One thing is for sure: panda is the new black

Are you going to revamp your entire wardrobe with panda clothes? Do you think you could rock a complete panda outfit? Are these looks fashion forward or fashion faux pas? Can you appreciate panda clothes while recognizing that you could never pull them off?

But on to the point: everyone likes travel photos. China travel photos. Inspirational travel photos. Exotic food photos. You name it.

Is this even real? Trekiz says: you bet it is!

And why not? You can’t be expected to fly halfway across the world just because you heard “X” place was cool or  because you really like your local restaurant serving “Y” cuisine. Planning an international trip is a grand undertaking and simply can’t be attempted without first doing one thing: gawking at travel photos.

That’s where Trekiz and our newly created Pinterest account can help. On our virtual “pinboards,” you’ll find a potpourri of travel goodness, all handpicked by our photo-loving staff and pinned with care. Because we work hard to feature awesome China tours on our site day in and day out, you can’t expect us not to share the jaw-dropping photos we find in as many ways as possible.

Thus, the Trekiz Pinterest account was born.

To jump right into a pinboard, select from one of the choices below (each one is as good as the last!):

• China Travel
• Around Beijing
• Undiscovered China
• China Love
• International Travel
• Shopping Around the World
• Weird & Wonderful
• Good Eats
• Holidays & Festivals

MVRDV - China Comic and Animation Museum in Hangzhou

Go ahead. Repin those travel photos. We know you want to. And there’s plenty more coming, so follow us, too! You won’t regret it.

Our new motto: never leave an amazing travel photo unpinned (can you tell we like this new Pinterest thing?).

Second things second: What is Losar?

Simply put, Losar is the Tibet New Year. Another New Year, you ask? Well, yes.

I’ve got to admit, between the New Year of the Western calender, Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) and now Losar – the New Year of Tibetan Buddhists – my sense of time is really starting to get quite skewed. Perhaps I just don’t own enough calendars. If only they made a “Far Side” lunar calendar, then I might be able to keep track.

But enough of that – on to the 2012 Losar celebrations!

Dancers at the Ghost Banishing Ceremony send sinister spirits packing

Quick facts about Losar

• Losar is Tibetan for “New Year.”
• The fifteen day celebration is Tibet’s most important holiday.
• “Tashi delek!” is the traditional greeting used during Losar (it means “auspicious greetings”)
• Losar is also celebrated in India, Nepal and Bhutan among Buddhist populations.

When is the 2012 Losar?

Losar begins on February 22, 2012, the first day of the first month of the lunar calendar.

So technically, I jumped the gun – just wanted to be the first to wish you a happy Losar! That said, you’ve got a little over a week to finish putting up your decorations for this Tibetan Buddhist holiday. Don’t tarry!

Losar Celebrations and Traditions

While we’re on the subject of decorating, I might as well mention the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism. About a month prior to Losar, Tibetan Buddhists use a white powder to scrawl these Buddhist symbols on the walls of their homes. Monasteries also get a makeover on the day before Losar.

Fabulous!

Most celebrations occur within the first three days of the Losar. During this time, Tibetan Buddhists give thanks to their teachers, perform dances, debate Buddhist philosophy, raise prayer flags, imbibe changkol and enjoy other traditional Tibetan New Year Food.

Chhaang, a beer-like drink, is used to make changkol

Want more Losar?

For visually-oriented folks, the Telegraph has nice collection of Losar pictures. Those wanting a more gastronomic experience can try their hand at making guthuk, a traditional dumpling soup, with this guthuk recipe. And don’t forgot to wish your neighbors, “Tashi delek!”

How many different New Years have you celebrated this year? Had you previously heard of Losar? Will someone please make me a custom “Far Side” lunar calendar?

More reasons to go to Tibet:

West Tibet: Kailash Trek

Complete Tibet: Lhasa, Shigatse and More

Tibet Trek: Tsurphu Monastery to Yangpachen

Enter Chinese memes. Specifically, “Floating Chinese Government Officials.”

For those who don’t know, memes are internet phenomena that take the form of images/text/video/etc., are widely proliferated/adapted, and are often humorous in nature.

