This means that sometimes we can all end up looking a bit scruffy. That’s fine, since everyone’s in the same boat and no one’s going to judge you when you flop into your hostel bed at the end of a long day of trekking.

But because it’s a gradual process, it’s also easy to lose track of just how wild our appearance may be getting. Until you look back at your holiday snapshots, or finally get around to spending some serious time in front of a mirror, you might be surprised at just how rugged you really looked.

That’s why we love this video from Christopher Rehage, who filmed it as part of an attempt to hike from Beijing to Germany. Here’s a man who’s not only aware of his ruggedness, but actually revels in it. His beard is a badge of honour, which keeps track of the hundreds of miles already walked.

We love a good time lapse video here at The Travel Word. This one is especially nice because it gives you a flavour not just of the places visited, but the person who did the travelling and the ways in which he changed.

Chris, we salute you. And we salute your beard.

We are nevertheless once again proud to present our Photos of the Year – the travel pictures of the year 2011 that most captured the imagination of The Travel Word team and a group of expert external judges. Unlike our Photo of the Year 2010, this year (2011), we had a tie for first place.

Click on the image below for more information about them. See further below for the judges’ comments about them and the rest of the shortlist.

Krishna Mandir on Krishna Janmashtami, Patan, Nepal

Cheetahs Posing, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

About the Photo of the Week and the Photo of the Year

A bit more than two years ago, we started featuring one picture each week (or, lately, every other week) on The Travel Word. We spotlighted favourite images pulled from our growing collections on Flickr.

We then asked the photographer or owner of each selected Photo of the Week to submit a short and revealing text about it – covering the subject of the photo, the general location, the experience of taking the picture, technical aspects of photography etc.

These text-image combinations have proven to be very popular. We believe that this has a lot to do with the special emphasis we have placed on the honesty of the images, all taken or sourced by our partners, who are local travel experts in their destinations. Through their eyes, and given their knowledge of what makes their homes unique, we felt confident that were discovering something special.

The Shortlist

Our methods were decidedly unscientific. For each month, The Travel Word team singled out one photo of the month. To this list of 12 we added afew wild cards that had made a particular impression on us. This shortlist is what we sent to a group of five skilled photographers for their assessment.

Below are the nine images, ranked in order, that caught the judges’ fancies along with their comments. We thank the judges for their contribution and encourage you to learn more about their work.

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+ WINNERS: PHOTOS OF THE YEAR 2011: Krishna Mandir on Krishna Janmashtami, Patan, Nepal AND Cheetahs Posing, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Comments about Krishna Mandir on Krishna Janmashtami, Patan, Nepal, photo and text by Navin M. Shrestha:
“This photo does an excellent job of capturing both the manic movement of the crowd and the ethereal nature of the temple.” — Mike Richards

“Here’s a unique image of the Durbar Square of Patan that not only does a good job of displaying the beauty of the temple of Lord Krisha, but bringing the square to its full cultural context by choosing to photograph it on Krishna Janmashtami (the birth anniversary of Krishna), full of devotees, prayer and a long enough exposure that bleeds the light and gives the scene a more spiritual climate.” — Arog Vila

“This picture is amazing for the fact that at first glance it could reflect a scene dating back centuries. Truly a timeless shot.” — Matt Stabile

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Comments about Cheetahs Posing, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, photo by Ward Graham, accompanying text by Shafina Bandali:
“Luck is the final element, together with well-studied technique, good planning and plenty of patience, that results in this gorgeous golden-hour capture of two cheetahs looking back at us. This image has a rich tonal range accentuated by a pronounced vignette, which in this case does more than spotlight the cheetahs, it completes the interplay of light within the frame.” — Arog Vila

“Great light, composition and pose, it’s almost tells the viewer that these wild cheetahs are longing for some patting.” — Rafael Pinho

“From a technical perspective, the depth of field and vignetting are just right to single out the pair of cheetahs. They appear curious, ominous and regal all at once.” — Mike Richards

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+ RUNNERS UP: Church of Tisco, Arequipa, Peru AND Beautiful Waters of the Bocas Islands, Panama

Comments about the Church of Tisco, Arequipa, Peru, photo by Alberto Gonzalez, accompanying text by Mariel Gonzalez:
“Travel photography at its best evokes faraway experience in a single image, and this shot of a remote Peruvian church does just that: the totemic ochre ornamentations and roaming landscape transport the viewer to the high fields, far from home.” — Linus Gelber

“Just the right amount of grunge and color provide a contemporary artistic take on a classic stone structure.” — Mike Richards

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Comments about the Beautiful Waters of the Bocas Islands, Panama, photo by ATP, accompanying text by Melissa:
“Transparent green water makes any destination appealing, even if it’s all there is to it. This image portrays the dream-like environment all urbanites long for.” — Rafael Pinho

“I’m a sucker for visions of tropical paradise, probably because I so rarely experience tropical paradise. A jetty with amenities, lifted above clear entrancing waters, with balmy skies above – does it get better than this?” — Linus Gelber

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OTHER FAVOURITES OF OUR JUDGES:

+ Sleepy Lions, Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda, photo by Steve Cunliffe, accompanying text by Nicola Swann

Comment:
“As anyone who has gone on safari knows, finding lions is the ultimate reward, and to find them in such a natural state must have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Oddly enough, this also looks like my family’s living room after Thanksgiving dinner.” — Matt Stabile

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+ The Children of Yakel Village, Tanna, Vanuatu, photo and accompanying text by John Nicholls

Comment:
“Seven strange children range along the ladder entrance to a treehouse home on Tanna Island; they may never hold an Xbox controller or argue the merits of teen fashion, but they smile, gaze, consider and go about their business just like children anywhere else. The wild differences highlight that we are, at heart, pretty much the same.” — Linus Gelber

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+ Smile from a Little Girl, Cusco, Peru, photo by Pieter Roos, accompanying text by Fernando Carrasco

Comments:
“This heartwarming portrait of a little girl is technically sound and beautifully communicative of the colorful personality beyond the girl’s colorful costume. An image that is very easy to connect with, well done!” — Arog Vila

“This girl’s amazing smile reminds me of what is truly great about travel: the people.” — Matt Stabile

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+ Migratory Birds, Lijiang, China, photo and accompanying text by Lily Zhang

Comment:
“A skein of geese, which might have just recently taken off, before forming a V, makes this a chaotic but amusing composition where each element has a certain clumsiness to it.” — Rafael Pinho

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The Judges

We sincerely thank our five judges for the time and effort taken to review our shortlist. We value their opinions and their readiness to share them with us. Please take a moment to check out their work.

Linus Gelber is a photographer from New York City, where he shoots cityscapes and live performances (notably burlesque) and sees way too many movies, if such a thing is possible. His work is represented by Getty Images. Linus would like to go to Antarctica one day, and if you knew how he felt about New York winters you’d think that was weird too.

Born in Brazil, Rafael Pinho took up photography after finishing his architecture studies. He set out as a freelancer in 2005 in Belo Horizonte and spent the following years between Berlin, New York, Reykjavík and São Paulo. His work has been shown at the Florence Biennale (2011) and the Biennale di Roma (2012) and appeared in the The Wall Street Journal, Modern Painters (US), Forum AID (Sweden), FFW Mag! (Brazil), Nýtt Líf (Iceland), Trip and Tpm (Brazil).

