake Koko Nor) - this 5,694 km lake is the largest lake in China.
 * Kanbula Forest Park - about a 2-3 hr bus ride from Xining, great for a day trip or overnight. Spectacular mountains and danxia landscapes, and beautiful Lijia Reservoir. ¥240/person entrance fee.
 * Guide (贵德) - Take a bus to this charming, predominantly tTbetan village, beyond the southern mountains from the west bus stop.

Note that China Rail has completely reformed its tickiet booking processes. It is now difficult for ticket scalper a to operate, despite what is reported about Xining elsewhere. In the middle of October Festival 2016 tickets were available a few days in advance to almost any destination available.

Trips from Xining travel agencies offer apparently cheap ¥60 day trips to Qinghaihu National Park. This price does not include entry to 丹噶尔 old town (¥50), 赞普林卡 (¥40), 日月山 (¥40) or the wharf at Qinghaihu (Much100) [the 'park' itself]. The last of these seems the most overpriced for what it is - but you are expected to pay. There may be a couple of forced shopping stops, including a minimum 30-minute wait at a jade/crystal sales outlet.

 * Xining is also the northeastern terminus for the Qinghai–Tibet railway leading to Golmud and Lhasa.

title: Xining


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Xinjiang

Xinjiang (Uyghur: شىنجاڭ, Shinjiang ; Mandarin: 新疆, Xīnjiāng), officially known as the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region located in the North West of China. The region is the main home of China's ethnic Uyghur population, is the largest province in China, and shares borders with Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and the disputed Kashmir territory, effectively making Xinjiang a strategic gateway to Central Asia and South Asia.

Since Xinjiang's incorporation into China, the region has had a particularly turbulent history, and has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Putting the negative publicity aside, travel provides one the opportunity to explore and experience a culturally unique area in China, one that is predominantly Turkic-speaking and one where Islam is the main and dominant religion.

Xinjiang is often overlooked, but the region has a great number of tourist and travel opportunities. It is a popular destination for domestic Chinese tourists, who come here to experience the vastly different culture from their hometowns in the Han Chinese heartland. Ethnic Uyghurs place a strong emphasis on the Islamic tradition of hospitality, which is why you, as a tourist, may be showered with a lot of care and hospitality.

Cities

 * (also known as Wulumuqi) — the capital city and starting point for most travel in Xinjiang
 * — part of the Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and the starting point for most travel in Northern Xinjiang
 * (also known as Qiemo)
 * — known for its melons
 * (Kashi) — a predominantly Uyghur city and the cultural center of Xinjiang
 * (also known as Hotan or Hetian)
 * — a predominantly Uyghur city, known for the Emin Mosque and its iconic minaret, and for being China's main centre of raisin production
 * (also known as Shache)

Other destinations

 * — a national park on the crossroads of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Russia

Politics and government
Xinjiang is officially known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR, Mandarin: 新疆维吾尔自治区, Xīnjiāng Wéiwú'ěr Zìzhìqū; Uyghur: شىنجاڭ ئۇيغۇر ئاپتونوم رايونى, Shinjang Uyghur Aptonom Rayoni). It is one of five autonomous regions within the People's Republic of China.

Some Xinjiang county-level cities are administered by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (Mandarin: 新疆生产建设兵团, Xīnjiāng Shēngchǎn Jiànshè Bīngtuán; Uyghur: شىنجاڭ ئىشلەپچىقىرىش قۇرۇلۇش بىڭتۇەنى, Shinjang Ishlepchiqirish Qurulush Bingtueni), a paramilitary organization that is sanctioned by Western countries for human rights violations. Apart from its name, it essentially functions as a parallel government from XUAR while also runs their own businesses, a function that traces back to the planned economy era.

Under Chinese law, autonomous regions are entitled to more rights and privileges — such as declaring additional official languages and public holidays — but they have no legal right to secede.

People
Xinjiang is a mosaic of different cultures, with Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Han Chinese being the largest ethnic groups in the region. Xinjiang is one area where Han Chinese are a minority.

Uyghurs are the largest ethnic group in the region and make up 40-50% of the population in the region. Most Uyghurs live in Eastern and Southern Xinjiang and form the majority in cities such as Khotan and Kashgar. The vast majority of Uyghurs are Sunni Muslims. The Uyghurs were mostly a sedentary people, building impressive cities and Islamic monuments along the old Silk Road.

Han Chinese are the second largest ethnic group in the region and make up 30-40% of the population in the region. When Xinjiang was formally incorporated into China, many Han Chinese were encouraged by the government to migrate to Xinjiang in search of better economic opportunities.

Kazakhs are the third largest ethnic group in the region and make up 6-10% of the population in the region. Most Kazakhs live in Northern Xinjiang and form the majority in cities such as Aletai. Kazakhs are one of fifty-six ethnic groups recognised by the Chinese government and virtually all Kazakhs are Sunni Muslims. The traditional Kazakh nomadic way of life, which has all but disappeared in Kazakhstan, is still preserved by some of the Kazakhs in Xinjiang.

History
The northwestern border region of Xinjiang, is lauded variously as a land of song and dance, melons and fruits, precious stones and carpets. Xinjiang was a key link on the Silk Road and a hub for east-west cultural exchanges in ancient times. The local folklore is rich and varied. The historical name of the region is East Turkestan, which is also the name used by Uyghur independence activists. The region has passed between the control of various empires throughout its history—the Xiongnu early on, the Chinese Han (206 B.C. to A.D. 220) and Tang (618-908) dynasties, the Tibetan Empire, the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, the Uyghur Khaganate, the Mongol Empire (1206–1687), the Dzungar Khanate, and several other kingdoms in between. It came under Chinese control again after being conquered by the Qing Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in 1755.

Following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, it became officially part of the Republic of China, but had to deal with infighting among numerous Uyghur subgroups, as well as multiple independence movements. These were all defeated by the Han Chinese warlord Sheng Shicai, who controlled much of the area for the latter part of the Republic of China era. The northern parts of Xinjiang would later declare independence as the East Turkestan Republic with Soviet support in 1944. Chinese government control would only be re-established following the communist victory and establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Like other parts of China, Xinjiang suffered greatly during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), when religion and traditional culture were targeted for extermination and banned. As a result of this policy, all mosques were closed, and the local religious leaders were imprisoned. As part of the Cultural Revolution, many of the "bourgeoisie" were forcibly relocated and sent to perform manual labor in rural areas, resulting in a large number of Han Chinese being forcibly relocated from the eastern provinces to Xinjiang. Following Mao Zedong's death in 1976, and Deng Xiaoping's rise to power in 1978, as part of Deng's reforms, restrictions on religion were relaxed, the mosques were reopened, and traditional culture was allowed to come back. The Han Chinese who were forcibly relocated were allowed to return home, though many chose to stay and settle in Xinjiang.

The province is largely populated by ethnic minority groups, such as the Hui, Mongols, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Tatars, Uyghurs, Xibe and "Tajiks". Despite the official name, the Tajiks of Xinjiang are not the same ethnic group as the Tajiks of Tajikistan, though their languages are in the same language family as Persian. Like Tibet, the demographic composition of the province has shifted over the past few decades. In 1949, Xinjiang's population was approximately 85% Uyghur and 8% Han Chinese; today it is about 45% Uyghur and 40% Han Chinese. This influx of Han Chinese has led to ethnic tension in the region that every few years culminates in violence, and there is an active independence movement among the ethnic Uyghurs. While you travel, you may take note of the fact that almost all cities with major Han and Uyghur populations are segregated into distinct districts. This division extends even to the time zone; while the official time zone is Beijing time (GMT +8), some ethnic Uyghurs use GMT +6 as a symbol of defiance against Beijing.

Traditionally, most of the ethnic groups in Xinjiang had been adherents of Sufi Islam, most of them being Sunni Muslims, though the "Tajiks" are mostly Shia Muslims. Attitudes toward alcohol have traditionally been more liberal in Xinjiang than in other Muslim societies, and there is a long tradition of winemaking among the Uyghurs. Saudi-style Wahhabi Islam has been making inroads since the 1990s, though this interpretation of Islam is controversial among Chinese Muslims. Buddhism is also practised in Xinjiang, with the ethnic Mongol minority mostly being followers of Tibetan Buddhism.

