China used to be home to the largest population of cyclists in the world, but now the car has arrived. Touring is still a popular activity in China with the most popular route, Chengdu to Lhasa on G318. China is a wonderful place to go bike touring and has many things to offer, from outstanding scenery to a myriad of culinary delights and changing cultures throughout the country.
Below are my top 20+ tops for bike touring in China.
1. Road surface quality is good.
The roads are generally in good condition though they may be built to a different standard than you are used to. While riding in the mountains there are a lot of rumble strips on the way down that are not present in other countries. Although the road surface may be nice and smooth, there tends to be a good amount of road debris (glass and wires) on the roads that can give flat tires, so be prepared with tubes. We have ridden a number of roads in the Southern half of China and for the most part they have been very nice. The bad sections are when the Chinese decide to build something. Riding by construction zones can feel interminable, but eventually you will make it through and get back to nice roads. We had one road in Guilin that was beautiful pavement except for stretches that went through towns and villages where it turned into a pothole riddled swamp pit.
2. Your road choice is nearly endless.
You can ride on almost all of the roads in China. The only ones off limits to bikes are toll roads. If in doubt, look at everyone else riding bikes, scooters, and motorcycles, and see where they are riding. On my commute to work, I pass by multiple signs that say no bikes on that road, but I am accompanied by hundreds of more people on scooters, bikes, and motorcycles.
3. Bike tourists generally do not camp in China.
While in China, and more generally, Southeast Asia, most touring cyclists do not stealth camp. First, hotels are cheap. There is no reason to ever spend more than the equivalent of $30 (~200 RMB) on a hotel and many more can be had for significantly less than that. Quality of hotel is not necessarily correlated with price. When we stayed in an unexpected tourist trap, all of the hotels were charging 500 RMB. When we started to ride out of town, we came across a homestay advertising on the side of the road for 100 RMB. It ended up being a very nice stay and it got us free breakfast in the local Sichuan/Tibetan style.
4. warmshowers.org is gaining more and more traction in China.
If you see a host on the map, use them. We are always happy to host people. The more the network gets used by touring cyclists, the more people we can get to open their houses to us. Here at Crawford Creations, we host touring cyclists about every 2 months and would love to have more. This is a wonderful community, and all who are touring should use it to meet like-minded people.
5. Terrain is extremely varied in China.
There are areas with many mountain ranges, and others with none at all. Where we live, there are mountains all around, but none of the roads go up them, so the riding is nearly pancake flat.
6. Google Maps is not accurate in China.
For routing, it is best to use Ride With GPS, set to Open Street Maps routing. Google Maps looks like it has the roads, and it does, however, the roads are offset from GPS location. Basically, if you look at profiles drawn using Google Maps roads in China it will go over the top of the mountain instead of through the gap giving misleading profiles and leading you on long circuitous routes to avoid mountain passes that are not there.
7. China loves blowing holes through mountains, so be prepared to ride through tunnels.
You need a readily available headlight and taillight for the tunnels. The lights are not just for personal visibility, but to see where you are going as well. Many of the overhead lights inside the tunnels will be off. We ride through tunnels in China that are upwards of 5 km long, so you will be out of visible light for a long time inside a tunnel.
8. Beware of traffic!
The Chinese drive like madmen with no regard to anyone else. We have had large SUVs swing over inside a tunnel and come head on at us to make a pass. We had to dive to the edge of the road to avoid being hit. There are many examples of poor Chinese driving, but do not let this deter you from touring in China. The scenery is unmatched and the general road quality is very good. This tip is just so you know what you are getting into around the larger cities. We live in a huge metropolis, so the bad traffic is exaggerated here.
9. Keep your head.
Know that the Chinese drivers are all first generation drivers, so they did not get the chance to grow up in a driving culture and know proper rules of the road. None of the drivers today had parents that also drove and taught them how to be responsible drivers. They learned from the other inexperienced drivers, that demonstrate the mantra “if you not first, your last.” Do not get too frustrated with it, since there is nothing we can do to change Chinese driving habits quickly.
10. The water is generally not okay to drink.
However, if the locals say it is okay to drink it, then drink the water to your hearts content. We were able to drink the local water during our entire trip in Yunnan and Sichuan. There were roadside water stations to fill the trucks brake cooling reservoirs, and that water was drinkable, so we never had to buy water. In general though, assume the water is non-potable unless otherwise told.
11. 26” Schrader valve tubes are the standard in China.
The cycling culture is growing in China and with it the adoption of road bikes and 700c wheels with presta valves, however, most roadside shops will not have 700c tubes. It is best to tour in China and other developing countries with 26” Schrader valve wheels.
