The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2019 - Issue 26

bite travel line the riverbanks. Take a moment, sit back and relax aboard your very own authentic bamboo raft as it meanders down the calm wa- ters of the river. This pastime is considered one of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Yangshuo and is truly a unique way to see the region whilst basking in its tranquility. One of the most outstanding hotel accommodations in the area is Li An Lodge, perched almost unbelievably above endless sculpted rice terraces in the Guangxi Province. It fuses ancient architecture with modern comfort and overlooks beautiful rippled limestone hills that make it extremely picturesque and fascinating. Several trails lead up to the lodge and because it is surrounded by rolling hills, it is best done by walking. As China’s most treasured animals, giant pandas can be found in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Centre, which is part of a nationwide project to repopu- late them in the wild. The breeding centre achieves this by imitating the natural habitats of the pandas and work hard to protect these endangered animals as well as feeding their insatiable appetite for bamboo. To date, the repopulation has increased by nearly 50% and is working to increase this even more. If you take a short cruise down the Yangtze River from Chongqing to Yichang in the western Hubei Province, you may want to stop off and spend the day exploring the striking wooden pagoda of Shiba- ozhai and Fengdu Ghost City. The 12-floor wooden pagoda, built during the Qing Dynasty, stands at an impressive 56 metres high and towers over its surroundings from its clifftop position while Fengdu Ghost City is a large complex of shrine, temples, and mon- asteries dedicated to the afterlife located on Ming mountain. Further down the river, you will come across Yangtze River’s most striking gorges including the Qutang Gorge, the Wu Gorge, and a leisurely cruise through the gorges of Goddess Stream. Qutang, the shortest and most spectacular of the three gorges is very narrow and dramatic, while the 26 miles long Wu is known for its tranquil beauty, sheer cliffs, and forested mountains, and Goddess Steam has a fast-flowing water and narrow channel that houses a 10-mile-long trackless primitive valley. For the finale of your trip to Chongqing, visiting White Emperor City and sailing through the Three Gorges Dam will leave you with an air of satisfaction. At White Emperor City, you’ll find a series of outstanding cultural and historical relics and a view of the Qutang Gorge from Kui Gate. Three Gorges Dam, an impressive hydroelec- tric gravity dam, measures one and a half miles in length and over 185 metres in height and generates a huge amount of hydroelectric- ity for the Chinese population. Whether you stay in Shanghai or decide to venture into other cities as well, you’ll be immensely impressed with China.