As all sections of the Wall are located some 100km from downtown, one may ask how to explore the Wall at lowest costs. There are several ways to do so:

1. Take public bus- The public bus system is quite well-developed in Beijing while it will be a problem for English speakers that no people can understand English. It is quite hard to know where to get off the bus. Normal cost for public bus will be some US$1 per trip per person.
2. Take a taxi – One should discuss the cost with the taxi driver for a round trip transfer from downtown Beijing to Great Wall and return. The cost for a whole day transfer will incur a cost of some US$91.
3. Join in a group – I assume this is the best way to low down your cost for your trip to Great Wall of China around Beijing. The group tour is from 6 to 15 English-speaking passengers and it is daily departs from your hotel or residence in Beijing. Great Wall Group Tour will cost US$20 per person only which covers admission fees to Great Wall at Badaling Section, a typical Chinese lunch arranged at local restuarant, an English-speaking tour guide, and vehicle. On the way back to your residence or hotel in Beijing, one can also take an exterior tour to the Olympic Green, the iconic spot of Beijing including “Bird Nest” as well as “Water Cube”.

Drekhu pastureland

Drekhu pastureland is about 80 kilometers southwest of Yambulakang.

As the altitude rises and temperature falls, wheat and Tibetan barley gradually fade away, and the intoxicating fragrance of green grass permeates the air.

Situated in the center of the Shannan prefecture and at an average altitude of 4,600 meters, the roughly 2,150-square-kilometer grassland encircled by mighty mountains is truly a beauty to behold. It boasts an array of wildlife, including wild donkeys, horses, gray ducks, eagles and vultures – you name it.

The 70-sq-km Drekhu Lake crowns the prairie’s center. It’s home to an assortment of treasured wildfowl, including the red-crowned crane.

The road is quite good, even through the pastureland. Both big buses and small vans can cross it without difficulty.

Samye Monastery

Built in the eighth century, Samye Monastery is Tibet’s oldest monastery. It’s also the site of the “Great Debate” (AD 792-794) between the Indian Mahayanists and Chinese Zen Buddhists.

Founded during the reign of King Trisong Detsen, with the help of the Indian Buddhist masters Padmasambhava and Shantarakshita, the monastery is widely believed to be Tibet’s first formal Buddhist monastery.

All four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism share presence in Samye.

Although only 50 km from the Lhasa airport, the monastery isn’t easy to reach. Normally, there are two routes. The two-hour drive from Zedang town along a bumpy, winding mountain path might not be very suitable for the fainthearted. Visitors can also take the hour-long ferry ride across the mighty Yarlung Zangbo River.

Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok Lake, along with Nam Co and Mapam Yum Co, is one of Tibet’s three holy lakes.

It’s the largest freshwater lake at the Himalayas’ foot. The 638-sq-km body of water is situated about 4,441 meters above sea level and is believed to be the woman guardian of Buddhism in Tibet.

A constant flow of pilgrims streams to the three lakes. But the breathtaking Yamdrok Lake has the advantage of being closest to Lhasa and the airport.

And the road to reach it is arguably in better condition than those to the other two.

In addition, the drive along the two-lane road that wraps around the 4,800-meter-high Gampa-la mountain is riddled with U-turns and offers views of changing landscapes and different seasons created by the varying altitudes.

Why would any visitor to Beijing stay in a hotel when they can stay in a hutong?

I first visited hutong as part of a tourist group several years ago. We rode on a trishaw with a guide explaining the history, architecture and lifestyle of the local inhabitants.

Having visited the fabulous “must-sees” of Beijing, like the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Drum Tower and the Summer Palace, going into the hutong home of some famous ancient families gave the “Beijing experience” a human element.

My curiosity has sharpened over the years from reading about them at every opportunity. During the preparation for the Olympics I was thrilled to learn that some siheyuan courtyards in hutong were turned into accommodations for visitors. I vowed to stay in one someday.

Preparing for a recent trip to the capital, I eagerly sought one out. On my humble teacher’s salary, I settled on an affordable option, though I looked longingly at the more upscale courtyard accommodations.

As usual, by not being able to go upmarket, I ended up having something closer to an authentic experience. A real family still dwells in the courtyard, which hasn’t been all tricked out and is closer to the original.

The rooms all opened into the central courtyard. How I love a courtyard! Flowers were blooming, beans and peas were climbing up the bamboo lattice, a wind chime tinkled and the cat was napping in the sun.

Every day after exploring the city, I’d hurry back to the hutong, take a quick shower and join the cat – snoozing in a bamboo lounge chair with a book ready nearby.