12. Most cities will have bike shops.
The bike shops that are most easily located are the little roadside shops that have a bunch of rusted out parts and are there to repair city bikes. Don’t expect shops to have nice touring tires or parts to fix your bike in inventory. If you are able to find a shop online before arriving to town, then it will likely have Shimano parts in stock.
13. Bring the major spare parts that you will need especially if they are proprietary.
This is a no brainer for tourists using belt drive and other proprietary parts. Always carry the means to fix your bike for most repairs. If you don’t have the parts, then you will never find a shop to fix it. Most parts can be acquired in China by ordering online via Taobao (Chinese Alibaba storefront), but you will have to wait 1-5 days for them to arrive. Also, be prepared to do your own maintenance on your bike, since the Chinese mechanics are used to working on only city bike junkers and not quality touring rigs.
14. Lock your bike or bring it inside.
China is one of the safest countries you could possibly tour in, but there is no reason to take the chance of your bike disappearing. If the front desk will watch it, there is nothing to worry about.
15. You do not have to be able to speak Mandarin (Chinese).
Don’t expect the locals to speak English either. Be prepared to mime as your primary means of communication.
16. You will not be able to read the characters.
Unless you have been here for a long time, the characters will make no sense. Do not worry, since there are very few that you actually need to recognize to get by. To find somewhere to sleep look for: 酒店，旅舍，宾馆. Restaurants is 饭店。These few sets of symbols are the primary ones you will want to try and recognize.
17. Restaurants are cheap, tasty, and in every town.
Walk around and point at the dishes you want that others have ordered. In order for the meal to stay cheap, you need to eat lots of rice to fill up. Also, I have a hard time eating enough food before getting full to replace all of my calories burnt while riding, so look for dishes that are high in calories.
18. Be prepared for very different food choices in the grocery stores.
Grocery stores come in lots of sizes. There are the super markets of the US and Europe along with small corner shops with just a few items. All of these stores will be stocked with foods not available anywhere else. Try whatever looks good to you, but do not come to China expecting to be able to acquire the same foods that you can in Europe and the US. Foreign foods in China are very expensive with 2-10x markup over prices from the foods country of origin.
19. Cooking for yourself on a camp stove allows more “normal” foods for your consumption.
Cooking some of your own food on the camp stove will allow you to control your diet better than at restaurants. We cook because we are tired of eating out and to help replenish calorie loss during the times eating at restaurants.
20. You can get gasoline for your stove from the gas station.
Sometimes the gas attendants will tell you otherwise, but just show them what it is for and they will help you.
21. The Chinese people are very helpful and nice to you if you ask for help.
They will go out of their way to help you once they get to know you. Be prepared to take a selfie with them in return.
I hope this list helped you prepare for a bike tour in China. If you have any questions on how to tour in China leave a comment below and I will help you out. I look forward to hearing about your adventures on the bike in China.
Yunnan Province in China is known for its diverse landscapes and mild climate, making it an excellent destination for cycling tours. However, the best time to cycle in Yunnan depends on the specific region you plan to visit and your tolerance for varying weather conditions. Generally, the most favorable times to embark on a Yunnan cycling tour are during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).
Spring (March to May)
- Weather: Mild temperatures, blooming flowers, and clear skies.
- Advantages:
- Pleasant temperatures for cycling, generally ranging from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F).
- Beautiful scenery with blossoming flowers and lush greenery.
- Less crowded tourist spots compared to the peak summer season.
- Considerations:
- Early spring might still be chilly in higher altitudes, so pack layers.
- Occasional rain showers, especially in late spring.
Autumn (September to November)
- Weather: Cooler temperatures, clear skies, and colorful foliage.
- Advantages:
- Comfortable cycling temperatures, typically between 10°C and 20°C (50°F to 68°F).
- Stunning autumn foliage, particularly in mountainous areas.
- Generally dry weather with fewer rainy days.
- Considerations:
- Nights can be quite cold, especially in higher elevations, so bring warm clothing.
- Early autumn might still see some rainfall, especially in September.
Regional Considerations
- Kunming: Known as the “Spring City,” Kunming has mild weather year-round, making it a great starting point for a cycling tour any time of the year.
- Dali and Lijiang: These regions also enjoy mild climates but can be more crowded during Chinese holidays. Autumn is particularly beautiful here with the changing colors of the trees.
- Shangri-La: Located at a higher altitude, Shangri-La can be cold in winter and early spring. Late spring and early autumn are the best times to visit for cycling.
