Travel Destinations: Yan’an, Shaanxi Province, China

Yan’an, depending on which side you believe, was either the holy land of Chinese communism or the place where Chairman Mao’s warped dystopian law began. No matter which way you look at it, Yan’an is the place where the Long March ended in 1935, in which only an estimated 9,000 people survived.

Yan’an served as the power place until 1947, the location where the Chinese communists created their ideologies. As such, Yan’an has become the must-see place for patriots, attracting over four million tourists worldwide each year despite being nondescript compared to other cities in China.

Because of its deep political history, there are many sights to see here relating to the history of communism and the Cultural revolution in Yan’an. Through the years that the communists used this town as their headquarters, they moved quite a few times, meaning there are a several former headquarters.

The Yangjialing Revolution Headquarters Site (Yangjialing Geming Jiuzhi) is a very interesting place to visit. Located 3km northeast outside of town, you can see the assembly hall where the first central committee meetings were once held. This includes the 7^th national plenum where Chairman Mao was officially confirmed as the leader of the party and the revolution.

You can also see the simple dugouts nearby where Mao, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and other party members lived and worked. Take a quick trip to the nearby caves where the communist personnel and secretaries worked on their propaganda.

Just south of the Wangjiaping Revolution Headquarters Site (Wangjiaping Geming Jiuzhi). This served as the last place which was used by the communist leaders here in Yan’an. At this site, you can see who Chairman Mao and the other communist elites lived. You can get to both of these sites by taking the number 1 bus from the train station.

The Gengnshuangshan Revolution Headquarters Site is much easier to get to from town; it is located around 100m north of the post office. When the communists moved to Yan’an, this was their first base and you can see that this was a very primitive and basic place to use.

If you are searching for more history than just modern politics, then head to Treasure Pagoda. This is a beautiful building dating from the Song Dynasty and can be found southeast of the river junction.

Qingliang Mountain is another great place to visit. You can bask in the natural beauty and hike up the trails. You can also visit the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (Wanfo Dong) when you come to Qingliang Mountain. This cave was constructed into the Cliffside beside the river and has some incredible Buddhist statues.

Yan’an can be reached in a number of ways; the airport is 7km northeast of the town where there are daily flights to Xi’an and Beijing. If you are coming from Xi’an, there are regular daily buses which will take you to Yan’an.

Yan’an may not be the first choice for travellers who are visiting China; however, this town can give you the realistic and haunting legacy of China’s recent political past as well as its beautiful distant history.

Tourist Destinations: Khajuraho, India

Khajuraho is in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, also known as Bundelkhand. A beautiful place, it is famous for the fantastic Khajuraho art which draws thousands of tourists, both international and national, to its bosom.

The temples in Khajuraho are some of the most exquisite and fascinating not only in India, but in the world. The temples here were built in the 9^th and 10^th centuries by the Chandela rulers who had the temples carved with some of the most erotic and sensual depictions. 85 temples were originally built but sadly only 20 remain today. Aligned from east to west, the temples are made from sandstone, looking like something out of an Asian fantasy.

Visitors arrive in Khajuraho all year round despite the temperature fluctuations. The temperature can reach a staggering 47 degrees C. Winters can then drop to a dizzying 4 degrees C. From July to September is the rainy season but still the visitors come travelling to this remarkable place.

There are many different hotels here, depending on what your needs and budgets are. It is best to book well in advance, especially if coming during the peak season.

64km away from Khajuraho is the magnificent Dhubela Museum where you can admire and learn more about the Shakti cult and their incredible pieces of art on display. Different sections of the museum are dedicated to clothing, weapons and art.

Benisagar Lake is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy yourselves located 7km away from Khajuraho. If you like to fish or want to enjoy a boat ride, there is a dam on the Khudar River where you can enjoy these activities.

If you enjoy historical or cultural attractions then you should pay a visit to Panna, a world famous diamond mine. Nearby, the Panna Nature Reserve is the perfect setting to relax and watch nature and wildlife go sailing by.

The Pandava Waterfall on the Ken River is another beautiful natural scenic place in which to relax. It is located around 25km away from Khajuraho. The Pandavas are said to have spent time here after they were exiled.

One of the best times to come to Khajuraho is during February or March when the monsoon festival of Teej is held, celebrating the marriage of the gods Shiva and Parvati. The Khajuraho dance festival is also held sometime around here, where classical Indian dancers arrive to perform some of the most incredible music and dances.

