Monihei（摸你黑）is a mud festival held in southwestern Yunnan, specifically in Cangyuan, a city bordering Myanmar. The tradition of this festival is based on spreading mud on people to spread health and prosperity. It’s believed that the more muddy you get, the better. Held every May 1 and 2, this festival comes from the Wa ethical…
When it comes to traveling, the destination matters, but also the means and the good company. In my case, this was going to be my first cycling trip through China (Yunnan), in company of good friend. We had two weeks of vacation, it wasn’t much, but it was enough to get us where we wanted…
Preparing for a bicycle trip is essential before planning any route. To make a trip by bicycle, much less things are needed than one might think. With a bike in good condition, a few tools, time and, above all, the desire to pedal, you can get almost anywhere. In my case, I’ve done two bicycle…
The island of Hong Kong, modernity and tradition united Hong Kong is located in the southeast of China. It stands out as a unique blend of 5,000 years of Chinese tradition and 150 years of British colonial influence. If you’re wondering which are the best neighborhoods in Hong Kong and what to see during your…
When I returned to China, in September 2014, I moved to Xiamen. To see new places in China after lived 3 years in Kunming, but above all, to live near the sea. They say that those who are born near the sea are never accustomed to living far from it. In my case, it wasn’t…
Hainan is among the 5 most visited sites by Chinese on vacation For the Chinese New Year holidays (春节) I went to the beaches of Hainan (海南), China’s second largest island after Taiwan. The island of Hainan, means “South of the ocean”, so as its name indicates is located in southern China, very close to…
After two and a half years in Yunnan, just when I thought I couldn’t see anything more beautiful than what I had already experienced and that I had visited all the major landmarks in the province, I went on a trip to Puzhehei and discovered what would become one of my favorite places in Yunnan….
The Rice Terraces of Yuanyang (原阳) are located south of Yunnan in Honghe Prefecture. This entire area is famous for its large expanses of rice fields, which are undoubtedly some of the most spectacular rice terraces of China. Ninety-five per cent of Yuanyang’s population is engaged in agriculture, 88% of whom belong to different ethnic…
During my trip to Lijiang, I took a couple of days to go trekking at Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡), which turned out to be the most breathtaking experience I’ve had in China so far. Tiger Leaping Gorge is the name given to the canyons carved by the Yangtze River, located 60 km from Lijiang, in…
This time we ventured to visit Luoping (罗平), located 4 hours from Kunming eastbound, in the Chinese province of Yunnan. When we asked the Chinese what to see in Luoping we were told that this place is famous for being the place where during the beginning of spring until the end of February (coinciding with the…
On one of our trips through Yunnan we went to visit the Puer tea fields. Puer (普洱) is located southwest of Yunnan. It is an area known for being the place where the famous Puer tea is grown and named (普洱茶). I took advantage of my first week of Christmas vacation (just four days) to…
I was in Beijing just in time to witness China’s National Day being celebrated in the country’s capital. China’s National Day is celebrated on October 1, commemorating the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. At the end of World War II, a civil war broke out in China between the…
What to see in Beijing: the ancient Chinese capital Beijing, also known as Peking, is the capital of China and one of the most important cities in the world in terms of history, culture, and politics. Located in the north of the country, Beijing is one of China’s largest cities and boasts a history that…
Wu Wei Si Temple is located in the province of Yunnan, southwest China, near the beautiful old town of Dali. The Wu Wei Si temple is a Buddhist temple where for 500 Rmb (60 euros) a week one can learn Kung Fu or Tai Chi, live with the monks and have a unique experience living…