TBR China ADV Riding

Tonggu Ridge near Wenchang provides an easy escape from the busy downtown of Wenchang and have a stunning view on the coastline of Hainan island covered by hundreds of thousands of coconut trees.
Located along the rugged coastline near Longlou Town, Tonggu Ridge stretches more than 20km with 18 peaks. Its main peak stands at 338 meters and is the highest point in east Hainan.









 
Until recently “Hainan Chicken,” a culinary specialty famous all over Asia, was Wenchang’s only claim to fame. However, this once small sleepy coastal city, located on Hainan Island’s east coast, is awakening. It is now the future home of China’s growing space program.

Wenchang Satellite Launch Center (WSLC), located in Wenchang, Hainan, China, is a former sub-orbital test center. It is China's fourth and southernmost space vehicle launch facility (spaceport). It has been specially selected for its low latitude, which is only 19 degrees north of the equator, which will allow for a substantial increase in payload, necessary for the future manned program, space station and deep space exploration program. Furthermore, it will be capable of launching the new heavy lift Long March 5 booster currently under development.
Unlike the space centers on the mainland whose rail tracks are too narrow to transport the new five meter core boosters, Wenchang will use its sea port for deliveries. Initial launches of the CZ-5 booster from Wenchang were, as of early 2008, expected in 2014, one year after the intended commissioning of the Wenchang Centre. Now it's already shifted to 2016 or even later - during 2017-2018. The CZ-5B (max payload to LEO) variant will fly around 2018. But CZ-5 carrier rocket was already shipped from North China's Tianjin port at 20 September 2015 for a rehearsal (some drills carried out on the launch pad that involves both the carrier rocket and a probe) of a scheduled Chang'e-5 lunar mission planned around 2017.

Boldly enquired about availability of space flight tickets at the entrance gate ~ but no luck, was told no pictures and after being escorted of the Tonggu Ridge mountain top by navy soldiers earlier that day refrained from serious picture taking...









Wenchang Chicken is known throughout the province of Hainan. The most traditional way to prepare Wenchang Chicken is "white cutting", which involves immersing the chicken in almost boiling hot water and cooked to preserve its softness and tenderness. It is then eaten by dipping the pieces in a mixture of spices including chopped ginger and salt. The skin of Wenchang chicken is typically yellow, with an oily appearance, although the meat is somewhat drier and has more texture than battery chickens. This dish is also popular in mainland China, in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other Southeast Asian countries named mostly = Hainanese Chicken Rice.









Great Hainanese Chicken Rice Recipe = http://steamykitchen.com/5068-hainanese-chicken-rice.html
 
Haikou Island cruising, Daguangba Dam Reservoir region along the provincial road S314 riding out from Sanya (Yalong Bay) via Ledong....
The Daguangba Dam is a multi-purpose dam on the Changhua River in Hainan Province, China.

























































 
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Sanya hosted a Chinese food promotion by famous Da Dong Roast Duck Restaurant Beijing = http://www.dadongdadong.com we just had to try out and excellent tasty and well prepared food....
A long-term favourite of the Peking duck scene, the hallmark fowl here is a crispy, lean bird without the usual high fat content (trimmed down for the 'Supermeat"), plus plum (or garlic) sauce, scallions and pancakes, also carved up is the skin of the duck with sugar, an imperial predilection.







































Sanya Mandarin Oriental Hotel and being in the right place at the right time as Ferrari officially handed over a LaFerrari to his new owner during a dinner ceremony - that's what I call a early Xmas present... awesome looking & sounding car and in my favourite color.....

















 
Mountain Cruising between Sanya to Wuzhishan really enjoying riding long detours during the Xmas Ride 2015.

Been riding the same routes and regions with the Ducati Multistrada 1200S Pikes Peak, Jialing JH600 (sidecar), Jialing JH600 (solo) and now taking the BMW F800GS along the twisty empty roads ~ different experience ever time ~ bloody brilliant and amazing really.... nuff said'...



