China Apprehensive before entering China as heard many stories that no-one spoke English. Also did not know that Facebook and Google were blocked in China. After arriving in Kunming was helped by fellow Chinese travelers at the youth hostel with a VPN for my mobile and laptop. So back online after a little scare.
From Kunming moving North along Tibetan Autonmous Region. Took much longer than planned and renewal of Visa in Chengdu
Transportation Options and Experience China roads are excellent except in the remote mountainous regions if you have to do detours. But it makes for much more of an interesting journey. To Kunming the 3rd class coaches were luxury compared with the SE Asia trains so far. Hard to be believe they call them "hard seats". But travel in the mountains was done by shared car or mini-bus.
Walk-abouts in traveled through Cities 1st leg to make it to Chengdu, then make a decision to go Silk Route of the Trans Siberian Railway
Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la, Feilai Temple From the border got the 1st train to Kunming. Stayed in the High Above Youth Hostel and owner recommended a route North from there. He was a hiker and recommended the aforementioned places. And this is what I did.
VIRTUAL TOUR - Old Town Dali, Yunnan Province China (4 Picture multimedia node)
Had planned to go up the East Coast but after talking to hostel owner in Kunming decided to head North Eastern part of the country as was very scenic and good trekking country. First stop was Dali (Right click for full-screen. Click photo and drag mouse to navigate the 360)
VIRTUAL TOUR - Lijiang, Yunnan Province China (4 Picture multimedia node)
Met Terry (student from Guangzhou) at Dali station and we traveled together to Lijiang. Terry set me up with a mobile VPN and his mother knew Lijiang very well so I had a very fortunate experience to meet him. Â (Right click for full-screen. Click photo and drag mouse to navigate the 360)
Pedestrian Street in old town Lijiang
Terry taking a break on our walk-about of the Old Town
Scene of middle of old town looking up the stream
Sunset from the Garden Inn Rooftop
VIRTUAL TOUR - Shangril-la, Pudacuo National Park and Meili Snow Mountain Deqing, Yunnan Province China. Â With 2 EMEDDED VIDEOS IN THIS PANO.Â
Now heading higher up into the mountains to a place called Shangrila. At the hostel they were organizing a trek the following day and I joined in. I probably will not ever beat this trek for the scenery and lack of other humans for such a beautiful place. Then went further North to Deqen to see the sunrise of the Meili Mountains and if you see the sun hit the top of the mountain you will have 1 year of good fortune  (Right click for full-screen. Click photo and drag mouse to navigate the 360)
Back of the bus to shangrila and met Sarah .. student in Beijing who spoke English!
Arrival in Shangril youth hostel and family dinner!
Chicken Temple overlooking Shangrila
Walking up to Chicken Temple
Me and Fanny when bus rejected me to travel to Autonomous Region of Tibet
Muslim and Buddhist faiths in old town Deqen
Doacheng (Litang and Garze) to Yaqing, Seda/Sertar to Chengdu As did not have a permit to enter the Autonomous Region of Tibet had to make over 1000km detour back down to Shangri-la and then up again and across to Chengdu. Had to make stopovers a couple of times but objective was to see Yaqing and Seda/Sertar before going to Chengdu
Selfie in front of Tibetan village
Bike-about Doacheng
End of bike-about a hot spring bath. One person per bath.
VIRTUAL TOUR - Yaqing and Seda/Sertar, Sichuan China Two of the largest centers for the practice and study of Buddhism in the world  (Right click for full screen. Click photo and drag mouse to navigate the 360)
On way to Yaqing picking up Yak yoghurt and milk
The Yak Milk Station at the bottom of the valley – where we came from
Seda – The largest Buddhist University in the World
Invited to attend a seminar by Rinpoche Khenpo Sodargye
Stayed 2 nights with Rinpoche Tencent
Woke up to this view from my bed
Next day met Stefan and we spent many hours talking to Rinpoche .. here 1:30am
Book given to me after the Seminar
Xian, Lanzhou, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Turpan and Kashgar After Renewing my Chinese Visa in Chengdu, made a point to visit Xi'an before taking the Silk Route rather than the Trans Siberian Railway
VIRTUAL TOUR - Terracotta Army, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province China. With 1 EMBEDDED VIDEO IN THIS PANO China's 1st Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum  (Right click for full screen. Click photo and drag mouse to navigate the 360)
VIRTUAL TOUR - Great Wall of China in Jiayuguan, Gansu Province, China.  With 1 EMBEDDED VIDEO IN THIS PANO The end of the Great Wall of China, walked 27km this day  (Right click for full screen. Click photo and drag mouse to navigate the 360)
Terracotta Army – Xi’an
Danxia National Park, Zhangye
Dunhuang
Overnight train from Turpan to Kashgar
Looking fresh at the start of the journey
At a stop took this picture before the sun went down
Plaque outside the police station
Police station near the hostel
Turpan Youth Hostel in Kashgar
Buying local bread freshly made at 8:00am
Further down the street local street vendor selling milk and yoghurt
Less than $50USD/day In China my strategy was to stay in Youth Hostels as catering more for adventurous travelers and a younger generation I was more than likely to meet people of the same interest and who speak English. This proved to be the case, but also meant I had to compromise a few times on having a single room with en-suite bathroom. So got used to staying in dormitory accommodation. With this approach I was very much under my budget of $50USD / day. Including food and transportation. Remember .. no taxis! 🙂
Below is a collection of photos of nearly each place I stayed in China. I have made formal reviews on Google Maps as well as the relevant online booking site. A couple of them I booked through the China International Youth Hostel Website. But mostly Booking.com or Hostel World.
