Lanzhou: Yellow River Blues

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A February 2004 trip to Lanzhou by SeenThat

Quote: At the geographic center of China, Lanzhou offers a close look at the Yellow River, the cradle of the Chinese culture.

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Downtown Lanzhou

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Attraction | "Lanzhou: Touring the City"

Quote:

At the geographic center of China, Lanzhou offers a close look at the Yellow River, the cradle of the Chinese culture.I arrived at Lanzhou shortly after the Chinese New Year, after spending that holiday in Xian. All the trains from Xian to Urumqi were full and instead of waiting in Xian, I decided to travel in a third class train to Lanzhou, hoping that from there it would be easier to continue westwards.Surprisingly, I was right. Once in Lanzhou there was no problem to find beds in the second or first class trains to ...Read More

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Hua Lian Lanzhou Mansion

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Hotel | "Strange Skies from the 18th Floor"

Quote:

Traveling in Asia would probably change all our early perceptions of the continent. While sitting in a comfortable room in the west, we may think we really understand the meaning of "Chinese Food;" we may have a very clear idea of how Chinese dumplings should taste and we may even have a pair of chopsticks in the kitchen. A thick book of Chinese recipes in a friend’s house is our definitive guide to that country.It takes very little time in China to understand that’s dangerous nonsense. There are hundreds of dumplings variations and at least as many sauces.I foun...Read More

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Yellow River Blues

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Few sights in China impressed me more than the first glimpse of the Yellow River. It wasn’t just its mighty dimensions or the huge bridge from where I studied its reflections, but mainly the fact that it was almost completely frozen, except for a narrow canal at its center; having lived in Mediterranean zones for most of my life that was an awesome sight. I couldn’t help but wonder at the obvious indifference of the denizens to the irresistible beauty of the scene; routine had blinded them. Only travelers seem to have that ability – so common in children – of opening the eyes and enjoying the beauty of o...Read More

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Beyond Lanzhou: Caves, Dunes and Oases

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Lanzhou was an important Buddhist center in the past. Three areas in its surroundings feature Buddhist relics and offer interesting options for short trips from the capital city:Tianshui and Maiji CavesWith 300000 inhabitants, Tianshui is the second largest city in Gansu and hosts several attractions. Moreover, Tianshui was the birthplace of the Qin Dynasty; Qin Tombs have been excavated at Fangmatan near Tianshui. The Maiji Caves are located 45km southeast of Tianshui on a hill rising 142m above the surrounding plains; its name means "stack of...Read More

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An Ode to the Noodles Soup

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Few foods are so ubiquitous in Asia as the noodles soup. Its wide geographical spread assures a wide diversity which is one of the constant surprises while traveling in the area. I took some notes while traveling around and here they are, ordered from south to north.Singapore:The dish most typical of Singapore is the Laksa soup. The tasty dish is available in every food plaza of the ubiquitous Singaporean shopping malls. It is made of a hea...Read More