Wuzhishan (Wǔzhǐshān) is a county-level city in the south-central part of Hainan, a province of the People's Republic of China. Although called a "city", Wuzhishan refers to a large land area in Hainan - an area which was once a county.
Within this area is the main city, Wuzhishan City. It was originally called Tōngshí and is located beside Wuzhi Shan, the mountain.



















































































 
Revolutionary Monument "Festive Season 2015" Snack Break, the monument is one of my favourite rest stops after riding up and down the windy mountain roads...
The monument is located in a mountain valley besides S313 Provincial Road.

























 
Rubber Plantation Ride around the greater Maogong Mountain region, taking provincial road S314 and small unmarked side roads during the day coming up from Sanya via Tianya.....







































 
Yalong Bay along the coast to the mountain top overlooking the famous and always busy Nanshan Temple (literally: "South mountain temple") is a Buddhist temple located in Sanya, Hainan province, China.
The temple's name originates from a popular Buddhist expression (literally: "Good fortune is much as the East Sea; longevity is high as Nanshan").
Situated 40k's from Sanya City, Hainan Province, the Nanshan Temple ranks as one of the attractions in the Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone. Occupying an area of 400 mu (66 acres), it is the biggest Buddhist preaching site established since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

















 
WINTER 2015 "Shakedown Run" Southern China ~ very good times once again, really pleasant weather with balmy water for a surf or relaxed swim, skateboarding, solid great mountain and off-road riding, lets not forget outstanding very tasty and well prepared food.

Nothing comes close to that sensation of the tropical wind in your face, the million smells, the sh*t you've gotta dodge -- dogs, goats, buffalo, kids, scooters, trucks, spilled diesel and oil on the best curves, escaping coconuts, man-eating potholes -- I miss it all already ~ definitely will be back for some more Hainan Island cruising in the future...

The RELAXED WAY HOME from Hainan Island to Shanghai through different provinces with a bike cruising and exploring day at Mao-Town = Shaoshan....



Shaoshan (Sháoshān) is a county-level city in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, noted as the birthplace of Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China. Shaoshan was an important base during the Chinese Communist Revolution.
Shaoshan, peviously known by many names including Qidu, Xi township and Qingtian, was a small farming town in records dating back to the early Qing Dynasty. Mao Zedong, later to be known as Chairman Mao was born in a farming house there on December 26, 1893 to a wealthy farming family.
He left the city in his early years but came back as leader for a week in 1966 to hold a conference in the purpose-built facility at Water Dripping Cave. Since Mao's death, Shaoshan has become a destination of pilgrimage to visit the roots of the defining figure of 20th Century Chinese history, and in turn those of the Communist Party.





















Mao Zedong's Former Residence was built in the late Qing Dynasty. It is located in Shaoshan Village of Shaoshan township in Shaoshan City, Xiangtan prefecture, Hunan Province, China. The building was the birthplace and childhood home of Mao Zedong, the first leader of the People's Republic of China.











Chairman Mao memorabilia is available all over Shaoshan and villagers are cashing in by selling Mao memorabilia in form of key rings, paintings, snow globes and bronze busts













Enjoying some excellent famous Chairman Mao’s Red-Braised Pork (Mao Shi Hong Shao Rou). Red-braised pork is a dish that in Hunan is inseparably bound up with the memory of Chairman Mao: many restaurants call it “The Mao Family’s red-braised pork.” Mao Zedong loved it, and insisted his Hunanese chefs cook it for him in Beijing. It’s a robust concoction, best eaten with plain steamed rice and simple stir-fried vegetables; the sweet, aromatic chunks of meat are irresistible.

There are several restaurants in the area boasting some of Chairman Mao's favourite foods- spicy pork and smelly tofu. However, it is important to note that these cater largely for domestic tourists, so you will be lucky to find a restaurant with a picture menu, let alone one in English.
Hunan cuisine is famously hot, so if you don't want adish red in colour from all the chili, its best to make it clear beforehand.