- Xishuangbanna: This southern region is tropical and can be quite hot and humid in summer. The cooler, drier months of spring and autumn are ideal for cycling here.
Additional Tips
- Altitude: Yunnan has varying altitudes, with higher elevations in places like Shangri-La. Acclimate yourself gradually to avoid altitude sickness.
- Rain Gear: Even in the drier seasons, occasional rain is possible, so pack lightweight rain gear.
- Layers: Temperatures can vary significantly between day and night, especially in mountainous areas. Dress in layers to stay comfortable.
- Hydration and Nutrition: Carry plenty of water and snacks, as some remote areas may have limited access to supplies.
- Permits: Ensure you have any necessary permits, especially if cycling to regions like Tibet from Yunnan.
By choosing the right season and preparing appropriately, you can enjoy a memorable and comfortable cycling tour through the stunning and diverse landscapes of Yunnan.
Yunnan Province offers some of the most scenic and diverse cycling routes in China. From historical towns and picturesque landscapes to challenging mountain climbs and tranquil lakes, Yunnan has something for every cyclist. Here are some of the most classic Yunnan cycling tour routes:
1. Kunming to Dali
- Distance: Approximately 340 km (211 miles)
- Duration: 5-7 days
- Highlights:
- Kunming: Start in the capital city, known as the “Spring City” for its mild climate.
- Anning: Famous for its hot springs.
- Chuxiong: Home to the Yi ethnic group and their unique culture.
- Dali: Explore the ancient city, Erhai Lake, and the Cangshan Mountains.
- Terrain: Mostly paved roads with some moderate climbs.
2. Dali to Lijiang
- Distance: Approximately 190 km (118 miles)
- Duration: 3-5 days
- Highlights:
- Dali Ancient Town: Known for its historic architecture and vibrant culture.
- Shaxi Ancient Town: A well-preserved market town with significant historical value.
- Lijiang: A UNESCO World Heritage site with beautiful old town streets and the iconic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
- Terrain: Mix of flat and hilly sections, with some challenging climbs.
3. Lijiang to Shangri-La
- Distance: Approximately 180 km (112 miles)
- Duration: 4-6 days
- Highlights:
- Lijiang: Start your journey in this picturesque town.
- Tiger Leaping Gorge: One of the deepest gorges in the world, offering stunning views.
- Haba Snow Mountain: Offers challenging climbs and breathtaking scenery.
- Shangri-La: Known for its Tibetan culture, monasteries, and beautiful landscapes.
- Terrain: Mountainous with significant altitude changes.
4. Shangri-La to Deqin (Meili Snow Mountain)
- Distance: Approximately 170 km (106 miles)
- Duration: 4-6 days
- Highlights:
- Shangri-La: Tibetan culture and stunning landscapes.
- Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reserve: Rich biodiversity and beautiful scenery.
- Meili Snow Mountain: Sacred peaks with spectacular views.
- Terrain: High altitude, steep climbs, and challenging roads.
5. Kunming to the Stone Forest
- Distance: Approximately 120 km (75 miles)
- Duration: 2-3 days
- Highlights:
- Kunming: The starting point with mild weather.
- Stone Forest (Shilin): A UNESCO World Heritage site with unique karst formations.
- Terrain: Mostly flat to moderate climbs, well-paved roads.
6. Erhai Lake Loop (Dali)
- Distance: Approximately 120 km (75 miles)
- Duration: 2-3 days
- Highlights:
- Dali Ancient Town: Starting and ending point.
- Erhai Lake: Scenic lake views, Bai ethnic villages, and temples.
- Terrain: Mostly flat with some gentle hills.
7. Xishuangbanna Loop
- Distance: Variable, typically around 300 km (186 miles) for a complete loop
- Duration: 5-7 days
- Highlights:
- Jinghong: Start in the capital of Xishuangbanna.
- Tropical Rainforest: Rich biodiversity and lush greenery.
- Ethnic Villages: Experience the culture of the Dai, Hani, and other ethnic groups.
- Terrain: Tropical climate, rolling hills, and some challenging sections.
Tips for a Successful Yunnan Cycling Tour
- Preparation: Ensure your bike is in good condition, carry necessary repair tools, and pack appropriate clothing for varying weather conditions.
- Acclimatization: Some routes involve high altitudes; acclimate gradually to avoid altitude sickness.
- Navigation: Use GPS devices or detailed maps to stay on course.
- Hydration and Nutrition: Carry sufficient water and snacks, especially in remote areas.
