And this little Piggy goes to market!

Donkey carts and horse drawn wagons etc. are mostly disappearing from the cities these days except in the rural areas.  This man I found on a motorcycle taking a very large pig to market after he killed it at home as we came into the metro area of Chengdu.  One can still see chickens and ducks being taken to market in small trucks and on occasion beef and sheep; but this was a first for me to see and I had to take a photo.

Now and then I see something that would make a good photo but do not have my camera with me.  So I now take a smaller camera with me at all  times when in China just in case I see something unusual and interesting. A few years ago we were in a small village and a passenger bus came through and on the top of the bus were wooden cages of about 200 white geese all with their long necks sticking out facing front.  Seeing those geese with their

orange beaks riding on top of a bus like they were on tour was extremely funny and I didn't have my camera.   Live and Learn!  China is a photographers paradise.  One client took over 7000 pictures and had a book made with their notes and photos of everything they saw. Photos make good memories so you can relive your adventures many times over.   Click on the photo for a full screen view!  

PEKING OPERA

 China is known for Peking Opera but unfortunately the Chinese people do not especially like it and do not support it.   The government supports it with payments to the performers who these days perform in hotels and small theaters or restaurants. If you would like samples of it, the government has performances on t.v. and you can see these in your hotel room when you are there.   The Cultural Revolution more than likely was responsible for this.  Even my Chinese friends did not want to take me to the performances so I usually went by myself.  As a Tour Operator to China for the past 25 years I must see everything myself.  For the tourists on a group tour they take you to a hotel where you see a short performance lasting 45 minutes and just a few actors on stage with no scenery but do have a sign board which gives you the translation of the singing.   I have also attended some of the small theaters one of which is pictured  here.  I love the costumes but the music can be wearing to the ears.  For the best performances of Peking Opera you will see those in a touring company in other parts of the world; but unfortunately not in Beijing.  There is a performance in Chengdu of Sichuan Opera which features the Face Changing which can be interesting but you will hear the same kind of traditional music being sung and played.  There are several other very good shows in China such as the Tang Dynasty show in Xian, a wonderful show in Dunhuang, and my favorite, the Impression Sanjie Liu near Guilin on the Li River at the town of Yangshuo with over 900 local people in it each evening during the tourist season.   For more information on entertainment and shows in China contact us at interlak@eskimo.com

Click on the photo for a full screen view.

Hand Made Carpets From China

Hand Made carpets are one of the many things you will find throughout the Middle and Far East part of the world as a craft.  It takes a bit of education to know which are hand made and which are machine made.   Turning a carpet over and looking at the number of knots per inch is one good way to determine its value although not always.   There are many patterns which sometimes denote the country, area of that country and sometimes even particular peoples.   Patterns are often unique and special to this unique craft.  We have several carpets in our home both on the floor and hanging on the walls.  The one shown here is from Xinjiang province of West China and has a very traditional Muslim design.   Carpets can be made of different kinds of wool as well as silk.   The one shown here is silk and hangs on a stairway wall in our home.  When we walk up the stairs it is shows a dark sheen but when we come down the stairs it shows a much lighter sheen going from light to dark.  This one we purchased in the large market in Kashgar which is known all over the world as the Saturday Sunday Market displaying goods from several nearby countries.  The market is actually open 7 days a week but on week ends adds one or two additional buildings.   Best shopping however is during the week days when it is not as crowded.   For more information on Carpets, contact us at

interlak@eskimo.com       Click on the photo for a full screen view!  

Shenyang Home of the Last Emperor Pu Yi

As a Tour Operator to China for the past 25 years, I am always looking for special places to send people especially around or near by Beijing for those with limited time.  For history buffs, I checked out Shenyang where the Last Emperor Pu Yi went after he left the Forbidden City.  He was considered a puppet for the Japanese who occupied north eastern China.  The photos here are the home where he lived for a time before the revolution had him sent to prison.  If you have seen the movie  "The Last Emperor" you will know more about his banishment to Shenyang.   Besides this historical mansion you will see the Guanju and Qingning Palace, a much smaller version of the Forbidden City in Beijing built in 1637.   Few tourists tour this area not far from North Korea so there are not the large crowds of people.  This area is also more similar to China of the 1980's and '90's which has not changed much.   Click on the photos for a full screen view.