Anyways, saying it once again ~ enjoyed the entire Winter 2015 "Shakedown Run" around greater Yangshuo (Guangxi) and Hainan Island ~ ready to tackle more adventures in the years to come.
Before I forget, the Sanya "Moonshine" Rum made it home all the way to Shanghai without any breakage or spillage.... cheers!!!!

 


Well ~ the lovely internet and peoples opinions on public forums as the "How great is my new XxxX bike?" thread will go 200+ pages of complete newbies and know-it-all-and-better types talking about how much better their all new bike is compared to the old models.
Smoother, faster, somehow "tighter", less prone to failures, completely new, reliable beyond doubt. The greatest motorbike ever built. You can do practically anything on one. They will base all this on the 5 miles of dirt road they rode the day after they bought the new XxxX bike..

Got one of the proven and reliable ones again. Long story short ~ Halloween Day 2015, arrival of the "Evil Twin" BMW F8GS 2015 (supplied via BMW Motorrad Shanghai: F8GS bikes are assembled in Thailand BMW Factory for the Asian market) and the bike made a great starting base for a custom dual sport bike to my personal preferences. This is my second F8GS owned (first in ML China) and looking forward to some interesting and extensive cruising around the motherland after the recent extensive "Shakedown Run" in South China provinces was completed.

The TBR team took a professional approach again and modified the standard 2015 F8GS. Solid bike modifications, not performance enhancing wise. BMW F8GS "TBR Rally-Twin", no need for scenery blurring tear inducing grunt propelling you from corner to corner like an enraged gorilla on a coke fuelled bender accompanied by the growl of a good ol' L-twin unleashing angry ponies by the dozens...no. Nothing like that but the F8GS will do all the riding I will ask for ~ pretty sure....





The low suspension bike was brought back to standard bike height with a BMW Comfort seat, Wilbers Suspension (front / rear) imported from Germany http://www.wilbers-shop.de build to my personal specs (weight / riding style) and BMW front fork dampers installed to replace the shorter ones.
Wilbers Rear Shock Type 641 Competition (adjustable / custom specification)
Wilbers Fork Springs Progressive (custom specification)

During the rear shock replacement installed some special custom hardware (olite bushings, spacers, 12.9 bolts, etc.) to the adjustable Wilbers rear shock to eliminate the bend rear frame syndrome the earlier F8GS generation was known for going hardcore off-roading fully loaded up. Easy as while having the bikes in pieces and cheap insurance and no worries later on....



Finished some simple modifications as per list below but for sure its a never-ending story as usual with TBR motorbikes....

ADV-SPEC / UK = http://www.adventure-spec.com
Alloy Bashplate

ALTRIDER/ USA = http://www.altrider.com
Chain Guard, Rear Brake Master Cylinder Guard. Rear Exhaust Guard, Radiator Guard, Universal Exhaust Header Guard, Rear Brake Reservoir Guard, Luggage Rack, Side Stand Foot Plate.

TOURATECH / GERMANY = http://www.touratech.com.au
Adjustable Gear Lever, Adjustable Brake Lever (rear), ABS Sensor Protection, Radiator Bracket, Brake Fluid Reservoir Guard, Footpads, Pinion Gear (Sprocket) Guard.

CLEARWATER LED LIGHTS / USA = https://www.clearwaterlights.com
Darla LED Light Kit

HEPCO & BECKER / GERMANY = http://motorrad.hepco-becker.de/index.php/en
Lock-It Side Carrier, Centre Stand Kit, Engine Crash Guards, Tank Guard, Headlight Guard Kit

BARKBUSTERS / AUSTRALIA = http://www.barkbusters.net
Hand Guards

BRITANNIA COMPOSITES / CANADA = http://www.britanniacomposites.com
Mirage 2 Fairing (added a Powerlet Socket and Garmin Cradle)

MachineartMoto = http://machineartmoto.com
MudSling (rear fender extender)

DOUBLETAKE MIRRORS / USA = https://www.doubletakemirror.com
Mirrors (folding)

MSC PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA = https://www.rallemoto.com
Steering Damper

METZELER TIRES = http://www.metzeler.com
Metzeler Karoo 3 Tires

ROTOPAX = http://www.rotopax.com
Fuel Pack (1 gal.) with lockable mount

Alpina Wheels = http://www.alpinaraggi.it
Front / Rear Wheel Set (tubeless)

Two important final pieces of the F8GS puzzle arrived shortly after the 2015 Chinese New Year public holidays and just installed with Metzeler Karoo 3 = ALPINA tubeless wheels... rock & ride on ~ keep on pluggin' them tyres....nuff said'....