- Permits: Check if any permits are needed for specific regions, particularly for areas like Tibet.
With these classic routes and tips, you can plan an unforgettable cycling adventure in Yunnan, enjoying its diverse landscapes, rich culture, and breathtaking scenery.
Cultural Revelation; In China, a Picture of Its People Takes Shape One Snapshot at a Time
By: Peter S. Goodman
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sep 16, 2003
Ask him to describe what he values about his surroundings and his face tightens into a knot of incomprehension. The mountains that frame the village, the terraced fields carved into the slope, the smell of smoke from the cooking fire permeating the mud walls of his house: Hong Zhengyong knows them as basic elements. This is, for him, the sole familiar place on Earth, a place reached only after a day’s climb up a narrow muddy track. He is unaccustomed to judging it.
But ask him to open the book of photographs he has been creating with the first camera he has ever used and his eyes light up. He turns the plastic-encased pages and the details of village life unfold.
A group of men make a stove out of bricks. A woman cloaked in multi-hued fabric ladles stewed scraps into a dug-out log that serves as a pig trough. His 80-year-old father — a bimo, as he is known, a shaman in the traditional animist religion of his tribe, the Yi people — sits on the ground, a scroll across his lap, his white beard floating beneath his chin. The scroll is covered in pictographs that tell the story of where the Yi came from and how they got here, to this verdant corner of Yunnan province in southwestern China. (“At the beginning of the world, there were only women.”) In another image, his father oversees a healing ritual involving incense and a bowl of chicken blood.
Hong still struggles to come up with the words for what his photographs convey, but he clearly feels it is an unnecessary effort: There they are, the stories laid out for view. “I thought these photos were very interesting, so I wanted to take them,” he says with a shrug, as if further explanation would be superfluous.
The photos are an outgrowth of a project being conducted here by the Nature Conservancy that has placed cameras in the hands of villagers to capture glimpses of their lives as they see them. The project is part of a larger undertaking — the fashioning of a patch of land roughly the size of West Virginia into a collection of nature reserves. The photographs amount to data being collected as the environmental group works with provincial and national authorities to design the protected area. They are visual aids guiding efforts to accommodate the needs of local people by illustrating how they farm, build their homes and generally go about their lives in one of the more remote regions of China.
The argument for protection is compelling. The land within the project boundaries holds mountains reaching 20,000 feet. It is crossed by four of Asia’s great rivers — the Yangtze, the Mekong, the Irawaddy and the Salween. Red pandas and snow leopards live here in landscapes punctuated by bamboo groves and flowering shrubs, including more than 160 species of rhododendron. Medicinal herbs found nowhere else grow here.
But where the words “nature reserve” tend to conjure up images of wilderness untouched by mankind, not so here. The land is home to 3 million people who belong to more than a dozen ethnic minority tribes, including Tibetans, Naxi and Yi. Roughly 70 percent live below China’s official poverty line, meaning they are extremely poor by any standard. Many subsist on less than $60 a year. Electricity increasingly reaches upland areas, but is mostly used only for nighttime illumination. All but a fraction of the people still use wood to cook their food, putting pressure on forests that play a critical role in absorbing water that could — and often does — unleash floods on the hundreds of millions of Chinese who live further down the Yangtze.
“This will never be Yosemite,” says Ann McBride-Norton, who runs the photo project for the Nature Conservancy, her new life following two decades behind a desk in Washington where she headed the campaign finance advocacy group Common Cause. “There will always be people here. Unless they have a stake in what we’re doing, no matter how many park rangers we have, there will never be any way to enforce what we are doing.”
But trying to give local people a stake is a process fraught with potential misunderstanding. Many ethnic minorities in China fear the encroachment of majority Han Chinese. They look warily upon government-led initiatives. Many are uneducated, making communication with outsiders difficult. Sending researchers out with clipboards to interview villagers about their practices and hopes runs the risk of bringing the same result one gets from Hong when asking why he wants to study the rituals of Yi religion — a blank stare, and incredulity that the answer is not self-evident.
Photographs, on the other hand, are illustrative by their very nature. They put the photographer in a position of control, allowing one to literally frame the subject and select what is important.
“So much of a questionnaire is about ‘I’m the big official person and you are the little villager,’ ” McBride-Norton says. “This equalizes the relationship. They are presenting something.”
Such was the origin of what has come to be known as the Photovoice project, launched two years ago. About 275 people scattered in nearly three dozen villages have been given cheap plastic point-and-shoot cameras. Every month, they are given a new roll of print film with room for 36 images. People conversant in the local tribal languages venture out to meet the photographers on a regular basis, collecting film for developing and bringing in the newly processed prints. Then, they sit down and gather up the stories: Why this photo? What is this about?