As the other guests came back we’d greet one another. There was a mother and young daughter from France, an exuberant guy from Canada, a mother and teenage daughter from the Netherlands, a teacher from England and several guests from various parts of China.

We exchanged stories and tips on where to go and where to eat. Instant friendships were formed. I went to the Summer Palace with James, the Canadian car salesman, and climbed the Great Wall at Simatai with the Hollanders, Lianne and Iris.

Coming and going through the narrow alleys of the hutong, the residents would smile and give cheery “ni hao” (hello). Laughing children were playing under the watchful eyes of the neighbors.

Some recently installed, brightly painted exercise equipment made a perfect perch for the elderly women to sit and chat and comment on the passing scenes. Smells of meals cooking filled my nostrils, as I ducked some laundry hung over the narrow lane. I felt right at home in this friendly neighborhood.

How can a hotel compete? In my opinion, they cannot even come close. Of course, the accommodation seems familiar to foreign visitors because hotels all over the world are the same.

But don’t we travel in order to experience something different?

Sure, they have a restaurant, but then you don’t walk down the street feeling the pulse of the city as you seek out local food. You don’t go traipsing around with people you just met. You don’t go into the kitchen and show your host how you like your eggs prepared.

And you don’t sit in the warm evening, with the flowers, the lazy cat, and have slow, easy conversations with fellow travelers as birds fly overhead, making room for the moon.

Hotel? Hutong? No contest.

Lake Namtso is located in Nagqu Prefecture, about 260 kilometers from Lhasa City and 60 kilometers from Damxung County. From Damxung to Lake Namtso, you have to drive on a gravel road and climb over a snow mountain. In the rainy season, the road, which may be destroyed the heavy rain, will make it difficult for the minibuses with low chassis to drive on.

Lake is as the sky fell to the ground, hence the name ‘Hevenly Lake’, while the Tibetan people say it’s because of the high altitude of the Namtso Lake. Namtso Lake receives its water from the rain and melted snow. In the middle of Namtso Lake are five islands as well as there being five bylands. Furthermore, there are several grottos in the Namtso Lake area as well as other rocks, peaks and natural forms. The best time to visit Namtso Lake is during the summer when many birds come back to lay their eggs, herds travel through the area and other animals enjoy the warm summer months.

Tibetan Buddists believe that the Namtso is one of the four mighty lakes of the Tibetan Buddhism. Legend has it that circumanbulation around the lake once in goat year of Tibetan calendar is way better than hundreds of thousand times of that during other time because every goat year the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and safeguarding God assemble in Namtso Lake and set up altar for utsava. Tibetan people journey a long way to the Namtso Lake for cirmanbulation and the utsava culminates on April 15th.There are numerous marnyi stones all over the shoreline of Namtso Lake, which carries the prayers of the Tibetan people. Several pilgrims come to walk clockwise around the Namtso Lake to receive a blessing from the gods and there is one temple where people stop and worship. Namtso Lake is a popular travel destination.

Summer is the best time for Namtso Lake. Wild yaks, hares and other wild animals leisurely look for food along the expansive lake shores; countless migratory birds fly here to lay eggs and feed their young; sometimes lovely fishes in the lake jump out of the lake water, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine; sheep and cows herds are like flowing white blanks on the green grassland which can stretch as far as your eyes can see; the dulcet songs of Gauchos resound through the valleys. This time of the year Namtso Lake is full of life and activity. Therefore it is no wonder Tibetans take Namtso Lake the symbol of goodliness and happiness. Really Namtso Lake is a blessing from nature.

Besides the beautiful scenery in Namtso, it is also a famous sacred Buddhist place. There is a Zhaxi Temple in Zhaxi byland. In every Tibetan year of sheep, thousands of Buddhism adherents will come here to worship. As a rule, they will walk clockwise along the Namtso Lake in order to receive the blessing of the gods.

The strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs are the four wonders of Yellow Mountain (Mt. Huangshan).

