婷婷乐游记 = Tingting's Travels
I came across another Chinese YouTube channel devoted to exploring the Chinese countryside. Again there is a young woman in front of the camera and a young man behind it. In the selected video, they are in the province of Guizhou where their aim is to visit an old mountaintop temple complex. The walk up there is long but not scary.
The location is so peaceful with natural greenery burgeoning all around as cicadas sing from the undergrowth. This is a different China from the China of bullet trains, industry and big cities. Even the controlling power of state communism seems far distant.
My appreciation of the video was interrupted by occasional ad breaks and if the same happens with you, I apologise. Just click "Skip" whenever you can.
In this troubled world, it is kind of nice to follow a winding dirt track up a green mountain and see the golden Buddhist statues at the top.
We all need distractions where we can find them. A nice peaceful meander fits.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful and remote!
ReplyDeleteCheck out Gavin Menzies. He's written a couple of fantastic books on Chinese history. Now some people disagree with what he says but it's still interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy knowledge of Chinese history is modest to neglectable. I didn‘t know that some of the dynasties spanned several centuries. From the little I remember, Chinese emperors were pretty good at setting up the effective administration of their huge empire with the help of strict beaurocracy enforced by rigorous local and regional government.
ReplyDeleteI commented at excessive length last time so won't repeat. China is an enormous country, there are lots of Chinese and quite a few of them on YouTube (though this requires a VPN from within China). There is much content awaiting you!
ReplyDeleteWe get to enjoy beautiful remote places via the magic of YouTube. So much easier than travelling there and no chance of catching a virus or two.
ReplyDeleteThe scenery might be interesting, if a little monotonous, but it's not a trek that I would want to do!
ReplyDeleteI also know very little about Chinese dynasties, I imagine it's like a kingdom, ruled over by the "royal" family (Emperor and descendants) for centuries at a time.
ReplyDeleteIt's a big country.
ReplyDeleteI love these You tube videos. They make us look at other cultures with different eyes.
ReplyDeleteA fascinating country.
ReplyDeleteYou can really get lost down a YouTube channel OR road in China!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that there's still some wilderness in China, not to mention insects. Maybe the pandas have a chance after all?
ReplyDeleteTingTing ran up that steep track like a mountain goat. I was surprised by the various Buddha statues in the building. I can't imagine living there for 4 months, and trying to repair the place. That's dedication.
ReplyDeleteI believe I am most amazed at how the woman didn't seem to get the least bit out of breath trudging up that path. Also, how when she entered the shrine with the Buddha, she was just like, "Oh yeah, there's Buddha," and then she walked out of the shrine with barely a second glance unless that was all cut from the video.
ReplyDeleteThat monk is definitely living his religion.
We visited history museums when we were in China but I don't remember many of the details. I was lucky to see many of their historical sights, though.
ReplyDeleteI did climb the Great Wall and have a t-shirt that proves it!