The images and the connected narratives have become a visual database drawn on by social and environmental scientists as they try to balance the everyday needs of local people with their mandate to preserve the surroundings. As they have studied pictures of people collecting wood for their cooking fires, they have responded by handing out low-tech but efficient stoves that need less timber. They have used photos of people trudging long distances to collect buckets of water as a way of pressing local and provincial governments to install much-desired tap systems.
But if the project began as a creative way to acquire basic information, it soon evolved into something larger, delivering a wholly unexpected outcome: Many of the images are stunning in their composition. Many are intensely personal, accessible and open in a way that has drawn an emotional response — from the local people who saw them first, to the audience in Shanghai that saw them last month as part of an international art show.
“Our intention was that we would get these very average photos and people would use them as a vehicle for telling the stories,” McBride-Norton says. “We just have been totally amazed by the quality of the photos.”
Many convey a feeling of intimacy rarely glimpsed in portraits of rural life in poor countries. They are shorn of the voyeuristic quality that sometimes infects such images. They look like what they are — photos produced by people who are not outsiders, who did not impose the change on the subject that any traveler with a Nikon almost unavoidably does. As such, they amount to an antidote to the tendency of people in richer places to caricature rural villagers as simplistic and somehow deficient in their sight, as if they are too consumed with the labor of sustenance to properly appreciate the beauty around them.
One photographer captured Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet, their robes colored red and orange, on a steep path carved lightly into a treeless and rocky slope. Another recorded a green meadow sloping down to a lake covered in clouds giving off glints of the last rays of dusk. “I am herding the sheep flock in the high mountain when, looking down, I am very impressed by the beautiful ocean-like clouds,” the photographer explained. (Once, McBride-Norton asked him why there are rarely any people in his photos. “He said, ‘Ann, I’m a herder.”)
The images are nuanced and surprising, sometimes ironic. Yi women giggle as they wear traditional hats — large, black, five-pointed, fabric-covered contraptions that look much like nun’s habits. The photographer explains their origin: “Long ago men thought women’s brains were getting too big.” (Apparently, the odd-shaped hats did not halt such advances.)
The photos and stories evince a pride in workmanship in the daily tasks of producing food and the travails of not always succeeding. Two dugout canoes float empty against a riverbank. “Life is hard for the fishermen,” reads the story. “They have to sleep in the cabin on the boat whenever they guard their fishing nets.” A man cloaked in a brown felt poncho lies on a moss-covered boulder, his dog at his side. “They went hunting one day and came back empty-handed.”
The images illustrate a tendency toward collectivism that predates the advent of communism in China and still endures. “After wheat is harvested, the land needs to be trimmed before rice is planted,” reads the story attached to a panoramic view of golden stalks, mist-covered mountains looming in the background. “Villagers help each other in the work.” Older men in blue cotton robes encircle a table, playing cards. A family kneels in a half-cut wheat field, over a pot of rice they eat together.
Perhaps the most striking thing about the collection is how these images challenge the notion — common in the West — that upland villagers in remote places are not built to handle change and abhor it as an assault on their pure way of life.
The glimpses of life in these photos reveal how even this corner of the world — seemingly as far from the capital markets and advertising dens as one can get — is nonetheless imbued with a palpable sense of upward mobility. Modernity is not the enemy so often portrayed by those intent on preserving village life and villagers themselves as if they were breathing display pieces. While the photographs revel in scenic beauty and tradition, they are not hung up on the conceptions of innocence that underlie every narrative about the next destroyed Shangri-La.
In the village of Wenhai, a settlement of 800 beneath the often rain-obscured peak of Jade Dragon Mountain, the arrival of cameras last year produced an abundance of photos of the new drinking water system. One villager took a picture of a water buffalo pulling a cart set against yellow flowers. The viewer sees a pastoral scene; the villager is focused on the fact that the cart is full of bags of cement. “Now we know how to use cement and don’t have to hire workers from the urban areas,” he says.
One of the photographers, He Huanzhen, 50, speaks emphatically of his desire for a road connecting the village to Lijiang, the largest town in the area, allowing more goods to flow to the shelves of the local shop, where a bare light bulb illuminates packages of instant noodles, toothpaste and bottles of Dali beer. He shows a picture of people carrying sections of pipe on their shoulders, another of people carrying in the pieces of a disassembled tractor. He shows a photo of his family threshing grain by hand in their muddy courtyard. “We need machinery,” he says. “This is too traditional.” He shows a picture of the table saw that one of his neighbors brought in. The whine of its blades now fills the valley.