Mike Richard is the editor of Vagabondish. He lives in Rhode Island – a spit of land in the northeastern US - where he is a professional web designer and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, camping, hiking and seeing the world. He enjoys knit hats, small, declarative sentences and speaking in the third person.

Matt Stabile founded and runs TheExpeditioner.com, through which you can read his writings, see his videos, purchase the book he co-edited or contact him via email at any time.

Arog Vila is a New York-based photographer who developed his unique aesthetic and rule-breaking composition studying at the International Center of Photography, the New School and the School of Visual Arts. He delivers crisp and edgy images of photojournalistic human narrative, pointing his camera on the expected from an entirely new angle, then turning to the unusual and connecting it to something familiar and beautiful.

Yet even with UNESCO’s imprimatur on sites big and small, natural biospheres and even intangible culture, the same famous mega-monuments always seem to get the lion’s share of travel love. Lesser-known but equally worthy sites still fall to the wayside as travellers rush for the obligatory photos of world icons and check off another legendary site on the do-before-I-die lists.

UNESCO recognition through its World Heritage List and time in the subsequent travel spotlight can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, a new site gets a big status boost and protection under the UNESCO umbrella. On the other hand, an influx of tourists adds pressures and more need for protection.

One way to curb this effect is for travellers to visit alternative heritage destinations where high tourism congestion isn’t causing problems. In that spirit, below is our list of seven UNESCO World Heritage all-stars plus just-as-incredible alternatives. Why not avoid the heavy traffic and step lightly while doing your own thing? That way, the all-stars won’t get loved to death and more places will have a chance to benefit. The photos will be just as cool.

The All-star: Chichén Itzá in Cancun, Mexico. Photo courtesy of flickr/Dtraveller

1. The All-Star: Chichén Itzá in Yucatan, Mexico

The iconic Mayan pyramid of Chichén Itzá was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988. Then, in 2007, it was nominated for the New Seven Wonders of the World. Now that it has officially been identified as one of the honoured seven, some predict tourist visits will double within five years. As a convenient day trip from the mass-tourism destination of Cancun, Chichén Itzá, given its amazing story and stunning coastal location, is the second-most-visited ruins site in Mexico. Authorities have gradually needed to close parts of the monument to the public, no longer allowing visitors to enter interior chambers.

The Alternative: Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico. Photo courtesy of flickr/Ivanka Majic

The Alternative: Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico

Deep in the jungle of Chiapas in southern Mexico are the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, which was inscribed as an official UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. While it doesn’t attract the kind of mass tourism that Chichén Itzá does, thousands visit it each year. Guided tours fascinate with stories about the buildings’ precise astronomical alignment and visitors can still go into some of the ancient passages and chambers.

The All-star: The Great Wall of China. Photo courtesy of wikimedia/Jakub Halun

2. The All-Star: Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the best-known world monuments of all time, but added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1987. The Badaling section of the wall, near Beijing, attracts around 10 million visitors per year. Sadly, as a result, Geography in the News points out that “There is little concern over protection and conservation. Instead, exploitation of the site has culminated in an almost Disneyland type scene.” Booming tourism, development and inadequate protection are eating away at the Great Wall, of which as much as two-thirds are in a state of collapse.

The Alternative: Wall of Ston, Croatia. Photo courtesy of flickr/Poo-tee-weet?

The Alternative: Walls of Ston in Croatia

While nothing can really compare with the magnitude and might of the Great Wall of China, it is definitely not the only great wall in the world. In the historical city of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, for example, are the Walls of Ston, known as the “European Wall of China.” It dates back to the 15th century and its 5.5 kilometres of length form an irregular pentangle.

The All-star: The Parthenon, Athens, Greece. Photo courtesy of wikimedia/Steve Swayne

3. The All-Star: Parthenon in Athens, Greece

Lit up and glowing over Athens, Greece at night, the Parthenon is the jewel of the Acropolis, the ancient city on a hill. As the grandest remains of Greek Antiquity, the Acropolis was deemed an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Greece is a world tourism powerhouse, welcoming more than 17.5 million visitors each year. In 2005, Athens alone received 6,088,287 tourists (each of them wanting a photo of the Parthenon without any other tourists in it).

The Alternative: Temple of Bacchus, Baalbek, Lebanon. Photo courtesy of flickr/Ben Piven

The Alternative: Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek, Lebanon

One of five of Lebanon‘s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Baalbek demonstrates that Greece is definitely not the only Mediterranean country with amazing ancient ruins. As UNESCO states about the ancient imperial city, “The archaeological site of Baalbek represents a religious complex of outstanding artistic value and its majestic monumental ensemble, with its exquisitely detailed stonework, is a unique artistic creation which reflects the amalgamation of Phoenician beliefs with the gods of the Greco-Roman pantheon through an amazing stylistic metamorphosis.”

The All-star: Medina of Fes, Morocco. Photo courtesy of wikimedia/Pawel Ryszawa

4. The All-Star: Medina of Fes, Morocco

Compared to Marrakech (one of Morocco‘s most famous destinations), the city of Fes is a modest place. Yet every visitor to inland Fes is bound to wander through its medina, the walled city centre that dates back to the 8th century. By some measures, it’s the largest car-free area in the world.

The Medina of Fes has been on the official UNESCO World Heritage roster since 1981, but may soon also be added to the list of World Heritage in Danger. UNESCO cites two major threats: uncontrolled urban development due to overpopulation, and deterioration of the buildings. The governmental plan to address these issues is to safeguard everything, intervene where houses are collapsing and increase sustainable tourism.

The Alternative: Medina of Tétouan, Morocco. Photo courtesy of flickr/luisgosalbez

The Alternative: Medina of Tétouan, Morocco

In the smaller and less-touristed city of Tétouan in northern Morocco, another medina has gained World Heritage status. Full of mosques, madrassas and markets, Tétouan’s ancient city centre exhibits the same definitive Moroccan culture and tradition as its better-known counterparts in Fes and other cities. While also in need of protection and conservation, Téotuan is less overwhelmed than the Medina of Fes and in a better position to absorb increasing tourism traffic.

The All-star: Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Photo courtesy of flickr/daveperkes

5. The All-Star: Angkor Wat, Cambodia

A spectacular temple complex from the 12th century, Angkor Wat has been a power player for tourism in Cambodia since before its 1992 inauguration as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Thomas Holdo Hansen of AngkorHotels.org, the whl.travel local connection in Cambodia, comments that “Angkor would without doubt be on my personal Top 10 World Heritage Sites list. It’s not without good reason that this important archaeological site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and comes high up on many people’s must-see lists. The flip side of the coin is that the recent increase in tourism potentially can bring about many negative impacts if not managed properly.”

The Alternative: Preah Vihear, Cambodia. Photo courtesy of flickr/theonlymikey

The Alternative: Preah Vihear, Cambodia

Compared to Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear is a minor temple complex. It’s a less-likely tourism destination because of political strife. “Preah Vihear is more controversial but still a stunning archaeological site,” says Hansen. “It is situated right on the top edge of a steep cliff bordering the Sisaket Province in Thailand. After its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, Preah Vihear has been the centre stage for some border conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia and, thus, many travellers have been discouraged from visiting.”

