San Ta Si near Dali
The name translates as "Three Pagodas Temple". This ancient temple complex is interesting in that it has recently been fully refurbished and partly rebuilt using money donated mostly by the Provincial Government. Including over a thousand absolutely incredible statues
San Ta Si near Dali
Monks streaming out of the main temple after morning Puja. We regularly came across such evidence that the Chinese authorities are willing to allow religion to be practiced quite freely and openly – as long as those religions remain intrinsically Chinese
David videoing in Dali market
As well as all the usual cultural and historical sites, we especially like to visit the ordinary, everyday places that remind Lily of her childhood years and which, in many ways, can be just as interesting for both of us
Dali's East Gate
The best preserved of Dali's three gates. This one was very close to the guest house where we stayed during our three weeks sojourn in Dali. (David is normally reluctant to be photographed but you might see him in this one)
David admiring and videoing some antiques
Our guest house in Yangshuo was modelled on a typical middleclass household from around the Qing Dynasty. One of the central features was this traditional reception room where, in days of old, the head of the household would welcome important visitors
Yangshuo – the view from our window
These stubby, cone shaped rocks are typical of the landscape around Guilin and Yangshuo. We took the decision not to stay in either Guilin or Yangshuo, but to move to a tiny hamlet way out in the countryside. This is what we were surrounded by
"Country Roads, Take Me Home"
Lily in the southern countryside. We spent days walking these empty country roads around Yangshuo – often looking for somewhere to eat! But we did meet some interesting people along the way
Our guest house in "Big Banyan Tree" hamlet
Not so much a village – more a collection of houses and barns. But we felt very proud and happy when the tourists from the town went past on their guided cycle tours exclaiming "Ooh! Aah! So beautiful! So peaceful! How wonderful to live here!" And for a while, we did.
David – exhausted after a morning's walk
This table and chair set is typical of the way that very dignified landlords, businessmen or local officials would welcome and entertain equally dignified guests with green tea and polite talk. What a come-down, then, to now have this uncouth foreigner slumped across them
A water-powered water pump? Get away!
The other feature of the landscape around Guilin is water – in the form of the languid River Li, or the many streams that run into it, or irrigation ponds like these. David is filming an incredible device that pumps water into the fields using only the power of the water itself!
Semi Tropical Bush
Away from the stubby hills and the neatly arranged rice paddys, the vegetation around Guilin/Yangshuo is lush and tropical. Huge banana trees like these in the foreground (Lily is standing on some raised ground to take this photo) grow almost wild.
A rice paddy in Guilin/Yangshuo District
Not counting the stubby hills, the landscape here is otherwise billiard-table flat. Perfect for growing rice. It's been many years since Lily cultivated a rice paddy – but thankfully this rice is not quite ripe so she won't be needed today!
Not for the faint-hearted
A swaying cable-bridge over a deep gorge, leading into a narrow tunnel through the mountain. And believe it or not, we had to pay to do it! But it was worth it for the views on the other side of the mountain
Our village, on the way from Yangshuo
This photo was taken after we had climbed halfway up one of the many cone-shaped hills that typify this area. "Our" village is in the middle-distance
"Lucky Star Shines Over Me"
In any case, that's what the main caption says. Some particularly interesting charms and spells in the rural style – left over from the previous New Year celebrations
