China

FromXining, Qinghai Province's main airport and city, take the bus 6~hours to Qilian Town (祁连县).The bus ticket is 58RMB and the first one leaves at 8:15am everyday.There are multiple buses every day.From the SE end ofthe Qilian (near the main town square) head almost due south,following the patch...

Kora: the Tibetan word for “revolution,” often referring to a holy pilgrimage circumambulating a sacred site or object in a clockwise direction.This route is the traditional kora of Mt. Chenresig (仙乃日), the Tibetan name for “compassion.” This is Yading’s highest peak, and the route will take you ...

The route startsdirectly behind the Zhuqing Monastery college (3948m). There is a path leading up theridge behind the college towards the right above the monastery.Once on the ridge, follow the path and cross the river onto the rightside (true left) at the first crossing. The path then leads slow...

From Lijiang or the end of the Tiger Leaping Gorge (Tina’s Guesthouse) take a bus, small public van, or hire a driver to take you to Haba village. This is a spectacular four hour drive from Lijiang and about a one hour drive from Tina’s. Haba is a wonderful little local Naxi village spread out on...

This is a variation of the Outbound adventure which takes you on a hike around the full western side of Sichuan's highest peak, Minya Konka (7556m). In fact, you can follow the instructions on the other adventure up until day three. Here is a brief summary of the instructions for that adventure a...

This a 2.5+ hour drive from Chengdu, a city of 14 million and capital of China's Sichuan Province. Driving into Siguniang National Park you will reach Siguniang Village which is like any other touristy town in China - nothing but hotels and places to eat. The entrance to Changping Valley costs ar...

The route is most easiest found fromthe front of the hostel 日月山庄(Ri Yue Shan Zhuang – 3254m, phone no. of manager:18384253062 (he speaks OK English)). This is not the official startof the route, but it's a back way that avoids going through the maingate and paying a ticket fee. Across the road fr...

Wugong Mountains (武功山) locate in Luxi xian, Pingxiang, JiangXi Province of China. The top of the mountains called Jinding(金顶) is 1900 meters high. The start point is ShanShui outdoors club (山水户外驿站), located in Shenzicun (沈子村). The coordinates are 114º6'58"E, 27º27'15"N.  Day 1 (takes about 6 hour...

You may have two choices to the Island. If you are currently to the south of the island, take the Chinese Bullet Train(CRH) to Taimushan (太姥山) Station. Take the regular bus to Yujing Pier (鱼井码头) then take a boat to the Island.If you are to the north of the island, take Chinese Bullet Train (CRH) ...

Tashilhunpo Monastery is the second most holy monastery in Tibet and home to the Panchen Lama (second seat to the Dalai Lama). I never had the time to walk the Tashilhunpo Kora during my first two visits to Tibet. Although I was in Shigatse (Tibetan spelling, Xigaze in Chinese), I never took the ...

Take a taxi one way from Yushu (玉树) to Princess Wencheng Temple (文成公主寺). Should be around 30-40RMB and something like 12km.Once you get to the temple, take a look around. It's famous, butpretty small. There are tons of prayer flags and yaks hanging aroundthough. After that, hike back 2km to the m...

This route follows a narrow goat and yak trail high up in the hills overlooking the capital of Tibet. Though the trip is not very long or steep, tourists visiting from sea level will feel the strenuous effects of altitude as they complete this trek (elevation highpoint is around 13,000 feet). Beg...

When you first see Yumbulagang from a distance, it is quite an impressive sight. Perched atop a craggy hill makes the main tower here seem much larger than it is. Yumbulagang is said to be the first Monastery in Tibet, built by the first Tibetan King. There is only a few monks present to tend to ...

This hike was my first exposure to walking a Kora around a Monastery.  Sera Monastery is considered one of the three great monastery's, the other two being Drepung (also in Lhasa) and Ganden.  Sera is an active Gelug Unniversity which last I heard has nearly 2000 monks studying here.The Kora star...

Ganden Monastery is one of the three major Buddhist university's in Tibet.  Many monks study here and there is no shortage of Tibetans making a pilgrimage to the monastery. Ganden sits on the side of a mountain, laid out is crescent shape.  This is the only Kora that I have done where the path le...

Yungdrungling is one of the few remaining Bon Monastery's remaining in Tibet.  Often referred to as the original religion of Tibet, it came about during the 11th century.  The Bon teachings and terminology are very similar to that of Buddhism.  From an explorers point of view, they are relatively...