Strange Pines
Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) pines are seen in every corner of Yellow Mountain. You will be amazed by their vitality and strength. The seeds fall into the crevices where they take root and grow with great vigor. The uneven terrain prevents the pines from growing upright. Instead they become crooked and even downward. Another feature of Huangshan pines is that many trees grow branches on one side only. The pines grow very slowly due to the poor soil and climatic conditions. A tree less than 3 meters (9.84feet) high may have grown for over one hundred years or even several hundred years. The root of a pine is several times or several dozens times longer than the trunk, therefore Huangshan pines stand firmly with dignity, withstanding wind and rain. Every pine is unique though: Guest-Greeting Pine (in front of the stone lion of the Jade Screen Pavilion in the Jade Screen Scenic Area), Guest-Goodbye Pine (to the right of the Jade Screen Pavilion), Cushion Pine at Lotus Valley, Phoenix Pine at the Sky Sea, Chessboard Pine at Pingtian Stone Bridge, Kylin Pine between Bei Hai Hotel and the Refreshing Terrace, Black Tiger Pine and Sea Exploring Pine are among the most famous ones.

Absurd Stones
Spectacular rocky peaks will inspire your imagination. Some look like human beings, birds or animals or many other objects. Something that makes the stones even more fascinating is that they assume varied shapes when seen from different angles. Every stone has its own fantastic legend.

The rocks known as the ‘Celestial Basking Shoe’ and the ‘Celestial Basking Boot’ share a most romantic story. Once upon a time, in the Celestial Heaven Taoist Temple on Zuoshu Peak lived an old Taoist priest Dao Xuan and his disciple Tai Qing while in the Purple Cloud Temple on Pine Forest Peak lived a Taoist nun Lian Yu and her disciple Miao Zhen. The West Sea Valley separated the two temples as well as a strict commandment, therefore they had no dealings with each other. However, one winter, there was no kindling in Celestial Heaven Taoist Temple. Seeking help, Dao Xuan asked Tai Qing if he could borrow some from the nun at the Purple Cloud Temple. It so happened that the two young disciples fell in love at first sight. From then on, they spent time together when they fetched water or collected firewood. Unfortunately, they were discovered by both masters and the two disciples were punished severely. They were forbidden to go beyond the boundaries set by their masters and threaten with a beating should they disobey. One day when both the masters went down the mountain, they stealthily dated again and agreed upon a good idea: Tai Qing would place a boot in front of the mountain gate if his master was not at home; likewise Miao Zhen would place a shoe. One day, when they were together, their masters unexpectedly returned. Knowing they would be punished, the lovers pondered over their plight. Eventually, they decided that since they could not live together, they would rather choose to die together. Thus, they jumped into a cloud sea. They even did not have time to take back the boot and the shoe. As the days passed, the boot and the shoe turned into two rocks – ‘Celestial basking shoe’ and ‘Celestial basking boot’.

Sea of Clouds
Yellow Mountain is home to clouds and mists. The Sea of Clouds has a fairy tale beauty. Winter is the best season for this spectacle. According to their locations, the seas of clouds are divided into East Sea, South Sea, West Sea, North Sea and Sky Sea. If you climb up the Lotus Peak, the Heaven Capital Peak and the Bright Peak, you will find yourself above the level of the clouds and they appear as a sea beneath you. It is true that a sea of clouds can be seen in many high mountains but that of Yellow Mountain is unique with its oddly shaped rocks and ancient pines. Peaks, large and small, hide and reappear in the boundless waves of clouds. The Heavenly Capital Peak and the Bright Peak appear as isolated islands within this white sea.

All the colors seem more vivid in the sunshine. The clouds are forever changing, from being like a mirror when all is calm to rolling waves when the wind is strong. At sunrise or sunset, the glistening clouds assume every hue from red to purple. You cannot help marveling at this gift from the Creator! You will be struck by the beauty when all the red leaves are floating on the white clouds in autumn, when the clouds gush between the peaks like a raging river while the red leaves flutter delicately in the breeze.

Go to the Jade Screen Pavilion to view the South Sea, the Refreshing Terrace for the North Sea, the Paiyun Tower for the West Sea, the White Goose Ridge for the East Sea and the Legendary Turtle Peak for the Sky Sea.

Hot springs
To be able to refresh yourself in the hot springs on Yellow Mountain must be one of the best ways of enjoyment and relaxation. Running out of the Purple Peak of 850 meters (2, 789 feet), the hot spring in Yellow Mountain is the first stop following the entrance. Legend has it that Huang Di, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, bathed here 49 days before he ascended to heaven and became immortal.

Tips:
1. Hot spring is not suitable for everyone. If you suffer from high blood pressure or heart diseases, it would be wise to consult your doctor first.
2. Do not bathe in the hot spring if you do not feel very well or when you are hungry.
3. Leave the hot spring whenever you feel uncomfortable.

In addition to the spectacles we have mentioned there are three large waterfalls that are well worth a visit. These are Renzi (like the Chinese character for human being) Waterfall, the Baizhang (100 zhang, over 1,093feet) Spring and the Nine-dragon Waterfall.