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The All-star: Machu Picchu, Peru. Photo courtesy of flickr/[togr

6. The All-Star: Machu Picchu, Peru

The year 2011was special for South America’s favourite pre-Colombian archaeological site of Machu Picchu. It marked 100 years since Hiram Bingham, a Yale University historian, arrived at the majestic high-elevation Incan citadel and announced its existence to the rest of the world. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Since then, UNESCO has had to fight many battles to protect it from private interests and overdevelopment, including the implementation of a daily visitor limit. Still, safe-keepers fear irreparable damage if poor administration continues in the face of surging tourism.

The Alternative: Wiñay Wayna, Peru. Photo courtesy of flickr/Greg Headley

The Alternative: Wiñay Wayna, Peru

Also along the Inca Trail in the Sacred Valley of Peru where Machu Picchu is found, Wiñay Wayna is a minor Incan ruins site that is often considered a mere “stop in the road” on the way to Machu Picchu. While it’s true that it can’t match Machu Picchu’s scale and grandeur, Wiñay Wayna charms and impresses. With staircases and fountain structures connecting the layers of terrace, it is a perfect example of the hillside architecture traditional to the Incas.

The All-star: The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. Photo courtesy of Bruno Girin

7. The All-Star: Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The Pyramids of Giza were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. They are, of course, Egypt‘s most visited attraction. In 1999, the largest of the three pyramids was reopened after a year of restoration work. The project’s goal was to undo some of the damage caused by long-term exposure to mass tourism. According to the BBC, “humidity levels in the tunnels and chambers inside had reached 80 percent because of the sheer volume of people going in,” which caused condensation and a build-up of salt. Since then, a cap of 300 visitors per day has been set on pyramid access.

The Alternative: The Pyramids of Gebel Barkal, Sudan. Photo courtesy of flickr/shovelingtom

The Alternative: Pyramids of Gebel Barkal, Sudan

The Pyramids of Gebel Barkal are part of the larger Gebel Barkal mountain site, which was approved as a UNESCO cultural World Heritage Site in 2003. It is one of only two in the country of Sudan. The Kushitic pyramids themselves were built as a royal cemetery in the 3rd century, which makes them only half as old as and very modest in size compared to the likes of the Great Pyramids of neighbouring Egypt. Travel to Sudan is complicated at the moment, but pieces of cultural heritage like this already under UNESCO protection hold promise for a tourism future.

The Old Dragon Head section of the Great Wall of China runs out into the Bohai sea. Photo courtesy of Stephen Lioy.

The wall, however, is not the same in all places. From the seas of the east to the western deserts of the Hexi Corridor, the Great Wall changes and so does the experience of a visit to this massive defensive bulwark. Whereas a number of segments like those at Jiayuguan and Shanhaiguan still preserve the ruined splendour of the original fortifications, several historic sections have been rebuilt according to what is believed to be the wall’s original plan. Regardless, each part provides a new vista of and new justification for its 1987 inclusion on UNESCO’s vaunted list.

Beginning in the East

In the far east, on the Bohai Sea, the “Old Dragon Head” is traditionally considered the start of the Great Wall. Built in 1381 C.E., during the Ming Dynasty, and reaching just barely into the ocean, this initial section is named for a fearsome dragon that once capped the wall where it plunged into the water.

Just outside the city of Shanhaiguan, the Great Wall of China makes its first mountainous ascent. Photo courtesy of Stephen Lioy

From here, the wall passes across open plains, through the ancient pass (and modern city) of Shanhaiguan and then rolls at a gentle stroll until it first meets the mountains that define some of the most unforgettable landscapes of the “Long Wall” of China. Proving ineffective for its original defensive purposes, this “Mountain-Sea Pass” is where the Manchu invaders who founded the Qing dynasty fought their way into the Middle Kingdom to usurp the rulers of the day.

The Wall in and Around Beijing

Though now mostly crumbled to a shell of what it originally was in 1570 C.E., the Great Wall continues up and down mountainous ridges to the region near China’s capital city of Beijing.

Rather than one continuous snaking line through the countryside, the Great Wall forms a web of spurs that were built over successive dynasties as rulers’ strategic and defensive needs changed. The most visited of these sections are the ones surrounding Beijing, which have inspired many of the iconic pictures so well known to tourists today.

From the Jinshanling section, a popular hike connects to the Simatai stretch of the wall with several hours walking over green hills and through numerous guard towers where soldiers would have once been stationed. Of all the areas accessible by bus from Beijing, this offers one of the least crowded and most athletic ways to experience the Great Wall on a short trip to China. It’s close enough for a day trip, yet far from the crowds that visit sections closer to the capital. Though there is no public transport all the way to Jinshaling, independent travellers can get there by bus to the village of Miyun and continue by taxi to the wall. Alternatively, from Beijing, hop on a private minibus shuttle operated by hostels throughout the city.

In terms of tourist numbers, the most popular sections of this World Heritage Site are Badaling, Jiankou, and Mutianyu, all within short bus rides of Beijing. Badaling is famed as the scene of Richard Nixon’s “I think that you would have to conclude that this is a great wall” sentiment during his historic 1972 visit to China, but large crowds now mean that tourists today don’t have quite the same visit the president did. Jiankou has seen less maintenance on its steep staircases than more visited Badaling, while the toboggan back down from the top of Mutianyu makes this section a popular draw. All three of these well-known sections are part of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 C.E.) Great Wall.

Final Stretches in the West

After leaving Beijing and winding the rest of its 8,851-kilometre total length, the Great Wall finally comes to an end in the deserts of western China’s Gansu Province. Completed by around 1372 C.E., the Jaiyuguan Fort at the end of the Great Wall was historically considered the far limit of the Chinese Empire, where dissidents and exiles would be banished to the barbaric wastes beyond. As legend recalls, the engineer of the fort was so skilled that he calculated to the exact brick what construction materials would be necessary to raise Jaiyuguan Fort. When encouraged to order more, just as a precaution, the designer added exactly one brick, which is said to be still sitting unused atop the main gate today.

Hiking along the Great Wall of China is perfect in the mountains north of Beijing. Photo courtesy of Stephen Lioy

Though not quite so desolate now, the southern reaches of the nearby Gobi Desert mean the landscape has retained a bit of the stark and empty feeling for which it was so famed in ancient times. At the “Water Gate” leading into the nearby mountains, one last climb up the sandy steps of the Western Great Wall reveals a panoramic view of black desert in one direction and rocky mountains in the other, with one line of defence standing between Ancient China and all the invaders of the time.

Outstanding Universal Value

Though of varying ages and construction materials, the Great Wall of China was intended as a barrier between Chinese civilisation and what rulers of the times saw as the barbarian masses outside. While ultimately unsuccessful at its defensive mission, the Great Wall of China does, as UNESCO eloquently reports, “bear exceptional testimony to the civilizations of ancient China.”

