According to the legends, Shangri-La is a green Himalayan paradise. A mystical Buddhist haven where people never age. A peaceful, magical utopia where everything is wonderful all the time. The real Shangri-La is not like this. It might not be a Buddhist utopia, but it is a very nice place to experience Tibetan culture without […]
I Got Altitude Sickness in Shangri-La Read Post »
Do you want to travel back in time? Be careful. Anything you do in the past might alter the present, with grave consequences. Better yet, skip the dangers of causality altogether and visit the ancient city of Lijiang, China. Visiting the ancient city of Lijiang is like stepping back in time—albeit with a modern twist.
Exploring Lijiang: A Timeless Tourist Gem in China Read Post »
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The name sounds like something out of an ancient myth or a 70s Kung Fu movie. The mountain towers over the city of Lijiang in the Northwest corner of China’s Yunnan province, at the far edge of the Tibetan plateau. It’s the Southernmost snow-capped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere and was
The Magic of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Read Post »
Not to be confused with the artist, the town of Dali is located a couple of hours’ train ride north of Kunming in China’s Southwestern Yunnan province. There are no melting clocks or dreamy oil paintings in this Dali. Instead, you’ll find ancient architecture, bustling nightlife, and a gorgeous lake framed by regal mountain peaks.
Dali: The Town in China, Not the Painter Read Post »
Kunming is the capital of China’s mysterious, Southwestern Yunnan province. Kunming is known by such nicknames as “The City of Eternal Spring” or the “City of Flowers” highlighting the city’s pleasant year-round temperatures. As if all there were to the city was an average high of 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Thankfully, there are far more reasons
Kunming: More than Just Nice Weather Read Post »
Sanya is China’s premier tropical island beach destination. It’s full of palm trees, beaches, and crystal-clear water, but remains relatively unknown West of the former Iron Curtain. Imagine a kind of Communist Cancún, filled with Chinese and Russian families instead of North American spring breakers. Now, I am typically not the type of person who
Sanya is China’s Surprising, Secret Tropical Paradise Read Post »
Disneyland. Ugh. What place on earth better represents the soulless void of American consumer capitalism? Maybe Walt Disney himself wasn’t actually a Nazi sympathizer, but he was anti-union and virulently anti-communist. I figured since I’m living in Communist China, I might as well go visit Shanghai Disneyland. If you’d rather skip Disneyland, click here for
I Finally Broke Down and Went to Shanghai Disneyland Read Post »
Hoi An, Vietnam is an ancient city, both bustling and quaint. The old streets are clogged with charming buildings. Walls are strewn with thousands of cute little lanterns that seem almost built for your Instagram feed. It took me a while before I could really appreciate the place.
It Took a Funeral for me to Fully Appreciate Hoi An, Vietnam Read Post »
Learning Chinese isn’t easy. It’s much harder if you aren’t in China and don’t have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the language. You could run down to your nearest Chinatown and try chatting with the local restauranteurs, but chances are their Chinese is going to be way above your level and way too fast.
The Best YouTube Videos for Learning Chinese: Your Ultimate Guide Read Post »
Ko Samui and Ko Tao are two tropical islands that hang out in the warm tropical waters of the Gulf of Thailand. The tourist websites flaunt the islands as the ultimate tropical paradise, for those who want to wash away their cares on palm-fringed beaches. Are these Thai islands worth it, or is the praise
Ko Samui and Ko Tao: Island Paradise or Overrated and Full of Lice? Read Post »
