April 25, 2010
In the mountain area of Xishuangbanna, i have visited many schools. It is said that some small village school will be closed and students need to go to the far center town school. It means many of the children need to live in the school when they are 6 years old.
I heard from the teacher that Dai students love to go to school but Aini and Lahu students are not so eager to go. Some of them even can’t undertand the chinese. They have their own languages, but they can’t wirte it out with letters. They can only speak it while learn it from their family.
Since we have done the students’ project in Hekai 2008, in the mountain area, almost all the school masters know world challenge team. And they hope this kind of thing can be continue carrying through as much as possible among the mountain village schools there.
In Hekai, we stay overnight in Dai family. The main crops here are rice and sugar cane. Every morning, the local people will put on a conoid hat to the field. Of course, people here are in manual dexterity, they will produce rattan things. This morning, I learned to basketry-bamboo basket. Local Master Yu Kang taught me the very basic skill.
About half an hour later, I made out a very simple basket; my teacher Yu Kang comfort me that I have done it well.
On the way to Menghai county, we passed a large paddy fields which have been repairing the road between the fields had a better road situation than 2008, so transportation is not a problem now even in raining season.
In the half way, we meet the elementary school principals in the schools. Once he worked in Hekai School, and last year he was maneuvered to this larger school. The appearance seems good, but the furniture (desks and chairs) is quite shabby.
Here you can see some children dressed like monks. In fact, the custom here, like Thailand, the boys must go to the temple before the adult some time, because first place to learn something is in the temple in the past and it’s a kind of custom there.
One section on the road with both sides has very tall tree with yellow flowers. It feels like driving in xinduqiao. Feel like in the fall.
Passing Menghai, we go straight to mountain area, one the road we can see Shuhu Village far away. As the vehicle roadway and trekking routes are different. So I
Only saw a rough outline but not experience it on my own feet. The mountains of the roadway is narrow, very suitable for mountain biking, motorcycle riding.
Evening we reached the final point, the Nannuoshan Hani village. We has our own base there
.On top of the village, a local cottage made by hand through 2 years hard work. We often carried out where the outdoor training activities.
Since it is Aini family (Hani), of course, live based on tea plant and make Pu’er Tea.
As each family has very good ground, people there are very wealthy. Their lives are basically very rural. When you visit that place, you can involve in their daily life which is filled with tea culture.
From the hill overlook the Gasa Airport, the night sky is very beautiful.
In the morning, I got up very early and go out to visit the local village in Xinbanzhang. Fortunately I saw the flag-raising ceremony of a local elementary school the morning. The students in this school are mainly from Xinbanzhang Village, and there are two Burmese, Lahu minority students basically do not understand Chinese. The school was divided into two classes, one with 1 to 3 grades; one is 4 to 6 grades. There are only three teachers. Schools have computers, TV satellite lid, etc., but the teacher said, these things are discarded by government and they pick them back. Now it seems, all the stockade of the primary schools have combined to the center school (larger school), and if so executed, then many children from first grade will begin to live on campus, and the growth of the child or the teacher’s work is a big challenge.
After breakfast, my host is very glad to shows me his old tea tree garden, so we drive the 4×4 vehicle up to the mountain. The road is very suitable for off-road vehicle and motorcycle, the dense vegetation on both sides, due to relatively high above sea level; it’s not wet, feeling very cool and dry. Not too much moisture, bamboo leaves are stepping scratched the ground, is a very good trekking routes, small off-road vehicles and motorcycles’ driving circuit.
As the trekking route is walked by the local tea farmer everyday except in winter, it has a very clear path, lush foliage on both side, old tea trees group among the original great trees which have vines off by each other, the ecological environment is very harmonious. There are a lot flowers and fruit (and even wild blueberries).
Although the road is clear path, we still need a local guide leading the way, because the many places are seems similar on the way.
We drive back to Xinbanzhang village to have the lunch and in the afternoon, I followed the locals to go the tea mountain (This time I go another trekking itinerary not vehicle drive road). This route can be used both walking and mountain trails Motorcycle roads. From Xinbanzhang Village to their tea garden there was about 20 minute walk. Then I have experience two hours of picking tea twig activities. Beneath the cool breeze blowing in the shade, I became love this places and the sounds of wind finger the trees.
Starting from the 14:45 pm, I decide to do the trekking from the tea garden to Laobanzhang, about 2 hours of walking around an average elevation of 1700m.