Chinese memes are no different.

While checking my various social networks a few weeks back, I came across a befuddling image: three Chinese men floating above a road.

Gravity need not apply.

Do these men have super powers?

I didn’t understand it at the time, but I knew I liked it. Before long, I was sharing the peculiar picture with my friends, and I’m sure the confusion you’re feeling now was comparable to theirs. “Floating Chinese Government Officials” is hardly a work of art, but that’s what makes it beautiful. And viral.

Here’s what it all means

Apparently, a new road was constructed in Lihong Town and Huili County officials were dispatched to inspect it. None of their pictures turned out quite right, so they attempted to remedy the situation with a touch of Photoshop. Unfortunately, their Photoshop skills were hardly on par with the fashion industry, and the image came out looking more than a little bit doctored.

Far from ideal.

Thus, a Chinese meme was born.

The image was shared on Chinese social networks like Weibo, and before long, variations like the “Floating Chinese Government Officials” image were being viewed around the world. Extreme examples placed the Huili County officials on the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, where they were depicted rigorously inspecting his outstretched arm. Even the New York Times and The Guardian caught wind of the viral, Chinese meme.

And it all began with one Photoshopped picture.

What memes are popular in your country? Do you think travelers ought to know about foreign internet culture? Have you ever heard the tune “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley?

Supplemental Reading on Chinese Memes:

The Meme That Lauched 200,000 Posts

Step right up... to my vat of brown liquid!

That’s right – I’m talking about Beijing’s Spring Festival temple fairs.

In a week when there is not much else to do, Beijing’s temple fairs provide a respite from your gloomy-Chinese-apartment boredom. You can’t study Mandarin all day, so you might as well throw yourself into the mass of humanity that flocks to these yearly events, right? If you aren’t intimidated by jam-packed subways (Line 2 at Yonghegong was a prime place to get squished), here are five things you will see at the Chinese New Year temple fairs:

1. Hawthorn Fruit Skewers

Like sugar? These skewers are for you.

Hawthorn fruit is tart. China’s solution? Skewer it on a stick and coat it with boiled, hardened sugar. If you’re looking for something to blow your sweet tooth’s mind, these will do just the trick. Plus, if you’re leery of Chinese street food, Hawthorn fruit is supposedly anti-bacterial (or so says this site). Just plan to share your skewer with a friend, unless your really want to put you taste buds to the test.

2. Red Lanterns

Is it a coincidence that these lanterns are red? I think not.

Red lanterns are a traditional element of the Chinese Spring Festival, and nowhere will you see more of them than at the temple fairs (well, my local Merry Mart certainly put up a fight). Of the two temple fairs I visited, Ditan Park made particularly striking use of red lanterns, hanging them from specially constructed arches over the paths.

3. Acrobats/Contortionists/Mask Dancers

These performances stress me out a great deal.

What better time to put on a thin, skin-tight outfit and perform to a bunch of freezing onlookers than during the frigid month of January? Yes, something compels China’s talented acrobats/contortionists/mask dancers/plate spinners to emerge from their training facilities (wherever they are, I’m sure they are heated) to perform at Beijing’s temple fairs. Perhaps my favorite of the bunch was the mask dancer. He prowled through crowd and startled onlookers with his swift movements. Don’t get too close!

4. Lamb Skewers

Who needs cash registers?

Lamb skewers cater to Beijingers’ innate obsession with food-on-a-stick, and at nearly every temple fair, you can purchase a rapier-like chuar for ten kuai. Table manners go out the window when you’re sinking your incisors into one of the temple fair’s lamb skewers (after all, there’s no table!), and I soon discovered my thick gloves were perfect for soaking up the grease running down my face. My only concern is the forest of wood that goes into making all those sticks. Luckily, the succulent taste makes you forget. Almost.

5. Random Trinkets

That is NOT a real laowai.

