FanPost

DBD 10.3.2013 China National Holiday




While y'all were watching the ball get fumbled around in Oregon, I was in deep Sichuan. Oct 1 is Chinese National Day and the founding of the People's Republic of China and everyone here gets 5 days off to celebrate.

Historically, Tibetans have lived in a much larger area than modern Tibet (the province) - and the Tibetan people extend into Yunnan, SIchuan and Qinghai provinces. The Jiuzhaigou area is named for the 9 (former) villages which used to be in this valley - well they're still there, but the people who grew up and lived there now sell tourist crap or pick up trash in the national park. Yay, progress? At least they have satellite television.

The park, however, is amazingly beautiful.

Here's my photos

Nuoriliang Falls

9997679974_7ee889887f_b_medium

via farm4.staticflickr.com

Multi Color Lake (so blue!)

9997741103_9257f4d815_z_medium

via farm8.staticflickr.com

Tibetan Prayer Flags

9997547925_9c3845935c_z_medium

via farm4.staticflickr.com

Lakes

9997533756_5686e7f3ec_z_medium

via farm3.staticflickr.com

Pearl Shoals

9997307155_09207e89f6_z_medium

via farm6.staticflickr.com

Pearl Shoals Waterfall

9997180974_85d9fc1980_z_medium

via farm3.staticflickr.com

Oregon Basketball!

9997180974_85d9fc1980_z_medium

via farm3.staticflickr.com

China's Yosemite?

10017685646_50fc372b27_z_medium

via farm4.staticflickr.com

Five Color Lake

10017608284_f626a6d872_z_medium

via farm4.staticflickr.com

Back at Nuoriliang Falls.

10017625906_d472bb1353_z_medium

via farm3.staticflickr.com

Double Dragon (NO REALLY!) water falls

10017566545_e96d9bb6ae_z_medium

via farm6.staticflickr.com

10017488974_08c7e10cab_z_medium

via farm4.staticflickr.com

On the third day I went to a different national park located about 125km away (60 miltes) called Huanglong - or Yellow Dragon. It's much smaller, but also much higher in altitude.

Huanglong

10034796496_64f657f488_z_medium

via farm6.staticflickr.com

10034834153_8ec0e7a193_z_medium

via farm4.staticflickr.com

10034701314_623df1d74a_z_medium

via farm6.staticflickr.com

Now it looks like these places are pretty empty. But that's because of two things - first, strategic photo framing and cropping. But also, I left JUST as the crowds were arriving. Most people don't actually get to start taking days off until Oct 1 - and then taking a day in transit, people were arriving at the park(s) on Oct 2. Me? I arrived in Jiuzhaigou on Sept 29 and left on Oct 2 - but I saw the traffic heading into the valley as I left. It was unbelievable.

Here's a photo of the tourist traffic in Shanghai

Shutdown26_medium

via blogs.pjstar.com

Be nice. You can find the original CGB team at WriteForCalifornia.com.

In This FanPost

Teams

Trending Discussions