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4月12日 Between Beijing and the Yellow RiverA little bit more patience please, as we work our way from Datong (Da'Tung) back to Beijing and our Feature Presentation of Beijing Jeep Tours, THE extra-ordinairy option for site-seeing and enjoying in the wider area of Beijing without bothering to be stuck on a tourbus. More on Kent's Jeeps, traveling the outdoors around Beijing and even horseback riding, shortly.
For the moment we remain "stuck" in the Area West of Beijing - In and near Datong in North-Shanxi Province to be exact. In this area, between Beijing and the Yellow River, some of the oldest history of China played itself, after which it remained part of the vital chinese heartland leaving not only the Great Wall of China outer ring in Shanxi (From Beijing to the Yellow River), but a multitude of other historic and worthwhile scenic sites from various era's dotting the Area. As history records it- Chinese Civilization started in the Upper Yellow River Bassin with the first recorded glazed and colored Pottery dating back to around 5000 BC(=7000 years). As the cradle of chinese culture and civilization it's rough lands, barren grounds and loess lands are rich in history, culture and wortwhile historic sites to visit.
As feautered before in this Blog - visit Yungang Grottoes and go back to the 5Th Century Wei dynasty, the earliest days of Buddhism in China. Find nearby Datong, the strongpoint and garrison city guarding the "first Pass in China" (note: "First Pass under Heaven" is in the East, East of Beijing) for 2000 years, and read the full introduction to the City of Datong already available from our Website. South and East of Datung lie the Holy Mountains of Wu Tai Shan, revered since earliest recorded chinese literature. Further to the West, beyond Shanxi Province, lies the Yellow River Bend and the next Pass on the Great Wall of China. Far to the West and South, the heartlands of later chinese civilizations, Xi'An in Shaanxi, once the City of Western Peace, Chang An, homeland of the Ch'In (1st Unification - 220 BC) and subsequent Capital of the Tang (7Th-8Th Century).
Latest Site-Updates and Additions --> Please follow the List :
1) An Update of the Beijing-Datong-ShiJiaZhuang-TaiYuan(-rectangle) Map, adding a direct link to Datong City, the 5Th Century Yungang Grottoes World Heritage Site and adding the new feautures of the 11 Th Century Mu Ta Pagoda (one of the few remaining woode pagodas) and the famous Temple-in-Mid-Air near HunYuan, 65 kilometers from Datong. The Temple in Mid-Air is better known as the "Hanging Monastery" Tourist spot and certainly one of the highlights of the history of the Oldest China.
2) Introducing an Initial Map of the Central Walled City of Datong, giving you a better knowledge and understanding of our Presentations on Datong landmarks and your possible future travel-target.
3) ?? In Progress !! The Jiu Long Bi , or Nine Dragon Screen of Datong, the largest and oldest such Ceramic Screen in China entire ! The Datong Screen predates both Beijing Screens by several centuries.
PHOTO - The "Temple in Mid-Air", also known as the Hanging Monastery on a Cliff, West of HunYuan Village, some 65 kilometers from Datung and smack in the Middle of the Rough Shanxi Loess Highlands. A very, dry region. 4月5日 Welcome to a "Newly Discovered" part of China - Datong in Shanxi ProvinceEntering a new Province, North-China's rugged Shanxi Province and opening with the Datong Report on Datong City in the North of Shanxi, just underneath the Outer Ring of the internationally revered Great Wall of China.
Today's Main Item is the opening of our Section on Shanxi Province, currently only concentrating on the City of Datong, Shanxi's 2nd largest City, and the nearby 7Th Century Yungang Grottoes another United Nations (Unesco) World Heritage Site that we have visited for the China Report. As our very very loyal viewers may already know, last November Caroline and I jumped on the train from Beijing and travelled the path west to Datong, the city I wanted to travel to because - mainly - I had discovered somewhere in my maps and books that it is located on an Old Pass on the Great Wall of China. Now thAt I have to see for myself !! Hence, after granting Caroline's wish to see Thailand, there we went .. by night train, off to the rugged North Shanxi lands , hopefully views of the Great Wall and some 7Th Century Buddha Caves at Datong. In the following 4 days I immensily enjoyed myself - finding the Great Yungang International Hotel, a 4 star treat in this rather bleak industrial city, blown over with Dust from the Gobi desert, or if you will the high loess lands of North-Shanxi. Yes, Datong is not alike Beijing at all. Not anymore, at least. Still, for a citizen of the overpopulated and supercultivated small Netherlands, a holiday here brings out the Best of China for me to enjoy. Read all about it at our newly opened Datong Report. Datong, the coal capital of China, was for long history an outpost on the outer border of China. Since the early 20th century and subsequent revolution establishing the PRC, Datong has become a railway city and the Coal City of the country. In fact the entire region is a coal mining and industrial center for the whole of China. As such.. Datong is less exciting, not a cultural city anymore, and .. now that Beijing has modernised, Datong looks very poor in comparison. Not surprisingly - North-Shanxi and Gansu are still among the poorest regions in China. However,Datong certainly has it's charm. Reminding me a bit of beautiful Chengde, also a provincial city, the athmosphere of Datong is much more relaxed. No masses of tourists, a less modern but enjoyable city in a new and roughed landscape with a view of mountains. Somewhere, the Great Wall of China. The local people, the new and slightly different dishes.. Too much to mention in one breath. Sadly, Now available as a preview of the City for you - my photo-results of first days stroll through Datong, photographing it's rather unique 3 story wooden drum-tower and having a blast with it. At the time I was the only foreigner on the windy and dusty City Streets. On from there, you can now enjoy some sights of the fast disappearing old city housing, which lies mainly concentrated around the Drum Tower, and .. on the convenient way to the nearby Lower- and Upper- HuaYan Monastery. During our short first visit to the City of Datong I managed to photograph plenty more, but you will have to await all of that a little while longer. For now we leave you a first inclusive introduction to the general City of Datong. Have a look and browse around, while we build more of Datong and give you some news on Travel in and around Beijing. In our Next Item ! How to Book a sensational personalized Jeep Tour to all the Great Sites in- and more importantly around the Imperial Capital of China, the busstling future Olympic City of Beijing ! Book and See Beijing as no other tourist have before and travel in style by Jeep to The Great Wall of China (several locations possible) , explore the Cultural Wonder of Chengde with it's Imperial Summer Mountain Retreat, the best preserved regal Gardens in China entire and much more. Chengde is home to 8 Temples, among which the so called Mini-Potala, a copy of the Famous Potala Palace Monastery of Lhasa in Tibet. One of my favorite Beijing Expeditions - Beijing Jeep Tours (the one and only!) with your english speaking Personal Driver Go hiking on the Great Wall of China, camp out and ride a horse on the Imperial Hunting grounds, the beautiful mountain plains of Chengde. A Beijing and China experience like never before, it is now finally possible ! Ditch the tourbus and go for a 4 star-China experience and find them The FULL travel and Itenerary options, contact information and background details of this excellent Personal Travel Service - Beijing Jeep Tours, soon exclusively on our Site. Another scoop for China Report ! (Or contact us by E-Mail for any information on Kent + Beijing Jeep Tours or Horse-Riding) |
My, or rather - Wowwwww - it took me just about 24 hours to recouperate from all that 
photo-sorting , writing, publishing and basic work , give moral support to our lovely Caroline in 
Enjoy !
Caroline had a huge tooth-ache, so.. although i was enjoying myself, it was difficult to share my joy at that time. For a moment i would have to assist my cute but unlucky assistant.
and Guide, Kent.
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