Oh the places you'll go

There's been talk 'round these parts about travel in the future. Much of the talk has centered around international travel, but the thought sprang to mind, "What about China? Where in China do I want to visit?"

So Rachel and I brainstormed, and came up with a short list (in no particular order)...

1) Xian - thousands of ancient terra-cotta warriors, an intact city wall, and an ancient capital with a 6,000 year history.

2) Jiuzaigou - a mountain valley in northern Sichuan with a series of crystal-clear lakes with water that spans the entire color spectrum. Supposed to be one of the most beautiful places in Sichuan and perhaps all of China, akin to Yellowstone in the US. Also featured in the March issue of National Geographic.

3) Lhasa - I want to go as much for the experience of getting there - the world's highest train just opened a few years ago, and it takes you up through the Himilayas to enter Tibet. Definitely a summer trip!

4) Chongqing - a HUGE city a few hours east of here, that was featured in a weeklong special by Ted Koppel just prior to our moving here. It would be a jumping off point for #5.

5) Three Gorges Dam - the Yangtze River and the world's largest dam (and largest potential environmental catastrophe? We shall see...) Would be fun to take one of the boat cruises along the river.

6) Lijiang - a small city in the mountains in Yunnan province, just to the southwest of here. Lots of ethnic minorities, beautiful mountains, and opportunities to hike through some big gorges.

7) Guilin - probably less likely, but all the pictures of this place are crazy. Rivers and lakes cut through tall (and very green) limestone formations. Another one of China's more beautiful places.

Not appearing on the list are Qingdao and Beijing, because we will definitely be making trips to those cities in the next year.

-alan