Grotesque masks, while not a prominent feature of the temple fairs, are surprisingly in the mix. Other curios include Sesame Street keychains, stuffed animals, (plastic) medieval weaponry, and all manner of Chinese-zodiac-related-things-to-wave-around-while-you-walk. I didn’t indulge in the latter, but just about every Chinese child under the age of ten did. These armed cherubs/minions then proceeded to unintentionally/intentionally smack me with them while skipping through the crowds.

What else did you see at Beijing’s Spring Festival temple fairs? What temple fairs did you go to? How do the fairs in your part of the world compare to Beijing’s temple fairs? Where are the deep fried Oreos?

Personally, I prefer Non-stop Fireworks Bonanza.

After 7 straight days of ear-drum rattling madness, Beijing has finally returned to normal, whatever that is. At the very least, the city has stopped exploding for the time being. This being my first Spring Festival in Beijing, or China for that matter, or anywhere for that matter, I can’t say that I was entirely prepared for the barrage that is one of the country’s most treasured holidays. You’d think a dragon like me (according to the Chinese zodiac) would be more prepared for this sort of thing, right?

Pft, the newborn dragon babies probably displayed more courage.

Now for some quick Chinese New Year Facts (we know you’re smart, but just in case)

Wikipedia tells us:

• Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese traditional calendar
• It ends when Lantern Festival begins (on the 15th day of the traditional calendar)
• Families enjoy large feasts, forgive past grievances, and exchange red envelopes containing money

And let’s not forget the fireworks.

I’m still not sure how I got by without protective gear. Your average Beijing street looked something like this:

Bikers and walkers beware.

Yes, that was once a bike lane. And yes, that is a car not ten feet away. And yes, that explosion looks like the birth of a new sun. None of these startling facts seemed to deter Spring Festival’s most enthusiastic revelers, who are all well-meaning pyros at heart, let’s be honest. They were even setting them off on the frozen river, whilst standing on said river, near my apartment.

Part of the joy of being awoken constantly throughout the night by car alarms (activated, of course, by the blunt force trauma of firecracker soundwaves)  is that the next morning, you get to greet the day by wading through scattered mounds of fireworks debris.

Don't bother stepping around it. It's everywhere.

Go ahead. Make a fireworks debris angel. That’s part of the joy of my new favorite holiday: Spring Festival.

But it’s not just me who’s loving on this holiday: China Daily reports that tourism revenue sky-rocketed 24% during Spring Festival.

Do you think you’ll come to China next year to experience Spring Festival first-hand? Were you in town for this year’s celebration? Did you celebrate abroad?

For more on the Chinese New Year in Beijing, see:

Five Things You See at Beijing’s Spring Festival Temple Fairs

Happy Holidays!!! Thank you for making 2011 a super sweet year. We’re excited for what 2012 will bring and for what we’ll all create together : ) How are you spending this festive time in your area of the world?

A Typical Chinese Sleeper Bus

Need to do a visa run to Mongolia through Erlian? Don’t know where to start and want to find out how? No worries! We’ve got you covered, this is a step-by-step guide on everything you need to know about how to get there and back. I’ve included some approximate prices and specific tips on what you need to bring with you, but be aware that prices do change. You will probably need about two days to complete this trip, I left on a Friday afternoon and arrived back in Beijing early Sunday morning. Be prepared for bumpy overnight bus rides, Siberian winters, pushy touts, arcane customs regulations and a massive language barrier. Happy trekking!

Beijing, China

1. Buy your bus ticket (200 CNY one-way) at Jiandemen Beijiao bus station. You can usually do this the day of your trip, but make sure to buy it at the station’s ticket window.  A scalper may try to sell you tickets, but use the ticket window if it is open.

2. Board bus at 3:00-3:30 PM. This is the only bus to Erlian from Jiandemen bus station.

3. Bring snacks, bottled water and enough toilet paper for 1.5-2 days with you. If you’re going in winter, I would recommend wearing :

- 2 layers of socks

- 3 layers of long underwear, sweats and jeans

- 4+ layers of shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and coats

Make sure to bring a pen with you, for some reason most Chinese border areas don’t provide one.

Erlian, China

4. Arrive in Erlian around 2:00 AM. Either look inside the bus station for a hotel room or use a local tout. Rooms should cost no more than 20 CNY + 10 CNY for the drive there. A “tout” hotel is not likely to have a shower and you will share a room with at least two other people. The hotel in the bus station sells singles.