Xinbanzhang village – Laobanzhang village is 8 km, walking time is about two and a half hours – three hours or so. Basically walking on the ridge, I went uphill downhill intermittent. In the jungle where they have a very significant country lanes and off-road vehicles road, but very few vehicles go there.
Old Ben is still Hani village chapter, the more affluent villages, basically covered the new villa, every household is established cement house, and wooden house was relatively rare.
After arriving at Laobanzhang, our 4×4 vehicle was waiting there, and the I travel from Laobanzhang- Hekai Dai village on vehicle,
Around Heikai is the big barn located in Xishuangbanna, living there are the Dai people. Dai Minority is some kind like the Thailand people, they love a clean and they are very hardworking people. Because their hardworking, some people build their new house with new concrete, and toilets are very clean.
In 2008 WCE volunteer team did the project in the Hekai school, volunteer activities, as was more successful, so the schools by the local government’s attention once again built up a new classroom building for the students there..
Since the time we arrived the evening and sunset is very beautiful, color is pink. With fertile fields, the campus playground formed very beautiful patterns.
Starting from Weidong, across the river in front of the village along the bridge, turn right and walk through the melon ground. We will first go to the Baizhangya Water Fall . And has been going up, the vegetation gradually covered with forests, but still a good way to go, all-terrain vehicle dirt road, occasional tea farmers drove motorcycles pass by. Then walk north along. On the road there will be streams, but generally there has a bridge.
Reached an intersection corner, we walking along a path down. About 5 minutes you can see a waterfall. There are many local picnic food bag left behind trash around the waterfalls, please help locals clean and signed a note, “to protect the beautiful waterfall, please do not litter”
Usually, you can visit the water fall on the first day you arrive Weidong, or you can choose to visit the Lahu minority village nearby the Hani village in Weidong. Lahu Minority village. Lahu people like drinking, and lazier (it’s said by Hani people), In the conversation we can see that different nations have different habits.
Below itinerary from Weidong-Chayuan-Xinbanzhang, I haven’t experience it but I consult the local people about this route:
As the forest is relatively isolated, it is generally difficult to have large creatures appeared.
From the beginning of the next stop is Chayuan (tea garden): From Weidong to Chayuan, the distance is 6 km (the way are forests) contains 4.5 km of the climbing road.
Starting from the tea garden, the next stop is Xinbanzhang: From Chayuan to Xinbanzhang , the distance is 5 kilometers (all tea trees around )
It seems, the mountain road has an average of 2km / h walking speed and smooth trail has an average of 3km / h.
Chayuan (Tea Garden) elevation is: 1700m
Xinbanzhang elevation is: 1750m
April 20, 2010
Jinghong(670m) -Damenglong-Weidong(1020m)
Jinghong- Damenglong :
We start from Jinghong City around 9:50 am by 4×4 vehicle and head to Damenglong for lunch. 11:17 pm passing Manfeilong Reservoir to Damanhaidamu (Dai Village) – Manda State
The scenery along the roadside is plains landscape, and the main plant there is the rubber tree. However, the tree will be bald from November to March. Some of the land is also planted bananas, but locals do not like to eat this banana. Because businessmen leased the land to farmers on banana cultivation, the use of a large number of fertilizers resulting from structural change, in general, to banana cultivation over other crops species no longer has.
Dai villages along the way are two layers. Will be passing along the way the East Wind Farms which is very well known (similar to one of our small town, there are country markets, schools, shops, etc.)
12:00 arrive Damenglong, from the bottom to the Manfeilong White Pagoda walk about one hour walk around back and forth.
14:34 from Damenglong starting to Weidong.
Starting from Damenglong to Weidong is basically winding mountain road; the asphalt has been well extended to the local village (official said Hani, but locals prefer us to call them Aini people). Aini people are live on producing the Pu’er Tea.
Hani housing characteristics: the roof has two horns like gladiatorial combat decoration, the man of the house if the house had died, and then we should pluck decorative horn. In general, the more affluent families, the more layers of roof houses.
Hani’s houses are wooden structures, and the bottom layer is the pillar of wood or other generally used for tea making. It can also be used as parking place for motorcycles or tractors. Every household has a lot of dogs and cats, chickens, ducks, etc., are generally open up to feed.