The Great Wall of China adapts not only to the topography but also to the geology of each area it passes through. Pictured above, the wall is made of packed earth and reeds in the deserts of the Hexi corridor. Photo courtesy of Stephen Lioy

While each section offers a different experience (Jianshaling for easily accessible crowd-free hiking, Jiayuguan for exploring a Gobi desert fortress and Shanhaiguan for valley views out to the Bohai Sea), expect to pay 50-100 RMB in entrance fees for any trip. The cost of transport from Beijing to Jiayuguan or Shanhaiguan makes these sections more expensive on a short trip to China, but the ability to see the famed Great Wall in the context of different scenery and with fewer tourists can make the trip worthwhile.

If you are interested in guided tours of the Great Wall of China, try something a little different with the Beijing Urban Adventures Great Wall Experience or the Gunyah’s unique experiential short breaks (trips from two to five days, including overnights on the Great Wall itself).

Perched on the roof of the world is the astounding region of Tibet, one of those lands that most people only dream of visiting. At an average elevation of 4,900 metres above sea level, Tibet encompasses the world’s highest plateau, some of the oldest and most guarded places on earth, crystal-clear lakes, ancient Buddhist temples and monasteries, and a skyline made remarkable by the world’s tallest mountains.

Tibetan men and women can be seen on the country's pilgrimage roads almost every day of the year. Photo courtesy of Wong Jiawang

Once you are settled in your comfortable accommodation in the capital city of Lhasa, there is a stunning range of things to see and do in Tibet. Given the vastness of the territory and the transport challenges, most sites are most easily enjoyed while on a Tibet tour.

For example, take in the venerable monasteries in the historical cities of Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyantse on a Tibet Cultural Exploration or join the pilgrims on a visit to lakes Namtso and Yamdrok Yumtso, considered holy by Buddhists. Of course, not to be missed is a hike to the world-famous Everest Base Camp, just one of the many awe-inspiring trekking tours in Tibet .

The unique culture of the Tibetans has for the most part been well preserved due to their isolation from the rest of the world for both geographical and political reasons. It was only in the 1980s that Tibet opened its doors to tourism. Since then travel has been a key factor in its development.

Lamas in Tibet stay fit like everyone else. Here they are exercising and practicing their martial arts, just one way of debating. Photo courtesy of Wong Jiawang

Technically speaking, Tibet is an autonomous region of China and travel to Tibet is regulated by the Chinese government. All travellers therefore need Chinese visas and special permits, as well as a complete package tour to travel around Tibet.

To help with that, whl.travel has partnered with Tibet Travel Professionals, the online arm of the International Department of Lhasa ChangThang Yak Travel Service, a local Tibetan travel agency based out of Chengdu, China.

Mr. Liu Anbing and the rest of his team at Tibet Travel Professionals have been organising complete Tibet travel packages for foreign visitors since 2005, ensuring a memorable and hassle-free trip to this ancient realm. The company strongly believes in responsible travel and authentic experiences. Many of their Tibet tours involve interaction with Tibetan families, shopping for local products and sustainable environmental practices.

“We feel very excited about the launch of Tibet-tours-travel.com,” commented Mr. Liu. “whl.travel has been very patient and helpful in building the site.”

Tibet is joins Lijiang as whl.travel’s destinations associated with the People’s Republic of China.

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IN CHINESE / 用中文:

西藏位于世界屋脊，大多数人只在梦中来过这片令人震撼的土地。它的平均海拔为4900米，是世界上最高的高原，属于地球上最古老、最神圣的地方。它有着清澈的湖泊、历史悠久的佛教寺庙、世界上最高的山脉及其在天空中留下的美丽轮廓。

在西藏首府拉萨安顿好住宿后，你会发现西藏有太多值得去体验的事情。由于西藏地域辽阔、交通不便，可以通过参加西藏旅游行程轻松游览西藏的大部分地方。

例如通过西藏文化之旅可以拜访西藏历史名城拉萨、日喀则和江孜的古老而庄严的寺庙，参加圣湖之旅参观纳木错湖和羊卓雍错湖。当然不容错过的还有到世界闻名的珠峰大本营徒步，这只是西藏众多令人惊叹的徒步行程之一。

由于地理位置偏僻，西藏的独特文化大部分得以完好地保留了下来。直到上世纪八十年代西藏才对旅游者开放，从此旅游成为了西藏发展的其中一个最主要的动力。

严格来讲西藏是中国的一个自治区，由中国政府管理西藏的旅游。 所有外国游客需持有中国签证和入藏许可证件，并参加当地的旅游行程在藏旅游。

Tibet's high-elevation mystical landscape is full of snow-capped mountains like the one pictured here. Photo courtesy of Wong Jiawang

为了方便外国游客入藏旅行，whl.travel 和西藏当地的拉萨强堂亚旅游公司合作，通过其位于中国成都的国际部网络品牌 Tibet Travel Professionals, 为国内外游客提供高质量的旅游服务。

Tibet Travel Professionals 的负责人刘安兵先生和他的团队从2005年起就开始为国外游客组织西藏旅游行程，确保游客在这片古老的土地上旅行顺利，留下难忘的美好回忆。公司坚持以负责任的态度让客人体验一个真正的西藏。公司许多行程都包含了当地藏民家访、自由购买西藏当地产品并注重旅行中的环护措施。

刘先生说“我们很高兴 Tibet-tours-travel.com 即将开始正式运行，whl.travel非常有耐心地帮助我们建立了这个网站。”
和一起，西藏将成为whl.travel在中国的又一个合作区域。

Hikers in Tiger Leaping Gorge near Lijiang, China, enjoy the views of the snow mountains. Photo courtesy of Lily Zhang

As a Lijiang local, Lily shares the top 5 things to do in Lijiang while on a Lijiang holiday.

1. Hike around Tiger Leaping Gorge and Baoshan Stone Town

Tiger Leaping Gorge is about 50 kilometres from the World Heritage site of Lijiang’s Old Town. Roughly 15 kilometres in length, the gorge was carved by a river passing between the massive Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (which reaches up to 5,596 metres) on the Lijiang side and Haba Snow Mountain (5,396 metres) on the Shangri-La side. The stunning result is a series of rapids at the foot of steep 4,000-metre cliffs, making it a contender for the world’s deepest river canyon.

Legend says that in order to escape from a hunter, a tiger jumped across the river at the narrowest point (still 25 metres wide), hence the name of the gorge. There is nothing I like better than hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Baoshan, also known as Stone Town, is located about 110 kilometres north of Lijiang. It was built in the late 13th century, when the Naxi Yu Clan (ancestors of the Mu families) first lived and flourished here, before migrating down into the Lijiang plain.

Stone Town is a truly special place, where 108 Naxi families live on huge rocks that look like mushrooms. There are only two entrances into the Stone Town, front and back gates set in a surrounding 1.7-metre-high stone wall. Throughout history, when these two doors were firmly shut, attacking armies could not enter because the town was easily guarded.

Strikingly, like the area around Stone Town, which is a landscape of steep cliffs and high mountains, the town itself has an elevation variation of 3,000 metres between its highest point (4,600 metres) and its lowest (1,600 metres). Scattered at the foot of the mountains lie small villages and terraced fields with different crops. Stone Town is bordered to the east by the Golden Sand River, which feeds into the mighty Yangt-ze River.

On a tour of Baoshan, travellers can stay with local families, listen to the stories and legends about this old town, watch the stars and fireflies shining in the sky, drink beer and chat with everyone until it gets cool, and then have sweet dreams in the quiet night.