Today Xinjiang is seen as a key part of China's Belt and Road initiative, and also known for its vast hydrocarbon reserves. Already Kashgar is feeling the effects of the railway line completed in 1997. This town at the centre of the Silk Road is seeing its winding mud brick streets becoming gradually widened, and its traditional buildings being modernised.

In 2018, in reaction to a series of violent attacks by Uyghur Islamist separatists, the Chinese authorities have cracked down on local activities and religious practices. Large detention camps have been built and numerous Uyghurs have been detained. The governments of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and numerous other Western countries officially consider the crackdown to be a genocide, though the Chinese government denies this and instead claims that it is a vocational training programme whose aim is to de-radicalise Islamist extremists.

Recommended reading for those interested includes Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang by James Millward and The Mummies of Urumqi by Elizabeth Wayland Barber. Most great game literature also covers aspects of Xinjiang's history. Blogs covering current events in Xinjiang include the New Dominion, the Opposite End of China, and Far West China.

Xinjiang also administers the Trans-Karakoram Tract and Aksai Chin Plateau, which while controlled by China are also claimed by India.

Holidays
In addition to the nationwide public holidays observed throughout China, Xinjiang also observes the two Muslim festivals of Eid al-Fitr (肉孜节) and Eid al-Adha (古尔邦节) as public holidays.

Talk
As everywhere in China, the official language is Mandarin. However, many other languages are spoken in Xinjiang. The most common is Uyghur, a Turkic language similar to Uzbek but written in Arabic script, which is co-official with Mandarin within the region. Most government signage is bilingual in Uyghur and Chinese. There are also several Uyghur television channels, and Uyghur-owned restaurants usually have bilingual menus.

Kazakh is an official language in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in the northernmost part of the province, which is sandwiched between Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Unlike in Kazakhstan, which uses the Cyrillic alphabet, Kazakh is written using the Arabic script in China.

Other languages include Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Mongolian, and Xibe (mutually intelligible with Manchu). Some of these languages are co-official with Uyghur and Mandarin in certain specific counties and prefectures. Traditionally, Uyghur has been a lingua franca among the diverse ethnic groups of the region, but that role is increasingly filled by Mandarin.

Get in
For more information on how to enter Xinjiang, refer to the "Get in" section of the China article. Unlike Tibet, foreigners do not need any special permits to visit Xinjiang.

By plane
More than 50 cities in China have domestic direct flights to Xinjiang's provincial capital Urumqi, as have 14 cities internationally: Almaty, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Bishkek, Osh, Tashkent, Dushanbe, Istanbul, Baku, Dubai, Islamabad, Kabul, Kyiv and Tbilisi. There are direct flights from Urumqi to prefectural centres like Kashgar, Khotan, Aksu, Koerla, Karamay, Altay, Yining (ghulja), Tacheng(chochak) and Hami(kumul).

By train
Xinjiang is connected with the rest of China by Lanxin railway. Direct train runs from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and most other cities. A trip from Beijing to Urumqi is scheduled to take slightly over 33 hours. There are also two international trains weekly to Kazakhstan.

Get around
Unlike Tibet, foreigners are not required to join a package tour to visit Xinjiang, and you may travel around the province freely.

By plane
Xinjiang is the biggest province in China. If you have more money than time, considering taking a flight between cities such as Urumqi and Kashgar might be a better option than the 22-hour train ride.

By shared taxi (客运)
In most cities of Xinjiang there are shared taxi/minibuses that travel between cities. It is especially useful if you want to travel to smaller ones, visit a sight nearby, or go to border towns. Since they are public the price is often much less than taking a taxi by yourself. There will be a time printed on your ticket but they usually leave before if the car is full. You can find them at the intercity bus station, 客运站 (Keyunzhan), make sure to bring your passport.

See
Xinjiang is a very diverse province, and there are many opportunities for visitors to experience various minority cultures while travelling around. The Uyghurs are a sedentary Turkic ethnic group, and traditional Uyghur old towns are still well-preserved in the Uyghur-majority cities in like Kashgar, Khotan, Yarkand and Turpan. In the north, many of the ethnic Kazakhs and Kyrgyz still retain their traditional nomadic lifestyles, and you can often see Kazakh and Kyrgyz herders and their yurts in the wide open spaces between towns and villages. The Kazakhs and Kyrgyz also have a tradition of hunting with eagles that you might be able to catch if you are lucky.

Itineraries
During the Han and Tang dynasties, silk products and other goods were shipped to the capital city of Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), where the Silk Road started, and then they were transferred by a constant flow of caravans along the Hexi Corridor to Europe by way of Xinjiang, where three routes were used to avoid the Taklimakan Desert

Do
You can visit the best preserved ancient city Ruins around Turpan; study Uyghur culture and language in Kashgar; enjoy amazing scenery of snow capped mountains on the Karakoram Highway; camel trekking into the desert near Khotan and live with nomadic people on the grassland in North Xinjiang.

Buy
Xinjiang is famous for Uyghur carpets, most notably the cities of Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan. In northern Xinjiang, the ethnic Kazakhs also have their own distinctive carpet weaving tradition, which is shared with their counterparts in Kazakhstan.

Eat
At the risk of stating the obvious, Xinjiang is an excellent place to try Uyghur cuisine, which bears more similarities to Central Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines than to Han Chinese cuisine.

Lamb. Barbecued, grilled, fried, boiled, you name it, they eat it. Try it in Kǎo bāozi (烤包子), on a shish kabob called chuànr (串) or in certain places stuffed into naan called ròunáng (肉馕). Uyghur-style lamb kebabs are well-known across China, and are considered to be the representative dish of Xinjiang cuisine.

Naan. Náng (馕) in Mandarin. Comes in all sizes and will be sold on the street in every city - some plain, some with onion or spring onion added in. You can also ask them to warm it for you it has gone cold (if your Mandarin is rusty, gesture at the oven - it is much better warm).

Yoghurt is popular among the Uyghurs.

Watermelons. Ubiquitous small round tasty watermelons, in some cities at every second street-corner. Renowned throughout all of China.

Grapes & raisins. Particularly sweet because of the high amount of sunlight and low amount of water where they're grown, particularly in Turpan.

Walnuts, for which the region is known.

Melons. The city of Hami is famous among the Chinese for is Hami melons.

Drink
Wusu beer. Probably only 4% Chinese beer, produced in Wusu City, Xinjiang. Red Wine. In a region known for grapes, you can also find some OK wine. At least, it is much, much better than the Great Wall wine found elsewhere in China - though not quite up to international standards. If you spend more than ¥50 you should get something that's better than red water. The traditional Uyghur winemaking method continues to survive in the region around Kashgar.

Sleep
In Xinjiang, same as in many other places all over China, foreigners are only allowed to stay at certain hotels/hostels that have a licence for hosting foreigners. When booking online many will therefore write that you are required to have a Mainland Chinese ID-card to do so, if you are uncertain it might be wise to contact the place and ask first. In smaller cities such as Yining there are no hostels and only a handful mid-range hotels are available. As a tourist you are not allowed to stay in residential areas either, so have that in mind if you plan on couchsurfing or similar.

Terrorism
With an active and sometimes violent independence movement, Xinjiang has a reputation for being dangerous. The early 2010s saw high-profile bombings and attacks. The subsequent government crackdown is credited with reducing the risk of violence, though concerns about security remain.

Surveillance
Since 2014, China has effectively turned Xinjiang into a digital police state, layering the region with facial-recognition cameras, checkpoints, armored security, and police stations every several hundred meters in city centers. If you are considered a person of interest, such as a journalist, diplomat, or NGO worker, there is a high chance you will be followed by undercover police officers 24 hours a day. Calls and messages are monitored, cars and taxis are tracked by police, and discussing anything sensitive with locals could result in extremely dire consequences for them, including arrest and detention in a sprawling network of internment camps that outside groups estimate hold at least a million people.

Theft
Xinjiang is home to a lively bazaar culture where anything and everything is traded. But hordes of people crammed into confined spaces also present a prime opportunity for pickpockets, who often operate in teams and can be very efficient at what they do. Be very careful with your valuables when you are out and about. As a foreign traveller, you are a prime target.

Counterfeit notes
Be careful when paying with ¥100 notes in smaller restaurants or shops. The owner may switch the note with a counterfeit one and claim that you gave him/her a fake note. You should also check your notes when you are returned your hotel deposit.

