Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for asia
New Glass in China
By Linda Tancs
Twenty-five times stronger than other forms of glass, the glass-bottomed suspension bridge at Shiniuzhai National Geological Park in southeastern China’s Hunan province is aptly named Brave Man’s Bridge (Haohan Qiao). It stands, after all, 590 feet above a valley, a vertigo-inducing attraction in a land enamored with skywalks these days. But, as the saying goes, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. The skywalk to end all skywalks is afoot (no pun intended) in Zhangjiajie National Park. Spanning a gap between two cliffs at a height of 984 feet and a length of 1,410, it will be the world’s highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge.
Share this:
Bear With It in Japan
By Linda Tancs
Located in eastern Hokkaido in Japan, Shiretoko’s unspoiled nature is epitomized by the five lakes, Shiretoko Goko. Formed long ago by the eruption of nearby Mount Io and fed by underground springs, the lakes are accessible via an elevated wooden path (leading to the first lake) or a ground pathway (offering views of all five lakes). Visitors are free to walk along the elevated wooden path to the first lake throughout the season (which opens in late April and closes in November). The ground pathway, however, is subject to guided tours during bear season, which is generally May 10 to July 31. But bears live in the lakes region all year, so bear encounters are always possible and may result in path closures. Further regulations apply during this time of year (ecosystem aware season), when tourist traffic threatens the tender vegetation in the area. For the privilege of viewing the pristine lakes and surrounding mountains, you’ll need to attend a lecture and wait your turn to hike because there’s an hourly limit to the number of visitors allowed on the trails. So just grin and (ahem) bear it.
Share this:
The World’s Largest Book
By Linda Tancs
Mandalay is Myanmar’s second largest city, an exotic locale celebrated in a namesake poem by Rudyard Kipling. Among its charms is the riveting Kuthodaw Pagoda, located at the southeastern base of Mandalay Hill, where it was prophesied that a Buddhist metropolis (named after the hill) would take root. The unique feature of this temple is the 729 miniature pagodas surrounding the central shrine. Each of these smaller shrines contains a marble tablet inscribed with a page of text from the Tipitaka, the Buddhist sacred scriptures. Assembled together, the tablets would cover about one third of an acre or rise to a height over 300 feet. No wonder, then, that these pages are hailed as the world’s largest book.
Share this:
Japan’s Ghost Island
By Linda Tancs
Less than 10 miles from the city of Nagasaki, Japan, Hashima is one of 505 uninhabited islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. It wasn’t always that way. Once home to more than 5,000 inhabitants during Japan’s coal mining heyday, the island’s abandoned concrete apartments are emblematic of a forgotten age and impart an eerie feel to the place. Also known as Battleship Island owing to its silhouette, it opened to tourism in 2009. The boat ride takes 30 minutes, and walks are limited to defined paths due to the site’s damage and decay.
Share this:
Tropics Trivia in Taiwan
By Linda Tancs
The Tropic of Cancer is one of five major circles of latitude (the others being the Tropic of Capricorn, the Antarctic Circle, the Arctic Circle and the Equator). In Taiwan, the Tropic of Cancer cuts through Shuishang Township (Chiayi County) and Ruisui and Fengbin townships (Hualien County), all of which have landmarks on the line. Chiayi County is a special treasure, the only county in Taiwan with three major national scenic areas: Alishan National Scenic Area, Southwest Coast National Scenic Area, and Siraya National Scenic Area. Some of the treasures you’ll find are Alishan (home of the renowned Alishan Forest Railway and the Tsou indigenous people), the fishing harbor of Dongshi (where Aogu Wetland Forest Park, the largest lowland forest park, is located) and the Budai salt fields, busiest this time of year when the sun is strongest and rain is scarce.
Share this:
China’s Hawaii
By Linda Tancs
Virtually at the same latitude as Hawaii, China’s Hainan Island has no winter. Not surprisingly, it’s affectionately known as the “eastern Hawaii.” The beaches, tropical scenery, and yes, coconut plantations are all reminiscent of America’s 50th state. Coconut has been so prevalent since ancient times that the island is also called “Coconut Island.” In late March or early April there’s an annual international coconut festival celebrated in Haikou. As yet unspoiled by rampant tourism, the island’s primary visitors are Chinese and Russian.
Share this:
The High Country in Central Asia
By Linda Tancs
Mongolia is on a high—literally. One of the world’s highest countries, it boasts an average elevation of at least 5,100 feet. That includes the alpine serenity of one of the country’s most popular national parks, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. At 5,200 feet, it’s prized for its rock climbing and hiking opportunities. Watch out for two popular rock formations, Turtle Rock and Old Man Reading a Book. The park benefits from (or suffers from, depending on your point of view) an array of tourist camps, including the ever-popular yurt.
Share this:
A Heavenly Tomb
By Linda Tancs
The lavish lifestyles of South Korea’s elite during the Silla dynasty form part of a roofless museum in Tumuli Park. Just four hours away from Seoul by bus, the 37-acre grounds contain 23 royal burial mounds. The most celebrated (the interior of which is open to the public) is Cheonmachong, the “Heavenly Horse” tomb, a burial site for a 5th-6th century Silla king and his consort. When the site was excavated in the 1970s, a mounted horse painting (the only one discovered from the Silla era) was found, along with over 10,000 artifacts of the good life, like jade tiger claw earrings and a gold crown embellished with jade tiger claws. Clearly, it was good to be the king.
Share this:
The Care and Feeding of Pandas
By Linda Tancs
Less than 2000 in number, the giant panda (native only to the six major mountain ranges in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces of China) is a national and international treasure subject to intense conservation efforts. That’s why the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding was established in March 1987. The 92-acre verdant parkland is dotted with ornamental green lawns and greens, wild bamboo forests, woods, man-made dens, rocks, caves and plant pits along rivers, lakes, and brooks, all intended to mimic the gentle creatures’ natural environment. Visitors get a close look at their movements through winding paths flanked with bamboo and ornamental plants. Red pandas (called “lesser pandas”), a much smaller cousin, live at the base as well, as do other endangered wildlife, including swans, peacocks, birds, butterflies and hundreds of insects.
Share this:
Asia’s Largest Transnational Waterfall
By Linda Tancs
Spanning China and Vietnam, Detian is purportedly Asia’s largest transnational waterfall. Surrounded by karst mountain peaks, the three-tiered cascade reaches its most rapid pace in June and July. On the Chinese side, a walking path through tropical foliage lands you great views; just bring lots of mosquito repellent. To get there, go to Nanning and then take the coach at North Passenger Transportation Center to Daxin County. Upon arrival at Daxin, you should transfer to the bus route Daxin – Qilong – Detian.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 