2. Take a Nature and Culture Tour in Lashi Lake Nature Reserve and Wehai Lake

Lashi Lake lies at the centre of the Lashihai Watersheld Nature Reserve. Covering a land area of 265.6 square metres, it is a haven for 30,000 migratory birds (70 species) that come here to escape winter from the end of October to early April. It is therefore a superb place for birdwatching in Lijiang. As an abundant nature and culture resource, Lashi Lake boldly proves that nature and humanity can come together in harmony.

In the springtime, azaleas bloom everywhere in the mountains west of Lashi Lake near Lijiang, China. Photo by Chris, courtesy of Xintuo Ecotourism Company

Nearby Wenhai is a village that lies at an elevation of 3,100 metres in the area northwest of Lijiang City. It is located on the southern slope of Yulong (another name for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain) and is a part of the Lashihai provincial Alpine Wetlands Nature Reserve. The unique climate and soil in the area nourish a unique variety of plant species, including century-old forests, shrubs and meadows. There are also unique wildflowers that bloom throughout the year, including over 20 species of rhododendrons, as well as a variety of economically viable mushrooms and precious medicinal herbs.

In the Lashihai and Wenhai area, in addition to animals, plants, forests and water resources, there is a wide variety of indigenous cultures. About 30 village tribes reside here, like the Naxi, Yi, Han and a few Tibetans. The Tibetans mostly live in one of the largest Tibetan Buddhism temples in Lijiang – the Zhiyun Temple. Although the lives of these locals have been affected by the outside world, they hold tight to their traditional customs and culture.

You can bicycle, ride horses and row boats around Lashi Lake, or you can hike for 2-3 days in the area. That’s what I often did when I was little, all pleasures that never disappointed me.

The Mosuo people who live on Lugu Lake near Lijiang, China, are a Naxi minority live in a unique 'matriarchal society.' They have their own language and way of dressing. Photo courtesy of Lily Zhang

3. Experience the Matriarchal Way of Life of the Mosuo People in Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake lies 200 kilometres from the centre of Lijiang City, on the border between Ninglang County in Yunnan Province and Yanyuan County in Sichuan Province. Mystery and charm surround the lake, partly because it was once an unspoiled place and still retains much of its totally natural beauty, but mostly because of the unique culture of the resident Mosuo people.

Mosuo society is matriarchal and marriage doesn’t exist. Men stay in the women’s homes as mates called Axia and the intimate relationships last only as long as they like. Children are brought up by the women, use the surnames of their mothers and are part of families composed of matrilineal kin. Women are in charge of production and management, and hold the principal position in the society, forming a modern day ‘woman’s kingdom.’

Experience this cultural awakening on a tour of Lugu Lake. Ladies will love this place because the women are in charge, and men will like this place because there is no marriage. As for me, I like this place because of the clear blue water and the beautiful songs sung by Mosuo girls when boating on the lake.

The bars along a river in Lijiang Old Town, China, are a very nice place to just relax and enjoy the peaceful scenery. It gets busier in the late afternoon, when many people play music, sing and dance in bars. Photo courtesy of Lily Zhang

4. Go Bar-hopping in Lijiang Old Town

Bars in Lijiang Old Town are famous around China. Bar-hopping has always been a part of my life. My friends and I usually start after 9 p.m. and I always choose to go first to Sakura bar, which is the biggest bar in Lijiang. No matter what you like, be it dancing or watching shows, there’s a bar for everyone in Lijiang. There are even Thai “lady-man” shows and cultural performances by local minorities.

Of course, drinking is always an option. Cocktails, brandy, whisky, vodka, rum – you name it, Lijiang bars probably have it! Personally I like Sakura Bar the most because the DJ is amazing. Other famous bars are Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles and A Meter Sunshine.

Another famous type of bar in Lijiang Old Town is the huotang. These bars are a little quieter, where you normally find folk singers playing guitars. In winter there are braziers inside the bars, so people can keep warm while they drink and talk. These bars are in Wuyi street, where beer is generally cheaper. Usually I like to go there after a loud bar to enjoy quietly singing along and whispering with my friends. A great end to a perfect bar night.

The Impression Lijiang show at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is an amazing spectacle, especially on a perfect day with blue skies and white clouds. All the performers are locals, showcasing the local culture in Lijiang, China. Photo courtesy of Li Yuanqi

5. Enjoy a Cultural Show in Lijiang City

Impression Lijiang is a cultural show of the traditions and lifestyles of the area’s Naxi, Yi and Bai people. It takes place inside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Park in an outdoor theatre specifically designed to showcase the mist-shrouded mountain, a breathtaking natural backdrop. The show aims to provide insight into the lives of the region’s ethnic groups through song and dance. Five hundred locals wearing the costumes of 10 ethnic groups, as well as 100 horses, have been selected from 16 towns and villages in Lijiang for the daily performances of folk songs, dances and rituals for tourists. I’ve seen many people moved to tears when watching the show.

The Mountains & Rivers Show is another ethnic dancing and singing show. The Yi people’s Fire Touch Festival, Naxi People’s Stick Festival, the Bai boy’s handsome dance and the Tibetan waving girls all interpret the art of the ethnic people who have resided in these mountains for centuries. The performance is very bright and colourful, with dancing and fancy ethnic costumes. The atmosphere is very happy and light. It is my favourite show.

Like countries throughout Asia, China celebrates the New Year with a splash in some areas

Below are our picks for the top five New Year celebrations in some of the most beloved nations of Asia, each with its own unique traditions and festivities.

China

The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most important annual celebration for the Chinese people. Apart from being a weeklong holiday mandated by the government, it is a time to honour the past, celebrate the present and gather good luck for the future. Prior to New Year, people flock to stores to buy ingredients for grand feasts, as well as various decorations for their homes, new clothes to wear when visiting ancestors and gifts for friends and family.

The Chinese people attach particularly great importance to the Spring Festival Eve. In recent years, a Spring Festival Party has been broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV) – essential entertainment for the Chinese both at home and abroad. No matter where they are in the world, families stay up to see the New Year come.

In Lijang, China, elaborate decorations are placed with care as part of one of the biggest festivals of the year - the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year

Around the world, homes are also decorated to reflect the festive atmosphere. Door panels are pasted with Spring Festival couplets written, in Chinese calligraphy, with black characters on red paper, indicating the owners’ wishes for a bright future and good luck for the next year. Pictures of the gods are also posted to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and happiness.

The lively atmosphere not only fills every household, but also permeates the streets in both China and Chinatowns everywhere. Lion dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs take place for days. In the Chinese city of Lijiang, where tourism is a vital industry, travellers gather around a giant bonfire and enjoy the unique songs and dances performed by various ethnic minorities from around the region.

Vietnam

Tết Nguyên Đán, more commonly known as Tet, is the most important traditional festival in Vietnam and falls around the same time as the Chinese Lunar New Year – in 2011, February 3rd is the first day of the new lunar year, a date that is also the foundation ceremony day of the Vietnamese Communist Party. Everyone will be celebrating the Year of the Cat.