Go next
If you plan on staying for long in China, you can even pay a visit to Tibet (provided you have a visitor's permit).

Korgas and Alashankou lead to Kazakhstan, the Torugart and Irkeshtam passes lead to Kyrgyzstan, the Kulma pass leads to Tajikistan, and the Karakorum Highway leads south to Pakistan (which is closed). You can get visas for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in Urumqi.

To/from Mongolia, Hovd Province.

Takeshiken (塔克什肯镇) – Bulgan border crossing

This border crossing links the western Mongolian province of Hovd with the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔族自治区) in the far west of China. This crossing is less frequented by all kinds of travelers, although it’s gaining more popularity owing to its geographical and cultural location.

It traverses the ever impressive Altai Mountains, a cordillera that gives name to the (rather disputed) ethno-linguistic group, the Altaic people. It is a broad term that groups together the Mongols, Manchus, Koreans, Japanese and Turkic peoples.

From China (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region):

Buses leave daily from Urumqi to Qinghe county (青河县), a small town 150 km from Takeshiken and it takes 8 hours during the day, at night 11 hours – ¥160 (Takeshiken is administratively a part of Aletai Prefecture (阿勒泰市), Qinghe County). Then it’s 15 km more to reach the border, should be a quick ¥15 cab. After the border, a ride to Bulgan shoud be easy to find.

From Mongolia:

Start from the aimag (province) capital of Hovd. Go to the bazaar or market and see whose van is taking people to the town of Bulgan. Price is 25,000 Mongolian togrog per person and journey time is around 5 hours. Much less than is mentioned in other online sources, due to a new paved road that has been built (by the Chinese). It is still another few kilometers to get to the actual border crossing so ask the same driver that took you here or somebody else in town take you there. It’s another 5000 togrog to get there.

There is a town half way to the border, called Jargalant. Beware if you get stuck here, there are a million mosquitoes waiting to suck your blood and it’s quite an unpleasant experience. Prepare repellants.

title: Xinjiang


text:
Xinlong

Xinlong (新龙; Xīnlóng) is the capital city of Nyarong. Altitude 3050m. Barshok in Tibetan.

Private minibus

 * From Litang - Around ¥80 per person. About six hours along some good, and some bad roads. Watch out for soaring eagles and old watch-towers along the River Yalong
 * From Ganzi - Around ¥30 per person. About three hours along good roads. More watch-towers and impressive scenery.

See

 * Zera Gompa Monastery
 * Kalzang Gompa - 1 1/2hours drive. Nyala Pema Dudul's monastery in Shanglangshi (Pinyin: Xionglongxi) Township on the sacred Mt. Drokar with Kalzang Gompa and a traditional wildlife sanctuary. The monastic community succefully protects the wildlife and it is easy to see blue sheep.

Sleep

 * Hotel - 51 Renmin Lu.
 * Hotel - 11 Zhong Xin Jie. Clean and comfortable room. Friendly staff. ¥60 for a twin.

Cope

 * Banking - Agricultural Bank of China without ATM on Renmin Lu.

Connect

 * Internet - Available at 96 Renmin Lu. ¥4/hour.
 * Post - China Post on Renmin Lu.

title: Xinlong


text:
Xinxiang

Xinxiang (新乡; Xīnxiāng) is located in the north of Henan Province.Xinxiang City is bordered by the Yellow River in the south and Zhengzhou and Kaifeng; Hebi and Anyang in the north; Jiaozuo and Shanxi in the west; and Puyang and Shandong in the east. It dates from the Sui Dynasty, about 600 CE.

Understand
Located in the north of Henan Province, south of the Yellow River, with Zhengzhou and Kaifeng across the river. Xinxiang City is an important part of Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area, the first batch of national highway transport hub cities in northern Henan, a national civilised city, a national health city, a national forest city and a national circular economy demonstration city.

Climate
Xinxiang has a temperate continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons.Influenced by the North China Plain and Taihang Mountains, the climate of Xinxiang is dry, windy and the temperature varies greatly. The climate type of Xinxiang belongs to the junction of Mediterranean climate and temperate continental climate, so the weather changes more violently.The climate of Xinxiang is almost the same as that of Zhengzhou.

Spring is the season when the temperature rises in Xinxiang, the temperature gradually rises, and the precipitation gradually increases. Spring temperatures are suitable for travel and outdoor activities.

Summer is the hottest season in Xinxiang, with high temperature and precipitation. Long sunshine, suitable for swimming and water sports.

Winter is the coldest season in Xinxiang, with low temperature and little precipitation. Winter is suitable for skiing and other winter sports.

History
Xinxiang was first named in the Sui Dynasty and has a history of more than 1400 years. Xinxiang has a long history, with sites of Yangshao and Longshan cultures, and is one of the important origins of The Book of Poetry. Historical records, the Sui Emperor opened the emperor six years (AD 586), take the new town of Jixian county first and last two words as the county name, cut Jia, Jixian county part of the land, that is, Xinxiang County, this is the beginning of the name of Xinxiang. The county office is in Xinle City, which is now the old county seat of Xinxiang County.

Culture

 *  Muye culture (牧野文化）centered on Wei Hui) is a sub-culture of Hanoi culture. In the summer and Shang period, after the transfer of Geng. The Hanoi area became the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, and the Shang Dynasty created the bronze culture of the site lamp. The oracle bone culture, and the capital of the Mu Xia and Shang period are in Henan. These favorable factors affected the economic and cultural development of Muye area, making Xinxiang one of the earliest areas to enter the civilization era.
 * Grand Canal culture (大运河文化Xinxiang is the only city in Henan that can see the historical waterway of the Grand Canal. The Xinxiang section of the Grand Canal, now known as the Weihe Xinxiang section, is an important component of the Yongji Canal of the Sui and Tang Dynasties Grand Canal. It has a history of over 1400 years since its excavation and use in the fourth year of the Daye reign of Emperor Yang of Sui (608 AD). Before the Sui Dynasty, Weihe was known as "Qingshui". In the fourth year of Emperor Yang's Daye reign (608 AD), the Yongji Canal was excavated. The Sui and Tang dynasties referred to it as the "Yongji Canal". In the Northern Song Dynasty, the Yongji Canal was renamed as the Yuhe River. In the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD), the Yuhe River was renamed as the Weihe River. Since then, the name of the Weihe River has not been changed and is still in use today.
 * Yellow River culture (黄河文化）Since the ancient flood and famine period, Xinxiang, an ancient land, has been associated with the Yellow River, and the Yellow River culture contained in it has a long and profound roots. The ancestors of the Longshan Culture period lived here by the river and were deeply cared for and nurtured by the Yellow River mother. The accompanying Yellow River culture is clear and profound, and has been passed down through generations. Since the legend of Gonggong Water Control 4000 years ago, and the Battle between the Youhu Clan and Xia Qi in "Gan", the shocking events and heroic deeds within Xinxiang have been continuously recorded in history, such as the dynastic changes of the Muye War Drum, the bloody battles during the war years, and the role models of advanced groups, giving this place rich cultural connotations of the Yellow River and bursting out the spirit of the Yellow River that dares to be the first.

By plane
The nearest major airport is Zhengzhou's Xinzheng Airport. Frequent high-speed C trains connect this airport to Zhengzhou East Railway Station, where you can transfer to a train to Xinxiang.

By bus

There are also north and east bus stations.

Get around
Like most cities in China, there is a reasonable taxi system, and buses. The two railway stations are linked by bus 66 several times per hour (¥1, about 45 minutes).

The starting price during the day is RMB 6 per 2 kilometres, and the fare per kilometre after 2 kilometres is RMB 1.60.Night taxis start at RMB 7 per 2km and cost RMB 1.6 per kilometre from 22:00 to 5:00 the following day.