2 For 1 China Tours a Bargain?

This is my 25th year of travelling to China with over 50 trips and 20+ years doing Tours To China.  I have seen the very good and the very poor tours.  I have also taught a class on Travel in China here in Seattle at the University of Washington and some of the Community Colleges as a one day seminar.  A bargain is only a bargain if you are happy with the results and the value you received.  One of the often over used phrases is

"2 For The Price of 1"  for just about everything these days including the tour business.  I receive many advertising flyers and one particular one advertised a 13 Day tour including Shanghai, Xian, Beijing and a Yangtze River Cruise.  Cost was based on 10 or more people in a group  (sometimes as many as 40 or 50)  The advertised cost was $6,899 per person and Did NOT Include the International airfare.   If you booked early you would get 2 tours for the price of 1 or  $3,449 per person dbl. occ. for a group tour.  I took their tour itinerary and sent it to my partner in China without telling him the cost and asked him to quote it to me using the same level of hotels, boat and a few more sights.   I could do a 15 Days similar tour with a 4 day Yangtze River cruise on a 5 Star Line, plus one additional city to visit for $2.497 pp dlb. occ. for 10+ people not including the international air.   I can do the same tour as a Private tour for from 2 to 4 people for $3,297 pp dbl. occ.   Smoke and Mirrors can fool some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time.   Do your research and compare what you get for what you pay.  Deluxe hotels can mean just about anything.  It takes a  Knowledgeable, Professional tour planner to really give you what you want for what  you are able or want to pay.   China's economy is flourishing these days as you will see.  For more information contact us at    Interlak@eskimo.com   web site is  www.interlakechinatours.com    in Seattle doing Quality Tours to China since 1992.  Ask for our references of some past customers who do not mind being contacted either about their tours or my services.  Click on the photo for a full screen view!

Taking Adopted Chinese Children Back to China

Several years ago I was asked as a  China tour operator whether I did tours for parents of adopted Chinese children wanting to go back to China to find their roots.   It becomes important to the children once they are in their teen years to know more about their culture and where they came from.   I put together my first tour for parents and their child with a very rewarding result for both them and myself.  Since then my name has gotten passed around and I now do several tours each year.   All had their own rewards and results. Most came from orphanages but not all.   One I like to tell about is a girl that was adopted when she was 5 years old and had been raised in a private family home by caregivers .   She had no memory of her past.  We managed with much research to find the family.  The family invited her and her Mom to dinner since the husband was a chef in a restaurant.  She saw her home and the room that was hers and met all the rest of the family.  This is only one of the stories I could tell but enjoy sharing it with you through my blog.  This has become very rewarding for me as well knowing that I have added to many lives in some small way.

Great Wall Locations to Visit

There are many locations to visit the Great Wall much depending on your time available and what you want to do.  The most popular place with tours and buses to just visit the Wall is Badaling section which I really do not recommend if you are on a private tour or on your own.  Usually there are 50 to  80 buses in the parking lot and it is very crowded with many aggressive sellers.   Mutianyu is my choice with few buses and better scenery as you can see by the photos here and far less crowded.  If you are more into a bit of hiking with fewer tourists, then Jinshanling or Simatai sections are nice to hike between about 40 miles north of Beijing but not a stroll in the park.   If you are looking more for a wild section with few repairs the Huanghua to Zhuangdaokou Guan loop which takes three hours of more to hike and climb are for the avid hikers and climbers.   No matter which section you go to it is overwhelming and photos can never substitute for a real visit.  Take a lunch along for fun if you like although there are restaurants at Mutainyu and Badaling sections.  For more information see my web site at  www.interlakechinatours.com   I am celebrating my 25th year in travel through China and am glad to share the latest travel information with you.    interlak@eskimo.com