Beijing: Tanzhe Temple

Located at the foot of Tanzhe Mount, southeast of Mentougou District and about 40 kilometers away of Beijing Downtown, Tanzhe Temple was originally built in Yongjia Reign of Western Jin Dynasty(307 AD). It is said that it is the first temple after Buddhism had been introduced to Beijing, and it was named Jiafu Temple originally.

In Qing Dynasty, it got the name “Xiuyun Temple” given by Emperor Kangxi. But because there is a pool called “Longtan” behind the temple, with a tree named “Zhe(wild mulberry)” on the mountain, therefore it is always called “Tanzhe Temple”(Tan refers to pool while Zhe refers to mulberry tree) by local people. There is a folk-adage goes that: “Tangzhe Temple was born before Beijing City”, which indicates Tanzhe Temple was the most oldest ancient temple in Beijing.

Covering an area of 25,000 square meters, the existing buildings were mainly built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911). The layout of it is arranged in an orderly fashion. Halls are mainly located along the central axis. Courtyards are situated in the east and various altars sit in the west.
In recent years, many modern tourism service facilities were built in the scenic spot, and one-stop service is provided there, covering transportation, accommodation, catering, sightseeing, entertainment and shopping. If you are planing a Beijing to Xian tour, then I strongly recommended Tanzhe Temple as the a must-see attraction in Beijing. If your schedule doesn’t allow the visit, don’t be worry, your Xian tour will provide you another great temple — the DaCi’en Temple.

Xian: Bikini Beauties in minus 20 minutes

I experienced the feeling of living in environment of minus 20 minutes in my northeastern Beijing Xian tour. But with heavily wrapped by cotton-padded jacket, hat, mittens and scarfs, my feeling about the chilly weather is not so thoroughly. However, in a spa in the suburbs of Xian, China’s northwestern Shaanxi Province, we had a chance to directly contact with the world of ice and snow, with only wearing a swimming trunk, we enjoyed the hot spring in the freezing outdoors. It is really fantastic in my travel to Xian.

First of all, you have to stay in indoor hot spring for a while to preheat your body, when you feel it is OK for you to step outside then you can go to the outdoor hot spring. When I step out of the door, the cold snap came upon to me and I felt myself almost frozen. With a difference of over 40℃，I jump into the outdoor hot spring without hesitation. Because the temperature outdoor is so low that the steaming curling up crazily, and I even could not see the people around me. Various screaming lingered in my ears, which really rocks.

Crossing China's Most Beautiful Coastline--Hongpaijiao

After we have crossed the Zhongpaijiao(Red Row Angular) , we come to realize it is the most beautiful coastline among those coastal beaches at Dapeng peninsula. At the mean time, we also find it is not that easy to reach this place for common people.

We have planed to have a Hongpaijiao crossing trip for a long time, but it is delayed many times because of big wind, flood tide and huge rain. Finally, the plan comes true on the day of Nov. 10th. We set off at 7:30 and have 16 people all together. After arrival at Baguang Village, our longing crossing plan really starts. The weather forecast says there is a big temperature drop and rain. The trip is nearly canceled again after we have heard this. What was surprising is that when we get there, the sun is shining brightly at Baguang Village.

Walking along the coastline, we can see the stones become red gradually and the temperature decrease a lot. While it is still comfortable for people to walking on the beach. At this moment, the flood tide is disappearing which is good for our crossing. Why? The most dangerous thing is the sharp rocks when you are barefoot walking long the coastline for your feet will be easily hart by those rocks. If we are walking with shoes, we will be easy to fall for the rock is slippery when it is wet. As the tide is out, we can see the under reefs coming out of sea surface. And the sharp rocks become dry on which is less slippery.

Finally, we reach the Long Bay Beach. It is a very long beach, hence the name. The sand on Long Bay Beach is very delicate, the sunshine overgilds the beach with a layer of yellow. We have a walk on the beach, slowly coming to an end.

Liaoning: The Red Beach of Panjin

The Red Beach lies in the southwest of Panjin City, China’s northeast Liaoning Province and is about 30 kilometers from the urban area. Taking the advantage of the rare red beach and the largest reed marshes in the world, and relying on the best preserved and the largest wetland resources worldwide, it is a ecotourism scenic spot combined with natural beauty and cultural landscape.

The grass which makes the red beach is a kind of delicate sea-bite plant: a plant that is grown in saline-alkali soil, and is also the only plant that can grow on this kind of soil. The color of the plant is green at beginning, and gradually becomes bright red from Middle March to early June. By September, the plant is in vivid red, covering the whole alkaline beach. The stunning red beach scenery appears only at the mud flat in Panjin.

The reeds and marsh here are the habitat of 236 kinds of birds. The most famous is the red-crowned cranes and world rare bird—Saunder's gull. Observing the cranes, gulls and other rare birds in the reeds sea is a tourism activity that is full of strong natural appeal. In this area, there is crane-observing platform. From midsummer to November the suaeda vegetation that is 26 km long and 1 km wide near the mouth of Liaohe River is fiery red and very spectacular, hence it is called "Red Beach".

