South-West China [antikvár]

IntroductionWithout going outside, you may know the whole world.Without looking through the window, you maysee the ways of heaven.The farther you go, the less you know.Laotzu, Tao Te ChingChina's South-West has long been a favourite among backpackers, anthropologists and other explorers. Its highlights are China's greatest highlights, whether you're making a pilgrimage to the Buddhist mountain of Emeishan, taking a boat ride to the biggest Buddha in the world, cycling around the sublime karst landscapes of Guilin, or taking in the spectacular minority festivals of Guizhou. The turquoise lakes of Jiuzhaigou national park rank as the most beautiful scenery in the country and the traveller-friendly meccas of Dali and Yangshuo still offer the only places in China where you can get a blueberry muffin for breakfast and learn taichi in the afternoon.It's even cheaper here than the rest of China.Beyond this, China at its most traveller-friendly becomes China at its most remote. The South-West has always formed the fringes of China, and here at the southem gates live a diverse range of ethnic groups, who render the region much of its colour and charm. Up in the snowy peaks of western Sichuan you'll meet Tibetans with gold teeth and cowboy hats, while down in the tropical forests of Xishuangbanna you can eat sticky Thai rice out of a pineapple. The region holds an astonishing array of landscapes and culmres, blowing the lid on the myth of a monochrome China.The recent boom in trade connections to South-East Asia has brought good news for travellers. You can now fly direct to Kunming from most regional capitals without the need to hit Hong Kong or Beijing. If you're heading overland, join the jade traders and vacuum flask sellers