The flowers of the Han Market in Da Nang, Vietnam, are at their most vibrant during the New Year celebration of Tet. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Dragfyre

In the city of Da Nang and many other places, the streets become noisy and crowded with Tet preparations. Never hampered by the relatively cold weather, Han Market, the city’s biggest flower market, opens its doors and displays a wide range of colourful wares like apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, rosebushes, daisies, sunflowers, dahlias and marigolds. Families gather in their homes to worship the Kitchen God, who is said to fly to heaven to report all the events of the previous year.

On New Year’s Eve, families gather for lunch or dinner and pay tribute to their ancestors, welcoming them to the celebrations. Houses are cleaned and decorated. In the evening, people assemble by the nearest riverbanks to watch firecrackers at midnight. Then, they flock to biggest pagodas in the city to burn incense and pray for good luck for themselves, their families and their businesses.

Thailand

The Songkran festival is celebrated throughout Thailand as the traditional New Year, from the 13th to the 15th of April in 2011. On these days, the most noticeable practice is the throwing of water: Thais roam the streets with pitchers or water guns, or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby.

The Songkran festival in Thailand is another annual New Year water-throwing free-for-all street party. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Love Krittaya

Traditionally, Songkran is a time to visit and pay respects to elders, family members, friends and neighbours. People go to a wat (temple) to pray and give food to monks. They may also gently cleanse the Buddha images in household shrines, as well as Buddha images in monasteries, using water mixed with a Thai fragrance. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai, images of the Buddha from the city’s most important monasteries are paraded through the streets so that people can throw water at them, ritually ‘bathing’ the images as they pass by on ornately decorated floats.

Among young people the holiday has evolved to include dousing strangers with water as relief from the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand. Fun-filled water fights are basically an essential part of the fun.

Laos

What can best be described as a national water fight, Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) is celebrated annually in Laos, from the 14th to the 16th of April in 2011. Since it takes place during one of the country’s hottest seasons of the year, it is a welcome and refreshing event.

No generation is exempt from enjoying the large-scale water fights that break out in Laos as part of Pi Mai Lao, the annual New Year celebration. Photo courtesy of Lee Sheridan

Like in Thailand, the festival is a time to visit temples, and pay respect to and bless friends and family before the start of the New Year. Many people visit a number of temples to wash Buddha images and hope for a good start to the New Year. Traditionally, the water used to wash the Buddha images is considered blessed as it drips off the Buddha. For this reason, it is collected and gently poured over loved ones to wash away the problems of the past and help them prepare for the start the New Year clean and full of optimism.

Today, this widely practiced tradition is celebrated with enthusiasm; if you are in Laos during Pi Mai Lao, be prepared to get wet! Vientiane and Luang Prabang are the two best places to enjoy the New Year celebrations, with Luang Prabang hosting a parade through the town centre, sand-castle building on the banks of the Mekong and a traditional beauty pageant. Beer Lao soon flows freely and there is music and dancing in the streets: tourists join merrily dressed locals, young and old, in the most jubilant of Lao festivals designed to bring the new year in with gusto!

Cambodia

Lasting three full days between the 13th and 16th of April in 2011, Khmer New Year is arguably the most popular festival and national holiday in Siem Reap and over Cambodia. Chaul Chnam Thmey, as it is called in Khmer, coincides with the end of the harvest season, so farmers celebrate the New Year with their families and enjoy some relaxation before the rainy season begins.

In Cambodia's Chol Chnam Thmey New Year celebration, water throwing is a common part of the widespread festivities and games. Photo courtesy of Lee Sheridan

People travel from near and far to meet with their relatives, visit temples and partake in the celebration that occur throughout the country. City and village streets are often packed revellers enjoying some time off with their friends and families, celebrating together by dancing and playing traditional games.

The throwing of water is also a notable feature in Cambodia during this special time of year, although it happens primarily limited in the main tourist areas.

This is a picture of the bar-headed goose, a migratory bird that spends part of its year in and around the Lashi Lake nature reserve to the west of Lijiang city in the Yunnan Province of China.

During winter time, from November to March, thousands of migratory birds from northern China and Siberia flock to Lashi Lake for the winter. The lake provides a very nice, warm, safe environment with enough food for all the birds. The Naxi people, who live in the area around the lake, really like to have so many birds and grow crops specially for the birds to eat.

The same birds return to the lake every year and these geese are some of the most recognisable. The bar-headed goose is known for being able to fly at extreme altitude. As part of its migration, it has to cross the Himalayas, meaning that it has to soar incredibly high to clear the snowy peaks.

From November to March, but especially between December and February, members of the local community in the Lashi Lake area provide birdwatching tours that give visitors a chance to observe these mighty creatures out in the wild.

Antigua & Barbuda

Head to the islands in the heart of the Caribbean. While most travellers from the northern hemisphere prefer to travel to the Caribbean between November and February, the perennially perfect beach conditions and weather ensure Antigua and Barbuda a place on our list of autumn holiday locales. Antigua alone has 365 white, sandy beaches, but going to the beach is just scratching the surface of things to see and do on the islands. Activities range from sailing and diving at one of Barbuda’s 200 ship wrecks to visiting Barbuda’s Frigate Bird Sanctuary. Antigua and Barbuda have rich music, culture, song and dance, and centuries of traditions. If this isn’t enticing enough, hotel rates are significantly lower at this time of year.

Cartagena, Colombia

Once a favourite looting ground for Caribbean pirates, Cartagena is Colombia’s most popular holiday spot. Located on the country’s Caribbean coast, it is a spirited city with colourful buildings and lively residents. Founded in 1533, the city comprises the Ciudad Amurallada, or old walled city, and the modern Bocagrande. Beautiful Spanish architecture can be seen in the walled city, a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site, especially the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas fortress that was built in the 17th century and the colonial houses. Cartagena’s cultural heritage isn’t its only draw. The beaches of Cartagena, gorgeous scenery and delicious cuisine make it a spectacular choice for a holiday. High season begins in December, so travel here in autumn before the prices go up and ahead of Cartagena becoming South America’s most popular destination!

Lijiang, China

Rich cultural and historical traditions along with the kindness of the local residents have made Lijiang a popular destination for Chinese and foreign tourists alike. Its Old Town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and the city’s unique architecture stems from its location at the confluence of Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Lijiang is surrounded by dramatic landscapes and snow-capped mountains where hiking and cycling are popular outdoor activities. The majority of the city’s inhabitants are ethnic minorities, particularly the Naxi, Yi and Bai, and there are many ways to experience the local, traditional way of life, particularly on a homestay trek. Autumn brings drier weather, cheaper hotel rates and fewer tourists to Lijiang. Don’t forget your hiking boots!

Vilnius, Lithuania

The bizarre bust of Frank Zappa isn’t the only reason we love Vilnius. Crowned the European Capital of Culture in 2009, this picture-perfect city has one of the largest World Heritage-listed old towns in the world; ; in spite of invasions, it has beautifully preserved Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance structures. Wandering through Vilnius’ labyrinthine streets and spending time in the living museum that is the city’s Old Town transports you back to medieval Lithuania. Vilnius residents are no strangers to occupation, and because of it delight in independence, cultural events and festivals. Even the capital has its eccentricities, like the self-proclaimed independent city called the Republic of Užupis. If you’re more interested in history, travel a short distance to the medieval island castle of Trakai. Fewer tourists travel to Lithuania in autumn as the weather is turning colder, but we think it’s the perfect time to experience Vilnius without the crowds.