5. Wake up at 8:30 AM (the border opens at 9:00 AM). Either ask your hotel owner for a ride to the border, or go outside and find a taxi. A normal taxi should be no more than 10 CNY to the border, or no more than 20 CNY for two people from a tout.

Enter from the south (the bottom) and return later from the north (the top) after your trip to Mongolia.

Chinese Border Customs

6. Arrive at the checkpoint outside the Chinese customs building (about 100-200 meters in front of the rainbow arch), and buy departure cards from the small office for 5 CNY each.

7. Find a jeep at the checkpoint (there’ll likely be a short line of them waiting for passengers) and negotiate with the driver, a round trip through customs and back to Erlian is about 50 CNY per person. REALLY IMPORTANT: make SURE to tell the driver your exact itinerary; that you want to go through Chinese and Mongolian customs and re-enter China.

8. Drive to Chinese customs. Make SURE to memorize the color and license plate number of your jeep. Go through Chinese customs, exit the building and meet your driver out back.

Enter from the south (the bottom) and return later from the north (the top) after your trip to Mongolia.

Mongolian Border Customs

9. Drive to Mongolian customs, get a Mongolian entry card, pass through Mongolian customs, exit the building and meet your driver out back. You will probably have to drive to Mongolia and wait for the driver to offload his cargo before he will take you back to China.

10. If at this point you can’t find your driver, just walk to the west side of the Mongolian customs building and re-enter to leave Mongolia.

11. Re-enter the Mongolian customs building (the west side), get a departure card, pass through customs and exit the building to leave Mongolia.

Chinese Border Customs

12. Meet your driver outside the Mongolian customs building, if you can’t find him then you’ll have to ask other jeep drivers to take you across and pay them 30-50 CNY (per person) to take you back to China. Beware that most people will not be able to speak English or Chinese, be persistent and if necessary ask the guards for help. DO NOT try to walk to Chinese customs. In fact, you cannot walk between any of the buildings at the border, if you try to do so the guards will stop you.

13. Drive to back to the Chinese customs building, get an entry card and re-enter China.

Erlian, China

14. Meet your jeep driver in the parking lot in front of the Chinese customs building and drive back to Erlian.

15. Find a taxi and drive to the bus station for about 5-10 CNY.

16. Buy your bus ticket back to Beijing (200 CNY one-way), multiple buses leave during the afternoon, mine left at 3:30 pm.

Beijing, China

17. Arrive in Beijing around 3:30-4:00 PM, you will be mobbed by touts when you get off the bus . The problem is that you will probably not arrive back at Jiandemen. The two stations you will likely arrive at are the Muxiyuan and Liuliqiao bus stations to the far south.

If you want to, you can try to find a normal cab farther down the street from the bus station but this could be difficult because of the location and time. The lowest (after 20 minutes of hard bargaining) offer I got was 80 CNY to get to Yonghegong bridge. I settled on 50 CNY to get to Wangfujing, had breakfast at the McDonald’s there and waited until the subway opened at 6 am. Alternatively you can just start walking due north to Tiananmen and Subway Line 1 or due east to Line 5, just remember that the subway opens at 6 am.

Cost of Mongolia Visa Run

All told, I spent a total of 550 CNY, or 88 USD. That’s about as cheap as it gets for a visa run, although I probably could have saved even more money if I had bartered better. Considering that 550 CNY is about the price of a one-way train ticket to Hong Kong, I think I made out alright. Traveling to Mongolia?  Make sure to let us know how your trip went!

My Mongolia Visa Run from Beijing: 

Part 3: Why I Need to Learn Mongolian: My Mongolia Visa Run

Part 2: Stuck Between Borders: My Mongolia Visa Run

Part 1: There and Back Again: My Mongolia Visa Run

The loneliest bus station I've ever seen.

10:30 AM  Mongolia? China?