 
Nicely modded and nice looking 800
I run the Alpina's on my GT1000 and they're pretty good so far.

Two mild peeves with Alpina's.
They should've used stainless spokes.
The anodised surface is a satin/matt finish which means oil stains dont wipe off as they would on a polished surface. Had they polished the rims prior to anodising, then the anodised surface would also be a polished finish.
 
KTMphil said:
Interesting you went for the F 800 gs. I must admit its the reliable do-everything bike for big tours....
Click to expand...
Doesn't surprise anyone who knows me well, loved my F8GS back in Australia and was just waiting for the Thailand assembled F8GS bikes to get into China after all the lengthy delay to add another bike to the China collection. As the Thai assembled F8GS come as standard version into PRC, they make a great starting base as mention in earlier post above.

Looking at the import bike selection we have here in the motherland, shocking really as nothing I am seriously interested in is available as legally imported dual-sport and personally prefer full legal / legit bikes with the proper documents / registration, leaving the fake documents and dodgy bikes to the commonly called MotorCycleMuppets. You find them MCM all over the country coming from different age groups and all walks of life from teenagers to former used tyre salesman... nuff said'....
Furthermore, with all the stringent CCC regulations, China is and always will be behind any new bike releases compared to the rest of the world, got no patience and time to wait for years as I like to ride and explore to the fullest.

Well ~ would be a real dream come true to get my hands on a brand-new legal import Honda XR600 / XR650 here in China to build a full on competition ready Baja style desert racer as I always wanted to do a desert racer build ~ one can dream just a little....

bill said:
Nicely modded and nice looking 800. I run the Alpina's on my GT1000 and they're pretty good so far.
Click to expand...
KTMphil said:
Tubeless wheels look very tempting http://www.alpinaraggi.it/en/product/985/
Click to expand...

Had a custom Woody's Wheel Works set on a previous dual-sport bike (not in PRC), looked at the ALPINA TUBELESS WHEELS and no questions ask as pluggin' them occasional flat tyres gets you riding faster.... they look great, lightweight and strong, they roll through an extensive test right now....

Anyhow, this is a ongoing China ride report ~ most of the wheel / parts issues can be discussed in a new or old thread somewhere - sometime and lets get the thread back fully on track without derailing like so many others threads, some Jialing sidecar cruising pictures attached..... Making life a ride ~ my way!



















 
MOGANSHAN, a well known mountain region near Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Having some fun during the Chinese New Year 2016 as the area is totally deserted and seems everyone left for the public national holidays.....















































































































 
On Any Day #4

DAY IN THE DIRT over in Jiangsu province as the thing about life in China is ~ it’s not what it makes you ~ it’s what you make of it....





















































































































 
Every morning you have two choices, continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them. Thanks to all for the reminders to live life! It's too easy to get sucked up into things that don't matter and wander around not accomplishing any of ones dreams. I make it a point to take trips throughout the year that allow me to live and I'm slowly but very steady weeding things and individuals out that try to suck up my happiness ~ screw em' as I live more in 5 minutes on my motorcycle than some people live in a lifetime...............

MARCH 2016 ~ Yunnan, starting my trail as the cold season and mostly great weather still around....