He is a physician, one of the original “barefoot doctors” trained in the days of Mao to provide a basic level of care in the hinterlands. His green jacket is shredded and fraying, his blue pants worn down to holes. Many of his photographs document his working conditions in a thatched-roof house with a single thermometer and blood pressure machine. In one picture, an old man lies on a bed suffering from pneumonia, a small child sleeping next to him. In another — a photo taken by his daughter — He kneels on the porch of his clinic examining a 5-month-old infant cradled in her mother’s arms. His doctor’s kit, a weathered leather suitcase, is propped on a log. Mud cakes his boots.
For He, every click of the shutter is a kind of political act, an effort to focus the attention of the people who run China on injecting more resources here. He wants more equipment for his clinic — a stomach pump, tools to extract abscessed teeth, oxygen canisters for respiratory troubles. “We feel our life is very poor,” he says. “We were happy to have this camera to show people how we live. It’s kind of a tool to report to the local government.”
In the village of Xuehua, where Hong Zhengyong grew up, a satellite dish now dominates the courtyard of the family home, its metallic shine strikingly anomalous against its surroundings — the soot-stained boards of the house, the tattoos on his mother’s arms that identify her as a member of this family, the long pipe his father smokes, the scroll he nestles in his hands.
Hong’s brother brought the dish from Lijiang last year. Now the television is almost always on, bringing in 18 channels, the sound blasting as smoke from the cooking fire fills the room.
Mostly, the family watches special news and dance programs broadcast in the Yi language by Yunnan government television. But one recent day, the bimo — well versed in the art of coaxing spirits from the bodies of sick people — struggled to change the channel with the remote control. Its batteries had run out. The television was stubbornly fixed to CCTV, the national network, on which a man with a necktie in Beijing, more than 2,000 miles away, spoke in Mandarin Chinese — a language the bimo cannot understand.
“Basically, we didn’t know about the outside world before this,” the bimo says. “Now I know about the good things in the world, but also many bad things — wars, earthquakes.” He is pleased with the skyscrapers going up in China’s cities, happy to see “the good life of the people,” but saddened by the images of American bombs falling in Iraq. “Why the war? I don’t know why it started,” he says. “Who is right or wrong?”
It reminds him of the war between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists more than a half-century ago, when he fled here from ancestral land farther south seeking safe storage for the scrolls given to him by his grandfather. He recalls the days of the Cultural Revolution, when marauding Red Guards came through the area destroying religious artifacts.
Now there is peace in the area and a growing if meager prosperity. His family sells goats and cows in Lijiang, earning cash to buy salt, tea, rice and clothing that they carry back. He wishes for a road to ease the flow. Of the bimo’s seven sons, only Hong Zhengyong shows an interest in learning the practice of the religion. The rest are consumed with making money.
But if a road connects this spot to the rest of the world, won’t the draw of the town increase? Won’t the culture and religion erode? The bimo is the liaison between this world and the spirit realm. It is a link he cannot imagine severed, and he scoffs at the suggestion. “Yi culture is very strong,” he says.
In Hong’s photos, the bimo still attends to rituals. He teaches Hong how to read the scroll, how to write the pictographs. “I want to protect this, just as my father did, as my grandfather did,” he says. “Try to preserve it.” The pictures, he figures, will help people keep remembering how things are supposed to be done, even as their present lives focus more and more on mastering home electronics and figuring out how to buy them.
The bimo smiles at the photos and breaks into delighted laughter at the thought that his face will soon be on a wall in Shanghai’s Grand Theater, at an international festival, to be inspected by whoever comes along in China’s most cosmopolitan city.
“I’m very happy,” he says. “I’ve never been to Shanghai, but now at least my picture can go.”
Two weeks later, it is indeed on the wall, hanging near a refreshment stand selling chilled bottles of Perrier. Inside the theater, a symphony orchestra performs the latest work of the Chinese-born composer Tan Dun, whose arrangements draw on folk music from his native Hunan province. Then comes intermission. The crowd empties onto the lobby’s marble floors beneath a crystal chandelier. Some head to the wall for a look at the photos.
In many ways, the crowd’s reaction says more about urban China today than the subjects of the pictures themselves, its people longing more and more for a mythologized and uncorrupted state of nature as consolation for the increasingly traffic-choked, smog- infested lives they lead. It is a longing steeped in irony and made possible only by the passage of time, now that sufficient decades separate today from the time when Chairman Mao’s adherents sent city people “down to the countryside” for a difficult taste of peasant life.