There I was, stuck in no-man’s-land with absolutely no one who could speak English or Chinese. For the next two hours, I watched jeeps unload and reload passengers with nary a free seat available. I didn’t speak Mongolian and the drivers didn’t speak Chinese or English, so what was I to do? At this point I was reduced to using crude sign language to ask for a ride, but the jeeps just kept on driving by.

“Will I get back to Erlian in time for my bus to Beijing, or will I rot here until the border closes?” I wondered. Then finally, just as the crowds were clearing out a Mongolian man approached and gestured towards a waiting jeep. My newfound friend spoke to the driver and indicated that I would have to pay another thirty kuai to hitch a ride back to China. I agreed and happily forked over the money.

12:30 PM

“So you came all the way from Beijing to Mongolia for a daytrip? A visa run, huh? I’ve heard of foreigners doing this, but you are the first one I’ve met,” said the man sitting across from me.

Four Mongolians were crammed into the front seat while my friend and I crouched over the jeep’s wheel wells. The Mongolian facing me was older, a businessman on his way to Hebei province who spoke Chinese quite well. I had never been so relieved in my life to find a fellow Mandarin speaker.

“He thought that you were lost and felt sorry for you, good thing he found you otherwise you’d have missed your connection,” explained the businessman while my Mongolian friend grinned. Everyone had a good chuckle at the laowai dumb enough to lose his ride home, but it was all in good fun. The other passengers seemed quite interested in me, and I soon found myself answering a barrage of questions. These Mongolians had never seen an American before and were determined to make the most of the opportunity. A large, jovial man, the Chinese jeep driver seemed more interested in my life in Beijing than my native culture and nationality.

“Hey my new American friend, how’s my driving?” He asked as he casually accelerated through a series of speed bumps.

“You’re better than the Beijing drivers. They’re crazy,” I offered as my head cratered the steel jeep roof. As a side note, when in China it’s always best to compliment your taxi driver’s skill when asked. Although I do consider Beijing cabbies as China’s best, I didn’t want to insult my ride home.

Fifteen minutes and several questions later, I was back in Erlian and on my way to the bus station. I wasted no time buying a bus ticket and within a couple of hours was on my way back to Beijing.

4:00 AM

Ahhh… Beijing!

Relief can be such a strange feeling. I’ve only lived in Beijing for a year and yet it already felt like home, how can that be? Well I guess for me Beijing is “safe,” as large as this city is, I’ve never had any trouble finding my way around. So of course, when my bus pulled up to Muxiyuan station I was quite prepared for the inevitable crowd of touts.

“But it’s winter time, you’ll freeze to death if you try to walk to the subway station,” pleaded the cabbie who had just quoted me a completely unreasonable hundred kuai fare to get home.

“I was just in Mongolia. This isn’t winter, it feels more like summer.”

The tout argued and quibbled but we eventually agreed on a much lower price for a trip to Wangfujing. After a few hours wait at McDonalds I boarded the subway and finally arrived home.

“Hey man why are you up this early? Where did you hang out last night?” asked my drunken roommate as I walked in.

“Mongolia. It was great!”

“Uhhhh…what?” was the confused, slurred response.

And that about sums up my Mongolia experience, a trip so brief that no one even noticed my absence but for me one of the longest days of my life. Will I ever go back to Mongolia? Of course I will, it’s a beautiful country with amazingly friendly people and it’s right at the top of my travel wish list. It’s a bit unfortunate that I’ve didn’t have the time for a proper visit but touring Mongolia in wintertime isn’t exactly the best idea.

Hopefully dear Reader, you’ve learned something from my story. If I can make it to Mongolia on my own, then you can too. Maybe doing this on your own isn’t the best idea; I know that a translator and guide would have helped immensely. But the real lesson from this is no matter who you are or where you want to go, the most important thing is to just go, just get out there and travel.

For those who need to do a Beijing-Erlian visa run (or are curious as to how I did it), stay tuned for a detailed itinerary.

My Mongolia Visa Run from Beijing: 

Part 4: How to Get There and Back: My Mongolia Visa Run

Part 2: Stuck Between Borders: My Mongolia Visa Run

Part 1: There and Back Again: My Mongolia Visa Run