Yunnan is the most southwestern province in China, with the Tropic of Cancer running through its southern part. The province has an area of 394,100 square kilometres, 4.1% of the nation's total. The northern part of the province forms part of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. The province borders Guangxi and Guizhou in the east, Sichuan in the north, and the Tibet Autonomous Region in the northwest. It shares a border of 4,060 kilometres with Burma in the west, Laos in the south and Vietnam in the southeast.Most of the population lives in the eastern part of the province. In the west, the altitude can vary from the mountain peaks to river valleys as much as 3,000 metres. Yunnan is rich in natural resources and has the largest diversity of plant life in China. Of the approximately 30,000 species of higher plants in China, Yunnan has perhaps 17,000 or more. Yunnan's reserves of aluminium, lead, zinc and tin are the largest in China, and there are also major reserves of copperand nickel. The Han Empire first recorded diplomatic relations with the province at the end of the 2nd century BCE. It became the seat of a Tibeto-Burman-speaking kingdom of Nanzhao in the 8th century CE. Nanzhao was multi-ethnic, but the elite most likely spoke a northern dialect of Yi. The Mongols conquered the region in the 13th century, with local control exercised by warlords until the 1930s. As with other parts of China's southwest, Japanese occupation in the north during World War II forced a migration of majority Han people into the region. Ethnic minorities in Yunnan account for about 34 percent of its total population. Major ethnic groups include Yi, Bai, Hani, Zhuang, Dai and Miao.



First stopover in Dali, formerly known as Tali, is the county-level seat of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Yunnan and is one of the most popular spots for independent China travellers and hugely popular with those studying and working in southern China. About 50 min. by plane or 4-5 hrs by bus from Kunming (Yunnan's capital), Dali is considered by some the perfect place to relax in southern China. Dali is the seat of Dali Prefecture and includes Dali New City and Dali Old Town. When discussing or travelling to "Dali", it's important to be clear which you are talking about. Xiaguan is usually where transportation to "Dali" arrives but is a common standard industrial Chinese city. Tourists are usually trying to get to the Old Town, which is famed for its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery (the dramatic Cangshan Mountain range, Erhai Lake and small handworked fields of pleasantly varied produce), minority cultures (mostly Bai but also Yi and Hui), and nightlife. There is also much to see and do in the surrounding countryside but to my eyes, the whole region became just another tacky tourist destination, even more compared to my last visit during May 2003.....



Anyhow ~ long story short and let the pictures do the talking again, as I had time to spare, took a relaxing afternoon bike cruise around Erhai Lake, an alpine fault lake in Yunnan province, China. Its name means "Ear-shaped Sea", due to its shape as seen by locals and travellers also known as Yeyuze or Kunming Lake in ancient times.











































































Dali Old Town / Bakery 88, excellent cake and great frothy hot coffee. The German style bakery is easy to spot and has a great cake selection visible from the street. Run by a long term German Dali resident, Karine.
Now ~ all the rest of Dali Old Town looks like any other Mainland China touristy tacky strip of shops, touts, scam artists, tour guides, hostels, dodgy bars & restaurants, etc., can't be bothered to walk around....



 
Departing from touristy Dali and kickstarting the intestine part of my Yunnan Trail 2016 heading basic direction North-West ~ as usual prefer riding the smaller countryside roads as absolute no point blasting along expressways and large national roads...



















































































 
There are quite a few Bai ethnic minority temples dedicated to a myriad of local gods and legendary deified figures along the route.
Locals were always keen to drop their daily activities to show one of their temple located on top of steep hill beside the river.
They were also proud to explain that the entire village participated financially, and after years of saving funds, they were finally able to renovate the temple and put a brand new series of statues on display for worshipping.

























 
Shaxi is a historic market town in Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan province, China. It is located roughly halfway between Dali and Lijiang. The Sideng market square of Shaxi was added to the World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2001.Shaxi started as a trading point for tea and horses during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907). The prosperity of the town was at its height during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1912).It is probably the most intact horse caravan town on the Ancient tea route leading from Yunnan into Burma and Tibet and is now being preserved through a cooperation between the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH) and the People’s Government of Jianchuan County. Nearby Shibao mountain contains Buddhist rock carvings and temples of over 1300 years old with, amongst others, images of the bodhisattva Guanine. The two main ethnic groups of the Shaxi region are the Bai and Yi people.





















































Shaxi info = http://www.shaxichina.com
 
Well ~ how to describe in simple written words, the Lijianification of Shaxi ?