Fuji an Xiapu: Beautiful Sunrise in Huazhu Village, Sansha Town

Being afraid of missing the sunrise, I set four alarm clocks for 4 AM the night before. It was still chilly and dark in the dawn, and I kept shivering during we wave for a lift. After several minutes’ searching, we hitched a ride — a motorbicycle. The rider was very glad to take us to the filming location.

After arrival, the sky began turning bright then.I was surprised by the scene in my eyes. “Don’t be silly to think that you are the earliest, because there is someone earlier than you”. Many visitors had been already set up the camera tripod and waited the sunrise for a while. It was hard to find a piece of land to put my camera tripod, because the place where I stand is a steep slope with an angle over 40°. Therefore, the photos were all taken by hand.

In no time, the cloud turned to be red, and the noises calm down. A red sun was rising slowly from the calm sea. Suddenly what I can heard was only the chugs sound of camera shutter. I’m not gonna talk, let’s just see the beautiful pictures!

North Xinjiang: the Colorful Beach

The Colorful Beach is located at Buerjin County, Altay region in north Xinjiang. Situated in the north bank of the second largest river — Irtysh River in Xinjiang Province, which is also the only river in China that flows from east to west and crosses Kazakhstan and Russia, finally empty into the Arctic Ocean.

Lying at 24 kilometers north of Buerjin County, the beach is the only way which must be passed to Habahe County and Kanas. Being contiguous to the rippling Irtysh River, it sets off against the green valley scenery. Eroded by the strong wind and carved by the fierce flow, it formed the cliff-type Yadan landform in north bank and then came into being many various shaped rocks. Therefore it presents a variety of colors because of the different minerals in these rocks, hence the name Colorful Beach.

Looking for the autumn in north Xinjiang province — the “Ghost Town of World” in Wuerhe

106 kilometers away to Karamayi City, China’s northeast Xinjiang Province, the Ghost Town of World in Wuerhe is a typical Yadan geomorphologic resort area in the world. With the Kanas Lake, Tianshan and Tianchi setting off against each other, the scenic spots form a golden tourist route in north Xinjiang together. 　　

Covering a total area of 120 kilometers square, there are various-shaped wind erosion rocks, which are shaped like palace, platform, pavilion, castle or human being and animals etc. The scene is spectacular and magnificent, and impresses you with a feeling of mystery, which makes it one miracle on the planet. In addition, the Ghost Town is also one of the eight exterior base of film and television. In recent years, many famous movies were shoot there, such as Su wu Herds Sheep, Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon, Visitors on the Icy Mountain etc. In 2005, the Ghost Town was voted as “the Most Beautiful Yandan Landform in China”, and then was elected as one of “the 50 places which are worthy visiting for foreigners” in 2006. Later in 2008, it was designated as the National AAAA Level Scenic Spot.

Playing Cards Are An Epitome of Calendar

Many people like playing cards, but not many of them know the meaning of the 54 cards. Playing cards are the epitome of the calendar. Among the 54 cards, 52 are normal ones representing 52 weeks of the year; having two subsidiary cards. The Jack stands for the sun, while the Queen symbolizes the moon. The four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter are indicated by spade, heart, club, and diamond respectively. The heart and diamond cards represent daytime, while the spade and club represent nighttime. Each colour of the Playing Cuds has just 13 cards, which coincide with 13 weeks in each season. Each season has 91 days. The dots of the four different cads plus one dot on the Queen make a total of 365. However, when the dot of the King is included, the total would be the exact number of the days of a leap year There are 12 cards for J. Q. K. in the Playing Cards, which indicate the12 months of the year. They also indicate the 123 constellations that the sun passes by each year. The four colours have implied meanings; the spade is the symbol of the olive leaf, standing for peace; the heart for wisdom; the club for happiness; and the diamond for wealth. These four colours are the beautiful wishes for people. Wedding Finger The fourth finger of the left hand, microbus says the thumb is too busy to be set apart, the forefinger and little finger are only half protected, the middle finger is called mediums, and is too opprobrious for the purpose of honour, so the only finger left is the pronubus. Lulus Gelhus tells us that Appianus asserts in his Egyptian books that a very delicate nerve runs from the fourth finger of the left hand to the heart, on which account this finger is used for the marriage ring. The finger on which the ring (the wedding-ring) is to be worn is the fourth finger of the left hand，next unto learned…in ripping up and anatomising men's bodies, there is a vein of blood, called Venn amorist which passes from that finger to the heart. In the Roman Catholic Church, the thumb and next two fingers represent the trinity; thus the bridegroom says, “In the name of the Father, ” and touches the thumb; in the name of the Son, “and touches the index finger; and” in the name of the Holly Ghost, " and he touches the long or third finger; with the word “Amen” he then puts it on the fourth finger and leaves it there. In some countries the wedding ring is worn on the right hand; this was the custom generally in England until the end of the 16th century, and among Roman Catholics until much later. In the Hereford, York, and Salisbury missals, the ring is directed to be put first on the thumb, then on the index finger, then on the long finger, and lastly on the ring-finger.