Downtown

Huixian County

 * 千年古寺-白云寺 - panoramio.jpg

 * 新乡关山 - panoramio.jpg

 * 金牛寺上看郭亮 - panoramio (1).jpg

City Walk

Festivals

 * Xinxiang Fengqiu pomegranate Festival（新乡封丘石榴节）：The first pomegranate Festival in Fengqiu County was held from September 28 to 30, 2001 in the historic and cultural town of Chenqiao Town, and then held once a year. Chenqiao pomegranate has more than 30 varieties such as red pomegranate, white stone pomegranate, green bark and copper bark.Here, you can taste different flavors of pomegranates
 * Xinxiang Fengqiu honeysuckle Festival（新乡封丘金银花节）： has been successfully held for 3 sessions. It is held on May 10 every year in Sizhuang Township. The cultivation of honeysuckle in Fengqiu County has a history of more than one hundred years. It is famous at home and abroad for its large flower fertilizer, fresh green color and high medicinal value.Here, you can learn about honeysuckle culture and see high-quality honeysuckle.
 * Xinxiang Coffee Market（新乡咖啡集市）: The first coffee market was successfully held on May 1, 2021. By 2023, three events have been held. The venue of the coffee market is not fixed, and the information of the event venue will be published on the Internet before the start.If you are a coffee lover, you can come here on May 1 and try the special brew.

Universities
There are a total of ten universities in Xinxiang, among which the most famous are the following five universities. If you come to Xinxiang for tourism, you can come and visit the universities here. The campus environments of these universities not only have their own characteristics, but also have a strong learning atmosphere for students.Coming here can give you a strong motivation to work hard and a youthful atmosphere.

Specialty product
Xinxiang's specialty products are mainly food. Therefore, if you come to visit Xinxiang, you can buy some specialty food back.

 * Li Ji Shaoji（李记烧鸡）：is a traditional Chinese flavor dish. Part of the cooking method is to deep-fry the chicken coated with caramelized sugar, and then cook it in a marinade made of spices. The finished Shaoji is characterized by fresh and tasty meat, fat but not greasy and rotten but not falling apart.In Xinxiang, Li Ji Shaoji is more flavorful than any other brand of roasted chicken. And it is moderately salty and sweet with less oiliness. It's a great gift to take home.
 * Niu Zhongxi Shaobing（牛忠喜烧饼）：Special filling Shaobing from Xinxiang. Ranked first in the list of must-buy special products in Xinxiang City. There are 15 flavors of Shaobing, including 8 sweet fillings and 7 savory fillings. Its stores have special gift box sets that are perfect for giving gifts.
 * MIDUOQI（米多奇）：Xinxiang leisure food brand. The specialty is baked steamed bun slices. Xinxiang people always like to buy some MIDUOQI for their friends from out of town.If your spleen and stomach moisture is heavy, eating baked steamed bun slices will relieve this situation.
 * Fridge magnet：You can buy some fridge magnet with special scenic spot in Xinxiang.To prove that you traveled to Xinxiang.

Shopping malls
Xinxiang has four large shopping malls and many small markets. We mainly introduce four big shopping malls.

Eat

 * Shi Kui beef（世魁牛肉）：in the Xinxiang City, a century of marinated beef brand, has been more than 100 years of history. Characteristics: First, clean and tidy, steaming out of the beef for shaping, large pieces are large pieces, small pieces listed as minced meat, minced depending on the circumstances of the pricing; Second, the color and flavor are good, because it is the ancestral curing and steaming process, its meat to show a slightly red and fresh, taste through the bone marrow of the unique qualities.
 * YuanYang lamb Huimian（原阳羊肉烩面）： is a famous pasta in Henan, and each city and county in Henan has different characteristics because of different practices and customs. Xinxiang city Yuanyang Huimian are more characteristic, the soup fat and thin, fragrant and refreshing, nutritious, unique flavor.
 * Fengqiu Juan Jian（封丘卷尖）：is a local famous dish in Fengqiu County, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, which belongs to the Henan cuisine. It is a dish made of pork, eggs, gorgon euryale powder and various spices. The taste is fragrant and refreshing, and the meat is fat but not greasy.
 * Su Ji Nailao（苏记奶酪）：unique to Xinxiang milk smoothie ice cream. It has red beans, raisins, chocolate and other small ingredients to go with it. Locals often serve Nailao with cold noodles as a combo.
 * Sugar and vinegar malatang（糖醋麻辣烫）：You can't eat it outside of Xinxiang. Different from the common malatang, the taste of Xinxiang Malatang has the sour taste of vinegar, the sweet taste of granulated sugar and the spicy taste of hot pot.
 * Stewed Lamb in Brown Sauce（红焖羊肉）：It is a kind of special food in Xinxiang City, Henan province. The Stewed Lamb in Brown Sauce is mutton, the ingredients are red dates, wolfberry, etc., and the spices are hot sauce, salt, pepper, etc., through the practice of braising. Braised mutton pays attention to the heat, accessories, ingredients, eating methods and so on.Its characteristic is that the first bite is very tough and chewy, but it is easy to chew. The Mutton tendon is very tender. Therefore, you will be very satisfied if you eat a whole mouthful.

Café

 * Qing Tianjian（晴天见奶盖茶）：Xinxiang local brand milk tea shop. Featuring cheese milk cover tea, it attracts people to taste it. Baolong Huanhu Commercial Street, Hongqi District.
 * Sun Mao（榫卯）：With the theme of new Chinese style. Coffee cups and interior style are related to Chinese elements. Hongqi District Muye Avenue (in) Yitong One World.
 * Tree A Third（树一分之一）：It's a Japanese style bread cafe. Hongqi District Qu East Yinhuang East Road No. 30.
 * Coffee Art College（咖啡美院）：It's a coffee shop run by a group of art students. The owners not only designed the unique decoration of the store, but also designed the distinctive graffiti paper cups. It is about 200 meters south of Huilong Sunshine Community, Renmin Road, Hongqi District.
 * Red Coffee（红咖啡）: about 200 meters south of Huilong Sunshine Community, Renmin Road, Hongqi District.

Bar

 * Jingniang（鲸酿）：They have a lot of their own Homemade cocktail. Located in Xinxiang Hongqi District Friendship Road Baolong Square East F1.
 * Insomnia penguin（失眠企鹅精酿）：An original beer shop. There's a lot of fruity beer made by the owner. It is in C2, West Street, West Street, Hongqi District.
 * Qian Bai Bei（千百杯）：New Chinese style tavern. In addition to cocktails and beer, they also take Chongqing cuisine as one of the specialties. Hongqi District New second Street and Youyi Road intersection to the south of 50 meters east Road.

Budget

 * Minshuku：There are many Minshuku  in Xinxiang City. Many locals are selling their vacant houses for short-term rent. So the price is much cheaper than the hotel.You can make a reservation through the app in China.

Mid-priced

 * Home Inn：It is a national hotel, so prices are moderate and there is no cheating. It is suitable for ordinary families. The hotel includes breakfast.
 * Mi Nuosi Hotel: It's a theme hotel. When you check in, you can choose your favorite theme room. He is located in Jinsui Avenue and new second Street intersection Jingye AD International. It is close to the mall.

Splurge

 * JI Hotel: Huazhu Group is a high-end hotel brand. The price is high, but the environment is good. Breakfast was also delicious.
 * New Century Hotel: It is close to the Xinxiang municipal government. Surrounded by parks, the surrounding environment is quiet and the air is fresh. Suitable for families with elderly travel.

Phone

 * China's country code is 86. Xinxiang's area code is 0373. When calling from overseas, dial +86 373 XXXX-XXXX .Local landline phone numbers are eight digits long; cellular phone numbers in Henan are eleven digits long and start with 13,14,15,17, or 18.

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

Internet

 * Internet access can be found in most guesthouses and through cheap internet cafes all over town. Look out for Web-character 网 and the Bar-character 吧 in the Chinese name for internet bar: 网吧.
 * Foreigners are usually not able to use the public internet cafés because one must register using one's Chinese ID card (身份证), which foreigners do not possess. This is not a problem at hotels and guesthouses.

Stay healthy

Go next
Zheng Zhou: The capital city of Henan Province. You can feel the strong culture of the Central Plains there.

Luo Yang: Here, you feel as if you have traveled to the ancient capital of the Tang Dynasty. You can admire the ancient city walls and feel the ancient civilization deeply.

He Ze: Xinxiang is adjacent to Heze. But Xinxiang is Henan Province, Heze is Shandong province. Therefore, you can quickly experience the cultural differences between Shandong and Henan.

title: Xinxiang


text:
Xinyu

Xinyu (新余 Xīnyú) is a city in Jiangxi Province.