Ground will have a ladder extended to the Hani terrace, balcony generally used as a sun tea. General Guests take the ladder, while two ladders is extended to the second floor from the ground inside the room, in general, women should go the right one, while the men go the left.
Hani people are not allowed gambling. They are very warm heart and modesty.
Wei-Dong Hani village (Weidong means to defend Mao Zedong Chairmen Mao)
One family house can accept for around 15 guests to stay overnight
Temperature: Summer :20-30 degrees 8-17 degrees in winter
Food: Food is generally not the stockade for group team, all the food or to supply daily transportation to the designated villages.
Transport: Starting from Jinghong to Weidong, there is no public bus, so we’d better use the rental vehicle.
Altitude: 1020m
“Xishuangbanna, with an area of 20,000 square kilometers, is located in the south most corner of Yunnan province at 21°10′～22°40N and 99°55′～101°50′E. It is neighboring Myanmar Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, with a boundary of 966.3 kilometers. It is a bright pearl of southwest China, beautiful, rich and miraculous, with Lancangjiang River (Mekong River, praised as the oriental Danube) passing through from north to south. There are three state ports, one provincial port, and six highways, one of which connects Laos and Myanmar, forming an Omni bearing transport network on water, land and air.
It has a population of 840,000, among which Dai minority takes 28.8%, Han 25%, Hani 19.04%, nine other Ethnic Groups 24.76%. Xishuangbanna … [ View Details ]”
“Mainland China blends into sub-tropical Southeast Asia as you approach the southernmost tip of Yunnan Province and enter into the region of the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. Here, lowland rice fields along the banks of a broad Mekong River are bisected by rolling hills covered in virgin rainforest and interspersed with isolated communities of Dai, AiNi (Hani), and Bulang minority peoples. The diversity of cultures is in this area is nothing short of amazing, and walking between villages becomes like crossing international borders, where entire languages, customs, diet and architecture all change widely within a span of a mile or less.
On this journey, we focus on exploring the intriguing southern region of Xishuangbanna, starting from the prefecture capital of Jinghong and then traveling to the vibrant Dai markets of Galanba (one of the liveliest such markets in Yunnan). We next undertake a 2 day hike through primal rainforest and during which we come across delightful villages belonging to various Dai, Hani and Bulang tribes. As we trek from village to village, we see local markets bustling with native women in colorful embroidered ethnic clothing, and watch them barter for rice and spices. We study the traditional style architecture used in different villages, built with palm, bamboo and other local materials and in observance of each tribe’s native customs and beliefs. Waving to farmers hard at work, we watch their young children play in the sugarcane fields, and drop in on teenage monks studying in Burmese and Dai languages. We also find an opportunity to dine and converse with a local minority family, and spend a night in their home. This journey is intended as an adventurous excursion, filled with enchanting moments of gorgeous subtropical scenery and the vibrant colors of ethnic minority daily life. At the same time, it also focuses on gaining a deeper and more personal insight into the underlying social, cultural, and environmental factors that affect the rural people of this remarkably dynamic landscape.” from China Travel
Before i wrote this log, many people have visit this magical place-Xishuangbanna. So i just quote one of them on above to show you the overview of Xishuangbanna. Then next, i will use pictures to show you the real Xishuangbanna in my eyes.
Xishuangbanna Local market:
During our Tomb-sweeping day (Chinese traditional holiday), I arrive Jinghong, capital of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. In the first day, i visit the local market, yes, it’s very interesting to do this because you will get the first hand news from the local market which can show the real dailylife of the people there.
One of the famouse Xishuangbanna Dai Minority flavor is Barbecue “Shao Kao”. This cusine, it’s very different from the normal Barbecue, because in Chinese Shao & Kao are different cooking style. “Shao” is much like boil while is much like roaste.
You can find out many many kinds of raw material (vegetable and meats) on the Barbecue stall. And the air around the stall was filled with the aroma and tempt the appetite.
For details please visit Xishuangbanna Food
January 5, 2010
The whether in Thailand is nice in Nov,it’s the beginning of the high season. In Day 02, we take the big ship to PP island. after 2 hours journey on the ship, we arrived the PP island. As we all know the disaster seaquake happend there, however, they recovered very well and this is still a nice place.
We rent a speed boat to the sea and do the snorkeling. Many clown anemonefish around us and chased for the bread chipping from our guide MR.Yang.
