The Kulma Pass between China and Tajikistan was finally opened to foreigners last year, so I seized the moment and took a road trip through from Kashgar to Murghab, then up through the high passes into Kyrgyzstan. There had been a little early snow, enough to make things scenic, but not enough to block any […]
Browsing Posts tagged China
Pamir Passes
November 6, 2018
Xinjiang: Shipton's Arch
November 3, 2018
This morning I was out at Shipton’s Arch, near Kashgar, Xinjiang, China. It was unknown outside of local lore until British traveler Eric Shipton “discovered” it in the 1940s. It is probably the tallest natural arch in the world. It grows out of a mountain slope and then bridges over a deep canyon. So one […]
Harbin Ice Festival 2016
January 19, 2016
I’m in Harbin, China, for the annual Ice Festival. This includes various fine ice sculptures, etc. But the highlight is the gloriously insane collection of giant ice buildings at the Ice and Snow World. After dark they are lit from within, to stellar effect. This year the collection included buildings loosely modeled on St Basil’s, […]
Kashgar: Ancient City Walls
May 14, 2015
I’m in the old Silk Road city of Kashgar, in North-West China, famous for its wonderfully preserved Ancient City Walls. Or rather, about to become famous, as the Ancient City Walls are still under construction. They’re coming along well, and in just a year to two I expect the tour guides will be enthusiastically showing […]
Tibet: Everest Base Camp
October 28, 2014
Tibet has been on my target list for many years. I finally made it! I took the train in from Lanzhou to Lhasa and then overlanded out to Kathmandu, with a short detour to the Chinese Everest Base Camp, up at 5180 meters (16990 ft). We drove up from Shegar and got to EBC shortly […]
Hong Kong’s Dark Tower
May 14, 2008
Hong Kong’s Dark Tower is one of my favourite buildings. It is officially called “2 International Finance Center”, but that seems very poor camouflage for such a mighty command post, obviously destined for World Dominion. I find it both wonderfully elegant and distinctly sinister. I particularly love the claw-like fingers gently cupping over its peak. […]
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