Do
Walk in the North Lake Road in the sunset. It's an avenue surrounded by nice trees in the upper class resident area. Starting from the dusk, local people all come out walking, chatting in their very relaxing dress, enjoying the shadowed road and glass slopes in the North Lake Park.

Eat
Fish and Tofu Stew (豆腐鱼). A specialty dish in the Jiangxi region, Fish and Tofu Stew is typically prepared by simmering fish and tofu together, creating a delicious and savory flavor.

Xinyu Rice Noodles (新余米线). Xinyu Rice Noodles are a traditional noodle dish in the local cuisine, known for their thin and smooth texture. They can be paired with various soup bases and toppings.

Lake Fish Rice (湖鱼米饭). Situated in an area rich in lakes, Xinyu is known for Lake Fish Rice, a dish made by cooking locally sourced fresh lake fish with rice, resulting in a flavorful and satisfying meal.

Drink
Lake Tea Culture (湖泊茶文化). Due to the proximity of lakes in the Xinyu region, there may be a tea culture centered around the lakes.

title: Xinyu


text:
Xixia Wangling National Park

Xixia Wangling National Park (西夏王陵国家公园) is in the Ningxia Autonomous Region of China.

Understand
Nine tombs of Western Xia kings and more than 140 companion tombs with the remains of major imperial family members and aristocrats are laid out according to the contours of the terrain in an area of 50 km² on the eastern side of Helan Shan. Each tomb was an independent architectural complex more than 100,000 m² in area, complete with turrets, archways, stele pavilions, outer walls, inner cities, memorial halls, pagoda-shaped altars, and divine walls. It is one of the largest and best protected imperial cemeteries in China.

History
Western Xia kingdom, 1038 to 1227 CE.

Get in
Tourist bus 1 leaves from the small tourist bus station on Xinyue Square (新月广场; xinyue guangchang), Yinchuan, close to the intersection of Beijing Road and Qinghe street, next to the Yinchuan Islamic center (银川清真美食文化城). It stops along Beijing Road, including near Yinchuan Station, before going to the tombs. The bus leaves at 9AM, costs ¥8, and takes one hour to reach the Park. After 2-3 hours for visiting, it returns for ¥8.

A 20-minute taxi ride from Yinchuan costs around ¥100 return, including waiting time.

Fees and permits

Bus from Xinyue bus station ¥8 one way. The conductor can sell you tickets to the park for ¥85 instead of ¥95

Get around
The park shuttle bus connects the gate, the museum, and the twin tombs 5km away. It is also possible to walk or rent a bike to explore the site

See
The Xi Xia Mausoleums (Xi Xia Tombs) are at the base of the middle section of the eastern slope of Helan Mountain, 30 km west of Yinchuan. They have been declared a state-level scenic spot and major national cultural monument under special protection.

title: Xixia Wangling National Park


text:
Xixuau

Xixuau is in Amazonas of Brasil.

Xixuau is a small village along the Rio Jauaperi, an affluent of the Rio Negro, inside the Extractive Reserve Baixo Rio Branco-Rio Jauaperi. The people living there form a community like others that can be found in the forest along the rivers. Often people move from a community to another one.

No fees or permits are required but in order to be well accepted by the community you need to get in touch with them through the Amazonia NGO.

Flora and fauna
The area is home to giant river otters, armadillos, capuchin and spider monkeys, marmosets, tree frogs, tapirs, turtles, sloths and stunning butterflies. A host of beautiful bird species make the reserve a bird watcher’s paradise, including toucans, herons, macaws, eagles, parakeets and woodpeckers. The rivers teem with fish, from rainbow bass and surubim, to aruana and pacu. Pink river dolphins often accompany the canoe trips, while howler monkeys make the forest roar above you. Wildlife can also be found right inside the community itself – like the giant caiman that love the scraps from the Xixuau kitchens!

Get in
The community is located near the Rio Jauaperi. The coordinates are: 0º48.023’S, 61º33.476’W. From Manaus take the boat to Boa Vista that goes upstream the Rio Negro and get off the day after at Moura village where the Rio Jauaperi meets the Rio Negro. From there you have to go upstream the Rio Jauaperi. It will take about 30 hours of boat from Manaus.

Get around
When the waters are high (March – September) you can paddle through the flooded forest; when the waters are low (October – February), you can relax on beautiful sandy beaches. The rainforest may change with the seasons, but in Xixuau it is always beautiful and full of life.

See
All sort of plants and animals that live in the rainforest: monkeys, dolphins, caimans, snakes, aras, tucanos and a lot of others.

Do
Swimming, bird watching, walking in the rainforests

Buy
Handicrafts made by the women: necklaces, bracelets, eardrops made from forest products such as seeds and plants.

Eat
Your food will be wholesome, including delicious fresh fish, line-caught by local fishermen.

Sleep
Before getting there it is better to get in touch with the community through the Amazonia NGO association. Accommodation is in round wooden malocas: palm-thatched huts built in the style of the neighbouring Waimiri-Atroari indigenous people.

Stay safe
Some vaccinations are required before going in the amazon rainforest for the yellow fever and typhoid fever. Also suggested is the prophylaxis against malaria (Lariam or Malarone)

title: Xixuau


text:
Xlendi

Xlendi is a town on Gozo's south coast. Formerly a picture perfect Mediterranean fishing village, it has now been expanded to several times its old size by modern hotels and apartments. Because of this it follows Marsalforn in having the bulk of tourists staying there.

Get in
One can arrive in Xlendi by bus (number 87) from Victoria Bus Terminus.

Go next

 * Fontana
 * Kercem
 * Kewija
 * Munxar
 * San Katalo
 * Sannat
 * Ta' Kercem
 * Victoria

title: Xlendi


text:
Xora

Xora is a village in the Eastern Cape of South Africa notable for Bulungula Lodge, one of the most beautiful lodges in South Africa, and voted in the top 25 ethical tourism destinations in the world by Rough Guides.

Get in
As they say, paradise is hard to get to. Visit the website for detailed instructions.

Get around
On foot!

Buy
The nearest shop is about a 3.5 km walk away, and is very poorly equipped.

Eat
You can eat the daily prepared mail at the lodge, usually consisting of cereal or eggs, toast, bacon or veggie sausage and beans for breakfast, Xhosa bread or a traditional Xhosa meal for lunch, and a set Xhosa meal for supper. Alternatively, self-cater, or visit the village 'restaurant'.

Go next
Getting out can be harder than getting in, especially if it's been raining!

title: Xora


text:
Xpujil

Xpujil is a remote village in the state of Campeche, located at an important junction in the interior of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It offers the only services on Mexico's Federal Route 186 in the interior of the Yucatán. Xpujil is the nexus of the Ruta Rio Bec for travelers interested in Maya civilization. The Xpujil archaeology site, just west of the modern town of Xpujil has historically been a key reason for historical travelers to stop in the town.

Understand
The town is the nearest source of traveler services to several of the Maya sites that are part of the Ruta Rio Bec, including a fairly small Mayan archaeological site called Xpujil in the town itself. The town is not particularly close to the archaeological ruins and biosphere reserve at Calakmul, but is still the closest place you'll find a selection of hotels and restaurants.

By plane
The nearest airport with commercial flights is Chetumal. It is about 1-/1/2 to 2 hours from Xpujil by car or taxi.

By car
Highway 186 is well-paved and in mostly excellent condition, with little traffic. The road north connecting Xpujil with Holpelchén is narrow, most of it has been paved and is in excellent condition. However, there are portions of the road to the north of Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul that are in disrepair; littered with astonishingly deep potholes that resemble a never ending abyss into the depths of hell. Some travellers may want to avoid this route or expect to travel at a much slower speed. To the south of Xpujil, this road is an unimproved seasonal track.

By bus
Many buses, both first class and second class, traverse Route 186 and stop in Xpujil on their way to Chetumal or Escárcega. Colectivos also run between Chetumal and Xpujil.

From Campeche :

Second class buses are leaving from the small bus terminal close to the city centre (Av Gobernadores). Direct buses leave at 8:00, 13:30, and 18:00. Journey will take 5 to 6 hours and cost around M$300. It is also possible to get a colectivo or a bus to Escárcega and then another bus to Xpujil (Nov. 2023)

By train
Xpujil is a station on the Tren Maya, a high-speed intercity railway that traverses the Yucatan Peninsula. The train opened for paying passengers in December 2023 but the section through Xpujil will not open until sometime in 2024.