The term ‘Lijianification’ describes the process by which a rural small ancient town is developed into a travel destination and where locals do not reap the economic benefits of this development because most of the guesthouses / hotels and stores’ owners actually come from outside Yunnan province. Shanxi is actually small, most bulk of the tourists come in groups by bus from Lijiang / Dali as Shaxi is halfway between the larger very popular touristy towns (typical tacky Mainland China tourist circus), spend one hour running through the ancient Shaxi cobblestone streets.
They want to get a perfect shot of the old theatre / town square and eventually sit down in one of the multiple cafes before going back to their base. Some tourists do stay overnight in Shaxi to enjoy the quietness of this old trade post on the ancient Tea and Horse road once the tour groups are gone.
Shaxi, tourism is burgeoning and flourishing. Guesthouses and foreigner-friendly cafes with menus in English have sprung up in the old streets. Shaxi is becoming another of these cosmopolitan travel destinations in rural China where tourists can forget about the local beer and local dishes. You can now sip a mojito and wait for your pizza while gazing at the old Sideng theatre.

Really enjoyed Shaxi old town square every day of my stay after around 16:00hrs. sitting in the Old Tree Cafe (Siding Square) enjoying freshly Yunnan brewed coffee as only the locals around, all them annoying loud mouthed tourists are gone and forgotten....
The Old Tree Cafe is run by Auntie Chang and Uncle Zheng, a retied couple and they established the Old Tree in 2005, true restaurant pioneers in Shaxi! Their location coulldn't be better for those who want to enjoy the activities around Sideng Square. The Old Tree is in a corner of the square just adjacent to the Baoxing Temple with a few outdoor tables.

 
My temporary Shaxi residence for a few nights, a small quite boutique hotel (5 rooms only) called Old Theatre Inn Shaxi http://www.oldtheatreinn.com located approx. 3k's from the Shaxi old town square.





















The owners / operators of the Old Theatre Inn run a organic restaurant in the Shaxi Pear Orchard Temple nearby, a short leisure stroll through the fields....
http://www.oldtheatreinn.com/shaxi-village-folk-temple/



















 
Shaxi locals will tell everyone hiking the Stone Treasure Mountain known as Shibao Shan is a must-do for all travellers who stay in the Shaxi valley, the ancient trade post on the old Tea and Horse Road in North Yunnan province.
The mountain area is famous for its red rock formations called Danxia landscape and the Buddhist grottoes that feature unique stone-carving. The latter contributed to Mount Shibao being known as the ‘Mogao Caves of Yunnan’, in reference to the famous Buddhist frescoes in the desert of Dunhuang in Northwest Gansu province.

Long story short ~ fired up the F8GS for a decent long cruise in the mountains as been in the Shaxi area before and did not get very far trying to sneak into the Shibao Shan national park area with the bike this time......









































































































 
Shaxi continues the tradition of a Friday market, where the Bai trade everything from household goods and farm tools with the Yi and Yao people of the surrounding mountains, who bring exotic mushrooms, wild honey and meat.
The cobblestone footpaths, rammed earth courtyard houses and emerald fields give Shaxi a bucolic charm that requires no commercial gimmicks, great day out walking around the Friday market....























































































































 
More Shaxi Friday market pictures. While traditional caravans may not be spotted anymore, Shaxi’s Friday market still offers a taste of what it must been like a thousand years ago.
You might not find packs of tea for sale off the backs of mules, but you’ll find pretty much everything else, from spices to fish to human hair. No worries, they’ve got a dentist, too, right on the side walk and he went absolute ballistic about me taking pictures while he performs some voodoo......

















































“要不要 ganja?” (do you want some ganja?) asked by several wrinkled, 70+ year-old woman. Would come across bags of stalky, mountain weed being sold next to apples and on tables attended by little old ladies in the mountains and at the Friday Shaxi market....
 