“It’s very pure, very natural. It hasn’t been polluted by the modern world yet,” declares a 28-year-old English teacher, taking in the images of rural Yunnan. “It’s a primitive lifestyle.”
“This is the root of culture for all human beings,” adds Cheng Xinguang, a local musician. “As we get more and more developed, we have to understand it.”
He studies the face of the old man with the silver beard. He reads the caption.
“My father is 80 years old this year. He is the only bimo in Xuehua. Among seven sons in my family, two were forced to work due to the Cultural Revolution, four lost their interest in Yi traditional culture. And I become the only volunteer to inherit my father’s knowledge and job.”
Without the image, the words don’t make any sense. More to the point, without the image, Hong Zhengyong almost surely would not have spoken them.
Source from: http://www.photovoicesinternational.org/china/en/stories/wp_style_story.html
The Year of the Rooster in the Chinese zodiac is traditionally associated with the tenth position in the twelve-year zodiac cycle. People born in the Year of the Rooster are said to exhibit certain characteristics and are believed to share common traits with the rooster animal. Here are some key aspects related to the Year of the Rooster:
- Years and Dates: The Year of the Rooster occurs every 12 years, with recent years including 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, and 2017. The next Year of the Rooster will be in 2029.
- Personality Traits: Individuals born in the Year of the Rooster are often described as confident, observant, hardworking, and resourceful. They tend to be sociable and enjoy being in the limelight. Roosters are known for their punctuality and strong sense of timekeeping.
- Compatibility: Roosters are believed to be most compatible with individuals born in the Year of the Ox or the Snake, while they may have less harmonious relationships with those born in the Year of the Rabbit.
- Lucky and Unlucky Aspects: The lucky numbers for Roosters are typically 5, 7, and 8, while their lucky colors include gold, brown, and yellow. However, they are advised to avoid certain colors like red and green. Their lucky flowers are the gladiola and the cockscomb.
- Career and Wealth: Roosters are often ambitious and enjoy success in careers that involve public speaking, sales, or entertainment. They are diligent workers and have a knack for managing finances wisely.
- Famous Roosters: Some notable individuals born in the Year of the Rooster include Jennifer Aniston, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Serena Williams.
Understanding the characteristics associated with the Year of the Rooster can provide insights into cultural beliefs and traditions surrounding the Chinese zodiac, which continues to influence many aspects of life in Chinese culture.
3.5
The Snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Symbolically, the Snake holds special significance in Chinese astrology and is associated with wisdom, intuition, and transformation.
Years of the Snake
People born in the following years are considered to be born under the sign of the Snake:
- 1929
- 1941
- 1953
- 1965
- 1977
- 1989
- 2001
- 2013
- 2025
- 2037
The exact dates of the Chinese New Year vary each year, so the specific date range for each Snake year will depend on the lunar calendar.
Personality Traits
Individuals born in the Year of the Snake are believed to possess certain traits:
- Intelligent and Intuitive: Snakes are known for their sharp minds and ability to perceive situations keenly.
- Mysterious and Philosophical: They are deep thinkers who often ponder life’s mysteries and seek profound understanding.
- Charming and Seductive: Snakes have a natural allure and charisma that attracts others.
- Determined and Ambitious: Once they set their sights on a goal, they pursue it with unwavering determination.
- Quiet and Reserved: They tend to keep their emotions and thoughts to themselves, preferring privacy.
Compatibility
- Most Compatible: Ox, Rooster, Monkey
- Ox: Both are reliable and value stability in relationships.
- Rooster: They share a practical approach to life and respect each other’s independence.
- Monkey: Snakes appreciate the Monkey’s wit and energy, forming a harmonious pair.
- Least Compatible: Tiger, Pig
- Tiger: Their different personalities and approaches to life can lead to misunderstandings.
- Pig: Snakes may find Pigs too easygoing, while Pigs might view Snakes as too complex.
Lucky and Unlucky Aspects
- Lucky Numbers: 2, 8, 9
- Lucky Colors: Red, Light Yellow, Black
- Lucky Flowers: Orchid, Cactus
- Unlucky Numbers: 1, 6, 7
- Unlucky Colors: White, Gold, Brown
Career and Wealth
Snakes are strategic and analytical, excelling in careers that require deep thinking and planning:
- Researchers and Scientists: Their intellectual curiosity and analytical skills make them adept in these fields.
- Psychologists and Analysts: Snakes’ ability to understand human behavior and motivations suits these professions.
