Zhongdian
There was also a museum dedicated to the "long March" of the Red Army around
1934 from southern China to Shaanxi Province in the north
On 15 October we took a 12:30 flight from Zhongdian's new airport to Kunming
and after a delay of about three hours got on a "connecting" flight to Guilin, where
we arrived after dark.
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1934 from southern China to Shaanxi Province in the north
On 15 October we took a 12:30 flight from Zhongdian's new airport to Kunming
and after a delay of about three hours got on a "connecting" flight to Guilin, where
we arrived after dark.
Click here for the next page, "Guilin".
Click here to return to the "China Trip Menu"
Click here to return to "Our Travel Journals Main Menu"
Zhongdian --- 12 to 15 October: Took a 6 yuan (less than one US$) taxi to
the Lijiang bus station and went by bus (47 yuan, US$6) to Zhongdian, up in the
mountains of northwest Yunnan near the border of Tibet. The scenery was
beautiful, with excellent views of the snow-peaked mountains, the Yangtze River,
and part of the famous "Tiger Leaping Gorge". The old road, on which we went
most of the way, was very rough but a new express highway was under
construction.
the Lijiang bus station and went by bus (47 yuan, US$6) to Zhongdian, up in the
mountains of northwest Yunnan near the border of Tibet. The scenery was
beautiful, with excellent views of the snow-peaked mountains, the Yangtze River,
and part of the famous "Tiger Leaping Gorge". The old road, on which we went
most of the way, was very rough but a new express highway was under
construction.
Scenery between Lijiang and Zhongdian, Yunnan Province.
Crossing the Yangtze
near the Big Bend and
Tiger-leaping Gorge.
near the Big Bend and
Tiger-leaping Gorge.
Upon arriving in Zhongdian about 2:30pm we took a taxi to the Tibet Hotel. It
has a beautiful Tibetan-style exterior and a dazzlingly beautiful Tibetan lobby.
Unfortunately we had some problems with the room. Freezing weather had
burst the hotel's cold-water pipes, so that only the cold "hot water" pipes were
usable; this meant that the toilet could not be flushed except by pouring in a
bucket with "hot" water. Also the room's main light fixture was out of order.
We decided to stay there one night, and move into something better the next day.
has a beautiful Tibetan-style exterior and a dazzlingly beautiful Tibetan lobby.
Unfortunately we had some problems with the room. Freezing weather had
burst the hotel's cold-water pipes, so that only the cold "hot water" pipes were
usable; this meant that the toilet could not be flushed except by pouring in a
bucket with "hot" water. Also the room's main light fixture was out of order.
We decided to stay there one night, and move into something better the next day.
Gate to the courtyard of the
Tibet Hotel, Zhongdian.
Tibet Hotel, Zhongdian.
Lobby of the Tibet Hotel, Zhongdian, Yunnan Province.
Early next morning we took a local bus (1 yuan each) to the Ganden Sumtseling
Gompa, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery and temple complex outside of
Tibet. It is built on the slope of a hill, a smaller version of the famous Buddhist
Gompa in Lhasa, Tibet. There we saw many monks working to refinish some of
the buildings' exterior walls by stirring clay into water to make a very muddy
liquid and then by sloshing the muddy liquid against the walls. The interiors of
the temple buildings were very ornate, with the walls painted with bright
religious scenes, many statues of Buddha and other religious figures, a wide
variety of religious artifacts, and monks all about engaged in religious
ceremonies and other activities. Some of the buildings were undergoing
renovation. We had a wonderful experience at the Gompa.
Gompa, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery and temple complex outside of
Tibet. It is built on the slope of a hill, a smaller version of the famous Buddhist
Gompa in Lhasa, Tibet. There we saw many monks working to refinish some of
the buildings' exterior walls by stirring clay into water to make a very muddy
liquid and then by sloshing the muddy liquid against the walls. The interiors of
the temple buildings were very ornate, with the walls painted with bright
religious scenes, many statues of Buddha and other religious figures, a wide
variety of religious artifacts, and monks all about engaged in religious
ceremonies and other activities. Some of the buildings were undergoing
renovation. We had a wonderful experience at the Gompa.
Artist restoring a Gompa mural.
A building at the Ganden
Sumtseling Gompa, Zhongdian.
Sumtseling Gompa, Zhongdian.
Gandem Sumtseling Gompa Interior, Zhongdian.
From the Gompa we returned to the center of town and registered at the Ya Ge
Hotel (100 yuan, US$13 per night), a nice semi-modern hotel which seems to
cater mainly to traveling Chinese businessmen. Then we walked to the Tibet
Hotel, picked up our bags, and took a taxi back to the Ya Ge Hotel
Hotel (100 yuan, US$13 per night), a nice semi-modern hotel which seems to
cater mainly to traveling Chinese businessmen. Then we walked to the Tibet
Hotel, picked up our bags, and took a taxi back to the Ya Ge Hotel
The majority of the people we saw in Zhongdian seemed to be Tibetans and
many of the buildings in town are in Tibetan style. The town has few visitors
compared to Dali and Lijiang, and is not so tourist-oriented. Some of the
visitors told us they came to hike the nearby mountains. A fellow-traveler
accurately described Zhongdian as "Tibet for travelers who are not going to
Tibet". Because of the elevation of almost 10,000 feet the weather was
very cool. Because of it is so remote Zhongdian does not get many visitors
despite its attractions. Zhongdian is trying to stimulate tourism by promoting
itself as "Shangri-La".
many of the buildings in town are in Tibetan style. The town has few visitors
compared to Dali and Lijiang, and is not so tourist-oriented. Some of the
visitors told us they came to hike the nearby mountains. A fellow-traveler
accurately described Zhongdian as "Tibet for travelers who are not going to
Tibet". Because of the elevation of almost 10,000 feet the weather was
very cool. Because of it is so remote Zhongdian does not get many visitors
despite its attractions. Zhongdian is trying to stimulate tourism by promoting
itself as "Shangri-La".
We took several interesting walks around town. One of the places we visited
was the Guishan Gongtuan Temple located on a hilltop next to a gigantic prayer
wheel about fifteen feet in diameter and at least thirty feet high; we rotated it.
was the Guishan Gongtuan Temple located on a hilltop next to a gigantic prayer
wheel about fifteen feet in diameter and at least thirty feet high; we rotated it.
Zhongdian street scene.
Guishan Gongtuan Temple. Zhongdian.
Giant prayer wheel at Guishan Gongtuan Temple, Zhongdian.