Friday Shaxi market day, just over the river is the livestock market, where local farmers barter over piglets, mules, horses, cattle and all other farmyard animals....























































































































 
KTMphil said:
Amazing collection of photo's and memories Butch, thanks for taking the time to share them.
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Lone Rider said:
Big thank you for posting these real-life pictures of the markets
Click to expand...
Just some simple pictures of mine, hope the report gets more people riding past the last lights of town while in China. In my personal view, besides really annoying forum trolls, there's two kind of bikers (bike owners) on most China based forums, the ones that do sh#t and the ones that just talk about sh#t they want to do. Where most people fail is at the very first inch of the ride ~ they just dont get that far.....nuff said'....

No worries ~ more to come, let me run the Yunnan Trail 2016 ride report to the end please ~ stay tuned....
 
Another lovely Shaxi Vally / Yunnan day during spring and taking the F8GS out for a nice long cruise around the region....
Properly set up with adjustable Wilbers Suspension and Metzeler Karoo 3 tyres, the BMW F800GS is just the perfect bike for the this type of Yunnan cruising.



















































































 
Most outstanding Shaxi restaurant = HUNGRY BUDDHA.....
Very tasty selection of homemade cheese on warmed sour dough bread, great vegetarian Pizza with Yunnan mushrooms, Gnocchi with a fresh Yunnan mushroom mix and outstanding Tiramisu as dessert.
Actually went twice to Hungry Buddha enjoying outstanding food and definitely a must visit while in Shaxi / Yunnan = http://www.soundinner.com/yunnan/en/hungry-buddha

















































 
Last day before moving on further around Yunnan, after dinner taking long relaxed walkabout for some photo shooting, Shaxi looks absolute stunning during the dark hours.....

















































If you’re looking to experience Yunnan without succumbing to the overcrowded popular tourist traps of Dali and Lijiang, the ancient tea & horse trading village of Shaxi may be the perfect solution but highly recommend going for a visit as soon as possible...'nuff said....
 
“Lijiang is like the Chinatown of China”
As how I describe the tacky and touristy city for many years, blasting through parts of Lijiang outskirts avoiding downtown and the surrounding "tourist attractions" like Tiger Leaping Gorge / Baishuitai Terraces since my last visit 2008 as they don't do much for me anymore....

Next destination stopover, Shangrila (Xiānggélǐlā; formerly Zhongdian known as Gyalthang in Tibetan) is in Yunnan Province, confused with all them names and changes yet?!
The town is split between Tibetan and ethnic Han residents, as well as a fair smattering of Naxi, Bai, Yi and Lisu, with the surrounding countryside entirely Tibetan. While the crass name change in 2001 was a sign of the desire for increasing mass tourism ala Lijiang, the town has got nowhere near Lijiang's crowds yet but soon will once the new train under construction will be operational around early 2018. Nowadays, it's still possible to experience the area's Tibetan heritage and see gorgeous countryside in near isolation.
Zhongdian was renamed Shangrila for marketing reasons. Signs in bus stations may still use Zhongdian. There is also a third name in Tibetan, Gyelthang but this is not used officially anymore. The original Shangrila, from James Hilton's novel The Lost Horizon, was a (fictional) hidden paradise whose inhabitants lived for centuries. Hilton (who never went to China just for info) located his Shangri-La in the Kunlun mountains. However, elements of his story were apparently inspired by National Geographic articles about various places in eastern Tibet (including Zhongdian); hence China's rationale for claiming the name.Local Khampa Tibetans claim that the name Shangrila was most likely derived from their word for paradise "Shambala," by Hilton through exposure to Rock's writings on the region.

Visiting Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery, also known as Sungtseling and Guihuasi (Chinese: Sōngzànlín Sì), is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery situated 5 kilometres from the city of Zhongdian (Shangrila) at elevation 3,380 metres in Yunnan province, China. Built in 1679, the monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan province and is sometimes referred to as the Little Potala Palace. Located in the capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, it is also the most important monastery in southwest China.
It belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelukpa order of the Dalai Lama. The Fifth Dalai Lama's Buddhist visionary zeal established the monastery in Zhongdian, in 1679. Its architecture is a fusion of the Tibetan and Han Chinese. It was extensively damaged in the Cultural Revolution and subsequently rebuilt in 1983; at its peak, the monastery contained accommodation for 2,000 monks; it currently accommodates in its rebuilt structures 700 monks in 200 associated houses.





