- Artists and Writers: They express their creativity and depth through art and literature.
In terms of wealth, Snakes are prudent with money but also have a taste for luxury. They often make sound financial decisions and have the potential to accumulate wealth through their strategic investments.
Health
Snakes generally enjoy good health but should pay attention to their emotional well-being:
- Stress Management: Their introspective nature can sometimes lead to stress and anxiety.
- Regular Exercise: Engaging in activities like yoga or tai chi helps maintain physical and mental balance.
- Balanced Diet: A diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains supports their overall health.
Famous Snakes
Notable individuals born in the Year of the Snake include:
- Pablo Picasso (1881)
- John F. Kennedy (1917)
- Bob Dylan (1941)
- Oprah Winfrey (1954)
- Taylor Swift (1989)
Cultural Significance
In Chinese culture, the Snake symbolizes intelligence, wisdom, and transformation. It is often associated with mystery and intrigue, and its ability to shed its skin represents renewal and rebirth. The Snake’s position as the sixth animal in the zodiac cycle reflects its importance in the mythological race organized by the Jade Emperor. According to legend, the Snake utilized its intelligence and cunning to secure its place in the zodiac.
Understanding the characteristics and cultural symbolism of the Year of the Snake provides insights into traditional Chinese beliefs and values associated with the zodiac.
The Rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac cycle, symbolizing elegance, mercy, and peace. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are considered gentle, quiet, and refined, with a strong sense of justice.
Years of the Rabbit
The Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle, with each year corresponding to a different animal sign. The Rabbit years are:
- 1915 (Wood Rabbit)
- 1927 (Fire Rabbit)
- 1939 (Earth Rabbit)
- 1951 (Metal Rabbit)
- 1963 (Water Rabbit)
- 1975 (Wood Rabbit)
- 1987 (Fire Rabbit)
- 1999 (Earth Rabbit)
- 2011 (Metal Rabbit)
- 2023 (Water Rabbit)
- 2035 (Wood Rabbit)
Personality Traits
Individuals born in the Year of the Rabbit are known for the following characteristics:
- Gentle and Quiet: Rabbits are known for their calm and gentle demeanor. They are often soft-spoken and prefer a peaceful environment.
- Elegant and Refined: They have a natural sense of elegance and refinement, often possessing good taste and an appreciation for beauty and art.
- Cautious and Responsible: Rabbits are cautious and meticulous, often thinking carefully before acting. They are responsible and take their duties seriously.
- Compassionate and Merciful: Rabbits have a strong sense of compassion and mercy, often helping others and advocating for justice.
- Sociable and Popular: Despite their quiet nature, Rabbits are sociable and enjoy the company of others. They are popular and well-liked for their kind and considerate nature.
Elements and Their Influence
Each Rabbit year is associated with one of the five elements, which further influences the characteristics of people born in those years:
- Wood Rabbit (1915, 1975): Outgoing, cooperative, and good at forming connections. They are known for their creativity and flexibility.
- Fire Rabbit (1927, 1987): Energetic, ambitious, and adventurous. They are more open and confident compared to other Rabbits.
- Earth Rabbit (1939, 1999): Practical, reliable, and grounded. They are known for their strong sense of responsibility and fairness.
- Metal Rabbit (1951, 2011): Determined, resilient, and sharp-minded. They are strong-willed and have a clear sense of purpose.
- Water Rabbit (1963, 2023): Sensitive, empathetic, and intuitive. They are good at understanding others and adapting to different situations.
Compatibility with Other Signs
Rabbits are believed to be most compatible with Sheep and Pigs and least compatible with Roosters and Dragons.
- Best Matches: Sheep, Pig
- Worst Matches: Rooster, Dragon
Famous People Born in the Year of the Rabbit
Some notable individuals born under the sign of the Rabbit include:
- Albert Einstein (1879) – Renowned physicist.
- Frank Sinatra (1915) – Legendary singer and actor.
- Michael Jordan (1963) – Famous basketball player.
- Tiger Woods (1975) – Professional golfer.
- Angelina Jolie (1975) – Actress and humanitarian.
- Lionel Messi (1987) – Professional footballer.
Summary
The Rabbit symbolizes peace, elegance, and mercy in the Chinese zodiac. Those born under this sign are considered gentle, refined, and compassionate. Their compatibility and personality traits are influenced by the specific element associated with their birth year, making each Rabbit unique. The Rabbit’s sociable yet quiet nature, combined with their strong sense of justice and responsibility, makes them cherished individuals in their communities and professions.
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