Khajuraho is a wonderful place to visit for a few days. One of the most colourful places in India, the people are incredibly friendly, the sights full of history and culture, and the food to simply die for. What are you waiting for?

Travel Destinations: Leshan, Sichuan Province, China

Leshan is home to a population of 156,000 people and one massive statue of the Buddha, whose fingernail is bigger than the average human. This is the main reason for most people travelling to this town.

The town itself is set near the river with tree draped alleys and roads and is one of the most relaxed cities in China. You will see droves of Chinese tourists here and is a great place to relax after hiking up Emei Shan.

The first thing to see here is the Grand Buddha. This is the pride of the town, a place of great spiritual peace. The Grand Buddha sits peacefully, carved into a cliff face that sits at the meeting place of the Dadu River and the Min River. The Buddha here is the largest in the world at 71m high; his ears alone are 7m each, his insteps 8.50m and big toe 8.5m long.

It started with the Buddhist monk Haitong in 713 CE believing that the Buddha would be able to calm the treacherous waters that boatmen travelled up and down. The Grand Buddha itself wasn’t completely finished until 90 years after the monk died. It was the loose rocks that fell into the river that actually calmed the waters but the locals have always said it was the Buddha that really did it.

Hidden away from prying eyes inside the Buddha’s body, it actually a series of pipes and water drains to prevent the statue from weathering although it hasn’t completely prevented it. There was once a building that protected the Grand Buddha but it was destroyed during a war in the Ming Dynasty.

The thousand Buddha Cliffs is located 30km north of Leshan and are a great place to go and see. There are over 2,400 Buddhas that decorate the cliffs here. They date from as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty but despite their age, show the signs of aging well.

The cliffs are set in a lovely position along the riverbanks but do require an effort to reach them. There are many regular buses from the long distance train station in town that will take you to Jiajiang where you will then need to take a pedicab.

Other sights here include taking a boardwalk from Dadu River and up along the Min River to Jiazhou Binguan. Here you will come across dancers, both ballroom and fan, making it an interesting place to go.

Travel Destinations: Ningxia Province, China

Ningxia is the province that most travellers will ignore – it doesn’t seem to have the appeal of the deserts and mountain ranges that its neighbouring provinces has. Despite this, however, Ningxia is an amazing piece of China that shouldn’t be overshadowed – it has a unique appeal that shines brightly on its own.

This is the land of the Western Xia kingdom which rose up from 1038 – 1227 to dominate an enormous portion of the northwest, its legacy still apparent. Today, the region is home to a large percentage of the Hui, the Muslim descendants of the Persian traders who settled in China during the Tang Dynasty, making the province a chance for travellers to get to know the other ethnic groups in the country.

YINCHUAN:

With a population of one million, this was where the Western Xia kingdom flourished and spread out from. This kingdom, although very powerful, remained something of a mystery for historians as much of their civilization vanished within such a short time.

Come here to visit the Ningxia Provincial Museum to get a sense of the region’s history; the North Pagoda with its 2m tall incense sticks; the Nanguan Mosque with its beautiful style of architecture, before heading off to the highlight of this city – the Western Xia Tombs. This is where the rulers of the Western Xia kingdom were entombed.

ZHONGWEI:

Coming to this city is a haven from the hustle and bustle of other Chinese cities – for a large place it is very relaxed. There are some wonderful attractions here – the Gao Temple is a must-see. It is unique as at one point or another, it was used for by Buddhists, Confucianists and Daoists.

For something different, go outside of town to Shapotou. This is a beautiful place, where the desert meets lush farmlands; it is a desert amusement park with camel rides, bungee jumps, zip lines, sand sled and so many more. Fantastic!

GUYUAN:

The only reason to come to this little town is for the beautiful Buddhist grottos of Xumi Shan; 132 caves had been cut out during the Northern Wei dynasty with around 300 Buddhist statues inside. This is a truly spiritual place.

HELAN SHAN:

These gigantic ridges protect the neighbouring towns and villages from the harsh desert winds and, in centuries past, invaders. On the ridges you will find scattered graves taking advantage of the good feng shui positioning. You will find many cultural attractions here – the historic village of Gunzhongkou, the Twin Pagodas of Baisikou, the Suyukou National Forest Park, the rock carvings (which are said to be over 10,000 years old) and the Western Film Studios. The views from here are simply breathtaking.