The Gulf of Hammamet, Tunisia, as seen from the whitewashed buildings in the ancient medina

Hammamet, Tunisia

Stunning whitewashed buildings aren’t only found in Greece. Though it’s billed as North Africa’s premier beach destination and is better known as the ‘Tunisian St. Tropez,’ Hammamet is a seaside destination with much more to offer those in search of R and R. The city itself is surrounded by the ancient fortification of the Hammamet Kasbah and the narrow back alleys that reach toward the old medina are full of bright, whitewashed buildings with blue trim and intricate architectural designs. Hammamet and the surrounding region of Tunisia have a glorious history and ancient Roman baths famous for healing mineral waters are located within the city’s medina, while the Roman ruins of Pupput are only three kilometres away. The cooler autumn climate and Hammamet’s proximity to the capital, Tunis, make trips to Tunis and Carthage as easy as those to other Roman ruins, like Thuburbu Majus and Dougga. The combination of past and present, the Mediterranean climate and off-season deals pin Hammamet as our pick in Africa.

Rawcheh Rocks - in English, Pigeon Rocks - is a top tourist site in Beirut. The restaurants and coffee shops along the Rawcheh coastline are a great place for a night out and a popular spot with both locals and visitors.

Hay Fever

The Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts has been championing literary talent across the globe since 1988, with several celebrated events in Cartagena (Colombia), Maldives, Kerala (India) and Europe. Recent years have seen it dipping its toes in more exotic waters, with new Lit Fests in Beirut (Lebanon) and Kenya. Beirut 39, in April, was a collaborative effort between the Hay Festival and UNESCO to name Beirut the World Book Capital City in 2009 to showcase the 39 best Arab writers under the age of 39 and provide a forum for young, new talent to discuss its take on modern Arab literature.

Its second event, the three-day Storymoja Hay Festival scheduled for October in Nairobi, is the other new kid on the literary block. Begun by five passionate writers keen to bring East African literature onto the world stage and promote a strong culture of reading, literacy and social cohesion in their native Kenya, the organisers see the event as a catalyst in the ‘reading revolution.’ Although set up to identify and develop local writers, the festival does not limit itself to homegrown talent; noted international guest speakers have included the Indian poet and novelist Vikram Seth and the acclaimed British writer Hanif Kureishi.

Along the coastal route between Galle and Hambantota, stilt fishermen are a common sight. The best time to catch them at work is at dusk. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau)

Galle-ic Charm

In late January of each year, south of the Sri Lankan capital city of Colombo, the town of Galle is transformed into a literary mecca. Established in 2006 to boost much-needed tourism to the tsunami-riven area, the four-day Galle Literary Festival has really proven itself a darling of the book-lovers’ circuit. Attracting visitors by the thousands to a raft of literary superstars, the event garners rave reviews for its energetic mix of cultural diversions, great food, beautiful surroundings, and, of course, eminent guests. One of last year’s speakers, the famed historian Anthony Beevor, was impressed enough to declare “I have attended literary festivals on five different continents and Galle is simply the best.” High praise, indeed!

Scary Movie

A teenager’s dream, the Riga International Fantasy Film Festival in the capital city of the Baltic nation of Latvia features the latest movies from the sci-fi, thriller and horror genres. Given life by popular demand, the biennial event takes place from late April to early May and showcases both full-length features and, more recently, short films as well. Filmmakers lucky enough to win Best Film can look forward to taking home the coveted Golden Tooth award, with the Silver Tooth on offer as the Special Jury Prize!

Turkish Delight

Currently in its 13th year, the International 1001 Documentary Film Festival takes place in Istanbul, Turkey, at the end of October. The event showcases work from all over the world and places great emphasis on fostering open dialogue between filmmakers and audiences from different cultural backgrounds. Humanitarian values and cultural understanding are at the heart of this festival, and films must demonstrate an underlying message supporting this to feature in the event.

Essays and Canapés

Set in the Glamour Bar and the Crystal Room of the world-renowned celeb hang out, M on the Bund, the Shanghai International Literary Festival is a decidedly sophisticated and classy affair. Think intellectual debate and cerebral musings meets elegant cheese and wine soirée – a unique Shanghai shakeup. Going strong since 2002, this meeting of literary minds takes place over three weekends in March and has attracted distinguished talents such as Amy Tan, Gore Vidal, Arundhati Roy and Louis de Bernières.

Poetry and Prose in the Pink City

Considered the grande dame on the Asian scene, the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival in India already has a head start on the big-name front by way of its founder-directors: the esteemed writers William Dalrymple and Namita Gokhale. The Jaipur event brings together a glittering cast of both national and international literary characters. Popular crowd pleasers have so far included Kiran Desai, Orhan Pamuk, Salman Rushdie and Donna Tartt. Not content to limit itself to a celebration of the written word, the festival also features film, music and theatre. Anyone interested should make sure to be in town from the 21st to 25th of January.

Tshila is a world-fusion musician from Uganda who began her career as a member of the pioneering Ugandan hip-hop group, Bataka Squad. Here she is pictured embarking on her solo career performing on stage at the Zanzibar International Film Festival in 2006. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Ugqueen)

Out of Africa

Billed as ‘so much more than a film festival,’ Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) has the honour of being the largest film, music and arts festival in East Africa. Movies are shown in various locations right across the island of Zanzibar and audiences can expect the full spectrum of celluloid entertainment from local shorts to world premieres, all in keeping with a changing yearly theme. Part festival, part carnival, the event is famed for its wild parties, live music and DJs nights, which continue throughout the entire two weeks and culminate in an awards night celebrating the best picks. Never forgetting its roots, ZIFF is all about promoting local talent in film and music and offers cultural tours, exhibitions and workshops in the local community.

Freedom of Expression

The largest and most prestigious event of its kind in Mexico, the 10-day Expresión en Corto International Film Festival, in the last week of July, has been going strong since 1997. Over 80,000 people swoop on the cities of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato Capital to enjoy 10 days of screenings featuring over 400 films. Fun quirks of the fest include the projection of horror movies in the municipal graveyards (panteónes) and showings of gay, lesbian, erotic and underground films in the subterranean streets of Guanajuato Capital. In addition to conventional movie theatres, other venues include the Jardín Principal (main square) of San Miguel de Allende and the classical open-air staircase of the University of Guanajuato. The event attracts some pretty big names; past attendees include Oliver Stone, Gaspar Noé, Tim Burton and Spike Lee. Best of all, as a state-sponsored non-profit cultural event, admission is absolutely free!

Situated in the center of Beijing, the Palace Museum is also known as the Forbidden City and is China's largest museum. The imperial palace was home to a succession of 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Last Emperor – Beijing, China

A winner of seven Academy Awards, The Last Emperor is considered one of Bernardo Bertolucci’s best films. With the scenic setting of imperial China, the film was the first western production ever granted permission to shoot within the confines of the Forbidden City of Beijing. At nearly three hours in duration, the biography elegantly maps out the life of Pu Yi (1903-1967), the final Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, displaying scenes from his life that reflect the history of early 20th century China. Filmed throughout Beijing and parts of Manchuria, The Last Emperor was exquisitely shot by cinematographer, Vittorio Storaro, and cost a whopping US$25 million – hardly small change for 1987.