Get around
Xpujil is small enough to navigate by foot, and automobile traffic is very light off the main highway. Calle Chicaná is well lit with a paved sidewalk, and makes for a pleasant evening walk.

Maya Sites
You may want a rental 4x4 to traverse roads through the jungle to the Maya sites, or you can get to them by hiring a tour guide in Xpujil. There are many Maya sites near Xpujil, some of the main ones are:

Xpujil Archaeological Site
The ancient Mayan city of is just outside the town of Xpujil. The site is small, encompassing only two visible building groups: the main temple complex, and the three towers that mark Structure I. The original city covered an area of several square miles, but most of it has been covered by dense vegetation and is inaccessible.

Mayan architecture in this region is characterized by the Rio Bec style. Some Rio Bec features you can see at Xpujil include the mock pyramid architecture of the Main Temple with its steep staircases. Note the monster mask shape of the central doorway -- this too is a hallmark of Rio Bec style.

Structure I is the most interesting feature of Xpujil. Each of the three parts has a characteristic steep staircase, and there are mock staircases on the upper levels. Each of the three towers was topped by a pyramid, though only the central tower's pyramid is in good condition. The monster mask theme is carried through the three towers, with the giant serpent mouth of the central tower being the most unsettling.

Some additional ruins can be seen in the town itself. is covered in vines and is along a short trail at the end of Calle 2. is located at Villahermosa - Chetumal 600, Aviación. on C. Xmulten is thought to have been some kind of administrative building.

Balamku Archaeological Site
Balamku is a small site located 60 kilometers west of Xpujil. The site dates from about 300 BC and has one of the largest and most intricate stucco friezes of any Mayan site. The frieze measures almost 17 meters in length (55 feet). The site includes a large number of structures, with many platforms and smaller temples. Much of the site remains unexcavated. It is lightly visited and you are likely to be the only tourist there.

Chicanna Archaeological Site
Chicanna is the ruins of a medium-size city that was probably like a suburb of Becan. The most famous thing to see at Chicanna is the serpent mask doorway, which is remarkably crisp and well preserved. The doorway resembles the gaping jaws of serpent with jagged teeth across the base of the doorway. Along the sides you can see smaller serpent heads carved as relief sculptures.

Structure III is a restored pyramid with a residential wing with columns and two doorways.

Structure I is built using the classic Rio Bec architecture of non-functional pyramid towers on either side of another (though less impressive) serpent mask doorway. Between the doorways are a series of patterned doorways with 10 rooms inside.

Several smaller groups of ruins, identified on the site map as Groups A, B, C, and D contain smaller pyramid temples and other structures with some unexcavated mounds. Group D also has a large 2-story temple known as Structure XX with more serpent masks, doorways, and false stairways.

The site is compact and will probably take no more than 2 hours to adequately explore.

Ruta Rio Bec Archaeological Sites
The Ruta Rio Bec is a well-publicized tour route that includes much of the area near Xpujil. The route emphasizes Maya sites that reflect a style of architecture that prevailed in the region for a few centuries. The route was defined more than 30 years ago and does not officially include some more recently discovered sites. Sites on the route are marked with road signs making them easy to find.

One of the sites not included is Calakmul, one of the largest and most significant Maya sites in the Yucatan Peninsula. There are at least two companies offering day trips to the Calakmul archaeological site for M$350-400 (not including individual park and road fees). A driver may approach you outside the bus station or you can contact Calakmul Transporte Colectivo via Facebook. The day trips leave at 08:00, arrive at the site shortly after 10:00, and leave by 16:00, in time to make a stop at a nearby bat cave before sundown.

An ecotourism information center in Xpujil offers information and guided tours for the nearby Reserva de la Biósfera Calakmul.

Sleep
There are several hotels in Xpujil and a few places on the east side of town that offer camping areas and cabins. The Mexican government is building a 160-room resort hotel in Xpujil to handle the expected increase in tourist traffic as the new Tren Maya begins easy access to the interior of the Yucatan from big coastal areas like Cancun and Tulum. The new hotel was originally scheduled to open by December 2023, but will likely slip into early 2024.

Go next

 * Bacalar
 * Campeche
 * Edzna
 * Ruta Rio Bec

If you are heading to Chetumal, it is easy to catch either a colectivo or wait for enough people to fill up a taxi near the bus station for the 1½-2 hour ride.

title: Xpujil


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Xuan Thuy National Park

The Xuan Thuy National Park is in the north of Vietnam in the Giao Thuy District, Nam Dinh province, about 150 km south east of Hanoi.

History
Xuan Thuy was declared the country’s first Ramsar site by the Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in January 1989, it was upgraded from its status as a nature reserve and approved as a national park by the Prime Minister in 2003. Xuan Thuy was also included as part of the Red River Delta World Biosphere Heritage Site by UNESCO in October 2004.

Landscape
The national park has a total area of 15,000 ha, of which 7,100 ha is core zone and 8,000 ha is a buffer zone with five communes including Giao Hai, Giao Xuan, Giao Lac, Giao An and Giao Thien.

Flora and fauna
The park is a rich, biodiverse coastal wetland environment that houses about 220 species of birds (including endangered species such as the Black-faced Spoonbill, Spotted Greenshank and Spoon-billed Sandpiper), 110 aquatic plant species, 500 species of benthos and zooplankton. Many aquatic species of high economic value, like shrimps, fish, crabs and oysters, are also found in the area. There are also some mammals such as the Fishing Cat, Eurasian Otter and Large Bandicoot-rat.

Climate
Xuan Thuy National Park is in the tropical monsoon area and has two distinct seasons. The hot and wet season is from April until October and the cold and dry season is from November until March.

Get in
The National Park is accessible from one of the five nearby Communes which can be accessed from Hanoi by bus. Accommodation can be found at the nearby Communes, most notably Giao Xuan which offers a Community-based Eco-Tourist product for those who wish to visit Xuan Thuy and the surrounding towns.

Get around
Transport (bicycle or motorbike rental) will need to be organised from one of the nearby towns. A boat trip which can be booked from Giao Xuan is highly recommended.

See
The natural beauty of the park as well as that of the surrounding towns, particularly Giao Xuan. Also the amazing bio-diversity of the park which is especially attractive to bird-watchers.

Sleep
There is limited accommodation to be found in the nearby towns but the home stay option in Giao Xuan is highly recommended as it gives tourists the opportunity to experience every day life in rural Vietnam.

title: Xuan Thuy National Park


text:
Xunantunich

Xunantunich is an archaeological site outside the town of San Jose Succotz, in the Cayo District of Belize.

Understand
It is known for the 9th century Maya ruins, which are Belize's most-visited Mayan site. Set on a hilltop overlooking the Mopan River, they form six groups with about 25 temples and palaces.

Get in

 * To get there by bus, catch a bus toward Benque Viejo del Carmen at the main terminal. Tell the conductor that you are heading here, and they will drop you off for BZ$1. If you don't want to wait for the bus, flag down a taxi (indentifiable by its green license plate). The fare to the ferry should  be BZ$2-3, depending on where the cab is from (plates starting with "SVO" are rumoured to be the cheaper ones). Cross via free hand cranked ferry, and then walk 1 mile to the site. It is also easy to hitch a ride from the San Ignacio vicinity.  Admission to the park is about BZ$10. Park closes at about 4PM. The ferry takes only two-three cars at a time, so sometimes there is a line up to leave (if you wait until 4PM).  It is the only way across the river.

See

Buy

 * Expensive souvenirs at the onsite gift shops
 * If you're interested in buying some slate artwork, there are some vendors selling pieces at the hand-cranked ferry for very reasonable rates.

Eat
Follow the signs to Benny's Kitchen for a relaxed meal, and read the local newspapers while you enjoy Pibil (delicious pork) or stewed chicken with rice and beans.

Sleep

 * In the border town of Benque Viejo del Carmen (you can walk there from Xunantunich) you will find a burgeoning tourism industry that includes a variety of river and jungle adventures, stunning Mayan archeological ruins, horseback riding excursions, bird and wildlife watching and more. Otherwise Xunantunich makes a good halfday trip from San Ignacio.  Consider spending the day and night relaxing in Benque before heading to Guatemala and Tikal.

