[Henan, China] Getting stuffed on the Luoyang Shui Xi (Water Feast)
Calling this a feast fit for a king is an understatement. The Water Feast (Shui Xi), a banquet of pride for Luoyang, consists of an astounding 24 dishes, hence I’m not surprised that it is known for being the ‘Top Banquet under the Heaven’. Dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) era, the Water Feast […]
[HENAN, CHINA] Busking in the lights and smells of Kaifeng Night Market
I love the bustle of night markets, with the myriad of lights and the mixed smells of oil and food in the air. When I heard that Kaifeng has a night market, I knew I had to go and check it out. Kaifeng, located in Henan Province, is known for its historic architecture (mostly restored) […]
[HENAN, CHINA] Climb to the tallest statue in the world – the Spring Temple Buddha (中原大佛)
Standing tall in Zhaocun town of Lushan in Henan, China is the 208-metre tall Spring Temple Buddha that took nine years to build (from 1997 to 2008). The height of 208 metres includes the lotus pedestal and building it stands on. Tucked away in a quiet countryside far from the bustling shopping districts, this statue […]
[HENAN, CHINA] The breathtaking views of Yuntai Mountain
One full day was not enough to cover even one-fifth of the Yuntai Mountain scenic area. Consisting of 11 scenic spots – Red Stone Gorge, Tanpu Gorge, Quanpu Gorge, Cornel Peak, Wanshan Temple, Baijia Cliff, Zifang Lake, Macaque Valley, Qinglong Gorge, Fenglin Gorge and Diecai Cave – the Yuntai Moutain area covers a ground of […]
[HENAN, CHINA] Guoliang Village – Living in the clouds
Guoliang Village (郭亮村) is this little Chinese village that sits high up in the Taihang Mountains in Henan Province. For a long while, hardly anyone knew about it because of its inaccessibility. The only way anyone could reach it then was by steps on the side of a very steep cliff. Settled quietly in a […]
[HENAN, CHINA] Learning Chinese Kung Fu at Shaolin Temple
Shaolin Temple needs no introduction – even non-martial arts fans around the globe would know that Shaolin is the place where Chinese Kung Fu originated. In a collaboration with Channel NewsAsia (CNA), I flew out from Singapore to Henan, in Central China’s Yellow River Valley, for a week-long adventure which I will detail here in […]