Life in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro has inspired many a writer and filmmaker. One of the most famous films of recent years to delve into the hardships of Brazilian slum life is the critically acclaimed 'City of God', which garnered a slew of awards worldwide.

Cidade de Deus (City of God) – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Instead of gorgeous beaches and nightlife, City of God dares to show a different side of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, based on a true story about a boy named Rocket growing up on the city’s outskirts. Taking place in the 1960s, the emotionally violent tale captures Rocket’s struggle to free himself from the clutches of his morally deficit setting. The story takes place over two decades, displaying how children living innocently in the favelas (slums) grow up to become drug lords battling for power and terrain. With sex, drugs and a soundtrack that just makes you want to samba, City of God is everything that you want it to be and more. Director Fernando Meirelles’ art direction is stunning, cinematically bringing to life the exquisite beauty of Brazil juxtaposed with the unsightliness of inhumanity.

The beautiful mountain oasis of Chebika in Tunisia is a popular film location. As well as featuring in the award-winning movie, 'The English Patient', this picturesque spot can also be seen in the recent Star Wars movies.

The English Patient – Tunisia

Tunisia has been the setting for many films, such as Star Wars, Jesus of Nazareth, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, but perhaps unbeknownst to most, it was the location for what is thought to be one of the most romantic films of all time: The English Patient. Although the film takes place in the Sahara Desert, it was actually filmed in Tunis and other parts of Tunisia, telling the tale of a passionate love affair that blossoms during an archaeological expedition into Egypt and Libya. Told in flashbacks, the movie exhibits brilliant scenes of the remote desert and the infinite rolling landscape, which sets the scene for a tumultuous journey of love and deceit.

A historically significant region of central Romania, Transylvania is a popular destination with hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, but hardly a likely place for celeb spotting. This all changed in 2002, when Anthony Minghella enlisted the help of A-listers Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Renee Zellweger to recreate a little piece of North Carolina in the Romanian countryside during the filming of 'Cold Mountain'.

Cold Mountain – Transylvania, Romania

A modern day Odyssey, the film Cold Mountain is the epic tale of a confederate soldier named Inman on a journey back to find his love, Ada, after the American Civil War. The gorgeous mountain scenery, which was meant to be Cold Mountain, North Carolina, was actually filmed in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania in the Eastern European country of Romania. John Seale, the cinematographer, artistically captures the breathtaking magnificence of the rural Romanian countryside, which would almost be enough to make an excellent film, even without the romantic storyline. However, with an emotional narrative and an original bluegrass soundtrack, the film is a triple treat.

Much like the favelas of Rio, the sprawling slums of Mumbai have provided the backdrop to some of the most striking and affecting cinema on India. Both the recent smash hit 'Slumdog Millionaire' and its Hindi predecessor, 'Salaam Bombay!', have brought much-needed attention to the plight of street children in the poorest neighbourhoods of Mumbai. (Courtesy of Wikimedia / Iijjccoo)

Salaam Bombay! – Mumbai, India

Nominated for an Academy Award for best Foreign Language film, Salaam Bombay! is the powerful tale of Krishna, a young boy forced to leave his home in the slums of Mumbai to make money for his mother. Similar to the contemporary Slumdog Millionaire, Salaam Bombay! is a culturally vibrant movie that defies convention to show the underside of Mumbai and the life of neglected street kids. This Bollywood favourite is replete with complex characters and an arousing plot, but what perhaps makes the film so real is that most of the actors were actually street children from Mumbai. After the film went public, the director, Mira Nair, started the Salaam Baalak Trust to help street kids, which is still in existence today.

With several scenic treats and a rich cultural and historical heritage, Lijiang is a popular holiday destination for both Chinese and overseas travellers. It is made up of an Old Town and a New Town, and while there are a number of Lijiang hotels in both locations, visitors always head for the wonderful sights of the Old Town, which has been a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site since 1988.

Wenhai village is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the Lijiang area

In February 1996, an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale rattled the area. After that, major renovations were undertaken in Lijiang, removing traces of modernity and restoring aspects of traditional authenticity. With the Old Town built in such a way that it maximises the lie of the land, whether mountainous or riverine, this has prompted a lot of research on old Chinese building skills.

The results are telling: an Old Town of narrow winding alleys, functioning canals and buildings with an architecture that dates over 100 years, all set in the area’s splendid natural setting. As domestic tourism is on the rise, Chinese tour groups are now a common site in Lijiang, eager to see the sights and sample the wide variety of Lijiang tours and activities.

Multiracial inhabitants and a rich history add to the scenic location to make Lijiang a very special town with many exciting things to see & do. Use our interactive Lijiang map to find the exact location of some of the amazing highlights and to calculate their proximity to your hotel.

whl.travel’s launch of www.lijiang-travel.com connects travellers to local expert Lily Zhang and the team from Xintuo Ecotourism Company.

“I found out about the whl.travel network from the Internet,” said Lily Zhang. “It brings together many people practicing sustainable tourism from all around the world, so I really wanted to join this network to know more information about what whl.travel is doing and how its members are managing sustainable development with tourism in different areas. At the same time, we are actually trying to do sustainable development ecotourism in the northwest of Yunnan Province. There are so many nice things to see and wonderful activities to do in this area. I really want to let more people know about this area, so they can enjoy all the wonderful things here. I also want to let them know what we are doing and how we are working together with local community to help them improve their lives. I really hope more people can join us in doing something meaningful for this beautiful area and the environment!”

This is the latest destination portal in the whl.travel network in China, followingShanghai.

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用中文 / IN CHINESE:

丽江不仅拥有优美的风景名胜区而且具有丰富的历史文化遗产，是中外游客旅游和度假的圣地。她分为古城和新城两部分，这里分布着很多各种不同的客栈和酒店，但是最受游客喜爱的还是1988年被列为世界文化遗产的丽江古城的美景。

Local Bai women pay their respects to their ancestors during the Torch Festival

在1996年2月， 在这里发生了里氏7.2级地震。从那以后，古城被重新修整，拆除具有现代特性的痕迹，恢复古城真实的面貌。随着国内游客的增多，团队游客在古城已经司空见怪了。“小桥流水人家”、可以追溯到100年以前的古建筑格局和这个地方壮丽的自然风景的组合是如此的迷人，以至于吸引着众多游客成群结队，早早地预定在古城的各种行程与活动。

丽江古城最大限度的利用了地形和地势，依势引水，让溪水环绕古城。高超的建筑技艺和合理的利用格局吸引着众多对建筑感兴趣的专家和学者前往研究和考察。多民族聚居，形成了独具魅力的丰富各民族文化的交融和集中展现，吸引着游客在古城领略多种文化的同时忍不住融入这些魅力文化的欣赏和体验之中。欢迎您参照我们的地图：比较准确地去寻找、发现和参与体验你在丽江酒店周围的这些独具魅力的文化元素和活动。

whl.travel 发布的网站 www.lijiang-travel.com 与当地的新拓生态旅游公司联系，他们可以协助您制定最惬意的行程安排和提供周到、优质的服务，让您的丽江之行终身难忘！

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