Go next

 * Guatemala and Tikal. Getting across the border is quite the experience.
 * To return to San Ignacio, simply catch any bus from the other side of the street. They will all head to San Ignacio.

title: Xunantunich


text:
Xuzhou

Xuzhou (徐州 Xúzhōu) is a city of 2.6 million (2010) in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. It is at the northern tip of the province, bordering Anhui.

By train
Caution: Many foreigners wanting to travel to Xuzhou have accidentally bought tickets to Suzhou (苏州, near Shanghai) instead of Xuzhou because the names sound so similar - and possibly because so few foreigners go to Xuzhou by train. So, it is highly useful to show the Chinese characters of Xuzhou (徐州) in order to convince the ticket officer and to overcome the phonetic confusion.

Once you arrive at the Xuzhou Station (徐州站) just east of downtown, ascend the steps, show your ticket and exit. Outside, there will be a KFC, a McDonald's -- and a line/queue of taxis on the left. There is also Xuzhou East Station (徐州东) in the eastern outskirts, where you can take high speed trains.

Get around
The first metro line (Line 1) opened in 2019. It runs from the east to the west of the city, and stops at both railway stations. Line 2 is due to open in October 2020, and Line 3 in June 2021.

The urban buses are cheap, regular, and easy to figure out within the city. There are also minibuses that travel outside of the city to neighboring rural towns.

See
Walk the city and explore the old downtown neighborhoods. Narrow alleys and old 小区 (xiao qu) give access to hundred year old wet markets neighboring temporary encampments of migrant workers and traveling farmers, one room restaurants without menus (don't worry, they'll tell you what they've got, or you can glance at other tables), dog meat butchers, public toilets, backstreet whorehouses with eerie blue lights, arcades in scavenged brick huts with corrugated tin roofs.

Then, walk along the New Yellow River, a diverted portion of the river created by the floods of 1938, when Nationalist forces bombed dykes to stymie the Japanese (instead, they succeeded only in killing millions of their own country's farmers). You can have your fortune told, buy most kinds of medications (that are prescription-only in Western countries) and raw tobacco, get something good to eat, and catch small traveling musicians performing on traditional instruments.

After that, stroll into the downtown, identical in every Chinese city of this size, home to a KFC, department stores, and massive, empty squares.

Eat
Diguo ji (地锅鸡) is a savoury combination of chicken, chillies and bread. It is exactly chicken cooked à la diguo which was a popular cookery among the fisherfolk of the Weishan Lake. They used a cauldron to boil the fish, and put the squashed doughs around the cauldron inside, thus they could have fish with bread. Now you can order its chicken version in most local restaurants. The half-singed bread is essential in this dish (or it would be common braised chicken). Dip it into the broth, which is the traditional thing to do.

Dog meat tacos on Heqing Lu, between Pengcheng Lu and Jie Fang Lu. There are two alleys leading off from Heqing Lu and you want the one closest to Pengcheng Lu. Quite easy to find. Look for a collection of skinned dog carcasses hung up on the corner, usually having the last bits of fur cleaned from them with a propane torch. The bread is amazing, cooked in a stone oven, a bit salty, a bit sweet, coated in sesame seeds. The dog meat is tender and flavorful and stringy, torn from a pile of bones in a big metal tray (you can't dog meat with a knife).

Sha tang. Everyone in Xuzhou knows the cute but fantastic story about the emperor tasting this soup and asking what the name was. The chef thought the emperor was calling it "What? soup," so he changed the name to that. It's a thick, mucilaginous soup full of eel, chicken meat (originally pheasant or other game meat), beans, and a ton of black pepper. The best place to cop it is Ma Shi Jie (马市街), a joint on Jie Fang Lu that's the city's recognized favorite sha tang place (there's also a branch on Heping Lu, near the church but popular opinion says it's just not as good). The soup here comes from a massive pot, as tall as the man ladling it out. Outside, you buy your dipping items: fried dumplings, salty fried dough, etc. The clientele is mainly ancient men that have been eating it for breakfast every day for fifty years and come equipped with their own bowls and spoons.

Drink
In this city, the people that go to nightclubs are crewcut and corrupt businessmen and massage parlor owners that hotbox the joint with fake Marlboros and drink Chivas by the gallon, while a pretty little prostitute perches on either side of them.

Armani is the classiest, the closest thing to a genuine nightclub. Beer for ¥30 (fake Corona for the same price), then bottles of Chivas whiskey. You've got the usual provincial Chinese city nightclub fare. Dance mixes of Mando-pop songs, men dirty dancing with each other, a few boys that dance in a glass cube behind the bar, lots of smoke, lots of fun. You will be encouraged to dance on top of things, remove your shirt, and join in, but watch out for prostitutes and gangsters. (Really, just the prostitutes of gangsters. You don't want to get a bottle of Heineken in the back of the head for being too friendly with one of the girls.)

All other clubs are near Armani. Check out Red Bar, S.O.S., Catwoman Bar and Virgin Bar. Those five are reasonably safe and alright and legit.

Taiwan Bar is near the downtown, at the intersection of Huai Hai Lu and Jie Fang Lu. It's dirty as hell and the most ideal place in the city to be offered drugs with your fruit platter. (Really, you are offered drugs from the moment you enter to the moment you leave). The clientele is sweaty, shirtless kids with a ton of tattoos and facial scars. You can sing karaoke in front of a crowd and buy cheap vodka, though. And the boss is always happy to see new people and the waitresses are effective in discouraging local thugs from offering you the powder-encrusted straw too many times.

Sleep
Cheap hotels are everywhere. Most hotels in the city only run about ¥200 but they don't offer much more than the ¥80 joints near the train station. Remember, ask to look at the room before you agree to stay (just say, "kan kan", smile and check).

title: Xuzhou


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Ya'an

Ya'an, also known as Yucheng, is an unremarkable city located 2 hours southwest of Chengdu on the Sichuan-Tibet highway. It is an emerging tourist city, known as the "rainy city", "the throat of western Sichuan", "the gateway to Tibet", "ethnic corridor", Lungs of Tianfu"", "the hometown of the panda", the territory of Mengding Mountain is the birthplace of the world's tea culture, the birthplace of the world's tea civilisation, the world's tea culture sacred mountain.

Understand
This prefecture-level city in Sichuan Province is located in a mountainous area on the western edge of the Sichuan Basin. At the end of 2022, the city had a population of 1.433 million.

History
Ya'an has a long history, and has been under the jurisdiction of the Central Plains since the pre-Qin Dynasty. The history of human activities in the area can be traced back to the Paleolithic period, and the "Fulin Culture" is an important cultural site of the late Paleolithic period in southern China.

Ya'an City is located in Sichuan-Tibet, Sichuan-Yunnan highway junction, 120 km from Chengdu. It was the gateway to the ancient Southern Silk Road and was the capital of Xikang Province.

Climate
Ya'an is located on the southwest edge of the Sichuan Basin and has a subtropical monsoon climate zone with abundant rainfall. The annual rainfall is about 1,180 mm. Most rainy days are concentrated from June to August, accounting for more than 60% of the total annual rainfall. Heavy rainfall is one of the characteristics of Ya'an's climate.

Get in
Fast buses from Chengdu’s Xinnanmen bus station (07:30-19:00, every 35 min, 2 hr, ¥46) leave throughout the day.

Even though your ticket says Ya’an, there is a possibility you may be directed onto a bus bound for the inane Bifengxia Nature Park near Ya’an. If you are the discerning type and forgo the park's dancing tigers, the driver will drop you off at the first intersection inside Ya’an. From here you can flag down a Shangli-bound minivan or get a taxi to the Wangyu minivan depot.

By taxis
Various forms of transport ply the street willing to take you to your destination at maximum speed for a minimum cost. Taxis charge around ¥5 to anywhere.

See
There is a wall-size map in the bus station; this includes Labahe Nature Reserve.