 
Just a few very simple pictures taken during a walkabout ~ Shangrila "Old Town" (Dukezong), the highlight of the walk is the worlds largest spinning prayer wheel atop a hill overlooking "Old Town" standing at a height of 24 metres. A big part of the Shangrila "Old Town" burnt down on January 11, 2014. It is in the process of being reconstructed and many parts of the old city are still not finished despite the official re-launch and opening on 1st. January 2016. Many of the traditional old houses and parts of Dukezong (Shangrila Old Town) have been replaced now with concrete buildings housing shops / restaurants in the future years, many properties are still empty.
Once the Lijiang > Shangrila train service starts early 2018, the domestic tourist hordes will arrive and Shangrila town will be going the "'Lijianification" route as well.











Most outstanding TBR independent restaurant award goes to COMPASS Cafe & Lodge Shangrila, a Singaporean owned and operated business just outside the "Old City" district, very enjoyable lunch break.
Serves excellent authentic western food and delicious cakes, equiped with a professional coffee / espresso machine for great hot caffeinated drinks. They got a bakery "In & Out" next door selling breads, muffins and other savouries.
Compass Cafe & Lodge = http://www.thecompass.asia









Compass Cafe & Lodge, had food + coffee a few times, only took pictures once, definitely worth stopping by for break while around Shangrila.......
 
Skipped any further Shangrila Dukezong "Old Town" walkabout after lunch (Compass Cafe & Lodge) instead riding around Napa Lake chasing Yak's around, (Napa Lake is located approx. 5k's west of the Shangrila Old Town, just over the hill on Dawa Lu)....
Most of the Napa Lake area is marshy wetland that becomes dry from late fall through winter, but from spring through summer, the area again becomes an expansive wetland that attracts countless flocks of birds, such as the bar-headed goose – as well as a number of other species of geese – the common mallard, the Himalayan griffon, the egret and the white-tailed eagle.

















































 
Staying at the Hylandia Hotel by Shangri-La in Shangrila formerly Zhongdian, confusing names again, eh?
Right time ~ right place walking into the hotel and got invited by several party guests to join the arrival ceremony of a Tibetan style wedding, traditional dresses, fireworks, horses and modern cars......

























































































 
Another great day out chasing Yak around a mountain lake and forest logging trail riding in the mountains nearby Shangrila......



































































































 
Yak, they are present everywhere in the region, either roaming the grasslands fully assembled or on display in restaurants and shops in parts...

The Yak is a long-haired bovid found throughout the Himalaya region of southern Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. Most yaks are domesticated Bos grunniens. There is also a small, vulnerable population of wild yaks, Bos mutus.
English word "Yak" is a loan originating from Tibetan: གཡག་, Wylie: g.yag – in Tibetan this refers only to the male of the species, the female being called Tibetan: འབྲི་, Wylie: 'bri or nak. In English, as in most other languages which have borrowed the word, "yak" is usually used for both sexes.





























Chasing Yak during the day and have them for dinner as burgers or ribs ~ priceless...
Delicious tasty Yak dishes below were expertly prepared by the talented Chef's at Hylandia Hotel (Shangri-La international Hotel Group).









 
Heading North out of Shangrila (Zhongdian) for a high altitude ride, trying to get to the mountain lakes but too early in the year and all the lakes are still covered with thick ice, great views along the mountain ranges towards Langdu...






















































 
Quick ride over to the Dabao Temple (Ringha), in Tibetan, Dabao indicates a holy place of five Buddhas. Originally established as a temple of Kaggupa in the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty, it was converted to Gulugpa as an affiliate of Songzanlin Monastery in the region of Kangxi Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. Before being converted into an affiliate of Songzanlin Monastery, Dabao was known for its White Sect Masters who chose to practice Buddhism here.



























 
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