Four hundred kilometers (248.5miles) from the East China Sea, Yellow Mountain is absolutely the best place to watch the sunrise. It would be wise to choose the place according to where you live or are staying so as to attain the best vantage point without being exhausted. For example, the Dawn Pavilion (Shuguang Ting), the Refreshing Terrace and the Lion Peak are the optimum places if you live near the North Sea; the Red Cloud Peak for tourists near Xihai Hotel and Paiyunlou Hotel; the Bright Peak for Qixiang Hostel and Tianhai Hotel and Jade Screen Peak for those near Jade Screen Pavilion. You have to wake up earlier but the magnificent sight is certainly rewarding.

In contrast, Red Cloud Peak and Paiyun Tower are the best places for watching the glow of the setting sun.

Animals and Plants
Yellow Mountain is an ideal environment for wild animals and plants. The distribution of the animals and plants changes with elevation. Flowers bloom as though in all the four seasons due to the change in climatic conditions as you proceed up the mountain. So if you are fond of animals and plants, be prepared to encounter some precious ones here.

Xixi Wetland Park is less famous than the West Lake. But After a movie called If you are the One(非诚勿扰)， more and more people got it, and travel to Xixi.We went there in the second day.

Situated in the western part of Hangzhou, less than 5km from West Lake, Xixi National Wetland Park is a rare urban wetland. With rich ecological resources, simple natural landscape and profound culture, Xixi is known as one of the Three “Xi’s” along with Xihu (West Lake) and Xiling (the Seal Engravers’ Society). It is the first and only wetland park in China combining urban life, farming and culture. Xixi has not only broad open views, but also a variety of water views. Warm and humid, the area enjoys a comfortable climate featuring abundant precipitaThis place is peaceful and I can’t believe my eyes when a road and massive complexes appear around the corner. As I turn my head the other side of the river shows a whole other panorama. White wooden houses with dark decorations in traditional Chinese style are spread out in harmony with the most beautiful of trees. The pink flowers covering the treetops make this scenery look just like those typical Chinese paintings my grandmother used to have on her wall. Put a warrior and his lover in the center and the scene is complete.

Reed, trees and bushes are what clean the water in this area, just like the massive mangrove further south. I imagine one of the trees as being part of The Lion King, with birds nest waiting for vultures to return, something I soon convince myself is not going to happen anytime soon. This place truly gets my fantasy going.

As the saying goes “when coming back from the Yellow Mountains one does not want to see a mountain; when coming back from Jiuzhaigou one does not want to see water.” Known as ‘king of Chinese water scenes’, The essence of Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area lies in its waters: lakes, spring waters, streams, waterfalls, rivers and shoals. It is a great masterpiece of nature having dreamlike scenery and abundant natural resources.

Known as ‘king of Chinese water scenes’, The essence of Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area lies in its waters: lakes, spring waters, streams, waterfalls, rivers and shoals. It is a great masterpiece of nature having dreamlike scenery and abundant natural resources.

The name “Jiuzhaigou”
Its name is due to the existence of nine stockaded villages of Tibetan origin, and it is always regarded as a holy mountain and watercourse by the Tibetan people. Ancient Chinese legend has it that the goddess accidentally broke her mirror here and the pieces which fell down the mountain formed beautiful lakes, streams and waterfalls. The scenery here is extremely beautiful. The scenic spot actually consists of three major gullies, which formerly was the site of nine stockaded villages of Tibetans.

The scenery in Jiuzhaigou is simply charming in all seasons. The spring witnesses green buds coming out of branches and waterfalls flowing briskly; in summer, the lakes are surrounded by green shades where birds sing and dance in between; leaves turn colorful in autumn while everywhere becomes a color palette; in winter, while the mountains and valleys are wrapped in snow, the waterfalls are much of some running jades. In a secluded pure land deep on the plateau, where the tranquility reveals our heartbeats and the breathtaking sceneries of the four seasons linger, you can hardly confess your feelings in any earthly words. Jiuzhaigou is a divine place of water. Water is the soul of the place, embodied by the mountain lakes and waterfalls. The water in Jiuzhaigou is crystal clear, yet presenting multicolored and twinkling brightness with refractions of the depositions formed under the lakes by dissolved limestone and multiple minerals. Coupled along the lakeshore with the inverted reflection of the tree colors, which will change with seasons, the scenery of lake and mountain builds Jiuzhaigou into a magic dreamy wonderland. What a holy pure “fairyland”!