Parks and nature

 * Niubei shan.jpg
 * Bifeng Xia.jpg
 * Niubei shan.jpg
 * Bifeng Xia.jpg
 * Niubei shan.jpg
 * Bifeng Xia.jpg
 * Bifeng Xia.jpg
 * Bifeng Xia.jpg
 * Bifeng Xia.jpg

Ancient towns

 * Wangyu Ancient Town.jpg
 * Wangyu Ancient Town.jpg

Do

 * Picking tea yaan.jpg

Buy
If you go to BiFengXia, you can buy a hat made from a fern frond. It's not much good for keeping the sun off your face, but you will fit in with the crowd.
 * Hanyuan Sydney.jpg
 * Hanyuan Sydney.jpg

Eat

 * Mubla Xiaoyuan hot pot.jpg
 * Aunt Yuan BBQ.png
 * Aunt Yuan BBQ.png
 * Aunt Yuan BBQ.png
 * Aunt Yuan BBQ.png
 * Aunt Yuan BBQ.png
 * Aunt Yuan BBQ.png
 * Aunt Yuan BBQ.png

Drink

 * Cassava Coffee.jpg

Sleep
About a block due south of the museum on the south side of West St (Xidàjiē), a family-run establishment has satisfactory rooms and WiFi for ¥90/night, but the proprietor will want to escort you to the local police station about a block or two away some time after you've checked in for registration purposes.

Mid-range

Internet
There are internet cafes and other places in many places, but there are limitations on the internet and many foreign websites cannot be accessed.

Go next

 * Chengdu bound buses (07:30-19;00, every 35 min, 2 hr, ¥46) leave throughout the day from the tourist bus station.
 * Shangli bound minivans (20 min, ¥6.5) can be flagged down on the main road outside the tourist bus station.
 * Wangyu bound minivans (1 hr, ¥8.5) leave from a secret location known only to the local taxi drivers who park near the Tourist bus station (10 min, ¥5). The minivans leave when full but will continue to pick up passengers along the way. Hopefully the road has been repaired by the time you go.

title: Ya'an


text:
Yabe

Yabe (矢部) is in Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Now part of Yamato (山都) Town.

Tourist information site

 * Yamato Town's tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.
 * The town's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

See
Yabe is known for its 48 waterfalls and 17 stone bridges.

Do
The most famous festival is

Drink
Yabe is known for its eponymous Yabe tea (矢部茶 Yabe-cha).

Go next

 * Kuroki
 * Hoshino
 * Yame
 * Yamaga
 * Kikuchi
 * Oguni
 * Minamioguni
 * Aso
 * Ubayama

title: Yabe


text:
Yacapana National Park

Yacapana National Park is in the Amazonas region of Venezuela.

Understand
With an area of 320,000 ha, Yacapana National Park is in the southwest sector of the Guyana Shield in the west central part of Amazonas state, between the Orinoco in the south and west, north and Ventuari Yagua pipe to the west. Includes Cerro Yacapana, Pantepuy typical plateau of Roraima formation.Park bordering the north, the river Ventuari the south and west, the Orinoco River and east Yagua. Flows originating from inside the pipe Maraya, which flows into the streams of Santa Barbara, is the most important. Of the indigenous groups, the National Park area is populated by Yapacana Piaroa. The most important river communities Maraya, Santa Barbara, Macuruco, Canaripó and Yagua.

Landscape
In an altimetry between 75 and 1345 m, developed on the peneplain of Sipapo formed by the Orinoco river plains, covered with extensive savannas, Tepuy Yapacana emerges in the form of truncated pyramid and staggered. The park-defined by rivers Yagua Ventuari and Orinoco-aside from being a scenic resource is valued because it contains important scientific discoveries phytogeography.

Flora and fauna
In the westernmost part, there are three types of savannas, with varying degrees of evolution, have been discovered here Neotropical flora South American and Southeast Asian paleotrópico, important evidence to confirm the theories of separation of continental plates and the evolution of vegetation.

The vegetation corresponds to the tropical rain forest vegetation, flooded forest and dense savanna where there are several endemic species of grasses, emphasizing gender Pentaherista, sole representative in the world of the family of Tetrameristaceae.

Climate
warm rainy climate, continental monsoon type of character, the temperature varies between 19 °C and 27 °C, and annual average precipitation values exceed 3000 mm in a period of between 9 and 10 months are rainy.

Get in
The park can be reached by boat from San Fernando de Atabapo, up the Orinoco and Ventuari or through Guapachama airstrips and Picu.

title: Yacapana National Park


text:
Yachats

Yachats is a city of 1,000 people (2020) on the Central Oregon Coast. The name comes from the Siletz language and means "dark water at the foot of the mountain".

Climate
The climate of Yachats is relatively mild throughout the year because of the moderating effects of the ocean currents. Temperatures rarely drop below 30 °F (−1 °C) in the winter or rise above 75 °F (24 °C) in the summer. Snow is uncommon and only occurs in rare offshore flow events with deformation banding in Arctic fronts and overrunning low pressure systems that move inland to the south, but rainfall is quite heavy through the winter months and several storms come out of the Gulf of Alaska each winter.

Get in

 * Swim in from the Pacific Ocean (wetsuit recommended, unless it is blazing hot outside).
 * Drive in on Oregon highway 101

By bus

 * Lincoln County Transit runs buses to and from Newport four times a day (M-Sa), where connections to Albany/Corvallis and further up the coast are available.
 * LinkLane runs buses to and from Florence four time a day (M-Sa), where connections to Eugene are available.

See

 * Thor's Well A remarkable natural phenomenon, located an hour's walk south of Yachats. The Pacific Ocean is pulled in through a hole several metres in diameter with a channel out to the sea, and shoots out with tremendous force. Only active at certain times of the day, ask the locals when as it changes seasonally. Spectacular at sunrise or sunset. Be careful near the edge!
 * The Little Log Church is a historical museum displaying many artifacts relating to Yachats's past. The church, built in 1926, was designed in the shape of a cross. Sir Robert Perks, who owned most of Yachats at the time, provided the property; the logs were donated as well and the work was contributed by local citizens. The museum is now owned by the city.
 * Thor's Well A remarkable natural phenomenon, located an hour's walk south of Yachats. The Pacific Ocean is pulled in through a hole several metres in diameter with a channel out to the sea, and shoots out with tremendous force. Only active at certain times of the day, ask the locals when as it changes seasonally. Spectacular at sunrise or sunset. Be careful near the edge!
 * The Little Log Church is a historical museum displaying many artifacts relating to Yachats's past. The church, built in 1926, was designed in the shape of a cross. Sir Robert Perks, who owned most of Yachats at the time, provided the property; the logs were donated as well and the work was contributed by local citizens. The museum is now owned by the city.
 * The Little Log Church is a historical museum displaying many artifacts relating to Yachats's past. The church, built in 1926, was designed in the shape of a cross. Sir Robert Perks, who owned most of Yachats at the time, provided the property; the logs were donated as well and the work was contributed by local citizens. The museum is now owned by the city.
 * The Little Log Church is a historical museum displaying many artifacts relating to Yachats's past. The church, built in 1926, was designed in the shape of a cross. Sir Robert Perks, who owned most of Yachats at the time, provided the property; the logs were donated as well and the work was contributed by local citizens. The museum is now owned by the city.

Buy
There are a few thrift stores around the town, profits going to local charities, with low prices even by thrift store standards ($1-2 for a shirt).

A weekend market near the centre of town offers all sorts of quality handmade goods, sterling silver jewellery and soft furnishings, glassware etc.

Eat
Yachats is one of few places in Oregon that charges a sales tax- 5% on all prepared food and non-alcoholic beverages.

title: Yachats


text:
Yachimata

Yachimata (八街) is a city in Chiba prefecture.

Tourist information site
The city government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

Get in
The main Sobu Honsen train line from Chiba to Choshi passes through Yachimata and there are 2 stations: Yachimata and Enokido (榎戸). Hyuga (日向) station is just south-west of the city. Direct express trains also run to Tokyo once every 2 hours.

National Route 409 passes through the city center of Yachimata.

Get around
Buses and taxis depart from in front of Yachimata station and from in front of Enokido station. Taxis from Enokido station can be difficult to find during rush hours and late at night / early in the morning but are usually plentiful at Yachimata station.

Eat
Yachimata is well known for its peanuts which are distributed throughout Japan. Other prominent local produce include watermelons and pears.

Go next

 * Sakura
 * Sanmu
 * Togane
 * Tomisato
 * Yatsukaido
 * Chiba
 * Shibayama
 * Kujukuri
 * Oamishirasato

title: Yachimata