There are monkey island, mosquito island and the lover beach. The sand-beach there is different from the phuket island. The sand is like milk color and the hand feel is very fine and smooth. I suppose it is made from the coral. In fact. the coral as well as the sand beach are been protected very well. We are not allowed to take away the coral.
I have a little nausea and they stop on a small island which named ” small monkey island” . The monkeys are not afraid of the strangers, they came to us and rob our food. One of the monkey even bite the leg of my friend Julia. what a nightmare.
We go back to the main PP Island before dusk, and had dinner nearby the sea. The night market in PP island is very bustling. We walk every interest alley and finally we arrive at the beach on another side of the PP island. We can see the lighting and thunder in the clouds far away from the sea level. Sit down on the sand and enjoy the sea breeze.
December 28, 2009
These days, i’m busy in dealing with the 2010 tour request to Ejinaqi. Below are some useful information for the reference.
1. Foreigners need to find a local agency to get the entrance permits. Because Ejinaqi area is cover the Jiuquan ( launch center) and it’s the military area of China. So it need the special permits to enter Ejinaqi. And the foreign travellers are not allowed to visit Jiuquan Launch Center.
2.The most beautiful period of Ejinaqi (Khara Koto）if from Sep to Oct. And if you want visit those places, please arrange the travel time before the mid Sep. Becasue there will have Huyanglin festival there in later Sep to early Oct. The hostl room can’t guarantee in thoese period. The room rate will be over 500 RMB/per room, and just has 2 hotels there with 3 stars’ level. Even you are willing to pay 500 RMB/ per, you may also have no room to get.
3. After visit Ejinaqi, you can choose to visit Badain Jaran desert nearly by. The see the Badain Jaran lake and temple as well as the Mt. Everest sand dune. You need to change to use the 4×4 beijing jeep and only the well-trained drivers can manage this kind of vehicle running in the desert.
4. You can choose to take the normal vehicle back to Alex Youqi which is the entrance of the desert. However, that will take a long day driving from Ejinaqi to Alex Youqi which will take about 700 KM driving distance. The other choice is to cross the desert directly from Ejinaqi to Alex Youqi. There will cost 3 days and 2 nights in the desert. And the second choice’s vehicle fee will double than the first choice.
December 21, 2009
My winter team achieved a great success, just like the leader say ” excellent trekking”. The volunteer project in liming school is also seems ok. Thanks all guides and staff who had put effort in this field.
In fact, 4 Days of trekking is not only in Tiger Leaping Gorge. First they trek from Shuhe Ancient to Wenhai and then to Longpan. and the rest 2 days is in Tiger Leaping Gorge. I have written an article about the closure of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It’s true and the road maintain cost lots of troubles when we run the team.
For me, I do think Tiger Leaping Gorge is not like before, and the Tiger leaping Gorge stone is not so breathtaking when you seeing it. As the government is building the water and electricity station there. It almost destroyed most beautiful scenery on the road.
One day morning, a black dog followed the Team to the Tiger leaping Gorge. my guide first thought it was a dog belongs to the horseman. And later, the local people told a story about this dog.
The dog is belong to a foreigner who is an Australian “Mar jane”(transliteration) She fell in love with a local Tibetan guy Mr.Xia in 1996 and then they get married in Lijiang. They have a hostel name “Shanquan” which is the given name of Mr.Xia. About 4 or 5 years ago, they adopted a little black dog. And they love that dog very much. However, Mar Jane died in sickness in Mt.Meili. in recent year. Since then, people find out that the black dog wait at Tiger Leaping Gorge and followed the visitors to go some part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge, especially would like to go with the foreigners.
November 30, 2009
I’m not trying to scare someone but it’s real. Or i can say that i was scared by this news when i saw the notice fax this afternoon.
This notice is published in 26th Nov, 2009. And our local agency got it this afternoon, 30th Nov. It said that since 1st Dec.2009-31st March.2010. The Tiger Leaping Gorge in Shangri-la should be closed.
It’ s a big shock to me. Yes, our winter group is begin in 4th Dec.2009, and they told me that the Tiger Leaping Gorge will closed tomorrow. It’s ridiculous and unbelievable. There is even no time for us to react anything.
However, i finally get comfort that my team is just take part in the Lijiang Section and not in Shangri-la section. So it can run smoothly and follow my plan.
Thanks God for your mercy!
