China Cultural Chronicles March 6, 2015
- Der Morgen erwacht 天亮
Zhenchenglou, Hukeng (Yongding)
振成楼，湖坑镇，永定县 - Rund
Tianluo Tulou Ensemble, Shuyang
书洋镇田螺坑土楼群 - 哈尔滨 松花江
Harbin Songhua River - Amazing Mengda Nature Reserve
Located about 110 kilometers (68.35 miles) southeast of Xining in the Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, the Mengda Nature Reserve is a flourishing area of natural beauty. It boasts for its amazing scenery and a wet and mild climate, which may explain how it has won itself a nick name "highland Xishuangbanna." (Xishuangbanna is a fairyland inis the tropical southern region in China's Yunnan Province).
Established in 1980, the reserve is the first reserve focusing on plant protection in Qinghai. Covering a total area of 9,544 hectares, it features primeval primeval forest, a large variety of exotic flowers, waterfalls and many wild animals. Looking from a distance at the Mengda Heavenly Lake in the reserve, the lake is like a pearl on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is a perfect place for hiking and boating. [bbs.fengniao/ by Xi Bu Lao Ma]
- Suave host, charming cuisine
Argentine food is a celebration, but when it comes to the food at Che Diego in Beijing, it takes on a sophisticated shine. Mike Peters tucks into a carnivore's carnival.Empanadas [Photo by Mike Peters/China Daily]
Diego Kuo is in his element. A big table in his restaurant is occupied by about a dozen women from Latin American countries. Kuo, a well-traveled native of Taiwan, has the buoyant smile and snappy patter of a veteran restaurant host.
He makes sure they are comfortable, pays the ladies pretty compliments and makes sure every facet of the evening is just right. He also speaks graceful Spanish with the smooth Italian accent that signals an upbringing in Buenos Aires.
The decor is spare and elegant. The music is spirited and Latin without becoming a tango cartoon.
Che Diego's opening got some buzz in the capital, where there is often much breast-beating over the lack of good Mexican grub in Beijing. So what, foodies wondered, could we expect from a more distant Latin country?
Charming as Diego may be, he knew he had to put his money where his customers' mouths were. So there are two Argentine chefs in the house, one on the grill and one running the rest of the kitchen.
In their country, the meat of the matter is simply meat: some of the best beef and lamb in the world. Shipped in sea cargo vessels with deep-cold but not freezing chambers, the quality of the meat almost always shines through.
A rib-eye steak (209 yuan, $33) with just enough marbled fat to make it a sinful pleasure left us sighing, with satisfying sides of mashed potatoes and grilled eggplant.
Lamb stew (226 yuan) was savory with a rosemary-infused gravy, hearty with potatoes and carrots, and so simply fine that it made us wonder: If lamb stew is peasant food, why are we all trying to get rich?
At 226 yuan, of course, this rendition won't find its way to many peasants. Still, it's money well-spent if a great meal is your favorite way to end the day.
The other top-ticket item - if you must impress friends and clients by flashing your cash - is a medallion of beef tenderloin that looks great but disappointed on two occasions. - China's restaurant week DiningCity, a food website, is offering diners between 30 and 50 percent discount at some of the best restaurants in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, during The Restaurant Week from March 4 to 10.
During the weeklong event, each restaurant will present a three-course menu for lunch, dinner or both, for a fixed price starting from 78 yuan ($13) per person for lunch, or 99 yuan per person for dinner.
Alessia Frisina, senior account manager of DiningCity Shanghai, says the activity aims to promote fine dining.
More than 175 restaurants in the three cities, including 36 in Beijing, have confirmed their participation. Among the participating restaurants are Green T. House, Capital M, Huang Ting and Jing at Peninsula.
Online reservations are encouraged via www.restaurantweek.cn as some popular restaurants, like Temple Restaurant Beijing, are often fully booked. - Flowers signal spring's coming
- SF Chinese New Year Parade
- SF Chinese New Year Parade
Photo by Sherrie Thai of Shaireproductions.com
- QingChengShan, China
Qingchengshan scenic area , 2012 in Dujiangyan of Sichuan Province, China. Qingchengshan which is believed to be the birthplace of Taoism. - Kashgar
喀什 - Kashgar
喀什 - Kashgar
喀什
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